Chapter 11: Answers Lead Only to Questions

Watch Tower

"One hour," Janet said. "If we don't find anything in one hour, we retrace our steps and come back here and formulate a new plan." Dimitri nodded in agreement before opening the hatch and begun to climb down, Dimitri stared straight down as to avoid eye contact with Kevin and so did Janet. As they hopped off the ladder, they noticed that Scott was standing outside the plane and was waving them over.

Dimitri and Janet walked over as Scott asked, "Dimitri, can I have a word with you?" Scott glanced at Janet with a scathing glare and added, "alone?" Janet sighed and shrugged as she climbed the steps inside the plane. "The diskette," Scott insisted, "please tell me you gave it to your mother." Dimitri didn't answer. "Well," Scott began, "at least tell me you put it somewhere she'll be able to find it."

"Not so much," Dimitri explained as he pulled out the diskette from is shirt pocket. "I got to know," Dimitri asked as he put the diskette backing his shirt pocket, "what's on this diskette?"

"It doesn't matter now," Scott explained. "If Henry wins this election, it will be your fault."

"Done yet?" Janet asked as she poked her head out the door.

"Yeah," Dimitri said. "We're done here."

Janet hopped down and joined Dimitri as they began to head off into the trees. "Dimitri!" Scott yelled. "If you don't bring back Tina, you're not getting back on this plane."

Terminal

Max Gibson passed through the revolving doors of the airport dressed in the same uniforms as the airport staff and carrying a laptop computer under his arm. Max's job was to hack into the airport computer by listening to Benji's directions from and earpiece. Max argued against the decision, but Erik made a good point that no one would believe that someone famous like Erik or Benji were there to fix the bug in the system.

Max approached the desk and said calmly, "Hi, I'm Max O'Brien. They called me about a computer error."

"Yeah," the lady at the desk said, "Apparently a virus was brought into the system from an external source. The media wants to call it a hacker, but I know that they're a hundreds of ways a virus could have entered the system." Max nodded in agreement as the woman showed Max the central server room.

The woman left and Max subsequently shut the door and locked it. "All right," Max whispered into his earpiece. "I'm in. Now what?"

"Relax," Benji replied over the earpiece. "Good things come to those who wait. Now plug the laptop into the sever plug named external plug." Max did as he was told. "Good. Your job is half done. All you have to do now is locate and isolate the bug and retrace its steps."

"How?"

"Don't you worry yourself," Benji replied gloatingly. "I've installed a program on that laptop that will instantly attract our bug. It the icon labeled Roach Motel." Max clicked it and the screen changed into a blue background with rows of green bars. Slowly but surely, the green bars were being changed with yellow bars. "How long is this going to take?" Max asked.

"Not too long," Benji explained. "The Roach Motel is the perfect anti virus system because it itself is a virus. If I wanted to, I could very well corrupt the computer systems of the airport with the click of a button."

"Virus?" Max asked. "Is that legal?"

"Of course not," Benji replied calmly. "According to Maryland and United State laws, antiviral systems must be non lethal to the computer. I should know. I voted against that law while in a Representative. The problem with viral antiviral programs is that single flaw in the program and the entire system could very well be infected without the user even noticing."

"Well then," Max replied. "It only makes sense that viral programs are illegal."

"It only looks that way on paper," Benji explained. "The chances of the system being infected with the program are slim to none and even if it does happen, the original system can be backtracked and the virus can then be easily dealt with. On the other hand, viral systems with the virus in them can track down said virus with ease and trace it back to the source. The CSI uses it, but only because the CSI works with foreign affairs, and so the rules of the Unites states don't apply."

Max sighed and shrugged as the yellow bars suddenly stopped and the computer dings. The ding was immediately followed by a sign that read:

Warning. Wt.rbt has been identified as a virus source. Delete?

"We've got it," Max said.

"Great," came Benji's voice. "Don't delete it yet. Press the button marked retrace." Max replied agreeably and pressed the button, but no sooner than he did another sign came up. This one reading:

Search complete. Would you like to view the virus trail?

"Now this is weird," Max began. "I know that as a former future Lieutenant Governor, you have access to all the new and advanced technology the United States has to offer, but there is no way that the virus trail has been already racked."

"You're right," Benji agreed. "Something's up. Click the button to view the trail to see where out little white rabbit virus has been." Max clicked the button and the screen changed to read:

Roachmotel.doc

Annapolis International Airport; Annapolis, Maryland to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Employee listing; objective: change Nick Adams for Dimitri Maximoff.

Roachmotel.doc

"It's all here," Max explained. "Dimitri used your laptop and the virus from it to infect the system and change the co-pilot for himself. It looks like he was really insistent on getting to Isla Sorna. This also means he's there with Paul Harris, Heidi Carroll, and Kevin Davenport."

"Kevin Davenport?" Benji asked in shock. "I knew that Henry was insisted on winning but to not only send his daughter but his Chief of Staff and campaign manager Kevin Davenport in the line of dinosaurs, he's insane."

Trail

Harvey and Julius continued to drag themselves down the trial with the rifles straddled over their shoulders and the motorcycle at Harvey's side. Harvey was getting tired fast and he was certain that Julius no longer knew where he was going.

"Tell me again," Harvey began as he rested the motorcycle against a tree and stopped to catch his breath, "How and why you brother was on this island two months ago."

"None of your business," Julius immediately replied.

"I just thought I should know," he replied, "because right now, Tina Gibson seems more trustworthy than you do. Not that I'd like to test the sharpshooter with the three rifles straddled along his back, I'd just like to point it out is all."

"It really isn't any of your business,' Julius repeated, "but I might as well tell you. Most of the story is true. Except for the boatman that brought me to the island, I came alone. I gave him a cell phone so he would know when to come and pick me up. The only thing I didn't tell you is why Matthew came back. The evacuation of Isla Sorna was immediate and unorganized. Things were left behind. Important things. Matt was out in the field ready to release a newly hatched stegosaurus when he received the call. The boat was leaving in only ten minutes at it would be at least fifteen minutes to get back to the laboratory. Matt dropped off the stegosaurus and drove directly to boat leaving his prized invention behind."

Come on!" Harvey complained. "You're beating around the bush. Tell me what he came back to the island for!"

Julius sighed. "Matt invented a super-raptor, one capable of reading the human body and mind, making it the perfect killer."

"How'd he do it?" Harvey asked. Julius opened his mouth to respond, but closed his mouth and pulled Harvey into the trees. Julius put his hand on Harvey's mouth as he pointed to the group of velociraptor rushing passed them. They moved fast, but Julius managed to count at least five.

Julius slowly released Harvey as the raptor left their view. "I don't understand," Julius whispered as he stood up. "We were right there. We were right in the middle of the trail. I'm sure they saw us. Why didn't they attack us?"

"Maybe you overestimate them," Harvey said as be brushed himself off.

"Or maybe," Julius said. "They have a bigger prey to catch."

Charter Plane

Heidi glanced at her watch as she stared out the window. Scott came back inside the plane and asked, "How long have they been gone?"

"Fifteen minutes," she replied. "Chances are they haven't even reached the sector yet. Scott, you really should calm down. Worrying won't make Dimitri and Janet return any faster. I can assure you that if Tina has survived this long she can survive another hour."

Scott grumbled and began to walk back out. Heidi sighed and decided to follow. Heidi called Scott's name but he didn't turn around. He only walked directly over to the watchtower. Scott climbed the ladder and Heidi soon followed. "Scott," Heidi began, "I'm sorry if what I said upset you, but you have to realize that Dimitri and Janet are only human. They're bound to make mistakes and errors. We have to assume that things will happen to prevent them from completing their mission."

"Their mission is solid," Scott explained. "That should be enough to overcome any obstacle. Failure is not an option!"

Heidi sighed. She turned to stare over the edge of the watchtower, not once glancing down to Kevin, who had completely given up on climbing back up and didn't even glance at her. "Enjoy the scenery," Heidi commanded. "It'll relax you."

Scott reluctantly walked over and stared at the trees and the empty field beyond it. Scott gave another grumble in anger, but remained almost silent. Heidi and Scott remained in silence until Scott pointed to the trees and asked, "Did you see that?"

"Yes," she replied. "You think it was a dinosaur?"

"No," he replied sarcastically, "it was a dragon." Heidi rolled her eyes. Scott continued, "Do you think it'll come back?"

"It has," Heidi remarked as she pointed to the trees. There in front of them stood a single velociraptor staring at them devilishly.