Chapter 9:
"If that gate doesn't open I swear to gosh…" Tadashi growled as he saw it coming into view.
"T-Tadashi…" Hiro huddled closer to his brother, fear in his eyes.
Tadashi's gaze softened as he glanced down at Hiro ruffling his hair. "We'll be okay…" He slowed the car down waving up to the two guards. "HEY! YOU! LET US IN!"
"... Is that one of the old jeeps?" One of them asked to the other.
"... Bigger question. Isn't that the boss's nephews?"
"...OPEN IT!"
Tadashi rolled his eyes waiting as it swung open before he sped the car in not relaxing until the door was closed behind them. "We… We made it Otouto…"
Hiro sighed in relief, but still had a tight grip on his brother.
"We're safe?"
"We're safe. We just gotta find Aunt Cass and Max and then we'll be in the clear. No more insanity and we'll be on the next plane out.. Promise." Tadashi brought him into his arms kissing his head. "You were so brave…"
"Tada-nii…" Hiro huddled close. "Thanks… That means a lot… Not so bad for a dino nerd huh?"
"Not bad at all." Tadashi smiled.
Hiro smiled. "Thanks big bro… Well… Shall we?"
"We shall."
Hiro nodded as he and his brother set out to find their way back, keeping close to one another.
Tadashi picked up the pace keeping a tight grip on Hiro's arm when he noted several dozen staff members hurrying off in one direction barking orders to one another.
"The valley, how'd she get in the valley…!?"
"She's hunting for sport. What the heck is it!?"
"... Hiro…I think our friend is figuring out where she fits in…"
Hiro gulped.
"Then let's hurry before she decides we taste good!"
oooooo
"Oh my gosh you poor things…" Abigail was trying to apply first aid to the Apatosaurus in front of her, blood staining her hands.
Yokai… Why are you doing this?
The long necked dinosaur crooned quietly trying to lift their head back up pain in their eyes. She felt her heart shatter.
"We got lucky, she only grazed them but goodness…" Max shook his head as he worked looking up seeing the other vets and even a few other handlers trying their hardest. This was not what they signed up for and they all knew it.
Next chance I get, that thing is getting shipped off to the next Island over…
"I thought that time Akuma found her way into Rexy's pen was bad…"
"Yeah…" Abigail got a guilty look in her eyes. "I should've trained her better… Yokai was my girl… I screwed up…"
"You did your best. You didn't know what she was really like." Max's gaze softened. "She and Oni are totally new to the records… They don't know what makes them, them. Rexy, she knows she has to run, she has to eat and she has to defend herself if she has to. The raptors know pack hunting logistics… Those two… They don't know what signals are right I bet…"
"Yeah…" Abigail looked to him. "I'm just glad you're okay… I know you were out hunting by foot."
He smirked a bit. "Nothing I couldn't handle… Though remind me to hit Steve and Bucky after this, their Dilo's made it all the way out to the old park."
"I think everyone wants that!" Gogo yelled from where she was as she got up. "Alright this one's done. Who else is almost there?"
"Mr. Hamada!"
Another trainer came running up.
"Yes?" He got up. "What is it?"
"I was sent here to tell you they found your cousins!"
Max sighed in relief. "Oh thank goodness. Where are they?"
"Last I heard they were still by the gate."
"Phew... Alright I'll head out there soon, I'm done here…" He gave an: "I'm watching you" look to the others. "Keep your eyes peeled and if she shows up tranq. Let's not make one of our own watch a slaughter alright?"
"Sir yes sir!"
...That will never get old.
oooooooooooo
However Yokai wasn't anywhere near the valley anymore. She found what looked to be a large shiny ball like the ones the screaming things were inside of before.
She growled a bit before charging head first at the walls bashing through after a few tries.
The animals inside flew around her, screeching and pecking at her before she roared at them startling them back.
"Oh no…"
The Indominus turned to see Akio backing up one of the smaller pterosaurs in her arms. The young woman's eyes were wide.
If she could have, she would have smirked.
This would be fun.
Yokai's coloring shifted until she blended in with her surroundings, as Akio looked around trying to figure out an exit.
She already had plenty of warnings coming in through her radio. She had been hoping the creature would leave her charges alone.
Shock prod, back wall… She crashed through the darn back wall!
She looked up before seeing a glisten of white scales before Akio let out a sharp whistle as several dozen pterosaurs launched themselves at Yokai giving her a chance to make her escape.
"JULIET!" She called as her main companion flew to her side. "Get out of here, NOW!"
The Indominus roared as she gave chase breaking away from her attackers… As it seemed the lid finally came off.
They realized they weren't trapped inside anymore… They could see one of their own making her escape.
It was a swarm.
Akio ducked down avoiding sharp talons or beaks designed to pierce through anything. She grabbed her radio.
"This is Akio Miyazaki, the cage is open, the Indominus has been here… And she's let everyone out. This is not a drill… I need ACU on standby please they're heading for the main area!"
"We read you Miyazaki we're heading there now!"
oooooooooo
Hiro stumbled a bit as he tried to keep up with Tadashi. The people around them were running from something. He heard a screech as he looked back.
"Hey Tadashi I think your girlfriend sucks at coming up with ways to kill that thing! LOOK!"
Tadashi looked up, eyes widening at what he saw.
It was a whole swarm of pterosaurs… and they were swooping down… looking at the people before them.
"GET DOWN!"
Tadashi grabbed Hiro, ducking under the closest thing he could find.
Hiro yelped as one flew right by them, he recognized its face. "Dimorphodon… Tadashi that thing is a tiny T-rex with wings!"
And it was trying to get at them still… Until…
"OH NO YA DON'T!"
Something swung into it knocking the creature away. Max narrowed his eyes aiming his rifle firing a few tranqs as some went down.
"You guys picked a really bad time to go on a walk about ya know!?"
Tadashi just stared at Max quietly, keeping Hiro close to him. He couldn't bring himself to say anything… he wouldn't deny it that right at this very moment, he was terrified. He just wanted to go home now. Get far, far, far, FAR, away from this place.
Hiro whimpered huddling closer to this brother. Information flew through his mind as he mentally named off every single creature that was flying over head… And it scared him even more when he realized they were all predators.
Max looked to his cousins and gave them his best reassuring look before resuming his shooting. "I promise… NOTHING IS GOING TO HURT YOU AGAIN!"
BANG!
Two more went down.
Hiro's eyes widened. "MAX DUCK!"
He spun around using the end of his rifle to hit away another Dimorphodon that tried to go at his back.
It was utter chaos all around them. This was the worst case scenario. The best case was long gone, where nothing would have happened, no one would have died. But they all knew those days were over.
If we bounce back from this I'll be shocked.
More shots were fired off as several members of ACU joined in the fray.
"FOR COMMANDER HAMADA!"
Hiro huddled closer to Tadashi closing his eyes. He didn't want to hear it. The screaming, of both human and dinosaur, the gunshots… He just wanted to go home. Why us…? Why'd this have to happen…?
Tadashi stroked his brother's hair, trying to ignore what was happening around him. He didn't want to believe it… but he knew it was true… But he had to brave… for Hiro's sake.
"I got you…"
Hiro was shaking as he tried to keep calm. Both boys jumped hearing a loud crash from outside their hiding spot. "I wanna go home…!"
"I know Hiro… I know…" Tadashi had a tear slip out. "I wanna go home too."
Hiro sniffled burying his face into Tadashi's side. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…"
"Shhh…" Tadashi tightened his grip. "Not your fault… it's not your fault."
Hiro calmed down a bit. He looked around noting the amount of shots fired were lessening. "I think it's almost over…"
They started to relax even allowing themselves a small grin. It had to be over. It just had to.
However… It seemed that wasn't the end.
"AUGH!"
"HEY!"
Some of the remaining animals were fighting back. ACU members knocked over, fighting them off their weapons falling to the side. Even Max was finding it harder to fight back now.
"GET BACK! JUST… GET-AUGH!" He rolled trying to cover his head as several pecked at him.
Tadashi pulled Hiro close backing up against a wall… Until a different sound was heard. One he knew.. Because he had seen the creatures in action himself.
The Pteranodon… With it's 18 feet wingspan was flying low knocking over everything in her path, including the boys hiding spot.
Tadashi yanked Hiro to his feet as they started running for it.
The Pteranodon let out a screech as she dove for them. Tadashi tackled Hiro down as the dinosaur landed harshly sliding, the long beak still snapping right at them.
Tadashi backed up against a stand holding Hiro close as they braced themselves for it….
But it never came.
Tadashi couldn't force himself to look but when he did, he felt his heart jump in his throat.
It was only inches away.
Any closer… A-And… Oh gosh… Hiro… More tears slipped out as he ducked down covering Hiro with his own body. He hated every moment of this. Part of him felt like he was failing to protect his little brother because he didn't know how to fight these things.
"...Dashi… Tadashi c'mon…"
Tadashi looked down at Hiro. The boy had fear in his own eyes but he was trying to keep calm. "H-Hiro…"
"We have to keep moving… Max needs our help-"
"Like heck he does. Keeping moving I'm willing. Fighting them, no!"
"SOMEONE HAS TO HELP!"
Tadashi froze. How many times had he uttered those words himself? Be it at the risk of his own safety for the sake of the ones he cared about, or for just trying to do a good deed?
…. I hate it when he's right.
"C'mon… This'll be just like paintball with the Coleman's…"
"Except Charlie doesn't want to eat you when you hit him."
"Tadashi!"
"Alright!"
Tadashi sighed shakily as he got to his feet helping Hiro up surveying what their best plan might be.
"... I have a horrible but awesome idea… Hiro… How much do you know about attracting the Mosasaur?"
Hiro smirked.
"Tons."
Tadashi guarded his brother grabbing one of the fallen weapons a shock prod that flickered to life with an electric hum. Any stragglers that tried to go for Hiro received a shock that knocked them back.
"YA!"
Hiro looked around going through the contents of a fallen food cart. "Yes… Thank you crappy amusement park sushi…" He murmured holding the fish out over the water, he could see movement under the surface.
Now it was a matter of would he time it right?
Tadashi kept trying to deflect the creatures. "Hiro!"
"HOLD ON!"
Five….
He could see something large making it's way for the surface.
FOUR!
It breached the water as Hiro shoved Tadashi out of the way managing to avoid the large lizard's snapping jaws.
"Three, two ONE!"
They watched as a larger pterosaur tried to fly at them only to be snapped up in the jaws of the Mosasaur before the creature slid back into her lagoon leaving a huge wave in her wake that startled the ones attacking ACU and Max.
Max jumped up stunned as he saw this.
"My… Word…"
"Those are your cousins…?"
He nodded as he headed to them kneeling to their level before hugging them both tightly.
"Oh my gosh don't ever scare me like that again."
"We're okay…"
"Yeah... "
They looked around them, the brothers holding onto one another as Max narrowed his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair shaking his head.
"Are they dead…?"
"Just asleep… The only dead one is the one ol'Nova just made into a snack. Never liked that one, such a jerk… C'mon let's get you to safety…"
Tadashi rolled his eyes as he got up.
"Max. We've been trying that for hours."
"Well then you've succeeded."
oooooo
It felt like the time flew by. When they got back to the control room, Cass hugged both of her nephews and her son tightly.
She felt guilty. She hadn't been there for Katashi and now she wasn't there for them. I am such a screwup… People died today on MY watch…
"Mom." Max tilted her head up. "Don't even start the blame game. That's my job."
"I didn't deserve a good son like you…" She murmured before hugging him again. "And I swear to gosh I see you going it alone against pterosaurs again I will shank you."
"Noted… What's the status on Yokai?" He grabbed a pack of bullets out of a safe in the room loading up his gun.
"Baymax you will be nicknamed for life if you make that a habit for the next hour. Your mom already has." Fred remarked as he typed furiously trying to find any trace of the Indominus.
Come on… Where are you…?
Hiro looked up at Tadashi before going over to Fred looking over his shoulder.
"What are ya tracking…? Her heat signature…?"
"Yeah, but she's a sneaky one. She knows how to hide it for some reason."
Tadashi looked to Cass. "Isn't there someone who can tell you how that's possible?"
"Callaghan was killed… But.." She hummed in thought. "... Banner. Hold on!"
"Make it snappy." Fred called out to her. He wanted this thing caught and he wanted to be there when ACU finally took her down.
"Fred if you find her I will reinstate your handler status personally!"
"And I can put a cape on Rexy?"
"Even a freaking top hat just FIND it!"
Fred smirked cracking his knuckles determination renewed.
"This one's for you Rexy."
Fred narrowed his eyes before his scanners finally landed on a moving dot on the screen. A moving dot that showed the same DNA that Yokai had.
"Found her."
"Where's she heading?" Max asked slinging his gun over his shoulder.
Fred scowled.
"The veterinary building, specifically the pen where Oni's being contained… You might wanna give Abigail a warning before she loses them both."
Max's eyes grew wide.
"... Release my girls."
He started to run out as it sunk in, in Fred's mind.
"WHAT!?"
"I said…" Max looked back a look of doom in his eyes.
"RELEASE THE RAPTORS!"
Fred looked at the control panel before he got up shoving Tadashi into the seat. "It's the green button with four raptor silhouettes on it to open their pens. You got complete view of the park with the cameras." He told him as he got a headset and a weapon of his own, Tadashi's shock prod that he had finally set down.
"Wait what are you doing?!"
He looked back.
"We need more teeth. Four tiny raptors aren't gonna do anything alone."
Hiro gulped.
"Paddock 9 right?"
"Paddock 6 to be exact actually…"
The brothers were alone now, swallowing hard. Hiro found another headset and slipped it on.
"Well Tadashi… We got a shot here… Right?"
"We're not letting them down." Tadashi took a shaky breath before he and Hiro both slammed down the button.
On the screen the raptor squad's paddock gate swung open as the four raptors rushed out with a cry.
"I hope we don't regret this…"