Hey….What? Me, gone for a long time? Pssh, you're imagining things.
Jokes aside, there was a good reason. I realized that I was way too busy, so I began stockpiling chapters instead of publishing them. Now that I am not super busy, and have gotten a chance to look over the chapters, I will be updating on a normal schedule. Look forward to at least 15 chapters uninterrupted!
Schedule for this story is up on my Profile page, so please go look at that if you have any questions. The posted schedules take effect next Sunday, or 06/18/17.
"…so you're saying that Blue and Delta fought for dominance?" I was sitting on the steps of Owen's bungalow as we talked about the Raptors, my eyes avoiding him. As per usual, he was sans shirt.
"Hand me that oil rag," he motioned to it. Handing it over to him, I looked over his bike. I was never a Harley fan, but I had to admit it was a nice bike. He wiped his hands. "Yeah, it was nasty. Luckily we had seen warning signs and were able to separate them pretty quick." Standing up, he stretched languidly. I blushed, once again averting my eyes. Darn my virginal mindset. "After that though, they never once fought. Blue became the beta."
"Huh," I said, thinking. Did that mean if we put Ten and Lu back together, they wouldn't fight? It was worth noting and sending to Masrani on my next meet up with him, or at least mentioning to Henry later. I was drawn out of my thoughts by the purr of an engine. Coming down the road was a familiar car, but I was baffled to see it. What on Earth was Claire doing here?
Claire stepped out of her car and Owen looked at her askance. "What do they want now?" I snickered at the childish groan and he gave me a look.
"Mr. Grady?" Claire stepped across the grass, pausing when she saw me. "Sam." I smiled at her; while overbearing, she wasn't an awful person. Kara could attest to that. "Mr. Grady, I need you to come take a look at something." Owen was watching her, eyes considering.
"Why is she on a first name basis and I'm not?"
"Because you are an idiot, Mr. Grady." I snorted. I had not been expecting that from Miss Prim and Proper herself. "Now, if you're not too busy." Owen motioned at me and I handed him his Coke.
"Well, I'm pretty busy." Claire sighed, her eyes firmly on Owen's face. Glad to see I wasn't the only one he affected.
"We have an attraction," Claire began and Owen snorted, taking a swig of his Cola. Claire rolled her eyes. "I'm talking about the dinosaurs, Mr. Grady," She said, her voice akin to a mother talking to a slow child. "A new species we've made…" I lifted my head up. They were talking about the Indominus Rexes; I had heard from Henry that they were moving to the next phase. It stung a bit that they wanted Owen on the case and not me, but I pushed my pride aside. After successfully working with the raptors for this long, I would think he would be the best person to inspect the paddock for possible errors, given the similarities between the two.
Owen looked at me. "You just went and made a new dinosaur?" I shrugged apologetically at him and he huffed.
"Yeah, it's kind of what we do here." Claire's voice was exasperated and when I looked at her she motioned to him. I shrugged at her, just like with Owen. This was more than a professional spat; I sensed history. "The exhibit opens to the public in three weeks. Mr. Masrani wanted me to consult with you." She paused looking at me. "He wants to see you in his office today as well, Sam. Talk about observed behaviors." I nodded, standing up and brushing my pants off.
"Do you know around what time?" Owen looked at me curiously, and I knew what he was thinking. Not often a lowly employee went to talk with Masrani personally.
"As soon as possible." Claire replied, turning her attention back to Owen. I waved goodbye, slowly walking down the path from Owen's bungalow to the main road.
"So do you want to consult here or in my bungalow?" I stumble. That was an oddly straightforward proposition; felt more like a jab.
"It's not funny." Owen laughed as he leapt up the stairs of his place. I sped up walking, sensing the oncoming spat.
"A little funny." Oh yeah. There was definitely history there.
"I cannot afford to put them both in the same enclosure on a hunch, Sam." Masrani shot down my suggestion.
"Sir, the current enclosure that Lu is in is not suited for a creature her size, or her intelligence. After observing the Raptors, I feel that the Indominus Rexes picked up quite a bit of the raptor behaviors. If the fight between them was indeed a battle for dominance, putting them together now would result in no conflict." I put my hands on his desk, leaning forward entreatingly.
Masrani sighed, leaning back. "I want to believe you, but the wounds…Lu, you called her? Lu sustained were not minor. We were at risk of losing her, a multi-billion dollar investment." I groaned, dropping into my seat, rubbing my face.
"You don't think I know that? I made these guys with Henry, I know just how tough they are. I was there for Lu's surgery." I steepled my hands together. "Sir. I would not put them together if I was not sure that they would be safe." Masrani watched me, considering my words.
"I know that you believe that this would work, but we just cannot risk it." Opening a drawer, he pulled out a file and slid it across the desk to me. "These are the renovation plans for the second enclosure. While putting them together is not an option, I'm giving the decoration of the enclosure to you. Make it as comfortable for her as possible." He leaned back. "Once we finish with the first enclosure, I would like you to redesign the interior there as well. No one knows these animals like you do, Sam."
I gave a smile. That was so Masrani. He may be the owner of a multitrillion-dollar corporation and an invaluable park with countless money making opportunities, but he never forgot that he was working with living creatures. He made a point of visiting the enclosures at least once a month, to inspect the creatures for "happiness".
He stood up. "I am planning on heading down to the Brachiosaur Nursery, to check on the little ones." Uh huh, Masrani. Sure you were checking on them. Had nothing to do with how cute they were at that age. "Would you like to accompany me, Sam?" I laughed and stood up to follow him.
Hey, what could I say? While I may be a sucker for baby carnivores, the baby Brachs were cute too.
Should be a chapter up next week as well, now that it is summer and I've set an alarm to post these. Hope to see you all next week, when things heat up!