Return

Its electric motor whirring and rumbling, the cart raced forward down the dark underground tunnel. Sonic drove fast and hard, his foot to the floor. The tunnel was featureless except the occasional air vent above, shaded to protect against rainfall, and thus permitting little light to enter. But he noticed- a new feature among the not so surprising discoveries this weekend- that there were crusty white animal droppings in many places. Obviously lots of animals had been in here.

Sitting beside him in the cart, Cream shone the flashlight to the back, were the velociraptor lay. "You sure that thing can't hurt us?"

"He can't Cream," Tails explained, "Dr. Grant shot him with a dart."

"Is that why it's having trouble breathing?"

"Yes," Sonic said.

"Will it die."

"I sure hope not."

"Why are we taking it?" Cream asked.

"To prove to the people back at the center that the dinosaurs are really breeding," Sonic said.

"How do you know they are breeding again?"

Sonic chuckled, it never ceased to amuse him, how children could ask so many questions. "Because this one is young," he said, "And it's a boy dinosaur."

"Is it?" Cream asked, peering closer with the flashlight beam.

"Yes. Now shine the light up here would you?" He held out his wrist, turning his watch to her, "What does it say?"

"It says….ten-fifteen."

"Okay, thank you Cream."

"You're welcome Dr. Grant!" Cream replied cheerfully happy to be of use.

Tails tapped his chin, "Ten-fifteen, that mean we have only forty-five minutes to contact the boat."

"We should be close," Sonic said, "I figure we should be almost to the visitor center right now." He wasn't sure to be honest, but he sensed the tunnel was gently titling upward, leading them back to the surface, and hopefully-

"Wow!" Tails said.

They burst out into the daylight with shocking speed. There was a light mist blowing, obscuring the building that loomed directly above them. Sonic saw at once that it was the visitor center. They had arrived right in front of the garage!

"Yay!" Cream cheered, "We did it! We made it! Yay!" She bounced up and down in her seat. Sonic laughed as he parked the cart in the garage. Tails cheered, "Ha! We showed those dinosaurs who's boss!" Sonic grinned, "We did didn't we?" he said as he helped Cream out.

There was a stack of animal cages along one of the walls. They put the velociraptor in one, with a dish of water. Then they started to climb the stairs to the ground-floor entrance of the visitor center.

"I'm gonna eat a hamburger!" Tails said, "Or maybe a chilidog! I'm starved!"

"Me too!" Creams said, "And french fries! Chocolate milk shake! No more dinosaurs! Yay!" They came to the lobby, happy and triumphant, and they opened the door.

And they fell silent.

In the lobby of the visitor center, everything was in complete disarray. The glass doors had been shattered, and a cold gray mist blew through the cavernous main hall. A sign that read WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH dangled from one hinge, creaking in the wind. The big tyrannosaur robot was upended and lay with its legs in the air, its tubing and metal innards exposed. Outside, there was nothing but silence, only rows of palm trees, shadowy shapes in the fog.

Sonic gulped. The happiness was gone, his stomach twisted in knot. Something was not right. His eyes fell among the metal security desk. His eyes drifted lower, and locked onto the sight of a body. His ears tucked back and his blood went cold. Something had happened here, something bad. Things here were extremely wrong.

He led the children over to the desk. The children huddled against the desk. Sonic took the radio from the guard, and tried all the channels. "Hello, this is Grant. Is anybody there? Hello, this is Grant."

Cream stated at the body of the guard, lying on the floor to the right. From where she sat, she could only see the legs and feet.

"Don't look at it Cream." Sonic said, before turning back to the radio, "Hello this is Grant. Hello?"

Cream leaned forward, peering around the edge of the desk. Grant grabbed her sleeve. "Hey. Stop that!"

"Is he dead Dr. Grant?" What's that stuff on the floor? Blood?"

"Yes,"

"How come it isn't red?"

"You're morbid you know that," Tails said.

"What's morbid? And I am not!" Cream snapped.

"Guys shhh, please stop." Sonic sighed.

The radio crackled, and a voice poured forth, "My God," said the voice, "Grant? Is that you?"

Sonic's eyes lit up, "Malcolm? Yes! It's me Grant!"

"Oh thank God! Almost everyone here thought you were dead! Do you have the kids?"

"Yes, I have the kids. We are all okay, just a few bumps and bruises," Sonic smiled, "Glad to know you are alive, I thought you were dead."

"… Hmm I'm alive for now, good to know about the kids," there was a pause before he spoke away from the radio, "it's Grant!"

There was a shuffling then, "Alan? Alan?" It was Shelly.

"I'm here," Sonic said.

"Oh thank God!" Shelly gasped, "I was so worried, are you alright?"

"I'm alright, yes."

"What about the kids? Have you seen them?"

"I have them with me," Sonic said, "They're okay."

"Thank God!"

"Shelly is everything alright?" Cream was crawling around the side of the desk. Sonic slapped her ankle, "Get back here."

The radio crackled "- n where are you?"

"In the lobby. In the lobby of the main building. Where are you? Is everything alright."

Over the radio, he recognized the voice of Wu, "Oh Chaos. They're here."

"Sonic, listen," Shelly said. "The raptors have gotten loose. They can open doors. They might be in the same building as you."

His heart froze for a millisecond. His ears tucked back tighter, that would explain the knot in his stomach earlier. The lobby suddenly seemed to have a menacing look about it, and he twitched at the slightest sound. He closed his eyes and sighed, "Great just great. Where are you?"

"We're at the lodge."

Sonic said, "And the others? Muldoon, everybody else?"

"We've lost a few people," Shelly said, "But we got everybody else over to the lodge."

"Alright, are the telephones working?"

"No, the whole system is shut off. Nothing works."

He sighed, "Okay….How do we get the blasted system back on?"

"We've been trying."

"We have to get it back on," Sonic said, "Right away. If we don't, within half an hour the raptors will have reached the mainland."

He started to explain about the boat when Muldoon cut him off. "I don't think you understand, Dr. Grant. We haven't got half an hour left, over here."

"How's that?"

"Some of the raptors followed us. We have two on the roof now."

"So? The building is impregnable."

Muldoon coughed, "Apparently not. It was never expected that animals would get up on the roof." The radio crackled. "-must have planted a tree too close to the fence. The raptors got over the fence, and onto the roof. Anyway, the steel bars on the skylight are supposed to be electrified, but of course the power's off. They're biting through the bars of the skylight."

Sonic's eye twitched, "Biting…" He frowned, trying to imagine it, "How fast." Damn the universe was so against him right now.

"Yes," Muldoon said, "they have a bite pressure of fifteen thousand pounds a square inch. They're like hyenas, they can bite through steel and- "The transmission was lost for a moment.

"How fast?" Sonic asked again.

Muldoon said, "I'd guess we've got another ten, fifteen minutes before the break throught completely and come through the skylight into the building. And once they're in….Ah, just a minute Dr. Grant."

The radio clicked off.

"Muldoon? Malcolm? Shelly? Anyone!" Sonic said.

But the radio remained silent.

In the skylight above Malcolm's bed, the raptors had chewed through the first of the steel bars. One raptor gripped the end of the bar and tugged, pulling it back. It put its powerful hind limb on the skylight and the glass shattered, glittering down like sharp snow on Malcolm's bed below. Shelly and Amy reached over and removed the largest of the fragments from the bed.

"Chaos, they're ugly," Shadow said, looking up.

Now that the glass was broken and gone, they could hear the snorts and snarls of the raptors, the squeal of their teeth on the metal as they chewed. Foamy saliva spattered onto the sheets and the bedside table.

"At least they can't get in yet," Shelly said, "Not until they chew through another bar."

Charmy said, "If Grant could somehow get to the maintenance shed…"

"Bloody hell," Knuckles said. He limped around the room on his sprained ankle. "He can't get there fast enough. He can't get the power on fast enough. Not to stop this."

"Yes," Shadow said, before going into a fit of coughs, "Yes," he said again his voice almost a wheeze.

Muldoon turned , "What did he say?"

"Yes," Shadow repeated, "Can…"

"Can what?"

"Distraction…." He winced.

"What kind of distraction?" Charmy said.

"Go to ,,,,the fence…"

"Yes?" Silver urged, "And do what?"

A weak smile twitched on Malcolm's lips. "Stick….your hands through."

"Oh Chaos," Knuckles said, turning away.

"Wait a minute," Charmy said, "He's right. There are only two raptors here. This means there at least four more out there. We could go out and provide a distraction."

"And then what?"

"And then Grant would be free to go to the maintenance building and turn on the generator."

"And then go back to the control room and start up the system?"

"Exactly."

"No time," Knuckles said, "No time."

"But if we can lure the raptors down here," Charmy argued, "maybe even get them away from the skylight….It might work. Worth a try."

"Bait," Knuckles said slowly,

"Exactly."

"Who's going to be bait? I'm no good. My ankle's shot."

"I'll do it," Charmy said.

"No," Muldoon said, "You're the only one who knows what to do about the computer, You need to talk Grant through the start-up."

"Then I'll do it," Silver said.

"No," Shelly said standing, "Malcolm will need you. I'll do it."

"Hell, I don't think so," Knuckles said, "You're-"

"We talk survival of the sexes later," Shelly frowned, "I'll do it."

"You'd have raptors al around you, raptors on the roof…"

But she was already bending over, lacing her running shoes. "Just don't tell Grant." She said. "It'll make him nervous."

The lobby was quiet, chilly fog drifting past them. Sonic was tense twitching at the slightest sound. The radio had been dead for several minutes. Time shifted, "Why aren't they talking to us?"

"I'm hungry," Cream mumbled.

Sonic ran his finger through her hair, "I know Cream, just hang on a little longer for me kay?" He looked at Tails, "They're trying to plan," Sonic said, "At least that's what I hope they are doing."

The radio crackled to life, "Grant, are you- rmy Wu speaking. Are you there?"

"I'm here," Sonic said.]

"Listen," Wu said, "Can you see to the rear of the visitor building from where you are?"

Sonic looked through the rear glass doors, to the palm trees and the fog.

"Yes," Sonic said.

Wu said, "There's a path straight to through the palm trees to the maintenance building. That's where the power equipment and generators are. I believe you saw the maintenance building yesterday?"

"Yes," Sonic said. Though he was momentarily puzzled. Was it yesterday that he had looked into the building? It seemed like years ago.

"Now listen," Wu said, "We thing we can get all the raptors down here by the lodge, but we aren't sure. So be careful. Give us five minutes."

"Okay," Sonic said.

"You can leave the kids in the cafeteria, and they should be fine. Take the radio with you when you go."

"Kids to the cafeteria, take the radio with me, wait five minutes, got it," Sonic said.

"Turn it off before you leave, so it doesn't' make any noise outside. And call me when you get to the maintenance building."

"Okay."

Sonic turned the radio off. Cream crawled up to him, "Are we going to the cafeteria?"

"Yes," Sonic said. They got up, and started walking through the blowing mist in the lobby.

"I want a hamburger." Cream said.

"I don't think there's any electricity to cook with."

"Then ice cream,"

"Tails you are going to have to stay and help her."

"I will,"

"I've got to leave for a while," Sonic said.

Tails looked up at him, "I know."

They moved to the cafeteria entrance. On opening the door, Sonic saw a square dining-room tables and chairs, swinging stainless-steel doors beyond. Nearby a cash register and a rack with gum and candy.

"Okay, kids. I want you to stay here no matter what. Got it?"

"Leave the radio with us," Cream said,

"I can't. I need it. Just stay here. I'll only be gone about five minutes. Okay?"

Cream paused, "Okay."

Sonic smiled ruffling her hair and turned away. He closed the door. The cafeteria became completely dark. Cream grabbed onto Tails's hand. "Turn on the lights," she said.

"I can't," Tails said. "There is no electricity remember?" as he pulled down his night vision goggles.

"That's fine for you, What about me?"

"Just hold my hand. We'll get some food." He led her forward. In the green vision of the goggles he saw the tables and chairs. To the right, the glowing green cash register, and the rack of gum and candy. He grabbed a handful of candy bars.

"I told you," Cream said, "I want ice cream, not candy."

"Take these anyway."

"Ice cream Tails."

He sighed, "Okay, okay."

Tails stuffed the candy bars in his pocket, and led Cream deeper into the dining room. She tugged on his arm, "I can't see spit." She said.

"Just walk with me. Hold my hand."

"Then slow down."

Beyond the tables and chairs was a pair of swinging doors with little round windows in them. They probably led to the kitchen. He pushed one door open and held it wide.

Shelly Sattler stepped outside the front door to the lodge, and felt the chilly mist on her face and legs. She tucked her red hair behind her ear, taking a deep breath. Her heart was thumping, even though she knew she was completely safe behind the fence. Even though there was the matter of the raptors on the roof. Directly ahead, she saw the heavy bars in the fog.

However, she couldn't see much beyond the fence. Another twenty years and the landscape turned milky white, swallowed by a white blanket. In addition, she didn't see any raptors at all. In fact, the gardens and the trees were almost eerily silent. "Hey!" she shouted out into the fog, tentatively.

Knuckles leaned against the doorframe. "I doubt that'll do it." He said. "You've got to make noise." He hobbled out carrying a steel rod from the construction inside. He banged the rod against the fence like a dinner gong. "Come on and get it! Dinner is served!"

"Very funny," Shelly said. She glanced nervously at the roof. She saw no raptors.

"They don't understand English." Knuckles grinned. "But I imagine they get the general idea…"

She was still nervous, and found his humor somewhat annoying. She looked toward the visitor building, cloaked in fog. Knuckles resumed banging in the bars. At the limit of her vision, almost lost in the fog, she saw a ghostly pale animal. A raptor.

"First customer," Knuckles said.

The raptor disappeared, a white shadow, and then came back, but it did not approach any closer, and it seem strangely incurious about the noise coming from the lodge. She was starting to worry. Unless she could attract the raptors to the lodge, Sonic would be in danger.

"You're making to much noise," Shelly said.

"Bloody hell I am," Knuckles growled.

"Well, you are."

"I know these animals-"

She crossed her arms, "You've been drinking. You're drunk." She said, "Let me handle it."

"And how will you do that?"

She did not answer him. She went to the gate. "They say raptors are intelligent."

"They are. At least as intelligent and chimps."

"They have good hearing?"

"Yes, excellent hearing."

"Maybe they'll know this sound." She said, and opened the gate. The metal hinges, rusted from the constant mist, creaked loudly. She closed it again, then opened it with another creak.

She left it open.

"I wouldn't do that," Muldoon said. "You're going to do that, let me get the launcher."

"Get the launcher then."

He sighed, suddenly remembering, "Gennaro had the shells."

"Well then," she said, "Keep an eye out." And she went through the gate, stepping outside the bars. He heart was pounding so hard she could barely feel her feet on the dirt. She moved away from the fence, and it disappeared frighteningly fast in the fog. Soon it was lost behind her.

Just as she expected, Knuckles began shouting at her in drunken agitation. "Damn it, girl, don't you do that!" he bellowed.

"Don't call me 'girl'" she shouted back.

"I'll call you any damn thing I want!" he shouted.

She wasn't listening. She was turning slowly, her body tense, watching from all sides, ready to move at the slightest sound. She was at least twenty yards from the fence now, and she could see the mist drifting like a light rain past the foliage. She stayed away from the foliage, she knew better than that. She moved through a world of shades of gray. The muscles in her legs and shoulder ached from the tension. Her eyes strained to see.

"Do you hear me, damn it?" Muldoon yelled.

How good were these animals? She wondered. Good enough to cut off my retreat? There wasn't much distance back to the fence, not really-

They attacked.

There was no sound.

The first animal charged from the foliage at the base of a tree to the left. It sprang forward and she turned and ran. The second attack from the other side, clearly intending to catch her in her escape. It leapt at her, claws raised to attack. She sprinted forward like no tomorrow, leaving the animal to crash into the dirt. Now she was flat out running, not even daring to look back, her breaths were coming in heavy gasps now. All see remember was seeing the bars if the fence emerge from the haze, seeing Muldoon throw the gate wide, seeing him reaching for, shouting to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her through so hard she was yanked off her feet and fell to the ground.

She grunted at she landed on the sharp gravel, wincing in pain. She turned just in time to see first one, then two-then three- animals hit the fence snarling and growling.

"Good work," Knuckles shouted. He was taunting the animals now, snarling back, and it drove them wild. The flung themselves at the fence, leaping forward, and one of them nearly made it over the top. "Chaos, that was close! These beasties can jump!"

She got to her feet, he legs shaky. She looked at the scraped and bruises, the blood running down her legs. All she could think was three animals here, in addition, to the two on the roof… That meant one was still missing, somewhere.

"Come on and help me," Knuckles called breaking her thoughts, "Let's keep 'em interested!"

Sonic left the visitor center and moved quickly forward, into the mist. He found the path among the palm trees and followed it north. Up ahead, the rectangular maintenance shed emerged from the fog.

There was no door that he could see at all. He walked on, around the corner. Sonic saw a loading dock for trucks. He scrambled up, glancing back nervously for raptors, before turning back to a vertical rolling door of steel, it was locked. "Damn." He jumped down again and continued around the building. Farther ahead, to his right, Sonic saw and ordinary door just to his right. It was propped open with a man's shoe.

Sonic stepped inside and squinted in the darkness. He listened, and heard nothing. He picked up the radio and turned it on.

"This is Grant," he said, "I'm inside."

Haha okay I totally jinxed myself. But we all knew the kids and Sonic were not going to be left out of the fun with the raptor right? Right? Anyway this chapter is shorter but that's okay it makes my fingers hurt a lot less. Oh no! I just realized, Grant went into the maintenance shed. Where Mighty and Omega met their fate with the raptor, oh no, what will we do? LOL.

I'd like to thank you all for sticking with me for twenty whole chapters. Yes I know fanfiction says its chapter twenty one but the author's note does not count. So...

Holy Tweny Chapter Batman!

lol Thanks for all your patience, since this is the final home stretch I'm going to be pumping these last few chapters out as fast as I can, so expect a new one every few days or so. Then when we get to number two things will slow back down again.

So stay tuned for the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed this one.

See you soon!