Earth-New Beginning
Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 25: Dinosaurs
"I see you two finally dried off," Raced teased the boys as he put cups of Hot Cocoa on the table when Jonny and Hadji emerged from their room.
After warming up in the shower and putting on new clothes, Jonny sat down and selected a mug, taking an appreciate sip. Sweet chocolate filled his mouth. "Thanks, Race."
"The vipers were very interesting." Hadji took the other, wrapping his hands around it before taking a drink. Jonny noticed his brother had removed his turban and allowed his dark hair to rest on his shoulders.
Bandit sat on the floor wagging his tail. Jonny reached down and scratched behind the dog's ears. "Where's Jessie?" he asked Race.
"Helping out in the lab." Race sat down with a mug of his own. "Maddy Shannon convinced my daughter to become an intern." He chuckled. "She couldn't wait to get started."
"She always wanted to be a scientist." Hadji looked over his cup at Jonny, who shrugged.
"She'll probably make more astounding discoveries here than she ever would at home." Jonny grinned. "We'll never hear the end of it."
"Where's Father?" Hadji asked after glancing around.
"Assisting Dr. Shannon." When Race didn't offer more explanation, Jonny knew better than to ask, despite being curious.
Race took a drink, placing his mug on the table. "You two thought about what you'd like to do here? There seem to be lots of apprenticeships."
"I am thinking," Hadji answered. "Of perhaps offering my services in the lab, as I did for Dr. Quest."
Hadji seemed to enjoy tedious lab work. Jonny didn't.
"They'd be lucky to have you," Race agreed. "What about you Jonny?"
"I like going OTG." More adventure and Jonny craved it.
"You mean lots of ways to get into trouble." Race gave him a knowing smile.
"Well, what about you Race?" Jonny countered. They didn't really need him to guard them anymore although he'd been around he was more like a favorite uncle or sometimes a second father.
"Thinking about joining Taylor's security team and plan on talking to Jim Shannon about it." He took another drink, his steel blue eyes focused on the door or perhaps what he was thinking about doing.
Jonny knew the tactic well. Race wanted to know what they thought.
His brother asked, "What does Father think?"
Race shrugged. "I think your father will be fine with whatever I decide to do."
"As a team we have lots to offer." Jonny could see some possible uses for their abilities. "Guess we should put them to use." After all, they were never going back to their time and that suited him just fine.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Sheba grumbled as her paw hit yet another puddled. She glanced up a Laura as if accusing her of the indignity.
"You didn't have to come," she told the Sabre cat. "I just wanted to check on Bola."
Underneath her cloak six little bodies huddled, brushing against her ankles as she walked. Laura had tried to leave them at the house, but they refused to stay and cried when she left them alone. She'd had no choice except to allow them to come along.
At the gate she stopped, the rain falling like a waterfall over rocks. Mud rivers flowed under the poles and down the large expanse before the colony obscuring the normal tire created road. The sentry jogged up to her and she shook her head. She had no intention of leaving.
Bola trundled over, huffed though his nostrils. Putting her arm through the poles, she patted his strong leg. "You should go back to the herd."
The brachiosaurus snorted, his narrow face seeming to say he thought her idea crazy. He lumbered around the perimeter in search of leaves.
She shook her head with a quiet laugh. "Come on Sheba and babies." The sabre cat dashed toward home and the trip back took less time than arriving to check on the Bola had.
Except, the cat wasn't headed back to their bungalow. Instead she turned into the new section sounding her snarling roar, easily heard even over the downpour.
"Oh, no." Laura hurried after the cat, the little brachiosaurus struggling to keep up.
She turned the corner and came face to face with a group of the colorful predators who had been tormenting the colony. Laura stopped, unsure what to do.
Sheba snarled, her large tan spotted body poised to attack.
They sprang all at once, trying to overpower the cat. She'd been the greatest threat to them Laura knew and she wondered if they'd set this trap deliberately to get rid of Sheba.
Sheba smacked one, its body sliding across the mud, huge blood slashes in its side. She sank her teeth into another one as another jumped on the cat's back.
"Sheba!" she yelled.
Two sets of eyes centered on her, ignoring their intended prey. They advanced on her and Laura couldn't decide if she should run, surrender to the inevitable or fight. Why hadn't she brought her knife?
"Don't move," she heard Taylor command.
Rifles clicked behind her as soldiers advanced, firing at the reptiles who hissed at the unexpected attack. They turned heading back the way they came. Reynolds and several others took off after them.
"You all right?" the commander asked.
"Fine." Her main concern was for Sheba's welfare. "Sheba?" She didn't dare approach the injured sabre cat. She'd caught one and had its neck in her mouth.
"Should we do anything?" Jim Shannon stood beside her.
"No." Laura could tell by Sheba's body language how furious she was. "Leave her be. She'll take her kill someplace and eat it."
"I'll pass the word," Taylor promised. "Would you like an escort back to your bungalow?"
She shook her head. "I'll be fine."
Tiny bodies shivered against her legs. She needed to get them to safety. Next time, no matter how much they cried, they were staying penned up and out of any potential danger.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"You're looking better," a very attractive woman in a white coat said as she entered John's room. Her accent sounded British. "I'm Dr. Elisabeth Shannon."
"Thanks." John could tell she was exhausted.
"You'll be happy to know that everyone in the cryro tubes are doing well. They should be up and around by tomorrow."
Images flashed up around his bed and he started.
"Just taking a look at your readings," she reassured him. "You're doing very well."
"How come my mind is muddled?"
"Probably an after effect." She flashed a blue light in his eyes. "Felling dizzy? Nauseous?"
"Confused." He had no idea how they'd gotten there and had hoped the doctor could give him so information.
"To be expected. I'm sure your memory will clear up." The lights flickered off. "Commander Taylor will want to talk with along with my husband Jim Shannon. They're the leaders of our colony."
"Where is your colony?"
"I'll let them explain it to you."
"Are we on another planet?"
She hesitated. "Not exactly."
He frowned. The doctor was being as vague as the girl who shared his last name. "Does anyone give a straight answer around here?"
"I promise you will get your answers or at least what we know." She smiled. "We're hoping you can give us a few."
He rubbed his forehead, his thoughts in turmoil. "You mentioned the others. Who else is here?"
"We don't know yet. They haven't regained consciousness. I'll have a nurse bring you some food."
She headed for the door.
"Wait."
"Yes?" Her lovely eyes watched him expectantly.
John wished his mind could form some coherent thoughts. "Anything I should know?" He could hear the bugles.
"I suggest you stay in bed and let the nurses know if you need anything. It's raining and I don't you're ready to meet any of our resident dinosaurs." She darted out.
He blinked. Dinosaurs?