Chapter 6:
Once I'd gotten back to the hotel and used their shower, I then changed into some of the clothes they had available in my room and I looked at myself in my mirror afterwards. I still looked like a total nerd with my thick glasses and my freckled face, but the new attire made me smile. I looked like a female version of the main character if they'd chosen a T-Rex as their favorite Vivosaur and if they had normal hair. As for my hairstyle, I let mine flow naturally, since it was very curly and hard to keep down. And when the sun had finally gone down the whole way, I heard a knocking at my window. Though I did make sure to put the idol on the shelf. I trusted that Duna wouldn't try to steal it while training me... hopefully. I then looked out the window and saw Duna outside of it in her human form. I opened the window and Duna then entered my room, her looking at me as she then turned into her dinosaur form.
"You made sure the door was locked, right?" she asked, me nodding.
"It is. Should I close the blinds on the window, too?" I asked.
"No need. I need jump across the rooftops to get here," Duna said, her being as serious as ever.
"So... should we start in here?... Will we have enough room?" I asked.
"No, we won't. Our battle forms would be too big for this tiny room to hold. Follow me out the window. No one will be able to see us," Duna said, me nodding as she then led me out the window and I saw the area we were at was the back of the hotel... and it was on a balcony. She then led me down the ladder to a clearing behind the hotel that I saw was directly next to the entry of Knotwood Forest. "Before we get started, I need you to tell me something. Have you changed form at all since that first instance? And if so, how?" Duna asked.
"I've changed form twice since then, but only when I got very mad. Also, a few other things to note, any fossil I touch that's coated in rock and dirt is immediately cleaned and in mint condition... but if I touch them when I'm a Zino, they can't be cleaned to mint by touching them, so I needed to clean 'em the old fashioned way," I explained, Duna tilting her head at that.
"I see... anyways, I'm going to try and teach you how to better control your... Zino form. At the very least, it looks like you're able to see perfectly fine when you transform, thanks to your glasses. But in order to transform and use your dinosaur form properly, you're going to need to learn how to control both your anger, and your calmness," Duna said as I simply smiled.
"Well, gonna be honest, if you hadn't given me those pills, I'd be angry and irritable 24/7... it's some kind of disorder I have," I admitted.
"Alright. I'm going to need you to think of something that makes you angry, but it can't be too anger-inducing. If you think of something that was too infuriating, you'll go into an uncontrollable rampage when you transform," Duna said, me gulping at that. Guess I'd be ignoring my old life after all, since I got furious at anything from grade school to adulthood.
"Okay..." I said, thinking to the moment that I got fired from my boss right before being warped to this world. And the moment I felt the anger, my body turned into a Zino, me growling when I did so and Duna then turning into her battle form as well. "There... I'm transformed. Now what?" I asked Duna.
"Now, we will battle. I'm weaker than most of our kind, due to me being a small stature while you are of a larger stature of 29 feet tall," Duna said, me not even realizing that until she said it.
"Huh... maybe that's because I'm a short person and I tend to lower my neck when I'm in this form? Because I never noticed I was that tall in Zino form until you said it," I asked in curiosity.
"Possibly, you are not used to the increase in size. You must attack me. Do not worry, our kind heal from wounds fairly quickly," Duna said as I then used the Reaper attack, it being a critical hit, as expected, and Duna hissing from it. "Good, now try to withstand an attack from me," Duna said as she then used her own attack, that being her first combo attack, me feeling the burn from her claws as I saw the scratches start to draw some blood, me seething a bit as I then looked at her with anger.
"That fucking hurt..." I growled as she simply smirked with a toothy grin.
"You'll get used to it if you have to fight an actual battle. But be careful, since you do have your own LP meter, like the dinosaurs you command. If it goes to 0, then you'll revert to your regular form and feel very winded," Duna said as I nodded. "Now, attack me again," she said, me doing that with another Reaper attack and her then going onto one knee as she then sighed.
"Uggh... I'm not used to critical hits... okay, that's enough training for tonight... now try to calm yourself. Think of things that make you happy or contented..." Duna said as she then turned back into her normal Dinaurian form as I then started to think of happy things. Rosie and Nevada, us being girlfriends, and being able to speak to Duna like she were a teacher and me the student. I returned to normal shortly after, though I did notice that the wounds weren't healed... but they weren't bleeding anymore, so that was good. "The wounds will heal up by the time you wake up tomorrow. Stay safe, okay? And try not to get into fights you can't win," Duna said as I simply nodded. She was about to go again, but she stopped in place as I noticed she looked to be thinking about wanting to say something. "And... I want to ask you one thing..." she said as she then turned around. "If anything happens that you may need my help with, take this and use it to call me. I'll try to get there as fast as I can," Duna said as she handed me a strange device... it looked very futuristic and had three buttons on it. Call, Teleport, and KO. "But try not to push any button other than the Call one. Okay?" she said, me frowning at that.
"And why not?" I asked, her sighing as she then simply turned back into her human disguise.
"I... I can't tell you... I'm not supposed to..." Duna said as I then spoke again. I decided to do something daring, since Duna was supposed to be a good egg.
"It's because you want me on your side, huh? The Dinaurians, right?" I asked. And when I said that word, she gasped and turned back into her dinosaur form just from the surprise.
"H-How do you... how did... who told you that word?" Duna asked as I simply smiled at her.
"How about this. I'll tell you, but on one condition," I said, her looking at me with confusion. "You're going to travel with me to the Rivet Ravine tomorrow in your human disguise. And you're going to try to learn why I want the human race to live on. Why should humans go extinct when you guys could just share the planet with us?" I asked, Duna stammering at that before then simply frowning and rubbing her hair with her hand.
"Fine... tell me," Duna said as I then looked around and then went close to her ear and spoke.
"I know everything about the Dinaurians, their plans, and about the Sub-Idolcomps that you hired the BB Bandits to find... because, before I was warped to this place from a different universe, everything that has happened so far has been a part of a video game," I said, Duna looking at me in confusion.
"What... What's a video game?" she asked.
"It's basically an electronic device that you can look at and push buttons to do certain actions. Some have stories, some don't. Some are fun, some aren't. This whole story was part of a game called Fossil Fighters," I said, Duna frowning at me.
"Answer me three questions so I can believe you," she said, me nodding at that. "Who is the leader of the Dinaurians?"
"King Dynal."
"Why are the Dinaurians hoping to colonize the planet Earth?"
"Because your own home planet was eaten by a giant monster called Gunnash."
"What is my favorite food to eat?"
"Omelets."
Duna simply blushed at the last one and simply stomped her foot on the ground. "The only reason I know of the last one was because it had that information on you in the database... that you like omelets, that is," I smirked, Duna frowning.
"I see... so you know everything, then?... Then why tell me? Why tell someone who wants to eradicate the human race so we can colonize it?" Duna asked with a glare.
"Because I know that, deep down, you don't really want the humans to die. Besides, I'm the only one that has Dinaurian traits, since my being warped to this world changed my biology for some bizarre reason. Everyone else on this planet has no traces of Dinaurian whatsoever... oh, and something else, but keep this absolutely secret from everyone, including Dynal. The Sub-Idolcomps aren't going to eradicate humans. If they get activated, Gunnash is gonna come to eat the planet," I said, Duna's eyes going wide at that as she looked shell-shocked. "You can believe me or you can not, but I'm telling the truth..." I said as I then turned around and simply looked over my shoulder at her. "So I'll see you at the Rivet Ravine, then?"
Duna looked to be deep in thought at what I'd said, but eventually made a small squeak in her voice.
"Okay..." she said as I could feel it. She was very upset, but in a manner of how what I'd said had just completely rocked her world. "I'll keep quiet about this... but they expect me to deliver the Sub-Idolcomps at some point... what do I do?" Duna asked as I simply smiled.
"Just leave everything up to me. And lie if you have to so that they don't get suspicious... and tell them that you've managed to get me on your side, but only if I give all of the Sub-Idolcomps at once. I'll heel-turn when I got all of them," I said, Duna nodding. She then left without saying another word. I sighed as I then went back up the ladder and into the balcony again, feeling very tired from the fight I'd had as well as the sex session I had with Rosie and Nevada. I then simply got into the room, closed and locked the window, and fell asleep... though I did make sure the set the nearby alarm clock to wake me up at 6:30 in the morning. I didn't want to keep Nevada Montecarlo waiting, after all.
After learning everything that Zina Zori said was true, Duna was not only concerned, but also torn apart. She was a Dinaurian, not a human, but she did feel that killing them all off would be a mistake. She didn't dare tell Dynal any of her thoughts, mainly because he had a one-track mind when it came to his plans. And after learning that the Sub-Idolcomps would summon Gunnash to eat Earth, getting rid of EVERYTHING on that planet? She knew that she had to be cautious when it came to speaking to her king about her progress.
She approached the throne room with worry, but she knew she had to remain professional and not show anything. "King Dynal, I've come to give my status involving Zina Zori," Duna said, Dynal looking at her with a smile and a nod.
"Very well, Duna. What has been accomplished?" Dynal asked as Duna knew she had to lie about a lot of things.
"I managed to train her in how to properly control her Dinaurian traits... but she happened to figure out on her own that we were after the Sub-Idolcomps," Duna said, Dynal gasping at that. But Duna continued to speak. "But she said that she'd help us regardless, so long as a select few of her human allies will join us. She's going to try to find the rest of the Sub-Idolcomps, but she said she'd only give them to us when she'd acquired the full set of 4."
Dynal was nonetheless surprised at this turn of events, especially considering the mysteriousness of this weird human/Dinaurian hybrid. "Did anything else happen that I need to be aware of?" Dynal asked Duna, her sighing afterwards, mainly because she managed to convince him.
"Zina Zori has requested that, tomorrow, I am to assist her in the Rivet Ravine. She's unaware that a Sub-Idolcomp is located in the vicinity, but she wants me to go along so she can get to know me better... regardless, I shall stay in human disguise when I do so, as the place is full of humans," Duna stated, Dynal nodding at that.
"Very well, then. Be sure not to stay on the planet for too long, however. We don't know if the humans have any dangers in their atmosphere that could interfere with our technology," Dynal said firmly, Duna nodding in agreement at his requirement.
"But of course, your highness. I'm going to have a rest, now..." Duna said, Dynal nodding at her notion. Duna was more than happy to get some kind of rest. She needed to reflect on the recent happenings and revelations she'd experienced. But she decided to simply go to her own personal quarters, not on the ship, but on the planet Earth. She didn't tell anyone, but she found it was easier to sleep in a bed, rather than stone sleep. So, without telling anyone, she simply warped to the location of the teleport switch she'd given to Zina. She was going to sleep with her in her bed, since she felt safe there.
After a good night's rest, I yawned awake with a bit of sleepiness to my eyes. It was before the alarm clock was set, so I then turned it off and got on my glasses... and only then did I freak out. Someone was sleeping right next to me!
"WHOA!" I exclaimed in shock as I literally fell out of bed from how spooked I was. The mystery person then sat up and I breathed a sigh of relief. "Whew... hoogh... don't scare me like that, Duna. I almost had a heart attack!" I said as I had to catch my breath, the Dinaurian looking at me with a small smile as she simply changed into her human form.
"Sorry, I just felt like sleeping in a human bed for a change..." she said as I then felt the need to blush.
"But in my bed?" I asked, her nodding.
"I felt I'd feel safer if I slept with someone I trusted," Duna said, me being surprised at that bit, but nodding all the same.
"Well... how about, from now on, you ask before you want to sleep in my bed, okay? I felt my heart stop when I saw there was someone in bed with me," I admitted as Duna nodded.
"I'll let you know in the future, I promise," Duna said as I then simply got my teeth brushed in my vanity before then spitting over the balcony down to the dirt below.
"Okay, teeth brushed, heart rate returned to normal, now time to go to Rivet Ravine... and just to clarify, one of my girlfriends is going to be joining us. If she asks who you are, I'm allowed to tell her you're my teacher, right?" I asked, Duna tilting her head.
"You mean with your Dinaurian training?" she asked as I sighed.
"I told her and my other girlfriend, Rosie that you were like me, able to turn into a human and dinosaur form. And that you were going to teach me how to control my Zino form. I didn't mention anything else other than your name," I said, Duna nodding at that.
"Thanks... though, if I may ask, who else knows the truth about you, besides me?" she asked as I simply smiled.
"Well, you're the first, believe it or not... you're the only one in this world that I told the whole truth," I said, Duna nodding as we then got out of the room and took the elevator to the ground level.
"Okay... should I feel honored about that?" she asked.
"I'd say so," I said, Duna smirking at that.
"Thanks..." she said as we then made it into the lobby and the hotel manager looked at Duna in surprise.
"Um... Zina Zori? Who is this woman?" he asked me.
"She's my friend... she kinda arrived in my room via the balcony from the rear of the hotel. She's trying to teach me stuff at nighttime and she slept the night in my room. Is that okay?" I asked, him nodding.
"It's fine with me, though I'm not sure about your girlfriends' opinions," he said as I simply smiled.
"As of right now, she's just my teacher and a friend. I'm going to invite her to go to the Rivet Ravine with me," I smiled.
"So long as you protect her, you should be fine... oh, and if you happen to see a man named McJunker, tell him Estevon said hello," he said, me smirking at that. I was right to think of him as the bellhop from Zack and Cody.
"I'll keep it in mind," I smiled at him as we then left the hotel, me looking at the docks and seeing Nevada wasn't there as of yet. "Hey, Duna?" I asked, getting her to look at me. "Before we get going to the dig site, I want to introduce you to Rosie... but I was wondering if you'd be able to drop the disguise when we talk to her?" I asked, Duna blushing a bit as she then simply closed her eyes.
"Only if it's in private and away from prying eyes," Duna said.
"I can make that happen," I smirked. We then went to the west towards the Richmond Building, us going inside and seeing that Rosie was actually just coming out of her room.
"Oh! Is that you, Zina?... Wait... who's this?" Rosie asked as we approached her and I simply smiled.
"I'll introduce myself... but only in private, away from prying eyes," Duna said, Rosie tilting her head before then motioning us to her room. And when we were inside, Duna locked the door and Rosie then asked.
"Okay, who are you?" she asked... Duna then proceeded to let her disguise down, Rosie gasping and literally falling on her ass from surprise.
"Rosie, this is Duna. Duna, this is Rosie," I said. Rosie then gasping at that.
"Duna? Oh, you're the one that's going to train Zina about her dinosaur powers?... Now I understand why," Rosie said as I saw she looked a bit intimidated by Duna's reptilian, yet human appearance.
"My identity in this form must remain secret, however. I can't say why as of now, but it's important that I'm seen as a human by everyone when I'm out in public," Duna said, Rosie nodding at that.
"Also, I wanted to tell ya this, Rosie... but Duna kinda snuck into my room after our training session and... slept in my bed," I said, Rosie gasping at that and giving Duna the stink-eye.
"Um... is something the matter?" Duna asked as I simply held my hands up.
"Don't worry, Rosie, I was spooked when I woke up and felt her arms around my neck, mostly because I thought I slept alone that night," I said, Rosie sighing at that as I then looked at Duna. "And, Duna? The reason Rosie's upset is because... well, usually, when adults sleep in a bed together, especially when they're snuggling like you did to me, it's a sign of affection and love," I said, Duna humming at that.
"Apologies, then... I'm not really that well-versed in these kinds of things," Duna said.
"And why is that?" Rosie asked.
"Um..." Duna stammered, obviously wondering how to respond before I spoke for her. With an ingenious lie.
"Because she lives in the Digadig tribe, but usually goes around the island for certain things. And she doesn't have the Digadig dialect because of her half-dinosaur biology making her immune," I said, Duna looking at me with a smile. That was a very good lie... so long as the Digadig Chief wasn't questioned about it.
"Ah, that makes sense. So why is she here?" Rosie asked.
"Because I wanted to introduce her... she's going to be traveling with Nevada and me to Rivet Ravine for some fossil digging action," I smiled.
"Great! So what rank are you?" Rosie asked as Duna sighed.
"I don't really have one. I usually just run my way to the different areas in my dinosaur form... I'm half human and half Deltadromeus," Duna said, me smirking at that. She was right to say that, given how her battle form looked a lot like a recolored version of that dinosaur.
"Huh... well, if you're traveling with Nevada and Zina, I'm sure you'll be allowed on the boat. It's quicker," Rosie said, me smiling at that as I saw that the clock on my radar said that it was 7:30.
"Okay, time to go to the Rivet Ravine," I smiled, Duna nodding as she then turned back into her human disguise. "I'll catch ya later, Rosie. And remember, keep this a secret, okay?" I said, her nodding at me.
"And make sure you tell me if you want to make a move on her," Rosie said, me smirking and giving a thumbs-up, only for Duna to motion me out with red cheek syndrome.
"Make a move on me? You mean... romantically?" she asked, me nodding.
"Not gonna lie, I like mysterious girls just as much as cute ones," I said, Duna smirking at me.
"I'm not sure, though... I mean, I don't exactly have the same reproductive status as most others do," Duna frowned as I simply smiled.
"Don't worry about it, Duna. I'm sure it's nothing too bad," I smiled as Duna then simply did something I didn't expect. She ran us out of the Richmond Building and then she had us jump behind the complex... which I was shocked at how swiftly she moved as well as the G-Force from the jump! I'm not gonna lie, I shivered a bit from the impact. Duna then turned into her Dinaurian form again and did something I was... well, shocked by. She removed the clothes she had on that covered her underside and... underneath was BOTH reproductive organs!
"Uh... I see... you've got both to choose from," I said, her blushing before then putting her undergarments back on.
"Now do you get it?... Us Dinaurians aren't like humans. Even though we have genders, we're all hermaphrodites and we're born out of eggs... I'm unsure of what would happen if-" Duna was about to say before I shushed her with one finger over her mouth.
"Easy, Duna. You're getting into a tizzy worrying about something that doesn't bother me. I don't care about you having both. In fact, I don't mean to be risque, but I think it's kinda hot," I said, Duna blushing all over as she reverted to her human form again.
"Um... fine... but we're not going to do anything until our business in the Ravine is finished. And, like you said, you need to ask your own mate if you want to court with me, right?" Duna said, me nodding at that.
"Yep. As of now, we're just partners. But when we're done at the Ravine, AKA, after we find something important there, I'm going to ask Rosie about you joining the girls," I said, her smiling at that.
"Are you sure that they'd be okay with it, though?... And with me being... both?" Duna asked as I simply smiled.
"I haven't met a single person in this world, minus one, who has mocked me for my appearance. I doubt you'd be made fun of for it," I smiled.
"And who was the minus one?" she asked.
"One of the BB Bandits, Vivian," I said, Duna smirking at that. "Now let's get going. We don't want to leave Nevada waiting," I smirked as I then led Duna out of hiding and towards the docks on the east of the town.