Final part

Drew didn't waste time in grabbing his communicator. He yelled in it, "Leon, Jack, pull me up now!" However, the call fell on deaf ears; his only response was static. He didn't have time to reflect on this as the Dunkleosteus returned and rammed the cage again, sending him flying against the wall. As the creature emerged fully, Drew got his first good look at it. This was noticeably larger than the one he rescued last night, so this one had to be a female; females in many fish were bigger than males. He was about to reach for the remote when the giant fish rammed the cage again, causing him to nearly drop the remote through the bars. Thankfully the Dunkleosteus didn't notice the commotion. Unfortunately, Drew realised that one of his arms had been jammed into the bars and that he was, for all intents and purposes, trapped; in his current position, he couldn't reach the remote. He knew he shouldn't panic underwater; it caused you to lose air quicker. However, whoever said that had probably never been trapped in a cage with a giant fish trying to eat them.

As Adrian and Alice got closer to the giant fins, they noticed that their suspicions had been correct; the blood had drawn Hyneria to the location. Two gigantic fins cut the water, circling each other, following something moving in the water. Now Adrian and Alice realised what had drawn the fish to the areal; an injured Hynerpeton that the two predators had been fighting over. The large amphibian tried to swim to shore, but it was slowed down by its injured leg. A Hyneria lunged for the injured amphibian's tail, missing it by inches due to its competitor ramming it with its head, knocking it off balance. The Hynerpeton used this opportunity to swim up to the surface, and gave a loud, agonised bellow, hoping something would save it. However, it probably wasn't expecting two humans in a canoe to save it.

Watching the nightmarish scene open-mouthed, Alice yelled at Adrian, "Well don't just stand there! Help it!". Adrian didn't hesitate in reaching out at the struggling animal with his oar. The hynerpeton grabbed onto the oar and Adrian quickly pulled it in, before slowly placing the injured animal on the raft. As soon as the Hynerpeton was on the raft, Alice immediately began to bandage its leg to the best of her knowledge. She wasn't a vet and her attempts were amateur; she'd have to get one of the vets to look at it when they brought it back.

However, this didn't go unnoticed as one of the Hyneria charged at the raft. It raised its massive head above the water, as it tried to haul itself onto the boat, causing it to rock roughly back and forth. The Hynerpeton began rolling onto one side, but managed to avoid falling off due to his size, while Alice and Adrian had to constantly help each other to stay on board; falling in the water would be a death sentence. Soon the other Hyneria got involved, causing the raft to shake even more. Eventually, one Hyneria hit the raft so hard it tipped over, sending Adrian, Alice and the injured Hynerpeton on to one side of the boat. As a gigantic fin cut closer to the boat, Alice yelled, "We need to get rid of them somehow!".

"I know! I know! I'm thinking!" Adrian replied. Grabbing the remote in one hand, he signalled Alice to grab some bait. She grabbed a chunk of meat and dangled it over the water, hoping that the Hyneria would eat it. Soon, two gigantic fins appeared in the water and began advancing towards the food, like gigantic sharks. An eternity seemed to pass as the fish got closer and closer to the raft. The Hynerpeton hid under a seat as its hunters continued to advance. Soon, with a speed that belied their massive bulk, the two giant fish leapt out of the water at the same time to grab the bait. However, Adrian was faster, managing to quickly turn on the portal, sending both the titans through.

After all three creatures' heart rates slowed down back their original paces, they headed back to the park. Adrian and Alice were beaming at each other; the mission had been a success and there would be no more excitement for the next week or so until the next mission. However, they were soon to be proven very, very wrong. Right as they returned to the park, they were meet by shouts from their peers. But they were not shouts of joy, but rather ones of fear. Placing the Hynerpeton in a tank, they ran into the portal control room, listening to the "What happened?"

Mia turned to Alice and practically screamed, "Drew's in trouble! He isn't responding to our communications; no-one from the Mariner is!". The calmer Nikolai took over the conversation, "The last communication we got from him was that he had encountered another Dunkleosteus. We don't know what happened next; the Mariner isn't responding for some reason." Adrian looked at the portal and said, under his breath, "What's happened to you, buddy?"

Meanwhile, on the Mariner, Leon walked towards Jack, eyes narrowed in anger, and raised his fist, aiming for Jack's face. Suddenly, Jack's eyes widened, "Erm, Leon… Look at the camera." They both turned to look at the port camera to see Drew, still in the shark cage, being battered by the Dunkleosteus, Leon muttered "Oh God". Stupefied by the shocking image, their rivalry forgotten, Jack said in shock "Someone's got to help him!". At this, they both paused and looked at each other, before Leon ran outside to where the shark cage was being held. He tried to raise it, but it was too heavy for him. Jack, watching this, rolled his eyes, walked over and grabbed the lever. Together, they were able to slowly raise the cage. The movement of the shark cage to the surface got the predator's attention as it tried to break into the cage with its strong, bone like teeth. However, just like a dog and a beach ball, it couldn't get a good enough grip on the cage; its bites were ineffectual. It retreated and then tried another plan; to follow the cage up to the surface and ambush it to swim up. However, Drew, after a period of struggling, had managed to free his arm. He whipped out the remote, pressed the "on" button and activated the portal, sending the fish to the present.

Jack put his hand on his chest to slow his heart down after the Dunkleosteus disappeared. After some more struggling, they finally were able to raise the cage above the water and Drew was able to exit the cage. As he exited, their eyes both widened; one of them would have to explain why they didn't respond. Drew looked at them, "Why did you two take so long?". Jack and Leon looked at each other and then at him, before Jack said "T-there was an accident; the radio wasn't working… Yeah, that's it", and he and Leon scurried off in different directions.

The tense atmosphere at the portal site had ended and a modicum of calm had descended; they'd gotten a message from the Mariner. Apparently, the communications blackout was due to Drew being trapped in the shark cage, meaning that the Mariner couldn't communicate with the park. However, the problem had been solved and the Mariner would emerge from the portal momentarily. As the Mariner emerged and was anchored in the park docks, Adrian and Alice were surprised to see a terrified Jack and Leon run down the stairs, briefly stopping to greet their comrades. Alice gave her brother a confused look, "What happened to you?" Jack darted his eyes around awkwardly and quickly said "Stuff", as Drew descended from the boat.

Adrian turned to Drew and asked "Why are they so jumpy?" Drew's expression turned stern and angry "If I were in their position, I would be. I'll tell you the full story, but first, I have some idiots to talk to…" He briefly gestured at the terrified Jack and Leon to enter his office; they diffidently obliged. Alice briefly went to ask, but Adrian stopped her, "Trust me, you don't won't to be close to Drew while he's pissed." Alice's eyes widened, but she nodded in understanding. A few minutes later, they could hear the fireworks. "WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU TWO IDIOTS DOING!". Everyone within hearing range stepped back as Drew unleashed his anger. The targets of his rage, the terrified Jack and Leon, briefly pointed at each other and opened their mouths to speak, but Drew shut them up, "I DONT GIVE A RAT'S ASS ABOUT YOUR DAMN EXCUSES! I WAS NEARLY KILLED BECAUSE OF YOUR MORONIC BEHAVIOUR! I BROUGHT YOU ON THIS MISSION CAUSE I THOUGHT THAT YOU COULD PUT TOGETHER YOUR PETTY GREVIANCES AND BE PROFESSIONAL! BUT CLEARLY, I WAS WRONG!" As soon as it had begun, it was over. Drew took a loud deep breath and exited his office, but not with out sending his two teammates a dirty look. Alice and Adrian sighed, before they began to help transport the animals to their enclosures.

In a few days, both the animals and Drew had calmed down. The Bothriolepis were placed in a large open ocean tank similar that of the Cephalaspis only more like an open ocean, whilst the Stethacanthus had a large shark tunnel dedicated to them, with freshwater and saltwater sections.

The Hynerpeton and Hyneria were placed in a specially-constructed Devonian section of the aquarium. The Hynerpeton had a small island and a pound for their enclosure and the males had already begun displaying. The vets had treated the male saved from the Hyneria and Alice had affectionately dubbed him Howler, since he was the loudest of them all. The Hyneria currently had a large freshwater lake, simulated to look similar to their original home. They had been separated for the time being; Alice and Adrian had informed Kyle how aggressive they were. And, in Hell's Oceans, the two Dunkleosteus had a gigantic exhibit to themselves, complete with reefs to make it feel like the Devonian sea. They were currently separated, since, according to Khatin, there was evidence that Dunkleosteus were cannibalistic.

At his office, Drew was currently watching some old sitcom when he heard a knocking at his door. He paused the episode he was watching and said, without looking away, "The door's unlocked, come in". To his surprise and somewhat delight, Alice and Adrian entered the room. The two approached him somewhat nervously, before Adrian had the courage to speak, "Hey dude, are you feeling any better?" Drew smiled at him, "I'm fine. I should be OK for the next mission." Alice's eyes widened and she quietly asked, "Have you guys decided on a punishment for them yet?", a little worried for her brother's sake. "Me, Kyle and Nikolai have all agreed on a fitting punishment for their behaviour; it's a team-building exercise they won't forget. While they're busy, I'm going to need your help bug hunting."

Next time on Prehistoric Earth

(A giant dragonfly flies overhead)

The team head to the Carboniferous

(Shot of a swampy landscape)

To save the largest bugs of all time

(Nikolai surrounded by a giant spider, scorpion and millipede)

While Jack and Leon have to play Cupid to some not so friendly fish.

(Split screen of Jack and Leon looking into a tank, as two Hyneria circle each other)

All next time of Prehistoric Earth: Alien Empire!

Animals rescued:

Bothriolepis: 8 (4 males 4 females)

Stethcanthus: 16 ( 13 males 3 females)

Hynerpeton: 31 (21 males 10 females)

Hyneria: 2 (1 male 1 female)

Dunkleosteus: 2 (1 male 1 female)