Guest 2: I will let you know soon if I am making a sequel to this story. Have a bit more patience, please...
Quick Work/Personality vs Appearance?
Jones was standing in front of Vivian as she just stared at him with a confused and slightly scared face.
"Vivian, we have reason to believe that you have been secretly working with Ortiz. Is that true?" Jones asked her.
"W-What? No, I would never do such a thing," replied Vivian.
"Is he holding some kind of ultimatum against you? Maybe a deadline of some kind you have to meet?"
"Commander Jones, I swear on my life that I would never work for a man like Ortiz."
Jones took in a deep breath and then decided to call in Lowery. Maybe Lowery could get Vivian to open up. Jones left the room and Lowery took a seat in front of Vivian. Lowery stared at her with disbelief and disappointment.
"Lowery, you don't believe that I would actually do something like this do you?" Vivian asked.
Lowery stared at her for a few seconds before asking, "Viv, you'll only make it easier for us if you just tell the truth."
"But I am telling the truth!"
"Yeah well, you're doing a bad job at convincing Jones."
"Lowery, you know me. You know that I would never do such a thing."
Lowery let out a sigh of disbelief as he then responded, "Well, sometimes there are crazy things we do for the stupidest of reasons."
Vivian couldn't believe what she was hearing from Lowery. He didn't believe her! Lowery knew Vivian. She would never do something like this. So, why was he finding it hard to believe her?
Vivian's eyes began to water and she sniffled before saying, "I'll die if I say anything."
Lowery's eyes widened at those words. Everyone who worked for Ortiz always ended up killing themselves and Lowery didn't want to see Vivian kill herself.
"I'm not the inside guy that you're looking for. I'm just the messenger," Vivian said with a broken voice.
"Messenger?" Lowery asked.
"Yeah, I just give Ortiz news he wants to hear. I don't tell him specifics about what you guys know, but I still tell him an overview of it."
"Viv, it just sounds like you were describing your job. Why would you have to die by telling me what you do everyday?"
"You don't get it. My messages to Ortiz are different from the ones I give everyone else, including Claire. I give Ortiz updates on what's going on to determine whether or not he can come visit the park without feeling interrogation creeping down his neck."
"So, you know when he's supposed to come and when he's not supposed to?"
"Yeah."
"That could help us."
"No! I can't help you! I'll die if the inside guy sees me actually helping you out."
"So, then first, we'd have to find the inside guy."
Vivian slowly nodded her head as she sniffled.
"Wait, what's Ortiz got against you that's making you work for him?" Lowery asked.
Vivian took in a deep breath and then exhaled and spoke.
"He's got my boyfriend," she said shakily as tears streamed down her face.
Lowery didn't say anything, he just watched and felt bad for Vivian. Poor girl. She was an innocent pawn in Ortiz's damned game. This made Lowery really angry.
"I...I don't want anything to happen to him," she said.
"We won't let anything happen to him, I promise," said Lowery as he grabbed hold of Vivian's hand and gave it a light squeeze.
Vivian looked into Lowery's eyes and saw that anger and determination. Lowery was serious. Very serious.
The Vince dummy was completely destroyed, and Vince made a mental note to never mess up his relationship with Sarah, ever. Ian just stared at the dummy as Palifko wrote down on his clipboard. Owen and Ryan were sitting down staring at Vince.
"Will you two stop creeping Vince out?" Sarah asked.
"What? We're just staring at him," responded Ryan as he crossed his arms.
"I can clearly see that. But, try not to stare like you're going to commit murder please."
Owen and Ryan scoffed and then sat up in their chairs. Ian rolled his eyes at the two and then said, "Dr. Palifko, can I go now? I don't see how I pertain to any of this. It's clear that the conflict is between my father and my idiot uncles."
Palifko looked at Ian, then at everyone else.
"Sarah and Ian, you are free to go. You three, we're going to get through this problem of yours because, frankly, my little stress reliever over there, has shown me that this issue is a very pressing matter," said Palifko.
Sarah and Ian nodded their heads and then left, leaving Vince and the Grady brothers with the good doctor.
"Okay, so, onto another exercise: The Miracle Question."
The three men arched their eyebrows and then stared at the doctor to ask this Miracle Question.
James watched on as his raptors chased each other throughout the paddock. They were very happy today, and James didn't know why. He heard someone approaching and turned to see who it was. It was Claire. What could she want this time?
"Mister Cortez," she said with a smile.
"Miss Dearing," he said back with his own smile.
"How are your raptors doing?"
"The same as they were yesterday: Vibrant and Violent."
"Well that's good, I guess."
"What do you need Claire?"
"Can you check up on Owen's raptors and Alice?"
"Why can't Owen do it?"
"Because he's stuck in a family therapy session and I'm guessing it's taking a bit longer than usual."
"But, can't you just check up on them? All you'd have to do is walk in and see them."
"It's not like that with these animals, especially Alice. Just check up on them quickly and then come back here, please?"
"Fine, but I want something in return."
"What would you like?"
"A kiss."
"What?"
"Just a kiss. A quick one."
"Uh, James, you do know that I'm with Owen, right?"
"Yeah, and I mean no wrong in damaging your relationship. But, I'm just asking for a quick, non-damaging kiss."
Claire rolled her eyes and then said, "Fine."
James closed his eyes and leaned in, and then Claire went in, but kissed him on the cheek. James then opened his eyes and said, "What was that?"
"You said you wanted a kiss. You didn't say where," she said as she walked away laughing at James.
James couldn't help but smile and say, "Well played Claire. Well played indeed."
"Man, you're uncles sound like psychopaths," Olivia told Ian as she walked along with him through Main Street.
Olivia and Ian were going to meet up with Casey and Alexis in the Innovation Center so that they could head over to the Jurassic Aviary.
"Yeah well, I just hope that they can calm down and become good friends with my dad," said Ian.
"Speaking of dads, mine hasn't hassled you or anything right?" Olivia asked.
"What? No, why?"
"Really? That's weird. Normally, Dad would do this whole weird thing where he would try to intimidate my boyfriends. I'm surprised he hasn't done it."
"Well, your dad's the Commander of ACU, I think he's got more on his mind now than ever."
"So, you think that once all of this Ortiz crap is over, then he'll try intimidating you?"
Ian thought about Olivia's words and then said, "Yeah, let's hope it takes a long while until all of this Ortiz ordeal is over."
Olivia chuckled at Ian and the two then entered the Innovation Center and found Alexis and Casey, who seemed to be arguing.
"What are you two arguing about this time?" Olivia asked.
Alexis and Casey looked over at Olivia, and Alexis responded, "We're not arguing. We are just at a disagreement."
"What is it?" Ian asked.
Casey looked over at Alexis and then said, "Well, Alexis here thinks that for two people to be in love, it's the appearance that draws them together."
"What?" Ian asked, "No way, it's all personality."
Olivia looked at Ian and then arched her eyebrow at him and asked, "Really?"
Ian looked at Olivia and then said, "Well, yeah. I mean looks can go only a certain distance, but it's the personality that drives them together. Wait, don't tell me you're on Alexis' side."
Olivia gave a single nod of her head and then Ian let go of Olivia's hand.
"Seems like we have another strain between the four of us," said Casey with a playful smile.
"A battle of the sexes?" Alexis asked.
"No, we're not saying that girls prefer looks over personality. It's just, everyone's different."
"Well, I'll agree with you on that," Alexis said.
"Then, it seems like we can all come to that agreement," said Olivia as she grabbed hold on Ian's hand.
"Yeah sure," said Ian as he held Olivia's hand.
"So, let's go and check out some birds, shall we?"
The four teens then began to walk in the direction of one of the monorail stations to then head over to the Aviary.
"So, I think that after much yelling, violence, and other crazy nonsense. I think that the two of you can get along with Vince just fine," said Palifko as he placed his hand on his clipboard.
Owen and Ryan looked at each other and then Owen said, "That's it?"
Palifko looked at Owen and gave a single nod.
"There's nothing else?" Ryan asked.
Palifko then gave a single shake of his head.
"All it took was one session?" Vince asked.
Palifko sighed and then said, "Look, from everything that happened. You two aren't mad at Vince for leaving, you're mad at him because he and Sarah kept their relationship under wraps, but they portrayed it as Vince left, making you hate him for leaving. But, after hearing what he and Sarah had to say about the matter, the two of you are a little relieved and feel bad for hating him all this time. Now, all you want to do is keep a steady friendship with your brother-in-law."
The three then looked at each other and then looked at the good doctor. Did Palifko really help them out in only a few hours? Was he that good? Was this another experiment or test of his?
"Well, we have nothing else to do here. So, you may leave now," said Palifko as he gestured his hand towards the door.
Owen and the others were just confused.
"There is absolutely positively nothing else?" Owen asked for super reassurance.
"Do you want me to try and find something else for you to do?" Palifko asked.
"Well, no, it's just. It's hard to believe that you did all of this in a few hours."
"Are you doubting my work?"
"No, it's just-"
"Go. Leave and don't turn back."
Owen and the others then did as they were told and left the room rather quickly. Palifko smiled and grabbed his pencil and continued to write on his clipboard.
James had fun checking on Owen's raptors. They were more lively and fierce than James' raptors. The girls seemed happy to see James, and he couldn't understand why, but he was sure that it had to do with the fact that he was the male raptors' alpha. Now, it was time to check on Alice. James was sure that if Owen was out of his therapy session, then he would go and see his girls first before seeing Alice.
James entered the viewing room and walked up to the glass, where he saw Dom chewing on his tail. James smiled at seeing the hatchling Indominus and then opened the window and said, "Dom! How are you doing?"
Dom stopped chewing his tail and looked up at James and gave a delighted trill.
James smiled and then said, "Where's Alice?"
Dom turned his head and then let out a few barks, calling Alice over. After a few seconds, Alice came out of the brush, with Josiah by her side.
"Oh, you must be Josiah," said James gently, "My name is James. It's nice to meet you."
Josiah nodded his head at the man and then watched as Alice approached James and then gave a warm croon at the man.
"How are you doing Alice?" James asked.
Alice gave a delighted chirp, telling James that she was more than fine at the moment.
"Well that's good to hear," said James with a content smile, "I'm here because Claire sent me to check on how you were doing because Owen was busy. And, since you are all doing so well, then I can take my leave."
Not on Alice's watch. James yelped at Alice's talons surrounded him and pulled him into the paddock, where Alice proceeded to put James on the ground.
"Why's you bring me in here Alice?" James asked.
Alice pointed behind James, who then turned around to see an eager Dom wriggle his hips and let out a low, playful growl.
"Oh no," said James in a slightly defeated tone.
Before he knew it, Dom was already on top of James.
Lowery was standing near the elevator in the Control room with Jones by his side, and Vivian was with them as well.
"So, you don't know who the inside guy is?" Jones asked Vivian.
Vivian shook her head and then said, "Like I said, I'm only the messenger."
Lowery looked over everyone in the room. None were doing anything suspicious. They weren't even strangely staring at Lowery for hovering around.
"None of these workers are doing anything or acting suspicious," said Lowery with a slightly annoyed tone.
"Well, why would you expect anyone that knows what you're actually doing to act suspicious in the first place?" asked a voice from behind.
The three of them turned around to see Ryan walk in.
"Ryan, good to see you sane," said Lowery.
"Very funny Cruthers, but, right now, we've got to find an inside guy," said Ryan.
"How?"
"Well, the person would have to be someone who, still, we would obviously never expect. Someone who we don't even know super well. Nearly a stranger. They might be close to one of you though, because how else would they get our information? So, we're looking for someone close to one of you guys, but they're still unknown enough to be invisible."
Lowery and Vivian arched their eyebrows and then looked over at the workers. Lowery then noticed something. Maybe it wasn't anyone sitting at a desk.
"What if it was someone who was standing around, say, guarding elevators?" Lowery asked.
The four of them then turned around to look at the Ingen Security guard standing near the elevator.
"No, he's not close enough to you guys for that. But, it's still something we can consider," said Ryan.
Vivian looked around and noticed something peculiar about one of the Security workers in the room. She then slowly walked forward and approached the man and turned him around. She then gasped loudly at seeing who it was and backed away from the man. Lowery and the others went over to Vivian and then stared at the man who Vivian was surprised by.
"Viv, who is he?" Lowery asked.
"It's...my...boyfriend," replied Vivian.
Lowery and the others stared at the man with surprised faces and then Lowery said, "He was working right under your nose this whole time. Ortiz was right. He did have your boyfriend, but he didn't mention that he had him because he worked for him."
"Your Ortiz's inside guy?" Ryan asked.
The man then looked at them and said to Vivian, "Viv, just know. I think we should start seeing other people."
Then, in an instant, the man pulled out a gun and aimed it under his chin and blew his brains out, startling everyone in the room. Most of the workers began to head for the door and Jones then called in a few people to clean up the mess. Jones also authorized that Control be shut down for a few hours.
Lowery looked over at Vivian and then saw her sadness, and anger, too. He then slowly wrapped his arms around her and was a little surprised when she went into the embrace and placed her head on his chest. She needed this right now.
"Well," said Ryan, "Looks like we found the inside guy. Now, if Ortiz's got anymore people working for him, we need to find them before they blow their brains out. Sorry, Viv."
Vivian then began to cry into Lowery's chest and let his shirt soak up her tears. Lowery was really pissed right now.
James was actually having a lot of fun right now. He was playing Hide and Seek with Alice, Josiah, and Dom. He was the hider and the Indominus were the seekers. He had found a very good hiding spot and he hoped that they wouldn't be able to find him in time. He wanted to beat the planet's most intelligent and fierce creatures at a game that they should be masters at.
Dom enjoyed this. He liked seeking out hiders. It have him a different perspective of the game. He normally always played at the hider, but every now and then, he would play as the seeker for the fun of it. Dom was walking alongside Josiah and then picked up a scent in the air. He turned to look at the bigger male Indominus and told him he picked up James scent. Josiah told the hatchling to lead the way, and Dom blasted off to find the man.
James held his breath when he heard a twig snap in the distance. Something was close by. It could be a goat or a cow, but, he didn't want to risk anything because it could also be on of the Indominus. He heard slow, heavy footsteps and then heard quick pacing footsteps. He then heard sniffing. They picked up his scent. How could James be so stupid? He forgot that Indominus were made up of part raptor, meaning that their snouts were good at picking up scents. Not to mention that power of the sensitive nostril thanks to the T-Rex gene in them as well. James was actually a bit surprised that they hadn't found him sooner.
Before James knew it, he was being dragged out of his hiding spot and then the hatchling plopped his haunches down on the human, making James grunt.
"Well, looks like you won Dom," said James as he patted Dom's leg.
The hatchling gave a super delighted trill and then got off of James and let the human get up.
Alice and Josiah appeared and then watched as James dusted himself off.
"I guess it was silly of me to think that I could hide from you guys," said James.
"Well duh, they're Indominus you dork," said a voice from behind Alice.
The hybrids and James turned to see Owen walking forward. In a flash, Dom was already on top of Owen.
"Ugh, Dom, you gotta give a guy warning before launching onto him," said Owen as he tried getting the hatchling off.
James began to laugh as Owen got up and dusted himself off.
Alice gave a warm croon at Owen and then nuzzled the man with her snout, making him chuckle and say, "Hey Princess, how're you doing?"
Alice gave a kind chirp and Owen took it as a way of her saying that she was good.
"That's good."
Owen then looked over at Josiah and then said, "And how are you doing Josiah?"
Josiah stared at the man and was a bit surprised. He didn't expect Owen to talk to him just yet. He was still a stranger to him. However, Josiah knew his manners, so her responded with a simple croon, telling Owen that he was doing well.
"Good. Very good," said Owen as he turned to look at James, "And may I ask what you are doing in here?"
"Claire wanted me to check on these three, and I ended up playing Hide and Seek with them. And, they won, three times," responded James.
"Yeah well, everyone should know better than to try and hide from an Indominus."
"You think that the whole Hide and Seek idea of yours will be a hit though?"
"Oh no doubt. People will probably think of it as a kind of survival game anyway."
"That is true. So, are you going to participate in the beta?"
"Claire won't let me, but I really want to. Are you?"
"Well, after playing with these three. I'm all for participating."
"Keep in mind that the beta consists of only fifty people. You better hope that you can make it in time."
"Oh I can, and will."
"Right."
Dom then thrusted his head into Owen's shoulder and let out a chirp.
"You want to be apart of the game Dom?" Owen asked.
Dom nodded his head and then nuzzled Owen's face, making Owen chuckle.
"I'll see what I can do Buddy, but, no promises."
The hatchling thought that that was fair enough. All Dom knew was, if he was going to hide from Alice in the Hide and Seek game with other people, he would definitely win, hands down...
A/N: Hey Turtles! How's life going for you? Feeling Down? Well, don't! Put a big smile on your face and think about everything positive! Sing a song! Dance a little dance! Do anything that'll get your spirits up, such as reading this story! Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Review, if you want to and stay tuned for more!
