Chapter 24 Leon

Leon was sitting on the floor quietly talking to Mika when he heard the distinct noise of the cages opening in the room. He made a very quick decision and grabbed Mika's hand and ran for it.

"We gotta go! NOW!" he said, no longer caring about whether or not they were seen.

"What's going on?!" she asked as he dragged her fast out of the lab, trying to get to his radio.

"The raptors are loose. That noise was the cages opening!" he replied, focused on where he needed to go.

They could hear the lab workers screaming in the distance as they made their way down the corridor.

He thought of Claire. He assumed she was the one that opened the cages. He hoped she was safe in her cell. He had to get Mika safe first.

"I promise Owen, I'll go back." he said as they ran as fast as they could to the other techs and his radio.

He needed to get word out that the status had changed.

The mini subs were moving at a clip headed straight for their target. The activity was bustling as everyone made their final prep for arrival. Ammunition was loaded and gear was packed. Everyone was ready.

Owen was silent. He hadn't really said much since Claire and the raptors were taken. He would have hopped on a boat at that moment if he could have. The wait time had him anxious and worried about the current state of things on the ship. Was Claire okay? Did she know he was almost there? Were the girls okay?

"Owen?" The audio was scratchy.

"Go ahead Lowery. I've got you." Owen responded.

"Update from Leon. Raptors are currently loose. Possibility that Claire released them." Lowery replied.

"Fuck!" he shouted. Then he paused, his voice low. "Lowery, why did you say possibility?"

"Leon wasn't in the room with them, but Hoskins was. Leon made a run with the one lab tech, hoping Claire was still in her cell. He was going back as soon as the tech was safe."

The inside of the submersible was spinning in his head. Owen needed to focus. The raptors were loose. Bad. Last known status of Claire was alone with Hoskins when they got loose. Very bad.

"Anything else? We estimate 15 minutes from attachment." Owen needed to get everyone updated fast.

"She's sick Owen. Fever. Leon is worried."

"Goddammit! Why can't I win one on this one. Fuck!" He was going to lose it. He was already barely hanging on and the worst was to come. "Keep me updated."

"Got it." Lowery replied and then the comm went silent.

The room had gone quiet after Owen's initial curse. They were anxiously awaiting the status update.

"Zia, you there?" He called over comm.

"Yeah Owen." she responded from the other sub.

"Raptors are loose. We're on Plan B."

Blue continued leading Claire through the corridors trying to find the others. Or so Claire assumed. She had found a distance to walk that seemed to satisfy Blue, as she stopped looking back at her.

She was struggling to keep up as her fever was increasing. She could hear people screaming coming from everywhere. She saw a raptor shadow cut across the hallway. Blue chirped out and got chatters in return from Echo, who turned and joined Blue. Echo began to approach Claire and Blue screeched at her. She chirped back and Blue butted her. Echo seemed to understand and turned to walk with Blue.

Claire hoped that meant Blue had her covered. She knew they could turn on her at any moment, but Blue seemed to be protecting her for now, so she was crazy enough to go with it.

She could hear Delta and Charlie off in the distance before more screams were heard. A few shots have been fired, but the surprise attacks have been taking most down. Claire was stepping over bodies occasionally. Looking down she saw one with a now abandoned rifle. She picked it up and put it over her shoulder. Blue glanced back, seemed to look at the weapon, then Claire, then continued where she was going.

No one would ever believe her when she told this story. If she made it out to tell it.

Lowery was back at control keeping close watch on multiple situations at once. He had decided to take up residence in Claire's office, so he could have quiet. He was vigilantly staying in contact with both Leon and Owen. He knew they were due soon for an update from the authorities. He was currently waiting on Simon for a quick meeting before the check in with military officials.

His radio came to life. "Lowery!"

"Go ahead Leon." Simon walked in hearing this. Lowery looked at him and held a finger up. Simon nodded and came and took a seat in front of the desk, listening in.

"Here's what I got. Raptors still loose. I've managed to avoid any crossfire. A lotta guys dead. I got back to the cages. No Claire and no sign that she was attacked. Very clear Hoskins was. Go with assumption that Claire set them loose. I'll give reasoning later. Mika is with the guys waiting safely in the rescue zone. Best shot would be to move the cages to the zone and lead them there." Leon had come into his own. Everyone was relying on him and he wasn't going to let anyone down.

Simon nodded, agreeing on the plan.

"Good call Leon." Lowery responded.

"I'm going back out for Claire."

Simon signaled for the radio. Lowery handed it to him. "Leon, it's Simon. Do not put yourself in danger. The teams are on their way. You have done a remarkable job, but please, don't endanger yourself." Simon said firmly.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Masrani, sir. But it's Claire. It's Claire, sir. And Owen would never forgive me. Write me up or fire me. But I'm going back and helping my friend." Leon said seriously.

Simon couldn't help but smile and tear up a little, "We'll discuss this when you get back."

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry, sir."

"No need to apologize. I am very proud of you, my boy."

"Leon out."

Simon smiled and shook his head. "I feel a very long board meeting discussing employee immunity from any discipline for this particular situation."

Almost as it was desperately needed, Lowery burst out laughing.

Blue and Echo with Claire shielded behind stopped immediately before turning a corner. She watched as Blue quietly sniffed the air and crouched into an attack position and Echo followed suit.

Then Claire heard it. She almost didn't. But she caught the distinct sound of a couple guns cocking.

"Blue! No! We should go back! Blue!" she whispered as loudly, but as silently as she could.

Blue looked back at her and Claire was crying. She knew what was around that corner and she didn't want the girls hurt. She was barely standing at this point. Echo relaxed slightly but stayed facing forward. Blue turned and approached Claire.

Claire froze as Blue came up and sniffed her head and hair. Then she quietly chattered at her and used her snout to nudge Claire back. Then she returned by Echo and they crouched down again and paused.

Then she heard it. Or them.

She heard Charlie and Delta screeching from the other end of the hall.

They had the men surrounded. They're hunt was successful.

As the men reacted to the attack from behind, most completely forgot about the one they were waiting for from the front.

Claire stayed around the corner and leaned on the wall. As she listened to the attack start to conclude, she began to sink down the wall onto the floor until she finally collapsed.

She didn't hear the raptors screeching or the small explosions blowing open the ship.

The mini subs had arrived and each attached a seal to the hull and pulled away. The dive team went to work, closing the ship opening off and immediately cutting into the seal, setting small explosives, and connecting the small access tunnel. All while attached to lifelines of moving vehicles.

And people think I'm crazy, Owen thought

"Owen!"

"Go Lowery! We're about to blow our way in!"

"Military update, you got 20 miles until danger zone. Not easy, not impossible. Watch your speed. Out"

Owen just nodded. Lowery got it. There was no time.

Once they cleared the area, the explosives were set off and the point teams both entered the ship.

They held back at the chaos in front of them.

If anyone was alive, it might be a miracle.

Both teams joined to one as they covered all directions. It was quiet where they were for the moment. Owen held his fist up. He turned to Zia and whispered.

"We need the cages. And we need to move fast. We have 20 miles."

She nodded.

"Sixteen guys, with me. Live and tranqs. Move."

The first sixteen guys were already on the move behind Zia, off the get the cages on the chance they could salvage the raptors.

"The rest of you. Eyes up. Listen to me. Do everything I tell you. Make sure to check doors. Hostages should be nearby. Paddock tech guys are in blue shirts." Owen said.

The team nodded and continued following Owen's lead, going quietly down the corridor.

Leon took off through all the hallways he could remember. He hid from those few men who were still alive, but keeping an ear out for Owen or Zia.

Not far off he heard explosions go off.

"Owen!" He took ran in the direction of the explosions, turning a corner, almost running into a group of 30 vessel survivors. They were mostly armed and he knew they were on edge. They hadn't seen him, so he ducked behind the corner. He realized the were examining the remains of a previous group and trying to decide what to do.

He started to inch back further in the corner when his foot ran into something. He turned and he almost didn't see it if it wasn't for the hint of light coming from a hall light far away.

He saw the red head.

"Claire!" Leon shook her, but she was unconscious. "Claire, c'mon. Owen's here. He's right here. He's coming for you." he kept trying to wake her up. He almost didn't hear it, but he heard a very light groan. He started to get up and lift her with him. She was somewhat regaining consciousness, so he put her arm around his neck and led her. "C'mon Ms. Dearing. You need to go home. Owen and the girls need you home."

He began walking her back in the opposite direction of the mercenaries, trying to find another way around. He knew which way to go for the explosions. He heard some far off screeching, but no screaming. He wondered if the whole ship had been wiped out or did many get into hiding.

He turned one corner, thinking it would get him in the right direction and he was stopped in his tracks.

Blue and Echo were in the hall and turned to look right at Leon and Claire. They crouched.