The Nublar Six: Before they knew

Hello everyone, welcome back to the third chapter. You'll recognize an interesting character in the middle of it, and a special dino on the end… Enjoy!

The campers had an amazing arrival and all were excited for what was coming next. Let's hope everything will go well for them...

Chapter 03: Danger is everywhere


It was early in the morning, and the campers were still peacefully sleeping, until out of a sudden, a T Rex roar all brutally woke them up.

"AAAAH! A T. REX IS HERE!" Ben screamed. He covered himself with his blanket.

Kenji startled and fell off his bed. "Mermaid…"

Brooklyn looked at the entry door that opened, and understood. She even giggled about it.

Dave and Roxie entered the room. Dave had a little sound box in his hand.

"Good morning all! Looks like the alarm worked perfectly!" Dave said.

"Maybe a bit too perfect…" Roxie added, seeing Kenji on the ground.

"Pfuh, I was just, getting out of bed," Kenji said while being helped up by Brooklyn.

Ben peaked his eyes from the blanket and looked around. "Is it, safe? Is the dino gone?"

"Of course it is! It was just Dave waking us up," Darius reassured him.

"Now everyone, listen closely. We got a busy day, so go all change clothes and take breakfast. After that, we'll go to visit the genetic labs," Roxie explained.

"That's where the magic happens!" Dave added.

"And after it, we gladly got the permission to bring you to the raptor paddock to see how they are fed and how they behave."

"Raptors? Real velociraptors? Amazing!" Darius exclaimed of joy.

"That's gonna be great for my views," Brooklyn said to herself.

"Now get dressed and ready! Be down there in half an hour!" Dave concluded, and the counsellors left.

The campers obeyed and readied themselves. Soon after they were down the treehouse. All got in the truck, and it left for their first activity.

Roughly a quarter later, the campers arrived at the genetics lab. A remote location, hidden by the jungle.

"Hey Sammy, what's in that backpack you took with you?" Brooklyn asked, pointing at it.

"Oh this? Well," Sammy got closer, "I took some snacks and stuff from the bar. It's gonna be a tough journey!"

Yasmina observed the two girls giggling. She sighed. Maybe I was a bit, rude, yesterday. But really, how do they do it? She thought.

"Here we go guys, but first, an important rule!" Roxie said.

"Ahh, always rules! Rules rules rules! We aren't kids any more!" Kenji complained.

"Although there's still room for doubt, in your case…" Brooklyn replied.

"This place is filled with very important research material and scientists that don't want to be bothered during their work. It's a miracle we're allowed to visit it, so don't mess this up! Looking at you Kenji!" Roxie explained. Kenji crossed his arms.

"So remember, no touching or bothering," Dave added.

"Eh, no touching the material, or the scientists?" Ben asked.

The rest stared at him before erupting in laughter.

Dave punched his shoulder. "Ah Ben, funny guy! Let's just say… Don't touch anything. Those scientists are quite, explosive! Hahaha!"

"Okay, let's enter. Doctor Wu must be waiting inside," Roxie ordered.

"Wu? Henry Wu? The doctor Wu?!" Darius asked.

"Yep. Who did you think would have made these dinos?" Dave replied.

The group walked through the sliding doors, and arrived in the main lab. It was completely white and very bright. Incubators with eggs, screens with scientific data and amber pieces in racks were against the walls.

Lots of scientists were walking and working around. Roxie and Dave looked around, and noticed doctor Wu, busy at one incubator with some colleagues.

"Doctor Wu-hoow! We're here for some science baby!" Dave shouted, making the scientist turn around, with a sceptical face.

"Eh doctor? We're here for the visit. Camp Cretaceous, remember?" Roxie said in a more diplomatic way.

"I'm sorry, but there have been some, difficulties with, our research that forced me to revise our schedule. It won't be possible today, or this week…"

"I insist doctor, this project is very important to mister Masrani and—"

"Well it looks like mister Masrani has his priorities straight. He ordered me to, solve some issues concerning an important asset as soon as possible, so I don't have time to play the tourist guide here."

While the adults continued talking, Darius slowly showed up behind Wu.

"Ehm, excuse me, doctor Wu?" He asked.

The scientist turned around and looked a bit confused. He didn't say anything.

"I'm Darius Bowman," Darius said shaking his hand, "and I really admire what you have accomplished! I loved dinosaurs since I'm young, and seeing them walking among us now… Just, thank you!"

Doctor Wu didn't know what to respond, and looked slightly overwhelmed. But then he briefly let a smile go.

"Well, it's not every day that someone is that excited about my works," Wu said, turning to the counsellors, "you can stay, just don't get in my way too much."

"Thank you doctor," Roxie replied.

The campers spread across the room, observing the groundbreaking work.

Yasmina stood in front of the rack with amber stones, observing them.

Millions of years contained in that thing. Impressive. She thought.

"Hey Yaz! Cool all those crystals right? Have you seen the eggs already? They're amazing! Can't wait for them to open up, like youuu, hahaha!" Sammy said, arriving from behind.

"Yeah, of course. Compare me to eggs. Except they'll hatch at some point…"

Sammy looked around. "Oh my God, do you see that there?!"

"What?" Yasmina asked, turning around.

"I saw an egg move! It might hatch soon!"

"No metaphors please…" Yasmina said. She walked away. Sammy sighed.

Kenji in turn noticed Yasmina who was now near an incubator. He sauntered to her.

"Who we have here?" He said standing next to her.

"Please don't start comparing me to eggs," Yasmina replied.

Kenji frowned ironically. "Kinda confused, not gonna lie…"

"Ugh, I don't know what's up with Sammy. Why is she so—"

"Friendly?"

"No! Sticky!" Yasmina exclaimed before leaning back against the wall. "Like, it's nothing personal, but I don't know. She's—"

"Not your type?"

"It's not that. She's going a bit too fast with the friendship and such! I-I don't trust people easily. It takes time, much time…"

"Although you just told it all to me," Kenji said.

Yasmina looked up at him, appearing a bit anxious.

"Looks like you trust me!" Kenji added. Yasmina exhaled and smiled.

"See, Sammy is kinda different, but she just wanna be friends."

"Ugh… See, I know she means it well, but like, we won't see each other any more after this week. It's not worth befriending someone like she tries to do. Being polite and kind, okay! But this is a bit too much!"

"I see your point there… You don't want them and yourself to be hurt?"

"Exactly."

"Then befriend her! Or she'll leave hurt, because she couldn't befriend you. And you know such type of people. They'll remember this their whole life! You don't want her to be depressed for their whole life?"

"Nonsense! Don't exaggerate things! She'll forget about me in maximum two weeks or so," Yasmina said.

She and Kenji looked on their sight. On the other side of the room was Sammy. She waved with an innocent smile. Kenji waved back.

Yasmina sighed. "Okay… I'll try, to open up, slightly…"

"I had like, no expectations to convince you, but… Great decision!" Kenji said. He winked and walked away.

Brooklyn on her side was filming all interesting things for her audience.

"I have like, no understanding of anything here, but it is fascinating! Right guys?" Brooklyn talked to her phone.

Don't care. No science things pls. Give me a T Rex! Sigh, chill guys, I'm trying my best here…

"Look at this! Remember the lame egg nests? These are real eggs that will hatch soon! Doctor Wu said it was planned in three days."

"Indeed, those are parasaurolophus eggs. A, new prototype…" Dr Wu said, arriving.

He picked one egg and analysed it. Darius was right behind him and didn't stop asking him questions

"And were you also able to recreate the dinosaur's behaviour?" Darius asked.

"It depends on many factors, like the environment. We tried to recreate the nature as how it was 65 million years ago to see how they behave. It is, to be determined. We have several experts already observing the animals."

"Fascinating! Really! Don't you think Brooklyn?" Darius asked.

He saw Brooklyn just swiping on her phone.

"Brooklyn?"

The vlogger quickly looked up at Darius. "Oh, yes, sure is…"

Darius felt Brooklyn wasn't as fanatical as him about all of this, so he turned his attention back to doctor Wu.

"So, doctor, what's the next step?"

Wu looked over his shoulder. "My, scientific works, are not meant to be revealed yet…"

"I understand, I'll wait!"

"Patience is a valuable skill. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do on the Indo—, on a classified asset," Wu said, and he left the two teens.

"Okay campers! Time to move on!" Dave shouted.

The six gathered and left the lab.

"Doctor Wu! I think there's an egg missing in incubator 6," a scientist told.

"Mysterious… Could it?"

The camper's truck was now going to another direction, their next destination. The raptor paddock.

"Here we are! I'm sure you all know those dinos are extremely dangerous? So stay at safe distance okay?" Roxie explained. Everyone nodded.

Raptor growls could be heard. Ben hid behind Kenji, grabbing his arm.

"Eh, Ben? Could you not?"

While Kenji tried to unstick Ben from him, Darius was thinking. Could that growl from yesterday come from here? Darius listened again. No, the other one was very different.

"Oooh raptors! Isn't that exciting?" Sammy asked Yasmina.

Yasmina looked to Kenji who nodded lightly. "Uh yeah! Very…"

Sammy smiled. Yasmina looked to her feet. It feels… Don't know…She thought.

"Okay, let's gooww!" Dave shouted. Everyone followed him.

The group went up the paddock on the walls. A man stood on the catwalks and looked on his side.

"Camp Cretaceous I suppose? I'm Owen Grady, animal behaviouralist," Owen said, approaching them.

"You're the raptor trainer?!" Darius asked full of excitement.

"I, wouldn't say it's training… But I've been called that," Owen replied.

"That's incredible! I want to know everything about it! Do the raptors really behave as you say?" Darius asked.

"Your excitement is touching! You see, there's a bond of mutual respect between me and the pack. What you must know is that they are still wild animals. But to a certain extent they behave my orders. We'll see that now."

Everyone looked curious. Ben was still scared and firmly held the protection fences.

Owen went to the centre with a bucket containing meat pieces. He whistled loudly, and the plants started moving from different places. Moments later, four raptors emerged under Owen.

"Look at me! Line up!" Owen ordered, getting their attention.

The four animals looked up at him and growled several times. The campers looked with interest at what was happening.

One of the raptors growled at the others, and they lined up in front of Owen.

"Good one, thank you, Blue," Owen replied.

"See this Brooklanders? Dino training! The chancy velociraptor!" Brooklyn commented while filming.

Owen raised his hand in the air. The raptors followed it. "Follow me now!"

As Owen moved on the catwalk, the raptors underneath him followed.

"Time to reward you all. Stay lined up!" Owen took pieces of meat and started throwing them at each raptor. The dinos jumped and caught it mid-air.

"On my order… Run!" Owen lowered his arm and the raptors ran back inside the bushes. The campers applauded the performance.

"It's amazing how they obey you!" Darius exclaimed.

"It's indeed a proud achievement. I'm quickly gonna refill this bucket. You all can stay here and observe the pack," Owen explained.

"I'm coming with you," Darius said.

The rest stayed on the catwalks and looked around. No movement, or raptors.

"Looks like, they're hiding," Kenji mumbled. Dave stood next to him.

"And once there's a prey, they'll jump out of their hideouts to rip it to pieces!" Dave narrated.

Ben wasn't too comfortable, standing right above the dangerous animal's lair. He slowly walked, keeping the security fence in his hands.

But while busy looking around for the raptors, Ben didn't notice that a piece of meat that fell out Owen's bucket. Ben accidentally stood on it and slipped!

"Aaah!" He shouted while fell through the fence, into the enclosure.

Everyone looked with shocked.

"Ben!" The other campers shouted.

"Quick! Get Owen! Get a security team!" Roxie shouted at Dave. He started running.

"Aoush, my leg! Ben complained, touching it.

And then, in front of him, bushes started to move. He let a little panic exhale go. The bushes moved more, and the four raptors gathered. One growled and showed its teeth.

From outside the paddock, Owen and Darius heard the shouting.

"What's happening there?" Owen asked himself.

"Maybe they're just—"

"Ah, Owen!" Dave shouted from the stairway. "Ben, slipped and fell in the—"

Owen and Darius didn't believe their ears. Owen ran to the gates and opened them. Darius wanted to go, but Dave held him back.

"Darius, stay here! I'll help him," Dave explained.

The raptors slowly approached Ben, trying to bite in his shoes.

"We must do something!" Brooklyn shouted.

Yasmina looked at Sammy's backpack, and had an idea.

"Sammy! You took food from the treehouse right? Throw it at them!"

"Great idea Yaz!" She replied.

"Let me search in it then." But Sammy pulled her bag to her.

"Eh, I'll do it, don't worry!"

"Just hurry!" Kenji yelled.

Sammy took some chocolate bars and started swinging them in the air.

"Hey ugly monsters! Look up here!"

The raptor pack looked up at the noise. Sammy threw the bars on their heads. The animals smelled the food, but weren't interested and turned back to Ben, looking bloodthirsty.

Blue, the pack leader roared and was ready to attack.

"Blue stop!" Owen shouted. He jumped in front of the animals. Ben started crawling back. Dave stood ready to control the gates.

"Come here, fast!" Dave said, reaching out.

Ben was saved now, but all the eyes were on Owen.

"All stay where you are!" He ordered his animals.

"He's gonna get himself killed!" Kenji said to himself.

"Hey hey hey! Echo! No moving! You too Delta, stay there!"

For now, the raptors looked like they were obeying. Owen slightly tilted his head to the gate.

"Dave, start closing that gate!" Owen ordered.

"What? You're crazy man!"

"Just do it! Trust me!"

Dave gulped, and pressed the button. The gate started closing. Everyone looked tensely. Owen inhaled, and turned around as fast as he could, and he glided under the gate just on time. The raptors all bumped into it

Dave helped Ben out. The rest was waiting, and when they saw Ben untouched, they were relieved.

"I was so scared for you!" Sammy exclaimed, hugging the boy. Ben was trembling a bit.

"This was, quite traumatising," Ben said.

Dave and Roxie looked at each other.

"I think it's time to go back to the camp. We'll also go to the infirmary with you Ben," Roxie explained.

All got in the truck. Owen waved and returned to his work.

At the treehouse

Ben got a bandage around his leg. It still hurts but nothing got broken. He still had difficulties walking.

Evening arrived and everyone gathered around the campfire on the balcony.

"Crazy how it's still hot in the evening, don't you think guys?" Sammy noticed.

"Eh, maybe because you're right next to a fire?" Kenji replied. Sammy laughed at it.

"Is your leg already feeling better Ben?" Darius asked.

"I'm afraid I won't be able to go kayaking tomorrow…"

"Sure they'll find something to keep you busy here," Kenji added.

"It's already surprising of you that you want to stay, after what happened," Yasmina said.

"Roxie proposed me to leave, b-but I wanted to stay. Because, we might not know each other for too long, but I, really like this group."

Everyone was surprised by Ben's words, positively surprised. All smiled, even Yasmina.

"I'm also happy to have met you all!" Sammy said.

The group talked for hours, deep into the night. At some point they had to go back to sleep.

Darius was about to fall asleep, but the same growl of yesterday caught his attention. Everyone was asleep.

The boy rushed out the bedroom to the balcony. The dino growled once more. I must know where it's coming from. This growl is mysterious.

Darius decided to go. When he turned around, he saw everyone standing behind him, with sleepy heads.

"Hey man, why are you rushing out like that? You woke us all," Kenji asked.

Darius sighed and turned back around. "I heard this roar, but I can't figure out what dinosaur it is."

"Maybe we'll see it this week during the trip," Sammy told.

"But I can't wait! It's coming from that open place. It's not very far away. If I just could go take a look…"

"Ooh! That's a great video for my blog! I'm in!" Brooklyn reacted.

"Uhuh, I'm not going in that scary jungle!" Sammy added.

"I'm kinda sleepy, so you do you," Yasmina said, and she turned around.

Sammy and Ben followed her. Darius and Brooklyn looked at Kenji who was staring at them.

"Well, you might need a guide, if you don't want to be lost," Kenji explained. His friends looked confused.

"Wait, you mean you've been here before?" Brooklyn asked.

"Correct! Dad often took me to the island. I know it as the back of my hand!"

"Then, do you know what dinosaur is there?" Darius asked.

"Nope, I don't, and that's why I wanna come too! Last time I was around that area, they were constructing a new paddock. I don't know more."

Darius was thinking. Brooklyn turned to Kenji.

"So if you can just come as you want to this island, why did you participate in that drawing?" She asked.

"Look, my dad took me with him, so he could keep an eye on me, keeping me in his penthouse… I'm not the brightest at school so, hehe."

"Something already made me think that…" Brooklyn jokingly added. "But how do you know the island if you were locked in?"

Kenji looked around and shrugged. "Well… I often, just leave, without him knowing?"

Brooklyn rolled her eyes and turned to Darius. "So, when are we going?"

Darius smirked.

The trio got down the treehouse and looked around the jungle. It was silent.

"Let's move. It was that way," Kenji whispered.

"There's no one around, you don't have to whisper," Brooklyn commented. Kenji rolled his eyes.

The three teens started walking through the jungle. A path led them towards their objective. After some time walking, they arrived to an enclosure on top of a little cliff.

"I saw lights around it," Brooklyn pointed.

"Just spotlights, but there'll probably be people too," Darius added.

The trio followed the dirt path up. On top was a little panel.

"Paddock 11. Gotta be new…" Kenji mumbled.

"Sssjt! There's people now!" Brooklyn whispered. Kenji crossed his arms.

"I see a staircase on our side, leading to a room against the wall. Probably an observation area…" Darius said.

Just after, the same loud roar reappeared, closer than ever. It indeed comes from here. Darius thought while covering his ears.

"So what do we do now?" Kenji asked.

"We try to see what's inside," Darius replied.

The three moved in the darkness and reached the stairs. They climbed it up. The door on its end was unlocked and Darius carefully looked inside. He saw some bright monitors and one person on a chair, sleeping.

"He's asleep, let's enter," Darius whispered.

They all entered the room. On their right was a fortified window, with view inside the cage.

"What are they keeping here?" Brooklyn whispered.

She activated her camera and turned cautiously to a screen, showing the model of a dino. Darius joined her.

"Indominus, Rex?" Brooklyn read.

"I-I don't recognize this dinosaur."

"Eh, guys? Could y-you?" Kenji whispered, while pointing to the glass.

Loud footsteps resonated around. Plants being pushed away, and wood crushed. The teenagers looked at the dark window. Brooklyn activated her phone light, and it showed a massive, with theropod.

"It's a living thing!" Darius gasped.

The dino turned to the teens. She roared loudly and tried to harm the window with its claws. The trio startled and fell on the ground.

The employee woke up from the cries of fear of the intruders. The dinosaur disappeared back in his paddock.

"Hey you three! What are you doing here?"

"Ehh, just, visiting?" Brooklyn replied.

The man called counsellors Dave and Roxie to come pick them up. Only moments later, an angry Roxie and sleepy Dave arrived at the paddock.

"In the car! Now!" Roxie said.

Without talking, the three obeyed. Later, the truck drove back to the camp.

"I can't believe it! You disobeyed the most important rule! Don't you know it's dangerous around here? Have you forgotten about Ben earlier? You three could have been hurt too!" Roxie complained.

"I'm sorry Roxie. We just wanted to know where that roar was coming from," Darius explained.

"Ehm, I just made sure they wouldn't get lost in the woods around…" Kenji added. Brooklyn bumped her elbow in his side.

At arrival, the counsellors stood in front of the campers. Roxie sighed deeply while Dave was still being sleepy.

"Ugh, what do we do now? Dave, say something!"

"Roxie… It's their age, don't blame 'em. Nobody got hurt, and they won't do it again, right guys?" Dave asked slowly. The three nodded.

"See? Can we go to bed now?"

Roxie looked at the campers. "Fine, we won't send you home! But as a punishment, no kayaking for you tomorrow! Now go to be!"

With disappointment, the trio went back up the elevator. Darius stared out of the window in the bedroom. I hope it won't, escape…


Luckily nobody got harmed today… Well except for Ben's leg… But how long will that last? Keep up with next chapters! Hopefully I'll be uploading soon, but with my current schedule, it should be doable.