CHAPTER 7: Screaming, Arguing, Discussing...It's All The Same
"So Justin really is a mutant?" queried Itchy incredulously, his brow crinkled in shock. Raptor, who was sitting next to him, gave him a look of exasperation.
"No, Itchy," he drawled in a condescending, sarcastic tone, "all humans have the ability to call on objects and summon them into their possessions by a plethora of white sparks. I do not know what logical thinking ever did to you, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be butchered by your feeble, small mind and ability to state the obvious repeatedly."
"Speaking of things being butchered..." growled Itchy, his eyes flashing as he got up menacingly from his chair, but Allo stopped it with a brash, short command.
"Enough."
Itchy reseated himself, but not without shooting Raptor a poisonous, cold glare which Raptor dismissed uninterestedly.
All the Dinosaucers were seated in the main conference room of the Lavadome, which also happened to be in the center of the main control room of the Dinosaucer base, amidst the computer controls, wide-screen monitors, and the domed, metallic ceiling. In the very center sat a circular, stainless-steel table and all around, seated, were the Dinosaucers: Allo, Compy, Bronto-Thunder, Dimetro, Montacera, Stego, Tricero, Plateo, Teryx, Struthio, Itchy, Raptor, and Bonehead. It was here where they usually had their group meetings and discussions.
"How can it be possible?" asked Bronto-Thunder, "I mean, we've known Justin ever since he came here ten years ago, and he's never shown anything saying that he was a mutant and such."
"And exactly how does a human become a mutant anyway?" Stego added, still unable to grasp the seriousness of the issue.
Teryx explained, "A mutant is a human earthling with the ability to do what normal humans cannot. They are born with a genetic makeup that gives them traits of astounding capabilities, similar to what the Secret Scout rings have done for Paul, David, Ryan, and Sarah, except in this case, Justin was born with it. The X-Gene, a single nucleotide sequence in the human genome, is what mutates the individual, and though it is usually dormant in the current gene pool, it can be awakened, whether it is through natural or artificial causes like pollution and radiation. Some mutations are benign, such as a greater bone density or increased capacity for brain use, discreet changes that do not affect the person's appearance or have their bodies go through anything drastic. Yet most mutations are not like that. When triggered, the can give the aforementioned human unbelievable gifts of powers such as shape-shifting, feral instincts, ability to control fire, the earth. The variations can be infinite! It all depends on the person's DNA."
"So what you're saying is that Justin was born a mutant, that this wasn't some accident on a whim or something because of what he had done," summarized Struthio thoughtfully and carefully.
"Exactly."
"But, why on Reptilion would it depict itself and manifest now, at this time??" queried Plateo.
Dimetro provided wearily, "It is because Justin has reached a point of adolescence, the period where the human body undergoes hormonal and biological alterations, and as such, it becomes a catalyst that triggers the X-Gene into emerging into the phenotype. Since Justin is a teenager, it was only a matter of time before his powers would manifest. It was just simply a matter of bad luck that it had to be now on his birthday."
"A pretty rude awakening, that was," Compy muttered, "but then again, based on what happened in the TV room, we were lucky not to get seriously killed!"
"Shut up, Compy," growled Allo, overhearing him.
"So...what exactly can Justin do?" Bonehead asked curiously.
"We aren't really sure," Dimetro sighed, "Our testing can only go so far as to identify whether or not Justin was positive for the X-Gene. We don't have the understanding or the knowledge of how to classify his mutation...not that it matters now."
Allo's head snapped up, alarmed and defensive. He certainly did not like the sound of that. He demanded sharply, "And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Dimetro??"
The dimetrodon bit his tongue. He was grateful he talked with Teryx, Bronto-Thunder, and Tricero before bringing up this tense subject at the meeting. The Dinosaucer chose his words very carefully as he spoke to the allosaurus, "Allo, we've talked about it, and we best thought it would be beneficial and safer for Justin if we could seek...outside help with Justin's mutation."
Stego frowned uncharacteristically. He asked, "You mean...like some scientists or...the X-Men?"
None of the Dinosaucers were ignorant at what was happening with the human society on the planet Earth right now. It was hard not to remain so. You would have had to been deaf, dumb, blind, and living on the far side of Pluto not to hear it every day in the news, media, papers, and general consensus and gossip. Anti-mutant hysteria and hate were so rampant throughout the world that it made the Dinosaucers even more cautious to ensure that they would never be discovered and exposed like the mutants have been. After all, if humans were this close-minded and bigoted towards their own race, then it was a given how they would react to permanent alien visitors. The Dinosaucers have witnessed much in the media, learning quite a bit about the mutant teams, the X-Men, the Teen Titans, the Avengers, Spider-Man, and Magneto and his Acolytes. They also learned about the extensive capability of fear and loathing as they watched debates and demonstrations of hate on the news by Graydon Creed, Reverend Stryker, the Friends of Humanity, Cobra, Hydra, the Sentinels, and other groups and weapons made to destroy and exterminate mutant-kind. Despite the fact that Allo and the others believed that there were a few good people like the Secret Scouts who believed in protecting the future and not warring over how others are different and that they agreed that peace between all races and cultures is possible, Allo felt that it was best if the Dinosaucers did not involve themselves in this fight. Yes, if it were caused by the work of the Tyrannos, then it would be different; it would be their duty to protect citizens and stop the warmongers. However, to have the Dinosaucers expose themselves on public and ultimately making them a target for the military, terrorist organizations, and the like was horrendous, not even tolerable to think about.
"What exactly are you getting at, Dimetro?" Bonehead queried, and everyone could notice that his voice became hard, angry even, "You want us to leave Justin there, abandon him??! To one of these fanatic groups?!"
"No, Bonehead, but calm down and listen!" Bronto-Thunder came close to shouting, "Allo, I know this may not be desirable, but we're not proposing to abandon Justin! We don't want the kid to get hurt, and we would all want him to stay here with us for the rest of his life! But you also need to think! Justin obviously has no control over his powers, and what we saw earlier was only the beginning! What if he causes our cloaking device over the Lavadome to disappear, creates an explosion at the main controls, accidentally breaks the foundation of our base, or even extracts our vital organs like our hearts and brains?! Allo, can't you see that if don't find someone to help Justin, he would endanger himself or one of us!! And I know Justin wouldn't want that! He'd rather hurt himself than one of the Dinosaucers!!"
"Personally, I wouldn't mind if he hurts the Tyrannos-traitor we have mooching off of us," grumbled Compy, glaring at Raptor. Raptor just ignored him.
Teryx then added, "Allo, we did a little research and there are some groups that could help Justin control his powers! Teach him how to adjust to them so that he won't be a danger to himself or others! Allo, we're not depicting Justin as a monster, but we're worried without help, things might get worse."
Bronto-Thunder then remarked, "We think the best thing would be with the vigilante group of mutants called the X-Men, led by the Professor Charles Xavier. Allo, this might be a good thing for him! Xavier already has adopted tens of children with mutant powers and has taught them how to control them and use them for others' benefit, like mutant version of the Peace Corps. Xavier has several instructors and enough financial support and land to accommodate hundreds more. If Justin stayed over at their mansion, he would be properly trained, more so than we could ever do. Allo, we need to face facts: we can't help Justin with this. We aren't capable of it."
Despite the reasonable facts and gentle pushing, Allo was fuming, and he just glared at Bronto-Thunder, Teryx, and Dimetro, automatically disapproving and silent. And he was not the only one.
"Training? Training?? By the gods of Reptilion, Bronto-Thunder, do you and the others even comprehend what you are suggesting?! If Justin goes to the X-Men, he'll be trained as a soldier! As an instrument of war, to fight and go into the thick of danger of the battle between the mutants and humans! You'll be inadvertently endangering the young one's life if you send him there! Can't you see that you will be placing the child in a position of great risk and jeopardy, that you shall be sentencing him as a target in this atrocious clash of arms?!" Plateo protested.
Raptor then finally said gruffly, "You will be placing the child in a war that is not his to fight."
Stego then complained, "And you're forgetting that every time Justin mingles with humans, they try to hurt him! What makes you think the X-Men will be any different?! Justin can't possibly live with them!"
Montacera then heatedly shouted, "And you're abandoning him!! I can't believe you, Tricero!! This is as good as betraying Justin's trust! He thinks you'll be there for him, protect him from all danger, and yet you're trying to find the most convenient way to get rid of him!!"
"Quiet, Montacera!!" scolded Tricero sternly, "You know as well as I do that that is not the case!! We just want Justin to stay there and get help until he can control his abilities! It is not abandonment!"
"Doesn't look that way to me!" the montanoceratops teenager retorted.
Struthio then asked gently, "Dimetro, what if...instead of sending Justin away, we requested Xavier to come to us, to send us an expert or a scientist here to stay with us at the Lavadome? That way, Justin won't have to go anywhere."
Itchy snapped, "That's out of the question, Struthio, and you know it! There is no way in hell that we're going to expose ourselves to the human world! We've already done that far too many times in the past to take any risks now! It's not worth bringing them into our circle! Don't you realize how many enemies the X-Men have?! By requesting Xavier's help, we'll be making ourselves welcome targets to any nut-job that has a grudge against them!"
Struthio then growled, "Hey, don't yell at me, Itchy! I don't like the idea of asking for outside help anymore than sending Justin away, but at least it'll be the lesser choice that won't hurt my brother!"
"But it'll bring us more trouble in the longer run!!"
"ENOUGH!!!"
The shout from Allo brought all conversation and yelling to a standstill, and everyone's attention turned to the Dinosaucer leader. Allo set his mouth into a tense line as he steely gave his conviction.
"I have thought about this, and nothing more needs to be said. My answer is no."
This immediately did not suit well for some of the Dinosaucers.
"Allo!!" protested Tricero, now angered that his leader was being too stubborn and dismissing their concerns so nonchalantly.
"I have made my decision. Justin won't be going anywhere, and we will not attempt to contact anyone for help with this matter."
"Allo...just try to think about how it might help -"
"The discussion is over, Teryx," Allo rumbled, resentment and thin patience covering his deep voice, "I am not abandoning my son to those facilities run by those monsters...he can do just fine with us to guide him and protect him. We have enough advanced technology and resources to see if we can help Justin control his powers before they get out of hand. He stays here."
"That is hardly a fair decision, Allo!" Dimetro protested, "You're not even considering the entire facts -!!"
Allo then interrupted his comrade again, gritting his teeth as his voice became hard, "The only fact we need to view is that Justin is a part of our group...he's my son....and I will not do anything that will endanger my family."
At this, Tricero lost his temper and he shouted as he stood up and slammed his hand on the table, frustrated and at his peak of his ire.
"Damn it, Allo!! Justin is not Vera!! Justin is not Alloette!! He isn't even your flesh and blood, and no matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise, adopting Justin as your son isn't going to bring your family back!!!"
There was a shocked silence, and even Teryx and Dimetro were staring at Tricero with ghastly dread and outrage. Plateo and Struthio were gaping at Tricero with wide-eyed shock, their jaws ajar slightly. Teryx held a hand over her mouth, her eyes in tears, afraid at what would spring up because of the harsh words. Dimetro, along with Bronto-Thunder, was frowning unceremoniously, even though they did agree with Tricero's sentiments, however gruff and forward they may be. Yet being inconsiderate to Allo's feelings was an issue neither one would ever dare tread upon...ever. Bonehead, wincing at the thought of the incoming battle, blushed as he bowed his head low, and Stego suddenly found a growing interest on the ceiling as he averted his gaze. Itchy just gave Tricero a glare of exasperation, a sarcastic look that said "Nice going, idiot". Compy looked like he was ready to duck and cover underneath the table, and the only thing holding him back was his pride. Montacera gasped angrily and, in true teenage fashion, she was already on her feet, her hands balled into fists that slammed hard against the edge of the table, as she gave Tricero a mixture look of pity, anger, and conflict. Raptor just remained cool, stony, and as usual, indifferent.
It was Allo, however, that was the most disturbing. His eyes, no longer playful and soft, were steel and narrowed in new peaks of fury, and his jaw twitched as he gritted his teeth so painfully, the bone was jarring in throbbing bolts. He slowly, with as much self-control as he could muster, rose out of his seat, the veins standing out of his hands and arms is defensive anger, his claws actually digging into the surface of the table, before he growled at the Triceratops commander.
"Don't you ever...!" bellowed Allo, so livid that he couldn't even finish the first sentence as he let loose on the Triceratops, "How dare you?!! How dare you!!! You have no right to pass any judgment on how I raise my son!!"
"It had to be said, Allo, and you know as well as I do that it's the truth," Tricero said bitingly, "I don't dispute that you care very much about Justin, and do not think that any of us do not see the child as one of our own. However, everyone except you can see that you're simply using Justin to compensate for the fact that you lost your family back at the Great Reptilion Wars, and as such, you're blindly overlooking the fact that you'll be putting Justin and the rest of us in further danger."
"I would never hurt him!!" Allo protested.
"I'm not saying that you would intentionally, Allo. But can't you see you're being stubborn about this, that you're being so bull-headed and adamant that you can't see the future dangers of Justin's mutation?! Are you so consumed with guilt and grief over Vera and Alloette that you selfishly fail to see how the rest of the Dinosaucers will be endangered?! Allo, stop acting like you're the only victim of the Great Reptilion Wars! We've all lost families and friends from the earthquakes and fighting that devastated our home planet!! Bronto-Thunder lost Apatysaurus, Itchy lost his parents and sister, our rulers, the Dinosorceror and Dinosorceress, are dead, Bonehead lost Bonehilda and Numskull, and I had to see the bodies of Dino in Red, Commissioner Stonebone and my fellow troops! Police-asaurs I went on patrol side-by-side! I lost my sweetheart, my boss, and my fellow friends all in one blow!! So damn it, Allo, stop being so dramatic in thinking your loss is the only one that matters here!!"
"You're out of line, Tricero! We can handle things well enough if Justin's mutation escalates!"
Tricero gave a harsh snort as he pointed out furiously, "Oh really? Did it ever occur to you what would happen if Justin was ever found out by the Friends of Humanity? Or by Major Cliffton and the army? They'll either kill Justin or dissect him, and either way, it will bring more danger and expose us to the Earth that the Dinosaucers exist!! Did it ever occur to you that Justin's mutant powers could bring more unwanted attention and surveillance that could jeopardize everything we worked so hard to establish ever since the Tyrannos destroyed Reptilion?! Oh, and let's not forget what would happen if the Tyrannos ever got it into their thick skulls of how they could manipulate Justin and his abilities!! Can't you imagine what would happen if they ever found out about Justin being a mutant?!! Dei and the other Tyrannos would then have no problem using every dirty trick up their sleeves to take him away from us, including bringing us down any way they can!! And you say Justin won't bring us further trouble?! Let's not forget what happened when Genghis Rex was alive and kidnapped Justin when he was seven years old!!"
Allo's eyes clouded in remorse and resentful coldness as he replied shortly, "That was a long time ago...and Justin's life was in danger! I had no choice!"
"Funny, neither did Genghis Rex," Tricero retorted back...
It was over at the Tyrannos' base, in the middle of nowhere and deep within the Colorado mountains, where Allo and his group of Teryx, Itchy, Stego, and Tricero stormed in, blasting at their enemies with their fossilizer guns, turning several of the Tyrannos dinosaurs into stone temporarily. However, Genghis Rex had his men surround the splinter group, unaware that the Secret Scouts and the rest of the Dinosaucers were already infiltrating the base; Allo and his team just provided the distraction. And Allo wanted to face Genghis Rex himself. Allo and the others were outnumbered two to one.
Genghis Rex crowed in front of them, flanked by his cronies, sneering at Allo, "Looks like I got the upper hand on you once again, Allo! Now, give me the designs for the Lavadome power source!"
That was the whole plot of the kidnapping, for Genghis Rex and his Tyrannos needed a sustainable power generator to fuel their headquarters, but only the Dinosaucers were able to successfully create such a device, and without energy, the Tyrannos were very handicapped. And none of the Tyrannos were as intelligent and resourceful as Dimetro and Teryx. Thus, that was why Genghis Rex kidnapped the young child; the Tyrannosaurus Rex knew Allo would gladly give up everything for the safety of his foster son. So the Tyrannos leader was surprised to hear Allo's feral snarl.
"Where is he, Genghis Rex?"
"Don't change the subject, you fool-asaur! The plans, Allo. Give me the plans, and I'll tell you."
"I did not bring them. There will be no way in all of Reptilion that I would ever submit to your initiative." That was a stunner, and the Tyrannos then dissolved his surprise into outraged gall. All right, if the stubborn Allo wanted to play hardball...
Genghis Rex then pressed a button on his metallic wristband, sending a radio signal to the computer controls of the Tyrannos' base to immediately start the gas chambers connected to the metal cell imprisoning Justin, flooding Justin's prison with enough carbon monoxide to asphyxiate the child. He laughed maniacally, "Then you just doomed your second child, you sentimental twit! The signal I sent through my wrist-comm will immediately start the gas to suffocate the boy in his own cell, and only I know the password to shut down the -"
Genghis Rex did get a chance to finish his sentence as an enraged Allo immediately charged past the group of surprised Tyrannos and tackled the tyrannosaurus to the ground. Allo's eyes were twitching, his vision red as he pinned his adversary to the metal ground and grabbed the red lizard's neck with one hand, froth bubbling in the corners of his mouth. The Tyrannos made a move to shoot Allo, but then a large explosion came from the wall next to them, splitting the barrier with an explosion of fire and hot gas and sending the red-skinned warmongers flying. It was the other faction of the Dinosaucers, Compy, Bronto-Thunder, Dimetro, Bonehead, and Raptor, and without giving the enemy a chance to recover, the Dinosaucers fossilized them all with incredible efficiency and accuracy. All except Genghis Rex who was at Allo's mercy.
"Damn you, where's Justin?!! SHUT IT OFF!!! NOW!!!" Allo roared, still straddling atop Genghis Rex. The red carnivore was starting to become unraveled, his cocky demeanor cracking, at the look of rage and hellfire in the brown allosaurus' eyes.
The Tyrannos then cried helplessly, "It's your own fault, Allo!! If you brought me the generator plans, you wouldn't have to watch your son die like your wife and daught-!!"
That was all Genghis Rex got to say as Allo drew his other claw back and punched Genghis Rex hard across the jaw with a right hook, the mention of Vera and Alloette immediately sending Allo into an unstoppable rage. Blood started to immediately cascade out of the Tyrannos' mouth like a explosion, the fluid mixed with bits of bone from his shattered teeth. Genghis tried to block the next one, but Allo was now bellowing gutturally as he struck Genghis Rex again.
SMACK!
Genghis Rex's nose was now broken.
SPUCK!
Allo's claws left hideous slashes across the Tyrannosaurus' throat, and the Tyrannos' leader weakly gurgled for Allo to stop, but the Dinosaucer wouldn't listen.
CRACK!
Now the other Dinosaucers could see the blood all around the two squirting and flying madly, splattering everywhere, and Allo kept ruthlessly striking and clawing at Genghis' rib cage with the Tyrannos' feebly trying to push the heavy allosaurus off him, but to no avail.
"Allo, stop!! Allo, for the gods' sakes, stop!! Please, stop it!! You're killing him!!!" Teryx shrieked as she brought her hands to her mouth in horror as Allo continued his onslaught.
By now, Tricero and Bronto-Thunder tried to grab hold of Allo's arms and drag him off the Tyrannos leader, but with a powerful roar, Allo threw them off effortlessly, insane with rage as he continued pummeling Genghis Rex. With such raw strength fueled by hate, anger, vengeance, and adrenaline, nothing could calm down Allo. His vision was actually clouded in red, and Allo only heard faints screams and noises in the background against the blood roaring in his ears as he used every ounce of strength to hit, claw, and strike at the Tyrannosaurus Rex's body. He wasn't even aware that he now had gore covering his hands, didn't even comprehend that Genghis Rex was no longer struggling, that he was still assaulting the leader despite having Bonehead, Stego, Tricero, Dimetro, Itchy and Bronto-Thunder trying to restrain him by grabbing on to his arms and body. Allo just kept striking and hammering with all of his hurt, his pain, and his loss behind every lash and punch, the memories of Vera and Alloette fueling his wrath. Yet, then a voice rang out, bringing Allo out of his murderous stupor.
"Dad!!" cried Justin. It was amazing how loud the child could scream, the yell echoing eerily across the control room.
Allo stopped, snapping out and back into consciousness, now feeling awkwardly burdened by the weight of six dinosaur bodies trying to restrain him. He turned desperately to see a trembling Justin holding close to the side of Ryan as they stood with Sarah, Paul, and David a little distance behind them. The Secret Scouts managed to rescue Justin in time. Allo was overjoyed beyond words at the sight of his son back, not noticing that the room was eerily quiet.
"Justin!" Allo exclaimed with grateful relief as broke free and half-walked, half-ran towards the Secret Scouts, but then he observed to his confusion, Justin was cowering and staring at Allo like he was some sort of monster or ferocious beast, edging closer to Ryan's side.
"Justin?! What's wrong? Whatever is the matter?? It's me, Allo..." but then the words died in the Dinosaucer's throat as he then saw clearly the demeanors of the others in the room. Sarah held a hand to her mouth, and she looked beyond Allo with her wide eyes streaked with tears. David looked as if he was ready to be sick right then and there. Paul was shock-still, like a statue, blinking behind his glasses but unable to utter a single word. Ryan looked pained as he sorrowfully looked at Allo with pity. It was then Allo realized that his entire front and claws were covered with blood from Genghis Rex. Already, some started to drip off the uniform and splattered onto the metal floor softly; Allo was completely soaked with it. With disbelief and numbing shock, Allo just looked at his claws, his breathing labored and shaking, looking at the bits of flesh and matter that glistened under the light while swimming in the patches of red liquid, as if he was unwilling to believe how it got there.
Allo then turned to where he fought Genghis Rex, hoping desperately to see the Tyrannos leader up and about, ready to make a corny threat or insane, maniacal jabber about how the Tyrannos would come back next time. Genghis Rex had to still be alive...he just had to be. Yet it was not to be. To Allo's horror, Genghis Rex just laid there on the floor on his back in a pool of blood, his limbs and tail limp and his face and jaws left frozen in a silent scream. Yet those were the only parts of his body that were still recognizable. The entire body of the Tyrannosaurus Rex was disemboweled. Throughout the chamber, they could see the damage done by Allo's claws and fists, the hacked organs and heart, already starting to turn darkish blue with death, the broken fragments of bone popping out of the tattered chest cavity, and the pieces of flesh and skin littered all over the floor like crimson confetti.
Dimetro, Bronto-Thunder, and Teryx were already beside Genghis Rex while the rest of the Dinosaucers and the Secret Scouts just looked on apprehensively. Dimetro checked for vital signs as a minute of silence passed...and then he sadly shook his head as he gently closed Genghis Rex's glazed eyes with his hand. Dimetro then announced in a emotionless voice, "He's dead."
The leader of the Tyrannos was dead; Allo had killed him.
All the Dinosaucers, Secret Scouts, and Justin turned their attentions to Allo again, seeing their leader and noble guardian at a loss. He broke the one rule he had himself preached so many times: Dinosaucers never kill. Allo appeared incredibly remorseful and broken, but in another instant, he managed to numbly pull himself together, though one could see the haunted look of shame and regret in his brown eyes. Taking out his fossilizer gun, Allo reversed the beam's energy, dousing all the petrified Tyrannos soldiers with light and reversing them all back to their flesh-and-blood forms. At the sight of their leader, the Tyrannos were completely at a loss as they gathered around Genghis Rex's dead body, inconsolable. Allo then addressed them all coldly.
"Go. Take your leader's body and never return here. We will destroy this base before we part ways, so that the only thing you need to concentrate on is survival, not merciless killing and destruction on this planet like you have so heartlessly done with Reptilion. If you dare show your faces around here again...I will execute all of you."
Everyone, human, Dinosaucer, and Tyrannos alike, shuddered at the icy finality of Allo's voice, and Anklyo, one of the Tyrannos soldiers and Genghis Rex's right-hand commander, stammered pitifully, "But...but you're the good dinosaurs! The good guys! The heroes!! You don't kill!!"
"All bets are off if you dare threaten my son again," Allo growled murderously, but his voice was cracking with compunction underneath the façade of brutality. At this statement, the remaining Tyrannos blubbered and whined, cowering in fear, as they gathered up Genghis Rex's remains as best they could and immediately headed for their spaceships to flee while they had the chance. In a matter of minutes, the Dinosaucers and Secret Scouts saw the respective enemies' aerial transports take off from the main hangar bay, disappearing into the distance of the setting sun. It was a quick retreat. Yet even though it was a victory for the Dinosaucers, no one in the room felt like celebrating as Allo walked away, slowly and in torment, as his teammates and family watched him silently. And not a single person followed Allo.
That night, after the Tyrannos' base on Earth had been obliterated by using several explosives and an underground well into the Earth's magma to turn the land into a smoldering, volcanic site to cover up any indication that the Tyrannos lived there, things were a bit tense at the Lavadome base. Allo sat dejectedly and miserably in his room, alone and despondent. Teryx gave him cold glares of blame all night, and Allo heard from Bonehead that she was crying over Genghis Rex's death in her room with Itchy trying to console her. It wasn't much of a surprise since back at Reptilion, Teryx and Genghis Rex used to be sweethearts. Dimetro and Tricero were also acting distant and disapproving of Allo as well, and they wouldn't even acknowledge eye contact with him, silently shunning him. Bronto-Thunder and Stego left Allo alone after several attempts to talk to him, and Bonehead had to drag Compy angrily out of Allo's room after the compsognathus thoughtlessly said that Allo should be more tolerant of Compy's disdain for Raptor since Allo got to murder Genghis Rex. Raptor, surprisingly, was a bit helpful as he stated to Allo before he left, "Every war has casualties. To desire otherwise is foolish...admirable, but foolish."
It was around midnight and almost everyone was asleep when Allo heard Justin inch into his room, clad in his pajamas and looking extremely cautious and hesitant, like a scared child that wasn't sure if he was going to be punished or praised. Allo was still sitting heavily on his bed, his shoulders slumped, not even bothering to look at his son. He was so sure Justin was terrified of him. Yet instead of rejection, Justin tearfully whimpered the one thing that broke his father's heart.
"Allo...please don't leave me. I'm sorry if I did something wrong, just don't be mad at me."
Choking, Allo embraced Justin in his wide arms, and for the rest of the night, Allo just cradled his son to sleep, his heart cold with dread and unwilling to put the human child down, almost as if the Dinosaucer was afraid Justin would fade into thin air if he let go.
The next day, Allo gave Justin a Secret Scout ring.
All the Dinosaucers looked incredibly uncomfortable as they remembered the memory; it was one of the few incidents around the Lavadome that was taboo. Even though Allo apologized to everyone and gave his teammates the chance to decide whether or not they wished to have another person take over the role as the leader of the Dinosaucers, in the end, all the Secret Scouts and the Dinosaucers wanted Allo to remain. No one else could do the job as well as he could. Still, it was hard to forget that event. Tricero took his friend's silence as reluctant agreement.
"Allo, can't you see that you're being too narrow-minded on these issues because you're so close to Justin?! Your over-protectiveness and fear of losing him is leading you to misjudgment! You didn't want Justin to be a Secret Scout so that you wouldn't have to worry about the risk of him getting hurt in the war with the Tyrannos, and yet it took him being kidnapped and nearly dying for you to change your mind!! Do you want Justin's mutant powers to bring the whole Lavadome down before you snap out of your pigheadedness?!!"
Allo bristled as he growled dangerously and jadedly at the triceratops, his voice hoarse, "Shut up..."
"Just because you're Justin's father doesn't mean you always know what is best for him, Allo!!" Tricero retorted.
"Oh no, here we go," groaned Compy softly to himself as Allo roared back.
"You should be the last one to talk about raising a child, Tricero, especially considering you haven't been up to sub-par with Montacera!! Just because I have a closer relationship with Justin than you ever will with Stonebone's niece doesn't mean that I am delusional and foolish! If any Dinosaucer has been a failed parent here, it should be you!!!"
Tricero's eyes then became incredibly cold...and hurt. Allo was a bit taken aback to see the pain in the triceratops' eyes. Montacera then snapped at Allo, surprisingly, and startled many around them.
"Leave him alone, Allo!! That's not true, and you know it, so shut up!!"
Everyone, including Tricero, was shocked at Montacera's defense, but now, the rest of the group were very wary of how this would end. Yet nothing happened. Tricero was silent, serious, and brooding, and Allo just slumped his head down as he still remained standing. By the mother planet, he wasn't sure how much more he could take. Allo was tired of the whole thing, the argument, the shock, the worry. Then, by Murphy's Law, all the Dinosaucers' communicators attached to the front of their uniforms beeped before broadcasting the voice of a frantic Sarah.
"You guys, we have an emergency!"
Tricero looked annoyed as he touched his comm-link badge, relaying his message back to Sarah, "Sarah, we're in the middle of a meeting -"
But Sarah still remained steadfast, blurting out her finding.
"Allo, Justin's missing!!"
"What?!" snapped Allo, alarmed and furiously outraged.
"He's gone! I searched everywhere, and I tried using the Lavadome surveillance and my ring to see if I could locate him!! He's not on the Lavadome grounds! I think he ran away!!" panted Sarah.
Author's note: Next chapter is the one everyone has been waiting for, especially Red Witch! Justin finally meets the Misfits!
Justin (deadpanned): Is there any point hoping that the Misfits will not react in the same way everyone else in my life has reacted before?
Hmmmmm...nope.
Justin: I hate you...so much.
Actually, since you asked so nicely, I had a change of heart!
Justin: Funny considering how you haven't had a change in your status for insanity for yet...
Quiet you! In the next chapter, though the Misfits and the handlers will run into Justin, ONE of them will be "immune" to Justin's status quo! Yep, you heard me Misfit fans! One of them will NOT try to kill Justin! Can you guess which one? It's not too hard...it's a bit obvious if you think about it. Until then, review and if you have a guess, post it! I want to see if any one of you readers can guess who the "lucky" person is!
Justin: You have a very warped sense of luck...