Dawn had already broken in the Great Valley as Jason took the lead and showed Stone, Jill and Zephyr into what he used to call his homeland.
"Where are we heading?" Stone asked as they passed from one field to the next.
"I've gotta find Grandma and Grandpa and let them in on all this. Their home is in now in grave danger! I've got to warn them!" Jason explained as they ploughed through a small thicket. Some time later, Jason arrived at Littlefoot's home but neither Littlefoot nor his grandparents were there.
"Is this it? Is this where you stayed with Littlefoot?" Jill asked marvelling at the beauty of the little enclosure.
"Uh huh. Littlefoot! Grandma? Grandpa?" Jason called but there was no answer.
"So, where are they kid?" Stone asked patting Zephyr.
"I…I don't know. Can't think why'd they take off this early," Jason said hurryingly. Something then jumped to mind.
"Oh of course! Ali's herd is moving out this morning! They probably went to see them off," Jason exclaimed snapping his fingers.
"Wh-Hey! Jason! Where are you going?!" Jill called after him as he shot off without warning.
"To the Green Meadow…we can probably find them there!" Jason shouted back. Jill and Sergeant Stone looked at each other confused.
"What do you think?" he asked her.
"I don't know but…hey! Zephyr! Where are you going?" Stone shouted after his dog who had sprinted after Jason. Looking at each again, Jill smiled,
"Looks like he's made a decision. I'm with the dog! Let's go!" With one last smirk, Stone charged after Jill towards the Green Meadow.
Jason found Littlefoot, his grandparents, his friends and their families standing in the meadow along with some more dinosaurs about to see Ali's herd off on their way. None of them had seen him yet but he did hold back in getting their attention.
"Littlefoot! Guys!" he yelled at the top of his lungs. No one heard him due to the loud chattering of the dinosaurs. Frustrated, Jason tried to get closer.
On the other side of the meadow, unaware of Jason's presence behind him, Littlefoot stood with his friends chatting to Ali.
"Well…I guess this is it," Littlefoot sighed but smiled. He was trying hard to hide his sadness for her leaving.
"I guess but at least we got to spend sometime together," Ali said as happily as she could, "I'll miss you all."
"Too bad Jason not here to say goodbye," Petrie said sadly.
"Yes. I hope he is okay," Ducky said in the same downed tone.
"Not now guys! We are supposed to be seeing Ali off! Besides, we're not allow to even hear his voice let alone see him again," Cera said. No sooner had she said that, a loud piercing, screeching noise erupted over the entire meadow. Everyone flinched at the sound.
"What that?" Petrie asked worried.
"Hang on…only one guy can make that noise!" Littlefoot said slowly. They all turned to look to where the sound had come from.
"I…don't believe it!" Littlefoot said smiling widely.
"It's Jason!" Ali called. Jason was running towards them whistling.
"What's he doing here?" Cera called flabbergasted.
"Lookie Dinee! Is-a Two-Legs!" Dana cried ecstatically.
"Yay! Two-ie Two-Legs!" Dinah squeaked. The threehorn twins and the gang started to head towards Jason but every one of their parents stepped in front of them, blocking them off.
"Guys! Thank God I found you!" Jason exclaimed but skidded to a halt as the wall of adults towered over him.
"What are you doing here sharptooth!" Mr. Threehorn bellowed menacingly.
"Oh…so you've told them," Jason said glumly. The group merely shuffled and didn't say a word.
"Is this true Jason? Are you a sharptooth?" Grandma Longneck asked unthreateningly.
"Not exactly. It's more of a half-truth. I can eat meat but I can't eat a fresh kill. What am I saying! That's not important, I have some very urgent news. You are all in danger!" Jason said forebodingly.
"What is it?" Littlefoot asked reading the terrified look on his face.
"There was an incident at the Red Phoenix complex over in the Forest of Fear and…" he began.
"The Forest of Fear?! You mean those humans were that close to our Great Valley all along?!" Mr. Threehorn shouted lividly.
"Yes but…Never mind about that! They will be here any minute! We have to get out of here!" Jason cried warningly.
"What do you…" Grandpa started but he was interrupted by the appearance of Jill, Sergeant Stone and Zephyr.
"Even more humans!" Mr. Threehorn roared. Sergeant Stone raised his rifle in retaliation but Jill knocked it back down.
"What is going on here?" Ali's leader asked impatiently.
"Those creatures are coming! You are all in danger if you remain here!" Jill called to them. The gang's eyes lit up when they saw Jill alive and well but everyone else chattered nervously upon hearing her words.
"Wait…where's that other bossy human?" Cera asked but quickly shrunk back as her father glowered at her.
"Cap'n Hunter? We don't know. He's been missing for a while now and no one's seen him," Stone replied patting Zephyr to calm him.
"What about these creatures? What are they?" Ali's mother asked.
"I don't know. Mutants, they look like humans but they have a taste for blood," the sergeant said openly which instantly sparked a tremendous uproar.
"Idiot! Well done! Herbivores remember?" Jill hissed slapping the back of his head.
"So humans are meat-eaters!" Mr. Threehorn yelled leaping forward to attack.
"N-no! These things aren't human; they are mutants. Experiments created by Professor Baxter! They look like humans but they do eat meat! That's why we have to leave right now!" Jason warned.
"Absolutely insane! You are expecting us to believe this? After everything your kind has done to us dinosaurs you expect us to just abandon our home? How dare you!!!" Mr. Threehorn continued to argue.
"Please! You have to understand…we are all in trouble if we stay here. Those monsters will come and kill us all!" Jason said trying desperately to get through to them.
"Grandpa? I don't think Jason is lying about this. He is never this upset," Littlefoot said weakly. Nodding in acknowledgement, Grandpa Longneck allowed Jason to explain what had happened in the early hours of the morning but when he had finished, it brought great concern to the entire group.
"So, you see, Professor Baxter and Westwood were in on this together," Jason said finally.
"Where is Professor Baxter now?" Littlefoot asked.
"He's dead. Killed by one of his own creations," Jill said shamefully.
"But those things are liable to be here any minute," Sergeant Stone said blandly.
"So what do you propose we do?" Ducky's mother asked nervously hugging Ducky and Spike closely.
"We should…" Jill started but something was rustling from the bush behind her. Whirling around, and the dinosaurs looking up, Jill and Sergeant Stone held their guns at the bushes waiting for whatever was behind it to emerge.
"Captain Hunter!" both Jill and Stone chanted lowering their weapons.
"At ease troops. We are in a state of red alert," the burly man said as he approached the group. Everyone seemed intimidated by his presence but Jason narrowed his eyes threateningly. Without a word, he started strolling up to him to meet him half way.
"Jason?" Littlefoot asked stepping forward. He didn't answer but continued to march straight at him. Rolling his bag off his shoulders, Jason threw it to one side just as they were coming face-to-face. Still confused by his sudden movement, Jill, Stone and the dinosaurs looked on as both of them headed straight for each other. As soon Captain Hunter was two strides away from him, Jason clenched his fist and swung it, full-speed, at his face which connected heavily and echoed over the field with a sickening crack. The crowd gasped as Hunter's head flinched with the blow but his focus readjusted immediately and he looked at him unphased.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jason growled staring him directly in the eye. Hunter didn't answer but he swiftly clasped his hand around Jason's throat and held him at arm's length.
"Don't bug me kid. I've been through hell and back to survive this long so I'm not going to tolerate it from a pipsqueak like you," Hunter said flatly.
"You're with them! You're part of all this crap!" Jason barked bitterly.
"No…not me," Hunter said. Jason batted the captain's hand away from his neck and took a step back.
"I don't believe you," he said with scowling eyes.
"Believe what you want but I'm not here to argue with you. I came here to brief you all on the current situation," Hunter said walking past him. Jason turned and picked up his bag before rejoining the group. As he walked back, he rubbed his throbbing knuckles gingerly quite astounded by the rigidity of the captain's jaw.
"So what's happening Captain?" Stone asked after saluting.
"The Red Phoenix Corporation is in jeopardy. It's experiments have now been completed thanks to the three Stones of Essence Westwood has in his possession. Jill, your ring was stolen in the dead of the night when you were recovering as was your pendent Jason," Hunter reported.
"But what about the third stone? How did he get Littlefoot's sapphire?" Jason asked.
"I followed Littlefoot to his home after his latest discussion with Westwood. The professor had a set of nano-tracers injected into his bloodstream and I used a tracker to find him. He turned over his stone without knowing what it would be used for," Hunter droned monotonically. Jason turned to Littlefoot.
"You gave away your stone? Just like that?!" he said greatly shocked.
"I thought I was doing the right thing. Mr. Westwood said that I would be saving the humans if I did so I let him take it from me," Littlefoot protested innocently.
"So this is your fault! If you knew what was going on, why did you co-operate with them!" Jason snapped bitterly. Hunter lowered his head.
"It's not like that…I was blackmailed into doing it. It's not like I wanted to help them in their sick plot to overthrow the Earth! I'm not that blind!" Hunter said shamefully.
"So why did you do it?" Ali asked softly sensing some pain behind his words. Hunter sighed heavily.
"They have my wife and daughter in life-support chambers in the facility. They were infected with the virus and Westwood said he would cure them if I co-operated in their scheme. They had me pinned against the wall. They are my family and I couldn't bring myself to sacrifice their lives if I knew there was a way to revive them. Westwood promised me the antidote to the virus but I had to do everything he said right down to the smallest detail. If I failed, they would terminate the experiment and end my family's lives. Do you really think I would help a couple of madmen claim global domination if I could prevent it?! I would have shot them both right then and there…"
"But you didn't did you. You couldn't…" Jill said calmly.
"They are the only ones who can operate the bloody machines. I wouldn't have a damn clue where to begin and I didn't want to run the risk of losing my family! They are the only ones that keep me sane in this screwed up world we have to call a home! As payment, I sold out my own team to be butchered and experimented on like play-toys!" Hunter shouted.
"But what about those two? Why did they survive?" Cera asked pointing to Stone and Jill.
"I put Sergeant Stone on a mission out in the wilderness myself. I told Westwood he was missing in action; perhaps even dead, so they disregarded him. Jill was already in the Red Phoenix recovery wing recuperating from her coma. I made sure all drug treatment went through me so she was not injected with anything funny. Apart from that, I couldn't protect the others. If I started informing too many others, Westwood would have found out eventually and then he would switch off my family's life support." The area fell silent as Hunter sighed again in defeat.
"Listen Captain…I'm sorry for…hitting you. I guess I'm just really worked up over all this. I never stopped to think that there were others that this affected besides me," Jason said slowly.
"Don't worry about it kid. We've still got to think what to do about these creatures. It's not too late to stop this insanity," Hunter said nobly.
"Yeah I guess…" Jason said but then noticed something on the captain's shoulder, "Hey! What's that?" Hunter looked to where Jason was pointing and peeled a thick, red, gelatinous goo from off his uniform.
"Ewww! What's that stuff?" Cera asked cringing at the sight of it as it dropped onto the grass.
"It looks like blood," Jill said examining it.
"Probably is. It must have splashed on me when I killed one of those creatures when I returned to base. Like stepping into hell's den in that place," Hunter said.
"It can't be. That's not right," Jason said cautiously.
"Why not Jason?" Grandpa Longneck asked from over him.
"Blood can't coagulated like that outside of the body. It's not possible."
"Why not kid? It's right there isn't it, so what's the deal?" Stone said blandly.
"Because blood doesn't coagulate like that until after you're dead…" Jason said darkly. Everyone began to chatter nervously on hearing this, giving the gang a chance to step out from behind the barrier their folks have formed between them and the humans.
"So, you're saying that everyone back in the complex is dead?" Stone asked.
"There has to be more to it then just that. They must have some vector or life-support keeping them going. They just can't have stood up and started walking around like that," Jill said curiously.
"The stones maybe?" Littlefoot suggested.
"Perhaps but they are all diseased. It looks as if they have been really ill recently," Jason said trying to piece everything together. Suddenly, Hunter bellowed angrily and started storming around.
"My entire squadron was poisoned by that lunatic! I can't believe I let him trap me like that!" he roared.
"It's okay Captain. It was a dirty trick to blackmail you like that but it's not your fault. Just try to calm down," Jill said resting a hand on his shoulder but he batted her off.
"I've never been played for such a fool before and I let him get to me! That sicko! Damn that……" Hunter was cut short by a loud gunshot echoing over the meadow. Everyone looked on in sheer horror as Hunter lurched forward once the shot had dissipated and rang off into the Valley. Hunter turned just as another shot hit him in the stomach. More and more gunfire erupted over them as Hunter screamed in pain and then slumped over onto his front completely immobile.
"That's not a very nice thing to say about your superiors David. Words like that can get you in trouble," a voice said from the far end of the field. Everyone whirled around to see Dominic Westwood standing there with a pistol pointing to where Hunter had fallen.
"Westwood!!!" Jason cried both in shock and in anger. Jill and Stone raised their weapons to him but withheld their fire.
"The Captain! Why did you…!!!" Stone screamed. His finger felt itchy and hot as it hovered over the trigger of his rifle.
"Alas, my finger must have slipped. Shame though, I thought Hunter would have wanted in on such a beautiful plan," Westwood said smugly placing the pistol in his pocket.
"You backed him into a corner you greasy rat! You held his family ransom and forced him to go along with your dirty scheme," Jason yelled.
"He had made his decision. I only told him that there would be a price to pay if he didn't. I didn't force him…I merely guided him to see things my way. I never thought he'd come running to you bunch of misfits like a coward!" Westwood said smiling.
"That's crap! He was a courageous leader to our squadron but he was still human! How could you murder him in cold-blood like that?!" Jill roared but Westwood just laughed at her.
"Leader? He couldn't lead ants to a picnic. Him, you and your squadron are the most impressive formation of puppets I have ever seen. You have your mighty captain to thank for selling you to me and lead you all blindly onto centre stage," he said slickly.
"Damn you!" Stone screamed unable to suppress his rage any longer, he fired his rifle which forced everyone to dive for cover. After emptying an entire, one hundred round magazine at Westwood, Stone was flabbergasted to see Westwood standing in the same spot completely unharmed.
"What! I ploughed a full clip into him! How can he still be standing?" Stone exclaimed.
"Waste of metal my boy. Did you really think I'd come to you without some means of protection?" Westwood said.
"What the hell? He couldn't have missed every single shot," Jason said picking himself up from in between Spike and Cera. Westwood then reached into his pocket and pulled out three triangular stones all glowing their respective colours. He held them out to the audience of dinosaurs and humans.
"Quite remarkable these little gems. Hard to believe that such tiny jewels can hold such a great power by just coming together," he grinned.
"The stones! He's found out how to manipulate their powers," Jill said forewarningly.
"They must have formed a barrier around him deflecting every bullet," Jason said worryingly.
"The best part is that this isn't even their full potential. Once I make them merge into one form, the power I have longed for will be unleashed!" Westwood called triumphantly.
"That's where you're wrong Westwood!" Littlefoot shouted to him, "There is only one way to get the stones to become one and you don't know it! You may have got our stones and made me tell you who had them but I didn't tell you how to make the final form!" Jason looked at him in shock but he just smiled at him telling Jason to trust him.
"That wouldn't be the melody Jason has been playing for the past few days would it?" Westwood replied. Littlefoot felt his stomach drop uncomfortably.
"Afraid I've beaten you to that answer kiddo. I must express my gratitude to you Littlefoot. None of this would have been possible without your help," Westwood said clapping his hands. Littlefoot felt his anger growing.
"Oh yeah! Well even if you do know, Jason will never play the song to help you. You may have tricked me but you won't get to him!" Littlefoot bellowed which made everyone flinch in great surprise. He turned to Jason who nodded and smiled. Despite his brave argument, Westwood's smile ceased to fade.
"Admirable Littlefoot. You are indeed courageous and I commend you for that but I am afraid I have outdone you again," the smug businessman said pulling a small device out of the breast pocket of his jacket.
"I am already aware that you have caught onto the professor's little device Jason but you were just a bit too late. Not only did that gadget read your vital signs directly from your brain's impulse, it has recorded every single word you have spoken since you got it including this little dialogue," he said playing a digital recording of Jason's tearful soliloquy in the clearing just before the raptor's attack. Once it had finished, Jason clenched his fists as a surge of rage rushed through him which seemed to feed Westwood's delight.
"A wonder; modern technology. To think, this little episode of yours is what caused you your friendship…Ironic that! Well, this and one of my personal favourite zombie movies of all time. The perfect resources for manipulating just a caring, naive soul," he droned sappily.
"It was you who told Littlefoot all that! You made us turn against Jason and made us think he was a sharptooth!" Ali cried feeling very guilty.
"That's the buy-line my dear. You do catch on quick. I was also responsible for provoking the velociraptor attack on your homeland but injecting them with a special serum. I'm sure you know that such mindless beasts only hunt for food when needed but I brought out their full rage and turned them into killing machines. And you, my dear lieutenant, followed your orders like a good, little soldier and destroyed their only means of defence. Well done! I think another promotion should be thrown your way," Westwood said drolly.
"Shut it you patronising creep! You've ruined everything for everyone! You've plagued our world and now you're gonna do it to this one too?! I'll make you sorry to came here!" Jason screamed and charged at him. The gang were first to react and quickly followed with Jill, Stone, Zephyr and the adult dinosaurs bring up the rear.
Westwood stood his ground and held the stones up to the sky. All three of them twinkled and flashed their shades of red, blue and green before a loud sound of moaning came into earshot. Skidding to a halt, Jason watched as the same, zombified creatures trudged and shuffled their way through the bushes and out into the field.
"Aaaarrggghhh! What are those things?" Cera screeched as they drew level with Jason.
"Those are the monsters Professor Baxter made in the labs. They are the dead corpses of the Red Phoenix squadron and scientists," Jason said backing away slowly.
"Correct. They were of no used to me anymore so I decided they would be the first of my undead army in my conquest of the world. Be careful though, they are highly infectious beings. One bite or even a scratch from them and you will be infected too," Westwood said smirking.
"Infected? They are carriers of a disease?" Jill asked raising her gun.
"Not just any disease. My virus. The same virus that plagued London all those years ago. I was going to sell off the only cure for it once I killed off the other directors of the company. I was going to make millions but I underestimated the vicious nature of the virus and it killed off more people than I could save. Still, it has acted as the perfect catalyst to re-animate the bodies of these freaks and with the power of these stones enabling me to control their puny minds, I will be invincible!" Westwood continued. No one said anything as the twisted man gave the order for his fleet of zombies to attack. As they all lumbered forwards, Jill and Stone opened fire on them trying to hold them off. Littlefoot, Jason and the others stood behind them watching in fear as more bizarre and decaying creatures ranging from humans to raptors poured out of the bushes.
"Jeez! There's so many of them!" Jill shouted as he slapped another magazine into her gun.
"I'm using up way too much ammo here! There are so many of them!" Stone complained as he took down another four creatures.
"What are we going to do?" Ducky cried as they backed away from the firefight.
"Me not like this!" Petrie exclaimed helplessly as he looked on in shock.
"Look! They are getting back up!" Ali gasped. Everyone looked out to the battle to see that the zombies that had fallen were picking themselves back up and were continuing to advance on them.
"This is hopeless! We're wasting ammo shooting these things!" Jill announced reloading. Westwood looked on and laughed.
"It's useless to resist! Give up now! My army is unbeatable!" he cackled evilly.
"This is pointless. How the hell are we supposed to kill something that's already dead?" Stone whined as he received a spare clip from Jill. Jason shook his head sorrowfully.
"Can this really be it? Is this the fate we are doomed to have laid upon us?" he whispered to him. He then looked at Zephyr who had come back to him limping. His mouth was covered in coagulated blood from the undead monsters and he had dragged one of them to his feet with a massive bite mark to the creature's neck.
"Aaaarrrrgggghhh!!! What's that four-legged thing doing? Why is it bringing it over here? It's only just going to get up again!" Cera screamed and dashed behind Spike. Jason knelt down next to the creature and found that Zephyr had managed to remove a section of zombie's spine at the base of its neck. Jason knocked it cautiously with his foot but it remained lifeless. To his surprise, the body then decayed and crumbled into dust and disappeared. Suddenly, Jason had an idea and began rummaging in his bag's side pocket.
Running up to Jill and Stone, he told them to stop firing.
"What?! Are you crazy?!" the sergeant shouted to him.
"Just stop firing!" Jason yelled. He turned to Jill who nodded and lowered her weapon. As Stone did the same, Westwood commanded his army to stop.
"Finally decided to give up? I told you, my undead troops are invincible," he laughed but Jason smiled sneakily.
"You may have being able to resurrect the dead Westwood but their bodies still operate like any other living creature," Jason said smugly.
"That's where you're wrong kid. You can't kill something that is no longer alive. The energy source from the stones is infinite so they will never be defeated," Westwood bellowed.
"Really?" Jason replied coolly.
"Jason! No!" Littlefoot called to him.
"Stay back Littlefoot!" Jason commanded as he approached the nearest zombie.
"So you are going to sacrifice yourself to me. A wise decision as resistance is futile," Westwood said as he ordered the zombie Jason was walking up to to attack him. Once it was within striking distance, the zombie lunged at him but Jason was ready. Flicking out his penknife, Jason ducked the zombie's attack and stuck the blade firmly in the base of its neck and slit it. The zombie instantly cringed and fell to the floor before disintegrating into dust as Zephyr's victim had done beforehand. The crowd gasped in shock as did Westwood.
Backing away to rejoin the others, Jason smiled triumphantly.
"H-how could…?!" Westwood stammered utterly stunned at the death of his creature.
"Your zombies may be able to withstand physical damage to their bodies and the stones may keep reviving them with limitless energy but they can't operate if the main channel of energy is severed. The energy must be travelling through their nervous system in order to get their manky bodies to move since their blood has coagulated in their blood vessels. By destroying the spinal column at the base of the neck, the energy stops flowing. So, your goons DO have a weak spot!" Jason explained with a brave smile. Enraged, Westwood ordered another attack but with Jason's theory proven, Jill and Stone easily hacked them down with their Laser Blades before any of them got the chance to launch an attack.
Westwood was livid when he found every one of his monsters had been defeated and had crumbled to dust and disappeared as their energy channels were severed.
"Give it up Westwood! You're finished!" Stone called to him as all of them approached.
"You fools! This is far from over! This fight has just begun!" Westwood screamed. Stone charged at him but bounced off him as his magical shield that was still surrounding him.
"He still has the stones so he is still dangerous," Jill warned.
"And yet to become even more deadly! You've forced me to reveal the true power behind Project Red Phoenix and it is something you are bound to enjoy kid!" Westwood said smiling malevolently at Jason. Jason shuffled uneasily and watched as the manic businessman thrust his hands into the air with the stones in one and the digital recorder in the other. Hitting the play button, Jason was horrified to hear his piccolo melody ringing out over the meadow. Whilst the song played, the three stones levitated out of Westwood's hands and began to circle each other. At the same time, loud rumbling sounded overhead as black clouds began to cover the sky and thunder rang out over the landscape. The stones rotated faster and faster as the song played on until they all flashed and rushed towards each other at supersonic speed. Upon contact, a large lightening bolt shot from the clouds and crashed into the stones generating a blinding flash. Everyone shielded their eyes from the glare and screamed in panic.
Once the blinding flare had disappeared, everyone looked up to see a golden pyramid of three triangles floating in front of Westwood's face.
"Yes! This is it! The ultimate power of the universe! I have finally revealed it to the world!" Westwood cried overjoyed.
"The Heaven's Eternity Crystal!" Littlefoot gasped as they watched it suddenly shoot off behind Westwood in the direction of the Red Phoenix complex in the Forest of Fear.
"You pathetic fools are about to witness the power of the Red Phoenix and the legendary Stones of Essence! Enjoy it while it lasts as it will be the very last thing you will ever see!" he roared as the sky cracked with lightening and thunder crashed heavily overhead. As the rumbling died down, there was a sound of an explosion from the direction the crystal had shot off in.
"What was that?" Cera asked extremely worried.
"That is the awakening of my most brilliant creation. Project Red Phoenix is on its way," Westwood replied. As few seconds later, a massive, glowing, metal pod flew overhead. It crackled with stray electricity as it slowly descended to the ground.
"What the hell is that thing?" Stone cried raising his rifle to it.
"That is the Red Phoenix…" Westwood announced excitedly, "Come out! Red Phoenix!"
Responding to his call, the cylindrical pod crackled lividly and shook violently. Everyone jumped backwards as the pod burst open revealing a beautiful woman with flowing, jet-black hair with her arms folded across her chest and her eyes closed.
"She is born! At long last, the Red Phoenix is born!" Westwood cried triumphantly. Everyone looked on in amazement as the crystal encircled her, dusting her with glittering, golden stars. She opened her eyes and smiled at her audience. Before their eyes, three triangular markings appeared on her body. A red triangle on her chest, a blue one under her left eye and a final, green triangle on the back of her right hand.
"She is the Red Phoenix?! I can kill her in right now!" Stone boasted as he stood primed to fire.
"NO!" Jason cried knocking his rifle into the air causing him to shoot uncontrollably skywards.
"What the hell are you doing kid?" Stone demanded.
"Jason?…what's wrong?" Littlefoot asked noticing the strangely intrigued yet horrified look on his face. Westwood's face lit up evilly.
"You recognise her yet Jason? You should do," he said smiling menacingly.
"It can't be!!!…Is that you………mother?!" Jason asked sheepishly.
"Mother?!" the gang gasped in shock.
Chapter 53: Death of the SoulThe entire meadow stood in an awed silence as Jason pushed his way to the front of the group. Westwood was wearing the nastiest of grin as he read the expression on Jason's face as he looked the beautiful woman up and down. He couldn't believe his eyes as he examined every square inch of her; all the while Westwood was feeding off his reactions.
"Like her? She's lovely isn't she? A masterpiece of work integrated with the perfect specimen sample. Experiment Alpha Omega-1615…Project Red Phoenix," he said dreamily.
"No! You're lying! Stop calling her that! My mother is dead! She was killed by one of you murderers who clearly value money above human life! You are a soulless monster," Jason said turning away from the woman who was still smiling sweetly.
"Jason? Is this true? Could that really be…?" Littlefoot started.
"NO! She is NOT my mother! She is dead and that is that! This can't be her," Jason barked croakily.
"Of course Jason. Your mother is dead…and do you know why?" Westwood said resting his hands on her and peering over her right shoulder at him.
"Shut up…" Jason mumbled to the ground. He just couldn't bring himself to look the woman in the eye.
"I was the one who pulled the trigger…remember that day, seven years ago; I know you do. Floor thirty-seven, in the office cubicle when you were supposed to escape together? Mother and son, hand in hand? Shame you didn't account for one minor detail," Westwood drooled. The crowd gasped and all focused on Jason who hadn't lifted his head up since the woman known as the Red Phoenix appeared in front of him.
"Damn you……it was you……" Jason whispered weakly.
"Be glad! I can't possibly see why you are so angry. Look, she's standing right in front of you and you can't look her in the eye," Westwood taunted.
"You bastard!" Jason screamed and charged but an invisible force struck him and threw him backwards. Westwood laughed as Littlefoot and the gang went to his aid.
"You killed his mother?! What kind of heartless freak are you?!" Jill scowled but Westwood just laughed.
"Do I really need to explain it? Anyway, as amusing as this little game is, I have a busy schedule to keep to. The Chronos Doorway is waiting for me. Farewell!" With that, Westwood disappeared into the bushes behind the woman.
"Come back here! Coward!" Jason screamed lividly but he didn't reply. Leaping up, Jason chased after him but the woman held her arm out and blocked his path. Obediently, he skidded to a halt and looked at her properly for the first time.
"Who are you? You're not my mother; you can't even speak," Jason said defeated. He knew his mother was gone but something he saw in her flaming eyes jogged some dreaded memories that he had hoped he had forgotten long ago.
"C'mon! Westwood is getting away!" Cera whined.
"Please, stand down…" Jason said sheepishly. He felt powerless against her delicate and vulnerable appearance.
"I can't let you pass," she stated unthreateningly but her ability to talk shocked everyone nonetheless.
"You can talk," Ali said bewildered.
"Are you really his mother?" Littlefoot asked which made Jason's stomach give an uncomfortable hop.
"Of course I am," she said happily.
"No! Shut up! You are NOT my mother! You may look like her but you can't be her!" Jason said shaking his head.
"Jason…take a good look at me. Look at face…look into my eyes. I am the same mother you lost seven years ago. I worked with Professor Baxter remember? In laboratory 2291. He kept me alive and gave me my new form. If it weren't for him I would never have gotten the chance to see you again…I missed you so much…" the woman said soothingly forcing Jason to gasp horrified. Every detail she stated was true of his mother's past.
"N-no! It's not true! You were killed! I saw it myself…" Jason said feebly. He could feel his emotions slowly taking control of him.
"Jason…I am here for you. It was the professor and Westwood who saved me. I hate to admit it but they gave me another chance at life," she continued to sympathise.
"Is it really you? Truly?" Jason whispered to her and she nodded slowly, "Mother…I missed you…"
"Come son. Come give your mother a hug," the woman said waving him closer. Everyone else were greatly perplexed by the whole ordeal yet no one told Jason to stop. As Jason walked into his mother's outstretched arms, Littlefoot saw something evil flicker her eyes.
"No Jason don't! It's a trick!" he shouted.
"Too late!" Jason's mother hissed as she waved her hand up and a massive gust blew everyone back. As they picked themselves up off the grass, Jason's mother walked up to them.
"What are you doing?" Jason asked in surprise. He couldn't snap back at his own mother despite her actions.
"I'm sorry Jason. My allegiance is to Westwood and I will help him in his conquest of the world," she replied.
"Not if I can help it!" Stone yelled and raised his rifle and opened fire on her. From her static position, Jason's mother held her hand up and deflected every bullet away like harmless pebbles. Stone continued to fire as the shots ricocheted off her magic shield passing dangerously close to all of them. As the last shot was fired, Jason's mother bounced it back and it caught the sergeant in the arm.
"Daniel!" Jill shouted seeing him fall to his knees. Jason's mother gave a twisted smile as Mr. Threehorn growled and charged, full-speed at her.
"Daddy! No!" Cera cried as he connected with her. Upon hitting, there was a bright flash and everyone gasped to see Jason's mother holding Mr. Threehorn back with her hands resting on his nose horn. Mr Threehorn was clearly trying to use all his strength as he pawed the ground but Jason's mother was not budging an inch. With another cruel smile, she raised one hand to his face and a magic force struck him and sent him sprawling into a tree at the far end of the Green Meadow.
"My God! What strength!" Jill said hoarsely as she saw the mighty dinosaur, unconscious, under the shaking tree. Swinging her arms in a wide circle, Jason's mother conjured up a ring of fire that separated the other adult dinosaurs from Jason, Jill, Sergeant Stone and the gang. The elders called out to their children and tried to jump the wall of fire but the flames stretched higher to prevent them from vaulting over it. Even Petrie's mother could not fly over it as the unnatural blaze followed her path upwards and blocked her off.
Jason's mother then looked down on everyone enclosed in the evil fire's deadly ring.
"Why are you doing this?" Littlefoot cried seeing the terrified looks on his grandparents' faces.
"The sacred stones need to be complete. In order for me to reach my full potential, the souls of the stone bearers must be consumed and put back into the stones. Although the crystal is in its final formation, the energy is not enough to fulfil my master's wishes," the evil woman said with a twisted smile.
"Please. Do not hurt us…we have not done anything wrong. Oh no, no, no!" Ducky whimpered as she hugged Spike's face.
"Don't worry sweetie, it's not you I am after," Jason's mother said. Her eyes then locked onto her son who flinched awkwardly. Suddenly, from her position, Jason's mother reached her arm out and a long, sick-looking tentacle shot out from the palm of her outstretched hand at lightening speed. With no time to react, Jason felt the slimy tentacle wrap around his neck and yank him towards his mother. Coughing and gagging, Jason dropped to his knees at her feet. He looked up at her with the tentacle around his throat with fearful eyes but she smiled malevolently and picked him up off the ground. Suspended in mid-air, Jason choked and struggled trying to release the tightening grip around his windpipe. For a second, there was a glisten of light and the whooshing sound of something being lifted.
"Put him down!" Jill snapped as she raised her pistol.
"Go ahead shoot me!" Jason's mother taunted, "I've lifted my barrier but do you really think you can hit me from there without harming Jason? We are magically bonded so any pain I feel, he feels!"
"You're…lying. I'm calling your bluff. Now, I told you once already…put him down or I'll fire!" Jill warned tightening her grip on the gun. She was trying hard to avoid the large, glaring eyes of Jason's friends who were silent but their expressions were clearly said not to hurt him. As she watched Jason writhing in the Red Phoenix's hand, Jill gritted her teeth and took the shot. The bullet hit its target causing her to flinch awkwardly but as his mother had proclaimed, Jason screamed in pain and clutched his arm in the exact spot where it had hit the evil woman.
"NO! Jason! Jill, please! Don't kill him!" Littlefoot cried to Jill. Jill felt a hot flush surge through her body as she looked at the sorrowful expressions on Littlefoot's face as well as the other dinosaurs Jason had befriended.
"Damn it!" Jill cursed and lowered her pistol. Jason's mother smiled but then turned to see Zephyr making a surprise attack from behind. As the brave dog made a pounce, she waved her free hand and struck him heavily. The force of the blow sent him rolling across the field, extremely close to the wall of fire.
"Zephyr!" Sergeant Stone called and went to his aid.
"As fun as this little game may seem, my master is waiting. I must meet up with him back in the newly reformed future," Jason's mother cackled. Suddenly, her body began to glow as Jason kicked and squirmed in her clutches.
"Jason!" Littlefoot cried as he watched his body being to light up a deep red colour. Jill then took the decision and ignoring the earlier warning of harming Jason, she pulled her pistol up again.
"Jill, no!" Ali shouted but she opened fire on the two of them. As before, the bullets swerved and missed their target as if they had a mind of their own and didn't want to hurt her.
"Damn, no good! The energy field around them is pushing the shots away again," Jill said defeated. Everyone looked on in terror as the two lights grew brighter. The skies cracked menacingly with thunder and lightening as the red glow started to pass into the white light surrounding the evil woman.
"Yes! The Essence of Heart is now mine!" Jason's mother exclaimed overjoyed as the red light started to fade.
"No! Jason!" Littlefoot cried helplessly.
"L-Lit-tle-foot…" Jason choked looking at him out of the corner of his eye, "I'm…sorry…" With that, there was one last bright flash and Jason's body lurched up before falling limply in his mother's tentacle.
"JASON!" Littlefoot shouted as the glowing diminished.
"It is done! My first essence has been revived!" Jason's mother said triumphantly as the red triangle on her chest lit up and glowed a blood red. With a flick of her snake-like tentacle, she threw Jason's body in amongst Littlefoot and the others. The elders behind the wall of fire gasped in horror as he hit the ground. Littlefoot instantly ran over to his body closely followed by the rest of the gang.
"Jason!…Jason! Open your eyes!" Littlefoot ordered knocking him with his nose but Jason remained lifeless on the grass, "C'mon Jason! Say something…please…anything…"
"No…this can not be…Jason! Please wake up!" Ducky said close to tears seeing that he was not responding to Littlefoot trying to arouse him. Jill then walked over to his body and placed her hand on his neck.
"He's…gone…No pulse or breath…" she reported sadly.
"No! He can't be gone! Jason, please wake up!" Littlefoot begged but Jason remained unresponsive. Silvery tears began to well up in his eyes as he wept over him.
"You're wasting your time child. I have his life now. He is part of me as he so longed to be," Jason's mother said coolly with her arms folded across her.
"How could you do that? He was your son and you killed him!" Cera shouted with a very croaky voice.
"I know. That's precisely why I did it. He is one of the chosen ones to receive the Stone of Essence. If I could spare him I would have," she said unphased by the strong emotions everyone was feeling.
"Liar! You just wanted to kill him to get rid of him! You cold-blooded murderer!" Jill screamed. She was about to charge at her but Jason's mother raised her hand to the sky as a bright flash erupted from the heavens and began to tremble again. Looking up at the uncontrollable skyline, the gang then saw a large, blue circle suddenly appear from behind Jason's mother.
"The Chronos Doorway!" Stone yelled as he placed his unconscious partner on the floor. Littlefoot stared deep into the magical portal as flashbacks of his first meeting with Jason came instantly to mind.
"I'm off to change the world. If you want to see our master plan unleashed upon the world, just step into the rabbit hole. It won't hold forever so make your decision quickly!" Jason's mother said before leaping into the swirl vortex and disappearing out of sight.
The shaking, blacken sky and roaring wind coming from the Chronos Doorway made the Great Valley seem very distort and warped as the gang huddled over Jason's body.
"I can't believe Jason is really gone…" Littlefoot sobbed as his sparkling tears rolled down his face and drop onto Jason's skin.
"He was a good friend…yep, yep, yep…" Ducky said rubbing her tear-stained eyes. Spike waddled up to Jason and gave him one last lick before backing away. He too was deeply upset about their loss.
"I'm sorry…I know Jason meant a lot to you guys…" Jill said sorrowfully. She was finding it hard to control her own emotions seeing the gang all tearful.
"But what we do now?" Petrie said between weeps.
"We have to follow them into the future and stop them before this madness unravels the fabric of our time and history," Jill said standing up from beside Jason and looking into the blue swirling time door. Jill and Sergeant Stone walked towards the Chronos Doorway and stopped at the base of it. Just as they were about to jump into it, they heard footsteps beside them.
"I'm going with you," Littlefoot announced valiantly.
"What? No you're not kid! It's too dangerous!" Stone barked at him.
"That human has made a mess of everything. To my home and to my friends. Jason always blamed himself for all the bad things that happened to us. I want to help you stop Westwood," he argued.
"Littlefoot…revenge will not bring Jason back you understand? Even if we do beat Westwood, Jason is gone for good," Jill said cautiously.
"I know…but I want to beat him…for Jason's sake…" Littlefoot sighed.
"Count us in too!" Cera yelled from behind them.
"What? You all want to come?!" Stone asked exasperatedly. The five remaining dinosaurs nodded despite the anxious shouts from their parents.
"You do all realise that this could be the last time you see your families again? Once you pass through the Doorway, there can be no going back. You have to be absolutely sure…" Jill warned. The gang took a glance at each other and then back to their parents who were starting back at them fretfully but silent.
"We are sure. We are going with you!" Littlefoot said bravely.
"Alright then. Let's go!" Jill said.
"Oh boy! What the hell is this? A nursery?" Stone whined but Jill gave him a dirty look which made him flinch. Then, one by one, they leaped into the blue circle and disappeared out of sight. As Ali past through the bright circle of light, Littlefoot looked back at Jason lying on the ground. He never imagined what things would turn out this way but he felt indebted to him somehow. From Jason, he then at his grandparents who looked back at him. He could tell that they didn't want him to go but from his suggestive glance down to Jason, both of them understood what he had to do.
"Don't worry Grandpa, Grandma. I promise I will stop this madness," Littlefoot whispered to them, "And Jason…one way or another…I know I will see you again…" As his final tear ran off his face, Littlefoot turned and stared deep into the endless, swirling blue. With a deep breath, he stepped into the Doorway and felt his body shoot into the portal as it closed behind him.