Chapter 23
So this isn't what I had wanted to be as a final 2017 chapter. Next year will be extremely complex, with personal issues bound to rise, one story still a third of the way done and this story just 7 to 12 chapters from finishing, along with PGB:BR about 11 away here is my to do list;
2 Continuations
2 sequels
2 standalones
1 Crossover
So I'll be busy. And it doesn't help that Net Neutrality is dead. So problems may come for us all.
EDIT: I don't know what happened, but I wasn't able to make it a final 2017 release. So my new and possibly final goal is to get this story done before Fallen Kingdom is out. Maybe even release the last or a bonus chapter on the release night.
Rexy's senses were hot. Like 5 alarm chili after taking a big bite of a ghost pepper kind of hot.
The evacuation was going as smoothly as hoped, most of the resort had been cleared out save for those who would defend it as their home. The very few flashlights that they had found throughout the park, mostly in the weapons rooms all over the resort. They were lucky that they had power, being that Alex scavenged all the solar panels around, she would like to use the control center directly below her feet. But unfortunately the place was built to keep anything from getting in.
"Rex." Tracks called, being that Rexy was her more causal name and Rex as her more commanding one. "I just got off the line with Sarah, the evacuation has completely crossed the river."
Rexy let out a small, but hardly noticeable grin. Thankful that by now almost the entire resort was now at least 3 miles away. By now most likely around her old habitat in the old park. They still had some distance to go, possibly a mile, before they would be in the next line of hills.
"Good. Notify Athena to be ready. We still don't have word from any flyers."
"Already checked on that. The 'Birdcage' said it's still waiting for scouts to-" Just as he was about to finish the sound of wings beating heavily caught their attention.
Looking to their south facing the resorts main ferry port, a flyer could be seen in the moonlight like a glowing shadow growing ever so steadily. With a hard forward push, making the flyer stop mid air and land gracefully on his taloned feet on the concrete platform. Raven, as Alex had described the black bird to the flyers before, making the one present come to have heavy respects to the bird, thus earning his name, stood tall at the front of the line. Pulling off the chest pad, a tied together vest that was to help any flyers patrolling near human activity to have some protection to weapons. Though it did leave them a tad bit slower due to weight and their wings weren't protected they still carried them for the safety.
With a nod he stood before the Queen of Nublar with his head hung at a low pitch. "What is the status on the human party?" Rexy asked, trying to suppress a growing growl.
The flyer took a deep breath before looking back at her in the eye, "They're here."
At the main ferry landing some couple miles south of the main Jurassic World Resort, a reenactment of D-day on a 1 to 400 scale was in motion.
Coriss was standing tall just outside of the main building with his eyes scanning over the moon covered land. Strapped tightly to him was his own AR 15 A2 assault rifle, decked out in a dark red camouflage pattern. Inside the docking station, around 30 men along with 2 military Hummers, having been brought over by separate boats and several dirt bikes were parked in a line with the Stryker right in front of the line. About half of its exterior lights were switched on giving some light for the soldiers to unload crates of supplies and weapons.
"Lieutenant," one man came walking up. "We're loaded and ready to move."
He grinned, "Excellent, let's move people!"
The journey from the ferry port to the resort from what one would think was like would be surprised by the trip the tiny convoy had.
While the monorail was the main connection between both the port and resort, after seeing the damage to the port station, most likely from the hurricanes and tropical storms that seem to graze it, was a complete mess. The service roads that ran directly underneath it, used incase of any needed maintenance had to be done, was mostly overtaken by stomach high grass. But the gravel path still remotely survived. With the Stryker being almost a disco on wheels, the tank and humvees made steady decent time to the main park. No everyone, despite the tight situation inside the vehicles, with possibly 4 people in each hummer having to stick out with their guns just in case.
It was a hour later, the time on everyone's watches all reading just passed 1 am. But once passing a detailed train and along the gate wall, bypassing the iconic doors that once welcomed visitors to a beautiful park, they managed to follow the main wall to one of the park's service stations. A small part of the wall cut out to allow much larger vehicles to go in and out of the resort to other parts of the island and enclosures. From GPS it said they were at least 6 miles away from their location.
"Hold!" Coriss spoke sticking out of a hack on the stryker. Making all 3 vehicles stop."Alright, let's set up now before we go any further."
Ducking back in the rear hatch to the tank slowly lifted open. The hydraulics moving the couple hundred pound door out of the way as the men started piling out. Having to quickly rub their eyes from the returning light the vehicle was projecting everywhere. The men in the Hummers all sliding out to marvel at the landscape ahead of them.
It was the first time any human had seen what the real part of Jurassic World had become.
One soldier, who had placed his vest on the hood to make sure he had everything, was patting down his pockets making sure he had all his ammo pouches full. From the corner of his eye however, he could of sworn he saw movement. Something just suddenly dart across the ground. Slowly lifting his flashlight up, he saw a small tail of green appear in the light before suddenly being yanked away. The action causing him to swiftly draw his pistol.
"What the hell is that?!" he shouted more than he should of.
Earning a few shhhhs from his comrades, one guy coming up beside to see what he was seeing. With a thought, he took his own pistol and banged it on the side of the hummer. A shrill came from behind as a compy suddenly ran from behind the truck. Making a beeline you the shrubs before leaping in and disappearing.
"It's just a compy... They're more like pests than assets. They've been able to survive on this island and the other even after the literal hell that rained down here before building this place."
"...oh."
As the group went forward with the Stryker trailing behind them, the Hummers hang a little back as the heavy guns entered the main part of the resort.
But unknown to any of them, was the 2 small groups of at least 4 compies each suddenly running up behind the vehicles. Quickly latching onto the heavy metal they all clung to the undersides, quickly beginning to cut away wires and cables. Using their little tiny, yet sharpened talons to peel off the protective covers, they quickly, and to the hope of avoid getting shocked, lashed the lines.
Almost immediately the first hummer suddenly stopped as the lights and engine died. "What the hell?" the driver shouted trying to look for the issue. Immediately the other vehicles stop as to wonder the same thing.
"What's the problem?" Coriss shouted.
The driver got out, moving around to pop the hood open. "Don't know. Just lost all power." he said checking the battery.
But just as he said those words the second hummer goes dark. All heads snapping to the attention of the engine dying with the driver now pounding on the steering wheel.
Shaking his head in annoyance Coriss called out, "Leave them. Just get the stuff we need for now. We'll have to come back anyway to set up a camp in the station or armory and hopefully get in contact with the Riverbank group again."
It had only been roughly half an hour since that group reported in. Their last transmission about finding a velociraptor, maybe Grady's at best, but it didn't look like one. Kinda like a mutation had gotten hold of it. The lieutenant could only imagine what both Grady and Ingen would get into on debating what to do with it. But the second part got to him; something like a man? Possibly Grady, it had to be. He knew that bastard was reckless enough to break off and try finding his raptors alone. He figured that if they got the asset easier for transport than fine. But he knew he was gonna chew off his ears once they got back to base camp.
Turning away back to the tank and others, he put a little more force in each step as he marched forward. The men in the Hummers gathered up both weapons, rations, and radio equipment in several giant backpacks. Strapping them all on as the made sure to lock the cars up as they followed behind. Just as the soldiers were a few yards away, the compies that were occupying the under chassis quickly detached themselves. Making sure to avoid any possible detection by the humans as they small retreated back into the ferns. However, watching from forest, a group of many other compies were quietly watching the operation. 3 of the little buggers quickly ducked back into the shrubs, two of them quickly propped up a makeshift radio similar to the one Tracks had made. One then pressed down on the button letting out silent static wave before the third one spoke.
"Scouts C1 to Queen. Prey has entered the hunting grounds. Prey has entered the hunting grounds."
The trip into the main area was interesting; the Stryker providing enough light for them to see all what remained if the thriving resort.
It was strange to say the least, the area looked like it was cleaned up in various places with the street being filled in with either gravel or dirt that allowed some green to grow through. Most buildings that were destroyed during the 2015 Incident were completely demolished at this point with brick and steel showing any signs a building once stood there. Others however seemed to actually still be a little more worn out than damaged. Some with tarps draped over the front windows as to protect the inside from the elements. In all it looked like someone had tried to fix the place up, or at least tried halfway.
"Hold." The Sergeant said raising his fist up. Making the group stop in the middle of the street. Just 40 feet away from the steps of the visitors center. The building in name had a massive tarp covering the exposed hole in the wall of the volcano shaped facility.
Someone was here recently. These tarps are too 'new' to have been left behind for years. Not against the weather and animals running around.
"Looking around for any signs of human life. Someone was here before us and I wanna know about it."
12 sets of boots clamped together as the men that owned said footwear spread around the area. Guns raised as they made sure to keep close by in pairs with live fire and tranquils. Both breaking up to search the surrounding buildings. Coriss and 10 others made sure to set up a small perimeter around the tank for the case that they would have to move quickly.
Over in one building where 2 men were currently investigating, both opted to strike up a conversation to keep them occupied.
"Hey, did you hear about what happened in New York?" one whispered the topic.
"Why are you whispering? We're technically outside. And yeah, what was that about anyway?"
"Apparently something spawned in Central Park and ended up changing everything back to what it was maybe a 100 or so years ago. Ended up blowing up a tanker full of-*splat* "
Stopping in his tracks both men snapped their attention to the ground. Their rifles' lights shining down onto the man's now juice covered foot. Slowly lifting it up as more matter fell off, both looked at the smashed fruit in confusion. Moving the light they followed a trail of garbage. Following it to a cabinet that wasn't fully closed due to being jammed by something.
Looking at each other, one made sure to keep his aim trained on the door as the other kneeled down to the opposite side to pull the door open. Tumbling out was more of the evident fruit that was hastily packed inside. Though one thing caught their attention; the ones that were already half eaten compared to the pile of good ones. Grabbing the one with bites in it they headed back out to the Sergeant.
"Sir," one called getting his attention "someone was here. There's fresh food scraps in several of these buildings." he pointed over to where they had 2 men holding the mostly eaten food. It wasn't just trash left behind from long ago, saliva was still on the bite marks along with fresh dirt. "There could be someone possibly stranded here."
"Then how the hell did we miss it? The coast guards been keeping this area locked tight. No one has set foot on this island in 2 years. Even still the wild life would have a better chance of getting them right when they got here."
*squawk*
All heads suddenly turned in the direction of the noise.
A compy.
A single compy standing in the middle of the street just 20 feet away. It stayed high, standing in curiosity at the humans.
Some of the men knew from previous accounts how troublesome these little bastards could be. Some accounts saying that there little swarms are enough to overwhelm small creatures, like humans, and peek them to death. But from the looks of it, this one had been following them since the train station.
Coriss knew the list of most animals they had to retrieve and/or tag. Babies of any species would be immediately taken out as to improve chances of that species survival of any of the adults weren't capable of surviving the transfer. Things like compies on the other hand, weren't on that list. And being the nuisance they were, were just something that got in the way.
Pulling out his side arm and switching safety off, Coriss one handedly aimed roughly in the dino's direction and squeezed the trigger.
*BANG*
The compy jumped back from where the bullet impacted the pavement in front of it. Screeching as it dash into the darkness of one of the buildings. Earning a few chuckles from the men.
But what happened when it came back out, standing in a much more prideful stance, was something that made every man suddenly freeze in place for they thought their ears had just told their mind something impossible.
"ATTACK!"
It screamed out. In perfect English. Followed by the a combined wave of literally dozens of voices yelled out in more like a roar. Making literally every man present suddenly jumping and raise their weapons.
What happened in the next 30 seconds was one that none of them had expected or had been trained for.
The combined power of dozens of spot lights, somewhat old due to the brightness not being that clear, suddenly appearing along the rooftops of buildings all around the street. The group having to quickly shield themselves for those who stared into the beams.
Then a swarm of squalls suddenly echoed across the sky; a literal swarm of at least 3 dozens Pteranodons all flying together in a crude double layer V formation were almost perfectly highlighted by the moonlight. From the ground they looked like shadows against the stars. Immediately the gunner on the Striker spun around, just a twitch away from pulling the trigger to take down the imminent threat.
Then the rumbling happened; not like thunder, but like a train rapidly approaching. Faster than what the men could react to, 2 triceratops came charging from around both corners of the main street intersection in front of the visitors center. Both almost perfectly matched in speed as their front horns were lowered like what a rhino would.
"Take cover!" Coriss shout as he and the foot soldiers all jumped to the sides of the street.
Spinning around as fast as he could the gunner let loose on the machine gun mounted on the turret as it peppered the two dinosaurs. But the one issue that both the gunner and men didn't expect was to see sparks only hitting the animals, and neither showing signs of stopping.
"Load the 30!" he shouted inside the tank. Making two other men quickly rush to arm the main cannon. "Back up before-" *CRASH!*
Both dinos hit the front of the 8 wheeled vehicle like two semis in a head on collision. The front light bar being ripped away along with the left corner tire being shredded. But they didn't stop; both, despite the weight of the tank, kept the power to their legs going using their upper horns to dig into the armor. Heaving their heads up some the front 4 wheels soon became airborne, the rear ones struggling to hold on their breaks as it was pushed back. Looking back, the gunner's face pale when he saw what direction they were going.
"HOLD ONTO THE BRAKES!" He shouted. Seeing the hole in the fence that gave way to a massive pit rapidly approaching.
"I'm trying!" The drive yelled as he smashed both feet down. The remaining tires all still as rubber begin to quickly burn up from the friction.
When the cliff came just up to the very rear tires, the gunner yelled out, "Hang on!" and ducked back in. Just as his head disappeared, so did the truck from view of the soldiers. The only thing they saw left was the chipped concrete and the sound of metal smashing apart. Once the truck had rolled away just enough for the two dinos to break off, both sprinted back around each corner as the smash happened. Several men quickly firing several shots in both directions, just barely grazing them before the concrete walls stopped them.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" Coriss commanded making the few stop firing. Not wanting to waste ammo on something they couldn't see now.
"What the hell is going-AHHHHH!" One main was sent flying through the plain by a unknown force. Tumbling through the air with his finger squeezed on the rifle's trigger as he flew backwards some distance
"Parker!- WOOOAAAHHH!" 3 more were knocked away by a heavily armoured spike tail. A large ankylosaurus came barreling out of the blinding light stopping with enough momentum to make itself roll over. Only that it had enough force that it didn't stop on its back. It dozens of spikes creating a partly curved surface as it rolled through 5 more men. Each one trying to shot it but having little effect as the combination of its tough hid and vast spikes making it hard to penetrate between to its just softer skin.
Seeing their comrades under attack the others including Coriss opened fire.
Just as a stegosaurus came running in with its plated acting as shield to the other dino as it ran off around the buildings. Though that didn't stop them from continuing fire. The saw several holes of red spurt out around its side with it groaning in pain. It knew it had taken just a bit more damage than it should of, but it had to buy the others just a tiny bit of time.
And help came in the soundwave of electricity sparking to life.
Jumping from the tops of the buildings, Athena, dawning a stun rod usually meant to control escaping animals, was held tightly in her hands like a staff as 2ere at least 4 dozen others with her landed, or if their species was more built for jumping, literally pounced on the men close to the sidewalks. One being a edmontosaurus whose weight made the troop he landed in front of fall back from the pure shake he felt with, but it paled in comparison to the sudden voltage he felt attach to his stomach with two small metal bits. Each one screaming in agony until falling silent.
The soldiers barely had time to react before having to use their guns as shields to block the prods. They could just easily tranquilize them, some still had those guns ready, firing them as fast as their fingers could pull back the trigger, several dinos started becoming dizzy from the darts effects. But those who fell were quickly replaced by triple the amount of fighters pouring into the street.
"Switch out from darts!" Coriss yelled ordered as he went to fire into the head of the first dino in his sights; Athena, with back turned and exposed.
Than a heavy footstep came; like a small tremor growing closer. Making most fighting suddenly ease up as whatever the source was now had their attention.
It was getting closer.
And closer.
The humans weren't ready for what they saw appearing from the tarp that covered the visitors center.
A new challenger had entered the field.
The Queen herself.
The first thing she was grab one guy that tried being a hero by charging with his knife. Because of her size she easily grabbed him by the head, lifted him effortlessly 2 feet off the ground, and through him into a stunned comrade. In that instance another guy started shooting her, many hope that the strange mutant t-rex would fall just as easy as a man.
But she didn't. Only flinching when a bullet hit in a place that made her turn a bit from the force of the ricochet. The chest armor she was wearing covered by her normal clothing, despite making her look over all bustier then she was in this form, took the brunt of the hits. Once the gun made a click sound and stopped firing, the man, shakingly standing in place, watched as the anthropomorphic dinosaur marched right up to him. Looking down like a parent to their child. She could just smell the fear burning off of him. It made her smirk, to see and feel the fear literally dripping off prey was something that brought her back to her younger years.
Rexy inhaled deeply. Nostrils pulling in air as her lungs expanded to maximum size.
And then, she roared.
Just inches away from the soldiers who got a full view of dozens of teeth and the dark void down her throat. He could feel his radio earpiece crack apart and ear drums burst like water balloons from the sound. Once she stopped, blowing a burst of hot air like a angry bull, the man felt his world become dizzy, eyes criss, and gravity take hold of him as he fell backwards in a heavy thump.
Satisfied with the reaction, Rexy turned gawk to the still fighting group. Only this time those who where still standing were staring in utter disbelief. Coriss had to run his eyes, thinking he had to be seeing things. But with the swing of a stun prod that almost got him in the left side, the sergeant kicking away the triceratops attacker away, he knew that at this rate they would be utterly screwed.
"Everyone get back to the tru-" *KA-BOOM*
Many heads, mostly the soldiers, suddenly turned around in the direction of the explosion.
Just in time to see bits and pieces of Hummers flying through the air in a fiery glory that was the compies doing.
The dinos didn't care for the fireball, it meant that any means of real escape was gone for the soldiers. The humans all had just momentarily froze when they heard the blast. Looking in its direction of what was the last of their convoy. A mistake that the dinos took full advantage of.
Swiping her tail around Rexy smashed it into Coriss's left side, causing the leg to bend inward as he crouched a bit. Continuing with her spin she did it again, aiming lower near his feet as the massive limb swiped him off his feet. Jumping up with her inner strength the T-rex raised her arm sending her elbow down onto his gut. Coriss literally bounced when he hit the ground with all air literally getting knockout if him.
With a heavy wheeze and gaze up to the rex, who had taken a cautionary step back, the Sergeant's feet moving faster than his own body as he run forward, only to get a net thrown over him. Tightening from his charge as he became entangled with the ropes. He was trapped along with 2 other men as he watched with horror. The others that were still standing were quickly getting overwhelmed by the number of attackers. Their rifles either being shot apart or smacked away leaving them to get tackled. If it was any other human they could put up a good fight, but with a combined weight that 4 anthros made being almost a thousand pounds drove them to the ground. Once they were done a pair of parasaurolophus would come running with a net either empty or full with other soldiers to snatched the downed ones. Their numbers were now in the low teens as the remaining few knew it was already a futile attempt to resist.
"Fall Back! Fall back now!" one man shouted to his remaining comrades turning around to the direction they came from. Only to get a couple hundred volts in the back as Athena planted her foot on him like a hunter with its trophy.
"They're running away!" she shouted as she raised her stun rod in a victorious roar. Dozens of others all doing the same, raising their weapons or shields in a united voice that echoed across the island. Watching as the remaining humans, maybe not even 8 of them left, were sprinting towards the monorail station and the fireball that was one of their transports. A group of about 10 flyers already swooping overhead to capture them.
While they celebrated, Rexy walked over to one of the nets that held about 6 humans. Their guns had been taken, now in the hands of her people who focused on them to keep them in check. To say that they were shocked to see humanized dinosaurs, let alone ones holding high-powered guns and a anthro T-Rex being the clear leader, would of made them think that if told about this sooner they would of put it aside as the man telling them simply having too much to smoke.
Coriss, despite the situation, and trying to keep his emotion in check from letting his old friend the darkness come back. Looking up from his entanglement, he made the mistake of looking the T-rex right in the eye.
With a dam holding back a wave of rage, Rexy let out a auditable growl that made some of the soldiers reel back. But Coriss held back more so. "Why have you come to our home?" She growled. "WHY do you dare invade us?!"
Coriss didn't answer. He figured that she must of known he was the 'leader' of the group when shouting orders. But right now he kept his mouth shut.
This only fueled the inferno that flared in her eyes. If she had the power to the human would been engulfed by flames by now.
"*growl* Take them to the holding cages."
Doing as told, 5 brachiosauruses changed into their true forms, reaching down to the top of the nets as 7 ankylosauruses held them up. Careful to not cut through the tether, each bag of men was hosted 30 feet into the air swinging loosely in the animal's mouth. Each step they took only further rocking them back and forth as they headed for the old kennels that once man held dinosaurs, dinosaurs now held man.
They all let out startled yelps and yells as they were taken out of Rexy's hearing range. Only the sounds of the heavy footsteps becoming distant brought a smile to her face. Scanning over the battle zone, she saw the newly done damage to the buildings, more missing glass, bullet holes and craters in the streets all smoking into the moonlight. They could easily rebuild it; more or less clean it up since they lacked the proper materials and knowledge to truly rebuild.
CRASH!
Snapping her head in the direction of the sound, half expecting to either see a building collapse or the remaining humans come back, she was a bit surprised when 4 forms came running from the dark vegetation. 3 of which were what Rexy could clearly identify as the Raptor Sisters. Seeing the shine tinkle from Delia's eyes as she was ahead of the 3, but Blue was missing. Inda came charging in with ferocious speeds nearly knocking down trees, poles and narrowly stepping on Charlie when she slagged behind some.
Everyone stopped doing what they were to see the hybrid coming to a screeching halt. Flinging a small spray of blood out onto the ground that quickly caught the attention of most of the carnivores present. All eyes landing onto her claws; two limp forms held tightly yet loose enough that it didn't cause damage. Both were completely still; however, the body in her left claw laid limp with the clear sign of crimson liquid leaking out.
"We need a doctor!" She roared. But not of anger, but of that of pure and utter desperation.
Earlier… The River
The squad ran. They ran as fast as they could despite their gear.
The moment the body hit the ground, the other seemed to lock up from just pure shock at what happened. It was this little mistake that they immediately fired a tranquilizer that they hoped wouldn't kill the still standing being. It worked for the most part, exhaustion had already lended its hand in the strange pair that another would of no doubt knock them out for a while.
But with a gunshot, from a high caliber bullet that went straight through their torso, the amount of blood leaking onto the ground wasn't startling. It was meant to deal maximum damage, but yet still keep the target alive. Though that depended on where the shot entered and exited. And judging by the hole in the t-shirt, the victim would possibly have hours before complete death from blood loss.
So I decided not to add much of the part following last chapter. Ain't I a stinker. HOWEVER! There is a hint as to who just took a bullet to the chest. That part along with a return to Owen is coming soon.
In the way it's going I've had bursts of inspiration and determination to get these stories written with some chapters getting a third of the way done in just a single writing session. So there's hope for the next chapter to be started and done sooner as I only have one chapter currently in the works for my crossover and it's about 3/5s done. So thanks for still following this and hope to have the next one out soon.
