Arrival
Facility Tunnels, Mantah Corp Island:
P.O.V: Kenji
After docking and unloading the dinosaurs, Dad demanded that we get the dinosaurs to the Med-Bay. Ever since we left Nublar, he has been really skittish and nervous, the only thing that I can think of that would get him like that would be that he found out the others had somehow, managed to escape. While I'm happy that they were able to get out, I'm slightly dreading what I'm, or they, are going to say when I see them again. Will they accept my apology or will they push me away, hating me for my mistakes. Walking the familiar hallways of the facility did bring back memories but they were forced when I spot the depowered BRADs which scatter all over the floor. Gazing ahead, I see Dad walk at the front of the group with Bumpy and a merc behind him, followed close by Hawkes and another mercenary, escorting Grim and the Dimorphadon, which I named Swoop. The twins are escorting Talon, while I bring up the rear with Toro. Looking at a depowered BRAD and looking back up to Toro...I see that they have similar expressions of...deadness. The BRAD is a machine, lifeless hunk of metal but Toro was a living being and seeing his emotionless, dead eyes made me see that he is just like the robot at my feet...lifeless and...programmed. I narrow my eyes as I gaze ahead at the front of the dino convoy. "Kenji...come here." Dad calls out, I push my thoughts away and fasten my pace, passing Toro's controller to another mercenary.
Standing next to Dad, he doesn't turn his attention to me but keeps it simply on the corridor. "Where were you?" He asks as si glance at him. "I'm sorry?" I question confusedly as he turns to me. "On the boat, I was looking for you. We need to talk." He says as I turn away from him with a shrug. "What about?" I say dryly as we come to an intersection, Dad levels his palm on my shoulder, bringing me to a stop. "I'm sure you're wondering why the Ankylosaurs is here." He says with a knowing gaze as the convoy passes us by. I glance at Bumpy before turning back to Dad. Raising my beyebrow, I silently question him on why. "Listen, I know that I said that I would leave the Ankylosaur alone but...your friends have escaped." He says as my eyes widen at the revelation. "And from what you told me, this dinosaur is close to them...I may need to...motivate them. In case they try something dangerous again." He says with a slight sneer. I mentally scoff at his 'reassurance'. Motivate...threaten would be the more appropriate word. "You don't need to explain. I get it. It's just business...and that's all that matters." I say as he turns back to me, a happy smile on his face. "I'm glad to hear that, Kenji." He says while placing a proud hand on my shoulder. "Come. We have a lot of work to do." He says before turning away and heading to the Med-Bay. When his back is turned, I let a tired sigh and follow after him. I hate every minute of this, a part of me wants to forget about all the things that he has done...or justify to them. But o know that there is no going back now, Bumpy was the line and Dad crossed it. Mae helped me see what I refused to acknowledge...in the end, he is my dad...but that doesn't mean jack to me anymore. He never cared before...why did I believe he would care now. I was a fool but I made a promise to fix this, no matter what has to be done...he won't hurt anyone ever again.
I got to the Med-Bay and see Dad talking to the twims. "You two, take the dinosaurs to the jungle biome and set up camp outside the compound. I shouldn't have to remind you that these assets are important. Which means that you should stop anything or anyone that gets in the way of protecting them." He says with a warning and threatening tone which snaps the mercenaries to an affirmative stance. "Yes, sir." Both of them say respectively as Dad nods and head soft towards the elevator. I go to walk away but I see the two mercs chuckle quietly before staring at me. I give a hard, cold gaze at their laughter but nonetheless walk away and to the elevator. Passing one of the large doors, a loud bang is heard as I walk by. I jump in shock at the noise but settling, soft growls and snarls are heard as I focus my hearing. A bang echoes again as the inhabitant releases a loud roar, I recongize it as Galen. I sigh at seeing another friend being locked up, and the fact that it's Galen...when Ryan finds out about this, he ain't going to be happy, not one bit. "Kenji." Dad calls out as I turn away from the large door. Hawkes, Dad and the other two mercs are already here as I enter. The doors close as we head up to the compound.
P.O.V Change: Sammy
Darius, Brooklynn and I, watch as the animals are transported away from the dock and into the facility tunnels. We knew that they would go and take dinosaurs from Nublar but we never, ever imagined that Kon and Kenji would stoop so low to take Bumpy. Kon, maybe...but not Kenji. "We got to find Ben. We all know exactly where he is going and what he's planning." Brooklynn says, her voice is laced with slight dread. I ahiver at the thought of Ben running up and confronting Kon about Bumpy and knowing that Hawkes is here as well, doesn't do me any favors...no doubt he hasn't forgotten us or what we did back on Nublar. "You're right. Let's go." Darius says with a nod as they both go to find Ben but seeing Yaz is not with us here, reminds me that she is still grieving...and I'll be damned to let her wallow in that pit of despair. "You guys go ahead." I call out to them as they turn to me with confused expression. "Yaz needs help, y'all. She needs someone to comfort her, to help her. You guys fine Ben and bring him back, we'll meet up at Mae's Abode." I say as Darius nods in agreement. "Ok, be careful, we aren't alone on this island any more." He says as I nod at his warning and race off to the Forest Biome, I see out of the corner of my eye, I see Darius and Brooklynn heading towards the Jungle Biome's airlock.
Running through the Forest Biome was both an exhilarating and terrifying thing to do. No one in our group would say that they are one hundred percent comfortable with being in this biome, let alone running in it, the main reason being the Eatie's. We might have quot on quite, good terms with the Rexes but they are still predatory animals that hunt and eat. But with he watering hole, the presence of Pierce and the the fact that we stockpiled all that meat certainly helped in diverting the Rexes attention away from us and Pierce and the babies. Coming the the watering hole, I see that Pierce is drinking his fill while Firecracker plays with Angela dn Rebel, I gasp in fright when I see the Eatie's acorss the watering hole but soon relax when noticing that Little Eatie is drinking her own fill and Big Eatie is sitting down, gazing around but I can see that she is mostly relaxed, just enjoying the warm sun fluterring through the trees. Paying no heed to the dinos, I walk behind the waterfall and make my way to the cave. Entering the cave have me no joy, no feeling of safety because I knew that somewhere in here, was Yaz, my firend...a friend that suffered a terrible tragedy. My eyes start to well with tears as I walk through the cave, memories coming to me on waves...memories of me and the others...of Yaz...and Ryan. Just sitting around, laughing, joking...enjoying life. Despite all the hardship, the grievances, the pain...we stood together, protecting, watching over each other. Ryan was the glue that kept us together. He was dthe survivalist, the realist...the one that taught how to survive and defend ourselves. While a harsh teacher...he was protective and calm. He was out leader, the person that lead us through the hard times. But even with all of that, he laughed, he joked...time on Nublar changed him...I wouldn't be able to recognise who he was before that day on the dock. I don't think anyone would.
But the thing that really stand me in the heart...is Yaz and Ryan. They were drawn to each other the very first day that they met. No matter how much they denied it, or threw off as ridiculous...I knew. Something special was happening and it warmed my heart, to see these two...unique, strong and independent people, come together, stand together through thick and thin. It pains to realise that all that...is now gone. Ryan is dead, sacrificed himself to save Darius and Brooklynn...we all are feeling the pain of his loss but Yaz was...is...struck the hardest with him gone. I think...that she loved him...and him, her. I brush the loose tear away as I approach Mae's bedroom.
Turing the corner, I see Yaz huddled on the bed, holding a pillow close to her, I can hear her soft sniffles and whimpering sobs. My heart plummets from seeing my friends like this. "Yaz." I say softly, trying to get her attention...I approach the bed softly, hoping not to make her mad. "Go away, Sammy." She says hoarsely. I guess all the emotional stress and crusing has left her voice worse for wear, but I can't back out now, I want...no, need to help her. "Yaz..." I say again but Yaz sniffles and tightens the hold on the pillow, her back still to me. "It was here. Right here in this room, that I knew that I loved him." She says quietly as I sit on the bed, I don't say anything...waiting for her to continue. "In here, nothing else mattered...it was just us...it was like nothing that I ever felt ever before." She says as I catch on to what she is implying, my eyes widen at the realisation, but nonetheless I keep quiet. "Have you ever felt that feeling in your stomach? If butterflies fluttering like crazy?" She says as I nod. "Yes. I did...once." I say quietly but with also some sadness. I will never forget her face. When everyone turned me away in school, it was her that held out a hand and helped me up. Before meeting everyone, she was one of the only few, real, friends that I had. When she moved away...it broke my heart. "I felt that. When he held me close, gently, softly...when I gazed it his eyes...my heart soared. I didn't know what it was, I didn't know what I was feeling. I tried to say that it was attraction...it might have been but it was...more. Something that I couldn't logically, or truly fanthom." Yaz continues to say as I inch closer to her. Her voice is starting to crack and I can just see the tear stream, falling down over her nose. "I was going to tell him. He said that he would come back, promise to come back to me...why, Sammy? Why did he leave me?!" Yaz sobs as I reach over and pull her up and into a hug, she wraps her arms around me as I hold her close. "Shh, it's ok. Let it out. Let it all out."
Yaz crying is the saddest thing that I have ever seen, to see her so low, so heartbroken...I wish I could make it alright, to make so that nothing bad has or will happen but I'm not God...I can't change the past, can't change anything that has happened. Ryan's death will always be with me, and I imagine that not a day will go by for her, that she won't think of him...imagine him, dream of him...it pains me m but I don't think she'll ever love again. While those things may happen, I can't leave her in this pit of heartbreak and despair. "Nothing that I say will heal the gapping hole in your heart, Yaz. Ryan was someone special...to all of us but I know that he was very special to you. I'm not going to tell you that it's alright because it's not but I am going to tell you...that he would want you to going. To keep figtning. To not let his death be the very thing that draws you down into nothing." I say to her as she sniffles and breaks away from me, she sits on the edge of the bed, her back turned to me. She hangs her head in her hands. "How can I? How can I fight? How can I keep going?" She says as I move over and sit beside her, placing my hand on her shoulder. "Because he believed in you...because he loved you." I say as Yaz riades her head, her cheeks are lined with tears marks and her eyes are red. "When I look back...I'm lost. I want to forget all the memories, I want to forget everything about him...does make me a bad person, for wanting that?" She says as her shoulders sag, almost in defeat. I shake my head furiously at her self loathing and turn her towards me. "No, don't think like that!" I shout but she sighs, not bothered by my shout. "But is it true?" She asks as I gaze into her eyes, the defeat in them makes me want to sob. "No...it doesn't." I say but she shakes her head and looks away. She doesn't believe me...I have to make her understand. Have to make her see.
"Yaz. Wanting to forget him doesn't make you a bad person. You only want to because you think that remembering him will bring you nothing but pain and hurt. But you can't think like that. Ryan is gone...but he still lives, within you. Your memories of him will live on...his memory will live on...in you. So don't remember the bad, don't remember the hurt. Remember the good moments, think of the best times that you had with him. Keep the love that you had for him, with his memory. In time, the bad ones will fade away. You said before that if you look back, you're lost. So I say, that the only way for you to go...is forward. Do this not just for Ryan and his memory...but for yourself. You are one of, I'd not, the strongest person that I have ever meet. He believed in you and I believe in you too." I say with tears falling. Everything I said came from the heart...I just pray that she'll listen to what I said. She turns to me, tears falling freely...she smiles sadly at me and subtlety nods. I return her smile with a happy and sad one of my own and pull her into a hug, her arms wrap around me as we just sit...the emotions of the last ten minutes just being let loose.
We break apart and gather our bearings together. Yaz wipes her tears away and takes a deep breath. "Thank you, Sammy...I really needed that." She says as I place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't mention it. You're my friend, and who would I be if I didn't try and help?" I say with a smile as she chuckles and hugs me again. I think back to when I separated from Darius and Brooklynn, coming to the realisation that I need to tell Yaz about what is going on. "Yaz...you need to know something." I say as she breaks away. "What?" She questions as I take a deep breath. "After you...left. We decided to give some space but Brooklynn received an alert from the perimeter drone. The Kon's are back...and they're not alone." I say as she eyes steel at the reveal. "What?" She says with a growl as I nod. "They were able to capture some dinosaurs and bring them under their control. Like Grim and...Toro." I say as her eyes widen. She stands and faces the wall, holding herself up with her hand. "What's worse...they have Bumpy." I say as she turns to me quickly, the frightened gaze turning to a blazing inferno of anger. "What?!" She shouts as she faces me. "Me, Darius, Brooklynn and Ben were on the cliff oberlook and we saw them being underloaded. Me, Darius and Brooklynn saw Bumpy being escorted into the facility...we fear that Ben went after her." I say as Yaz backs up and faces away from me. I sit and wait for any reaction from her...the tension and anticipation could be cut with a super heated knife. Yaz bends down and picks up the sheathed machete and swings over her shoulder, the blade sticking out over her right shoulder. I hear her click the strap in place before training to me, a harden and determined look forms within her dark eyes. "Let's go save our friends." She says in the familiar, strong, commanding tone that she has honed since Nublar. "Ok sweet...the thing is, Darius said thatthey we're going to meet back..." I go to say but Yaz is already on her way out of the room and heading to the entrance/exit of the cave. "...or, we go and meet up with them. Good plan." I say awkwardly as I follow after her.
P.O.V Change: Darius
It took me and Brooklyn a while to catch up to Ben, only because we had no idea of where he was going. We knew that he was trying to get to Bumpy but we knew that he wouldn't risk getting caught...at least not yet. Ben might be rash some of the time but he wouldn't risk himself nor Bumpy with careless planning. Brooklynn theorised that Kon would take the dinosaurs underground to the Med-Bay. When I asked why, she basically said that they were wild for six months, they will need to get check for any diseases or injuries before being anything else. I agreed with her theory and with that in mind, I knew that Ben would come to the same conclusion which left only possible conclusion. He was heading to the warehouse at the edge of the jungle biome, where Kash manufactured the chips. Kon would want all of his assets in the jungle compound, he'll eventually find out that we escaped and with all of his chips in the one corner, he can lock down the compound into an impenetrable fortress. He will no doubt use the Spinosaurs as his personal guard dog while he sends Hawkes and his mercenaries to capture us.
I break from my thoughts as me and Brooklynn break through some foliage and see in the distance...the back of Ben's head. We push ourselves to run faster as we inch ever so closer to him. "Ben, slow down! We won't get Bumpy back without a proper plan." I called out to him but he either doesn't hear or ignores me. Me and Brooklynn are painting up a storm as we get closer and closer to him. Breaking through the foliage, we see Ben kneeling down beside a tree, keeping himself in the shadow of the huge trunk, hidden away from sight. He follows where he is looking and we spot the Kon's walking towards the warehouse with three mercenaries, one of them being Hawkes. Me and Brooklynn get out breathing back as we kneel beizde him, Ben glances at us as Brooklynn whispers to him. "We saw Bumpy being escorted from the dock. We think that Kon sent the dino's to the Med-Bay." She says as Ben nods. "I came to the same thought... where's Sammy?" He questions as he gazes around, looking for Sammy. "She went to check up on Yaz. We agreed to meet back at Mae's Abode when we found you." I say to him as he nods. "Good idea, but since we are here...let's see what they are up to. I can't imagine that Kon will be happy when he finds the missing chips." He says snarkily with a hint of amusement as we watch the warehouse. I narrow my eyes at seeing Kenji standing side by side with Hawkes. Did you forget what happened back on Nublar? He threatened to kill Brooklynn, just because he wanted Wu's tablet back. And now you are working with him? I think to myself at seeing the duo. I don't know what happened or how this...'relationship'...came to be and in all honesty...I don't care. But to see him working with someone as vile as Hawkes. I pity you, Kenji...I really do. "Mr. Kon is exactly the type of jerk that would hire a jerk like Hawkes." I say with a frustrated groan...but an idea pops into my head, what if Kon is working with Wu, maybe that's this he was able to get the sabre tooth tiger and the mammoths. "Yeah, but who expected Kenji to be?" I break from my thoughts when I hear Brooklynn speak, I turn to her and see the sad expression on her face. Ben places a comforting hand on her shoulder as she smiles gratefully at him. "At least he'll be mad when he finds the control chips are gone. So that's good, I suppose." She says as I nod and place my own hand on her other shoulder, turning her attention to me. "Also the fact that you shut down all the drones and BRADs and deleted all the blueprints. And white that, how is he gonna sell his tech to BioSyn now?" I say with a confident smile. We hear leaves rustling behind us as we turn...out breath held deeply as we wait for who or whatever is coming. Ben reaches down and lifts a large rock carefully, preparing himself for confrontation. The leaves move out of the way and to our shock and joy...it's Yaz and Sammy. "Oh thank God, there you guys-." Sammy starts with a raised voice but Brooklynn reaches forward and pulls them both down to the ground. "Shush." Brooklynn says as she points ahead...Yaz and Sammy follow her finger an see Hawkes and Kenji standing at the door of the warehouse. "I thought we were going to meet at Mae's Abode?" I question Sammy who shrugs and gestures to Yaz. I nod in understanding of her unspoken answer. I can't imagine that Yaz would be very happy to sit and wait while we find Ben and spy on Kon.
"What the hell is Hawkes doing here?" Yaz growls out as I shrug. "We don't know, but it can't be for anything good." I say to her, careful not to try an aggravate her...I don't know what she is thinking or feeling but judging by the angry tone of her voice and scowl on her face, it's best that I try and not to piss her off, I subtly rub my elbow, brushing over the bruised and cut skin...I know that she was angry and upset due to me telling her about Ryan and I don't blame her one bit but I don't want to be on the receiving end of her anger again. Not if I can help it. She gazes at me and I see her eyes soften when she locks eyes with me. I guess she heard the trepidation in my voice. "I'm sorry Darius...about before, I shouldn't have-." She says but I smile and hop over to her side. "Don't worry about it. I understand why...you have nothing to be sorry for." I say to her, she smiles gratefully, she brushes a loose tear away and focuses back on the warehouse. "So, what's happening?" She asks as we all turn back to the warehouse, finding Hawkes, Kenji and another merc standing guard before the door.
The door opens and we see Kon walking out. Even from back here, I can see his face is still the same emotionless expression as before but I can subtly see the narrowed brows and clenching of his jaw. "Why does his mad face look so calm?" Ben says, literally taking my througta out of my head. Ben's voice is mixed with surprise but also fear and I don't blame him. If Kon is this in control about himself then finding out that the chips are gone can't be enough to truly make him mad. It also gives me suspicion that he has something up his sleeve. "So?" I hear Hawkes ask as we watch Kon turn to him and Kenji. "The chips are gone and the workshop is trashed." Kon says in a calm but frustrated voice. "By the earthquake. If we felt it on Nublar, could it be possible that here was affected as well? Maybe more so?" Kenji asks but Kon shrugs. "Possibly...but I believe that it was more likely that those children were responsible." He says as we all take a deep breath...guess it was too much to believe that he wouldn't think that. My eyebrow raises when I see Kenji's face turn to one of concern and slight fear...which confuses me. The last we saw each other, he was angry and feeling betrayed by us...why would he care about us or care if his father blamed us for the chips. Yes, we destroyed them...but he doesn't know that.
"Ok, so what? We don't get paid?" Hawkes questions and I roll my eyes at his inquiry. I haknce over and see everyone else doing the same thing, having the same thought. "A Kon always thinks ahead. There's a backup of the chip schematics." Kon says arrogantly but we all gasp quietly when he says that there is a backup. If that is true, and he gets that backup, then destroying the chips would have been for nothing. Me and Brooklynn glance at each other. "It's on a flash drive hidden on the jaw of one of the BRAD-Xs." Kon continues as Kenji questions him. "But all the BRADs are down, so how are we-." He says but Kon interrupts him. "So, we turn them back on, son. And then it's just a matter of calling the right over." Kon says as my eyes widen at the implication. A false drive, with the a backup of the chip schematics, hidden in the jaws of one of the BRADs. While the idea is not very comforting, I can take some relief in knowing Brooklynn changed the password and also for Ryan destroying most of them down in the sewer, so unless he can figure out the password...Kon will have to go for a swim to get to the right BRAD.
"All right, let's go to the compound." Kenji says which breaks me from my thoughts. I watch as he begins to walk away but Kon holds him back. "Hold on, you're not going." Kon says and my eyes widen at seeing the bewildered, slightly angry and upset expression on Kenji's face. Something is not right between these two...there is some...animosity. What the hell happened on Nublar? "What? Why?" Kenji questions as Kon sighs. "It's not that I don't trust you, son. But I need someone to watch over the assets and with your knowledge and skills...I'm placing you in charge of their well-being. The chips are the priority of course, but these dinosaurs need to be in perfect condition for Dodgson. And those twins, well..." Kon says to Kenji who hangs his head by raises it up with a determined gaze. "Sure Dad. I'm on it." Kenji nods his head as Kon pats him proudly on the shoulder. Kenji walks away and heads to the closest airlock. I hear a thud as I turn and see Ben holding a tightly clenched fist on the tree near him. "Ben?" Yaz asks with concern but Ben waves her off. "I'll follow Kenji. Hopefully he'll lead me to Bumpy. " He says in a quiet but angry tone as he gets up walks away. Heading into the direction of where Kenji went.
"But, shouldn't one of us go with you? Sammy asks as Ben turns to answer her. "No, I got this. You guys need to get to that flash drive first." He says before leaving. "Ben is right. We didn't put in all this work to stop Mr. Kon, just for it to blow it up with a backup." Sammy says as I nod. "True but he said that the flash drive is in the jaws of one of the BRADs, and we know that most of the are destroyed but the ones that aren't, he can't access them because of the changed password." I say as we look over and see Kon walking away with Hawkes and the other merc in tow. "So what do we do now?" Brooklynn asks as I ponder for a minute. "We make for the compound, if we can get there before they do, we might be able to find where the flash drive is. Kon might not do it himself but he'll no doubt get Hawkes and his cronies search every BRAD-X for that flash drive. But if we find it first..." I say as I notice Yaz catch on to my plan. "Than he has nothing. No drones, no BRADs, no chips. No schematics...no nothing." She says as I nod. "But what about the dinos that are already chipped?" Sammy asks for which I shrug. "There's nothing we can do right now for them. All we can do is wait for the opportunity to get the controllers...we destroy them, we free them from the control." I say, none of them are happy that there are still chips and present in 6 dinosaurs, 7 if you include Galen. They nod in understanding and we race off into the jungle, heading to the compound.
Jungle Compound, Mantah Corp Island
P.O.V Change: Yaz
We arrive at the compound and to our relief, Kon and his mercenaries aren't her yet. Making our way up the elevator and to the computer room, Sammy and I stand outside while Brooklynn and Darius do their work, seeing the two BRADs that are just beyond the door made my heart sink. Darius said that one of them was trying to kill him and Brooklynn...Ryan saved them...but it came with a cost that was too high. Seeing the two machines, I wanted nothing more than to walk up and just hack them to bits. The one that killed Ryan is gone, never to reactivate...but these ones...they're easy pickings. I grit my teeth and look away from the bits, refusing to give into my anger and grief. Sammy was right, I need to understand that he is gone, it's hard but I need to...not get over it but...accept what has happened and not give into despair. And so I turn and unsheathe my machete and hold it beside me, standing guard if Kon and those mercs show up...if they want a fight, they'll get a fight. "I check where the BRADs went down." I hear Brooklynn say. "Good idea. Start with the ones down in the core room. Ryan took a lot of them out while we were down there. It's possible that one of them might have it." I hear Darius say to Brooklynn as I hear typing. And now the waiting game begins.
While I was watching the hallways, I could feel Sammy's concerned eyes set upon me. While I know that she's just worried and looking out for me...I don't need to be watched constantly. "Sammy..." I say as I turn to her. Her eyes widen and look away, trying to hide that she was staring. I chuckled at her bubbly way of trying to act oblivious and it brings a smile to my face. "I thank you for looking out for me...but I don't need to be watched 24/7." I say as I lean agaisnt the wall. "I know. It's just...I'm worried about you. I don't mean to come off as overbearing but..." Sammy starts to drone on as I smirk. Its...familiar. Whenever she did something working or thought she did something wrong, she would always try to talk her way out of it. But she would always dig a bigger hole for herself. "Sammy." I interrupt her as she truns to me. "I appreciate that you were concerned and decided to look out for me. I really do. But I need to come to terms with...what has happened. And what is going to happen on my own time. So, while I'm grateful, I don't want you to always keep an eye on me. If I need to vent, or scream or cry...them I will. You can help me put myself back together after, sound good?" I say with a happy but sad smile. Sammy mirrors the same smile and walks over to me, hugging me close. I return the embrace before patting her shoulder blade, universal sign of 'please let go now'.
Sammy let's go and wipes a loose tear as I place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Everything will be alright." I say as she smiles and laughs. "I should be the one telling you that." She says as I nod. "Yeah...the thing is that you already did." I say as we laugh...the first true one that I've had in a few hours. Brooklynn and Darius walk out the doorway as we turn to them, straightening ourselves out. "Any luck?" I ask as I have the machete up and sheathe it. "We didn't find the flash drive, but I was able to narrow down the file schematic data and see if I can track it's location from there. And while it didn't locate the drive, it did give us insight that the drive is in one of the BRADs that are above ground." Brooklynn says as Sammy smiles happily. "Does that mean that we don't have to go down in the sewer?" She says hopefully as Darius nods. "And with the changed password, there's no way Mr. Kon will be able to get that info. Plus it gives us a head start on him and Hawkes as well." He says as Sammy and I nod at his deduction. The elevator bell dings as we gasp and look down the hallway. "To the emergency stairs." I say as we bolt away from the door and head down the stairs.
P.O.V Change: Ben
Sticking to the shadows, I follow Kenji to the far end of the biome, towards the desert airlock. Sticking to the shadowy foliage, I follow him to an open clearing with five large cages, similar to the ones that were on Nublar. Within three of them, I see the familiar colour pattern of Grim the Baryonyx, a Dimorphadon and a strange feathered raptor-looking dino. Must be the Utahraptor that I overheard Darius say before. I kneel down a good distance away from the clearing, my eyes narrow and my fist clenches tightly when I see two mercs, the twins I should assume sitting lazily on a table and some chairs as they move Toro and Bumpy around. While I don't personally like Toro, the amount of run ins with that Carnotaur has definity put him on my 'don't want to meet again' list...it makes me angry to see be pushed and moved around like some windup doll. But that anger is nothing compared to the rage that I feel when one of the mercs controls Bumpy to move.
I hear Bumpy groan as I look over and see her being rammed into the corner of a cage...repeatedly. "Oh huh ho...whoops." The merc says mockily before doing it again. I grip the bone knife that is sheathe on my left hip as I grit my teeth in anger of the display. "Hang on, girl, I'm coming for you." I whisper the promise. I hear something creeping behind and before whatever it is can get a word out, I turn and push the assailant to the ground, I hold the knife point to their throat. My angry expression drops when it realise that it's Kenji. "What?" I question confusedly as he smirks...though I can see the in his eyes at the knife. "H-h-hey Ben. How's it going?" He asks awkwardly but my face turns to a scowl as I hold the knife just a bit closer, sweet drops start to stream down his temple. "You jerk. You let your dad mind control Bumpy? How could you?!" I whisper yell to him. He looks up to me, his eyes filled with regret and shame. "I tried, ok? I tried to stop him. I swear to you...I never wanted this to happen to her." He pleads but I get up and pull his face closer to mine, the knife still posed for anything. "Why in the hell should I believe anything coming out of your mouth? You betrayed us. You left us here, imprisoned. You abandoned us. Do you have any idea of what has happened? Do you know that...?" I drone on but the thought of Ryan's death hits me like a ton of bricks. Scowling, I push Kenji back tot eh dirt and get up. "You're not worth it." I growl to him as I turn and face the mercs again, keeping my eye on Bumpy...trying to figure out how to take both mercs and get free Bumpy from the chip control.
"I should have listened to you." I hear him says but I don't want to hear anything from him. "I thought I knew who my dad was. I thought that...I could finally have the bond that I was missing. That blinded me to what he truly is." Kenji says as I get confused. Wait...he's...against Kon? Turning to him, I await for him to continue. "When I arrived back on Nublar I thought that I had all the answers but what you guys, especially Ryan said...but in the nursery. It got me thinking. Time on Nublar opened my eyes to what my dad is. He is...everything I wanted to be...but also I see now that I don't want to be like him. I don't expect you to forgive me, I know that I wouldn't. But if it helps, even for a little bit...I'm sorry. Truly I am." He says with a sad tone, that's filled with shame and regret. My hard eyes soften at hearing his confession...I can hear the pleading in his voice, that plead for forgiveness. But I can also sense the acceptance of knowing that the friendship bridge has been burned...and he accepts that. Sigh, I turn to face him head on. "I wanna trust you, Kenji. I want to be the friend that you had once. And I want you as my friend again too...but what you did, I don't think that I can ever forgive that. Maybe in time...but for now, if you want the benefit of the doubt..." I say as I turn back and face Bumpy and Toro, the unspoken question told to Kenji is as clear as day. "I'm gonna help you get Bumpy back, I made a promise to her and now I make it to you." I feel his hand be placed on my shoulder as I hear him. Glancing over my shoulder, I nod my head in agreement.
P.O.V Change: Yaz
The airlock door opens and we four of us breathe deeply as to prepare ourselves. After escaping the compound, Brooklynn said that leaving the flash drive up for chance is a terrible no-no. Kon might be locked out of the system but if we have that flash drive then that's one more thing that we have leverage over him. We are backing him into a corner and getting that flash drive will seal the deal. He'll have no choice but to lockdown the dinosaurs in the compound and Med-Bay, while sending his cronies after us, which in turn gives us enough time to get to the boat and commandeer it and get the hell out of here. The ppan was sound and has very little chance of going working but the only thing is that we need to the get the flash drive. Checking the BRADs that are still above ground should be enough and if the drive isn't in one of them, then the chances are that they are destroyed, sinking to the bottom of Sobek's old 'lake'.
So here we are, heading into one of, if not, the most dangerous biome on this island. The Rexes are easy to avoid but these Dilo's spawn like crazy and it doesn't help that Sobek is in here too. But we must get it done, I walk out front with my machete at the ready, it might not do good agaisnt Sobek's scales but the Dilo's should be no problem. Reaching what we believe to be the centre of the biome, Brooklynn steps out in front and gazes around. The fog atmosphere doesn't give me any good feelings, anything could jump out at us and we wouldn't even now. I see some shapes through the fog as two BRADs are seen. "Those two are done by the water. The other one should be over there, near those trees." Brooklynn points as I nod. "Got it." I walk over to the trees and to my surprise...Darius is walking beisde me. "Figured you could use some help." He says as I smirk. "Won't say no to any." I say sarcastically as he awkwardly laughs. "That's...that's a good one." He says as I raise an eyebrow at his behaviour. He's being...weird. We get to the trees and see the BRAD lying prone on its stomach. Walking over, I fit my machete into its teeth and try to pry open the jaws. "Any luck?" Darish asks as I trum to him. "No." I say in a, 'does it look like?' tone as he backs up. "Sorry. I'll leave you to it." He says as I look up at him. "What's wrong?" I ask as he stutters. "N-nothing's wrong. Alright goody-good over here." He Tues to play off but I stare unamused at the effort. He sighs and drops his hands...and head. "It's just...I, I just want o make sure that you're ok." He says as I get up and face him, he is nervous as I approach him, his eyes filled with worry and...shame. "I think the better questions is...are you ok?" I ask him as he hangs his head, I hear him siniffle as he brushes a loose tear away. "I could have...I could have done something. I could have helped him. I'd I want afraid then Ryan might still be here..." Darius says as he starts crying, I race over to him and pull him into a hug, his arms wrap around me. "It's ok. It's not your fault. None of it is your fault." I say but he shakes his head. "But it is. I could have done something, doenst matter how small...I could have helped him." He says but I break from him and hold his face up to mine, I stare intently into his watery eyes. "It's not. I thought the same to. Why did I let him go down there? What if things were different? We can't live like this, Darius. We can't think of the what ifs. Ryan wouldn't have want you to risk your life. Ryan made a choice and he choose to save you and Brooklynn...there won't be a day where we won't think of him but you can't live in regret and shame. If it wasn't for Sammy, I would be in a pit that I would never climb out of...so now, I'm telling you the same advice that she told me. When we look back, we are lost...so now, the only way to go...is forward." I say to him as he wipes his tears away. "I don't think I can." He says quietly. "Neither do I." I say, his head raises up as he gazes confusedly into my eyes. "We might not ever move past it...but it hurt to try." I say with a smile as he returns one of his own. "Come on...help with this hunk of junk." I say as I turn back to the BRAD.
Darius nods and stands over its neck and drops the underside of the top jaw. I fit the machete through the jaws, gripping the handle and pressing my other hand along the small showing of the flat side of the blade. "Ready?" I ask Darius who nods. "3...2...1. Now!" We both say as Darius pulls the jaw and I press down on the blade...the metal creaks before finally breaking open. Darius hops off the not as I check the inside...finding no drive inside. Well that's a dud. "Anything?" Darius asks as I shake my head and sheathe the machete. "Nothing." We decide to head back to Brooklynn and Sammy. "Find the drive?" Sammy asks as we shake our heads. "Nothing on our end. I assume you got nothing either?" Darius says as they nod. "Well, since there's nothing here, let's head to the Arctic...the faster that we got this done the better." Brooklynn says as we nod and head for the airlock. I stop just before I reach the door, something tingling down my neck. I turn and gaze out at the biome, my eyes keeping watch through the thick fog, I don't hear any Dilo's or the heavy breathing of Sobek so there shouldn't be anything that is making the instinctual part of my brain...that fight or flight instinct go on edge. Seeing nothing, I turn away and follow the others...closing the airlock behind me.
P.O.V Change: Ben
Watching these tow idiots try and move Toro around is just plain pathetic. One of them is trying to back the Carnotaur I to the cage but instead of going front on like any normal person would, they decided to make life harder and go backwards, resulting in the Carnotaurus hitting himself all over the cage. "Ok, wait for my signal, I'll led them away while you get to Bumpy." Kenji says as I nod and watch him walk over to the two mercs. "Hey, boys!" He calls out to them as I pick up a good size stick and move closer, coming close to the Dimorphadon cage. "Dad sent me to help out. How's everything here?" Kenji asks as he stands before the two mercs. Riasing his hand, he gestures to the controller for each one of trh mercenary passes to him, quite roughly. I watch as Kenji expertly controls Toro and turns his body so he can walk front on and intonthe cage. The one that passed the controller to Kenji sits back on his chair, folding his arms in a pout. The other laughs and gets up and closes the chae on the Carnotaur. "Good thing, huh? You'll get used to it." Kenji says arrogantly as he passes the controller back. The merc scoffs and tosses the controller down the table.
He puts a hand behind his back and raises a thumb, seeing the signal...I grip the stick tightly and snap with all my strength. The snap is not loud enough to be heard by everyone but Kenji, whether he did or didn't, starts to look around like he heard the nosie. "Huh? What was that?" He says while gazing around. "What was what, kid?" One of the mercs say. "That noise...didn't you hear it?" He asks the mercenaries who scoff. "I didn't hear anything. Must be hearing things, junior?" A merc says mockingly to Kenji. I might not like the guy but he doesn't need that...not to mention being compared to Kon of all people. "Fine. But what will you do when something comes and attack Dad's assets, and Dad finds out that you two were slacking while on the job. I'm sure that will be over well with him and Hawkes." Kenji threatens to the mercs, and I stare wide eyed at Kenji's strong stance against the the threat of Kon and Hawkes. One of trh mercs gets up and gets in Kenji's face. "You threatening me?" He growls to Kenji who holds his ground against the merc. "It's not a threat...it's a promise. Want to find out if I can keep it?" He says back. Silence reigns between Kenji and the two mercs...who eventually give in and grab their tranq rifles. "Show us where it's coming from." One of them says for which Kenji nods and heads into my direction. I sink back down in the darkness of the foliage, watching as Kenji and mercs pass me by.
Kenji glances at me before turning to the mercenaries. "I think it came from over there." He says, gesturing to a random spot in the jungle. The mercs nod and go to inspect, Kenji turns to me and makes his hands appear as if using a controller. I narrow my eyes and shake my head, I refuse to use that to control Bumpy...no way in hell. Kenji does it again but with a confused expression. He does it again but one of the mercs calls out to him. "Come on, kid!" Kenji runs off into the jungle...I move out of the foliage and enter the 'camp'. Seeing all the animals, motionless, awaiting to be controller nearly heaves up the contents of my stomach. This mind control is a vile thing and I'll be half when every last remnant of it is gone from the face of the Earth. And Kon pats for what he alhas done. I run up to Bumpy and wrap my arms around her head. "Hey, girl." I say happily before staring into her eyes. "I missed you. Come on, let's go." I say before walking away. I turn and to dumb realisation, forgetting that she is under control because of the chip. Walking back up to her, I kneel down and stare into her wide, emotionless eyes. I attempt to push her, do something sti get her to move. But the 8 ton Ankylosaur would not budge. "Come on, girl. You need to move...come on." I say with frustration as I grab her horns and attempt to pull her forward but still nothing. Grunting with exertion, I move to her falnk and duck underneath her spikes. I push all my weight against her leg but nothing. Panting, I walk out and kneel in front of her again. Holding the underside of her jaw, I gaze sadly into her eyes. "Come on, girl. It's me." Tears start welling in my eyes at seeing her like this. "It's Ben." I shuddering say as I have around, looking for anything to help. I look at the table and see the two controllers, just sitting there. I growl at seeing the devices but a yellow box catches my attention. It's filled with the familiar berries that I fed Bumpy when she was a baby.
My eyes widen innjoybat seeing the berries as I race over and grab a handful. I hold them at to her nose and mouth. "Mmm. Fresh berries." I say, trying to coax her but to no-vail. "Please, Bumpy. Please." I say to her but all she does is give me soft grunts, nothing is working...absolutely nothing.
P.O.V Change: Yaz
I forgot how freezing this hell hole is. If there is a hell, then it's not fire and brimstone...that's too quick of a torture, but this...snow and ice...cold and wind. That is true torture, especially with the little clothing that we have. While the others are searching the five BRADs, I'm walking the 'perimeter' of the area. Keeping an eye out for that Yutyrannus or even the mammoth herd. While we might be on good terms with King Richard but he is still the head honcho of a herd, if he sees us as a threat...then I don't want to know what he will do. But the main concern is the Yutyrannus. That thing was born to survive in the harshest cold, and if King Richard was able to fight it off numerous times, then it must be hungry...maybe hungry enough to see us as a potential meal.
But the feeling that I felt in the swamp biome is still present, something is out here, following us. And my gut instinct tells me that it's Hawkes. I scan the horizon for any obvious shapes but the blizzard is getting stronger, making visibility difficult. "Find it?!" I called out to the trio who walk towards me. "No. We saved this one for last." Sammy says with her teeth chattering. "Let's just get out of this ice box, I don't want to be in any longer. For obvious reasons." Brooklynn states as we head into airlock...now for the desert. I groan internally at releasing that the Spinosaurs is in the desert...now the thought of the Yutyrannus and the mammoths ain't so bad.
P.O.V Change: Kenji
"I'll be right back! Just checking all the assets are good." I say as I walk out of the jungle and into the camp. I see Ben standing in front of Bumpy, holding berries up at her. I sigh in shame and pick up Bumpy's controller. I walk up beside Ben and hold the controller up at him. "Take the controller. It's the only way to move her." I say but he scowls. "I won't. I'm not controlling her." He says with a growl but I hide and turn him to face me. His eyes go wide asi pusbthe controller into his chest. "You don't have a choice. If you want to be back to normal than you need to take the controller." I say to him, not trying to be domineering but pleading with him to do it. He takes the controller from me and throws it away with a yell. "This wouldn't be a problem if she didn't have a chip in her head to begin with." He says to me with anger a Singapore back at him. "I didn't chip her. I didn't want her to be chipped to begin with. I'm sorry that she is but if you want to help her then you need the controller." I plead to him again. We hear a thump as we turn and see Bumpy, she looks more alive than before. Her eyes are wide with glee and happiness at seeing us. "Bumpy." Ben says with joy.
But something seems off, Bumpy eyes go dark as Ben approaches her. Bumpy roars in fury. The change in her demeanour frightens Ben, making him trip over his feet. "Bumpy?" He questions fearfully as Bumpy slams her tail, the thud echoing throughout the trees, she raises her tail threatening as I help Ben get to his feet. I hear the familiar teilnof the controller as I turn and see one of the twins holding the controller on hand, he laughs devilishly as he states at us. "Wait until you're daddy learns about this." He threatens to me. He controls Bumpy closer to her, her tail swaying threateningly. Me and Ben love away from her, getting some space away from the Ankylosaur. "You don't have to do this, Bumpy." Ben pleads with her but I shake my head. "She doesn't have a choice, Ben." I say, just as Bumpy roars and swings her tail. I jump to the side as Ben jumps back. Her club samshes the table and chairs into tiny splinters. Ben and I regroup and bolt towards the jungle, hoping to use the dense trees and foliage to hinder the mid controlled herbivore. But the merc controller her to running front of us, blocking off our escape. Bumpy raises her tail and slams down to the ground, Ben and I doge out of the way. I raise my head and see the merc, smirking at me. I grit my teeth and charge at him, hoping to get the controller away from him.
But I forgot that he is a trained mercenary and simply diverts my arm and throws me to the ground. I look up and see the other twins heaving me up and twisting my arm behind my back. I groan in pain of the twisted arm. "Let go, you jackass!" I shout but he pushes me forward. I stare in horror as Bumpy approaches Ben, roaring in fury at him. Ben holds his hands, trying desperately to placate the herbivore. But the next controls her to headbutt him, the force of the hit sends Ben back flying. He hits Talon's cage with an echoing clank. "Ben!" I scream out, fearing for the worst but I sigh in relief at seeing him alright. Not worse for wear but alive. "What are you doing? You're gonna kill him!" I shout to the Merc who smirks. "Doesn't bother the boss, so I spent bother me. Let this be a lesson for threatening me." He says with a smirk as I halre at him. "Well it matters to me!" I shout as I stamp the heel of my foot on the twin holding me. He grunts in pain but I pull my elbow forward and send it into the bridge of his nose. The resounding crack is heard as he drops to his knees, holding his bleeding nose. I charge the other mercenary and grab the controller, we begin fighting for it, pulling it closer to us. The merc pulls me forward and drives his knee onto my gut. I feel the wind being pushed out of my lungs as I drop to the dirt. I feel a sharp pain in my ribs as I'm forced into my side. I see slightly that the mercenary is pulling his leg back, like from a kick. Someone is pulling me up and I see the other twin, his nose profusely spilling blood as he pushes me to the side. "You can't win this one, kid." He says before turning me around and cracking his hand on my jaw. I fall like a bag of bricks as I feel dizzy...the whole world spinning and flipping.
I feel the dizziness starting to slow, I see Bumpy approaching Ben who is on his knees, lokingnuo at her. "I know that this isn't you. It's not your fault." He says sadly to the Ankylosaur who responds with a defeating roar. "Ben..." I call out weakly as I try to crawl over to him. Bumpy turns and raises her tail, ready to crush him. "Ben. Get out of there!" I shout with the last of what little energy I have let. "No matter what happens, I forgive you...Bumper Car." Ben says with acceptance as he closes his eyes. I turn away, refusing to see the result of the mercs actions.
I don't hear anything for a good few seconds. "What the fuck?" I hear one of the twins say as I open my eye and see...Bumpy...holding back her tail. She's resisting the chip's control.
P.O.V Change: Yaz
The desert was overcast, dark stormy clouds hang overhead...thank God for small mercy's I suppose. I can't imagine trying to find the flash drive in the blistering heat. Hanging behind, I search the horizon for any sign of the Spinosaurs...thankfuk that his large size gives us a pretty good idea of what to look for. It's not like he's light enough to effectively sneak up on us. If we can hear and feel the approaching footsteps of a Rex then Spiny will be no problem. I feel the tingling feel again as I glance ober my shoulder. I see the faint outline of a shoulder and hat, just sitting behind a rock. I trunk forward, acting like I didn't see anything. Walking ahead so I'm in the middle of the group, I clear my throat. "What is it?" Brooklynn asks. "Don't look but someone is following us. I think it's Hawkes and one of his mercenaries." I say as I see that they are surprised and a bit fearful of the fact that we are being followed. Darius sighs as his eyes narrow. "They want to follow us. Fine. Let them follow us to the largest terrestrial carnivore that has ever walked the Earth." He says as our eyes widen at the implication. "I thought that the idea was to steer clear of the Spinosaurs. And how is he gonna know to eat them but not us?" I ask him. "He doesn't. Anything is food to him. But we know where to hide...and they don't." Darius says as he points out something on the distance. We follow his finger and see the tail end of the Spinosaurs, hiding within the rock maze. "Come on." He says as he runs forward, just before we enter the threshold of a clearing within the maze, he points to a small gap within the rock face. Grabbing a rock, he passes it to Brooklynn. "You have the best aim out of all of us. Be ready." He says for which she nods.
"Where did they go?" "Spread out, they couldn't have gotten far." We hear a mercenary and Hawkes say. Darius nods to Brooklynn who steels her eyes and throws the rock, hitting the sleeping Spinosaurs in the head, right underneath the eye. The dinosaur roars in agitation at getting woken up. We glance around and see the massive animal staring directly at Hawkes and the merc, who back away in fear. The Spinosaurs unleashes a thundering roar which unsettles the rocks around us. Cracking the rock and shaking the pebbles beanth our feet. The two mercenaries run for their lives as the Spinosaurs gives chase, hoping either a meal or just to get rid of them...either way doesn't bother me. We come out of the rock face and high five each other. "Let's get to those BRADs and get going. We need to catch up with Ben and Bumpy." Sammy says as Brooklynn points to the right side of the clearing. "Based on the map I saw, the BRADs should be through there." And with her statement, we bolt for the gap and continue on our way.
P.O.V Change: Ben
I stare up in shock at seeing the club tail holding firm. I look and see Bumpy concentrating, desperately holding on...refusing to give in to the control. "Come on. Do it! Why isn't this working?!" The merc shouts. Seeing my opportunity, I move out of the way and hold her head, she is swaying back and forth because of the chips influence and her breaking from it. "Bumpy, I know you're in there. You can do this. I know you can. I believe in you." I say to her as she swings her head and slams her mouth and nose into the dirt, trying to help whatever is going on. "Come on girl...fight it!" I shout as she continues to sway. "Give me that." I hear the other mercenary say as I look over and see them fighting over it. "Hey, back off. I got this." The one holding the controller says. I see Kenji shake his head and get to his feet. He charges the one with the controller and spear tackles him to the ground. The controller goes flying as Kenji runs ahead and slams his foot down, breaking the accursed device. "You're going to pay for that, you little bastard!" The other merc says but with the controller destroyed, I turn slowly and see the life come back to Bumpy's eyes. "Bumpy?" I question cautiously, just in case. But to my relief, she bellows a happy greeting and licks my face. I laugh at seeing my friend back. She bellows again as I hold up to my feet and cheer. "Haha! Bumpy!" I say as I hug her head, she raises her head, lifting me off the ground but I'm to happy to care.
"I missed you too, girl." I say as she seems me down but I still keep my arms around her. Hearing Kenji hruntz I haknce over and see him being held down, just as one of the mercs checks the controller. "What do you say, girl? Like old times? I say happily as she snorts air out of her nose and turns to the mercs. Seeing her approval, o hop up onto her back and brace myself against her armoured scales. I hear her thump her tail down which gets the attention of Kenji and the mercenaries. "What the?" The one with the broken controller says as Bumpy quickens her tail thumps, she roars in anger and I do so as well before charging the two mercs. "Go!" "Run!" Both mercs says respectively as they run for their lives. Bumpy roars at their retreating forms as they enter the jungle. I have myself to my feet, standing on the very peak of Bumpy's back. "And stay gone, assholes!" I shout to them as Bumpy roars again, I believe she said the same thing, just in...dino speech. I hop down and aim Bumpy over to where Kenji is, he is standing before the broken controller, a happy but pondered look on his face. "Should have thought that destroying the controller would work as well. Can't believe that we did it." He says as he turns to us, I wince slightly at seeing the bruise forming on his face, but I quickly hide it. "True friendship...that can never be broken." I say before holding my hand out to him. His eyes widen but I can see the trepidation within them as well. "Are you sure?" He says but I wave him off. "You kept your promise. You helped free Bumpy...that's more than enough." I say as he smiles and grips my hand. I pull him up onto Bumpy's back as I turn and pat Bumpy. "Alrighty, Bumps...let's ride." I say as Bumpy roars and bolts into the jungle, I laugh when I hear Kenji yelp in surprise and fear. I feel him hold on tight to me as I maneuver Bumpy through the thick foliage, aiming her towards the airlock. Time to meet up with the others...can only imagine what they will say when they see us.
P.O.V Change: Yaz
Prying open one of the last BRADs, I check to see if the drive is there but all I find is just the gun-tongue of the machine. Sigh in tiredness and aggravation, I get up and turn to the others. "It's not here, let's just call it and head back to the forest...there we can regroup and go find Ben. He must have found Bumpy by now." I say to them. Darius turns to me. "We got to hav faith for Ben, he knows this island, just like any of us. He is capable and tenacious. And he knows Bumpy better than any of us. He can hold out just a little bit longer. Let's just check the last of these BRADs then we can go." He says, while I don't like leaving Ben all alone, Darius is right. Ben is very capable and we are down to the last BRAD anyway...might as well get it done. "I got it!" We hear Brooklynn says as we run over to her. She holds the flash drive up as we all cheer on victory...but it's cut short by the familiar roar of the Spinosaurs. I see him in the distance, and he is running right towards us. "Run!" I scream as we all bolt for the rock maze, hoping to use the small spaces to get some distance form the predator...we did it once, we can do it again.
The large frame of the animal hovers over us, drowning us in his shadow. We gaze up and see the animal get in front of us and heed our advance...I find it odd that he did so, he doesn't corner, he doesn't play...he hunts, he kills, he devours...that's it. So why is he blocking out path...without having a go at snapping at us, he's close enough...and big enough...to snap us all up. "What's he doing?" Brooklynn asks fearfully as we back say from the predator. Noticing his slit eyes, i realise exactly what is going on. I saw the same thing with the raptors back at the investor presentation. No obvious aggressive behaviour...but slittled eyes...my fears become real when I hear the dreaded trill of a remote control. The Spinosaurs raises its head as Hawkes and his cronies step up beside the towering carnivore. Hawkes has a controller on hand and the merc has a chip gun in his own...they must have had one left...and we're saving it for him. We led them and the Spinosaurs...right to each other. "No. They're controlling him." Darius says in terror as Hawkes smiles. The controller trolls again as the Spinosaurs roars again and charges us. We scream in terror and make our way to the airlock, not stopping for a quick breath...despite our bodies, demanding us to stop...we push on. For if we don't...it would mean out death. "Go, go, go, go!" Smy shouts as the Spino snaps at us. Brooklynn gets seperated from us as she runs in a different direction. "Brooklynn!" I shout, I notice Hawkes guiding the Spinosaurs to give chase to Brooklynn. He wants the drive.
Running in the direction of the Spino and Brooklynn...I am able to keep up with the duo. My eyes widen in fear, noticing the Spino rest to lunge to grab Brooklynn. I turny trajectory and tackle Brooklynn out of trh way. The sound of snapping jaws is heard as I take the drive from her. "Yaz. What are you doing?" She questions as I turn and face the controlled predator. I look down and see Hawkes with an amused smile. I hod up the drive for him to see. "This is what you rwant right...go fetch it then!" I say before truning and throwing the drive a good distance away. Hawkes and the other merc follow the thrown drive as I pick Brooklynn up and psuh her to the airlock. "Go! Run!" I shout as we all regroup and enter the airlock.
The door shuts as I lock it form this end. "Why? Why did you do that? We had the drive, we just needed to destroy it. Why did you-?" Brooklynn questions as I turn to her. "Hawkes wanted the drive, I had to give us space and time so we could regroup and get eh here out of there. It doesn't matter if we had the drive or not, we still have Kon by the balls with the password...we just need to wait and see what his nextobe is going to be." I say at they all stare at me. "I know that it wasn't what we hoped but I had to do something. The odds on there weren't in our favor...I did what I had to do." I say again. Darius nods and stands next to me. "Yaz is right, we still have the advantage over Kon. He'll want that password. It's not good that he has the drive...now hell stop at nothing to get the password but now we have time to prepare." He says as Brooklynn and Sammy stare at him confused. "Prepare?" "Prepare for what?" They says respectively as my eyes widen in realisation. "War." I say as all three of them turn to me. "We prepare for war."
We run for the forest biome. Arriving at the airlock, Brooklynn opens the door as we run inside. "Wait." Darius says, firing us to stop and look at him. "We need to blow the circuit on the doors." He says before picking up a good size rock. He goes to destroyed the control pad but I run forward and stop his arm. "That's all good and well but we'll be locked in." I say to him as he shrugs. "What choice do we have. They have Toro, the Spino...a Utahraptor, a Dimorphadon, Grim. I know that we have to prepare but I'm out of ideas...so heeding them just gives us a little more time. Time to get the dinos in here...out." He says but before I can agrue...Sammy asks a question. "But what about Ben and Bumpy?" She asks as Darius ponders. "We'll leave one door open for them. We'll just have to make sure that no one else gets through." He says...while it makes me anxious to be 'locked' inhere, we don't have any other choice. The jungle is Kon's fortress, the arctic is too dangerous...the valley is too treacherous for us to move the dinosaurs and the desert is too oeon for us to defend...the forest is the only place where we can stand and fight. "We don't have a choice...we block off all other available entry ways. Feeder platforms etc." I say as they nod. "When that's done, meet back at the airlock, near the waterfall." Darius finishes up as we nod. "On it." "Yes, sir." Brooklynn and Sammy say respectively. Sammy and I head for the feeder platform as Darius and Brooklynn destroy the airlock control pad.
After disabling the platform, we make our way to the other airlock, finding Darius and Brooklynn already there. "Everything go well?" Brooklynn asks as we nod. "The Eatie's weren't there so we were on the clear." Sammy says as I gesture to the open door. "So we're just going to leave it open?" "How will Ben know where it is?" I ask which is followed up bu Sammy. "We're just gonna have to trust him to find his way." Darius says but I shake my head. "That's fine but how are we gonna keep everyone else out? How are war able to keep Toro or worse, the Spinosaurs out?" I ask. Before anyone can answer, we hear thudding, echoing for the dark corridor. I unsheathe my machete, better be prepared for anything. "We should hide." Darius says, breaking us into a run. I take three steps when I hear the familiar bellow...of an old friend. Turning around, I see the aqua scales of Bumpy's die coming out of the darkness and into the light. And to my joy, Ben is seated up upon her neck. "Ben!" "Bumpy! "No way." Sammy, Darius and Brooklynn says respectively as I walk ahead and bring Ben into a hug, he yelps in surprise at the action, but I break away from him. "Good to see you in one piece, Ben." I say as he chuckles. "Oh, stop it." He says as I laugh. Bumpy bellows and holds her snout at me as I run her scales. "It's good to see you too, girl." I say as I scartch her forehead. "I'm so glad that you're ok." Sammy says happily as she pulls Ben into a bone crushing hug. "Ok, thank you, Sammy. Mind letting me go now." He says with a strained tone, obviously from being squeezed by the happy Texan. "Sorry." She says before letting him go and stepping away. "What to go, Ben." Darius assy proudly. "Thanks Darius...but I didn't do it alone." He says which makes us confused. Help? From whom? Ben and Bumpy move forward, revealing someone standing behind them...all of us, par Ben, gasp in shock at the person...revealed to be Kenji. I can see his eyes are downcast, obviously sad and nervous at meeting is again. "Hey." He says awkwardly while saving at us. As soon as he spoke...everything came back again...his betrayal, the hardship, the close calls...the pain, the grief...and worst of all...memories of Ryan. "You...bastard!" I say with a shout as I march forward, gripping my machete tightly. Kenji's eyes widened in fear at my oncoming approach, I have my machete up, in a position to swing the sharp blade at him. "No, Yaz! STOP!." I hear several of the others say but I had ignored them, already begun the swing of the blade.
No P.O.V:
Moments before:
Pacing in the compound...Mr. Kon awaits for any word from Hawkes...anything about the drive or the children. His face is scowling but his eyes are moving form place to place...almost like he is looking at a chessboard. He is weighing his options, weighting all the paths that he can take, analysing every scenario, every possible outcome. Just as he was about to think of another scenario, his troan of thought is broken when Hawkes and the merc return to the computer room. "One flash drive as requested." Galwes says proudly but Kon is anything but proud...nor happy. He hakres a hole through Hawkes and snatches the drive out of his hand. "You were supose to bring back the children, too. This drive is useless without them. I ask of you, two simple things...and you can't do the most important one." Kon says with anger and frustration before turning away from Hawkes. "They changed the password on the computer. Without this computer, all my work...the deal...will be for nothing. Damnit!" Kon says with a shout as he slams his fists on the table. Hawkes stares though is taken aback by his employer's behaviour. "I need those kids...where are they?" Mr. Kon asks with a threatening tone as Haweks straightens his back. "We were able to chase to the forest biome. Unfortunately we weren't able to enter, they disabled the door controls." Hawkes says to Mr. Kon who nods. "Chased them? How? He asks as Hawkes smirks. "The big one. The one with the sail. We managed to chip it." He says as Kon smirks. The Spinosaurs is a huge boost of morale, but also a great fear factor for the children...they fear that beast, best make the best of it. Thinking ack to what Hawkes says about the first biome door, realisation of what the children were doing sunk in. "They are trying to draw us to them...or trying to hinder us from advancing onto their position. They know that biome like the nackmof their hand, they will use it to their advantage...gather your men, get every controller on deck...I want all of the assets together. We head to the forest biome." Kon says as he fixed his tie. "One more thing, boss. The kid, the one with the scars...I didn't see him with the group, nor did I see the wild one either. It's possible that they are together." Hawkes says as Kon ponders for a moment. "The wild one is mostly likely gone after his dino friend. I trust the twins to deal with him of he shows himself...as who the one called Ryan...I wouldn't pass him to be dead. The Lord knows that his heart of very noble. Protector in life...now but a fleeting memory in death." Kon says with a sadastic smile. "The kid is dead?" Hawkes questions as Kon nods, hawkes smiles at that. "Good, little fucker had it coming. Only wish I was the one to do the deed." Hawkes says before being dismissed, taking himself and the other merc out of the room. Kon ponders for a moment about Ryan, out of all the kids, it was Ryan that Kon had the most problems with. Ryan never trusted him, never believed him at his word...he was on to him from the moment they set eyes on each other. Out of all the kids, Kon would have no qualms about killing Ryan... probably would have done it after this ficaso anyway...but it matters not. The kid is dead and soon enough...Kon will have the password and this island will be his once again. And the deal will be right back on schedule.
During The Core Chapter, shortly after Darius and Brooklynn leave the Core Room:
The Core Room, Sewers of Mantah Corp Island:
Through the dark cordiers of the sewer, the water sits perfectly still. Without Sobek to swings it's canals, th water has taken on an almost supernatural stillness...nothing disturbing it. The water looks more like a flat piece of black floor rather than the natural, blue motion of water. Within the Core Room, the start is even more still...but the occasion piece of metal will fall. Pieces of BRAD-Xs falling into the abyss down below. Near the edge of the lower walkway and water, the black murky water brushes against the steel.and old stone of the walkway...until a familiar steel axe breached the surface and hooks itself on the walkway.
The wielder of the axe pulls himself up and thought the walkway bars before slumming down onto the floor with a tired and uncomfortable groan. His cheek is bruised form the beating he took from the BRAD-X. His shirt is torn is some places, he is completely drenched from the water but the most obvious thing is the fluttering of eyelids, opening up from the scarred brow and cheek. It's Ryan.
Gazing up at the ceiling, he rests his head against the floor before groaning. "I need a vacation." He says before letting sleep take him. His dreams are filled with images of a dark haired beauty and of a promised date on a sandy beach, at sunset...though completely out cold, Ryan manages to smile. His dreams now a blessing rather than a burden.