Ch 6:

"Elvis has left the building." a voice called over the radio in Owen's hand, making Sierra purse her lips and glare at the device.

It had been almost a month since Echo challenged Blue, and what a strained few weeks it had been. Sierra was sure she didn't focus in school as much as she should have, her mind with Echo and the other raptors.

They'd kept Echo separated that whole time, unconscious or partially sedated through most of that, too. At Owen's insistence, they didn't keep her completely knocked out the whole time. They'd kept her in their old nursery most of the time. She was completely knocked out only when they needed to check on her. Other than that they kept her just sedated enough that she stayed calm and didn't get too hyper or active. They didn't want her running around and trying to hunt and chomp things with her jaw wired shut. She had to use a feeding tube most of that time, but Sierra also asked Owen if they could just give her soft food that she didn't have to chew much. When given the okay, Sierra minced and cooked some pork until it was soft and little more than mush. But when she set the bowl in with Echo for the raptor to find when she woke up, Echo scarfed it down before sniffing around for some more. She did this several more times.

The scientists and vets would prefer to keep Echo sedated for a few more weeks, but the raptor was slowly becoming resistant to the drugs. She woke up much sooner now than she did before, which was putting some of the handlers at risk. There were a few occasions where she woke up while someone was examining her, lurching up and snapping since she was mildly disoriented. Which is what led to her breaking the wires holding her jaw shut.

It was finally decided that it was too dangerous to continue sedating her like this, both for her and for the handlers. So, they sedated her one last time to remove the wire splint that had previously held her jaw shut. By now it was healed enough that she could be fine. It might end up crooked, but at least she would be able to use it.

Now, they were waiting for her to properly wake up so they could open the door to the pen she was in, letting her back out into the paddock with the others. They'd just been waiting for the signal announcing Echo being awake and ready to be let out.

Hence the stupid phrase that just came out of the radio.

Echo's jaw was already slightly crooked and a few stupid handlers had started calling her 'Elvis'. Sierra hated it, but she just tried to ignore it. It wasn't too big of a deal.

"Any sign of 'em?" Owen asked, his eyes already scanning the trees in the paddock below.

Sierra was doing the same, but saw no movement. But that was normal. If the raptors didn't want to be seen, they may as well have disappeared. "I thought I saw one in that far corner, but nothing for the last few minutes."

"Well, I'm sure they're about to make an appearance." Owen predicted before lifting the radio to his mouth and talking into it, "Open it up."

One of the pen doors slid up and Echo burst out. After only several feet she slid to a stop on the dirt, one large toe claw tapping on the ground as she looked around. She was tense, shifting on her feet as she looked around. Her stance put Sierra more on edge, as if she was waiting for an attack to come out of any direction.

Some bushes shook near the edge of the clearing, and all attention focused on that movement just as Blue raced out, Charlie and Delta flanking her. Sierra tensed and shifted on her feet as the three raptors slowed only after they circled Echo. They just kept circling, keeping Echo surrounded.

"Owen-" Sierra whispered worriedly.

"Shh. It's okay." Owen whispered back, one hand raised in a signal to the several men lining the paddock with tranquilizers. He was silently telling them to wait, to hold their fire.

Charlie and Delta stopped on either side, just slightly behind Echo so she couldn't get away while Blue stepped up in front of her. Blue raised her head, snarling just loud enough for them to hear as she lifted her lip, revealing sharp fangs.

Echo hesitated before lowering her head and tail in a clear sign of submission. There was a tense moment before Blue leaned forward and surprisingly made a gentle snap of her jaws, as if an affectionate warning toward her sister. Echo chittered in response and then they were off. All four raptors took off into the jungle, a cohesive unit as if nothing went wrong.

Sierra sighed heavily in relief, slouching forward with her elbows on the railing.

"Well, that answers that." Owen sighed, chuckling slightly with relief and clapping a hand down on Sierra's back. Handlers were celebrating all around the paddock. Many had thought Echo would be shunned, attacked, or even killed without remorse.

"What do you mean?" Sierra asked, confused by Owen's wording.

"I'm going to approach Masrani with a new hire suggestion." Owen grinned, leaning his elbows on the railing next to her.

Sierra looked over at him curiously. "Who?"

Owen looked over at her, grin widening. "I'm going to suggest Barry." he admitted. "We both worked close together on a lot of projects in the Navy. Hell, the work I did that got me this job, Barry was part of that research, too. And seeing this…" he waved a hand down toward the paddock. "I knew these animals were intelligent, and I knew the pack dynamic would be complex, but this level is almost unheard of. And having another animal behaviorist on the project would be really helpful."

"It'd be great to have Barry around." Sierra agreed, grinning. "Think he'll take the job?"

"Probably." Owen guessed. "I'm not sure what he's up to right now, I just know he moved back to France. But if he hears what kind of work we're doing here, he'll jump at the chance."

That was putting it mildly.

Owen went to Masrani and Vic Hoskins with the recommendation, Barry's resume in-hand. Masrani said he would discuss it with a few people. Vic had been on the fence until it came up that Barry was a decorated Navy officer. Then he seemed all for it, which made Sierra nervous.

Masrani contacted Barry with the job offer.

Barry said he could start in two weeks.

AN: I couldn't think of anything else to put in this chapter, so it's unfortunately pretty short.

However, the next chapter is going to be very eventful and exciting. If you would like me to update a bit sooner, feel free to leave a review. If I can get at least a few reviews, I might be tempted to update the next chapter before next weekend.

Thanks!