Turning Dr. Turner

The tunnel is white with shades of metal grey. It just screams money, money, money. We enter and walk down the long hallway. Nothing about this is natural. A desert environment with a projected background with a futuristic tunnel built-in the projected background. I'm seriously tripping the fuck out. "Guys!" Kenji calls out to us as we turn and see Brooklynn running down another hallway. I look up and hear water running in the pipes. They said that they heard water in walls from the desert. We come to the end of the tunnel and see another door, a massive system lock is built in. It looks so defensively built that no living animal can force itself through this. Brooklynn walks up to the lock-pad and brushes her finger along it. The blue colour turns to green as the door unlocks. "How the fuck did you do that?" I ask but she doesn't answers as the door opens and we are bewildered by what we see.

A massive forest environment. We walk out in amazement as the door closes behind us. "You guys remember like, five seconds ago, we were in a desert?" Brooklynn sarcastically states as she looks around confused. "What the heck is this place?" Sammy asks, soundly very weirded out. "This whole place is a total mind-fuck." I state as we feel the ground rumbling. We all gasp, I know that feeling and I don't like it. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that feels like a..." Sammy says as the rumbling gets closer and we hear a loud growl come from around a tree, the thudding of a foot, confirms our fears. "T-Rex." Sammy whisperingly states...fearfully. A huge, dark blue and grey Tyrannosaurs shows itself and roars at us. We scream in terror as we run from the massive predator. I notice that Yaz is standing there, not running. I run up to her and pull her by the arm. She snaps out of her fear and follows after me. "You have got to be fucking kidding me?" Kenji shouts out as we run.

We seperate into two groups and hide behind a tree and large rock. The Rex runs past us, clearly not interested. I hear the Rex growl in challenge as it backs up. "Fuck me sideways " I state as a second Tyrannosaur shows up and roars at the other Rex. The second is a light brown colour and smaller in size. We all gather around the tree and watch the two Rexes duke it out. "Does every island have dinosaurs?" Brooklynn asks rhetorically while she covers her ears. "Let's ask her." Ben says as he points to the side. I look to my left, confused at seeing a woman watching the Rexes while eating a sandwich. Her darker skin and light coloured clothes contrasts to the forest and log that she's hiding behind. How the fuck did we not notice her, but what scares me is how non chalant she is being only 10-15 metres from TWO Tyrannosaurs.

She looks up from her tablet and spots us. Her sandwich drops comically from her mouth as she gets to her feet and makes her way over to us. I hold the handle of my axe, always be ready for the worst case scenario. "You're trespassing. What are you up too?" He states before gasping, holding her tablet close to herself. "Are you here to spy?" She says as she warily glances in my direction. I stare back with narrowed eyes as she backs away slowly. "Yeah... we're an elite band of teenage secret agents." Kenji answers sarcastically to the lady's question. "What are you doing? You're eating a sandwich, in the middle of a T-Rex fight?" Brooklynn asks shocked and confused. "First off, they're not fighting, they're pla..." The lady goes to say but Darius interrupts her. "Playing." We look over and see that the Rexes are not exhibiting aggressive behaviour. "Carnio-facial bitting! It's true!" Darius says excitedly as I mentally slap my forehead. This is Mitch and Tiff all over again. "Uhh, yes. Don't change the subject." The lady says confusedly first but shakes herself from Darius excitement. "Lady, we don't want to be here anymore than you want us here. We just want to go home." Yaz says sadly but the lady shakes her off. "Yeah, we'll see about that." She says which makes me walk up to her. Out of everyone, I'm the only one that is standing eye level with her. "We'll see, won't we?" I say threateningly as the lady gulps and walks forward, gesturing to us to follow.

We follow the lady as Darius and Brooklynn tell her about our experiences on Nublar. "You expect me to believe that seven kids survived, all alone on Isla Nublar, for six months?" The lady states as I clench my fist, that's hurt lady, you don't know us. "We don't expect you to believe anything we say." I say as she glances back at me, her eyes drift to my scar which makes my eyes narrow. She gets the point and looks forward. "Excuse our friend. He has...trouble trusting people." Kenji tries to fix the tension. "It's an experience thing and I'm not going to apologize." I say which makes Kenji hand his head in defeat. "Hmm, I suppose, I can believe you. Who would make up a crazy story if you didn't have too. Not to say that that you didn't have too. Or that you're crazy." The lady starts rambling as Darius and Brooklynn looked confused. "But who knows. I don't know you and you don't know me. Am I yammering on? Sorry, I been out here for the part half of a month and no one to talk to. Suppose I had more to talk about then I realised." The lady continues on. This lady is starting to get on my nerves. First she is hostile and then untrusting about our story and now she's joking with us. I hate it.

"You look so familiar." Darius states as he starts about thinking. The hear one of the Rexes roar as we all jump and look behind us. I stare calmly through the trees, looking for any indication for one of the huge carnivores. "Don't worry. Their almost tuckered out. They won't bother us." The lady says almost like she knows it for a fact. "Forgive us, if we don't take your word for it." I say sarcastically as I turn back to her. "Despite what Ryan said. How can you know that they're tired?" Ben asks. "I study dinosaur brains. Behavioral Paleoneurobiologist." That's too many letters. "I'm Mae Turne-." The lady goes to say but Darius perks up in realisation. "Turner! You're Mae Turner. It such an honour to meet you, I read your book! 'A Theoretical Emotional Journey with Theropods'." Darius says excitedly as he shakes Turner's hand. She looks bewildered at his excitement. "Oh. You're the one." She says. Kenji interjects before Darius goes on. "Can you just point out a phone and we'll be on our way." He says but Turner shakes her head. "Yeah. Slight problem with that. This island is completely off the grid. No communication in or out." She says which we all groan at. "What about that tablet?" I say which again, Turner shakes her head.

"Sorry. Closed circuit. I mainly use it to connect to a doohickey in their brains and oh...can't tell you that. Prosperity research." Turner says as she turns the tablet away from us. "So...there's no way home." Yaz says calmly but with a hint of sadness in her voice. I walk over and stand behind her, subtlety closing my fist over her hand. She grips my hand in comfort. "Don't lose faith. You can bunk up with me until I can figure out how to get you out of here." Turner says as she walks away. "Do we...trust her?" Kenji whispers to Brooklynn but she looks at him like 'are you serious'?' "Take that as a no." He awkwardly says as he rubs his head. The both of them walk away as me and Yaz look at each other before looking back at Kenji and Brooklynn. We smile evilly at them as we follow them.

"So...the sabre tooth tiger. And the T-Rexes. Your bosses are making prehistoric creatures?" Darius asks to Turner who nods. "Some. Although the T-Rexes, we got them from Isla Sorna, so that's that." She says which makes me confused. "Sorna is restricted from all access. The only people that go there are poachers or people who have something to hide. Are your bosses one of them?" I ask which makes Turner look back at me. "What are you trying to say?" She asks. "You just said that the Tyrannosaur's came from Sorna. A restricted island. So how did your bosses get them if the island is closed off from all access. Unless, you got them illegally." I say as everyone looks between me and Turner. She seems shocked like she didn't know that. "I didn't...know that." She says which makes me scoff. "You don't watch a lot of news, do you?" I say. "Animal trafficking is a serious crime. Dinosaur trafficking is very serious...dinosaur trafficking from a restricted island is a lot worse." I say as I pass her, continuing on our trek.

"Wait hold up. Announcement time!" Turner says as she jumps in front of me. She turns back to us as she points to a dark corner of the forest. "Whatever you do. Never go down there. Super dangerous." She says this really dramatically. Everyone par myself holds their breath. "Alright, off we pop." Darius and Sammy jump, being the closest, in fright. We arrive at a waterfall, the small pond in front of it looked really beautiful. If it wasn't on a tripping island with dinosaurs, I would live right next to this type of fall. Turner walks next to the water and stands just behind it. "We're here." She says, gesturing to the space behind the fall. A hidden cave...smart.

We walk through the cave and arrive at the end. A door similar to the one we entered through stands in front of us. Turner taps her tablet and the door opens, revealing the inside. The others gasp in awe but before we can enter, Turner jumps in front of us. "Sorry but can you two leave your...weapons outside please." She says as she points to me and Yaz. "Not to be rude or anything, it just tha-." She goes to say but I walk past her and take my axe out before slamming it into the table. I don't even look back as I walk around and check everything that I can. "Please don't worry about him. He can be... difficult to reason with." Darius says to Turner who justs nods really quickly.

Everyone enters as I walk out of the kitchen and lean up against the wall. "You live here?" Sammy asks. "Live, work, play surprisly competitive games of poker with myself. I usually win." Turner jokingly says as she nudges Ben. She starts laughing wildly, it's honestly a little bit creepy. "I'm gonna whip some sandwiches. Be right back." She says as she walks into he kitchen. She looks at me and I follow her gaze, she quickens her pace as she passes me. "Did you have to act like that before?" Yaz says as she walks up to me. "She seems trustworthy." She tells me which I reply. "Seems." I say which Yaz tries to reply but doesn't, seeing that I had a point. "Look, I want to trust her, I really do. She's a nice lady and doesn't have any malicious intent with us. But we can't take risks, not after Mitch and Tiff, not to mention Wu." I say as the others look towards me as well. "Adults have made promises to us before and either lied, abandoned us or both. I'm keeping a arm's reach away because I don't want to be hurt if she turns out to be someone that will manipulate us. Call me paranoid but I'm just being cautious." I say which Yaz nods, agreeing with my logic. The others nod as well but I notice Darius's hestiation but he nods as well. "Let's look around and see if we can find a phone. She must have one somewhere." Brooklynn whispers as we nod and look around.

We look around for anything that could help us. A phone, information about who Turner works for, anything. "You guys alright out there?" Turner calls out as we all slightly jump at the broken silence. "Yes, uh, we're all good." Kenji says quickly. "Ok." Turner replies as we keep looking around. "No phone. Maybe she's telling the truth." Darius says from the chair near the computer. We all gather around the desk. "Nothing." Brooklynn says. "We searched every nook and cranny." I follow up. We hear Sammy gasp in terror as we turn to her. She turns with a small stack of paper in her hand. She holds up one. "Mantah Corp." She says as she points out the logo. A catlike head with a dino claw coming out the back. We all gasp in shock and slight fear. "If Mae works for Mantah Corp, then we have to get out of here." Brooklynn whisperingly says as Turner comes back. "Who wants a sandwich?" We slightly jump as we didn't notice her coming. Everyone sits around the table. I take the axe out and hang back at my hip before walking back to the wall and leaning against it, I place the plate that Turner have to me and place it on a cabinet. I take a bite and it's almost heavenly. I hadn't had a sandwich in six months and this is great.

"Something wrong?" Turner says as she notices some of the worried looks on some of us. "Yes. We wanna ask you about-." Yaz goes to say but Brooklynn interrupts her. "Something to drink?" Turner looks about mortified. "Of course, silly me. You need cocoa." She says as she heads back into he kitchen. "We need to go." Brooklynn states as she places her plate back down. "Maybe not." Sammy says which makes us look at her confused. "Mae works for the same company that blackmailed your family." Brooklynn tries to reason but Sammy disagrees. "Yeah, so did I. Sometimes good people are made to do bad things by bad people." Sammy reasons which gets through to me. Turner is not a bad person, she's been the only one that has gone out of their way to actually help us. Eddie, Mitch, Tiff, Wu, Hawkes. They all abandoned us in one form or another, but...Mae has showed compassion for us. She doesn't have an agenda beyond studying dinosaurs. I might be wrong but until I see it, I'm keeping my distance.

"Ok...lets at least, check out that dangerous area. Maybe there is a phone or a way off the island." Brooklynn says which we all agree too. "So, whose going to go and whose staying?" I ask. "I'll stay and stall her while you guys go." Darius says. "Me too. Maybe we can find some more information while we're hear." Sammy says. "I'll stay too, make sure that nothing goes wrong here." I say which Darius and Sammy nod in agreement. The others get up to leave but I grab Yaz's arm as she passes me. "Watch your back. Trust nothing that you see or hear." I say as she nods. Her hand caresses mine as I let go. Thank God that nobody noticed. "Ok some bad news. Only have two cups but with the right attitude. A bowl can become a cup." Mae says as she walks back I to the living room, confused. "Wait? Where did everyone go?" She asks which Darius answers quickly. "Taking a nap." Mental forehead slap. "Oh, I'll see if there is any blankets. There should be some on the back closest." Mae says as she walks to the back. "Dr. Turner. You figure out what a dinosaur is...feeling?" Darius says as he gestures to her research. Mae seems shocked but pulls herself together. "Once I figured out how to match their exhibited behaviours with their cortical activity, it was only a matter of time to anticipate their needs." She says proudly as I walk up to see the brain MRIs of the Rexes. "Dinosaurs are emotionally complex animals. Leave them be and they exhibit no aggressive behaviour but their memory is something else. Behaviour that seems to stick around an event and/or person." I say which makes Mae turn to me. "Yes, their memory is very strong. How did you know that?" She asks which Sammy interjects. "Ryan had a vengeful Allosaurs chase after him back on Nublar." Mae looks surprised. "Really? Why did it want you?" Before I can answer, Darius interrupts. "Ryan was an inspiring ACU member. He had run in with Allison, the Allosaurs. The encounter left Ryan to use a makeshift flamethrower to burn half of her face." He says as I hang my head. Mae looks horrified. "That's terrifying. So she sought to kill you because of that?" She asks me. "Allison was always unstable, the burns made her focus some of that instability. Unfortunately, that focus happened to be me." I say as I sit down. "Fascinating. Scary and horrifying but fascinating. The level of aggression but remembrance of an event and the person most connected to it. I never thought that dinosaurs could have that range of memory connected to a traumatic event." She says which gets me uneasy. "Did I say something that upset you? If I did, I'm sorry." I shake my head. "No, it's just. My dad died that day from Allison. It was some of the worst months of my life following after he died but with the help of my friends, I was able to overcome my hate and grief." I say with a tear falling, I wipe it away before anyone notices but Mae does and sits next to me.

"I know that you don't trust me. And I understand, based on what the others have told me about your run in with the poachers and their false promises. But I promise you, Ryan. From the bottom of my heart, I'm going to find a way to get you and your friends home." She says which I smile. "Thank you, Mae. I was wrong about you and I glad for it." I say which she makes her smile back.

A while later, after Darius and Sammy have pestered Mae about her research and who she works for. She doesn't say much but she did say that this island is a research facility, which I doubt if Mantah Corp is involved but I could be wrong. An alarm sound is heard from Mae's tablet. "Huh, that's a new sound." She says as she walks over to he tablet. Since I'm not far from Darius and Sammy, I don't hear their little huddle session. "'Unauthorised life form detected in sector 4. Elimination protocol activated'. Huh, that sounds a little extreme." She says as she reads it from the tablet. "What's 'Elimination Protocol'?" Darius asks worriedly. My eyes widen in terror. The others. Yaz.

We are running through the forest, we notice a bright scanning green light in the distance. Mae gestures her us to hide behind a tree. "Oi!" She calls out to something. We look around the tree and see...a robot dog? "What the actual fuck?" I whisper to Darius. "Dr Mae Turner. Authorised life form. What can I do to assist you?" The robot said in the typical robotic voice. "Never do that again for starters." Mae says angrily as she points to a...dead compy. The same one from the boat. It has a large burnt wound in its side. "You killed a Compsognathus, I could have studied! We don't have any on the island. What would you do that?" She say as the robot answers. "Primary directive is to protect biome ecostasis. Unrecognised lifeforms pose threat to biome ecostasis." While the robot talks, Mae gestures to the others hidden behind the rock to get over here. "Finishing patrol." The robot says as it's about to turn, the others aren't across yet. "No wait!" Mae says, distracting the machine as the others run over. "Oh, nevermind." She says as the robot continues it's patrol.

We hug the others that almost got caught. I reach Yaz and hug her close. "You ok?" I ask. "I'm fine." I feel so relieved at hearing that. "Thank goodness that you're all ok." Mae says kindly as Ben questions her. "What was that thing?" He question is what we're all thinking. "One of the BRADs. Bio Robotic Assistance Droids. They care the island but I had no idea that they did that!" She says as she points to the dead compy. "What? Killing?" Brooklynn asks sarcastically. "Ok, back to he cave. The BRADs aren't allowed in, you'll be safe in there. Then you tell me why you lied and why you were out here in the first place." She says angrily as everyone looks amongst each other. But before we leave, I walk over and pick up the Compy before grabbing a large rock and dig a shallow grave for the animal. I place him down and bury him. "Find peace in the next life, my friend." I say as I trace a cross on the grave. Everyone gathers around the grave and pays their own respects. He might have been a pest but he didn't deserve to die like he did.

We had gathered back into the cave. "And after everything Mantah Corp did to my family. Can you blame us for not trusting you?" Sammy says as she finishes her story. "No I suppose not. Not after what you and Ryan have told me about your past experiences. But what I'm doing is good. How can understanding dinosaurs be a bad thing?" Mae says as her tablet goes off. "Drat. Almost dinner time." She says as she heads to the door. "Getting takeout?" Kenji says which I slap him up the head. "What was that for?" He says as he rubs his head. "It's for the Rexes dumbass." Mae agrees with me. "Yes, for the Rexes. I get the raw opportunity to see mother-daugther feeding habits. It's actually surprisly sweet. And until I get back, you all stay here." Mae says to us as she leaves. Darius and Sammy share a look and floor after her. No one stops them since they have the most influence of Mae than the rest of us.

We were lounging around the living room. I see out oft he corner of my eye and see Kenji trying to shuffle closer to Brooklynn whose reading a magazine. Ben however sits inbetween them, ruining Kenji's move. I laugh on the inside. Poor bastard. I see that Yaz on the other side of the room noticed it as well. "Hey, Ben. Up for a game?" Yaz says as she holds a deck of cards. "Not much of a card person." Ben says which Yaz looks around, thinking of a reply. "Oh ok. Than wanna help me make some snacks in the kitchen." Yaz says as she pulls the lamps closer together. Casting a loving light. She couldn't be anymore obvious, it's starting to getting cringe at this point. Ben and Brooklynn stare at Yaz, really confused with how she's acting. "Uhh..." Ben goes to say something but Kenji suddenly stands. "I do, Yaz." He says as he walks to the kitchen. Yaz follows after him as I cheekily sneak in. "What are you doing?" Kenji asks quietly. "Nothing, just being a good wingman." She says as I slap my forehead. Sorry darling but you are not a good wingman. "You totally have a crush on Brooklynn." Yaz says which Kenji instantly denies. Yaz simply raises an amused eyebrow. "Mate, you denying so quickly confirms our suspicions any way." I say as I walk into the light behind Yaz. "Not you too." Kenji tries to deny but I laugh. "Ok fine but even if I do. You, Yaz are being really weird. She's going to know if something's up." Kenji defends himself which I agree with. Yaz has no subtly when it comes to others. She chuckles and lightly punches Kenji. "Go make your move stud." She says which makes mine and Kenji's eyes go wide. "Stud?" "What 'stud'?" Kenji and myself say respectively. "Yaz, until I'm ready can you just...chill, please?" Kenji basically begs to Yaz. Yaz simply shrugs. I smile at her non chalant answer. She's going to keep trying.

We enter the living room and see the door open up. We all are confused until we hear metal clanking and see a shadow of a BRAD making its way I to the cave. "She said they weren't allowed I here!" Ben says loudly. "Hide!" Kenji says as he pulls Brooklynn with him to the kitchen. I head to the passage at the back of the cave and hide behind the wall. I notice Yaz and Ben hide underneath the table behind the lounge. The BRAD starts to scan the room, looking for something. It walks up to the work desk and starts scanning Mae's notes. I see Yaz covering herself under the table. I see that she's breathing heavily, I wave to her as she notices me. I gesture a breath in and out sign while doing the motions. Yaz starts to do the same thing and her breathing comes back under control. I see the BRAD walking beside the table. I make a machete shape to Yaz who slowly takes her machete carefully out of the sheath. The BRAD is almost standing on top of her and Ben. I put up three fingers as I hold my axe at the ready. I point to my leg than the BRAD. Yaz nods as she understands what I sent to her. I hold up three fingers and count down slowly. I get to zero and just as the BRAD goes to notice Yaz and Ben, Yaz swings her machete across the front leg of the machine, cutting right through the metal, crippling the machine. I run forward grabbing a small cup on a cabinet before hurling it at the head of the robot. The cup breaks as the robot turns to me. I bring my axe down onto its neck, cutting through metal and wires. The machine starts to short circuit and eventually shuts down. I throw the machine away as I pull out my axe. I look down at Yaz and Ben. "You guys good?" I ask which Yaz just smirks up at me. Ben just breaths a sigh of relief.

Kenji and Brooklynn come out of the kitchen as I help Yaz and Ben out from under the table. I sheath my axe as Yaz sheaths her machete. "That...was...awesome!" Brooklynn says, really exictedly. Yaz pulls Ben into a side hug. "It was pretty awesome." She says as she glances at me, smirking. "Hey guys. Could you give me and Yaz a sec?" Ben says as he points to Yaz. I'm confused and so is Yaz. Kenji and Brooklynn looked confused as well but agree. I shuffle away just out of eyeline but not hearing range. "Um, Yaz look..." Ben says softly. "You're a great girl and I like you." What the fuck, where did come from? "But I just don't 'like' like you." Oh, I'm about to kill him. I walk up slowly behind him as he keeps rambling. Yaz looks really perplexed but smirks as she notices me walking up. "Sorry, what?" She says as she goes back I to character of being really confused. "Don't be upset. It's just, I'm starting to find myself again. I gotta work on me before I can think of someone else." Yaz looks really weirded out by what Ben said but slightly proud. "I'm sorry if I made you think that I'm into you, it wasn't about that. And plus..." She trails on as she looks at me. Ben slightly moves back and runs into me, he quickly turns around. "...she already has a boyfriend." I say as I cross my arms and stare Ben. He looks between me and Yaz before doing it again. "Wait...you two?" He says as he points at me and Yaz. "Whoa, that's amazing guys." He says as he places a hand on one of myself and Yaz's shoulders. "Ben...you have three seconds to get to other side of the cave before I do something that you'll regret ever causing." I say threateningly as Ben immediately runs over to where Kenji and Brooklynn are. Both of them are open mouthed and shocked.

"Couldn't keep it a secret any longer?" I ask cheekily. Yaz laughs. "They would have figure it out later." I think back to what Ben said before. "Why did Ben say all that?" I ask, really curious. "Because I needed him to get away from Kenji and Brooklynn so they can be alone, turns out, I didn't think far ahead, Ben thought that I like him and all that." She says as I chuckle. "You tried to be a wingman to someone, badly, and you made the mistake of making someone else think that you like them...well done." She just laughs at loud at the very poor plan that she crafted. All of us just laugh at the ridiculousness of what happened in the past 10 minutes. Destroying a robot dog. Ben rejecting Yaz's 'advances' and three of the five finding out about me and Yaz. Seems like a good afternoon.

The door opens and Mae walks in. A white cube in her hand as she looks around the room. She notices the destroyed BRAD. "What happened here?" She demands as Kenji answers. "It came it a few minutes after you left. It was scanning all over the place. "There goes the one place that you thought we would be safe." Sammy says sarcastically to Mae. "Apologies, Sammy. Seems you were right to be suspicious about Mantah Corp." Mae says as she places her hand on Sammy's shoulder. "What changed?" I asked, out of curiosity. "This." Mae says as she holds up the white cube. She walks over to her work bench and places the cube down. "Time to find out what's happening to my dinosaurs." She says with sheer determination and underlying anger. Now things are getting real interesting.