I was going to continue this chapter with Anathema running into Rex problems and meeting Junior, but decided to cut her portion out of this chapter in favor for the next one, since this is almost five thousand words.
Three of E and the Indoraptor's brood are in this chapter.
Seraphim is dubbed Nephilim.
Skunk is dubbed Gemini.
Legion will be called Lazarus by Henry.
This chapter focuses upon Henry's softening and redemption as a character (because Dominion decided to give his ass a redemption arc that he arguably didn't deserve and the change came out of nowhere).
It also focuses upon what a monster and animal is (in the perspective of various characters).
Warning: This chapter has blood, violence and character death.
Henry Wu looked upon the beast he could not see-yet knew was there.
That was the terrifying thing.
That genetics, no matter how well manipulated, could never truly be controlled.
The Indominus Rex taught him that much.
And now, looking through the reinforced glass into a seemingly empty exhibit deep within the bowels of Biosyn's laboratory, he was seeing genetics amaze him again.
The lush and thick foliage of the woodland exhibit displayed an animal in plane sight.
Right in front of him.
For a long time, Henry sat upon a worn, leather chair.
For a long time, Henry sat with his elbows upon his knees, hands raised and fingers interlocked together, bony joints pressing against the flesh of his chin. His hair fanned down upon his shoulders in straight locks. His eyes bore through the glass in an intensity that would unnerve most.
It was the look of defiance.
But within that defiance, jaw wooden, posture stiff the ridged-Henry's gaze fell downcast.
His features softened, and gave way to dark shadows that haunted his gaunt face.
For a long time, Henry sat in silence.
When he spoke, his voice was soft and gentle, like the trickle of a small stream slithering through the valleys of time, "...I always thought of myself as an artist. Using genetics to sculpt, and create life. But I only focused upon the practicality of genetics. There was no 'maybes', and no 'ifs'. There was only certainty. There was only control. I thought I was in control. But I wasn't. I never was. I only has the illusion of control."
Henry fell quiet, eyes still gazing into the lush foliage dimmed by artificial night, "For a long time, I considered the Indominus Rex my masterpiece. I sculpted the most glorious hybrid even nature failed to create. The Indominus was not my masterpiece. She was my failure. I saw manipulating genes as the ultimate control. I could control everything about the animal even before it was viable. But genetics are a certainty. They are just another assumption-a hint-of what could be."
The doctor's gaze briefly cast downwards towards his knees in silent thought.
It was not long before they ascended.
It was faint, at first.
The trembling of foliage.
No-Not the trembling of leaves.
The trembling of the space between the dense brush.
A trick of the shadows.
A trick of the mind.
Slowly, almost painfully slowly-did the air between the bushes shift, and mold and morph.
Fluid, like water.
A trick of iridescence molded the green and brown of the foliage-to a white beast with jagged jaws.
An Indoraptor lay idly upon the mulched ground sporting winter scales with a vivid, golden stripe.
The beast's feathers that adorned his head and flank rested upon his armored hide, honeyed gaze watching Wu in a silent intensity. Seraphim's circular pupils were sharp pin pricks, a brief flicker of illumination highlighting the striking color of his irises as a third lid swiftly slid across his eyes.
Henry stared upon the beast.
The hybrid stared upon the doctor.
Faintly, a ghost of a smile sullenly spread across Henry's clean shaven face, "...And just like her...you prove me wrong, Nephilim."
Nephilim.
Yes.
Henry figured the name was fitting.
A cross breed-a natural one-not matter how unlikely.
How impossible.
Yet-Here Nephilim was.
Here.
Alive.
And with traits Henry never imagined would manifest again.
"Your ancestor-the Indominus Rex-could camouflage as well. It was something I did not expect. She was as dangerous genetically as she was mentally. I thought I could control everything about her. Yet, each time, she proved me wrong. The Indominus was unpredictable, and unstable. Genetics can influence many things-even mental health. I should have known better, in that regard. I was toying with DNA-an animal-a living creature like I was God-and I didn't think twice about it. I was playing with genes that were never supposed to even share a genome. And worse-," The m-an paused, lips molding and pressing together in a thin line, "I did not learn from my mistake. I made all new ones. Because I did the same with your father."
The doctor, like before, fell silent.
Achieving greatness was natural for him.
But he didn't expect it to leave him in his own personal hell.
Talking to a beast like it understood him.
Because just talking about his failures to something-anything-would spark the slightest sliver of hope that Henry was worthy of redemption.
"...The Indoraptor of Lockwood Manor was just as unpredictable-and unstable-as your ancestor. If not worse. And yet-One of my most unstable creations-a prototype-a natural failure-thrived and survived. It won the game of evolution. It...He...found a mate, and produced you and your siblings. A broken prototype-was able to find his place in a world that was never meant for him. A damaged, mentally unstable animal-was able to heal. Perhaps, if the Indominus was given a chance to heal...maybe things would have been different?"
Wu's gaze flicked away from Nephilim-from the exhibit. His eyes focused upon one of the many video cameras that one of their research towers were recording.
The video showed Biosyn Valley's two apexes tearing a deer in half.
Sharing a kill.
For a long time, Wu stared at the monitor footage in silence.
A ghost of a smile tugged the corners of his lips upwards, "Things will be different, this time."
Once more, the geneticist's focus narrowed upon the natural hybrid in front of him, "If something as damaged as your father can heal, and learn to live not as a monster-but an animal-I think the Indominus can, too. She just needs a chance. Her species needs redemption."
But did monsters deserve redemption?
That was something Wu pondered often.
For a long time, he didn't create animals.
He created monsters.
And he was their God.
It was time to change that.
And he needed to start with himself.
"I need redemption...I just don't know if I'm worthy."
Two other Indoraptors arrived.
It was something Henry was not expecting.
But the geneticist knew the animals well enough from his tracking and hunting of them.
They were Nephilim's siblings.
The female was black, sporting a white underbelly and stripe. Unlike her male broodmates-she sported no feathers, her eyes blue and pupils circular. One thing Wu noted about the female-was how small she was compared to the male individuals he knew-as well as how lacking in athleticism she was. Indeed, the black and white female sported more adipose tissue that he would have liked. Her claws were also filed and trimmed.
Henry found it quite shocking-and disturbing-that she was so friendly towards people.
Like a common household pet.
And that she was quite content to remain in her cage-so long as provided food.
She appeared to be very food motivated.
Larger than a typical raptor-able to move upon all fours or two legs with ease-yet smaller than any Indoraptor specimen to date.
She was magnificent, just as Nephilim was.
While not as physically impressive at the white male, Henry deemed Skunk valuable not for what her genes expressed-but for what her genetics contained, hidden within her code.
Henry decided to name the black and white female Gemini.
A foolish notion-and perhaps one that was too sentimental.
Gemini.
Twins-forever apart yet eternally bound.
Two separate halves of the same coin.
Opposites, yet the same.
Gemini was a mix of Indoraptor-and Indominus.
Like her siblings, she carried the DNA of monsters.
Yet-Henry wondered how if the female Indoraptor could become the mother of the next brood?
How would Gemini's young differ from Nephilim's?
What traits would they be born with?
What traits would they be raised to have?
Perhaps that was what Wu made in error?
The Indominus' mother was a crane.
The Indoraptor had no true mother.
A thought then occurred to Henry.
Did these hybrids have a mother?
Genetically-they did.
But did they have a mother?
An animal to guide and protect?
An animal to model after, and teach the next generation on how to behave, how to socialize and hunt?
How was his prototype Indoraptor as a parent?
Henry was unsure.
The two siblings he saw acted too differently to be raised together.
Nephilim was a wild animal-however calm and lax.
Gemini was something that reminded Wu of a house cat.
How much of their personalities were they born with?
How much of their personalities were birthed through experience?
It caused Wu to wonder-What was the true personalities of his creations?
His flawed masterpiece?
His failed prototype?
What were they like beyond their mental illnesses and behavioral failures?
It was a question that Henry could not answer.
For all he knew, all he had left of his failed masterpiece and prototype was within the walls of these labs-and within the misty valley of Biosyn's Sanctuary.
Four specimens in total.
Three Indoraptors-and one Indominus.
Three naturally bred animals.
One artificially created.
Henry's musings were silenced as he moved towards the third Indoraptor.
The largest of the bloodline stood before him, separated by reinforced glass.
Before him, Legion stood, ebony of scale, and sported garnet hued arms and legs, a white underbelly, and vivid sanguine stripes running from skull to tip of tail. Sapphire eyes bore into the geneticist, pupils sharp and predatory, jagged jaws agape and welling his saliva.
Even when in a separate enclosure, Seraphim stared, pupils narrowing into knives upon seeing the black male. Slowly, gently, fluidly, the white of Seraphim's scales crackled to life.
Nephilim's winter scales turned a vivid citrine that rippled across his scaled scalp like lightning, and darkened to the color of night as the stripes crackled down his jaws and snout like running water. Citrine weaved and rippled along his arms and legs, turning his limbs a rich amber hue.
It was a coloration of aggression, Wu thought.
Briefly did Henry wonder-Did these brothers recognized one another?
How strong was their bond?
How strong was their familiar ties?
The geneticist watched with interest, eyes peering in observation, and curiosity as he witnessed Nephilim's feathers adorning his body become ruffled and erect, scaled lips peeling backwards to bare savage teeth. His tail flicked, and the sheer force of the slap vibrated through the exhibit's glass and quaked the floor under Wu's feet. When Nephilim rose upon his hide legs-it was then that Henry realized how massive the beast was-taloned fingers flexing and killing claws poised.
A low, serpentine hiss escaped Legion's throat, saliva welling and oceanic eyes shimmering in a film of red rage. His throat puffed and swelled, posture remaining low slung to the ground. Henry could not help but notice the wounds around the black Indoraptor's maw and front legs.
Scars, and wounds, grisly, gnarled.
His gaze flicked up towards the scarred male, seeing the red striped Indoraptor shake his head and snap his jaws in an echoing crack. Saliva spritzed from his maw and dribble onto the floor.
It was an odd amount of secretions, Henry thought.
It was then Legion opened his maw and shot forth a viscous spray of fluid that splattered upon the glass, thick and gelatinous. Were the glass not in the way, the fluid would have stuck Nephilim in the face.
It was enough to make the white male jerk backwards, harsh hisses riveting from his swelling throat. Wu could see the arteries bulging in fury underneath Nephilim's scales. With each deep and guttural rumble of the throat-Nephilim's white head laced with crackling of black lightning-flushed red.
Rich and sanguine through rivers of onyx.
It was a threat of display that Legion decided to end.
The Indoraptor's maw opened wide, eyes flashing and illuminating as a protective lens slid over sapphire irises and predatory pupils.
A thick and viscous spray shot forth from the maw.
Henry realized too late-the scars and wounds upon the black and red male were not created from fighting.
They were burn scars.
Henry realized too late-with growing horror-that it was not spitting saliva.
It was spitting chemicals.
A popping noise rocked the labs.
Nephilim's horrified squeals were drowned out by the roar of combusting fire.
The high pitched wails of fire alarms went off.
The labs were drenched in water as if a storm rocked the rooms.
The intense light and heat of the fires clung to the walls and floors and sluggishly burned.
Nephilim was knocked back from fear, water staining his hide and dripping off his athletic form. The red headed male with black stripes upon his scalp shook himself, feeling the flickers of heat slowly die behind him.
The wafting of sickening air filled his lungs, and it caused the male to spit and cough.
Shards of glass lay scattered and heated around him. They were painful to the touch, and burned his feet when he accidentally stepped upon them.
The clacking of claws upon the ground was barely heard over the harsh pounding of water and the blaring of alarms.
The flashing of alarm lights and the flickering of fire hurt his eyes.
Still, Nephilim turned towards the noise, and rose upon his hind legs, body flushed in aggression and prepared to defend himself.
Slowly, sluggishly, Legion crept and skulked along the ground, carefully sifting through slowly cooling glass and lazily burning puddles of fire-which were swiftly dying off. The fires hissed and steamed, cloaking the male's jagged jaws in a haze.
Drip by bleeding drip, Legion's position could be told by the drizzling fire that burned in soft puddles of orange and blue-which swiftly hissed and turned into steam.
The wails of the alarms and the dominating steam-would be all that Wu would be able to witness.
Henry realized with horror: The glass shattered between the exhibits.
The reinforced glass wouldn't hold against that...
...That monster's natural napalm...
It was too much kinetic force, too much thermal stress...
How!?
How!?
HOW?!
Henry didn't use anything that could have produced natural napalm!
It was impossible!
The very floor of the lab seemed to quake as an Indoraptor was slammed against the glass-though which one-Henry was unsure.
He was too busy raising security on his communications.
Again, the ground quaked.
And again.
And again.
A popping noise, followed by the explosion of roaring fire over the barely audible noise of shattering glass.
Steam wafted to the ceiling.
The chill of the pouring water system seemed warm compared to the ice that ran within his veins.
The heaviness of his damp clothing seemed light compared to the sense of cold horror and dread that spread across his chest.
A whole new alarm blared throughout the labs.
Assets out of containment.
Assets out of containment.
Assets out of containment.
When Henry moved to run for the door, the squelching of his shoes emphasized his every step. The dampness of the slick floor made every hastily made step slick and clumsy.
He felt the ground quake behind him as an Indoraptor was thrown to the ground.
The sound of a desk being broken.
The sound of a chair being tossed and slamming against the wall.
The sound of lab equipment and computers being thrashed.
Henry didn't bother to look back.
He only closed the door behind him, locked it, and waited for security.
Not all monsters were created in labs.
Some monsters were bred.
Seraphim grunted as he was tossed upon the ground, and pinned by a red arm with black talons. The jaws of Legion floated above him, scaled skin irritated and red against his black maw, a foul scent of wafting fumes upon his breath.
The sanguine flushed male struggled against his rival's hold.
Slowly, a soft noise escaped the pinned male.
It was a noise that gave Legion pause.
The noise Seraphim made was a chirrup.
A noise not made by adults.
But of hatchlings.
The black hued male cocked his head, a noise of confusion, and uncertainly escaping him.
His killing claw tapped at the ground in irritation, vexation, and confusion.
Was this a trick?
To let his guard down?
The only noise Legion knew who made that noise was-
-His brother.
A flash of realization illuminated his sapphire irises, pupils widening.
Slowly, steadily, Seraphim's flushed head died in coloration, turning white.
Another chirrup escaped from his throat.
Legion cocked his head to the left. Then to the right.
At long last, the red striped male produced a chirp of his own-one he had no made since he was a hatchling.
The dull thumping of Seraphim's tail wagging upon the ground could be heard, the black stripes upon his head, and citrine coloration upon his body lazily fading. Only his vivid stripe would remain.
Legion's hand pulled away, fingers flexing and wrist cracking.
Their feathers became tangled and matted from the pounding waters.
As the brothers rose and stood, they neared once more, nares flaring as they inhaled each other's scent.
Both were different form when they last remembered.
A surge of happiness, and excitement wafted from the males.
The white male with golden stripes chuffed, and lightly bounced in place, as if a young juvenile inviting his sibling to play.
The male with a crimson stripe huffed and puffed in ragged chuffs, head bobbing side to side as he idly wiggled his body back and forth.
This was the extent of their play before their attention was turned towards the sound of the female Indoraptor, curiously looking out of her cage from behind bars.
Unlike the males, she was yet to be put in an exhibit.
She was still in a cage that was bolted shut.
Skunk produced a whine like noise, pawing between the bars, attempting to reach the bolt lock. Alas, her arms were too short for her to reach.
The brothers curiously approached, Legion raising upon his legs, peering upon the female through the bars. A series of barks and trills escaped the pair as Seraphim attempted to nudge the lock with his snout.
Little by little, the lock was raised.
Then, with a careful, clawed finger, little by little, the lock was slid.
The door opened.
Gunfire was unloaded.
Blood mixed with the flowing rivers of water that flooded the room. Bullet casings littered the ground, the scent of gunpowder, blood and flammable fluid filled the air.
The smell of burning armor and flesh sprinkled the atmosphere, heavy and tense as orange and blue flames sluggishly licked and crawled upon the limbs of rend and torn bodies.
Blood splattered the walls and glass.
It stained the broken furniture and and cracked computer screens.
It swirled with the water and rode the currents.
It was on the ceiling.
Body parts were strewn about.
Arms.
Legs.
A head.
Intestines were strewn about, creating a slippery mess of intricate webbing upon the floor.
The chatter of a radio was vibrating and buzzing to life.
Requesting the status of the security breach.
Requesting the status of the assets out of containment.
Their response would be the gnashing of teeth upon armor.
Seraphim was busy chewing upon a boot. He was unsure how to feed upon these armored creatures.
Their heads were hard and encased.
Their back and belly was encased.
They could be killed.
Killing these strange creatures was easy.
Eating them, was not.
Legion lay near by, currently working upon digging out bullets from his hide.
Their sister, Skunk, scurried from her cage, to a desk that was not overturned.
She was swift, and haunched low to the ground.
She trembled, and hid underneath.
Whining.
The noises were loud and scary.
The scent was foreign and unknown.
Humans were always so friendly.
Why were these loud and frightening?
The white Indoraptor gave up on attempting to eat from these strange creatures that screamed too loud and had hard shells.
Slowly, his neck twisted, and craned upwards.
His amber eyes dilated.
Seraphim trilled to grab his siblings' attention, Legion looking towards his brother.
His sapphire gaze followed the white and gold male's.
His predatory pupils, too, dilated.
They both stared intently at the object of their interest.
It was a vent.
Skunk whined and clawed at the wall.
Her brothers left her!
Her brothers left her!
She attempted to jump up and gain access to the vent.
Twice.
Thrice.
But she just didn't have the physical prowess to make such a leap.
She just didn't have the sharpened claws to hold on and find purchase.
Her round and dulled nails were not suited for climbing.
Even her killing claws were filed and dulled.
The black and white striped female cried and whined as if a hatchling calling for its parents.
The white feathered head of Seraphim popped into view. His gold eyes peered down upon her. A chitter escaped him, followed by a flick of the head.
He then disappeared from sight.
It was an encouragement to try again.
But Skunk just couldn't do it.
She wasn't like her brothers.
The black and white female pawed at the wall, rising to her hind legs. Her arms stretched upwards, portly belly pressing flush against the wall.
She still could not reach.
A noise then got her attention from one of the humans.
A noise barely audible over the scary ones.
A whimper.
A cry.
Skunk whirled herself to look, to pin point the noise.
Her head cocked, sapphire eyes squinting, nares flaring.
"...M...M...Mama...Mama!..."
The female Indoraptor inched forth, until she found the trembling human.
Blood coated his clothing.
He smelled of death.
He choked back a cry, laying upon the ground in the innards and blood of his fallen comrades.
Skunk lowered her head, nares flaring to inspect.
His breath hitched, and blood spouted from his mouth. His helmet was cracked.
The Indoraptor's warm, moist tongue gently slid across his face.
"...Mama!..."
"Come on, Beta. We need to get out of here." The brunette murmured, Maisie unlocking the cage.
Beta made a curious chirp, head cocking to the side in curiosity.
When the cage opened, Beta hopped down. Her head warbled, head inclined to look upon the girl.
Maisie moved away, and then patted at her thigh, as if ushering a dog alone, "Come on, Beta. Come on."
The juvenile raptor made a soft chirrup, and moved with the bumbling gait of a young animal.
However, something startled the little raptor. With a high pitched squeak, Beta shot off towards the safety of a small, shadowy hiding spot, and slipped behind a desk.
"Beta! No, wai-"
The brunette's shriek was muffled by the sound of metal grating being punched out and clattering upon the floor.
The floor quaked as taloned feet slammed upon the ground.
Maisie felt her blood run cold upon seeing the beast before her.
She went to speak.
Went to scream.
But all that came out were squeaks as her throat swelled shut.
One of the beasts from Lockwood Manor stared at her.
It was just like him.
Just like that thing.
An Indoraptor, black of scale.
But red and white.
And blue eyes.
But just as piercing.
Just as intense.
Just as terrifying.
Legion leered upon the girl, nares flaring.
He could see the fear in her quickened breath.
He could smell the horror.
He could hear the panicked beating of her heart.
A quiet rumble escaped the red striped male as he moved to take a step forward.
Maisie pressed herself as flat as she could against the wall.
She didn't realize she urinated herself she was so horrified.
She was going to die.
She was going to die.
She was going to-
The high pitched scream of an enraged raptor pierced the air.
"Beta, NO!"
Her voice cracked in realization-and trepidation.
But it was too late.
The juvenile raptor sprinted forth, and launched herself Legion.
The Indoraptor grunted as he felt teeth and claws dig into his arm.
Beta realized too late how powerful this creature was.
Hitting him felt like hitting a tree.
It was not like hunting with Mother.
It was not like hunting rabbits.
It was not like hunting fox.
It was not like hunting wolves.
Beta realized too late her mistake.
Taloned fingers roughly grasped along her wiggling body, and ripped her away.
The small raptor shrieked as she was tossed away, grunting as she hit the nearby wall.
The breath left her lungs, and the world blurred and turned.
Legion's burned lips peeled back into a gnarled snarl, crimson painting his jagged teeth and snout. His feathers ruffled and raised.
The ground quaked as Seraphim leapt down, turning to look upon the odd pair.
The black male turned his gaze from the pest, to the terrified human.
Beta recovered as she rose to her feet, shaking herself.
She then looked upon the two big things, shifting her weight in uncertainty.
She was unsure what to do.
Should she attack?
Should she flee?
Seraphim eyed the little creature with curiosity-but he was also wary.
It was a juvenile.
Where were its parents?
Legion's gaze bore intently at Maisie, his nares flaring.
The odor of urine wafted his senses.
Shaking his head, the red striped male began to patter off towards the door, moving to pass by Maise.
It was an action that triggered Beta to attack.
In a fearless leap, the juvenile once more descended upon the hybrid, and pierced his hide with her killings claws.
Jagged jaws then pierced both sides of her thin body, pulling her away and hoisting her into the air.
Her ribs cracked-Beta crying out with a pained gasp that was cut short.
She was slammed into the ground once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Then she was dropped to the ground, and a large, taloned hand enveloped her body, and teeth that were too large for her head clamped down.
Her legs and arms kicked and squirmed, cries like a squealing pig.
A pop, and a crack was heard, followed by a stray of erupting blood that painted the floor and nearby wall.
Legion swallowed the juvenile's head whole, her small body still writhing and spasming.
When Legion removed his taloned hand-Beta's body clumsily-awkwardly-scrambled to its feet.
Blood still spouting, the small body jerked and twitched as it walked unsteadily, arms raking and clawing at the severed neck.
Seraphim watched with interest-a morbid fascination-yet also also one of unnerved curiosity.
Maisie couldn't help it.
She screamed so hard-she vomited.
She was so horrified, so terrified, she didn't realize she was crying.
Beta's wandering body bumped the wall.
It fell down, and attempted to rise again.
It merely twitched and spasmed haplessly instead.
Legion's nares flared, and he merely began to ambulate sluggishly away from the foul smelling human.
Seraphim snorted in a sneeze, and followed behind his brother. His amber eyes remained locked upon the strange human.
His gaze only broke from the human clone to lower his neck, and pick up the fresh kill within his jaws.
He swallowed the remains of the juvenile raptor whole, and pattered along.
An eternity seemed to pass as the Indoraptors left.
For the first time, in a long time, Maisie breathed.
And then she collapsed, and sobbed, snot running from her nose, face flushed red and eyes puffy.
"...I want my parents!...!" The girl choked in a crack of her voice.
She was wrong!
Those dinosaurs weren't like her!
She wasn't like them!
No...Those weren't dinosaurs!
They were monsters!
Sorry not sorry.
Legion's fire is based on the spitting cobra and the bombardier beetle. In Legion's case-he was not naturally born with this ability.
Legion was illegally modified via shitty botched surgery and more than likely needs to be on immunosuppressants in order to keep the glands in his mouth. The inhalation of said chemicals and spitting fire is also not too good for his health, hence the burns and scars.
I have the next chapter already in the works, because I was writing Anathema's chapter, but then cut it off. I might update either tomorrow or the next day.
Thank you for reading!
:)