Burt watched the hikers leave with a cloud of dust behind them. "Finally." He radioed the others. "Burt here, how is everything over there, over."
Tyler watched as Nancy took off Rose's scarf. Wes was calling the main lab to send a crew there now. Jodi was putting the tentacle in a jar.
"Everything's calm over here, over," Tyler stared wide eyed at Rose. Nancy drew in a breath. She quickly put the scarf over the other half of the face letting the nose and mouth open to air. Nancy looked overt to Tyler. She mouth to him. We didn't see anything. Tyler nodded. Casey was filling another syringe up.
"Someone want to call a doctor too," Casey flicked the syringe to let the bubbles rise up. "I may have a doctorate but not like this." She proceeded to insert the needle in another part of the vein and pushed the serum in.
"Too calm," Burt murmured as he watched the tank. "Tyler, when are the government officials arriving to pick up their carry-out, over."
Tyler looked over to Wes. The conversation seemed to be including an airlift, a doctor, and a container of some sort, which all would be heading to their location in less than an hour.
"Calvary is coming in less than an hour by air support with a container, over," Tyler informed him.
"How's our scientist, over," Burt was worried about her.
Tyler looked over to Casey and Nancy. The two women looked at one another then back to him. Tyler sighed before answering. "She's alive, blacked out but breathing. Casey gave her a good amount of the antidote. Over."
Burt sighed. If she dies, then there goes my connection to the lab. He looked at his watch. He hoped those damned feds get here quicker than they expected.
The beast started to knock against the tank. Burt whipped his head over to view it. He heard the sounds again coming from different part so the tank. It was trying to find a weak point.
Meanwhile, back in Rose's trailer her computers were picking up information from the sound equipment nestled against the lab. It was those clicking sounds. It had lasted for forty five minutes before it settled down and became silent.
Rose's complexion had gotten better in the meantime. Burt was watching the tank while listening for the air support to come in. He heard the faint noise and looked over head to where it was coming from. Wes had gone out to meet them. Burt came down off of his post and met up with Wes. Casey was talking with Jodi about the tentacle. The two were staring at it with curiosity. They were even thinking of spots of where to hide it when the federal agents won't find it.
Nancy grabbed Tyler. "We can't let anyone know we've seen her face."
"Are they going to deport her if we did?" Tyler was confused.
"I have no idea what will happen, but it will probably be just as bad for us," Nancy was afraid for her future. "I don't want the threat of having to relocate looming over me again."
"Relocate?" Tyler's eyes widen. "When did this happen?"
Nancy explained to him while the airplane loomed over head, dropping to the ground first was the container, men jumped out from both sides as the chopper hovered in place. Wes grabbed the guy with the medical patch to take him off towards the marketplace. Burt showed the others were the thing was being held in. The tank was rocking and constricting back and forth.
Part of the team brought the container over while the other half were securing around the tank. Burt watched them handle this, it was their faults anyways, letting a lab like that be created. However, he was still leery since none of them really knew how to handle such creatures.
Wes let the doctor in first. The doctor examined her as fast as he could. He tore her shirt to reveal ring marks. Casey was next to them answering questions the doctor had. He brought out fluids and hooked them on wall nail, put a catheter in, and checked her vitals one more time. He started to address her wounds, clean them up, and bandage them.
"Dr. Frankenstein will need more of the antidote, plenty of rest, and lots of fluids," the doctor sighed in relief. He looked over to Casey. "If you hadn't have given her the serum then you might have lost her. She has a great immunity to several toxins but compared to the load and the type it could have been fatal for her. Thank you. I would also like some of that antidote shipped to headquarters. You know the address. I'll stay with her until the creature is contained. I would also like some of the serum to come with us just in case some of our men get attacked if that's alright with you?"
Casey nodded the two of them began to discuss medical and biological theories.
"Dr. Frankenstein?" Tyler was perplexed by the name.
"Code name," Wes looked at the scientist's sleeping body.
"I thought Frankenstein was the monster's name?" Tyler crossed his arms.
Wes chuckled. "No. He was nameless but it wasn't wrong to call him Frankenstein. His creator was Dr. Victor Frankenstein. A scientist who defied the laws of nature, created him out of arrogance, to become God."
"Shouldn't that name be for the scientists who created these things not her?" Tyler still didn't understand.
"Yeah, but she's the only one who was the first choice for the job. The only one who was willingly to go into a place that defied the laws of nature, personally I thought her code name should have been Indiana Jones something more equivalent than that code name," Wes shrugged his shoulders.
"You must have a code name as well, what is it if you don't mind me asking?" Tyler was curious.
Wes smirked. "Her Majesty's Secret Service or S.S."
"It looks like this is the first time you have met her though," Tyler hinted at.
"It is," Wes looked at her arm that was taped up for the catheter to stay in place.
Voices were being overheard on the doctor's radio. "Moving specimen into container. Take caution, over." "Roger that, over."
The crew shifted their gaze over to the junkyard. The move was successful as they had Nitrogen tanks to spray the creature while they moved it. Burt watched in anticipation, hoping it was going well.
"Specimen contained, over," the voice of the radio crackled. "Retreat back to the aircraft, heading back to headquarters in five, over."
The doctor explained the care that needs to be given before heading out. Wes showed him the way back. After the government agents left, the Wes and Burt headed back to marketplace. The group discussed what was going to happen to their new friend.
"One of us should take her in to properly watch over her," Nancy thrown in. "I can watch over her."
"I can as well," Jodi raised her hand while looking at the others.
"No, I'll take her," Wes stopped them from volunteering. "It's my job to watch over her. I can't let you take that burden."
"You're not taking her to Burt's place are you?" Casey looked over to Burt who looked to Wes.
Wes shook his head. "I'll watch her at her place. There, I can monitor and properly take care of her. If she ruins anything, she has all the medical equipment and supplies that I need."
Their seismo watches started to beep. Burt put his hand up, putting a finger down to show how close El Blanco was arriving. Wes and Nancy steadied the unconscious body and the bag of fluid as El Blanco passed through. Burt put his hand down once El Blanco was safely away.
"I'll bring her there now," Wes started to gather up the things around her before picking her up. Some of the others chipped in and helped out as well. The group followed him into her vehicle.
"So, is it alright for her to be seen now or what?" Tyler looked to Burt.
"I heard from the others that they are planning to overlook this since they caught a bigger specimen," Burt kept his voice low. "I guess the earlier types of specimens like squid we caught earlier was still too small."
"I don't like where this is heading," Tyler watched Wes get into the driver's seat. "This little town already has enough trouble."
Burt nodded and watched as the hummer was drove off. Wes sighed as he glanced over to the unconscious scientist. The plastic bag of fluids was swinging back and forth.
What am I going to do? He focused on the road. I am going to have to write several reports, keep her stable, and try not to get into more trouble then we already are.
Once getting to her mobile facility, he placed her in the bed with the fluids hanging from a cabinet. He sat down next to her with his head placed in his hands.
"Dr. Frankenstein what sort of trouble did you get us into?" He blew out his breath through this nose as he picked his head back up. Wes laid down next to her while listening to her steady breathing.
The next morning, Rose woke up from her deep slumber. She looked at her arm that had a catheter taped in. Her eyes followed the line upwards. The bag was almost empty. Rose leaned up to look around. She saw a body sleeping at the foot of her bed.
"S.S. you ingrate," she mumbled. "You had to get involved." She started to move around.
Wes woke up due to her movement. He was startled by remembering that he was sleeping on her bed. Wes looked over to her. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"
Rose narrowed her eyes at him. "I can take care of myself but thank you for everything you have done. Did the specimen get into the containment without trouble?"
Wes got up and crossed his arms at her. "Good morning to you too. Yes, the specimen was contained and is being escorted to the main lab. How are you feeling?" He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm fine," she looked down to her abdomen. She palpated herself feeling if the wounds were still damp. Rose decided to get up but Wes rushed over to her. He placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her from moving anymore. "I'm. Fine."
"No you are not," Wes inclined. "You still need to rest. The operation is on a setback because you had to interfere. Now be good and stay down."
"I interfered because it escaped the boundary, it was my duty to fix the problem," she sighed as she pushed his hand off.
"Took you long enough to figure it out, we could have used your help earlier," Wes felt her forehead.
"Since you're here, hand me the gauze, vet wrap and the bandage scissors," Rose moved his hand away with hers. "It seems like you slept so the reports haven't been written."
Wes clenched his jaw and got the items she wanted. He handed the over to her. She gave him a small smile as she stopped the IV drip line. Rose took out her catheter and placed gauze with wrap around it to heal. Next, she moved onto the wrap around her torso.
Wes swiped the scissors out of her hands and started to cut the bandages for her.
"Why are you doing this? I know you dislike me," Rose watched him.
"I don't think I can say that I dislike you, it's just that I don't well you enough to make that judgement," Wes gave her a wink.
"It's not your duty to take care of me in this sort of situation," Rose saw the brown and red coloring that blossomed on the gauze.
Wes let out a chuckle. "No, the military guard is just there to make sure you don't die. This isn't my duty at all."
The radio on his side began to speak. "Specimen contained and secured. Threat level one."
"Now, miss, how would you like your bandages rewrapped?" Wes inclined an eyebrow.
Rose started down at the circular wounds that had healed with bruising. It was taking a bit longer for her to answer.
Wes placed his hand on hers. "It's going to be fine."
Wes got back to the bandages and took them all off. He cleaned them while she stayed silent.
Back in Perfection, Twitchell decided to show his face. Jodi was describing the monster Nancy who was going to make some ceramic figurines for it.
"Does this place ever have a lull at all?" Twitchell looked around. "For once can it be boring while I am not around."
Rosalita came in to shop. Twitchell went over to Nancy and Jodi.
"Is anyone listening to me?" Twitchell stopped their conversation. The three of them looked over to him. He set down a report. "This is the new protocol and information about the other government officials here."
Jodi picked it up and started reading. Nancy saw that he looked smug.
"Why are you so happy?" Nancy was concerned and curious.
"I get more jurisdiction over these two officials," Twitchell spotted the tentacle in the jar. He went over to it. "Any new information about escaped Mixmaster creatures goes to me as well so I can keep the people here in Perfection safe and sound."
"New creatures?" Rosalita called over to them. "This town just keeps getting weirder and weirder. As long as they don't touch my cattle or reach my place again I'll be fine." She noticed the jar as well. "Is that from the creature that escaped last night where all those soldier guys had to come in and get it?"
"Yes," Jodi was nervous. She didn't want it to be taken away.
"Rosalita," Twitchell noticed her. "I have gotten contacted by some of your family members, they wanted to meet with you, though they are too afraid of Perfection. They said that you haven't been answering them and were wondering if you were still alive."
"Oh?" This shocked Rosalita. "I'll just pay for this stuff and call them when I get back. I've gotten really busy with the cattle and the ranch, you know."
Jodi met her at the counter and Rosalita paid for the stuff before heading out. Rosalita stayed calm and tried not to bring attention to herself. She didn't bring herself to look back as she got in the truck and drove away at high speed.
"That was a close one," she sighed as drove away. "If they found out, who knows what will happen."
"What's wrong with her?" Twitchell watched her leave.
"Maybe she has family problems?" Jodi shrugged her shoulders. "She doesn't really know how to run a ranch but she inherited from Miguel. It could be that she didn't want it but it was left in her name."
Twitchell didn't say anything but decided that he was going to look into it once he got the chance. He headed out to Tyler's mechanic shop. Twitchell was going to ask him about Rosalita.
The next few days, Tyler's Grabiod Tours had gotten busy with the rumors of some creatures rather than graboids were lurking around.
"This isn't good," Burt looked at the parked cars in front of Chang's. "Just when I thought I would have some peace and prosperity, these yahoos have to come in and mess it all up." Burt walked into the market. He could hear whispers of the people around him.
"Did you know that there was an escaped creature that was just captured here recently?"
"Yeah, I heard it was like an offspring to one of the graboids."
"This place is like a breeding ground for weird things. Did you see that blog on the creatures here by Larry? He says there's an invisabat on the loose."
Burt made it over to Jodi who was waiting by the cash register.
"Do you hear about the things they are saying?" Burt kept his voice low. "Who was the slip up?"
"I don't know, but the plus side, we have been getting an increase of visitors," Jodi smiled as she looked at the people browsing.
"This isn't something to be happy about, for all we know they will interfere and become fodder for El Blanco and who knows what else," Burt shook his head. "Has Wesson checked in yet?"
"Your son?" Jodi looked over to him.
"It's still weird to say, but yes," Burt blinked.
"No, haven't seen him, his truck hasn't been touched and it hasn't moved so I am guessing he is still taking care of her," Jodi moved away to check out the next customer.
A couple of men walked through the door. They seemed sketchy to Burt but had clean and new clothes on with a sort of intimidation demeanor.
"Has these sort of guys been coming in lately?" Burt pointed his chin over to them. Jodi looked up from her cash register.
"Yeah, they just buy a few things and head out," Jodi went back to work.
"The same ones?" Burt watched them.
"Yeah," Jodi knitted her brows together while thinking. "You don't think they are part of the same group those other two were from?"
"Possibly, I don't think that sort of thing was ever settled," Burt watched them get a few drinks and some memorabilia. "Keep me informed if they show up again. I've got a bad feeling that they may be after El Blanco again or worse they are after someone here."
"I'm fine, you can take your post back in town again," Rose was going through the information of the new report that was sent to them.
"Headquarters has a few new policies that they are implementing, are you fine with them?" He read over her shoulder.
Rose paused. "It's our job. Emotions for the time being doesn't matter."
"A no questions asked kind of person," Wes smiled.
"Have you met this Larry who has a blog on the creatures in Perfection?" She turned around to him.
"Yes," Wes looked to her.
"Is it true he has an invisabat?" Rose was curious.
"Possibly, I told him to catch it to meet up with you," Wes was honest.
"He's drawing in far too much attention for Perfection," Rose looked back to her computer screen. She started to type and get a map of the town in view. "You see, his blog is capturing more people to visit. The recent rumors of headquarters coming in also didn't help. It's going to be harder to do our jobs with these new policies. I still have to set up more monitors."
Wes looked at the screen. Thermal dots showed the number of people in Perfection. Rose was linked in with the satellite.
"Do you know what your next objective is beside that one?" Wes counted the number of people. She was right this is going to get tougher. The new policies state that the scientist was allowed out of her boundary but only to keep research going with the lab. She was not allowed to interfere with Casey's research and vice versa. The two can team up but that's about it.
"The main objective is still collecting the creatures and sending them to headquarters," Rose informed him. "I am glad that headquarters have decided to become more open with the town people. Telling Twitchell that the Jurassic Artimia was lost was a mistake. The townspeople could be of some use, such as Larry for spotting an invisabat along with helping with the capture of the creatures."
"You asked them to, didn't you?" Wes moved away. "I heard that you fought tooth and nail for this operation to have certain glass walls."
"I had interned with the EPA in college, its' protocol to keep the people informed what's going on in their area," Rose explained. "Full cooperation is a must. Besides, the number of creatures in that lab is far beyond a years' worth of work. We'll be here for a while, why not start off on a good note." Rose looked through her files. "Speaking of which, the fish Donna and I have been waiting for has been biting." She listened to the recordings.