Caitlyn was enjoying the news of how well things have been going on. She would visit the graboid hatchery. The scientists would send orders through her henchman for those handling the graboid life cycles to move them around. She watched how the graboid life cycles were churning out. She had already sold a few of the eggs. She didn't want to sell more until the buyers saw all of the merchandise. She wanted to sell off whatever her brother found in the lab. She sold off a few of the eggs to make sure she gathered the attention of all the top buyers on the deep dark web. She would create a new and better lab on foreign land. Where the US government would not see what they were doing. Her brother was useless but he was the only one other men would negotiate with. She hated that fact, hence why she kept use of him.
"What are the scientists doing now?" She was walking between hatcheries.
"Right now, they are in the midst of observing a graboid, shrieker, and assblaster living together," one of her favored henchmen explained.
"Interesting," she liked how they were exploring all their curiosities. She stopped in front of one of the giant cement rectangles with thick metal slabs covering it. She noticed a slab door on the outside. "What is in this one?"
"Three adult graboids," the henchman explained. "This is from G3's batch.
"G3?" She must have not remembered everything in the documents they handed to her.
"That's how they named the eggs. G1 to G6," the henchman explained further. "This is G3's cycle batch."
"Are they going to do anything with them?" She was eying the gate. He shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't matter. Set these three free."
He stared at her with surprise. Did she really just ask that?
"You think we are allowing them to seek all their curiosities?" Caitlyn pointed to the gate. "Set them free. And. Tell my brother that the distraction is on its way." The henchman nodded. Caitlyn moved to a safer location. The henchman relayed her orders. It took several men to move the thick metal door. It revealed barren soil. She thought these things would jump out right when the door moved but they hadn't.
It took twenty minutes before she saw something come out of the wall of soil. It was the beak of one graboid slowly creeping out. She watched it breathe out, blowing dust everywhere. The beak retracted. Were they going to come out? The group of humans watched as a graboid launched itself out of the wall and dive into the ground. They thought the other two would follow the first but nothing happened. Then they heard a loud clicking noise. It sounded similar to a beak being clacked together. Next, the two graboids followed the first. The henchmen closed the gate on that enclosure. Caitlyn watched the three dust piles take off. She then covered her nose as she had forgotten the stench they gave off.
That was one of the reasons why Caitlyn never ventured around them. The stench of rotten eggs. She hated visiting Yellowstone and other similar places. She didn't like the smell of sulfur. She liked pleasant smells and could afford that privilege.
"Keep me updated on how these three destroy things around them," she watched the dust clouds disappear. "Also keep me informed when a famous monster hunter starts to begin his hunt." The henchmen nodded to her. She headed back to her office.
Lewis watched her walk away on the screens. The other scientists were a bit fearful. She just unleashed three adult graboids with high intelligence. These three were pack hunters. The tests subjugated how well graboids could pack hunt. The first one that made their way out of the enclosure was the pack lead. The other two followed by as the brute force.
"Someone keep track of them," Lewis ordered. "This may be why she needs them. We know she sold a few of the eggs on the dark web. Also, continue to keep track of all of the assets. She may purge them at any time or also sell them off. Put access codes on the albino enclosures. Those would be the ones she would sell off first."
He didn't like how she was already on the move. It was only a matter of time though. They grew new batches of graboids within one month from those six grablites. He thought this would bring out her motive. She needed graboids for a reason. Setting three free for Burt to come, she wondered what it was about. Wait. Burt leaving Perfection was the goal. Burt would take Tyler with him as he would with all his hunts so far. Without two heavy hitters keeping Perfection safe then- Lewis held his breath. Dr. Frankenstein. He reached for a phone but stopped.
The Proudfoot plot he worried about but not worried about enough was being enacted. He couldn't warn his idol. He clenched his hand into a fist. This was his responsibility. He needed to continue his journey. If anything does happen to Perfection, he was going to make sure all of Proudfoot pay the price. He let out a breath he was holding. Lewis made a few more orders as he wished in his mind that Dr. Frankenstein would be alright in the end. He hoped all of Perfection would be alright.
The three graboids started to wreak havoc. They started off eating Fish and Game employees and avid fisherman. Word started to spread that graboids have infected the land. People thought it was also a joke. Graboids in Utah, more specifically, graboids in the vicinity of the Great Salt Lake and the salt flats. Would graboids be okay with salt in the ground?
Word spread to Burt. Tyler was enjoying another new drink from Jodi until Burt came in, slamming down a newspaper in front of him. This made Tyler flinch, spilling some of his drink.
"What's going on?" Jodi came in to see Burt in full serious mode. She gave him a look over before her eyes caught the newspaper in his hand. She read the headline. Graboids in Utah. Local government unable to do anything as they are endangered. "Oh." She looked back up at them. "I am guessing you are going hunting."
"Three full sized graboids hunting in Utah," Burt tapped the newspaper. "I am ready to head out. Since there are three, and it's been more than the allotted time, they will soon metamorphizes into shriekers. I am going to need another helping hand." He looked over to Tyler, who put down the cup. He was in full serious mode as well.
"What do you need us to do?" Jodi nodded.
"Keep the town safe like we always do," Burt nodded back to her. "I don't know if that graboid eccentric scientist is already on his way to view them but keep an eye on the other two. If something does happen from the lab, this time you won't have Tyler but after everything we have gone through, I trust you all. I'll meet you in truck." Burt walked away from them.
"Happy hunting," Jodi smiled at him. Tyler let out a sigh before chugging the drink.
He let out a gasp. "Thanks. It was good. See you in a few." Tyler scurried out to grab his small pack. He always had it ready for another hunting trip with Burt. Jodi let the rest of the town know that Burt and Tyler went off to hunt graboids. She texted Tyler to make sure to bring back any remains from the hunt.
Tyler shook his head after he read it. Burt glanced over to him. He was curious what was going on but also needed Tyler to focus on the hunt. It's been a while since they hunted graboids and the rest of the life cycle.
"That was Jodi reminding us to bring back any graboid remnants," Tyler put his phone away. "Where are we going in Utah anyway?"
"Great Salt Lake Desert," Burt informed him. "The first sightings were near Fish Springs. Suspecting them to come from that area where they headed around. Already up to fifteen people devoured by three graboids. That means they are readily soon to take metamorphosis."
"Hey, how come you didn't bring Wes along?" Tyler looked at the map Burt had been studying.
"Need someone who can protect Perfection while we are away," Burt replied. It was true for him to need someone as handy as him to protect the town but also because Burt still felt weird around Wes. Though, Burt could overcome that it was more of protection. The rumors of the red eyed creature still lurking was on Burt's radar. He also didn't know what Melvin and Jack would do when the town was booming. Right now, it wasn't due to the rainy weather but this would be a good time for them to try something.
Burt caught Tyler up to speed on the situation along with getting the plan formed. Burt had the last sightings confirmed. He was going to go with the usual tactics. Make noise away from civilization. Kill them off one by one. Get them before they turn into shriekers, hopefully. That was the first plan. If that doesn't work and there are shriekers already, then to kill off the shriekers then get to the other graboids. It was going to take them eight hours to reach their destination.
Burt didn't know someone was watching them with binoculars. It was Caitlyn's brother, Andrew. He was by himself. He needed to make sure the opportunity was solid before heading in.
Rose listened in on the radio about Jodi mentioning to everyone that Burt and Tyler left to go graboid hunting. The rest asked where they were headed off to. Rose knew about it before the rest. She couldn't do anything about it though. It was not her field. Wes was listening to the conversations when he was pricked by the scorpion grasshopper.
"Ow!" he took his hand away from the cage and started shaking it. Rose jerked up. She headed over to him. She grabbed his hand. She was about to put it near her lips but then stopped. She looked over the hand. "Were you just about put that in your mouth?" He was a bit intrigued.
She moved away to grab the first aid kit. "I forgot. It was instinctual. However, this isn't regular venom. You've already been poisoned once. I can't let that happen to you again." She made him sit down to attend to his hand. She started to take note of his pulse and other vitals. Rose feared what Heather may to do her if she let her son get hurt once again.
Wes saw how concerned she was. "It's not like it's that serious."
"Says the man who was life flighted out of here," Rose took the cage with the scorpion grasshopper. "I'll need to harvest the venom to make antivenom. You need to take rest now." She grabbed his forearm. He let her lead him to the bedroom. He laid down on the bed as she wanted. "We don't know what this will do to your body." She could already see the change in him. It was fast acting venom. The guilt was clearly shown all over her face. She put her hand upon his forehead.
"What if you don't have enough?" Wes started to feel weak.
"Then I will have to get more," Rose started to head out of the room. Wes lurched forward. Rose put a hand out. "No. You stay. Let me get what I can from this one and see if its enough. Yell if you need anything."
Rose milked the venom out of the hybrid insect. It wasn't enough. She checked on Wes every so often. He was getting worse each time she saw him. She gathered her gear. It was nightfall now, she couldn't go in. In between looking for information about scorpion venom she would take care of Wes. She placed a blanket on him, checked his vitals, wiped off his sweat with a cool damp rag.
Rose stayed up all night. She checked him one more time before leaving. "I'll be back. Don't worry. It will be quick."
Wes opened his eyes to see her frame leaving the bedroom. He was really weak. He felt parched. No. I can't let her go by herself. He lurched forward but was super weak. Wes believed she was already halfway there. He needed to get up.
Rose needed to hurry. Wes could die any moment. Headquarters had more equipment to fix this quickly. She didn't. Time was ticking. It was a warm day at least. She had luck on her side.
It took every ounce of strength Wes had to get up and out of the trailer. It took him ten minutes to gather everything. Usually it takes one minute. He trudged down the stairs. With it being a warm day, it made him feel much worse. Wes gave himself a pep talk to get him to endure the heat. Sweat started to pour down.
Rose got herself to the opening in time. She already had her gear on. Rose opened both metal slabs, clipped herself in, and propelled down the opening.
Wes saw her from a distance. He stumbled, falling upon the sand. He needed to get up. He needed to protect her. Endure it, Wes. He continued his internal pep talk. This is nothing. We survived horrible things before. We must make sure she is safe. He started to push himself up. He felt light headed and dizzy. Endure it! ENDURE it! Wes continued to push himself up but his body was growing heavier and heavier. He fell back down into the sand. No! NO! Get up! His eyes started to droop. Wes felt drowsy. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Rose was halfway down. She heard something from above. Rose forgot to even see if it was safe to go down. It was too late now. She instinctually looked up but forgot about the light. "Ugh!" She used one hand to shield the light. "S.S. STAY UP THERE. DON'T COME DOWN HERE! I'LL BE ALL RIGHT. PLEASE!" She hoped he was fine. He must be in good enough health to come all the way here or he was delusional and making himself worse. She squinted her eyes to see a figure standing above her. "S.S?" She was scared as he was so close to the opening. Rose worried about him falling.
The figure moved an arm. It looked like it was pointing at her. She got scared even more. Rose looked below her. There wasn't anything. She jerked back up, squinting to see what was happening. The sound of a gun going off echoed through the chamber. She felt a pooling sensation in her right shoulder that quickly became a painful sensation.
"Ah!" She touched her shoulder. She felt something protruding. Rose grasped onto to it. She pulled it out of her body. It was just as painful. Rose brought it out towards her. It was a dart. She was hit by a dart. Rose dropped the dart. She gasped as she looked up. The figure was still looming over her. She started to get drowsy. She tried to keep her eyes open. She needed to fend off this person and save Wes. She couldn't let something like this hold her back.
The gunshot jerked Wes awake. He tried to get up but felt as if he was tied. Wes looked around. He was at the opening. Rose was there. Wes didn't remember his walk there but he got there. Wes craned his neck to see other people around him.
"He's awake," a voice spoke.
"Oh," Andrew turned around. "Let him watch."
Wes was picked up by them. They placed him on his knees. He saw two men at the opening pulling up the cord. He tried to speak but it didn't work. His mouth was even gagged. Wes watched as they pulled Rose up. Her body dangling.
"MMhmf!" He tried to mouth out. He lurched forward but they had a hand on each shoulder bracing him back.
"Isn't this the beautiful and elusive Dr. Frankenstein," Andrew walked over to her. "She is something. Now I know what all the fuss was about with Caswell. He could have been famous with us but instead chose to follow her. Tsk. Tsk." He grabbed her face, pulling it to the left and the right. "Wouldn't mind having a taste." He took a kiss from her. "Hm. About the same as every other woman." He dropped her head, letting it droop back.
Wes struggled against his captors. "Dmmf umf mmmf erf!" He tried to speak.
"Look a failure of a body guard," Andrew mocked. "Couldn't even be there for one measly scientist. Oh, but it looks like you're are deathly sick. Aww. You must have gotten sick and the scientist here tried to save you." He looked back to the unconscious body. "How sweet. Pick her clean."
The two henchmen rifled through all of her body and possessions. They recovered her tracking device, phone, keys, and all other important information.
"Do the same to him," Andrew ordered. They recovered similar items off of Wes along with his dog tags. "Drop her." He waved his hand. The henchmen let loose on her rope. She fell back down to where she was first hanging.
"MMMMMMMFFFF!" Wes lurched forward again. The two watching him started to punch and kick him. He fell on his side. He never took his eyes off of the opening.
"She will be bait, well actually an appetizer," Andrew explained. "We need to calm whatever is in there. Don't worry though." He came over to Wes. Behind him the henchmen closed the opening. The rope was still there, slightly swinging back and forth. "You'll be the main course with those muscles of yours. Bring him with us. He may be useful to get into their lab. Wes was out of it again after being hit repeatedly.
He felt something touch his forehead. Wes opened his eyes. He looked around. He was back in the bed, tucked in. He saw Rose. She saw that he was awake. She came back over to him.
"Hey," she smiled at him. "You're awake. Still have a fever though, so stay in bed. I got some nourishment ready for you. I'll bring it here. You're going to need it to get your strength back. Can't have a body guard that's ill." She grazed his cheek with her hand. He leaned into it. She left it there.
Ah. It was a fever dream, Wes thought to himself. She's safe.
He felt pain in his stomach. He closed his eyes and opened them again. He didn't see Rose, but a henchman looming over him. He looked around. There was no Rose in sight. Wes felt his heart squeeze. It wasn't a dream. Her comforting him was a dream.
Another henchman grabbed him. The two dragged him out of the bedroom. He saw that everything was in a mess. He saw tan, red, and black Legos scattered. It was dusk. The henchmen followed their leader back to the opening. The dropped him down near the opening. It was getting darker and darker. Wes didn't like where this was heading. It was now night fall with a full moon out. They didn't need lights to see. It was bright enough.
They waited in silence watching the rope. It wasn't until an hour into darkness that the rope started to move. Wes lurched forward. They held him back. The rope tugged up and down. The group heard scuffling noises. The rope started to move. It was being tugged on.
SNAP!
THUD!
A blood curdling scream came from the opening. It pained Wes. Tears streamed down his cheeks listening to it. The scream died off with bones being crunched upon. Wes sobbed into the gag. A henchman grabbed the rope. He pulled it up too quickly for Wes. The end of the rope was severed. Wes lurched forward again but the two around him beat him up again.