DaPPA: Two Worlds, One Family

by Darksage95

Hazel, her sister Hanna, Chris, Daisy, and Ellis are now the park's newest mentors. Not long after their return from Temporary Park, they meet Daniel Rimbauer, a rookie eager to be part of their team. Smart, daring, athletic, and compassionate, he soon proves to be a critical asset. But all is not as it seems, for Daniel has his own agenda, one that may put the park in danger.

6. Daniel's Test

Soundtrack: Fight by Audio Active Music

Daniel slumped in his chair. The day had exhausted him more than it should. Not only did he help around the park, the Crew had been reviewing with him the concepts for rescue missions. Hazel had especially been sparring with him more often, he had been asked to spend more time feeding the Residents and helping Marcus with checking on the park equipment, specifically the vehicles. Why he wasn't doing any other tasks was a conundrum. It was as if they wanted him to focus on those specific tasks for the time being.

It had been a week since the incident with the egg switching. With the eggs in good health and due to hatch in another two months, there still remained the task of giving the eggs back discreetly. As mentioned by the Crew, another team of rookies was in charge of that. It was a small team that consisted of selected members from both Ellis and Chris' trainees. As it turns out, the ones that were chosen for that task were just like Daniel, they were being tested to see if they were ready for their final. And just like him, they qualified. The only difference was his time with the egg switching also showed he was a valuable member of Hazel's team.

That's progress in his book. However, he still had a ways to go with the park in terms of rescue missions and learning what he could. The aspect of what powered the Time Poles seemed interesting enough and he wanted to learn more about it and the concepts of Time Travel. There was also the task of his real mission assigned to him.

Daniel had just logged in to his email database. Other than junk and spam, nothing interesting came up in his inbox. Well, it wasn't until he was about to close it for the night that something did come up.

His stomach tightened when he saw the new message came from Director Rain. He quickly hovered over it and opened the message. When he did, he began reading its contents.

Agent Rimbauer,

It's good to hear you're still alive. You've certainly given myself and my associate a little worry there.

Yes, I am aware of the return of the Residents. Though I am curious as to what sort of suspicious things you are referring to. I won't prod you any further regarding it as I know you will fulfill your end of sending in hard evidence.

We've gleaned over the links you sent us. Yes, these certainly seem interesting. We can certainly get any notes on their productivity in their former institutions, though I'm not quite sure they will be of much use in the long run. However, we will keep these on hold for the time being.

Nigel Marven is hiding something. As I said before, I am eager to hear about what sort of secrets he has hidden, but I am leaving it to you to uncover them and to send them over to me.

As for your situation in this training program, it is fortuitous that you are paired with Jacob's daughter. I want you to continue your task, learn as much as you can from her. Blend in with the faculty. Get close to her and you will get closer to Nigel. The success on this mission all depends on your diligence as an agent.

Good luck Agent Rimbauer. I look forward to your next report.

Regards,

Director Rain

P.S. Try not to keep us waiting for long periods of time. We were considering sending someone in to assist you before you sent you report. It would be wise for you not to do so again. We will give you at most 3 months to produce another report before we decide to go with our contingency plan.

Daniel groaned. His delay in reporting had nearly cost him part of his reputation. They were getting impatient that they were about to send someone in to help. This was a simple task, he can handle it. He doesn't need help. He found it quite annoying that the Director would "baby him" like this. Circumstances just came up that prevented him from properly sending a report.

It was worrisome. But a good thing came out of it at least. The Director is pleased about his progress and approved his plan of collecting more evidence before sending them to her. She has also calmed down for the time being.

He thought about what other evidence he could bring to her. Photo and video evidence of the park would work. The photos from that safe could cover that, he just needed hard video evidence (if he could do it properly). Maybe blueprints?

That could work. He could try to get the blueprints to the Time Poles as well as the Communicators. The only question was, where would those blueprints be kept?

The first place he could check would be the workshop. Surely they have them stored somewhere, the Reys would need them in their daily tasks. However, if they are digital savvy, which they are, they are most likely kept in their database and are heavily encrypted.

That may be a problem. Still, it was just an idea.

There were also new additions to the park. He could add those in his next report, if he can. He knew the park had expanded not only down south, but eastwards too. They had a "marine section" as they called it. He had not visited that area yet, but from that place's existence, the Park was planning to add marine or water bound creatures there.

His assignment was clear. Keep playing along and learn as much as he can. Once he's got enough evidence, he can send his report. But he has 3 months to do it.

Right now, he needed to focus. His final test is tomorrow. Daniel had no idea what his test entails, but whatever it is, word of him taking it has spread like wildfire. Many of the rookies were wishing him luck on the exam. Even the other employees and the Residents did the same. When he told Aeros he was about to take it, he wished him the best of luck. This was the first time this Park was going to host these tests. If he can pass this test, maybe he can try again with asking Aeros to be his partner. If he says yes, maybe Hazel and her partner Flia will train him to fly.

His mission will need to wait. Closing his laptop, he went to his bed and clocked out for the night. He had a big day tomorrow.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The park was abuzz with activity as Daniel's test approached. Rumors went about what the test would entail. Some said it was an obstacle course in the Deinosuchus Dip. Others said it was a track run through the valley. The only ones that knew where it would take place and what it would be were Nigel and his team and the Crew. They prepared the test in secret.

However, it wasn't until a little later in the day that they got their definite clue. There was an announcement to witness the test in Triceratops Creek and that engineers needed to start establishing the bleachers. They were also asked to check on the walls to be fortified.

While the enclosure was being prepared, people and Residents tried asking Triceratops couple Theo and Ellis what they were going to do on the test, since it was happening in their abode. The female ceratopsian denied any part of it but her mate merely replied "I haven't the faintest idea". They all couldn't help but feel he was hiding something.

2:15 was the time of the test. As the time wore on, apprehension and excitement arose in the masses. None was as excited to see what the test was than Hanna Veran. While she was not technically part of the rescue program, she was being tutored by Nigel. He was teaching her the way he taught Hazel before. As such, she was going the same route as her sister, meaning she is receiving training for rescue missions.

Before she came to the park, Hanna was just a typical schoolgirl trying to make it to graduation and qualify for the archery division in the junior Olympics. Unfortunately, that did not work out as her final score fell short a few points. It wasn't until she and her mother snuck into the back of Nigel's jeep that they discovered Hazel's secret life. That led to an argument, and then running after her into another time period, and being stranded in that time period for 4 months. During their stay, they learned to adapt to their new surroundings and became accustomed to being with creatures of the past. Hanna overcame her anxiety in archery, she learned to accept the Residents, and supported her sister when she was down.

Upon her return to the park, she chose to abandon her normal life for some excitement. In this case, becoming the Park's first intern and working with Nigel on the Park. Her goals of what to do in the park were unknown, but she felt she at least wanted to help with missions for the time being. She had a lot to learn, but she was enjoying every minute of it.

At the moment, she was trying to convince him to accept her proposal of rescuing a certain creature. So far, it was at a standstill and had been for the last few weeks.

"Maybe we can set a bait trap for it and then trap it in a cage of sorts? Like use a collapsible cage or something?" she suggested.

"If we did that, it would break out easily. We're talking about a super-predator, Hanna," he pointed out.

"Hm...okay maybe we can try to talk to it and convince it to come with us?"

Nigel waved a hand nonchalantly. "We can try, but that all depends on the situation," he sighed. "Hanna, I understand you are eager to go about your first mission, but are you sure you want to go for a Spinosaurus? It's one of the largest carnivores to have ever walked the planet and you haven't even gone on your first trip into the past yet."

The young adult made an upsetting outburst. Her frustration built up yet again like before. "Oh come on Nigel! I want to rescue one! Have you seen the park lately? There are so many plant eaters and not enough meat eaters to balance the ratio."

"I know. I would like to rescue a Spinosaurus too. But there are certain hurdles blocking the expedition."

Hanna scoffed and placed her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah? Like what?"

He cleared his throat. "Well, we have to train the rookies wanting to go on rescues. A number of them are progressing quickly on their training. We need to monitor their progress as well as do some planning on their tests before we leave. Not to mention we would need to build a proper team before setting out."

"But I heard from my sister she's planning out rescues when Daniel passes his test, if he passes it," she defended. "They're going to go on missions where it's either just the two of them or with the rest of the team."

It was true, her sister was planning on future rescues. She heard her talk about it at the dinner table in their cabin. But that depended on two factors. First, it was whatever the rest of the Crew planned on rescuing. Second, Daniel still needed to pass his exam.

The rookie was quite a looker, Hanna wasn't going to lie. Although her eyes were more on Chris, he didn't seem the least bit interested in her. While that disappointed Hanna, she was going to keep trying anyway. He may not realize they would make a good power couple, but if she kept proving it, maybe. For Daniel, she saw him as quite capable with the team. Though from the few times she was with him (for study sessions or just in passing), he seemed to inquire more about Hazel, her exploits, and what he should do for certain tasks.

If anything, he seemed to have eyes for her sister. Hanna felt a little tickled by that. It had been a while since her Ate Hazel had found someone that was interested in her. Perhaps if the cards were played right...

Well, first he needed to pass his test. Then he should be in the same league as her.

"Your sister has a different objective on rescues and thus is in an entirely different domain," Nigel said, bringing Hanna's attention back. She had no idea what else he said while she was lost in thought. "It's up to her if she wants to bring a team along. But because you are under my tutelage, we need to wait until everything is ready."

He swallowed to wet his throat. When he did, she saw his expression turn into a more creative expression. "Unless your team wants to bring you along for a trip, then they'd need to speak to me about it first."

Hanna groaned again. That wasn't the least bit helpful. Who knows when that next mission will be and if they will allow her to go on one. "Okay fine, they have a different way of going about things. But come on! This is a Spinosaurus we're talking about! You know you want to rescue one. It's like...really famous!"

Growing frustration on his features, Nigel rubbed his temples with his fingers. "Alright, I'll put it on our list of potential rescues, but before then, let's start a little smaller and work our way up."

That wasn't enough for the young Veran. "Nigel!"

"You haven't gone back in time yet. You need the proper training first," he explained.

"Then count that as training!" then, a thought hit her. "Wait a minute...are you just saying these excuses because you're scared of my mother?"

His eyes went wide and she saw him go quiet. Hanna clenched her fists. He inhaled and closed his eyes for a moment before returning his attention to her.

"I knew it! You are scared of my mom!"

He sighed, defeated. "Your mother is indeed quite a case. If she were to receive knowledge of you going on a mission like that and without proper training, and with not enough security, she'll have both our heads."

Well he wasn't wrong. When she found out about Hazel's secret life, her mother went ballistic. While she accepted the park and now has a job in it (and she's making arrangements to live in the park), she was fiercely protective of her kids. She was closer to her kids than before thanks to this place. If anything happened to her daughters, she was most likely going to approach Nigel about it. Hanna could imagine the scenarios already.

However, her mother's antics were what was preventing Hanna from going on a rescue of her choosing.

"Then let's work on that!" she protested. "We'll bring a team with us. You can teach me how to go on missions."

"Well, there's that," he furrowed his brows. "Why do you want to rescue a Spinosaurus? Is it for a personal reason?"

Hanna went rigid. Truth be told, she just wanted to do something big so she could be on the same level as her sister, instead of being labeled as "Hazel's younger sister" or "the Intern". Thinking quickly, she came up with a response he would accept. "Um...I just think they're cool and the park can benefit from a rescue. One more carnivore to the roster and we can study it too."

"Hm? Is that it? Or is it because you want it as a partner?"

She stammered. A partner!? She just started her internship and he's already accusing her of that!? She's not that far in! Besides, she hadn't even thought about that ever since she started working in the park. Thinking about a Resident Partner now is a little early, at least in her opinion. "What!? No! That's not it at all! Look, can we go with the rescue or not?"

Though...a Spinosaurus as a partner? That does seem like an interesting idea.

Nigel made a long sigh. Silence pervaded the two for the better of a minute. When he finally spoke, his answer satisfied her.

"Fine...we'll do the rescue and you can come along."

Hanna let out a cheer, only to be interrupted by him again. "On the conditions that you be trained for it and we do it before your mother returns. I'll keep my mouth shut about you coming along, but if she ever finds out, I will deny having you be a part of it. You understand?"

She nodded eagerly. A huge mission that was a secret. A secret mission! This is not only productive, it was epic! Now she'll get a name for herself here.

"Yeah yeah. I get it. She won't find out," the young Veran replied in earnest. She would make sure her mother did not find out. Although she was already concerned for her eldest daughter's well-being, at least she had friends that would usually back her up. Hanna, on the other hand, was still starting.

"Good," Nigel replied. "Now we'll have no more talk of this until everything else is settled. Until I give you the word of our departure, I want you to study everything about that time period, find the best location we can go to for the rescue, and research the Spinosaurus according to our fossil records. I want you to submit any notes you have to me. And do not breathe a word of this rescue to anybody. I will handle that. Understand?"

"You got it, sir! I'll get right on it!" went the excited teen.

The park leader nodded, happy that this was over for now. He then got up and proceeded to leave his office, but not before turning towards his student that followed after him. "Good. Now, let's get going. We have a match to go to."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Of all the social events that took place in Prehistoric Park in the past, this one was perhaps the most exciting to date. The Rescue Program was an opportunity for humans to learn how to operate in rescue missions and to show if they qualify to be assigned a partner. However, no one expected the final tests the Candidates would go through to have this much energy.

The bleachers that were situated in front of the Triceratops enclosure were packed, most of the staff attending the spectacle. As if it were a ball game of some kind, the humans had snacks and drinks on them, followed by the select few that held up banners that spelled Daniel's name. Surrounding the enclosure, at least the areas where they could see the main area, were Residents large and small. The enclosure was upgraded over the past two years, now being large enough for Theo and Ellie to run around in, complete with all the edible and familiar vegetation, a personal pond, trees similar to the ones from their era, and hay patches for them to rest.

However, there was one thing there that was recently added. It was a thick wooden pole about as tall as a person. Hanging off to the side was a large, round, silver bell, just like that of a winter sleigh.

Among the clamor of the spectators, a few employees were wandering around. They were trained to step in should the event go out of hand. The spectators were all asked to avoid staying in front of the enclosure boundary and remain a few feet away for safety reasons.

Nearby the Triceratops enclosure was one of the few locker room facilities located around the park. While the employees do stay in the park in the barracks (or if they were part of Nigel's team or the Crew, in their separate abodes), it was a good idea to keep locker rooms around the park so the staff could store away a few things while on the job. Each employee was assigned a locker so there wouldn't be any ownership mishaps. It was every now and then they changed ownership to maintain variety. They also made for good on the spot places to freshen up or prepare for the day. Such was the case with Daniel as he prepared himself for his final exam.

The locker rooms were what anyone would expect them to be. They were cool on the inside, complete with a separate area for the lockers, a bathroom area, and a shower area. Of course, he was in the men's locker room. The walls had blue and green striped tiles and in the middle of the locker area were flat wooden benches. The smell in the air was that of used laundry, a stark contrast to the beginning and end of the day when it smelled like cleaning chemicals.

Before he stepped into the locker room, Daniel had been given some items from Hazel to change into. The items were a Kevlar vest, black elbow guards, and black leg guards. While he was unsure what the test was about, having armor like this meant it would include instances where he would be liable to get injured had he not had them. He was also asked to wear a helmet. Hazel offered to lend him one but he had one in his room. It was his old, white karate sparring helmet, which encased his head in a tough, yet comfortably shaped cushion.

In addition to the armor request, he was asked to bring his staff and a stun gun, which Ellis had given him beforehand. The setting was automatically set on a low voltage and was admin-locked, a rather new upgrade to the stun guns; he could not do anything to change it. Finally, he was given a brand new Communicator, since being in this place required it.

To him, it seemed like he was getting ready for a fight if he had to have these on him.

If the SAGES found out about these events, would they allow such a thing to happen? Most zoos and sanctuaries would put human safety (and animal safety too) above all else. On one hand, if it were just regular physical activity where they would need to traverse an obstacle course, like the ones he went through in the past, then maybe they would allow it. On the other hand, if it involved certain dangers that would involve hurting someone, they would use that as a reason to put a moratorium on the event.

Then again, with what happened in the past in regards to this place, the staff were putting safety as priority. So maybe it would be okay?

When he stepped out of the locker room, he was met by Hazel. Right next to her was her regal partner, Flia.

"All set?" the woman asked.

He tightened a strap on his vest. "As ready as I'll ever be. Since we're now on the test day, are you going to drop a hint on what I'll be doing?"

Hazel thought for a moment. Her hand went off nonchalantly and she shrugged. "Well, since you asked, I guess I can let you in on a hint. You'll be jousting."

Daniel's eye twitched. So he was going to fight someone! "Jousting?" he asked the stunned agent.

She nodded. "Yup. You'll see what your 'steed' is pretty soon. I'll explain the match itself when I'm up there."

Did she even know what jousting entailed? Possibly getting impaled to death! This park was literally trying to kill him! He hoped what she was saying was just a figure of speech. This was incredibly dangerous! The jousters in those festivals are trained in this sort of thing and thus would use equipment better suited to give the audience a good time. This was pure insanity!

"And this is the first time the park is doing this?" he tried to hide his growing frustration. Just who's idea was this anyway? It better not be Hazel's. Now if it were Chris, Ellis, or even Nigel, then he'd understand.

"That's right!" she replied. "Hence why we're taking lots of safety precautions."

Right, and these safety precautions require him to use padding and military armor rather than solid steel plating. "Well that's helpful."

"Good luck out there, Daniel," Flia purred reassuringly. "Do your best and remember your training. And don't forget about using common sense."

"Uh, thanks Flia," the Asian replied to the crested flyer. To think he was actually getting advice from a prehistoric denizen. "I'll certainly try."

That wasn't the end of it though. "Take your time out there. There's no time limit. If he says something that jars you, don't take it personally."

Daniel stopped. He blinked in surprise. Just who was he jousting? If it's not another human, it's got to be a Resident by the looks of it. If it is, he's going to spend the better part of his time in the infirmary.

Hazel made an angry sound and shouted at her friend, who let out a light chuckle. The angry human was like a child throwing a tantrum at an adult. It was immature, but mildly cute in a way. "Flia!"

"What?" she laughed. "I'm just trying to help," she draped her wing over the human and the woman grumbled.

The leader in-training sighed. "Alright, let's get out there."

With that said, the pterosaur turned her back to them and went forward. When she was out of the vicinity of the building, she took off towards the skies, no doubt to take her place somewhere amongst the crowd of spectators. As Hazel led him towards the field, anxiety and apprehension creeped up his spine. Daniel had been on missions before, but this was completely new. He'd never been jousting before, only when he saw the sport in movies or in the few times he went to a Renaissance Festival. Because of the circumstances of this place, there were going to be different rules in place.

When he arrived at the enclosure, he saw the whole place was packed, at least the front half of it. Over in the distance on both sides were several Residents that decided to attend, at least the ones that were most interested or could make it. They all were situated behind barriers that were over ten feet tall. He did manage to make out a few faces among the Residents, particularly Hazel's friends. They were on the west side of the area, cheering him on. While Aladar was with Neera, he saw there were five young dinosaurs that looked like them hovering close to them, no doubt they were their children. Right next to them were Eema and Baylene, with Url grunting in excitement and saying a few words here and there. While he could not make them out properly, he did see small patches of fur atop the Brachiosaurus; the lemurs were using that natural vantage point as a means to view the whole arena. As for Flia, she was perched atop the barrier, calmly watching the premises.

His eyes scanned all around. The field didn't look any different than the few times he went past this place. The only difference was the wooden pole several yards out. He had a feeling that had something to do with his test.

It was when his eyes focused back towards the east end that he saw someone else that was familiar. Perched atop the head of a Titanosaur was none other than Aeros. His expression was unchanging. Daniel had a hard time trying to figure out what he was thinking. His face was hard to read, though he had a feeling he was looking forward to this event. Thinking back on Hazel's words before, he had a feeling this was his chance to prove himself to him. It was time to show him what he was made of.

The crowds cheered louder than they were before upon his arrival. Bellows and cries from the Residents erupted. As a polite gesture, he waved at them all. He felt like he was in a gladiator arena now.

Right when Hazel brought him towards the middle, still far from that wooden pole, did she retrieve the bullhorn that was placed on the ground and hold it up to her. Activating it, her voice was amplified by the human device.

"Attention everyone! Quiet down please!"

It took several seconds but the whole mass had managed to go quiet. When it did, Hazel spoke into the bullhorn again. As she did, she walked back and forth before the audience.

"Welcome everybody to the first ever Rescue Audition Exam! Thank you all for coming! We are certainly happy to have you all come and support our attendees in this match! Particularly, the man standing right next to me! Let's cheer for our test taker, Daniel Rimbauer!"

Upon the mention of his name, the audience cheered for him once again. He waved, of course. If he didn't that would have been rude. It was also a good feeling when he heard people chant his name. The last time he got something like this was the last time he was in a martial arts tournament. It was one of the few times he won a competition. Now, he felt like he was reliving those days. He couldn't help but smile at the attention.

"Now as you're aware," she continued, the mass quieting down again. "before the program, we didn't have to do something like this to train recruits for rescue missions. However, because of some circumstances that occurred recently, we had to take more secure measures to train new recruits for rescue missions. Candidates for joining rescues would need to pass tests given to them by their superiors and learn as much as they can from them. This is not only Daniel's final test, but also the very first test the Park will host. It's quite a privilege to be able to host an event such as this. Now, let's get on to the rules of the match."

The apprehension in his gut built up again. Remembering his prior training, he thought about the light at the end of the tunnel rather than the stress of the current situation. The program said if a candidate failed the test, they will have another chance to try again later. He had been in fighting competitions before, this one should be no different…unless it was up against a Resident then that may be a problem.

"The rules are simple," Hazel said. Daniel's attention went on high alert. "Battle your opponent. The match will end when that bell there is retrieved. But don't think this will be easy. That bell is heavily guarded."

He glanced over to the wooden pole. Squinting, he confirmed his trainer's explanation. Glistening at him was a silver bell like that from a sleigh. According to Hazel, he just needed to battle whoever he is facing and grab that thing when he gets the chance. Should be simple enough.

"And now for his opponent!"

A bellow sounded from behind the bleachers. The spectators turned to try and find the source, only the didn't have to as it charged from around it towards the enclosure. The gate quickly opened and the combatant charged in, shaking his three-horned head. Daniel didn't even notice him when he was over there.

"Whoa, now this is what I call a party," the Triceratops mused.

Daniel gawked. "What!? My opponent is Theo?"

"That's right," Hazel confirmed, her mouth away from the bullhorn.

Daniel did not see any of the Triceratops around this place earlier today. In fact, when he asked, they were in the Socialization Fields. Theo must have just arrived when everyone wasn't looking. To top that off, he only encountered the Triceratops couple on a few separate occasions when his tasks required him to be at their enclosure. They were friendly and Theo was what people would call a "lover-boy", with Ellie amorously teasing him every now and then. But he only heard of a few stories when the male Triceratops was grumpy. Before the arrival of the other Residents, the Park had a way of helping the Triceratops relieve some stress. They had a way of engaging with him. He hoped Theo wasn't that grumpy today.

His guess was right. He was going to battle someone, and it just so happened to be a Resident that was more dangerous than a rhino. This place was nuts! "You're really going to have me battle him? He's got horns and a thick hide, if you haven't noticed!"

"Don't worry, we have ways to even the odds," she reassured him. Hazel then spoke into the bullhorn. "And now for Daniel's steed and weapon, so to speak."

The same door to the enclosure opened once again. Daniel could vaguely make out the form of a vehicle through the barricade, but as it came in, his mind was boggled. The stories he was told before about Theo came back again. The park had used a specific vehicle to help Theo with relieving stress. It just so turned out he was going to use it for this match.

The vehicle itself was a tractor, but it was no ordinary tractor. This farm vehicle was outfitted with pieces of tires and other materials that served as padding or pieced together the parts. Two wobbly antennas decorated the front to make it appear it had horns. Driving it was none other than Bob, who invented the device. It was subtly named the "Triceratractor".

Daniel suppressed a grimace. This test was going to be difficult and embarrassing. Couldn't he have used an ATV or a jeep? Something with a little more speed?

Now he understood why the Crew was reviewing certain tasks with him. They were preparing him for this.

Bob deactivated the vehicle as soon as it was within a good distance from the human combatant. The head keeper dismounted and then gave Daniel a reassuring smile plus a pat on the shoulder. "There you go. Your chariot of fire awaits. Be sure to take it easy on the brakes."

As he left to take his place among the audience, Daniel could not help but mutter a comment of his own. "Great...I'm using a dilapidated tractor outfitted with tires to fight a dinosaur..."

When he went over to mount his "steed", he saw a few keepers come in with two long pads and one shorter one. The long pads were in the shape of poles while the shorter horn was a small cone. They were connected by a stiff material that looked like hard plastic. The pads were a mix of beige and white and were quite tough in terms of appearance. It was when he saw what they did to the pads that he understood what it was for.

They surrounded Theo and outfitted his horns with the strange armor. The pads encompassed the horns and then were secured by miniature buckles. The business end of the horns were also covered by the pads as there was a thick pocket that went over them. He had never seen these pads before, but from what he's seeing, they were engineered to reduce any damage taken by the horns. Hazel was not kidding when she said the park was taking measures to uphold safety.

She confirmed it once again when she explained through the bullhorn as well as mentioned the regulations Theo had to follow. "Right now, some volunteer employees are outfitting Theo with some horn padding. This is for safety reasons, if you're not aware. Anyone in the way of those horns will be skewered, and the park doesn't want that. With the padding on, if he gets hit by those horns or by his body, he will feel discomfort, but the damage will be minimized. Theo here has been informed to not cause serious harm, but that doesn't mean he will do his best to protect the bell."

The ceratopsian chuckled and pawed at the ground. "That's right! Hope you're ready for a world of hurt, kid."

While that would normally be unnerving in most situations, in the face of an ancient Earth relic, it was off-putting. Daniel felt as if he were a matador about to face down a bull; a bull that had a thick hide, was nearly 12 tons, and was about 30 feet long. If it weren't for the "Triceratractor", Daniel would have been like an insect to Theo.

"Moving on," Hazel continued. "A few things to keep in mind. First, no killing, obviously. Second, there shall be no outside interference, unless it's a trained professional and they need to step in. Anyone else that does that and is not briefed for this sort of thing will instantly face major consequences as well as be removed from the immediate area. Third, for the sake of current and future candidates in this program, there will be no recording of this event. Kindly please turn off and store away your electronic devices. The only people that are allowed to record this event would be our designated camera people, as we would like to keep records of this match."

This caused the people in the audience to groan. They hastily stored away their devices while giving off disappointed or annoyed looks. Daniel was quite amazed at the measures the park was taking to maintain their secrecy as well as prevent any kind of recording. They didn't want anyone referencing this match for future tests unless something changed in the future. The camera people, on the other hand, were approved to record it. He supposed that made sense.

"This is entirely necessary as recordings of any kind are considered a form of cheating. Finally, while this is considered a candidate's final test, do not think this will happen to all the candidates in the program. Each test will be different. You can try to take notes, but it won't do you any good. Also, if you've noticed around you, there are trained staff as well as cameras in the premises. If we catch you trying to record this event, you will be removed from the vicinity. Also, as a side note, if the borders of this enclosure are breached in any way, the match will immediately end and the result will be a draw. We want to uphold the safety of those present here."

This resulted in murmurs to go about in the audience. Satisfied that the rules were explained, the woman gave them a curt nod and lowered the bullhorn. She then gave Daniel a reassuring smile.

"Good luck, Daniel," was all she said.

Hazel proceeded towards the same opening of the enclosure. Coming through it was Nigel, whom she gave the bullhorn to. When she turned towards the right, she made her way towards that end of the enclosure, no doubt to join her friends there. Daniel hoped that luck was on his side.

As the park leader got to the middle of the enclosure, he began to make his announcement. "Hello everyone. As the leader of Prehistoric Park and a primary coordinator of this event, I will be serving as the referee."

His gaze fell on the two combatants. "Fighters, I want a nice, clean match."

The two of them nodded in understanding.

"Do you have any questions?"

No answer came from either of them. This match was a pass-fail scenario. Daniel had a clear goal; take Theo down and grab that bell.

"Alright. Take your positions!" he declared.

Theo took a few steps to his left until he was facing Daniel, with Nigel in the middle. Daniel merely needed to bring the tractor slowly forward by a couple of feet.

While he was taught the basics of the inner workings in vehicles, the tractor itself was hard to maneuver. It was heavier than he expected and a little heavy to turn. Never before did he handle farm equipment in his life, so this was going to be a first for him.

"Champions!" Nigel called out again, his back now towards the audience and taking a few steps back from the fighters. "Are you ready?"

The two of them let out their replies of agreement. From Daniel's peripheral, he saw head vet Suzanne get to the top of the bleachers, the spectators there giving her ample space. In her hands were two large flags, one red and one green. She had them parallel to each other right in front of her body.

"Ready? Joust!" Nigel declared. He quickly retreated from the field and had the employees stationed at the opening of the enclosure to close it. At the same time, Suzanne raised both flags up, now on both sides of her.

The match had begun. Daniel focused on his opponent, who was pawing on the ground. He shook his head to display his horns in an intimidating fashion. "Get ready for a world of hurt, kid! We may have this weird armor on, but I'm not going to make it easy on you."

"I'm betting on it," he retorted. "Come at me you horned freak!"

The Triceratops snorted and growled at the offense. "Oh you're going to regret that!"

Theo charged with a roar. Daniel hit the accelerator and charged forward, the tractor going as fast as it could with its hefty build and added weight. The resulting impact made Daniel lurch forward, but the armor he had on decreased the feel of it. The crowds cheered as the two of them battled it out.

In terms of strength, they were evenly matched. Theo would push forward to cause the vehicle to move backwards. Daniel would press on the accelerator again and cause the Triceratops bull to move back. This went on for a few minutes. It was as if they were two sumo wrestlers in a giant-sized ring. Actually, this was more of a wrestling match than a joust.

Daniel dare not tear his focus from his opponent. However, there was one time he did and that was to glance over at Aeros. His expression remained unchanged as before. When he did take that glance, the distraction gave Theo some leeway to push him back. The human had to hit the accelerator just to gain some momentum.

It was when Daniel's arms and legs began to tire that Theo gained the upper hand. The Triceratops used his strength to push the tractor back. The rookie was taken by surprise and tried to push him back, only to find himself inching backwards by the moment.

Daniel thought quickly on the physics of the fight. Remembering what sumo wrestlers did, he worked the tractor so it would swerve towards the side. This caused Theo to follow along and loosen his hold, so to speak. Daniel quickly backed the tractor away and made another swerve to avoid a straight hit.

This had also given him an opening. Pressing the pedal again, he charged forward and broadsided the herbivore.

"Gah! You little termite!" Theo roared. With that hit, he toppled to the side like a log. The audience cheered louder as Theo went down.

Taking this chance, Daniel changed course towards the bell. Going on foot would have been preferable, but with a horned dinosaur like that, he didn't want to take the chance to get trampled. The tractor was slow, but it was better than going off by himself. It would serve as "additional armor".

Daniel felt a lurch on his side. Looking over, he was shocked to see a recovered Theo charging right next to him. With another broadside hit, the tractor lost balance and fell on its side, taking its rider with it. Daniel had to quickly jump off to avoid falling with the tractor. Landing just about a foot away, he had escaped getting trapped. Much of the crowd gasped while some others cheered for Theo's smart thinking.

He didn't have time to properly situate himself though. Theo had gone around the tractor and was ready to run him down.

"Looks like I got you now, little bug. What are you going to do without the tractor?" he teased.

Daniel scowled and retrieved his gun. He aimed it at the dinosaur's head.

"I'll do what I can, you horny dick. Eat this!"

He pulled the trigger as the dinosaur came charging forward. A bolt of lightning shot out of the muzzle and struck Theo in the frill. It was that single bolt that caused him to roar and lose balance, his body skidding on the ground. However, Daniel did not get out of it Scott-free as he was hit by one of the bars that connected the horns. That caused him to launch backwards by a few feet. To him, it felt like he got hit by a truck. The armor had done its job as it absorbed much of the impact. While he was a little dazed and the air was taken out of him, that did not put him down.

Daniel limped towards the bell, his speed regaining with every minute that passed. The cheers of the audience drove him onward.

Unfortunately, he once again underestimated Theo's determination. He got in front of the bell pole right as Daniel was closing in on it. When he was in position, Theo swung his head and Daniel was once again launched. The human landed on his back, the impact stunning him.

The scream of one of the spectators caused him to momentarily right himself. Theo was charging at him again. He readied his gun and fired at one of his legs. This resulted in the Triceratops to trip and fall. This time, Daniel managed to roll out of the way.

Again, he made his way towards the bell. Behind him, the horned dinosaur rolled back onto his legs and shook off the injury. He charged at the human before he could get close enough to the wooden pole that had the bell. That single bell that shone in the daylight like a piece of treasure. Theo swiped his head again and Daniel was flung to the side, the gun falling out of his grip in the process.

The rookie landed on his side. His arm, chest, and leg reeling from the impact. He knew those hits will result in bruises. The wind was once again taken out of him. But he couldn't give up, not when he was so close. The bell was right there, waiting for him to take it.

He trained for this for weeks. He couldn't fall now.

His resolve fell short as a shadow marred the sunlight from his face. His vision righted itself and he saw Theo towering over him. Daniel tried to reach into his pocket to get his staff, even though he had no idea how to combat the ceratopsian with a weapon like that. That too fell short as his arm was weighed down "gently" by Theo's front left foot.

"Wow, humans really are squish," Theo mused. His snout was a mere few inches from the human's body. "Now to finish the job…"

Daniel was trapped. He couldn't move. With Theo over him, there was no way he could get out of there. His gun is gone, he can't get his staff, and no martial art technique will get him out of this one.

His mind raced, trying to think of what solution to use. Only…he found none. The shining bell fell short of his grasp. His goal was gone. There was only one thing he could do. It was the only option he had.

Wetting his throat, he declared his result. "Stop! You win...I yield."

Theo hesitated, making a surprised groan. He leaned his head back and eyed the human, but not exactly releasing him.

"You got me," he reiterated. "The match is yours."

"I failed…" he thought dejectedly.

The Triceratops lifted his foot, freeing the human. Daniel massaged his limb until it regained the proper feeling back. However, when he took a glance at the ceratopsian, he saw him go towards the pole and then back towards him. In his mouth was a tiny object.

His eyes went wide when it clattered at his feet, the dinosaur having dropped it from his mouth. It was covered in pearls and strings of saliva, but still it glistened in the sun. The bell was right there for him to take.

"Congratulations. You passed the test," Theo said with a smirk.

Daniel gawked, incredulous at what had just happened. "What? But I lost!"

"The point of this match wasn't to win. Your goal was to fight me. But, you also needed to read the situation. The odds of you standing up to me may have evened out with your human items, but I still won anyway. You saw you were facing defeat and you gave in. By admitting defeat, you have won."

Daniel was having trouble comprehending that explanation. "I don't understand."

Theo rolled his eyes, the smile still on him. "In the past, I've heard stories of certain individuals going out of their way to get things done. While that is admirable, sometimes that sort of thinking will get you hurt in the end, perhaps even killed. Sometimes when you're in a fight, it's best to retreat and fight another day than to die on the spot."

The human finally understood. He was referring to tactical retreats. How could he have not seen it? He had to retreat a few times in past battles so he could regroup and plan a way to strike back. This was the same concept. He was outgunned and he couldn't possibly take on Theo in his state. If he kept on fighting, he would have lost more than the match. He would have hurt himself, and if the situation were different, he may have hurt Theo.

This test wasn't made to humiliate him. It was made to teach him. He knew Theo was covered in a thick hide and had horns and his strength for defense. He knew the tractor had some armor on but it was too slow. And he knew when he faced defeat that he needed to accept it.

This exam really tested how he would fare in a real rescue. He wouldn't have the luxury of the opponents or potential rescues having safety features on. That was pure park policy. This just made him think on what he needed to do if it came to it.

Daniel gave him a small smile. His hand reached for the bell and he grasped the silver object by the rope. Secure in his hand, he raised in the air, the tiny instrument singing its soft song.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Residents cried and bellowed in triumph. Looking over, he saw Suzanne waving the flags like a dancer, a smile clear on her face. The human spectators clapped madly and the signs that bore his name waved and stood higher than before. Of all the competitions he had been in, this one took the cake. He learned something out of this and they were all proud of his achievement.

"Daniel has passed the test!" Nigel announced to the speaker.

Daniel rested his arm, his muscles aching a little from this venture. The sound of a throat clearing brought his attention back to a happy Theo. "Good game, kid. I mean...Daniel. Let's battle again sometime."

He stared curiously at him. "Uh...I'm not sure if that's possible. Are you sure the park would allow it?"

"They can...supposedly."

Daniel's lack of a response prompted the dinosaur to explain. "We always have underground fights happening every other night. It's a good way for us fighters to let off some steam, and it's good exercise. You should check it out sometime."

With that, Theo left Daniel for another area of the enclosure, no doubt to join his mate Ellie, who was waiting for him expectantly. The contemplating Daniel was ambushed by a welcoming crowd of familiar faces; the Crew, their partners, and Hazel's friend circle she introduced before. Even Hazel and her partner, Flia, were there to praise him. The woman had given him a congratulatory hug, which to him he gladly took in. Eema had nudged him happily and commented on how tough a little guy like him was. The rest of them followed suit, though in their own way.

It was being surrounded by this crowd that Daniel felt something in him. It was something that was normally felt whenever he was with his family. It was a warm feeling, and not because he was surrounded by so many warm bodies. They congratulated him, pat him on the back, and gave him much praise. This feeling he had he did not have for quite a while.

It was the feeling of belonging. To the secret agent, it was a strange feeling. But at the moment, he chose not to ignore it. He passed his test and he earned his place on the team.

The cheering around him settled when another individual came to greet him. The red color, large crest, and huge wingspan gave away the identity of Aeros. The flyer approached him on all fours, and the human ran up to him, just a foot away from him.

"Daniel," Aeros' indifferent façade broke into a content face.

"Aeros! I passed the test!" the agent proudly announced.

"I saw. Congratulations. I knew you would pass."

Daniel blinked. "You knew?"

The Pteranodon nodded. "Of course. Us denizens in the park are forbidden from mentioning details about upcoming tests. You need to figure things out on your own."

"Theo told me the point of the test wasn't to win," Daniel started to recap the explanation Theo gave him. "It was to know how to read the situation. I couldn't straight up fight against Theo with me being trapped like that. There was no way. So...I called it."

"And that was the wisest thing to do. Sometimes, in order to win, you need to lose. I'm proud of you."

Daniel felt the excitement in him build up, his control over his emotions were loosening. He had done it. He was the first human to pass this program, and he knew others would follow close behind. He was a fighter to the very end. The two of them stared at each other, that bonding feeling rising up again. And Daniel chose not to brush it aside as it felt right.

"Now, if I can remember correctly, you just passed your final test, meaning you are qualified to go on rescue missions," Aeros reminded him.

"And not just that," said Hazel, who along with Flia, took their place next to the budding friends. "Not only have you completed your training, but you've impressed us to the point where you've met our expectations for Partner Recommendation. You may choose one of the park denizens to accompany you on missions. If you two do really well together and then some, we'll mark your partner's name down on the Exceptions list. Make sure to choose wisely."

The Asian felt his gut jump. He had proven himself through this test. Now, it was just a matter of trying again. Steeling himself, he made his proclamation.

"Actually, I already have," his eyes fell on the waiting Aeros. "Aeros, I passed my tests and learned how to be a part of this place. It would be an honor if I could be your partner."

For one long moment, the Pteranodon stared at him. His look became skeptical at first, but then a more resigned expression. Daniel became worried in that instant when he finally spoke.

"Not partner," he said.

He felt his stomach fall. The test wasn't enough for him. Just what was it going to take to prove himself to this guy? So much for going after a partner that could fly. Disappointment and anger were running through his mind like a flash flood.

However, the flyer shot him a beaming smile and a wink. His response took the man by surprise.

"Rider."

Daniel's mouth fell open and a laugh escaped from his throat. Aeros had really got him there. He knew full well what he was referring to. His permission granted, the human allowed himself to step up to the flyer and gently hold his beak. He had never touched a pterosaur before. The beak was hard and the miniscule calluses and marks created a texture like that of bird beaks. As he gently stroked the beak, Aeros purred softly at the feel of the touch of his hand. Aeros was finally his partner.

As they enjoyed their moment, the spectators around them cheered at the new partnership that was formed. Hazel and Flia eyed each other proudly as they were no longer the only sky scouts in the valley.

The woman then cleared her throat and stood proudly before them. "Now, the work begins."

The two partners looked at her, wondering what she meant.

Smiling, she placed her right hand on her hip. "Get some rest tonight. Flight training starts at sunrise."

A.N. And so, Daniel's park training is complete. However, his flight training begins. We're still in the training arc but we're getting to the tail end of it. Also, you guys were wondering why Aeros was observing the egg switch event in the previous chapter? He was watching Daniel to make his own judgements about him. And this is the result. He wanted to see if he really was worthy of being his partner. He's got the stamina, he's got the skills, but the knowledge was something he needed to find out.

The test Daniel went through was formed for a particular reason. We all know a certain someone that risks life and limb to save others, even jeopardizing a mission and even their life ;). Hazel, I'm looking at you. Basically, it's to show that one way to succeed would be to retreat, or even decide on whether something is worth doing at the cost of something greater. This exam tested Daniel's judgement, and he passed it. Also, I got inspiration from the titular final battle of Pokemon: Kyurem vs the Sword of Justice.

Another thing to note would be the final exams for the partner program. While Daniel's was a jousting competition with Theo, all the final exams will not be the same. They will combine what the candidates have learned throughout their training and test them on what they learned. So an exam could be an obstacle course run while being chased by opponents like what happened in the bell test in Book 4. It could be a trial and error test where the candidate would need to figure out how to get to the end goal with whatever options/tools they have. Anyway, each test is different. That being said, we may or may not touch base on the OC's tests in detail, but they will be mentioned. However, you guys are welcome to contribute ideas for a final test, especially for an OC. We're always open to them. Please PM us with the ideas, either through Deviantart or through here.

I'm not sure if I did mention this before either, but for Aeros' voice, I'm thinking it would be Sean Chiplock, who is a well-known voice actor in anime and the video game world. He'll be using the Teba voice, which is actually who Aeros is based off of. To those of you who don't know, Teba is a Rito warrior from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. He's one of my favorite characters ^.^. Chiplock is awesome!

Now I'm pretty sure you're wondering when the rescues will start. Don't worry, they're coming. We don't want to give away spoilers, but we will hint that the first rescue will be in the Late Cretaceous. There will be several new characters coming in, and I am very excited to introduce them. One group involves a type of dinosaur that was discovered in the early 2000's. Which one, we're not going to tell you. That would be spoiling. We also have the other rescues planned; they will be revealed as the story goes along. Right now, they are currently being worked on.

The last note I will discuss is in regards to what I am about to work on. I already posted this in Deviantart, but I will mention it here too. I'm going to work on becoming a Twitch streamer. This is my first time and I'm just getting everything together. I'm just working on setting up the details in my page. I haven't gotten a digital avatar to use on my gaming, but I will in the future. I won't be revealing my face though. The game I will be focusing on is Elder Scrolls Online. I'm still figuring out how to go about things once I do start streaming, but I will definitely be doing PvE content. My screen name is the same here: darksage95. I'll let you know once it's ready. Having said that, please keep in mind that while I am going to work on something new, by no means does this entail DaPPA being abandoned. This is just something I'm trying out. After all, the story must go on. I will keep you all posted on chapter/story updates on Deviantart.