A/N: I wound up choosing an approach that combined 2 of the 3 possibilities I was considering for this portion of the story. It's not as lengthy as I had originally planned, but seemed to work the best with what I've written so far. Enjoy and please R+R.
The raft finally came to a halt, at which point everyone realized they apparently weren't dead and so opened their eyes to look around. They had not only arrived in the Land of the Lost, and at the right place, but judging by the condition of several landmarks and other surroundings, around the same time they left.
"We made it!" Will shouted, "Either the doorway must've still been open or there was another earthquake and we just didn't feel it!"
"Yeah. Now let's hurry and get to the Lost City and find Enik and hope that we didn't end up in the wrong time again." Jack ordered.
The trio hurried to the Lost City, being more careful than usual to avoid any predators, as they were anxious to complete their task. It was a long walk and seemed longer, given what they were hoping to find at the end. Everything went fine until they got just inside the city and saw one more obstacle.
"Oh no," Holly groaned as she saw the large Allosaurus, "It's Big Alice!"
"You two make a run for it!" Will ordered, "I've distracted her before and I can do it again!"
Will then ran away from his uncle and sister and managed to draw Alice's attention away from them by shouting and waving his arms, before running around the sort of courtyard outside the city, providing time for the two to make it to the closest doorway. Then, it was Will's turn.
"Okay, how am I going to do this," he thought.
Just then, he had an idea and took off running toward an archway that was relatively close to the door. He'd have to let his pursuer get a little too close, but hopefully this would work. Will ran just fast enough to stay barely out of the reach of Alice's jaws, sometimes darting side to side to make sure she was focused on copying his movements. Finally, he raced toward the archway and ran through it, with Alice snapping at his heels. However, even with her head down, she couldn't clear the archway and instead crashed straight into it. The impact from the crash caused the arch to collapse while Alice was partially under it. The initial impact and collapse combined stunned her for just long enough to allow Will to get to the door and everyone to start walking deeper into the city, with a now-recovered Big Alice left outside roaring in anger at being outsmarted again.
"Now we've just got to hope we don't run into any Sleestaks," Holly commented.
Over the past few years, they had all explored the complex sufficiently to know their way around, so the Marshalls immediately started weaving through what should be empty tunnels until the finally began approaching Enik's cave. If anyone could help, it would be him, although he had been acting a little differently after the earthquake.
Finally, they had arrived and saw the Altrusian working at a console. "Enik. You don't know how glad we are to see you," Jack said in relief.
"Jack Marshall. Will. Holly. I have not seen you in some time. What is wrong?"
The group began to relate the long tale, all three taking turns telling a part of it, until finally they reached the point where they met up with Enik.
"I see," Enik replied contemplatively. "Have you attempted to adjust one of the pylons again?"
Everyone shook their heads and Holly answered, "Not since Dad was inside that one three years ago, when the earthquake hit."
"Hmm. Is it still there?"
Will and Holly together were able to remember the exact location, before Will added, "But the matrix table was damaged, so I don't think that'll help us."
Enik shook his head in disbelief. He knew some of the story, but wished the Marshalls had thought to tell him the matrix table was smashed. "This...complicates matters. I believe this damaged matrix table is what affected your recent journey. Perhaps some of the crystals in the matrix table are still active. If we knew which ones, perhaps I could find a way to compensate and help you return back to your world and time."
"All the crystals came out when the matrix table fell over," Holly spoke up.
Jack added, "Yeah. I had them show it to me to see if we could figure out how to get it to work, but it looked like there wasn't any power going to the crystals."
"I see," Enik responded thoughtfully, beginning to work with a nearby console.
"Enik, I was wondering," Will began hesitantly, "the last few times we asked, you said you couldn't help us. Why now?"
"It is simple, Will Marshall. I have determined that your continued presence here appears to be causing a paradox. You were supposed to go through the time portal with your father. When you didn't, the Land of the Lost was forced to draw Jack Marshall here to account for his absence. There are several other unexplained phenomena even I do not understand, but I believe you are the key. As I have finally let go of the desire to return to my own time, I need not worry about myself, any longer. Finally, I do this as a favor to your father."
With the information provided to him, including that of the dimension-hopping pylon, Enik was able to create a portal leading to their world. Jack, Will, and Holly peered into it hesitantly, hoping to see something confirming they were going to the right place and time, until Enik spoke up, "Please hurry. I cannot keep the portal open for much longer."
Everyone nodded, quickly thanked him, and began to enter the portal. Jack couldn't resist pausing to ask, "You said you hadn't seen us in 'some time.' After what we've been through, I was wondering how long exactly it's been."
Enik answered, "Approximately 2 years."
Jack nodded understandingly, "Close enough."
He then stepped through the portal to join Will and Holly, wondering where -or when- they would arrive.
