Hi all. Sorry to say that this is the last chapter of the story. Please enjoy and you'll find further comments from me at the end.
Chapter 18.
"We need to shut down the engine!"
"Are you mad Owen?" Stan answered.
At first, the rest of the InGen'ers had their eyes glued to the dramatic death scene of their former captive and the sad dark cloud this had left in its wake. Now that Owen had made this suggestion however, each turned their head to give him their most flabbergasted facial expression.
"No. I think engine noise attracts the Mosasaurus. That's why last time our pursuers got attacked and we weren't. We were rowing!"
"Noise? This thing hardly makes any sound at all!" a woman criticized, pointing at the motor.
"Yet underwater, the propeller speaks volumes." Arie replied with a grin.
He was stared at in awe and his face turned neutral again.
"Sorry, a little joke there." he apologized. "Still, Owen is making a valid point."
"If we stop the engine, they'll catch us." she continued.
"They'll get us either way. I say any plan is better than no plan at all." Ian preached.
"I disagree, we should keep up this speed and perhaps if we get close enough to the frigate, it'll discourage them." a man backed her up.
Others supported the man's notion. It did seem like the most reasonable plan. Shutting down and waiting was like giving up.
"Just listen to me, if we..."
From underneath them a terrifying deep sound echoed. The mosasaur's sonorous growl was close. Closer than anyone felt comfortable with. Immediately, a couple of the men frantically begun pressing buttons on the control panel to as yet execute Owen's plan. Stan gave his friend an amused smile to which Owen sighed in return.
The sudden silence that followed made everyone even more nervous. They waited for any sign of the enormous monster that lurked beneath them. Instead a whizzing sound presented itself. Pavel and his gang had gotten into range and had wasted not a second before opening fire. Everyone sought cover behind seats or the iron sides, though for some it had already been too late. Owen swore under his breath. Moreover because the mercenaries had turned off their engine too.
He had to do something. But they had no reason to come any closer. Unless…
"Pssh, Malcolm!"
The mathematician crawled towards him.
"What was that guy's name again? The rich wannabe with the tacky suit."
Ian grinned at the description of the puffy Russian.
"Pavel Jacobson" he said with a ridiculous gentleman's accent to imply that he found Owen's delineation accurate. "Why?"
Owen placed formed a cone with his hands to amplify his voice.
"HEY PAVEL! YOU COWARD, CAN'T YOU LOOK A MAN IN THE EYES WHEN YOU KILL HIM?"
The machine gun ceased its rattling and someone called back. His interlocutor was talking way too soft, yet Owen distinguished the words 'what' and 'saying', thus he repeated himself.
"I SAID, IF YOU'RE TRULY MAN ENOUGH TO KILL ME, COME OVER HERE AND LOOK ME IN THE EYE WHEN YOU PULL THE TRIGGER!"
It was quiet for a moment, but then Owen received the answer he wanted.
"I'll … and blow … BLOODY BRAIN OUT!"
Owen laughed as he heard them reignite their engine. He had successfully exploited his opponent's boastful nature. Now all he had to wait for, is the marine reptile to do its part.
"Come on. I know you hate the sound of that thing."
"Who are you talking to?" Ian questioned.
Owen looked up disturbed. If the mathematician hadn't said anything, he had probably never noted that he had been thinking out loud. His friend looked genuinely curious. On the other hand, it was not that the man hadn't pulled of this look before.
"I was just encouraging the Mosasaurus. Last time he ignored us and went for the boat with the engine. My plan relies on him doing so again."
"Then let's hope he does or we're in serious trouble."
Owen stared at him for a few seconds in surprise. No irritating remark? No distasteful comment? Apparently even Malcolm possessed the ability to be serious when he had to.
"Well, here I am you slimy cockroach!" Pavel taunted.
In the background, their motorized raft still thudded on its standard rhythm. Owen bit his lip. They had gotten here too soon. He had to buy more time.
He rose to his feet. His foes were five metres away from him. Pavel stood at the bow of their vessel with his pistol aimed for the man he sought to kill. Owen's mind twisted and turned. How to postpone the lethal outcome of this?
"You're going to use a gun? Why don't you come over here and we'll settle this with our fists?"
Pavel laughed scornfully.
"You take me for a fool? Giving up an advantage like this?"
"I don't know what to take you for."
"Well…" the Russian drew back the safety of his gun. "You won't have to ponder for too long."
In the corner of his eye, Owen detected a dark shape. It was headed straight for the boat opposite him. Just a few more seconds, that's all he needed. But how. How to stretch the conversation with this self-centred piece of… That was it!
"Yes, I believe you are right."
"What?" Pavel let out astonished.
"You are clever enough to keep your advantage and man enough to look me in the eye. I should not have doubted you. If only I had understood your superior tactics before."
Jacobson's head started to process this new turn of events. He carefully scanned the rest of the cowering wretches in front of him. The way this ranger spoke, he was buying time. Why? None of them seemed capable of doing anything. They were too close for the Navy's frigate to fire a round and too far for their snipers to take a shot. Still. There was something he was missing and he wasn't satisfied by not knowing what it was, yet he was not going to sit around and wait for it to happen.
"I don't know what you're trying to achieve here, but you're not getting anything more than a bullet."
The Mosasaurus leaped from the deep blue and rose before them like a tower. The explosion of water and the swaying of the boat made Pavel unable to aim properly and he missed Owen completely. His men were paralyzed by the sight of this enormous being. Pavel manically slapped the men around him as he made his way to the rear, hoping to be able to sacrifice his soldiers.
"SHOOT IT, YOU MORONS! SHOOT IT!" he cried out hysterically.
Machine guns rattled, magazines were emptied, curses were cast, gods were called upon, none of it stopped the giant reptile from crashing down on the transport raft, obliterating it with its jaws. When the water settled, there was nothing left apart from a few piece of lightweight junk. After a few seconds, Owen spurred his colleagues into rowing.
"We'd better start rowing. I have no intention in finding out whether it was truly the noise that triggered the Mosasaur!"
And that comment, was enough to spur everyone into action once more.
.
Back at Isla Nublar, the survivors were lovingly greeted by their families who awaited them at the docks. Even Arie's wife had been flown in to see his safe return. He thanked Alan and Ian for helping him through these terrible events and wished them the best. When the frigate had made port and its passengers had set foot on land, most of the husbands, wives and parents had immediately covered their loved ones with kisses and hugs.
After a while, Alan, Ian and Owen were the only ones left on the docks. They watched the families, friends and colleagues enter the visitor centre where the survivers all received fresh clothing and the most luxurious food.
Ian shook his head.
"Ridiculous. Celebrating our survival this excessive. As if nobody else died."
"Spared no expense." Alan said dryly.
His friend snorted depreciatingly.
"That is exactly right." a woman, dressed in white spoke.
"So, how did I do on my first assignment?" Owen joked.
"I'm not sure this is the time to discuss that?"
Owen shrugged. Clearly, her sense of humour had yet to develop.
"I'm sorry and who are you?" Alan asked.
"Miss Dearing, I'm currently the operations manager of the new Jurassic Park."
"So we can send you your first complaints?" Ian added.
She gazed at him astounded. Was this man serious? He had just been in a life-threatening situation for a couple of days and all he wants is to file a complaint?
"Yes, I'm the person where you can do that, but I thought you'd be more interested in -.."
"Trust me Claire, the only thing you can interest them in is the fastest way home."
Alan and Ian both nodded confirmatory. Claire's face become a little reddish.
"First of all, you're not in charge here. Secondly, that was just what I was about to offer, mister Grady." she said annoyed.
Owen made an apologetic gesture after which she told the two academics that a chopper to the mainland was awaiting them.
"I assume this is where we say goodby, Owen."
"Yeah, I reckon it is."
They shook hands politely.
"If you ever have any dinosaur question, don't hesitate to call. Just don't expect me to come over here to answer them."
Owen grinned and garanteed him to honour that promise. Alan was then quick to join Claire for his ride home. He wanted to get as far away as possible as soon as possible, although he had a bad feeling that no matter how far he ran, this island would still find a way to bring him back.
Ian and Owen watched the two walk away.
"Nice example of feminism."
"Yeah."
"Looking good though. If I were you, I'd be filing a lot of complaints."
Owen laughed.
"I'll be sure to remember that."
They shook hands firmly.
"Hey Malcolm! You coming or what?" Alan called.
Ian jogged to catch up with his travel companion. Now Owen was left behind alone. He still smiled from Ian's last remark. If that man wasn't against you, he sure was one hell of a clown with his witty phrases.
"Hey Owen."
A man with a sand-coloured shirt and black pants headed straight for him. His confident stature was a little too much, as was his paunch.
"Nice work bringing everyone back."
"Thanks Hoskins."
The guy rubbed his grey, circle beard and checked whether nobody else was around to listen to the topic he wanted to address.
"Look, I'll cut right to the chase. I heard you did some fancy stunts with velociraptors out there. Is that true?"
Owen paused for a moment and then nodded.
"And you were able to make contact with them? You know, like actual communication?"
"I believe we had some form of connection yes."
Hoskins laughed impressed. This news made him very happy and he swung his arm around Owen.
"Oh man, that's absolutely fantastic."
"Why?"
"Because we happen to be starting a new project soon, and from what I've heard, you're the perfect guy for the job."
End of storyline.
Hey all,
Thanks for following my story. I hope I managed to entertain you up until the end of my last chapter. I just love the Jurassic Park franchise. Some people might say that all of the sequels are too much alike, but I don't really mind. I just like dinosaurs a lot and I think the movies are awesome and I've had great fun writing this story. Anyways, please share your opinion in a review or PM if you haven't already and special thanks for those that favorited and commented this story.
Kind Regards,
J. Caesar