A/N: 1st. I'm going to start every one of these of with shout outs to my awesome reviewers and followers. Seriously, without all of your support I probably wouldn't have the drive to post chapters every other day.
2nd: You lovelies said you didn't mind long chapter so...this one is a beast (: Hopefully still enjoyable.
3rd: I incorporated a thing I called "Lost Scenes.": It's a thing I came up with using The Lost World: Jurassic Parks title. Whenever I write I take notes of scenes I come up with throughout the day. Well, sometimes those scenes don't make good sense in the bulk of the story but I still like them so I thought I would share them. They're deleted scenes-ish.
4: This is more of an action chapter meant to explain what happened at the I-Rex's paddock. Or more my take on events.
5: The return of Brady is here while Owen and Barry discuss the coming visit of Hoskins! So, without further ado, ENJOY!
34 days: 23 Hours: 43 Minutes: 27 Seconds Til Incident
After the incident with Claire (and Zara having a big mouth) it didn't take long for Amber to hear about the whole fiasco. When Jasmine had come home from Owen's the following day, Amber had been waiting. By the state she was in Jasmine could only assume she'd been like that (sitting in a chair in wrinkled work clothes with bags so dark under her eyes Yzma would've been jealous) for a long time. Maybe too long of a time.
"Is it true," her voice rasped out.
"Jesus, how long have you been like this? Come on let's get you up. You want some water?"
Jasmine made her way across the tiny living room, extending her hand out to try and gently coax Amber out of the chair. She'd quickly swung her arm out of Jasmine's grip, however, and launched herself out of the chair. Amber stood before her tears and an excess of wiping them away, turning her cheeks hot and red, and locked pleading eyes on her.
Jasmine had a hard time swallowing as she just wanted to grab her sister and hold her.
"Is it true?" Amber asked one last time.
At the time Jasmine had considered lying but because she'd had been brilliant all day by acting like a brat, everyone in the park knew. Everyone including her sister. Jasmine hated herself right then and there as she look over at Amber's defeated expression.
Amber already knew the answer. She just wanted confirmation from Jasmine, even though it wasn't really needed. Amber just wanted to see if she was going to lie too.
At first, Jasmine didn't really answer Amber. Her lips had pursed together so tightly they'd almost disappeared; the curt one nod letting Amber know what she'd been dreading.
She'd fallen to hers knees almost immediately. All Jasmine could do was hold her as Amber's shoulders shook with every wail that left her throat.
That was when Jasmine decided she hated herself the most. For being so childish; for not thinking things her choices through before doing them.
At some point Amber felt like she could handle Jasmine telling her what happened. Jasmine told her everything she had missed. Even the painful, heated, words that had been exchanged between both she and Claire. By the end of it Amber couldn't speak; she couldn't move.
Jasmine had tried to coax her into at least letting her put her to bed but that didn't work. So Jasmine fell asleep on the loveseat next to Amber, just to let Amber know she was there if she needed her.
It was months after the events of that day and park employees still looked at Jasmine with an air of caution.
Okay, she could admit she hadn't been the brightest individual that day. Like, at all. If she'd honestly sat down and thought through how to talk to Claire the whole scene in the office might have gone differently. And after talking to Owen, she went and…apologized to the nice young lady at the Domino's counter (the sarcasm was underwhelming).
Jasmine was the perfect example of what happens when you don't think about what damage your anger will do, until it was too late. Now the staff acted as if they were afraid of her, mostly because she'd "beat up" Claire Dearing. Which, was far from the truth.
Ugh. It was like High School all over again.
Amber and Jasmine had been sitting in their scheduled station, stuck between Paddock 9 and 11, with a bag of Lay's potato chips between them when in walked the devil and his temptress.
Claire walked through the door, a man in what Jasmine could only guess was a ten thousand dollar suit, was right on her heels. He was middle-aged, bald, and with the amount of wrinkles on his face would have made a bulldog jealous. Jasmine instantly understood the need for such an expensive suit: he wouldn't get laid with a face like that.
Claire herself was looking as regal as ever. A fitted beige dress with capped sleeves hugged tightly to her body. Her hair in perfect straight condition, as her usual, with shoes that made Jasmine wonder how she never twisted her ankle. Claire looked damn good and the gentleman behind her had clearly taken notice.
Neither Amber nor Jasmine had seen Claire in the months that had followed the office incident. So seeing her now…in their office…while they both had their feet up on their desk sharing a bag of chips made them instantly jump to their feet. Jasmine taking the time to grab the chips and put them in one of her desk drawers.
Claire did a noticeable intake of air as the smile she'd walked in with tightened. Unhappy with the unprofessionalism they were met with.
A warning call would have helped, Jasmine thought as she wiped a few stray crumbs off her maroon shirt.
"Mr. Phillips this is Amber Everrwood and her sister, Jasmine. They're the specialized park veterinarians Mr. Masrani spoke to you about."
Jasmine wanted to point out she was an assistant but decided it was probably better to keep her mouth shut. The man who'd been identified as Mr. Phillips looked between them and from what Jasmine could see, he was not impressed.
"Ah, I see," he grunted. "Simon speaks very highly of you ladies."
"All in modesty I can assure you," Amber smiled sweetly at him.
Mr. Phillips perked up at this and his sudden peek in interest towards Amber was impressive.
"Mr. Masrani would like you both to come with me to check out a new attraction that Mr. Phillips has been funding for the last few months."
Jasmine's head chocked to the side curiosity getting the better of her as she asked, "Attraction? Like a water park and stuff?"
Claire looked at Jasmine like her question had been stupid.
"Why would we need veterinarians to look at a water park?" she chided. "No, we have recently developed a new dinosaur. We would like you both to come down and examine it to make sure it is healthy."
"By it you mean the dinosaur, correct?"
It was the first time Amber had spoken directly to Claire. Ever since Claire had walked in there had been a lot of small fleeting glances between them. The minute one caught the other staring they looked away. The small office was filled with so much tension it felt like you could breathe it in; tightening up your throat as you tried to focus on anything but it.
Mr. Phillips had no idea and seemed unfazed. Only the three women in the room knew what was going on.
This was the first time in two months that either women had laid eyes on one another. They kept trying to ignore the other like the plague but Jasmine noticed what Claire probably hoped that she was able to hide. Whenever she looked at her sister, Claire's face would noticeably soften.
In a way, Jasmine felt bad. Really bad actually. Sometimes she took her big sister role to seriously but Amber had a right to know about the date. Right?
She shook her head away from the thought. It didn't matter now. All that mattered was the task at hand, which was the job Claire offered.
"Yes that's what I meant," Claire replied.
The phone she clutched in her hand began to vibrate. Like a robot she brought it up and looked at the caller ID.
"If you ladies don't mind, we can continue this conversation in the car. It's a forty-five minute drive from here to the facility."
Amber and Jasmine looked at each other; already an uneasy feeling settling in Jasmine's stomach.
Why so far? Jasmine wondered as she scooped up her jacket.
Amber moved to grab her vet bag out from behind the table and motioned towards the couple next to the door.
"Lead the way."
Jasmine hesitated at the door as she watched everyone head towards the vehicle. Claire got into the driver's seat, Amber in the back, as Mr. Phillips joined Claire in the front. She could tell they were all looking at her expectantly, but Jasmine didn't care. Her legs didn't want to move forward but eventually they did (mostly because Claire honked at her).
Letting out a heavy sigh she made her way down the steps and towards the awaiting vehicle.
If you could imagine a car ride more awkward than the one Jasmine had been a part of, she would've been surprised. No one spoke even though Jasmine wished she had.
She had a million questions racing through her mind. But Jasmine voiced none of them as she continued to look out the window. The jungle around them was beginning to swallow the large vehicle; giant leaves slapping against the windows before finally opening up to a large clearing. An even larger concrete building supported by large metal beams on the sides sat in the middle.
Without even thinking Jasmine grabbed onto the passenger's seat, mouth open in awe, as she scooted closer to get a better look.
"What kind of dinosaur did you say it was again?" she murmured, her eyes roaming all around the perimeter.
A pleased smirk raised Claire's lips as she parked the car.
"I haven't told you yet."
"I think now would be a good time, Claire," Amber spoke up from beside her.
They exited the vehicle and by just looking at the building Jasmine guessed it was what, forty- almost fifty feet high?
"If you ladies would please follow me," Claire called gaining their attention.
They did as they were told, both of them shooting worried looks at each other. They started making their way up the metal stairs and entered a room. A large glass window was spread around the facility, allowing them to look in every direction out into a glade with trees that seemed taller than the actual building. A man sat in the corner; he waved at them with an enthusiastic smile on his face.
He must not get many visitors," Jasmine mused as she gave him a small smile back in reply.
She was more intrigued by the windows and whatever animal was on the opposite side of them. Mr. Phillips must have been there before them because he stood, hands tucked in his pockets, in the far corner of the room. A look of disinterest clear on his face. Claire joined both Amber and Jasmine at the glass windows; her hands fiddling over some buttons on a monitor to the right of them.
Jasmine noticed the same kind of monitor on the opposite side a few feet away.
"What are the monitors for?" Jasmine asked; her fingers indicating the objects for good measure.
Claire didn't look up from her button pressing as she answered, "It's to detect the thermal movement as it moves around the paddock."
"Dinosaur," Amber corrected.
"What?" Claire asked her eyes landed on Amber.
"It's a dinosaur, Claire. An animal," Amber answered her clearly amused.
A smile tugged on Claire's lips but she looked down trying not to show it.
"So what species is in here?" Jasmine asked.
Her fingers tapped on the glass. Jasmine had no idea why she'd done it. As if the animal would magically appear just because she willed it. Did she really want it to appear was the million dollar question.
"Don't do that," Claire snapped. Jasmine instantly brought her hand down. "And it's…a new species."
Both girl's heads shot in Claire's direction.
"New? What exactly do you mean by new? I thought all species of dinosaurs had been classified with their own DNA?"
After asking the question Amber looked back out the window. Wondering where her supposed patient was.
"Not exactly: she's an experiment of genetic splicing. The consumers wanted something bigger, better; more teeth. We call her the Indominous Rex or I-Rex, if you will."
"You made a dinosaur?" Jasmine exasperated.
"So she isn't natural. Like at all?" Amber cut in.
Claire chose to answer Amber's question and continued to elaborate for them.
"No, she has dinosaur traits but the lab also used classified DNA strands specifically to make her. She's the first official genetically engineered specimen. Designed to be better; perfect in every way. To show case man's ability to create a whole brand new life from nothing."
While Claire spoke Jasmine leaned into Amber; "This is the part we all die."
Amber shot her a scolding look, obviously not finding her joke funny. If only Jasmine had been joking.
"Something wrong Ms. Everrwood?"
Jasmine knew that she was the Ms. Everrwood Claire was speaking too.
"Do you think this is a good idea? Every time throughout history man chose to play god things tended to end badly. Very badly."
"I can assure you, simple-minded concerns such as yours have already been addressed. We have the best engineers, scientists, and park security in the world. We are all about safety while maintaining the ability to wow our guests and keep up guest attendance."
Amber just stared on in amazement that this was a topic of discussion. She couldn't lie and say she wasn't curious in the least to see the dinosaur that the lab had cooked up. To see if it was as impressive sounding as Claire made it sound. Amber was going to ask where it was, when a small tremor started beneath their feet.
They both turned to look at each other; Amber noticing the wide set of Jasmine's eyes. Jasmine was scared. The closer the so called I-Rex got the more the concrete floor shook.
And that's when it appeared.
Not really appeared in front of them but watched as its large scaled back appeared through the brush of the high trees.
"You've got to be kidding me," Amber breathed.
Jasmine felt herself involuntarily move towards the window. Her mind was trying to cease and desist the movement of her feet, but they didn't stop until her toes touched the glass.
"I thought you said it was already sedated?"
Jasmine involuntarily looked away from the watching creature, feeling a cold chill rush up her spine as she fought not to shake. She waited for Claire to answer her. Claire folded her arms across her middle, phone still glued in her palm.
"We dropped a steer that had been laced with a sedative. We have a team going in right now to sedate her further."
"Is that safe?"
Amber inquired as they all watched a group dressed in blue camouflage enter the premises. The entire team had large guns that Jasmine knew were nonlethal. When they entered the jungle floor they made no delays; heading straight for the dinosaurs location.
This is so not good.
"They know what they're doing."
The room fell silent as Jasmine's heart raced watching the team slowly disappear behind the foliage. Her ears strained to hear anything; her eyes darting around in a frenzy trying to catch any motion.
"I thought when you breed them you made siblings?" Amber asked.
Amber was trying to play it cool but her fingers were tugging on the fabric of her cardigan. Gnawing away at her lip in worry as she waited to hear anything from the team.
"She did have a sibling," Claire started cautiously.
"And?"
"And…she ate it."
Claire said it so casually that Jasmine looked at her in shock.
"So we're going in a cage with a dinosaur that ate her own sister?"
"She is, you aren't."
Claire pointed at Amber for added emphasis.
"Excuse me?"
"Amber is going in with the handler and the team. You're going to stay with me in here. Try not to get too excited."
"I'll try," Jasmine grumbled.
The sudden shouting and body trembling roar that sounded from the speakers jolted Jasmine's attention forward. She reached her hand out and placed her hand back on the glass. Feeling the vibrations of the I-Rex's roar shake the industrial glass. There were a few more shouts, a sudden silence of any roars, and the static of the radio receiving a transmission.
"This is Hamada. The creature is sedated. We're circling back to pick up the doctor and the handler."
A noticeable tremor shot through Amber, which Jasmine easily noticed. Jasmine was terrified that her sister was going in there without her and Amber was just plan terrified. If worst came to worst she wasn't sure there was much more she could do to protect Amber besides scream and get eaten first. But the idea of Amber going somewhere dangerous…
It was enough to send her protective side into overdrive.
Jasmine placed a reassuring hand on Amber's shoulder. Amber looked over at her with the most uncertain look in her eyes that Jasmine had ever seen.
"You're gonna be okay. They aren't going to let anything happen to you."
Maybe her words would have had a bigger effect if Jasmine believed it too. Amber went to reply when Hamada entered the room his nonlethal weapon the size of his forearm pressed against his chest.
"Ms. Everrwood we're ready for you."
Amber patted Jasmine's hand before she released it and hiked her bag onto her shoulder.
"I'll be back," she promised as she let Hamaoa lead her out of the room.
"Whatever terminator."
Jasmine walked closer to the window. A few seconds going by before Amber reappeared with Hamada's team and who she assumed was the I-Rex's handler. As if she could sense Jasmine staring at her Amber looked up. The worry officially wrinkling her pretty face; her eyes burrowing into Jasmine like she was trying to tell her something. As if by reflex Jasmine's hand went out; her palm flatting on the glass.
Amber nodded her head at the gesture and turned around to catch up with the group. Jasmine stayed like that for a few more minutes. The anxiety of the situation Amber was in beginning to fill her stomach with the undeniable sickness of terror.
"Claire, I know we don't really get a long and we haven't always been civil with one another-"
"Are you trying to apologize?" Claire asked.
Claire's surprise made her choke out the words. The sound enough to make Jasmine finally look at something other than the ominous jungle that had swallowed her sister's silhouette.
"Claire please. Just…don't let anything happen to her."
Jasmine wasn't ashamed to say she begged. Her eyes tearing up as they pleaded with Claire to tell her it was going to be okay. That Amber was going to be okay. The mirth slowly left Claire's face; a seriousness taking over as she too faced forward.
"I promise, Jasmine. Everything is okay to be alright."
It had been a long day at the research facility. Owen and Barry and tried another test run with the girls' and the big game of cat and mouse. By some miracle he'd gotten the girls to stop. Well, all of them except Echo.
Blue had snapped at Echo as she'd sprinted past. Her large body colliding into the metal wall and her clawed toe barely gripping the thigh of the small pig. It was enough to yank it away from the freedom of its pen. And just like that Owen had lost control while the sound of pig squeals (and tearing flesh) filled the clearing.
Owen was making his way down the stairs with the bucket still filled with rat carcasses, when Barry came into view.
"You almost had it that time."
"That's all I seem to be getting. We need better than almost," Owen grumbled in response.
A helper came by to take the bucket from him and Owen gave it away happily. Barry wrapped his arm around Owen's shoulders in a brotherly embrace attempting to soothe him.
"The day will come my friend. When it does, it will be a glorious one."
"Glorious huh," Owen chuckled.
He removed himself from Barry as they rounded the opposite side of the stairs leading towards the cage gate. Owen was about ready to open the gates side door when he heard someone calling his name.
"Owen!"
The second time Owen heard it he easily found its owner. Brady entered his line of view dragging his recently injured leg as he did an awkward running hop motion to get to him.
"It looks like your biggest fan has returned," Barry joked, laughing as a very excited Brady came into view.
"Aren't you still supposed to be on medical leave," Owen asked raising a questioning brow at the young man.
Brady waved off his concern a smile still spread ear-to-ear.
"I don't need another month boss. Plus, I couldn't stay away from the raptor squad for too long," he replied cheekily.
"Raptor Squad?"
Owen shot Barry a look as he chuckled beside him.
"Yeah boss! What's more badass than a regular guy being able to control raptors?"
"What did I tell you about that, Brady? I don't control anything. It's a relationship built out of mutual trust and-"
"Respect yeah, yeah I know," Brady finished for him.
"Then if you know I shouldn't have to remind you," Owen reprimanded.
Owen moved to enter the cage, opening the door and holding it open briefly so Brady could come in with him. Owen made sure the gate was securely locked before he moved towards the single containment cages.
"So what do you think?"
"About?"
"Me coming back?!"
"You have a month's worth of leave left."
Brady groaned loudly behind Owen making him look over his shoulder at him.
"Come on, Owen please! I spent two months in a wheelchair. I looked like Professor Xavier. Except with way sexier hair."
Owen chuckled lightly as he checked the bolts on the cage. When Brady didn't get an answer he tried again:
"You don't even have to let me do field work, Owen. I'll-I'll do your paperwork for you!"
Owen stopped what he was doing and actually turned around to stare at Brady. He didn't say anything for a few minutes and just let the kid squirm under his gaze.
"Deal."
"Yes!"
Brady jumped (or the limping equivalent of it) for literal joy at Owen agreeing to his terms. Although, Owen was sure he was the one catching the better part of that deal. There were literally months of backed up reports sitting on his unused desk.
Owen continued to watch as Brady did an odd mixture of a chicken dance with the happy dance when he noticed one of his girls, specifically Charlie, had placed her snot between the cage bars. If Brady took another dancing step back Owen was pretty sure he would end up with a very painful surprise.
"Hey Brady!"
"Yeah Boss?"
"Do you remember what else I told you about keeping your back to the cage?"
Brady looked at him confused for a second until Charlie blew out a heavy breathe from her snot. The power of that alone was enough to send the bottom half of Brady's shirt flapping. He turned slowly until he locked eyes with Charlie. A tense laugh bubbling up from his throat and out his lips.
"Hey…Charlie. It is Charlie, right?" Brady whispered over to him.
Owen just nodded his head once letting him know he was correct. Amused at the exchange between the kid and Charlie.
"You remember me dontcha girl?"
Charlie let out a hissing growl as her bottom claws lashed out at the cage causing Brady to stumble back.
"You were gone for barely two months and already forgot everything I've taught you?" Owen tsked in disapproval.
"It's all coming back to me."
"Sure it is. Why don't you help Big John with the recordings. See if you can spot anything different."
"You don't want me to start on the paperwork?"
"I'm trying to save you a headache on your first day back."
Brady started limping his way back towards the front gate.
"Well thanks Boss that's mighty sweet of you," Brady cooed. "Oh, speaking of sweet," Brady turned at the last second next to the door his hand on the railing. Barry appeared a second later sticking his arms through the bars and leaning against it. "I vaguely remember in my drug sleep you talking to Ms. Jasmine about going on a date. Did you guys finally go on one? I mean, if not I'm always available between the hours of seven and-"
"Don't you have papers that need to be filled out?" Owen cut him off.
Wiping his hands on the rag he pulled from his back pocket. Brady looked over at Barry who was laughing with a giant smile on his face.
"I would go Brady. Before he makes you clean out the pig bones from the pen," Barry teased.
Brady pointed a finger at him his face serious.
"You are totally right man. Owen, I'm outta here. Be good. Say hi to Ms. Jasmine for me," he shouted as he barreled out of the door.
Owen shook his head replacing the rag back in his pocket as he walked over to his friend.
"Why did I get an intern again?" he asked joking.
Barry shrugged his shoulders as he replied, "You liked his tenacity."
"Are you sure that's the word I used?"
Barry smiled again as he waited for Owen to come out from the cage. He made sure the door was locked before they both started heading back towards the stairs.
"Hoskins called again. He said you needed to call him back. To set up a day for the company to come out to see the progress we've made."
Owen wanted no part of this conversation. Or anything that had to do with Hoskins was concerned.
"When did he say I needed to call him back?"
"He said as soon as possible."
"So a few days then."
Barry laughed beside him as they started up the grated steps. The idea of having to deal with Hoskins already making Owen's skin crawl.
Amber followed close behind one of Hamaoa's men.
Craig was the name he gave me, I think.
It hadn't taken long before they'd lost sight of the giant window and Jasmine. The jungle brush had quickly swallowed their small figures and she found every snap of every twig sent her jumping involuntarily. Every time she did she could hear the team laugh at her unease. Amber gave a death glare that could've thrown daggers at each one of them.
"It's not as bad as it feels. We've done this exercise a few times."
The man beside her had thick soda pop glasses, a bad comb over, and was a little on the heavy side. He'd tightened his belt so tight that it had caused his already ginormous stomach to burst over.
How can he even breathe comfortably like that? This is Steve. That's what he said his name was. Steve; the handler of the I-Rex.
Amber found she couldn't answer him past the rushing of her own thoughts as they continued towards the sedated dinosaur.
"One hundred meters until contact."
That must have been Hamada from up front. Amber wasn't sure. She felt herself trip on a root that had lifted free from the ground. Amber tried to correct herself but still stumbled but felt Steve grab a hold of her arm.
She could faintly hear him speaking but for all it was worth she heard nothing. The only thing she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears as her eyes fell on the dinosaur that had made so much noise early.
It wasn't as large as a T-Rex, maybe a few ten feet from it at most. But its snot was more elongated; the teeth multiple rows. Its arms were far longer than the T-Rex ever wished. They reminded her of raptor arms; able to have several purposes. One of those purposes being able to grab prey.
Her scales were a burnishing stark white with a wonderful shimmering of the jungle floor reflecting in it. Amber was in awe of the creature. Both terrifying and yet beautiful.
She felt herself moving forward without having to be prompted. A shaking hand moving out in front of her. Stroking the underside of the animals jaw and moving her way down until she reached its underbelly.
Amber had been so unaware of the talking that was going on around her that when one of the team touched her armed she let out a yelp. She narrowed her eyes at them as we they all laughed at her sudden outburst.
"Jumpy are we doc?" Steve chuckled.
And that's when it happened. It was too fast. Too sudden. But to Amber it was like it happened in slow motion. She looked back down at the I-Rex and found herself staring into a very alert, very pissed off looking golden-brown orb.
"She's awaaaaaake!"
The scream was muffled as she shuffled back from the dinosaur; her heart thundering wildly as she watched as its jaws latched onto Steve's arms and in mere seconds heard the bone crack free and the sound of tearing flesh sounding among the trees.
Amber watched as birds flew up around them; the bird's cries echoing those of a shell shocked Steve.
"Scatter! Scatter!"
Amber watched in panic as the guards did just that. Shooting off electric rounds Amber watched stick to the skin of I-Rex but all it seemed to do was piss it off. Finally she felt like she could feel her body again and the first thing she did was rush to Steve.
He was close to collapsing down and if he did Amber knew she had no chance moving him on her own. She was next to him within a second barely sliding in time underneath a powerful swing of the dinosaur's tail that would have, without a doubt, killed her. If not rupturing vital origins.
Amber slid in next to Steve and righted herself just in time to pull him into a tall brush that would conceal them for the moment. But the cover wouldn't last long enough to keep them alive.
"Scatter! Scatter!"
The sound of sheer panic in Hamada's voice resonated throughout the small room. Jasmine looked directly at the guard's radio in the corner. Claire instantly walking over to the corner and grabbing the radio from him.
"What is going on?" she ordered.
"Are you fucking kidding? It's awake that's what's going on!" Jasmine shouted back at her.
She felt sick. She was going to throw up.
Stay calm this isn't going to help. Stay calm. Breathe.
Jasmine had her head between her knees when the black spots left her vision. She had to formulate a plan when she heard the door slam shut behind them. The fancy three piece suit had bolted from the building. What a shocker that was not.
Jasmine could hear the approaching sound of rapid gun fire and screams. Without a second thought she ran back up to the window, her hands sprayed out against the glass along with her body. Suddenly a body burst out of the jungle; one of Hamaoa's man. He was trying to get back to the entrance. As Jasmine watched she felt her stomach drop and a sick feeling as she realized the man in front of her wasn't going to make it.
He turned to shoot off a few more shots. A futile attempt as the dinosaur seemed unfazed by the electric mines that were shot into its skin. The man turned back around to make one last attempt to run for it when Jasmine just began to pound on the glass. Screaming at the top of her lungs as she put as much force as her body could stand into the glass.
"What are you doing?!"
Claire sounded like she was right next to Jasmine and she was.
"I'm not just going to let him die! Hey!"
The I-Rex was close: So close. Jasmine watched in horror as the beast reached down with reasonable sized arms to grab the man. It seemed to not care about the small noise or the person behind the glass until Jasmine pounded on the glass, kicking it at this point, as she screamed out, "Let go of him you bitch!"
Suddenly Jasmine was seeing inside the jaws of an apex predator; the roar shaking the glass. Her angry eyes peering inside to look at both women as Jasmine took a giant step back.
"You insulted it?!" Claire whispered harshly.
Both of them were terrified; standing so close their arms brushed against one another's. Jasmine reached inside her coat to pull out her Colt when it swung its tail around to slam into the glass. Claire and her both screamed as the glass cracked into a large spider web configuration. Jasmine's stomach dropping for the second time in less than five minutes as she realized there was a possibility she was going to die.
"Hey! Over here!"
Someone was yelling outside of the room. Someone that was out in the paddock with the dinosaur. A few electric mines shot out and landed on it causing a roar to ring out again as it whipped around to stare at her new attackers.
It was Hamada and his men as they opened fire for a few more seconds. Enough to get the I-Rex to rush after them back into the clearing.
Jasmine watched all of this as she finished fishing out her Colt from its holster. Claire's eyes instantly growing wide.
"Where do you think you're going with that?"
"I'm going out there to get Amber."
"Are you crazy?!"
"Maybe you are if you think I'm just going to wait around in here with you while she's out there!" Jasmine screamed in her face.
Claire eyed her briefly before she moved to grab the Colt from her hand.
"You aren't taking that out there with you-"
"Are you for real? What is this going to do? It's like shooting a bb gun at it."
"Then why take it?" Claire shouted exasperated.
"For a sense of security, obviously!"
Jasmine didn't waste any more time arguing with her. Amber was out there and from the sounds that were coming through the radio in the building, it wasn't going good.
She raced over to the door and felt the Colt get yanked out of her hand. Jasmine was tempted to turn around and grab it back but she didn't have time for this shit. She continued out the door and rushed down the stairs. Looking for the bottom entrance they'd taken; finding the door behind her about ten feet away.
Back inside the box the guard turned to look at Claire: "Should we call it in."
"No. No we can handle this." Claire looked over at the broken window. A second later the figure of Jasmine cutting across the grass bringing her back into the situation at hand.
Jasmine had no idea what she was doing and as far as ideas went, this was the stupidest one she had ever had. By far. But there was no way she was leaving Amber out her with a giant homicidal lizard.
Owen would kick her ass if she ever said that out loud. As she dashed across the clearing and barreled through bush after bush only one thought came into mind: God, please don't let this morning be the last time I see him.
She could hear gun shots going off in every direction of her and when Jasmine blinked she suddenly saw a desert instead of jungle floor. Endless amounts of sand and hot air and the feel of her Kevlar weighing down on her body.
The sensory overload felt so real that when she felt the earth shake underneath her, Jasmine would have told you it was the feel of IED going off around her instead of a giant ass dinosaur stomping its way towards her direction.
Unexpectedly her mind was jarred back in her body. Jasmine's eyes darted around her, keeping the panic attack that threatened to consume her below the surface, as she searched the brush for any signs of Amber.
That's when she saw the trail of blood and felt her body heave.
Please no…
"Amber!"
It wasn't smart. Jasmine knew this. But the panic she'd been holding couldn't be contained anymore at the sight of fresh blood but no sign of Amber. She turned in a full circle, trying to see past the tears that clouded her vision; off in the distance she saw blue camouflage cutting through the brush.
She went to open her mouth again when a hand covered her mouth. Jasmine turned to face the owner of the hand and found a wild eyed and terrified Amber in front of her. Without thinking Jasmine wrapped her arms around her tightly; Amber doing the same.
"Are you crazy? What the hell are you doing out here?" Amber hissed through tears.
"You can't seriously think I would leave you out here alone, did you?"
They pulled apart and Amber quickly pulled her towards a large palm tree. They were only a few feet away when Jasmine caught sight of a wide blood splattered shirt sticking out the sides. When Jasmine finally came around the back of the stump she found where the blood had come from. It took everything she had not to actively gag.
The man (who Amber informed her was Steve, the I-Rex's handler) skin appeared clammy and ashen. The blood loss he had suffered was immense. The shredded stump that was his arm was by far the worst wound Jasmine had seen. The bone break hadn't been clean; the last bit of bone before the clavicle was hanging out amongst torn flesh and just so she wouldn't have to look at it further Jasmine discarded her jacket and took off her maroon t-shirt.
Once again, Jasmine found herself stripped down to just a tank top as she used her shirt to wrap around Steve's wound trying to stop further blood loss. Jasmine had just finished securing the end of the shirt into a knot, when the ground shook heavily and the ominous deep growl sounded in the trees above them.
She moved down onto the floor with Amber following suit. As they laid in the dirt Jasmine noticed mud a few inches away in a puddle on Amber's right. Jasmine moved slowly until her hand scooped up some and began to apply it to Amber's face and arms.
"What are you doing?" Amber whispered voice tight.
"I'm trying to disguise our scent," she whispered back.
Jasmine picked up another scoop and moved slowly to rub a little on her shirt that was now wrapped around the remainder of Steve's arm.
"It-it," Steve was mumbling as she dabbed a few spots of mud around his face.
"Ssh Steve don't try and talk," Amber whispered.
"N-It sen-ses…ther-mo"
"What is he saying?" Jasmine asked Amber who gave her a look like she was stupid.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"Sh- ense-heat."
"She senses heat?" Amber reiterated.
Steve couldn't really nod his head but they both saw him do it anyways. Or attempt too. Jasmine let her hand fall back down to her side. She realized it had gotten quiet. Too quiet. Both girls looked at each other as they look around.
Jasmine moved to get up, putting a hand out to let Amber know to stay down. She got to her knees when she felt a hot gust of wind sweep past her. Amber and Jasmine glanced to the left of them and saw less than six or feet, golden-brown eyes with slates narrowing on them.
"Run!" Amber screamed.
Both women jumped to their feet as they each grabbed a hold of Steve and his arms (or stump in Jasmine's case). They started pulling him, both of them running back as fast as they could. The I-Rex let out a loud roar in their direction and started towards them, sending the ground shaking under their feet.
"Jasmine I can't hold on to him," Amber cried.
"Hold him under the armpit and pull!" She ordered keeping her eyes on the ground and the very pissed off dinosaur coming their way.
"He's too heavy!"
Both girls were panicking but Amber was shaking and beyond tears; she was in full blown hysterics. They weren't going to get very far if they kept dragging Steve. He was dead weight; literally too heavy for both of them to carry.
"We have to leave him Jazz."
"We are not leaving him!"
"We're gonna die!" Amber shrieked.
Another roar sounded and this time Jasmine did feel like she pissed herself as she watched Jaws that could swallow all three of them whole mere inches away from them. At that second shots erupted around them.
A net of some kind flew over their heads and landed perfectly to wrap around the I-Rex's mouth. Powerful electrodes encased around its hind legs. The voltage must have been potent; its legs giving out sending it crashing to the jungle floor landing just a few feet in front of the girls.
Letting out a shaky breath Jasmine felt her knees give out underneath her as she released her hold on Steve's arm.
"I'm gonna need therapy," Amber murmured staring off blankly into the sky.
"What the hell were you two thinking?"
Amber and Jasmine had only been removed from the cage fifteen minutes ago and, surprise, surprise, they were already getting an ass chewing.
"More importantly, Jasmine, what the hell were you thinking?"
"I told you once Claire: I wasn't leaving Amber in there to die."
"Hamaoa's team wouldn't have let anything happen to her."
Claire looked over at Amber; her hands grasping onto a blanket. She was shaking uncontrollably which, Jasmine thought was perfectly natural from almost being eaten by a genetically altered monster with teeth.
That's when Claire did something that surprised the hell out of them both. She placed a loving hand gently on Amber's cheek their eyes meeting as Claire searched her face. She gave Amber a weak smile, Claire's words leaving her mouth so softly Amber barely heard them: "I'm so relieved that you're okay."
Amber went to grab Claire's hand with her own when she quickly took it away. Straightening out her shoulders as she crossed her arms protectively across her chest. Claire cleared her throat before she continued.
"You both should know that from signing your Jurassic World clause that you cannot discuss anything that happened here today with anyone." Claire looked at Jasmine as she said, "Even Owen."
"Claire, you can't seriously still be thinking of keeping that…dinosaur alive, can you?" Amber asked.
Even after everything that happened in that paddock, Amber still could not bring herself to call the I-Rex anything less than an animal. A monstrous animal if she had ever seen one but still a living breathing creature.
"There is billions of dollars invested in that thing."
"She ripped a guys' arm off today, Claire. She probably would have eaten him not to mention, she faked being sedated. Faked it, Claire."
Claire looked at Jasmine, annoyed all over again.
"I'm well aware of what she did Jasmine thank you."
"And so what you're just going to sweep this all under the rug like it's nothing?"
"Let me make this perfectly clear for you two: If you so much as mention this to anyone outside of the people that were here today, you will be fired. I will personally see to it that your reputations are so tarnished you will never work again, am I making myself clear enough for you or do you need me to talk slower?"
The last part was directed at Jasmine. They both knew it.
Neither of the women said anything as they continued to stare at Claire. A second later she thrust the Colt into Jasmine's lap and turned to walk away.
"And don't ever think about shooting any of these things unless you are given the go ahead."
Jasmine watched as Claire turned her back and somehow sauntered on gravel in ridiculously high shoes over to her waiting company vehicle. Amber and her continued to sit in the back of ambulance as Amber kept her eyes trained on Claire's retreating backside.
"You know," Jasmine began, "back there I thought Claire and I had shared a lovely moment together. We bonded you know?"
Amber couldn't tell if Jasmine was joking or not, but it didn't matter. The idea of her ex-girlfriend and Jasmine ever getting along was enough to send her howling with laughter. She was holding onto her sides as Jasmine pouted beside her.
"What? It could happen."
Lost Scene
"Maybe we should leave."
"You mean just let Claire fire us and ruin our careers?"
"No, miss melodramatic. Quit."
A change of scenery would probably be good for Amber too.
"You'd just leave Owen like that? I thought he was important to you?"
"You are important to me. And I wouldn't just leave Owen. I'd call; write. Stuff his unconscious body into my suitcase…"
"That'd have to be one big ass suitcase," Amber mumbled as she took a bite of a chip.
Amber stayed quite for a moment as she thought about it.
"No. I'm staying here. Patty is giving birth soon and-"
"Patty?"
"The brontosaurus. They let them mate for the first time to see how it goes."
Jasmine made a funny face at the thought. "Naturally. So you're telling me you want to stay to see outstretched dino snatch?"
Amber rolled her eyes as she shook her head.
"God, you're such a child in a woman's body."
"Well, duh."
"No wonder you and Owen get along so well."
"Hey now, Owen is a lot more grounded than me."
"Thank god for that," Amber replied as she leaned over to grab another chip.
As always I'm dying to know what you guys thought of this chapter! I know there wasn't a lot of Owen/Jasmine interaction but I figured that was okay for this chapter and it was good for development. I might have to go watch the movie again...because seeing it four times is obviously not enough (I have issues). Thank you so much for reading and being a part of this story! Don't be afraid to tell me if there's anything you'd like to see more of! Also, Lost Scenes: liked it or hated it?
Much Love, Jeneane