Hello, my name is Braeton. I don't normally like to share my work with others. It has taken many many revisions to get to this point. If anyone notices any inconsistencies within my series please point them out to me.
Disclaimer: I don't own and I am borrowing for my story: Terra Nova characters, one Jurassic Park the lost world character (Roland), Nanosaur the Mac Game. I have also utilized Dinotopia's style of naming the 1st and 2nd Generation Nanosaurs. Some of my 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Nanosaur will be named after some of the characters of Dinosaur Train. Ute Utahraptor's name comes from the Ute Indians in Utah. I have also borrowed Master of the Seas song from Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.
2. Terrible Claw
Lucas stepped out of his tent and looked around him. The badlands were barren and desolate, but somewhere around here there was another portal. He had begun working on new calculations and formulas to find it and open it.
As he stood there he again found his thoughts traveling back to his sister. Nethania could have figured the equations out in a heartbeat. She had been abnormally smart for her age. Nobody knew why she was, their father refused to let scientist run tests on her. In the beginning, she had been considered a black sheep of the family. All of the Taylor firstborns went into the Army; Nethania broke that tradition and joined the Marines. She was also a mad scientist who specialized in nano-cloning and creating, but was just as good in everything else too.
Mira walked over to him.
"Hooper says we'll be ready to hit Terra Nova again in a few days," Mira said.
"Good," Lucas said.
It had been seven months since they had fled Terra Nova. Since then they had been mining sulfur from a nearby pool and creating makeshift gunpowder to use in makeshift cannons.
Lucas went back into his tent and began sharpening a knife. He planned to do great damage to Terra Nova's first and second-in-command. He knew from their latest scouts that Alicia was pregnant with Nathaniel's baby. He shredded a piece of paper with the now sharp blade and smiled. He was going to cut that baby out of Alicia, but only after he gave her a good beating. He was going to torture Alicia the same way the guerillas tortured his mother and he was going to do this before the entire colony and more importantly to him, in front of his father.
He sheathed the knife and set it on his nightstand and then crawled into bed. He hoped he would not be plagued by the same Deinonychus nightmare that had been haunting him since they fled Terra Nova.
…^…^…
"Our latest report from our scouts says that the Phoenix Group is ready to strike again," Guz said.
Alicia sat in a chair, rubbing her swollen belly gently. Every now and then she'd feel her unborn daughter kick her.
"Any idea on when they do plan to attack?" Nathaniel asked.
"It could be any day now," Guz said.
"Keep on it Guz," Nathaniel said. Guz nodded, turned and left the command center.
Nathaniel looked over at Alicia who had been quiet during the debriefing. He could see worry in her eyes which stared blankly at the ground. He got up and went over to her. He knelt down beside her and put an arm around her shoulders.
"Everything's going to be alright," Nathaniel said, trying to sound reassuring.
"I'm not ready for this Nathaniel," Alicia said. He turned her chin up so she would look at him. She had tears running down her cheeks. He ran his thumbs up the stream, wiping her tears away.
"No more tears Alicia, we'll get through this," Nathaniel said. His voice warmed her up.
"I think she's nervous too," Alicia said. He looked down at her belly and settled a hand on it. He felt their daughter kick into his hand.
He'd already lost two wives and one daughter. He didn't want to lose Alicia and their unborn daughter.
"We should really think of a name for her," Nathaniel said.
Alicia smiled softly at that.
"I've been thinking about that. It's a tossup between Jasmine and Amber," Alicia said.
"I like Amber," Nathaniel said.
"Oh no mister, you've already named two of your kids," Alicia said.
"Well I would have named Nethania after her mother, but Braeton insisted that I not forsake my dream of naming my firstborn after me," Nathaniel said.
"You still named her," Alicia said in a pointed tone.
"Fair enough," Nathaniel said with a chuckle. He embraced her as best as her belly could allow. He began to think of how he could get his vote counted in the ballot of naming their daughter.
"I do love Amber though," Nathaniel said.
"Jasmine it is then," Alicia said.
"Ah ha," Nathaniel said, teasing her.
"Nathaniel," Alicia said punching him slightly.
"What," Nathaniel said.
"You scoundrel," Alicia said in her own teasing tone and laughing gently.
"I want to have some say in what we name her," Nathaniel said.
"Fine then, what do you want to name her?" Alicia asked.
"I told you, I wanted to name her Jasmine," Nathaniel said.
"You said you liked Amber," Alicia said, going to punch him again, but this time he caught her.
"How about we name her Jasmine Amber Taylor?" Nathaniel said.
Alicia looked at him and smiled. Then she wrapped both arms around his neck.
"I love it," Alicia said. He smiled and then leaned down to kiss her.
…^…^…
"The Phoenix Group is getting ready to roll out the cannons," Steeldome said upon Nethania entering Map/Mission Control. Nethania leaned over, resting her hands on the consol and looking at the plex monitoring the Phoenix Group.
"Whoa, they've got some major league makeshift weapons," Nethania said. The Phoenix Group had built some very powerful cannons and makeshift guns.
"Keep up the good work Steeldome," Nethania said. She stood up and walked out.
"Ute," Nethania said.
"Yes Captain," Ute said.
"Prepare our troops for battle," Nethania ordered.
"Aye Captain," Ute said and with that he ran down the steps to the first level and disappeared into another room.
Nethania walked into her office and tapped her plex.
"Admiral Roland," Nethania said sitting down in her chair.
"Yes Captain," replied the bald man (yes, this Roland looks the same Roland in Jurassic Park II. I really like him).
"I'm pulling the trigger," Nethania said.
"Captain Taylor," Roland said.
"I can't sit on my hands this time Admiral. My sister is involved this time. I'm going and you can't stop me," Nethania said.
"Then I won't even try to. Young soldier, in the absence of your own father I have loved you and raised you like you were my own. I love you far too much to watch you live a life stricken with grief," Roland said.
"Then I have your blessing," Nethania asked.
"Go and bring on the Terrible Claw," Roland said.
Nethania smiled widely at hearing her former name. She closed the communication and pressed a button on her desk.
"Ayani, Maxwell, Philbrick, report to my office at once," Nethania said.
A few minutes later they walked in.
"You summoned us, captain," Philbrick said.
"Now is the moment we've all been waiting for," Nethania said.
"Shall I alert our other nano-morphs," Ayani asked.
"Send a Compysogopteryx to them," Nethania said. (Compysogopteryx is what she calls the black pterosaurs in the episode 'Instinct')
"Will do," Ayani said.
"Our home is threatened, war is calling and the Terrible Claw is back. You are all aware as to what must be accomplished," Nethania said.
They all nodded.
"It would seem to you that the colony would be a priority. I am going to tell you that if we can spare the colony, then we will do so, but our priority is to the animals of this world. We are a guest here; the wildlife of this world was living here far before we were. We must protect this world from mankind's follies. If I feel a need to, I will not hesitate to destroy the colony," Nethania said.
"But captain, there are innocent people living there," Philbrick argued.
"There are innocent creatures living here on this planet. They have more of a right to live here than we do and I have made it an obligation to protect them," Nethania said.
"What are your orders?" Maxwell asked.
"You all have your areas to attend to. Ayani, our ocean going Nanosaurs will not be able to reach the colony, but I do want you there. You may be the only thing that can stop Lucas. Maxwell, ensure that our weapons are supplied to the Nanosaurs and that the ammunition is supplied to their respectful weapons. Philbrick I want you to command the Heavy Hitters. I don't want them moving in until the uttermost end of need," Nethania said.
"What about the confrontation Captain," Ayani asked.
"All members of the Saber Pack must be there. I know it sounds dangerous, having our leaders there, but remember, worst case scenario solution is my dead man switch. If I am killed, then the Nanosaurs will revert back to the wild phase with one exception, their minds will be programmed into attacking and killing any human they come across," Nethania said.
They were silent at this response.
"You all have your orders. See to them," Nethania said.
They walked out of her office, Ayani headed off to fetch a Winged Compy to send the message.
…^…^…
They never even saw it coming. Lucas and the Phoenix Group began shelling the colony faster than Nathaniel had imagined. He was in such a state of shock that before he could respond the colony was overtaken. He was tied to one of the posts in front of the command center and Alicia was dragged out from her hiding place and tied up to the post next to his.
Lucas appeared from the crowd with a nasty smile on his face.
"I've waited so long for this moment," Lucas said.
Mira and Carter had disappeared on them suddenly.
Lucas circled his father like a hungry hunting predator who had finally cornered his prey. Lucas got in close to Nathaniel's face.
"I will take everything away from you that you ever cared for," Lucas said with a smile.
He walked over to a pregnant Alicia and balled up his fist to punch her in the stomach. He couldn't see the Deinonychus creeping up behind Alicia.
"LUCAS STAY AWAY FROM HER," Nathaniel yelled.
Lucas was about to punch Alicia when the Deinonychus head appeared from the shadows and looked straight into his eyes. He stopped and stared back. A smile etched across the raptor's face, teeth showing. Fear filled Lucas as he looked deep into the raptor's hungry eyes.
He fell back and scrambled away. Behind the Deinonychus appeared a snow leopard saber tooth cat (Ayani), a tan saber tooth cat (Carter), a clouded leopard Saber Tooth Cat (Philbrick), a black Saber Tooth Cat (Mira), and a gray Saber-Tooth cat (Boylan).
"Saber Tooth Cats," said a Phoenix Group soldier.
"Nethania no you're dead," Lucas gasped.
"Like a true phoenix we have risen from the ashes to fight you," the Deinonychus hissed.
The six animals morphed back into human form. Ayani walked up to stand beside Nethania.
"Mom," Lucas gasped.
"But how," Lucas asked.
"Well I developed a life reviving serum that can bring a person back to life if they are but a few minutes dead. I used it to bring your mother and Philbrick back to life," Nethania said.
"That doesn't concern you young man," Ayani said before Lucas could say another word. He was about to ask why Nethania didn't tell them about it.
"Don't you have this whole strip and plundering thing backwards," Nethania asked.
"What do you mean?" Lucas asked.
"Why strip and plunder this world when you could strip and plunder from the dying world you left behind. That way then this world's natural resources can remain unharmed. You could be rich in a living world and not rich in a dying world," Nethania said.
Ayani walked behind her, nano-morphed into a Saber Tooth Cat, stood up on her hind-legs and proceed to cut Nathaniel and Alicia free.
"See how dad cheated on you, mom," Lucas said.
"To tell you the truth son, he's not actually your father," Ayani said.
"What," Lucas said.
"I slept with his brother the day before our wedding," Ayani said.
"Now you all know why Ayani tried to kill me twice," Nethania said.
Nathaniel pushed Ayani aside gently and went over to Alicia. He helped her to her feet.
"So what happens now," asked a Phoenix Group soldier.
Lucas got to his feet and brushed himself off.
"As far as I know, it is still possible for the people in the future to rebuild Hope Plaza and reestablish portal connection. It is up to you now to choose sides. You can stay here a make a life for yourself or you can live in the jungle and make a name for yourself," Nethania said.
Everyone was very quiet as they pondered her words.
"But remember, the Dinosaurs and Nanosaurs are always watching," Nethania said as she walked over to her father.
Maxwell showed up the next morning riding Nethania's wild Utahraptor steed, Wildraptor. Things now needed to be sorted out between brothers. Alicia and Ayani both sat side by side on the sofa and watched the two, work it out.
"You slept with my fiancé," Nathaniel spat at Max.
"She came to me," Max defended.
"Some brother of mine," Nathaniel snarled at him.
"I've never seen him this angry," Ayani said.
The door opened and Nethania walked in carrying a basket of lavender tuber roots and turquoise roots.
"What's going on here?" Nethania asked.
"They're arguing about Max sleeping with me," Ayani said with a groan.
"What's that Nethania?" Alicia asked point at the basket. Nathaniel and Maxwell kept fighting, not even noticing Nethania had come in.
"The lavender ones are Terra Roots, they are known to increase fertility and the turquoise roots are Gaea Roots, they will ensure you have a full pregnancy, a safe delivery and a healthy baby," Nethania said.
"Gaea and Terra Roots," Alicia said, she pulled a Terra Root out of the basket.
"They are surprisingly very sweet," Ayani said.
Alicia looked the root over.
"It's been washed," Nethania said. Alicia looked up at her and then took a bite of the root. She chewed slowly, expecting a nasty flavor to come from it, but the root had the taste of honey glazed carrots and the texture of sundried banana chips.
Alicia then began to happily nibble on the carrot.
"I don't want to ever see you or talk to you again," Nathaniel yelled.
"Oh come on you two, I've seen too many problem arise from cases like this," Nethania said.
"And you, you should have told me Ayani was still alive," Nathaniel said turning on his daughter.
"Well you should have told me I was a donor egg," Nethania said.
Nathaniel was silent at this.
"Touché," Nathaniel said.
"Nethania's right Nathaniel, this is a place for second chances. We should let go of the past," Alicia said.
"Yeah except now I am married to two women," Nathaniel said.
"Then…you need to set the record straight," Nethania said. She went and sat down next to Alicia and Ayani.
"What do you mean?" Nathaniel asked.
"You have a child on the way with Alicia and Lucas isn't your son. Match the wives to the men who are the fathers of their children," Nethania said.
"So in other words, divorce Ayani and remain married to Alicia," Nathaniel said.
"And then I should be married to Ayani," Maxwell said.
"Exactly," Nethania said.