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.
9. Velosickraptor
Reiley and Dunham walked the perimeter in the late evening. A cool mist was in the air.
"Why is it that the Nanosaurs aren't running perimeter tonight?" Dunham asked.
"Commander Taylor and Lieutenant Ute are trying to get the Nanosaurs to have more jobs other than perimeter patrol," Reiley said.
"I thought Nethania dealt with all that," Dunham said.
"Lieutenant Ute is in charge of the Terra Nova Division of Nanosauria. And its Captain Taylor to us," Reiley explained.
Suddenly Dunham tripped and fell over something hidden in the dark.
"Have a nice trip this fall?" Reiley asked Dunham, trying to liven up the mood.
"What did I trip over?" Dunham said. He pushed back the ferns to reveal a Velociraptor, resting on its right hip and chest in the mud, right arm under it, left arm splayed forward.
"Is it dead?" Reiley asked.
"No it's still breathing," Dunham said. Reiley knelt down and rolled the raptor all the way on to its right side. The raptor groaned as it stirred awake. It turned its eyes on Reiley.
"Captain Taylor," Reiley gasped.
"I don't feel so good," Nethania groaned.
"Name off symptoms," Reiley said.
"Sore throat, pounding headache, stomach cramps and aches, I can't focus straight, my legs feel like Jell-O and there's a painful ringing in my ears," Nethania said.
"Let's get her back to the Nanosaur Hangar," Reiley said.
Reiley and Dunham carried Captain Taylor into the hangar.
"Lieutenant Ute," Reiley called.
The large Utahraptor appeared from his separate quarters.
"We found her on our perimeter patrol," Reiley said. Ute bounded over to them.
"Dr. Won," Ute called.
A small Pachycephalosaur appeared from the Nanosaur Infirmary and the minute he saw Captain Taylor he ran over.
"Dr. Won Wonanonosaurus here, Captain," Won said.
"She complained of sore throat, headache, weakness of the limbs, stomach ache, ringing in the ears and dizziness," Reiley said.
"Thank you for bringing her in Corporal, we'll take it from here," Ute said. Dunham took his cue to leave but Reiley said.
"That'll be all corporal," Ute said looking at her sternly.
"With all due respect to you Lieutenant, would it not be prudent to inform Commander Taylor of his daughter being ill," Reiley said.
"She has a point Lieutenant," Won said as he directed two Utahraptors to carry the captain back to his infirmary.
"Very well Corporal, off you go then," Ute said and waved her off.
Nathaniel walked into the Nanosaur Infirmary and walked over to his daughter's side.
"What's the diagnosis Doctor?" Nathaniel asked.
"I'm afraid the Captain is suffering from some sort of poisoning," Won said.
"Poisoning, who in their right mind would poison Captain Taylor," Ute said, sounding astonished.
"It may not have been intentional poisoning lieutenant. Captain could have drunk from a naturally contaminated pool of water," Won said.
"Now that you mention it, I did start feeling sick after drinking from Eagle Peak Springs," Nethania said.
"Eagle Peak Springs," Nathaniel asked looking at Ute. Alicia walked into the room at this moment.
Ute motioned for them to follow him to the window. He pointed to the tallest peak near Terra Nova.
"That's Eagle Peak," Ute said.
"We'll need to go up there and find out what's causing the poisoning," Nathaniel said.
"Someone needs to stay here with the captain," Won said.
"Why can't you?" Nathaniel said looking sternly at the Wonanonosaurus.
"It's all about foreign relations Commander. Captain is your offspring and as such you have your right to take your scientist with you, but she is also our great leader and we must have our own scientist go with you to represent the Nanosaurs, especially considering Won is the doctor seeing to Nethania," Ute said.
"Someone needs to stay with my kid here, someone I know and trust," Nathaniel said.
"I'll stay with her," Alicia said. Nathaniel and Ute looked at her, a bit of surprise on their faces.
"She's my kid too and I am a trained medic. She knows me and trusts me," Alicia said pointed out.
"She would be the best candidate for the job," Ute said and Nathaniel nodded.
"Very well," Nathaniel said. He and Ute left to gather up a search team.
"Try to get Captain Taylor to drink lots of water, to flush out her system," Won said.
"I know what to do Won, you need not worry about her," Alicia said. Won nodded but she could tell he was reluctant to leave.
"I won't let you down Doctor. She is my daughter after all," Alicia said, placing a comforting hand on the Pachycephalosaurus' shoulder. Won slowly nodded and then went over to Nethania.
"We'll be back as soon as we can Captain," Won said and then he bounded out after Ute and Nathaniel.
Alicia was now left alone with Nethania. She looked at Nethania's limp velociraptor form on the Biobed. In all honesty, she was nervous about what she needed to do.
"Velosickraptor," Alicia said, trying to cheer herself up.
"Malcolm, up and at em," Nathaniel yelled banging on the scientists door. A few minutes later the scientist opened the door.
"Hello commander, what can I do for you?" Malcolm asked. He was wearing a silky blue bathrobe.
"Nethania's been poisoned by something. Ute and I are leading a research team up to the possible source to find out what's caused it. I need you to come with us," Nathaniel said.
"Of course Commander, let me get dressed and I'll meet up with you at the gate in say 15 minutes," Malcolm said.
Nathaniel nodded, but he wished the scientist could get dressed faster.
Fifteen minutes later Ute had assembled the 10 members of the League of Utah Terra Nova Division and Dr. Won. Nathaniel had gotten Reynolds out of bed, Dr. Shannon and Malcolm up and had met up with the Nanosaurs at the gate. Four of the League members wore saddles that had a simple hand strap across the front.
"We're all here," Nathaniel said.
"We need all haste on our side to get up to Eagle Peak Springs. You humans will be riding on the backs of the League of Utah members," Ute said.
"Oh dear," Malcolm said. Nathaniel also looked unsure.
"Ladies first my dear Dr. Shannon," Ute said and he led her towards a titanium white Utahraptor with had claws as sharp as knives, but as light as feathers.
"My name is Quickclaw," the Utahraptor said, its voice was unmistakably female.
"Commander, you'll be riding me, my name is Flashtalon or Flash for short," said the largest saddled Utahraptor. Reynolds and Malcolm approached the remaining two Utahraptors.
"Corporal Rugshredder at your service Corporal Reynolds," said the smallest Utahraptor in the bunch.
"My given name is Razorclaw, but everyone else calls me Boast," said the last remaining saddled Utahraptor and he bowed down to let Malcolm up.
"Because he loves to boast about things," Sharpclaw said.
"Nanosaurs move out," Ute ordered and they headed off to find the source of the poison.
Alicia pressed a hand to Nethania's rough, velociraptor skin. It was incredibly warm to the touch, more so than what was usually normal for Nethania's velociraptor form. Alicia looked around for a faucet. The clacking of raptor claws drew her attention to the doorway.
"Lieutenant Ute asked me to check in on the captain before I head out to my shift," the Deinonychus said.
"I need a bucket of water and a cloth to wet her down with," Alicia said. The raptor turned on his feet and headed back out. A few minutes later he returned with a bucket of water.
"Here you are. I couldn't find a cloth, but I did find a sponge," the Deinonychus said.
"It'll do," Alicia said. She took the sponge and dipped it into the water and proceeded to wipe the sponge over Nethania's hot body.
"That'll be all thank you," Alicia said and the Deinonychus left.
Alicia went back to trying to break Nethania's fever. For the first time she noticed that thick orange gunk was leaking from Nethania's closed eyes. Alicia dipped the sponge back into the water and then proceeded to wipe the sponge of Nethania's eyes, cleaning away the goop.
Nethania slowly opened her right eye and looked at Alicia.
"Hey there," Alicia said softly, so as not to irritate Nethania's headache. She watched as Nethania breathed in deeply and then let it out in a loud huff. Alicia got up and went to the door of the infirmary.
"Can I help you Lieutenant?" asked a Troodon.
"I need a jug of fresh drinking water and a cup," Alicia said.
"Right away," the Troodon said and he headed off to fetch it. Alicia went back over to Nethania. She sat down on the edge of the bed and rolled Nethania over onto her back. After some difficulty, she finally got the sick nano-morph upright and cradled in her arms.
"Now's a good a time as any to get you to drink some water," Alicia said. The Troodon returned with the items she requested. He stayed and watched as Alicia made a failed attempt to get water down the raptor's gullet.
"Come on Captain Taylor, got get some fresh water in you and flush out your system," Alicia said as she made a second attempt.
The research team made it up to the Eagle Peak Springs by mid-day.
"Taylor to Washington," Nathaniel called.
"Go ahead commander," Alicia responded.
"How's the patient?" Nathaniel asked.
"She's got a fever now and her eyes are leaking fluid," Alicia replied.
"Is she drinking any water?" Won asked.
"I've tried, but her tongue keeps blocking the throat," Alicia said.
"Try tipping her head back a bit," Dr. Shannon suggested.
"Talk to her Alicia, just talk to her, comfort her. I'm counting on you," Nathaniel said.
"I will do all I can for her sir," Alicia said, trying hard to let him hear her sincerity.
"If she dies on your watch, I'm holding you responsible," Nathaniel said.
"I won't let her die," Alicia said, appalled that he would say that.
"We've reached the springs, I'll check back in when we begin our return," Nathaniel said.
Alicia nodded but didn't respond. She looked back down at Nethania just in time to see the raptor shiver.
"Come on Nethania, let's try this again," Alicia said. She tilted Nethania's head back and poured the water down her throat only to have Nethania hack and cough it back up.
"This isn't working," Alicia cried, tears now running down her face. She feared the worst for Nethania who merely slumped against Alicia. Alicia set Nethania down on the Biobed. Alicia stroked Nethania's feathers gently.
"This pool smells like sweaty feet," Reynolds said.
"Its sulfuric acid," Malcolm said as he took a sample.
"Oh could Captain Taylor not smell it? Her nose is so much stronger than ours," Reynolds asked.
"It could be that the sulfuric acid wasn't as strong when Nethania drank from the pool," Won said.
Elizabeth set up a portable laboratory and she, Malcolm and Won began to run tests on it.
Nathaniel sat on a rock and looked down at Terra Nova, at the hangar where his daughter laid, possibly dying.
"She's going to be fine, Commander. If there's anything I know about Nethania, she's a resilient young woman," Ute said walking over to him. He looked up at the raptor; Ute could see the fear and worry was etched in deep.
"She's strong," Ute added. He turned his face away from the raptor and looked back down at the hangar.
"I should be with her. I should have made Alicia come here with you," Nathaniel said.
"With all due respect commander, I think it was good for Lieutenant Taylor to stay behind to tend to the captain. I feel it will bring mother and daughter together," Ute said.
"Don't you worry about Nethania," Nathaniel asked.
"All the time Commander; our relationship is not as deep as yours is with Lieutenant Taylor, but I am to Nethania as Wash is to you. We Nanosaurs are a family and Nethania is our great mother. If she dies, Nanosauria will fall into chaos," Ute said. He settled down on the ground, resting on his right hip and forearms.
"I'm sorry for having neglected you these past few months, for having pushed you away. You are my best friend I have had for so many years. I know I was like a mother to you, but to me, we were sisters. Now I feel like I have to give more to you," Alicia began to pour out her soul to Nethania who was still and unresponsive.
"I've never told you how much you mean to me, how much I love you. You're smart, you're funny, and you're a perfect mix of me and Nathaniel. I don't want to lose all of that," Alicia said. She stopped talking and began sobbing quietly.
"Don't stop now," Nethania said in her weak and tried voice.
Alicia gasped and looked back at Nethania who was now lifting her head up.
"Why you feathery fraud," Alicia said, trying to sound serious and failing miserably.
Nethania smiled at that.
"How dare you let me go on like that and worrying us all to death," Alicia scolded her.
"Thanks for staying with me Alicia, you're the best friend a sick raptor could have," Nethania said as she struggled to get up. Alicia smiled and watched Nethania nearly fall off the Biobed before moving forward and helping the wobbly captain to her feet. Alicia gently brushed Nethania's feather headdress.
"If you really want to Nethania…you can call me…mom," Alicia said with some difficulty.
"Where is everyone?" Nethania asked.
"They're up at Eagle Peak Springs, trying to find out what caused you to become sick," Alicia said.
"If I remember correctly, I did taste a hint of sulfuric acid which would account for my stomach ache," Nethania said.
"You're lucky it didn't burn a hole in your stomach," Alicia said.
"It was just a tiny amount, nothing real serious," Nethania said.
Alicia got on the radio and told them Nethania was back on her feet.
"Nethania," Nathaniel said. He ran over to her and embraced her tightly. Alicia merely stood back and watched them.
"Good to see you on your feet again Captain," Ute said.
"Good to be back on my feet," Nethania said.
Alicia finally walked over and group hugged her family.
"I love my family," Alicia said. Ute nudged Nathaniel in the back. when Nathaniel looked at him, Ute gave him a wink, silently telling Nathaniel that his plan to bring Nethania and Alicia together had worked.