Disclaimer: I do not own Terra Nova or any of its characters. Nanosaurs were inspired by the Mac Computer Game. Roland comes from Jurassic Park Lost World.
Chapter Summary: Nethania and Nathaniel check the progress on Hope Plaza and plans are made to reopen it sooner than originally planned. Nathaniel notices change in Nethania and tensions between father and daughter flare.
This is my Home
The methodical clanging of metal on metal, the zap zap zap sound of a spot welder, all sounds of a damaged and torn portal terminal being repaired. Nethania walked along the recently completed new catwalk. Behind her followed her father.
"Everything is on schedule Captain, in fact, we're ahead of schedule," reported the work foreman.
Nathaniel groaned and wore a very unhappy face.
"What's his problem?" the foreman asked.
"He dislikes the idea of the portal being open again," Nethania said. She continued on, surveying the work being done.
As Nathaniel followed her, he began to notice she looked different. Her hair was fishtail braided with various raptor feathers tied into the braids. She wore a brand new jungle green T-shirt and her camouflage fatigues looked brand new. She had new military marks pinned onto her shirt. In addition to her old purple and gold one that signified she was a Purple Heart recipient, she now had one that was grey, with blue and red stripes, another solid green one next to a flame pin. Her shirt also bore her industries logo, the new one with the added Spinosaurus in the middle.
In her peripheral she noticed he was looking her over. She allowed him a moment to examine her and notice all her new apparel. She moved on, heading up to the control tower that over looked the portal. She looked the controls over, before heading down to the particle accelerator. She looked everything over. Nathaniel was surprised to find Troodons there.
"What are these Nanosaurs doing here?" Nathaniel asked.
"Repairing the accelerator," Nethania said.
"Everything is on schedule captain," the Troodon foreman reported handing her his clipboard. Nethania looked it over and then nodded her approval.
"We may be able to open up Hope Plaza ahead of schedule," Nethania said.
She and Nathaniel returned to the portal.
"You're planning on having Nanosaurs in the future aren't you," Nathaniel said.
"Megaraptors and Pterosaurs, something that can fly over the crowd, anything to prevent another Shannon incident and keep my planet safe," Nethania said.
"Your planet," Nathaniel said, stopping and looking at her.
"Yes, my planet," Nethania said, not stopping.
"Whoa whoa whoa, who ever said that this place was yours," Nathaniel said.
"I colonized this planet long before you ever came through the portal," Nethania said.
"That doesn't make you the owner of it," Nathaniel said.
Nethania didn't respond, but walked away.
"Nethania what's happened to you?" Nathaniel asked.
Nethania stopped, she inhaled deeply, raising her head, indicating that she was listening, but she was starting to get riled up.
"This isn't like you. You've never sought power before. Why start now?" Nathaniel said.
"For so many years I was the underdog, the one no one cared about. I was dirt under the boots. I was a misfit, even in my own family. In death I found freedom, a freedom that I will never allow anyone to take from me again. I rose above them all and created my place a kingdom to rule and reign over," Nethania said.
"You think that changes who you are. You'll always be a misfit that no one likes, especially when you squeeze the life out of our colony," Nathaniel said.
"Very comforting words from a father, who was right up there with the rest of the family. You turned your back on me when I need your support," Nethania said.
What was going on here? Why was she talking like Lucas? Had he misplaced his trust in her? Nathaniel bowed his head in sadness.
"I know I haven't been the best father for you. But you try raising a kid by yourself?" Nathaniel said.
"RAISING A KID, I raised Nanosaurs and Dinosaurs by myself. You think you're so high and mighty for all of your accomplishments," Nethania said.
"And you don't. Nethania, you're starting to sound like Lucas," Nathaniel said.
"At least I am not trying to destroy this planet. I am trying to protect it," Nethania said.
Nathaniel paused for a moment and then nodded. Nethania then turned away from him, changed down into Deinonychus and sped away.
…^…^…
"She's grown power hungry," Alicia said as they sat down for dinner. Nathaniel had filled her in on what happened earlier that day.
"I blame myself for it. She blames me too. I didn't do right by either of my first two. She's never talked like that before. There was something in her eyes too. Something dark and mysterious," Nathaniel said.
"Don't blame yourself. She's lived a tough life, tougher than Lucas. Raised in a somewhat Amish style town on the coast of California, bred to be an Army soldier, but chose to be a marine. No one in her family supporter her in that, not even you; at a young age she became the commanding officer of a small unit, the members of which were people like her. Criticized for her cloned super animals, again, even by you. Then she completely failed a mission after which she lost everything she had, her family, her reputation, her home. Can you imagine what it must have been like, being as young as she was living here among dinosaurs. The only human contact she had was with Maxwell, Ayani and Admiral Roland. Being forced to live like she was dead," Alicia said.
"Thank you for summing that up," Nathaniel said between bites.
"What I am trying to say is, stop being so hard on her. She's lived a very tough life. She should never have had to have so much hardship in her life," Alicia said.
"I went through the same hardship; that doesn't give her an excuse for her behavior," Nathaniel said.
"Some people aren't as tough as you are," Alicia said.
…^…^…
Nethania returned to HQ just before nightfall. She got to the meadow and released a loud roar of frustration. The Nanosaurs and visiting dinosaurs looked at her.
She rushed into the main building and up the stairs. Ute came out of his new office.
"I heard you roar, something wrong captain," Ute said.
Nethania went into his office and closed the door. She turned on the connection link to her CO. She related what happened between her and her father to the two.
"Well, I'll be the first to tell you he's wrong. You do own Pangaea and you've earned the right to own it by your show of leadership and willingness to protect them all," Roland said.
"His attitude changes everything Admiral. I wish to withdraw my forces from Terra Nova. The Megaraptors and Pterodactylus will still be used at Hope Plaza to protect us on your side, but I want to withdraw the Terra Nova Division," Nethania said.
"Very well Captain, I can see this has really twisted your tail feathers," Roland said.
"Thank you Admiral," Nethania said.
Nethania looked at Ute who nodded.
"I'll send the message," Ute said.
…^…^…
A Compysognothos ran up the steps and handed a piece of paper to Hookclaw who read it. Over his shoulder, Silvertalon read the message as well. Hookclaw looked at her and nodded. Silvertalon bowed her head and then turned and began cawing loudly, relaying the message to the Nanosaurs.
Arny, who was resting in the market, cocked his head to the sound. He got to his feet and began to mosey towards the gate. Everywhere Nanosaurs began to head to the gate. Nanosaurs resting in the hangar vacated it.
"Where are they going?" one colonist said.
"What's going on?" another said.
Nathaniel and Alicia came out onto the balcony and watched the exodus of Nanosaurs.
"What's going on here?" Nathaniel said.
"Captain Taylor's orders; the Terra Nova Division is here with dissolved," Hookclaw said. Before Nathaniel could say anything, Hookclaw and Silvertalon took off into the jungle.
"What are we going to do without them?" Dunham asked.
"We've survived perfectly well without them before. We didn't even know they existed until last year," Nathaniel said.
He and Alicia went back into the command center.
"What are you going to do?" Alicia said.
"What can I do?" Nathaniel said.
…^…^…
Nethania stood in the meadow, in her newly corrected Spinosaurus form, watching the Terra Nova Division filter into the meadow. She had sent Ayani and Maxwell away to the colony. Maxwell stopped the rover that Nathaniel had donated to them. He looked back at the large Spinosaurus. Nethania inhaled deeply and let out a roar that could be heard for miles around.