8D So glad everyone liked the last chapter! Onto the next! I really thought I was gonna get 30 chapters out of this. Buuuut it looks like it might end up a few more. Because I keep looking at my giant file of "future scenes that go towards the end" and it just seems like they're far away. XD THERE'S SO MUCH OF THE MOVIE LEFT! WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING FOR NEARLY 30 CHAPTERS AND A WHOLE YEAR?! Soooo anyways... chapter?

Raptor
Chapter 26: Handprint

One of them was growling at him. He wasn't sure which one. He wasn't even sure what their names were. Something stupid, he knew. All of them. Stupid names. Stupid fool of a man, Owen Grady, treating them like pets. He didn't care what their names were. Because they weren't pets. They were weapons. Weapons didn't need names. Certainly not stupid names. There was a growl again and he turned. He stepped closer to the fence and glared at the stupid animal. "Shut up!" He snapped. "You will learn!" He said to the stupid animal. "And if you don't, I'll just feed you to the next generation."

"Sir!"

He turned. An InGen soldier was approaching. He didn't know the name. Not by a quick look. But as the man got closer, he saw the name on the uniform. "Maskev." He said quickly, like he knew all along. "Yes?"

"Sir, there's been a breach."

"A breach?" He repeated.

"Yes, sir." The man nodded. "Asset out of containment."

"Which one?"

"Uh..." The man blinked for a moment. "A new one... In... Indomitable? Something?"

"Indominus Rex." He corrected.

"Yes, sir." The soldier nodded. "That one."

"Thank you. Ready your squad at once." He said. "Dismissed."

"Yes, sir." He nodded again and turned.

A smile slowly spread across the face of Vic Hoskins as he turned back towards the fence. The raptors were there again. This time all of them, watching him. He smiled still. This was exactly what he needed. This was the final straw. Now they would have to listen to him. Now everyone would have to listen to him. This was just fantastic! Why hadn't he thought of it himself? Pushing the kid into the enclosure hadn't worked. At least not in the way he wanted. True, he'd proved that the raptors could listen. Eventually. But he'd hoped it would have... gone just a bit better. He'd sent the video clips to the higher ups. And they weren't impressed. But this...

One of the raptors jumped at the fence and snapped loudly.

Hoskins jumped back a step. Then he shook himself and narrowed his eyes into a glare. "You will listen to me!" He threatened. Then he turned and strutted out.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Simon stepped into the control room. He shook his hand and flexed his fingers for a moment, the bones and muscles rather sore. It had been years since he actually punched anyone. And even then, it had never been out of anger. He'd taken boxing back in his university days. He gritted his teeth and pressed the bloodied paper towel to his knuckles again. Then he dropped the towel in the trashcan as he walked past. "How's it going?" He asked as he stepped up behind Vivian and Lowery. He leaned down between them, looking at the monitors.

Vivian turned in her seat towards him and gasped. "Sir! What happened to your hand?"

Simon straightened up and moved the battered appendage behind his back quickly. "Nothing." He said.

"Nothing?" Lowery repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Simon glanced down at Lowery. He let out a sigh and shook his head. "Just a conversation with Dr. Wu." He said.

Lowery smiled broadly. "Dude."

"He's been relieved of his duties." Simon said, pulling his arm back around. It didn't actually hurt that bad. In a way, it actually felt good.

"Damn, that's hot." Lowery said and his eyes widened. "Uh... cool. Uh... I'll get the first aid kit." He started to stand up.

Simon glanced at him sideways. He tilted his head for a moment but grabbed Lowery's shoulder and pushed him back down into his chair. "I'm fine." He said and nodded towards the monitors.

Lowery turned back to his consol quickly, ducking his head. He felt a blush spread across his face.

Vivian rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Simon didn't seem to notice either. "Have Owen and Claire found the brothers yet?" He asked.

Vivian turned to her consol. "No. We lost the gyro signal in the jungle..."

Lowery bit his lip and swallowed as Simon moved closer to lean over him. He pointed to the map, where they'd lost the signal. "Ida smashed it to pieces." Lowery said. "That's what Owen's calling her. Ida."

"Good. Just what the monster needed." Simon said, a touch of sarcasm in his smooth voice. "A name."

Lowery shrugged. "Owen said she did." He mumbled.

"Before or after she decided to rampage my park?" Simon asked.

Lowery didn't answer.

Vivian cleared her throat. "Claire called a few moments ago." She said. "The kids made it out alive. They're tracking them now."

Simon breathed out in relief and nodded. "That's good. Where's... Ida?" He asked, gritting his teeth at the name.

Lowery smiled meekly. "See? Name." And then Simon narrowed his eyes at Lowery and Lowery looked at the screen again, lighting the trail up in red.

Simon's eyes widened. "She's getting close."

Vivian glanced back at Simon. "She can sense thermal radiation."

"Yeah." Lowery nodded. "And you just had us put all the warm bodies here."

Simon opened his mouth to say more, but was interrupted. He stood up and turned, watching as a large, brusque man came strutting in like he owned the place, flashing his badge like it meant something. Simon narrowed his eyes. This he didn't need. He'd yet to meet the man in person, but from everything he'd heard, he knew he wouldn't like him. "I know who you are." He said evenly.

Vic Hoskins smiled widely at him. "Good. Because I'm in charge now."

Simon continued to glare at him. "You are not in charge."

"Someone needs to be." Hoskins said gruffly as he crossed his arms. "You guys certainly ain't doing any good."

Simon glanced back at the screen. Hoskins was right about that. So far, they hadn't had any effect on the monster dinosaur. He was going to regret asking, he knew it. But he sighed and turned back to Hoskins. "What would you do?"

Hoskins smiled. "I've spent three years working with the raptors."

Simon raised his eyebrows. He knew that was a lie. "You have?"

Hoskins nodded and pointed at the screen. "They can hunt and kill that thing."

Simon tilted his head to the side, thinking. "Owen's program was the test their intelligence."

"My program." Hoskins snapped loudly. "We did. In the process, we learn something. They follow orders. The solution to your mess... is right here in front of you." He said smugly

Simon scoffed and shook his head. "You?"

Hoskins nodded. "Yeah, me."

Simon crossed his arms for a moment, thinking. He really didn't have any ideas. He let out a sigh. "What does Owen think about this?"

Hoskins' eyes narrowed. "Owen has nothing to do with this." He snapped.

Simon smiled. "Oh... I think he does."

"Owen's not in charge." Hoskins continued. "He works for me."

Simon shook his head quickly and lifted his arm to wave the man's comment away. "I've seen the raptors." He said smoothly. "I know they don't follow anyone but him. So let me be as clear as I can." He said slowly. "No velociraptors are going to be set loose on this island."

Hoskins laughed and threw up his arms. "You're all out of your mind. What are you gonna do with all those investors out there? The people paying your paycheck, keeping this place running, all gathered out there like some dinner bell." He turned to look at the screen and pointed. "That thing is a killing machine. And it will not stop."

Simon glanced at the screen. He hesitated, knowing some of what Hoskins said was true. But he still refused to trust the man. "Alright... I will personally look into your project. After I speak with Owen." He added quickly

Hoskins glared at him as he nodded his head. He crossed his arms and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay boss." He turned and headed for the elevator. "Whatever you say."

Simon watched as the man left. He breathed out and shook his head. His first inkling was right. He did not like the man. And he wanted nothing more than to get him and the whole InGen operation off the island.

"That went well." Lowery said.

"Yes." Simon said softly glancing back at Lowery. "Well." He shook his head and turned. "Is the helicopter ready?"

Vivian nodded. "But we can't find the pilot."

Simon shook his head. "We don't need the pilot."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Owen and Claire tracked the brothers for a while. Owen kept his rifle up and his eyes forward. Every few seconds as they moved, he scanned their surroundings. But there was no sign of the Indominus Rex or any other dinosaurs for that matter. The jungle was eerily quiet all around him. Except for Claire bumbling along behind him. But he had to give her credit. She'd relinquished full control to Owen and he knew that was hard for her to do. When he told her to stop, she stopped. When he said hide, she did. She followed behind him diligently. He could tell she was trying her best to be quiet. Well, as quiet as she could be.

And then she sighed and stopped. "Wait a minute."

Owen rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. He lowered his rifle and turned. "You were doing so good." He said, a hint of a whine in his voice.

She raised her eyebrows and her mouth curled in the slightest smile. "Thank you." She stepped closer, looking at the ground. "But... how are you so sure they came this way?"

"Tracking." Owen said, glancing around. "Remember I was in the Navajo Navy."

She shook her head. "No, I mean really. I can't see anything. I saw the tracks before."

Owen glanced at the ground. She was right, he hadn't been looking for tracks at all. He'd been following Zach's scent alone. "They were scared before. Running tends to make more of a mess."

"And now?" She asked.

Owen shrugged. "They're moving slower, more cautious."

Claire's eyes widened a bit. "That's good, right? We should be gaining on them?"

Owen nodded. "Yeah, if we keep moving."

She still looked doubtful. "Are you sure? I haven't seen you look down in at least ten minutes."

"I'm sure." Owen said quickly. "Really sure."

She let out a sigh and nodded. "Alright. Lead on. I'll be quiet again."

He rolled his eyes and turned back around. He lifted his rifle again and started forward. He moved faster this time and for good measure, made sure to look at the ground every couple of minutes. Owen saw the jeep before Claire. But she gasped rather loudly and ran forward. Owen hurried to catch up with her and she looked over at him, her eyes wide.

"He's dead." She said sadly.

Owen nodded and took a step back. He circled the jeep slowly. "Jeep, too. Someone stole the battery." Zach's scent was all over it, all around it. The brothers must have just been here. They'd been here, just a few minutes ago, maybe. And Zach had taken the battery. Owen felt his pulse quicken. He could feel the kid now. Owen stopped and looked around. His eyes zeroed in on a door. "Come on." He shouldered the rifle and sprinted towards the nearly hidden door beyond. There were hand prints on the door in the thick layer of dirt. Owen touched his hand to the larger of the prints. His own dwarfed it and he breathed out. Claire stepped up beside him. He smiled and inclined his head. "They're still here."

She breathed out a sigh of relief. She touched the door and they pushed them open. "This is part of the old park..." But the sudden sound of an engine roaring to life stopped them.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Zach stepped away from the engine and rubbed at his forehead. "Alright." He breathed out. "Turn it over." Zach held his breath and bit his lip as he waited. It was a simple fix, something he'd done a dozen times growing up with his grandfather. The man could hardly remember his own name, let alone Zach's or Gray's. But what he did remember, were his cars. And he'd taught Zach many things before he died.

Gray turned the key and the jeep roared to life. The kid laughed loudly and thumped his hands on the dashboard. "Woohoo! It worked."

Zach smiled and let out a laugh. He closed the hood and wiped his hands off on his jeans. Then he unlatched the doors and pushed them open. He walked around the jeep. "Scoot over." He said as he climbed into the driver's seat.

Gray pulled himself over and buckled his seatbelt. "You failed your driving test." He pointed out.

Zach rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Stop bringing that up." He put it into gear and pressed on the pedal. The jeep started forward slowly. "It was just the driving part."

Gray shook his head. "That's the whole test!"

Zach shrugged as they rode out of the garage. "I drove Owen home. He said I was an excellent driver."

"Wasn't he drunk?"

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Owen ran through the old building, not caring about any noise he made or anything in his way. All he knew was that Zach was close and he had to find him. Now, the voice roared in his head. He had to find Zach now! He had to make sure the kid was okay. That they were both okay. He burst through the door too late. Zach was gone. "Shit!" He breathed out loudly and shook his head. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Claire stepped up behind him, breathing deeply for a moment. "Did they just..." She shook her head, looking out the open doors. "Who's driving?"

"Zach." Owen hissed the name out.

"Zach can drive?" She asked slowly.

Owen rolled his eyes. "Pretty sure Gray can't."

She sighed. "We missed them." Claire said, stating the obvious.

"Yes." Owen snapped, spinning around to face her. "We missed them." His voice rose.

Her mouth dropped open. "Don't yell at me!"

"You're the one who stopped!" He snapped again.

She stepped closer and got in his face. "Because I thought we were lost!"

He threw up his arms angrily and fought the urge to growl at her again. "I told you I could track them! You should have stayed in Control!"

She opened her mouth. And a roar shook the old garage and silenced Claire.

Owen grabbed Claire's arm and pulled her behind the second jeep. "Quiet!" He mouthed the word and she nodded. They pressed themselves against the grill and held their breath.

Ida poked her head in and inhaled. But the scent of oil and exhaust stuck in her nose. She snorted loudly and shook her head, trying to rid herself of the awful scents. Then she stood up and turned. She couldn't smell anything. But she could hear a rumble.

Owen peeked around the jeep and watched as Ida started down the warn path. That Zach and Gray had taken. Owen's eyes widened. She was going after the sound of the jeep! No! He couldn't let that happen! He glanced back at Claire. "She's going after them!" He hissed. He shoved the rifle towards her. "Stay here. Stay down. Stay quiet." He hissed to her.

Claire's eyes widened. "Owen... what are you..."

Owen didn't stay to hear the rest of her question or to answer her. He stood quickly and dashed out of the cover of the jeep. Owen sprinted out of the garage as fast as he could and stopped as he caught up with the monster. "Ida!" He screamed. "Hey Ida!" She stopped and turned towards him. Owen took a step closer and waved. "Remember me?"

Ida tilted her head. Then stepped closer. She lowered herself and opened her mouth. She let out a loud roar.

Yeah, she was huge and intimidating. But she was still growing, still young. He prayed Claire was still hiding like he instructed. He didn't want to spare a glance back to confirm. Owen concentrated hard, keeping his eyes on Ida. She seemed confused that he didn't run. She blinked and tilted her head, watching him. Owen opened his mouth and let out a warped growl, his human vocal cords not working right. Owen cleared his throat and tried again, concentrating harder as he let the raptor out for just a second. [Stop.]

And Ida stopped. Her eyes were wide as she tilted her head again and stepped closer. She bent down, keeping herself low to the ground, and sniffed at Owen.

Owen growled again, louder this time. He put all his energy into the sound, opening his mouth wide and letting the sound rip from his throat.

Ida flinched back. She blinked at him and turned slightly. She seemed confused. She opened her mouth and let out a whine. Then she shook her head and quickly darted into the trees, heading away from the brothers and the resort.

Well... that sort of work. Owen smiled to himself and turned around.

And Claire was standing there, watching. Her jaw dropped open. "What was that?"

The smile fell from his face. Owen cleared his throat and walked towards her, like it was nothing. He yanked the gun back from her and shrugged. "Nothing." He mumbled, pulling the rifle up to his eyes and checking it, to make sure she hadn't somehow messed it up in the last 60 seconds. "Just an intimidation tactic I used to use with my girls when they got too daring."

"Intimidation? Seriously?" She looked at him for a moment with a weird look Owen couldn't place. A sort of mix between confusion and awe. It was a bit disconcerting and Owen turned away. But Claire stepped up beside him, her eyes on where Ida had vanish.

Owen cleared his throat again. "Zach and Gray should be headed back." He said, trying to keep the focus off himself. "If the jeep holds out, they'll be fine." He gritted his teeth against his next thought. Because his whole body was telling him to chase after them and make sure they made it back fine. To grab Zack and hold him and make sure he was okay. But Ida was so close and getting farther away. He needed to keep her far from the resort long enough for his 'blow her up with the helicopter missile' plan to work. "I'm going after Ida."

Claire turned towards him. "Going after her?" She repeated.

Owen nodded. "Control doesn't have a lock on her. But I can keep them updated on her location. And try to steer her away from the resort. Hopefully I can get her out in the middle of nowhere for your helicopter."

Claire glanced away for a moment. Then she shook her head as she pulled her phone out. "You work on tracking her and that... whatever thing you did to her. I'll get control on the line."

Owen rolled his eyes but nodded. He wanted to argue again. But that may be a good idea. If Claire could keep back and out of his way. He just wished it was any other person than her. Well... maybe not anyone. "Fine. Come on. We're gonna have to hurry."

Claire held up her hand a moment. "Let me call Zara real quickly."

Owen shook his head. "We don't have time to talk to your girlfriend!" He snapped.

Claire already had the phone to her ear. "Zara? Where are you?"

"The central plaza." Zara answered, her voice a bit strained. "Claire, what's going on?"

"Asset out of containment." Claire answered.

"The Indominus?"

"Yes." Claire said. "We're tracking it."

"We?" Zara asked.

Claire glanced at Owen. "Owen and I."

"Claire..."

"It's fine." Claire interrupted quickly. "We're fine. But my nephews... they were still out on the gyrosphere. But we think they're headed back."

Zara's voice softened. "How old are they and what do they look like?"

"How old? Uh..." Claire glanced down at the ground, trying to think. But she honestly had no clue. "Well, Zach... he's uh..."

"17." Owen said.

"17." Claire repeated into the phone. "He's got... hair..."

"Short brown."

Claire glanced back at Owen as she repeated his words again. "Short brown hair. Gray's uh..."

Owen smiled widely at her as he threw the rifle over his shoulder. "12."

Claire pulled the phone away from her ear and held it out to Owen. "Do you want to talk to her?" She snapped.

Still smiling, Owen grabbed the phone from her. "Hey Zara." He said, shifting the rifle over his shoulder. "I'll text you a picture from my phone, okay?"

Zara breathed out a sigh over the line. "That would help."

"If you find them, you stay with them, okay?" He said. "Keep them safe."

"Of course. I'll do my best." She answered. "Keep Claire safe."

"Easier said than done." He mumbled under his breath.

Zara let out a soft giggle. "Believe me, I know."

Owen smiled. "I'll do my best, too." He hung up and pulled out his phone.

"You have a picture of them?" Claire pressed closer and looked over his shoulder.

Owen quickly typed in Zara's number and sent a picture. "Uh... yeah. Them standing in front of the raptors at the fence." Perfectly normal and not the least bit stalkerish.

"That's good." Claire breathed out, nodding. "I don't have any pictures of them." She stepped away and shook her head. "Why don't I have any pictures?"

Owen shoved her phone back at her and pocketed his. "Contemplate your lack of pictures while we run."

She nodded.