Helen Marsh, the septuagenarian director of the Dino Institute, had gathered everyone for an emergency announcement.
Everyone included Grant Seeker, a palaeontologist-slash-time traveller, who had been looking after the iguanodon on property for the past twenty-odd years. He had been with the Dino Institute for all his adult life and he was now pushing sixty. His nephew, Will, was now in his thirties, and an adult who worked at the Dino Institute himself.
In all his almost forty years at the Dino Institute, Grant had never known Helen Marsh to announce an emergency meeting like this. Not even during COVID - mainly because of the ban on gathering back then. But still. Something was up. Something serious.
'Hello, everyone,' Helen greeted. There was a sense of urgency to her voice. 'It's good to see you all here. You're all probably wondering why I gathered you all here. For years, the Dino Institute was the best place in the USA, the world, to study palaeontology. Here at Diggs County, we discovered many fossils. Some belonged to dinosaurs. Some did not. We found value in, and studied, them all.'
Helen pointed to Grant. 'Our very own Dr Seeker here, has even brought a dinosaur from the past. An incredibly idiotic move that has given us more knowledge of the iguanodon than we could ever have dreamed to have.'
Grant chuckled awkwardly and waved.
'But all good things must end,' said Helen. 'I'm sure all of you are aware of Chester and Hester who run the Dino-Rama amusement park next door. And many are aware they are retiring.'
Murmurs spread across the room.
'It's time for me to do the same thing,' said Helen.
The gathered employees, students, scientists, all began to chatter.
'I'm sure!' Helen shouted over everyone, and the chatter died down somewhat. 'I'm sure you're wondering what will come next. Well. Chester and Hester have sold their land to the Walt Disney Company.'
Will put his hand up. 'So we're going to be working next door to a Disneyland?' he asked.
'Not quite,' said Helen. 'While I do plan to retire, I do not plan to do so yet. Within the next few years, perhaps when I turn eighty. But on my retirement, the Dino Institute will also be absorbed by the Walt Disney Company.'
Grand stood up. 'Hang on, Dr Marsh - Helen - you sold us to Disney World?'
'Oh man. That's harsh,' said The Bonehead, who was standing at the back of the room. Though in his forties now, he still ran the Dino Institute radio station with his friend, The Digger. Though it was authorised rather than a pirate show.
'You know Disney are just going to demolish the Dino Institute and put a theme park here,' said Grant. 'It won't be about dinosaurs either.'
'Wait,' said The Digger, who was standing next to The Bonehead. 'Has this got anything do with the D23 announcement?'
'What D23 announcement?' asked Will.
'Disney are making a Zootopia land. Or a Moana land. And they want to use the land from the Dino Institute to do it,' said The Digger.
'So Dr Marsh sold the Dino Institute to Disney so they could make Zootopia land?' asked Grant. He turned to look at his boss in an accusatory way. 'What the heck? What about Lucky? What about us?'
'Yeah, Dr Harsh!' The Bonehead jeered.
'The Dino Institute will be no more,' said Helen. 'On my retirement, the Dino Institute will close down. Believe me, this was not an announcement I ever wanted to make, but there was no other choice. If I had my way, Dr Seeker would become the new Dino Institute director.'
'What. Me?' Grant asked stupidly.
'But there truly was no other way,' said Helen.
'I don't believe it!' Will heckled.
This caused a chain reaction of heckling, and jeering, and one person even threw their shoe at Helen, who managed to dodge it.
'People, please! Calm down!' Helen implored to the rowdy hoard.
'It's not like it's eminent domain!' The Bonehead shouted.
'No, but it's Disney!' Helen shouted over everyone.
Just like that, everyone quietened.
'Dr Seeker, I don't know what you're going to do with Lucky, and I'm sorry about that. Deejays, you can call me Helen Harsh if you want, I don't care. Students, I will be here as director until the last ones of you gain your bachelor's palaeontology degrees. That's four years at the most.'
'We only have four years left here?' asked Will. 'But…'
'I hope we have four years,' said Helen. 'And I will fight for it. I will fight for the Dino Institute, and for Diggs County, as long as I can. I promise you all that. But… that doesn't mean I'll be successful.'
Grant rose from his seat again. 'I'll fight with you, Dr Marsh,' he said. 'Someone has to fight for Lucky.'
Will rose from his seat and nodded. 'I'll join you, Uncle Grant.'
The Digger sighed. 'I guess someone has to fight back against the monster that is the Walt Disney Company.'
'Dude, you know we're Disney characters, don't you?' asked The Bonehead.
'If we don't fight for the Dino Institute, we certainly will be,' said The Digger.
'Yeah. No, that's not what I mean,' said The Bonehead, but he was drowned out by everyone else in the room starting to chatter.
Helen stood in front of everyone, watching them face their fate and the following few years in limbo. Uncertain.
'These next few years will be long. And tough. And uncertain. But we're palaeontologists. Most of us are palaeontologists. I have faith in each and every one of you because you are all outstanding. Whatever and whenever it happens, just know that the world is better off with the knowledge you all have provided and I am so proud to have served as your director,' said Helen. 'You're all dismissed - for now.'
Everyone began to pile out the room knowing that whatever they faced, they'd face it together.
While I am excited for a potential Moana land or Zootopia land, I'm sad that we're losing DinoLand. The educational aspect of the Disney Parks is being further lost every day. Plus kids love dinosaurs.
No plan is concrete yet, so we still have at least a few more years in DinoLand USA.
Iguanodons have lifespans of at least 25 years, so it's not completely improbable that Aladar/Lucky is still alive in 2022 from his rescue in 1998.