"Any luck figuring out where Tristan is in time?" questioned Tai.

"Nein," replied Alice. "Lucas tells me that they've tried, but so far, they just pulled in a bunch of new animals. Under other circumstances I'd be overjoyed but...yeah."

"...I want my big brother back."

"And I want my friend back, but unless you know how that machine works, I don't think there's anything we can do to help!"

"Hey, same team!"

"Sorry. So, how long til we have to sound the alarm for your dad?"

"He had a special conference to attend yesterday that won't end until tonight, and then something else to attend to tomorrow, so if we don't get Tristan back by tomorrow night, he's gonna learn it then."

"Shouldn't he be more concerned about this?"

"The meeting is about this park - Bob told me this is a joint meeting over how to manage the park and the time portal. Great Britain, Russia, Tropico, China, France, Germany, and some other nations like Morocco will also be in on it."

"Did they invite all of NATO?" asked an incredulous Alice.

"I really don't know. Also, it apparently has to do with security concerns involving the portal device going on the fritz."

"..Why's that a problem? Rampaging dinosaurs?"

"That, plus they're worried about conspiracy theorists."

XXXXXXXXX

"How would those people be problems?" asked Elise.

"They want to find out big secrets that prove the government is lying, or at least validate their paranoia. And it's our job to keep their noses out of the park," replied the park security member driving the boat.

"I see...wait, why did my dad hire private security for that?"

"One, your dad owns our corporation," replied the ship's XO, a burly Russian man, "and two, using military forces for security would just make it obvious your dad was hiding something big - the island's technically your father's property."

"Oh...what were we doing again?"

"Driving off some conspiracy idiots who want in on the park."

"And you're letting me in here because?"

"Officially, the park's supposed to be an island resort and shelter for endangered species. Missy here thought having you along might seal the deal."

"And if they wonder why a civilian is on a private security boat?"

"You swam too far out and we got called in to rescue you."

"Right...wait, that why you didn't want me to get out of my wetsuit?"

"Da. Now quiet down, we're approaching their boat."

Sure enough, there was a boat floating in the area. Around it, a trio of drones flitted about, piloted by an equal number of teens. An older man was at the helm of the ship, seemingly oblivious to the arrival of the new boat.

"Mikhail, get their attention."

"Attention!" shouted Mikhail, "you are in a restricted area! Leave now!"

"FUCK!" shouted one of the teens - the middle sized one, and the only boy.

"No personnel or ships within three knouts of this island without identification. Leave now, or we will board you!"

"Oh really?" shouted the eldest of the teens - a girl with dirty blond hair and brown eyes. Freckles adorned her face. "Why? This island isn't inhabited!"

"It is private property. And besides, there have been reports of Drug Cartels smuggling narcotics using the nearby islands. It is not safe to be out here! We already fished one lost diver out of the sea, and we do not have enough supplies for more. Please leave!"

"Yeah? Well who's gonna make us?" asked the youngest teen.

Before Mikhail could offer a rebuttal, the sound of spinning blades filled the air. A moment later, a helicopter appeared in the skies above the two vessels, with soldiers already pointing weapons at both parties.

"Atención, este es el ejército de Tropico! Ustedes en un área restringida! Tienen cinco segundos para explicarse-"

"Saber!" shouted Mikhail.

"...Qué?"

"Saber!"

"...Palacio! ¿Cuál es la problema?"

"These idiots are boating in restricted waters."

The helicopter crew turned their attention toward the second boat. "¡Esta área es insegura! ¡Hay informes de traficantes de drogas aquí! ¡Por favor, vete ahora!"

Before any of the teens could get in a word, the elder immediately turned on the radio. "We'll be going now. Sorry!"

A moment later, the ship retreated.

"Enviaremos a alguien tras ellos. Por favor, regresen a la costa."

"Many thanks!"

"¡No problema!"

With that, the helicopter carried on its way.

"...Are there really any drug smugglers here?"

"No - they tried something just before the park opened, but the natives made sure they got the message that they weren't invited. IT just happens that some smuggler ships have been found using some relatively close islands - this archipelago is safe."

"I see..."

"Now let's get you back to the park."

"Fine."

"Score one for Apex Security LLC," mused Missy.

XXXXXXXXXX

The staff watched as the rodent jumped into the water.

A moment later, the Ceratosaurus followed.

The chase continued for some time, but eventually, the paca's luck ran out - Cactus strong tail allowed him to catch up to the rodent, and once he had his teeth around his prey, the hunt was over. Within minutes, Cactus had wolfed down almost all of the carcass, barring a leg that had been torn off to make swallowing the kill easier. The predator ignored this morsel, instead deciding to find a tree to rest under.

Ceratosaurus were not extremely social, and Cactus' pack had already sated themselves on a cow carcass offered by the keepers - Cactus had been hunting for sport. Still, the results of the hunt were worth recording - one day, if possible, the park would like to return dinosaurs to the rest of the world, if only to help restore some biodiversity that was lost.

When Cactus had moved far enough away from the severed leg, the keepers moved to remove the limb...only for a Hallopus to dart out of nowhere and snap it up.

Sighing, the keepers gave chase. Just how many of those things had come back to the present?!

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

With a groan, Tristan jammed the wire into its socket. When he was sure it hadn't shocked him, he tried to turn the portal on.

To his chagrin, it failed to activate.

Sighing, Tristan moved to grab another tool, only to start in surprise when he almost collided with Terence's tail. Perplexed, Tristan backed up to get a better look at his companion.

It seemed that Terence was looking at something in the sand. Wondering what it was, Tristan circled around until he was at Terence's head.

There, he found a rather peculiar set of tracks - at first, it looked like a set of bird tracks. As he looked over them, though, Tristan noticed some oddities - first off, the footprints shifted between the familiar three toes of most birds to ones that had only two, like ratites. Additionally, the way they were spaced indicated that they belong to a quadruped, which...didn't make a lot of sense.

Just what had made these?

XXXXXXXXXXXX

AN: Something to tide you over while I finish updating some other stories

Read, Review, and Stay Safe and Healthy! This is Flameal15, signing off!