BEGINNINGS

12 - Hammond's VIPs

"No matter what, you be quiet and only speak when spoken to, got it?" Muldoon towered over Pet, his cold, and stern gray eyes never leaving her unblinking raptor ones. "Make sure to keep your sun shades on while you're at it. Don't need you drawing unwanted attention any more than you already do." He turned on a booted heel and marched towards her room's door.

Muldoon strode out into the usual hot Kenya day and left the hybrid teenager to herself. Pet whimpered beneath the lingering heat of the warning speech and started to worry about the rest of the day. Whoever these special visitors were to Hammond's zoo, Pet already didn't like them. The entire zoo's working staff had been turned upside down. It was almost like an inspection team was coming.

Either way, the hybrid did as told and made sure everything about her appearance was sharp and top notch. She even rolled her hair up into a bun, versus having it in its typical ponytail. No worries. It was just for a day. Wanting to add a bit more of a professional touch to her appearance, she began putting on a light coat of makeup. Not like she needed it, but felt it added a nice overall look. She was almost sure that it would either end up smeared or she would wash it off before the day was half over.

Next was forcing control over her eyes. She had been practicing on this for quite some time and at one point, managed to keep her eyes normal for the most of two hours. Granted for those two hours she was relaxing in a stress-free zone within the safety of her room. Today would be something different, though. She would be in a possibly stressful environment where trying to keep control of herself would be somewhat tricky. Didn't mean she wouldn't at least try, regardless.

Satisfied she couldn't look any better by her standards, she put on her boots and joined Muldoon outside. He was speaking with Jophrey, the two discussing Hammond's possible route for touring his guests around.

Jophrey shrugged at what Muldoon had said. "There's a possibility he could swing by the warden shack, but it's no definite guarantee."

"Whether he does or doesn't, I made sure it was cleaned up and in order last night before clocking out." Muldoon glanced over to his sidekick. "Did you remember to take the rubbish out?"

She nodded. "Yes. And empty out the fridge of old food so it wouldn't stink..." The teen glared at the man through blue-green eyes. "Anything else you want to ask me?"

"Just making sure. I plan on keeping us out in the field as much as possible to avoid the VIPs." Muldoon adjusted his backpack on his right shoulder and gave a sideways nod towards the warden shack. "Come on. Off we go."

The three were almost to the shack's front door when a black Mercedes could be seen making a turn leading towards the zoo's central visitor center. Jophrey looked at Pet, though speaking to Muldoon. "Might want to get the Jeep loaded up with everything you think you might need for the day and head out. It looks like our distinguished visitors just arrived."

"Lovely," Muldoon snorted out and tugged the door open. "Hurry up, Pet."

Again, doing as told, the hybrid started to prepare her things. First thing, she went to the gun safe and unlocked it to retrieve her pistol and slid it onto her holster at her belt. Next, she got her rifle and filled out the paperwork showing both items were in her possession. By now, she didn't have to look at the serial numbers on the pieces when she filled out the paperwork. She had already memorized them some time ago.

Pet questioned as she finished the paperwork. "Who are they, anyway? The distinguished visitors?"

Muldoon secured his M1911 pistol in its holster at his belt and answered. "The Masranis. They're some very wealthy people and of Hammond's closest friends."

Pet cocked her head to the side. "Who?"

Jophrey answered, next. "Mr. Hammond and Sanjay Masrani go way back, long before you were even a thought, Pet."

The hybrid snorted. "Considering I'm just a mistake, that's not saying much."

Jophrey shrugged. "One person's mistake is another person's miracle." He gave a quick glance to Muldoon, who wasn't even paying any attention.

Or so it seemed. While gray eyes were downcast and focusing on making sure the spare magazine to the pistol was fully loaded, Muldoon was more than aware of what was said.

Within fifteen minutes, Muldoon and Pet were loaded up and driving off. No idea how long they were going to be out in the field today. There wasn't much to be done, anyway. This was probably going to be one of those park under a tree way off the bus tour route days, and either play some mind-numbing toss the pebble in the cup game or just kick back and snooze.


Two hours later, Pet tossed a pebble into a worn red plastic cup and watched it bounce off the rim. She sighed. She gave a glance towards her best friend to find him kicked back with his hat over his face and sleeping. Another sigh. Back to tossing pebbles in the cup.

The radio buzzed followed by Hammond's voice. "Tracker One, what's your position?"

Not immediately thinking and acting on habit, Pet picked up the radio mic and cued it. "Currently towards the outside of Zebra Adventure."

Muldoon yanked the mic out of the teen's hands before she could say another word. "Something going on you need us for, sir?"

Hammond replied. "There seems to be an issue going on in The Lion's Den that needs attending. Best to bring a tranq gun."

"Copy that." The senior game warden started the Jeep and tossed it in gear. "Where Hammond is, his guests are sure to be there, too. Remember what I told you and for bloody sake, stay off to the side. I don't need you getting involved in things and causing questions."

"Yes, I know, Robert. I'm just a docent here on a learning trip for the summer. We've been over this thoroughly, already."

The man gave the teen a cornered eye glare. "Make sure you do something about your pistol, too. No doubt that would bring up a question or few on why some kid is walking around with a loaded weapon."

Pet snorted a screech and began unfastening her belt to remove her pistol holster.


Security standing watch at the zebra enclosure's entry gate saw the all too familiar Jeep and unlocked the gate door for them to pass through. Minutes later, the game wardens were at the lion enclosure. Tranquilizer gun in hand, Muldoon rushed past several zoo guests clamoring over the other to watch the unfolding commotion inside the pen. Two lions, a male, and a female were in a standoff fight. Tucked under a small, barely big enough rock's nook to allow such was a lion cub.

It only took Muldoon a second to realize what was happening as Jophrey joined him. Frustrated at being unable to partake in the event was Pet. She grumbled and joined Hammond off to the side, near the raised fence. With him were two very well-dressed Indian men in rather expensive looking suits. The older of the two appeared in his late fifties, maybe early sixties, and had streaks of gray hair mixed in with his otherwise almost black hair. Pet figured him to be Hammond's close friend Sanjay Masrani, as Johprey stated his name to be. Standing next to him was a younger man in his early twenties. The resemblance between the two was easily noticeable, meaning they had to be father and son.

Sanjay questioned. "What are your men going to do, John?"

Hammond proudly answered and watched his two most senior and experienced game wardens move into position within the lion enclosure. "It's quite simple, actually. Both game wardens are going to tranquilize the two adult lions. This isn't the first time this has happened." As he continued to explain, Pet had already mapped their plan of action in her head.

Pet couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards Jophrey, seeing how that was usually her in his shoes on any normal day. As she remembered why she wasn't down there, she rolled her sun shaded gawk back to the two Indian men standing alongside Hammond. Their eyes were wide in anticipation for what was going to happen next. This must be something they weren't used to seeing.

The younger of the three men questioned, next. "Are your wardens capable of handling the situation?"

"Simon!" spat his father in a correctional and scolding tone.

Hammond merely laughed off the question. "My zoo's wardens are the best and personally handpicked by myself and my most senior warden, Robert Muldoon." He pointed his amber tipped white cane at the man of discussion. He went on to brag about the warden's accomplishments, Pet rolling her eyes in boredom.

Her attention was soon brought back to the den. The male lion roared and swiped a paw in Muldoon's direction, the red feathering top of a tranquilizer dart evident through the askew tufts of mane. Jophrey followed suit and shot the female in the shoulder blade, the beast hissing and baring fangs.

It didn't take long for both adult lions to succumb to the darts as they reluctantly laid on the ground before falling asleep. Muldoon could be heard ordering a female lion specialist standing nearby, "Get the restraints for the male and prep him for containment relocation." The woman nodded and sprinted off out of sight.

Hammond's borderline arrogant smile stretched even further across his bearded face. "Ah, see? There you have it. The best there is!"

Sanjay nodded approval. "Impressive."

It was then that the youngest of men took notice of the teenaged girl standing on the other side of Hammond. She was dressed very much like the other game wardens but appeared far too young to be one. Simon's dark eyes noticed the oddly discolored patches of skin on her upper arms.

Pet could feel the weight of the man's unwanted gawk and gave him a sideways stare down. She could feel her control over her human-like eyes start to slip due to annoyance and thanked having her sunshades on to hide it.

Simon curiously smiled and questioned Hammond. "Does she work here, too?"

Hammond followed the dark-eyed gaze aimed towards Pet and nervously laughed. "She, uh, she's a docent working here as a volunteer under my zoo's youth education program for the summer."

"Ah."

Sanjay's brow furrowed. "She doesn't do that, does she?" He gestured with a nod of his head to the game wardens working on securing leather booties around the paws of the muzzled, unconscious male lion.

Hammond's face was filling with fluster, whether from embarrassment, nervousness or agitation, Pet wasn't sure. She made sure to stay quiet, though, and not say a thing but to let Hammond continue to speak for her.

"Oh, no, no, no of course not! She mostly does stuff like prepping and moving equipment used on a daily basis by the warden team. The most she can do, field work-wise, is assist with the less dangerous animals like giraffes, zebras and so on."

Pet continued to stand there, boiling in the seething anger coursing through her veins, and silently thought to herself all the dangerous situations she had had to endure in the past. If only his esteemed guests knew the truth, they'd probably report him for child endangerment.

Pet saw Hammond glare at her from the corner of her eye and turned her attention upwards towards him. He bit out a rather forced smile. "How about you go see if the animal handlers need any help with feeding the parrots."

Knowing she was being dismissed, and glad to accept it, Pet nodded and back stepped away from the group before she scampered off out of sight.