AN: I'm mostly going to reserve these author notes for the end of each chapter, but this one I want to get started now: I'm going to rename Saurus Systems/Software to Hypersonic. I feel like the old name was me being immature. Saurus Systems/Software will still be used in this Fic, but mostly as an in-house name.

Also, I've made a promise to myself to try and keep politics and current events out of my stories, but I think some need to be addressed to get the plot of this story movi mg forward. And to make good jokes.

Now, onto the chapter!

"Thank you for that, Sandra. In other news, the inquiry regarding corruption in Valuable Imports, Lavish Exports has taken an interesting turn. Further investigation has implicated the company in the transport of several items produced by international genetics company Itex, who are facing their own investigation regarding ethics violations relating to genetic engineering. Itex has denied involvement, but already, several prominent investors, such as Hugo Grief of the Point Blanc Academy, have begun to distance themselves from-"

"Hey, didn't you get an offer to have one of your kids go to that school?"

Ai glanced over at Madeline, who had just entered the room. "Yes. One of our daughters, Elise. Not that she'll be available - Wyatt already has our kids attending to a, ahem, special treat."

'If you can call attending an extinct species sanctuary to be a treat.'

"Yeah. He mentioned that. My daughter's there, too."

'Oh yeah. Tristan invited his friends along, Michelle included.'

"I know."

"Good."

Stealing a glance at the television, Madeline raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you a major investor for Itex?"

"As head of World Tree Incorporated, yes. I've already moved to detach us from Itex - I was aware that some violations were occurring and asked them to manage themselves better. They refused, so now they suffer the consequences."

"Amen to that….You know if the rumors about the bird kids were true?"

"I've been hounding them for answers, and so far it looks like no."

Ai wouldn't put that past them, but she had more immediate problems to handle - namely an audit for the park. The head of World Tree normally wouldn't attend to such matters, but seeing how she was also chief researcher for 'ancestral plant medicinal research' (read: using prehistoric plants for modern medical applications), she had plenty of reason to visit the park. Also, she missed her kids.

"Hey, listen - I'll be heading over to see the kids after a business meeting in the Carribean - need to make sure no one gets too suspicious about what me and Wyatt are doing. You want me to tell Michelle anything?"

Madeline was surprised to hear that news, but shrugged it off. "Besides the obvious statement that I love her and iss her very much? Not really. Kinda glad she out of state - no need to worry about her getting involved in this mess."

Ai barely managed to suppress a snort. "Fine. Anything else?"

"…Could you take Connor and Betsy along too?"

"…Why do you want my twins to go there?"

"Because they would never stop badgering me about working with dinosaurs if I even gave a single slip up? Don't worry, their dad has given his approval."

"…Okay."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Say, where are Kallista and Rebekah?"

"Training some new hires."

Rebekah watched as field operatives in front of her fired at the dinosaur shaped targets. Behind her, the newest batch of recruits was also observing, though some were more interested in the ceratosaur being loaded into a truck.

"As you all know, you are now members of a government backed unit charged with the containment, capture, and return of creatures not of this time period. You may be called upon to locate, tranquilizer and escort creatures from prehistory to their home time periods through magnetic anomalies. You may encounter animals ranging from prehistoric ants to the largest creatures to ever walk on this Earth. So, before we get started, any questions?"

One man raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"Could we encounter creatures from the future?"

"…Maybe. Hopefully not, because such a scenario is completely uncharted waters."

Non one else had a question to ask.

"No more questions? Alright, then- Today your training begins!"

Watching the new trainees begin their, well, training from his seat at the guard tower, Wyatt couldn't help but have his doubts. "You think we can get them into shape in a few weeks?"

Kallista shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. I'm a trained markswoman, but there's only so much I can teach, and they'll need more than firearms training to succeed here."

"Having second thoughts about joining me?"

"No. I admit I miss having the free time to call up my friends and take potshots at my homeland for a…recent blunder, but containing dinosaurs and potentially saving time? Wouldn't trade it for anything."

"Well, thanks for that."

"Not sure how that helps you, but you're welcome. Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Yes, actually - you were spetsnaz before the USSR fell, weren't you?"

"You already knew that, so what is your point?"

"Were you involved in the Chernobyl cleanup?"

"Yes. I don't want to share about it."

"Alright, alright. Just..you ever here about some rumors regarding Pripyat?"

"Yes, and aside from Dmitry Sechenov building a factory there to work on robotics, all of them are false."

"Even the ones about the weird anomalies in the area?"

"Especially those. What, someone tell you otherwise?"

"Madeline, actually - said that she visited the area once before…well, you know."

"Oh, really. And did she find anything?"

Instead of speaking, Wyatt merely handed her a set of documents. Suspicious, Kallista took them and started reading.

Then read them a second then. Then a third, each time growing paler as her expression shifted from confusion, to shock, and then a mix of shock and outrage.

"But..but… that's not possible-"

"Kallista, we work with time portals. Eastern Europe is seeing fighting last seen in World War II. There was an insurrection in the Capital. People say we live in a post-truth society. I don't think there's defined limits on what is and isn't possible anymore."

Kallista could only sigh and grumble in agreement.

Any further debate was precluded by the sounding of the newly installed portal alarm. Share a surprised glance, the duo made their way to the command center of their training office, with the others soon joining them. Glancing at the recruit managing the terminal, WyattCut straight to the chase.

"What is it?"

"Anomaly just opened up. Good news: we now where it is. Bad news: where it is isn't exactly abandoned."

"Where is it?"

Sighing, the recruit pulled up its location - sure enough, the anomaly was in a precarious place.

After all, you couldn't call the middle of Tempe to be empty.

AN: Alright, time to clarify things.

1. I went back and forth on if I wanted Ai to also be a corporate individual in addition to her other jobs. I finally decided yes and had her specialize in biotechnology and genetics.

2. Since some of you may need a refresher, Wyatt and Ai are the backers of Prehistoric Park as established at the end of the last chapter (well, a pair of backers, at least), and are the parents of half the younger cast from my story Prehistoric Park: Returned from Extinction. I'm trying to be more active about their integration, so I'm including some of the business running side of the Park in this story from time to time.

3. For those wondering, the Anonaly opened in Tempe Town Lake, which is directly North of Arizona State University - you can see Sun Devil Stadium from its shoreline. So yeah, big risk of discovery.

Read and Review at your leisure! This is Flameal15k, signing off!