Chapter 10 – Fire Scorcher
Somewhere in the Owen Stanley Ranges, Papua New Guinea…
"Hold on Terry. I'll help you," cried Blue.
The velociraptor jumped onto Terry's back, managing to dislodge Dino, while biting Danno in the neck. Terry groaned at weight of the new dinosaur on his back, their claws digging into his scaled.
At the same time, Seth called to Rod, "Rod, use your card!"
Rod didn't hesitate, whipping out an Alpha scanner and a card. "Alright! Alpha Slash!... Go wild Tarbosaurus!"
The jungle was briefly illuminated in a bright white light and orange flames as the card in Rod's hands exploded, transforming into the massive form of Speckles the Tarbosaurus Bataar. His roared echoed through the jungle and across the valley.
"Fire Cannon!"
Speckles flicked his head backwards, flames erupting between his jaws. Before he could throw them at however, there was a loud CRASH, as another large theropod burst from out of the trees behind him, and someone shouted, "Get them Ace!"
"What that," Seth spun around, alarmed at the sudden additional commotion, as did Speckles, Terry and Blue.
In the light of the flames and a crackle of lightning from overhead, they saw the outline and purple scales of Ace the Carnataurous before the dinosaur bit Speckle's tail and spun him around. Speckles was pulled off his feet and spun through the air before being sent flying into a group of trees. The saplings buckled and split under the force of impact.
No longer able to aim, Speckles released the fire cannon into the air, setting the canopy above ablaze. The light of the fires illuminated forest below and the light, Seth caught sight of the remaining D-Team members as they entered the embankment, Max, Rex, and Chomp.
It Seth were surprised or shocked by this, he showed little reaction, merely turning on the spot to face Max and the others and saying softly, "Ah, so you must be the boys who've been giving Ursula and her team so much grief."
Ursula was a lot less calm, snapping at them, "You brats again," and giving them the stare of death.
Max and Rex returned the scowl, with Rex saying loudly, "the old lady!"
"I AM NOT AN OLD LADY…"
Rod merely remained quiet, observing the unfolding scene carefully. Terry, Blue and Danno continued to brawl it out, with Blue finally managing to pull the Dilophosaurs off the Tyrannosaurus and they fell to the ground in a scarp. Meanwhile Mycaelis had located Dino, sniffing him out, and engaging him in direct combat.
"RAAAAHHHH…" Terry, free of the Dilophosaurs on his back, gave a loud roar turning his attention on the two Dilophosaurs wrestling with the velociraptors.
Max shouted to Chomp, "Stop him!"
Seth took out another card and swiped it dramatically through his Alpha scanner. "FIRE SCHORCHER!"
As Chomp charged at him, Terry rose up on the balls of his feet, lifting his head up. An enormous fireball formed between his jaws. Almost like the sun had come down from the heavens and Terry had caught it in his mouth.
"What the," Max exclaimed covering his eyes with his arm as the forest filled with a blinding light and suffocating heat. The members of the Alpha gang except for Seth all did the same. Seth just remained his usual stoic self.
Chomp reverted to a card the moment the ball of flames engulfed his body. Ace was spared the worst brunt of the explosion but was still caught by the shockwave. It threw him into the air like he was nothing and sent him crashing into a nearby cluster of trees, which snapped as he hit.
Meanwhile Mycaelis and Blue dropped to the ground and cover their eyes and faces with their claws to protect themselves, as did Speckles. One of the Dilophosaurs, was caught by the blast, as the pair tried to flee. Danno was caught by the flames at the end of his tail.
Like Chomp he quickly turned back into a card, which fluttered up into the air on the rising hot air caused by the explosion. Finally, Dino just managed to avoid the blast by diving in the stream. Even in the fast-moving torrent caused by the heavy rain, he was able to swim across with impressive athleticism and speed and within a split second was on the other bank.
The fireball disappeared as quickly as it had come, leaving behind damaged plants and fainted dinosaurs as evidence it had been. Rain and darkness returned to the forest once again, the two raptor brothers and Speckles stood back up and the humans stopped covering their eyes.
They all looked up just in time to see Danno's card drift back to the ground like a leaf on a breeze.
"I've got it," cried Rod, jumping down from the side of the hill to grab the card as it fell.
"No, you don't," Max shouted, trying to run after him. He tripped on some brambles and fell to the ground. There was a squelching sound as he landed in the mud.
"Yes." Rod gave a cry of triumph as he caught the single Dilophosaurs card.
Max forced himself back up out of the mud, preparing to leap at Rod. In a flash, Blue and Mycaelis had moved to position themselves between Rod and Max to protect their comrade. Their hisses and growls as they bared their teeth at Max punctuated the sound of the rain.
"Max!" cried Rex as ran to Max's side and positing himself slightly in front of him protectively. "You okay! Don't you hurt him!"
The raptor's hissed threateningly, opening their maws to display their fangs…Mycaelis facing the wrong direction, slightly to Rex's right.
"Here." Rod handed the card to Seth, who promptly stashed it under the collar of his cloak like uniform.
Max and Rex craned their heads around to look up at him. "Wh-who are you," Max asked. "What did that move card?"
"I've modified the life energy of the Alpha Gang's dinosaurs to enable them to use even more powerful moves," explained Seth in his usual soft voice, with just a hint of smug satisfaction behind hind. "So, you could say I helped Terry to evolve."
Max gaped at him, his eyes wide as though he could not believe what he was hearing. "Changing dinosaurs into fighters isn't evolution. It's just evil!" Until now he'd had no idea about the Alpha gang's motives or what they wanted the cards for. Now he realised they were pure evil, and he had to stop more dinosaurs falling into their claws.
A slight chink in the amour. Seth's eyes narrowed, displeased at Max challenging him. There was distinct icy tone to his next words, though his voice remained as calm as ever. "Oh. And what would have happened if dinosaurs had lived on, and never become extinct. They might have developed a civilisation even more advanced than our own. Before long a dinosaur more advanced than these would surely have come into existence. All I have done is assist the natural order!" He shouted the last sentence.
"There's nothing natural about it," snapped Max, his blood boiling. "You have no right to be changing other living creatures."
"I don't expect you to understand the purity of the science. Brilliant ideas are always too much for the feeble minded."
The tension was broken at that point by the sound of an angry hiss. Dino, sensing the danger had passed, had swum back across the stream, intent on rescuing his brother. His eyes darted around the scene and, when there was no sign of the other dilophosaurs he let out an angry whistling cry.
"MRAAAHHH!"
Terry was ready for him, positioning himself between Dino and the Alpha gang and letting out a great t-rex roar that echoed through the Stanley Owen Ranges. Dino hissed at him, but didn't move, knowing he needed to take his time and be careful taking on a creature of Terry's size.
But then…
"Raaahhh…" Terry let out another cry, only this time in anguish. As thought, something was causing him great pain. He reared up then collapsed to the ground, letting out a whimper.
There was a general chorus of "Terry!" in shocked voices from the Alpha Gang members, all watching on with shocked faces…All except Seth, who looked more annoyed and worried.
Terry continued to whimper, his eyes shut and his tail twitching. Dino ran towards Seth, jumping onto and over Terry as he did so. He let out another whistling cry, before spitting another glob of venom at him.
"Yahh." Seth spung out of the way right before it could hit him, and the spittle glob splattered across the trunk of a tree behind him.
"C'mere you!" Mycaelis growled taking a dash at Dino. In true velociraptor style he leapt at the other theropod. But unable to see he misjudged his aim and landed to the right. Enabling Danno to seize him by the neck with his jaws once again.
"Fool," shouted Seth.
Blue once again went to his brother's aid, attacking Danno from behind, sinking his claws into his back and ripping at his face with his jaws. It had become a three-dinosaur pile on, with poor Mykie at the bottom, squirming. With the weight of two dinosaurs on him, it was impossible to throw Danno off.
"Ahh…Blue…Not helping! Fuck, get off me you creep!"
"Speckles," cried Ursula. "Are you just going to stand there. Get in and get that frilly necked freak."
The Tarbosaurus roared and lumbered forward at the Dilophosaurs-Velociraptor pile up. As he approached, Dino released Mycaelis's neck and flicking it back, opening his maw. His eyes flashing a greyish-blue colour, and a vortex of air forming between his jaws. In a flash it grew larger unit it was big enough to pick up lift Blue and Speckles up into the air. They came crashing back to the ground moment later, reverting to their cards as they hit the ground.
"Ahh…"
"Blue, Speckles. NOOO!"
Another chorus of shocked exclamations from Rod and Ursula as Seth pursed his lips.
"We have no choice but to retreat," he said bitterly – for once his voice was full of emption. "Rod recall Mycaelis. Ursula gets the cards!"
[Dinosaur]
About an hour later – Myola Lakes…
"The-he…So you can't see anything at all," Spiny said tauntingly to Mycaelis after he, Blue, Terry, Speckles and the Alpha Gang had returned to the campsite.
A large purple tent had been erected beside the Alpha Transport craft, to serve as camp for the Alpha Gang on their rainforest expedition. It was similar to those that people used on safari, large enough to stand up in and in which equipment could be placed, such as a set of small bunk beds, a cooker and a table and chairs. Dinosaurs could fit inside, but only in their chibi forms.
"Watch it," growled Mycaelis, snapping at Spiny with his jaws.
"Hehehe….No, I'm over here," Spiny giggled, darting to Mycealis' other side. "Bet you can't see what I'm doing with my tongue." He stuck his long lizard like tongue out at the velociraptor and lifting up his claws to his face to make a mocking expression.
"You wanna die." Mycaelis took a swipe at him with his claw, annoyed, though being unable to see exactly where the Spinosaurus was standing, he missed.
"Nah Nah…Missed me."
"Grrr." Mycaelis let out a frustrated growl, turning this way and that trying to find Spiny.
"Serves you right for being an arrogant arse," snapped Ursula. She had changed into a fluffy robe and was drying her head with a large green towel.
Mycaelis glared in…what he must have thought was her general direction. "Shove off old lady."
A vein burst in Ursula's temple, and she raised a first in anger. "How dare you! I am not an old lady!"
"Hey guys," said a concerned Rod, just in time to break up the fight. "Something's really wrong with Terry!"
The tyrannosaur was laying on the lowest tier of the bunk beds, his head propped up on a pillow. Something was definitely wrong with him. Terry was curled into a ball, his eyes shut tight, whimpering and twitching, clearly in terrible pain. Blue, Spiny, Tank and Speckles gathered round, and even Ursula looked over curiously.
Mycaelis pushed through the rest and sprang onto the bed to be close to his mate. "Terry…Shit," he swore, his heart suddenly pounding and a sick feeling taking hold in his stomach. "I didn't realise. I was too self-absorbed I…What's wrong." He pressed his muzzled to the side of Terry's and stroked his side with his claw.
"M-Mykie," Terry whimpered, opening one eye. The presence or his boyfriend, and his tender stroking comforted the little t-rex, and he stopped twitching quite so much.
Mycaelis signed before placing a tender kiss on the side of his muzzle…And then he leapt off the bed and rounded on Seth. "Alright you!" he hissed, baring his teeth. "What did you do to Terry to hurt him so bad!" Trouble was, he was glaring at the back wall of the tent, rather than directly at Seth.
"Oh please," Seth replied exasperatedly without looking at the raptor. "If you're trying to be threatening, I would suggest actually facing me." He was working at the table, standing over a tablet console with a frown on his face.
"He has a point though," Added Blue, angrily. "What's wrong with Terry."
"He looks like he's really sick," added a concerned Rod.
Seth sighed, raising his head to glance at Terry on the bed. "He'll be alright, he just needs to rest. The move card obvious depleted his energy. I will have to devise a shield to protect the dinosaur. No good having a powerful move card if it leaves the dinosaur unable to perform!"
"Yeah, but that doesn't help Terry now," growled Mycaelis. "Starting to think those D-Team freaks might have a point about you."
"Yeah, how come he's hurt."
"You can't do this to us."
There was a general cry of protest from the other dinosaurs gathered.
Seth rolled his eyes and shook his head, before raising his head again from his work, reluctantly. He ignored Mycaelis, and instead barked at Ursula. "Ursula, there's a med pack in the white crate. Give Terry one shot of sedative to help him sleep and a saline pack. That should ease his rest. When he awakens, feed him."
Mycealis clambered back onto the bed to be with Terry. He felt around with his claws until he found the t-rex, then lay down beside him and wrapped his body and arms around him. "I'm right here with you Terry."
"Alright, everyone out the way," grumbled Ursula as she approached Terry with the sedative. The delivery system was a small white object that resembled a pistol; expect instead of a barrel, it had a cylinder full of a blue liquid.
Terry opened an eye just in time to panic as Ursula placed it against his thigh. Mycealis held him tighter and gave him a comforting lick on the side of his head. The pistol fired a needled sharp and fast enough to piece the dinosaur's tough scales, allowing medications to be given. A second later Terry was sleeping peacefully, his breathing normal….
[Dinosaur]
"Right, here's the situation," explained Seth curtly.
Ursula, Rod, and the other dinosaurs gathered around the table, save for Mycaelis, who lay protectively on top of Terry. Listening, though unable to watch. The tablet computer projected a holographic image – a three-dimensional map of New Guinea, with a large red dot in the middle.
"This is the Kokoda trail."
A black line appeared through the middle of the map, connecting a dot in the south by the ocean to a point somewhere in the mountains in the centre.
"It's a single foot jungle track that runs from Port Moresby here in the south, up to Kokoda village, up here in the middle of the Owen Stanley Range."
"It was the sight of a major battle between the Japanese and Allied forces in World War Two," added Rod.
Seth's eyes flashed at the information. "I don't care about the history of this time period. The point I was making is that the trial is the easiest way through the mountains."
"Of course," said Ursula. "We've been trying to force the dinosaur's onto it."
"We're here," Seth continued, pointing at the red dot in the centre of the map. "This is the Myola camp. It was the only part of the trail with enough space to land the transporter, that wasn't inhabited."
"Not surprising. It was a supply drop point for aircraft during the war," explained Rod, earning him another scowl from Seth.
"This is where we encountered the Dilophosaurs, according to the trackers." Seth indicated to a second, smaller red dot that had appeared just to the north of their present location. "It's near a place called Templeton's crossing. As you know, we've set up a perimeter using the Alpha Cypher Troopers around this section of the trail, which the Dilophosaurs' can't escape."
An oval shaped black line appeared on the map, encircling a section of the Kokoda trial from Eora Creek to the north, right down to Nyila to the south.
"Now that we know where he is, I've closed the perimeter to surround this area, so covers Myola and Templeton Crossing. Danno won't be able to escape, but he won't try to. As we saw, Dino is extremely loyal to his brother, Danno. You saw him recross the creek to confront us. He will try again."
"Just like Blue and Mycaelis," said Rod. "Or Mycaelis and Terry. Or even me and Laura, really."
"Which means we have the prefect bait." Seth reached into his collar and took out Dino's card.
"That's perfect," exclaimed Ursula. "The only thing we need to do is prevent those D-Team brats from getting to Danno first."
A wicked smile crossed Seth's face. "I will take care of that…"
