Chapter 7
Prehistoric encounter
Week 1: Day 6
(Velvet's POV)
I'll admit, It felt good having him pet my ears. I feel so safe and happy in his arms, I can't really explain it. Just feel right, like I'm suppose to be here. I never would have thought that someone like Johnathan would understand my pain. Yatshu and Fox would of listen to me and left when I told them to, they say it's to respect my privacy. Coco would try to understand but in the end she just lets me cry into her shoulder. Johnathan actually understands my pain a lot better then I thought and then some. I can't imagine the pain of having to cut off your own arm. I know I can never go through with it even if my life depended on it. I always assumed people gave him pity when they saw the robotic appendage, but I never guessed people actually bullied him over it. Over extra parts is one thing, over missing or replaced limbs is much worse. Must be bad enough adjusting to living with less limbs, they don't need people making them feel worse. Who knows how he was able to link the digital system to his nervous system, I highly doubt it was painless. Must of been a living nightmare getting use to having no sense of touch in one arm. I can't imagine how hard it must have been to relearn how to pick up delicate things like glassware.
"Johnathan." I said in a soft voice. I looked up into his deep blue eyes. "Thank you, again."
"For what?" He asked.
"Making me feel better, saying what I needed to hear. For being here when I need it." I replied smiling.
"Any time, can't stand seeing friends cry." He replied gently wiping a tear off my cheek. I smiled and hugged him again. It felt nice having another friend I can rely on. Guess Serena was right when she said he was loyal to his friends. I bet we could have stayed like this. Sadly I could hear it beginning to rain soon. The first drop hit right on top of my head between my ears. Next one hit my back, then it started pouring and thundering without warning. Johnathan got up and gave me his helmet to put on to stop the rain from getting my ears wet. Bit of a pain when water gets in the tall ears. Not easy to get out or clean. We ran indoors just as the bell rang, signaling next period. What luck.
"I'll escort you to your next class. I don't want anyone to mess with you on the way there. I don't mind being a little late for class." He replied. He's a gentleman, a good friend and impressive fighter! What's next, he can cook and sew? Well as long as he's offering, couldn't hurt. I don't have another class after this, so I normally go back to my dorm and work on homework.
"Lead the way." I replied.
Ten minutes later
(Third person POV)
Rain poured down like a waterfall from the sky, thunder clashed violently. The humans and Faunus walking around Vale thought it to be just regular bad weather. Little did they know it was far from normal weather patterns. In a dark ally way nestled between two factories, was the cause of the violent storm. Purple sparks swirled around the air and a few blue ones remained still in the center. A wormhole violently erupted just as a huge clash of thunder. It made a really deep rumble as it ripped though the fabric of space and time. Illuminating the space around it with a violet glow. Deadly calm, yet emitted a low hum as it began to spark to life.
Emerging from the portal was a titanic beast of old, the greatest predator in North America's fossil record and most well known around the multiverse, respected by many yet feared by all. The beast was easily 4 meters tall from toe to hip. 13 meters long from it's massive jaws to it's thick tail, mouth full of yellowed banana sized bone crushing teeth, humorously small arms but powerful jaws. A faint green tint colored him with browned tiger like stripes down the back, creamy underbelly with thick powerful legs. The king of the Cretaceous period and it earned that title. This predator was chasing a much smaller, injured herbivore out of the portal and into the new world. Said bipedal herbivore was about the same size of the predator, but was shorter by 3 meters from bony crest to tail. Green scaly skin with yellower undertones colored the beautiful beast as it limped and ran down the alleyway for it's life. The prey ran as fast as it legs can go away from the hungry predator. The predator hot on it's trail, shaking the ground under him with every thunderous step. It snapped at the herbivore with it's massive jaws but fell short by a few inches. The prey bellowed out a shriek of fear as it bolted down the ally way into heavy traffic.
The predator made another lunge at it's prey and succeed. He grabbed his prey by the neck and dragging the still living body across the ground as it came to a stop. Incoming divers had to slam the breaks to avoid wreaking. The prey tried to bellow out for help but it fell on deaf ears. The predator bit down again at it's prey and swung it around to break it's insides and snapped it's neck, he letting it's corpse slip from his jaws as bits of meat were ripped off from the dead animal as it went. Everyone ran/drove away in fear away from the carnage before them. The predator stood proud and mighty over it's fresh kill, roaring into the air to claim this kill from any would be thieves. Everyone with two brain cells to rub together, whether they be Human or Faunus, ran like hell away from the towering predator as it began to devour it's meal. Ripping out large chunks of meat at a time and gulping them down with ease. The beast looked out onto the scattering crowd and let out another vicious roar as crimson blood ran down it's snout. Snapping at someone on a motorcycle who thought they could maneuver around the beast. The predator caught the driver in it's jaws and ripped him away from the bike, sending it crashing farther down the street as he threw the poor soul into the nearest building. He roared once more as the rain pelted the ground around him. Claiming this new territory as his own before going back to devouring his well earned kill.
(Johnathan's POV)
I was currently sitting in Goodwitch's leadership class, which look basically like the other class rooms, only nothing on the board and a TV in the corner. This one I am paying extra close attention to. Hated myself for months after that failed mission. If I'm going to lead Rhode or anyone else while I'm here, I want to be as mentally prepared as possible for the worst. I let Velvet hold on to my helmet till after I am done with this class. What's the harm in letting her hold on to it. Not like they can access any of the classified files, got those under tight security with the password constantly changing to prevent hackers, not even I can get into it if I tried. I'll thank Serena and Mu for that little bit when I get home.
Goodwitch was going on about different strategies used by four people teams against larger opponents, in this case a Deathstalker. Can't recall the names of them but they were similar to ones Freelancer taught me. I just connected the dots in my head and linked it to what I know. Lot easier then I thought it would be. Though now that I listen to her closely, Goodwitch does sound a lot like...OH SHIT! Why didn't I notice the connection sooner? Please tell me she doesn't act anything like Texas or I'll be in a world of hurt. Then again, odd of finding this universe's Tex counterpart is pretty slim. Still I must remain cautious, don't startle the possible one-woman-army, and no sudden movements.
There are other people I recognized in the room. Ruby, Jaune, Private dead meat. . . I mean Cardin. The rest I have no freaking clue who they are. Though I am a bit surprised to see Jaune and Ruby here. Neither came off as the type for a leader. Ruby with her, for a lack of better words, young age. Jaune for his lack of confidence. But I'll give them the benefit of the doubt, don't judge a book by it's cover. I'll wait and give them a chance before I judge.
Before Goodwitch can begin to explain 'what to do if a team member is injured', Yang practically kicked down the door and ran to Goodwitch. The expression on her face was more along the lines of considered and a bit confused. Wonder what is so important she needs to kick down a door.
"Sorry about the door Goodwitch. We got trouble on the news; you'll want to hear it. Channel five." Yang explained. Okay now I am very confused. Unless it was a terrorist attack or something political, I can't think of anything news worthy to kick down a door and stop a class. Goodwitch didn't waste time and turned on the TV to Channel 5. Immediately an admiringly attractive news woman with bear ears appeared on the TV with a video of a Dinosaur rampaging through the city in a thunderstorm. Cars over turned, people running scared, massive footprints where the creature stepped. Headlight was pretty clear and straight forward.
Massive predator creature terrorizing downtown!
"What we're seeing, live from the channel 5 news chopper, is a unknown creature rampaging around the city of Vale. Officials have yet to confirm nor deny whether it is a new species of Grimm. The local police are having a difficult time getting to the creature with this level of chaos ensuring. So far it has claimed the life of at least three people. Officials advise our viewers keep away from this creature by any means necessary. If anyone has any information regarding the beast please contact. . ." The news woman informed. The animal in question let out a ear bursting roar toward the chopper that completely drowned out what ever the woman was saying, most likely to try to warn it to keep it's distance. I know this animal extremely well, and is very popular back home.
"What is that?" One student asked.
"Where did it come from?" Another asked.
"How did it get into Vale in the first place?" Jaune asked.
"Huh, I didn't know you guys had that here. Pain in the butt to take down yet rather beautiful work of nature, wouldn't you all agree." I finally spoke. "I mean, just look at the way it walks. Magnificent and rather quick for an animal of it's size. Easily can get up to ten, maybe fifteen kilometers an hour on average. Twenty if it's hungry. A truly beautiful and magnificent Apex-predator." I rambled a bit. Yes I am also kind of a dinosaur nerd. Needed something to do while I was stranded on killer dino island. So I studied the dinosaurs there a fair bit. T-rex was always my favorite, followed closely by Stegosaurus and Brachiosaurus.
"Care to share with the class what you know?" Goodwitch asked. I snapped out of my mini trance and looked to see every set of eyes on me. Damn it I done it again, hate rambling mindlessly. I pointed to the screen.
"That is a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Carnivore obviously, Apex predator. It has really damn good binocular vision, mouth full of teeth designed to crush bone. Full name means 'King tyrant lizard'. Easily nine tons, this specimen maybe eight due to how young and malnurished it looks. See that thick meaty neck, nothing but pure muscle. Bite force is roughly about 35 thousand newtons of force, compared to our extremely puny 300. Three meters tall, about thirteen meters long. That thing is a natural killing machine if I ever saw one. That specimen is a male due to the smaller size, females get larger and are a lot more ferocious when you mess with her babies. Guessing he's around five, maybe six years old at best. Judging by the way he's behaving. I would have to say he's trying to protect his kill, seeing the people around as scavengers who want a piece of his well earned meal. Won't bother hunting the civilians too much, we're like a quick snack compared to it's normal and much larger prey. From the looks of it, a Parasaurolophus. Won't bore you the details on that. Just keep your distance from it's kill and they'll be good for a short while. Don't antagonize it what ever you do. You would not like to see that thing pissed." I explained. "I see these guys all the time back home. I love sitting on a stump in the middle of the forest and watching them just live their life. I didn't know you had them here. "
"We don't. We've never seen anything like that before." Ruby replied. Wait, it isn't native to this place? Then how the hell did it . . . son of a bitch. I am such a idiot. I should of seen the signs. The storm, Rhode's sudden appearance, most of my suit's internal naigation systems offline. I didn't expect it to start so soon. But what could have . . . the pulse, it must of accidentally severed a key link. In simple terms, what is keeping this place afloat and not descending into complete chaos has been severed, now the multiverse is trying to correct that mistake by checking all it's links to and from this world. Only the stronger ones open the portals, acting as temporary anchors trying to keep this world afloat while it corrects itself. I look at the TV to see the beast was now walking along side a bus. The bus honked it's horn a few times trying to turn away from the beast. The Rex took it as a sigh of aggression and bellowed a bit before slamming it's massive head into the side of the bus, making the front end collapse inward. The Rex gave a final bark in warning as it walked off back to it's kill. The bus ran over a overturned car and flipped upside down, showering the area in glass. Don't think anyone can get out of that without a broken bone or two. Everyone in the room went silent and wide eyed.
"Ms. Goodwitch, can I be excused from class? I think I can get the Rex back where it goes." I asked. It's going to be a tricky task. Small morsels like humans or humanoids won't keep it's attention for long if it's even hungry. But a certain type of scent might, maybe someone who has animal like parts might keep it interested long enough to bring it home. I hate to do it, but it might be the only way to keep the Rex's attention. Less lives at risk, less damage done to the area, less bullets wasted to keep it's attention.
"You are excused but you'll have to stay after class tomorrow to make up for it." She replied but I was already out the door and running down the hall. First thing's first. I need my helmet and a certain Faunus friend. Can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope she smells delicious right now.
(Velvet's POV)
Few minutes later
"Please, someone make it stop." I beg holding my ears against my head to try and block out the noise. Johnathan's helmet hasn't stopped blaring it's alarm for the past five minutes straight, it's killing my ears. Johnathan said it was voice activated. I tried telling it to stop, it won't listen and kept blaring like a buzzer. Tried finding a snooze button, I even tried pushing all the buttons on it hoping one might disable the alarm. None worked. Fox and Yatsu were currently trying to figure out how to shut it off. Well Yastu was the one holding it, Fox was throwing ideas around for obvious reasons. Coco was still in class. She had to take history at a later time then the rest of us.
"Maybe we should ask Johnathan to shut it off. His helmet, must know how it works." Fox asked. Of course Fox states the obvious we can't do. It's not like Johnathan will be rushing through the door anytime soon.
"Someone call for me?" A familiar voice asked. I look to the door to see Johnathan there looking like he ran the whole way here. Speak of the devil, there he is. Fox, start naming off lottery numbers.
"Yeah, can you shut your alarm off. Killing Velvet's ears. Mine as well." Fox explained. I nodded in agreement. He walked over and picked his helmet up and put it on.
"System: Disengage alarm." He ordered. Just as suddenly as it began, it ended. The room was silent again. I let go of my ears as everyone looked at Johnathan. "You guys don't mind If I borrow Velvet to do some big game hunting?" He asked. Wait, we're doing WHAT!
"What am I going to be doing on this hunt exactly?" I asked.
"I'll explain on the way, we don't have a whole lot of time right now. Follow me." He said
(Johnathan's POV)
20 minutes later
"So we're going to be hunting a giant predator in a chaos filled city, without killing it, and somehow bring it back to it's universe?" Velvet asked paraphrasing everything I said to be sure she has it right. Now that she says it like that, it sounds like a suicide mission. Well if my past experiences with the Rex species is anything to go by, yeah it might be close but we just need to be smarter then the dino. Might need a motorcycle to be able to maneuver between cars and such faster.
"Yeah basically. Tricky part is keeping it's attention focused on us and outrunning it. My armor's instruments are picking up the portal's location a kilometers away so we're fine there." I replied. Velvet and I were currently on an airship about to drop in downtown Vale. I can see the Rex on a display screen in the ship, he had already picked the Parasaur clean but he still looked hungry. Now he was chasing after a group of humans and Faunus alike, bellowing his signature roar. Not a cop car in sight. Talk about a waste of tax dollars. Then again, I highly doubt anyone aside from the military is equip to handy something of this scale.
"Hold on, the creature has changed it's course. Avoiding the civilians and toward a car. I hope no one is inside." The reporter informed. I looked closely to see two people in the back seat, A young wolf faunus boy and girl, in what looks like a Ford explorer style van. Both couldn't be holder than 10. The girl was using a laser pointer to. . . Oh dear Allah. That kid's fucking around with forces she does not want to find out with. The Rex was attracted to the light shining in it's eyes. This looks very familiar. Please don't do what I'm thinking he's going to do. The Rex walked right beside the car, peering in with one eye curiously while letting out a low rumbling growl. "Tony, zoom in real quick. Focus on the car." The reporter said from the TV. The video showed the boy frozen in fear while the girl was still shining the laser pointer in the Rex's eyes. "There are kids in the car. I repeat, children are in the car!" the reporter informed panicking. The Rex tilted it's head at the car in confusion as it let out a low growl and bumped the side with his snout. The kids screamed as the car moved. The boy in fear, the girl in amusement. The Rex did this once more and managed to get a entire side off the ground before it crashed back down with a loud thud. The boy quickly tried to wrestle the pointer out of her hand. The two wrestled with the laser pointer until it was aimed through the sunroof on the car. The Rex peering right down it. Lightning crashed as the Rex slammed it'd massive head down on the hood of the car, cracking the windshield in a spiderweb. It let out a ear damming roar that echoed through out the city.
"Holy s***!" The reporter swore while being censored out. The Rex roared once more slamming his head down on the car again, sending glass flying every direction as every window on the vehicle shattered under the strain, tired popped and blown out under the sudden strain. He roared and bellowed as he tried to get his massive jaws inside the car. I could barely hear the kid's screams of terror over the thunder claps and raging roars of the great beast. The Rex slamming his full weight to topple the car over on it's roof, showering the kids in glass and rain. He started ripping apart the underside of the car like it was a wild animal. Ripping out lord only knows what parts off and spat them out as his attention moved to the slow moving back wheel. It grabbed onto the rubber with it's powerful jaws and kept it's foot on top of the vehicle to keep it from moving. I looked beside me to see Velvet looking back at the screen in pure horror. Hands over her mouth completely speechless with her eyes fixed on the carnage on screen.
"Can't this thing go any faster!" I yelled out to the pilot.
"We're going as fast as we can in this faster and I risk breaking something." The pilot called back. The Rex reached down and grabbed the vehicle in it's jaws, lifting it up into the air as lightning flashed and thunder clapped around him. The kids were on the destroyed roof of the car, drenched with rain and blood as they embraced one another and tried to keep themselves inside the car and not fall out as the beast shook the vehicle. "Coming up on your stop, get ready to jump." The pilot warned, I fear we might be too late for the children in that car. Finally the beast had enough and threw the car with all his might across the street. Sending said car skidding across the ground with a torrent sparks as metal scrapped the cold pavement. The beast let out another primal roar right before the car slammed into the front window of a local bakery, sending glass and brick every which way. I can't even see if the kids are still alive or not.
"HEY!" A voice yelled over the raging storm toward the massive beast. The chopper zoomed out to show an Asian guy holding a brightly burning flare in one hand as the beast let out a terrible roar that rumbled the air. Hold on a second. Is that. . . REN!
(Ren's POV)
"HEY!" I yelled waving the flare around. The animal looked at me with it's beady amber eyes and let out a might roar. A primal roar from a forgotten world that echoed though out the city over the claps of thunder. Everything about this beast screamed primal power. I am beginning to thing that this is, by far, the dumbest thing I have ever done in my entire life. Standing in the downpour alone, holding a burning flare in one hand, trying to get the attention of a rampaging apex predator easily ten times my size and a hundred times my weight that can end my with a single bite. Nora and I were in town just getting basic essentials for the dorm. Laundry soap, cleaning supplies, pancake mix and syrup. I heard the kids cry out in terror and I had to act somehow. I couldn't call myself a Huntsmen, let alone a man, if I left innocent children to their fate cold heatedly. So I grabbed a flare off the store shelf, threw down what ever lien I had in hand before bolting toward the beast. Only to now get a feel for just how flawed my approach was. I should have thought this through a little better. I breathed in and out calmly as the massive beast walked toward me, the ground shaking with every step, water jolting and rippling in puddles around me from the impact of the beast.
I waved the flare to the right to see if the beast would follow. It's eyes were transfixed on the glowing flame in my hand as it followed my hand from right to left, then to the right again, and back. This was good, I got it's attention. So long as it stays on either me or the flare, everything should be okay. It let out a low rumble as it stood barely a meter from me, an aura of ancient primal power radiated off it as it looked me be curiously. I could feel it's hot sticky breath on my face as it let out a low growl opening and closing it's jaws, still fixed on the burning flare in my hand. I can smell the remains of it's last meal between it's teeth. It reeked of death and decay as it began to sniff the flare in my hand. I stood as still as a board the whole time, remaining as calm and in control as I can given the situation. I'm curious what it saw me as? Food? a scavenger? What? why hasn't it tried to kill me yet? With the flick of my wrist I threw the flare toward the part to my right and it's gaze followed. The beast let out a deep bellow as it stomped past me toward the flare, it's foot missing me by mere centimeters as the thunderous beast began to walk away. Holy crap, I can't believe that worked as well as it did.
"OVER HERE BIG GUY! HEY! HEY!" I heard Jaune shout. My blood ran cold as I turned to see Jaune popping in from a side street with a flare in hand, waving it around like a lunatic and shouting to get the beast's attention. I am not sure why he is here or even how he got here in the first place, but he is going to get himself killed really fast.
"JAUNE! FREEZE!" I screamed as the beast turned it's attention to Jaune, it let out a deep and primal roar as it began to charge toward him.
"Get the kids!" Jaune ordered putting the flare in his right hand and began to bolt. The beast stepped on and crushed a sedan as it took monstrous strides toward Jaune, who I am proud of for being brave in spite of his equally suicidal plan to my own. I yelled for him once more but it fell on deaf ears as he interrupted me before I could finish his name. "That's an order Ren! Forget me! Get the kids out of here! I'll distract him! Just get them out of here!" He yelled as the beast's thunderous steps shook the ground beneath it, it roared and bellowed at Jaune, making the blonde run faster as rain drenched us both to our underwear. Jaune threw the flare and kept bolting toward a allyway that looked too small for the beast to fit through. The beast was in biting distance before I was forced to turn away, sending a bone rattling roar though the air. I swore and ground my teeth before running toward the destroyed land cruiser. Jaune was right, the kids need someone now. I have to trust he knows what he is doing. I got to the overturned vehicle and went to my knees to see if they were alright. Bruised, cut up, and covered in blood but they were still alive. I need to get them to a doctor, fast. The beast roared behind me once more as I heard Jaune scream out in pain. I turned barely for a second to see him in the beast's jaws. Jaune punching and smacking what ever he could to get out of them, metal plating on his cuirass bent and broke around the beast's wide teeth as it bit down, Jaune was enveloped in a white aura that refused to break and shatter, but it didn't stop him from screaming out in pain.
"HEY! OVER HERE YOU OVERGROWN TURKEY!" Johnathan yelled as he skid to a stop with a Rabbit faunus on the back end of the bike, he pulled his pistol and fired off several rounds toward the beast. Small fountians of blood and flesh erupted from the hind leg of the beast. It threw Jaune into the top floor of a building before turning to face the new threat before bellowing out a deep and terrifying primal roar. Johnathan revved the bike and flew down the street. The beast hot on his trail as he lead it Monty knows where.
(Jonathan's POV)
Less than a minute ago
"This is as far as I'm willing to go. Rest is up to you." The pilot responded opening the doors and lowering the airship. Below was a lot of abandoned cars, lots of people running in fear, and even a motorcycle or two. What luck right? One problem down, ninety nine more to go.
"You can't bring us any closer?" I asked getting ready to jump. Wasn't that far, 10 feet max. Cliff side was a lot higher so this will be a piece of cake. Velvet was even ready to jump. Oh I hope the Rex follows us. Worst case, we get eaten and I become indigestion to remember.
"Your lucky I brought you this far. Storm is getting worse and I can't afford to damage this any more than it already is." He replied though the radio. It is situations like this that I miss Four-seven-niner and her crazy flying skill. But beggars can't be picky. Needed a pilot at short notice, guess I should be lucky the pilot was crazy enough to do this.
"Alright then, thanks anyway." I replied jumping out of the airship and hit the ground with a loud thud, Velvet not too far behind me but she landed on the roof of a car. I look up to see the airship already flying away. People were still running away from the Rex as it's signature roar echoed throughout the streets. Another clash of thunder boomed overhead as rain pelted my armor every which way. This was going to be a fun day.
"So what do you need me for again?" She asked quickly getting off the roof of the car. I bent down and picked up a random bike. Looks like a beefed up Harley as well. Damn I'm going to be heart broken when I have to give this back. I hope she doesn't hate me for this, but it's the only way I can think of to get him back home.
"Basically, I need your unique scent to keep the Rex's attention fixed on us. As long as he focuses on us, no one else will get hurt and we might lure him back to his home universe. Wouldn't ask you to do this if the situation wasn't dire." I replied turning the key as the 'hog rumbled to life. Nice and loud, we'll definitely keep the Rex's attention. I put some weight on it, and it holds me just fine. Whom ever custom made this to handle my fat ass, you have my gratitude.
"So I'm basically bait for a hungry predator?" She asked.
"Basically yeah. As long as we're faster than the Rex, you'll be alright." I replied hopping on the 'hog. "Don't worry. I won't let nothing happen to you. You have my word." I extended my hand for her to take. I'm glad she was able to come this far with almost no knowledge of what is in store. In hindsight I should've told her right off the bat. She let out a sigh and took my hand as she got on the back of the bike. I threw up a helmet I found on the ground. Coincidentally it had special holes in the top for a Faunus. Now if only I had this luck back home. I had my helmet so it wasn't any issue there.
"I trust you Johnathan, but please tell me you at least have a driver's license?" She asked kind of timidly and put on her helmet. I revved the bike a few and disengaged the kickstand. I smirked under my helmet. Oh today is going to be a fun day indeed.
"What's a driver's license?" I replied jokingly as I put full throttle on the gas. Making the bike shoot forward at high speeds. Velvet let out a shriek and wrapped her arms around my abdomen to stay on. I must say it felt kind of nice. But I'm sure karma will kick in later. "System: pinpoint portal location and details. Full display." I ordered as we zoomed down the street and weaved through obstacles. Small ding later and a marker showed up on my HUD along with the results.
~Multiverse portal results
Origin: Natural
Size: Small, controllable rupture
Linked to: Jurassic park sub-verse #19
~Portal decay time: 4:05:42~
"Hold on tight. This may be a bumpy ride." I said weaving between various first responders and civilians. Almost a kilometer away due east. This is going to be fun. Little over four hours till it closes naturally, plenty of time. Smaller they are, the longer they hold stable. I popped a wheelie as we zoomed closer to our target, right past people in cop uniforms and the female members of JNPR. More than likely they tried to warn us of something or another. I ignored them as I pulled my pistol out and fired a round at the Rex. It did nothing but piss it off as it let out a cry of anger. Ren was trying to get the kids out from under the crushed car. Jaune was in the Rex's jaws but was thrown into a second story window when the Rex snapped it's head to us. He'll live, jaws weren't fully closed on him. He'll feel like he's been through hell in the morning. Ren was getting the kids out from under the car as fast as he could.
"HEY! OVER HERE YOU OVERGROWN TURKEY!" I yelled firing three more rounds into it's side. I'd have a easier time trying to stab this thing with a plastic knife, results are about the same. But I have it's attention never the less. It looked at us and let out an ear damming primal roar as it charged our way. Now it's Velvet's job to keep it interested. I hope my theory is right for once. I stepped on the gas and zoomed away, just enough to keep us away but at the same time make us look like easy prey to him. It may not be too hungry but if I know tyrannosaur by now, he'll want to eat any chance he gets. In his home environment, you never know when you're next meal will be.
The Rex took a massive lunge at us but missed by a bit. It went over the cars and crushed them with ease, I had to maneuver between them. This was like a game of cat and mouse. Only the cat was pissed off while the mouse was trying not to be it's next meal. Always hated that game, I'm always the mouse. The Rex took another lunge but came up short by a few inches, it's hot breath on our backs as it let out another bellowing roar. I looked at the marker on my HUD. Almost there, just need to keep his attention a few more seconds.
"Johnny, it's getting closer." Velvet warned. I looked to the mirror to see the Rex flip an armored car and bellowed at us keeping up. I quickly made a sharp turn down a dark ally. The Rex collided with a building but still came charging our way. At the end of the ally was the portal I was looking for. News chopper hovering overhead. Well I always wanted to be on television, not how I pictured my fifteen minutes of fame going.
"What is that thing?" Velvet asked.
"You wanted to know what I do for a living. You're about to get a taste of it first hand." I replied as we sped right through the portal, with the Rex in tow.
(Velvet's POV)
Jurassic Park Sub-verse #19
Isla Sorna: Site B
At first I felt a nauseating pain throughout my entire body, head pounded like someone put it in a mechanical press. The world changed right before my eyes. What was once a dark alley full of graffiti and litter, was now a primal landscape full of enormous animals and plants I never seen before. Mid day turned to early dusk within moments. The nausea slowly went away after the first animal bellowed in fear and started running. I looked around wildly confusedly. Where am I?! What are these things?! What's going on?!
"You may experience some nausea, it is completely normal. You will experience mild headaches, they will go away after a while. The first jump is always the worst. Temporary blindness is rare but possible, it goes away on it's own after some time. Yes what you're seeing is 100% real and the danger is even more real. Hold on tight." He yelled over the stampede. The orangish green one looked kind of cool with it's curved horn on it's face. It was huge as we only came up barely to it's hip. It let out a deep bellow in alarm as it sped off with the herd. Second grey animal was a lot smaller, curved dome skull and looked like it could do some serious damage, it snorted and squealed as it ran along side us. Third one looked like a overgrown orange ostrich without feathers. It ran the fastest and was weaving between other animals to get away. Few were massive behemoths, easily 50 feet tall. Necks reaching up to the heavens as they bellowed with the herd. I look back to see the Rex still on us. Jonathan punched the gas as we speed off into the herd.
"Keep your head down, ears low, arms on me, and don't let go whatever you do. These things are terrified and confused right now. This bike is not meant to go off road let alone be in the center of a stampede." He explained as we went soaring into the air after hitting a bump, the bike came down hard but kept going. The Rex let out another roar behind us. Few three horned beasts bellowed back as they formed a wall between us and him. He swerved right to avoid the foot of the fifty foot giants. I look at to see the creamy underbelly of the beast, it let out a soft cry as we drove between it's massive legs. The orange ones bellowed more as they ran in fear. Few of the smaller ones ran ahead as fast as their legs can run. I looked back out of curiosity. The Rex let loose a mighty roar to try and scare the wall of horns off. They kept their ground and the largest one bellowed in return, rearing up on her hind legs and stomping down at the dirt. Portal was still there but most of the animals kept away from it because of the Rex. I squealed in surprise as we almost collided with the crest animal. It bellowed at us in alarm and turned to run the other way.
"Hold on tight, we're going off this game trail and into the jungle. Hopefully we'll be safer there." He replied taking a sharp turn into the forest. I held on to him with everything I had. I can hear the roars and bellows of various animals as we drove into the forest. We were now swerving between tree trunks as we slowed down. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in and look back to see our tire tracks. None of the animals seemed to have followed. We came to a complete stop at the base of a thick and large fig tree. Jonathan put the kickstand up and started looking around. "Well, that could of gone better." He joked as he let out a small chuckle. "You can let go of me. We're parked." I was still holding on to him for dear life. Never going to be live bait again, that was too terrifying. Feels like my heart is going to explode out of my chest. I blinked a few times as I let go, blushing like crazy as well.
"Never doing that again." I finally said as I got off the bike wobbling a bit. I struggled to regain my balance on the uneven ground.
"Agreed. Hate using friends as bait, but there was no other way to keep its attention on us. None that I can think of right off hand." He replied.
"How do you know he won't go back through the portal?" I asked nearly fell over but managed to support myself on the trunk of the large tree. Head pulsating in pain right behind my eyes. I closed my eyes and focused my Aura to try to dissipate the pain.
"He won't. He looked disoriented coming back so he won't go through it again. T-rex isn't stupid enough to do something that will hurt him three times in a row." He replied getting off the bike. "I know you have a lot of questions. I'll answer as many as I can within reason. But first we need to get up high. We need to wait out the stampede and the Rex but we can't do it on the ground this close to nightfall. That is when the worst predators are most active. Only a few can climb but we'll be alright." Well I can't ague with that logic. I know nothing about this world, so best I listen if I want to survive. I nodded as I started to climb the large tree beside us. Jonathan was hiding the bike with a few ferns on the ground. No idea why but I won't argue. He joined me a few minutes later as we looked over jungle canopy, albeit with the branches creaking under his weight as he climbed.
"We'll be safe up here for the moment. What ever you want to ask, go ahead. I'll answer what I can" He said before taking off his helmet and resting it on a protruding sturdy tree limb.
"Too many to know where to even begin?" I replied keeping my balance on the branch. "I'll start with the most basic one first. What is this world? Where are we exactly?"
"Jurassic park sub-verse. Isla Sorna if memory serves. I'm not sure if this is based on the movie or book. Most likely the movie as Gallimimus wasn't in the second book. Basically we're on a island full of prehistoric animals. When in it's timeline I can't say for certain." He replied quickly. I haven't the faintest idea on how to understand a word he just said. I have a feeling it would take him hours to explain it all so I'll go with the more burning questions.
"What is with your armor? Looks like it's from Atlas yet more advanced." I asked.
"I 'acquired' it off a dead Super soldier I found with my father. WO or 'World of Origin' in the Halo sector. I had to get my body augmented to be able to wear it without dying horribly. Already replaced several systems with more practical ones for my line of work. Replaced the shields with tachyon tracers to track some portal ruptures, installed several fission batteries to make it more redundant, and modified the helmet systems for more creature comforts. Several of my weapons came from his universe. My swords and my railgun for example."
"Can you tell me what your parents were like?" He stiffened a bit at that.
"Never knew my mother and my father was a great man. Let's leave it at that. I . . . I don't think I'm ready to talk about that subject just yet." He replied almost pained. Serena did say both their parents are dead, I am a bit curious on what they were like. What his life story is about a bit. To start you need to go to the beginning, the parents. Bad idea now that I think about it.
"Do you like your job, the one back where your from?"
"It's an . . . barely acceptable living. Pay is borderline unlivable, environment is extremely hostile, free coffee tastes like ground up dirt, good most of my co-workers are complete assholes who suck the boss's nuts because he lets them keep the good shit. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. You get to see beautiful places, make interesting friends, medical ward is great, been there enough times to earn my own special bed there and I know all the nurses by first name. I got a wonderful twin sister at my back and beautiful daughter I would do anything for." He replied. I looked at him a bit skeptically. Isn't he a little young to have a. . . "Don't give me that look. I never done . . . 'that'. . . . nor do I actively seek to do 'that'. I stumbled across her on one of my adventures. She lost her family to a dragon a few years ago, I took her in and have been raising her as my own ever since. She is six years old if memory serves, Khajiit. Race of humanoid cat people. Think of it like a big cat faunus only have the human like features to the minimum. Best way i can describe her. You should have of seen the look on her face when she first saw a electronic device. Thought it was magic when I turned on a TV. I don't blame her though. Her universe isn't as technologically advanced as mine or yours, but still amazing never the less. I often bring her back small trinkets I manage to keep. . . . I got to enroll her in some type of school when I get back." He explained. He a single father too! Why did Monty have to drop the perfect guy into my lap while attending school this early in the year? Figured I would meet him when I am fully trained or when Coco tries to set me up on blind date again. Woman is dead determined to set me up with someone or die trying, she even tried setting me up with Fox and Yastu, wasn't a romantic spark with either of them so we remained friends and teammates.
"Let's talk about you for a bit. What is your family like?" He asked. Well tables have turned. Guess it is only fair. Asked about his past, only fair I tell him a bit about mine.
"Not much with my story. My mother, Meg Scarlatina, is a rabbit faunus and a good doctor in Vale. My father, Will Scarlatina, is a human and a engineer for Atlas. Yes humans and Faunus can have kids together. My brother, Jack, is also a Rabbit Faunus. He's less than a year old. We live in Vale, friendly neighborhood, few fights on our block. My mother's side of the family lives in Vale, Father's side lives in Atlas. They meet while on a school trip years ago, you can figure out the rest from there pretty easily. I last saw my father the summer before I started Beacon. " I replied. My past really isn't that glamorous as many people like to think. Just pretty simple, pretty basic, nothing too fancy or eccentric. Fair share of family crazy stories.
"Must be the good life. Can't remember the last time I slowed down to enjoy the little things. The ones you don't know you'll miss till you already lost them. Like seeing the smile on dad's face when I did something good, or his homemade mashed potatoes and biscuits. Talk about a having slice of heaven. Moments like this makes you glad to be alive." He replied chuckling a bit. "It's funny really. I've been so busy surviving the Multiverse that I rarely ever slow down to admire the worlds I visit and the opportunities it has. Like right now, there is a perfect sunset yet I never figured it could be this beautiful. To experience a once in a lifetime opportunity like this. A primal landscape with as little human intervention as possible in years. Just breath taking."
I look out to see he was right. The pink sun was slowly dipping below the mountainous peaks that surround this place, few of the long necked dinosaurs were softly singing to each other as their heads poked out of the treetops, even the air was cool and perfect. I would thank Monty for the sight, but I don't think he'll hear me from this world.
"Wow, you're right it is beautiful" I mused as the dinosaurs sung a beautiful song. Jonathan cupped his hands over his mouth and tried to mimic their call. Sounded a bit off but eventually a few new heads started poking up. I silently laughed as one head bent down close to check us out.
"I got an idea." Jonathan said quickly snapped a overhanging branch and shook it a bit on front of it. "Come on girl, I know you're hungry. Big girls like you got to eat." He tried to coax. The animal barked loudly as it latched on the to branch and tried to drag him with it. He got all of a foot before he latched his human arm around the thickest branch he can reach and pulled her back toward us. "Oh no you don't, I'm not letting go that easily." He taunted as the dino stopped pulling and started chewing the leaves. Jaw going side ways like a cow. "You can go ahead and pet her now." He replied keeping a tight grip on the branch.
"You sure it's safe?" I asked looking the animal in the eyes. It lazily chewed as it's gigantic brown eyes looked right at me. It's head was about half my size. Bright brown eyes looking right at me full of curiosity. "She's an herbivore so she won't hurt you intentionally. At least not without being provoked first. Brachiosaurus have no natural predators when you're her size. She doesn't fear us and has no reason to fear us really." He informed slowly petting the bump on her head. The animal gave a low humming like noise as he pet her. Might be her special way to show affection. I timidly raised my hand out to touch her. She backed off a bit as my hand was almost to her. Jonathan pet her a bit more. "Shh Shh Shh, It's alright girl, we won't hurt you." He said in a baby voice as he pulled the branch closer, thus making the animal move closer. I gently laid my hand on the animal's head. It moved a bit but let out a low hum before leaning into my touch. She was warm, her skin felt rough yet soft. The feeling of petting an animal like this is indescribable. Like nothing I ever felt before, and it's all thanks to Jonathan. "Amazing isn't it. You're the only being from your universe to have the wonderful honor of seeing this majestic animal in her natural habitat or at all." He mused. When he words it like that, I guess it is a honor. Seeing animals that I never heard of before, right in front of me. Beautiful creatures that I can see and touch. Thank you Jonathan for giving me this once in a lifetime chance.
"How do you know it's a girl?" I asked slowly petting her.
"She's a duller color. The males have bright colors to try and attract the females. Normally the Alpha is the one with the brightest colors or the largest of the herd. They're in charge of protecting the herd from any predator stupid enough to try to mess with the young." He informed. I would ask how he knows all this, but I probably don't want to know the answer. Johnathan let go of the branch and the animal moved her head back. I reached out to try and pet her some more, but Jonathan held his hand out to catch me and shook his head. "She needs to go now. Dinos her size need to keep constantly eating to survive, Let's just sit back and watch them graze as the sun dies down. I'm glad I was able to get one to cooperate."
I am saddened that I can't pet her anymore but I understand. I slumped back to our tree and watched the sun just barely poking out behind the mountain peaks, slowly descending a stars filled the night sky. The Brachiosaurs kept singing their wondrous song as Jonathan slumped down next to me. I'll be completely honest, this actually felt a little romantic. Sitting in a prehistoric tree with a cute guy, watching the sunset over a prehistoric landscape, animals singing in the wind. Felt like something pulled right out of a romantic novel and thrown right at me. Only one thing is missing, might as well to complete this picture.
"Jonathan." I softly called as I tilted my head up.
"Yeah?" He asked quietly turning his head to look into my eyes. I quickly leaned up and kissed him on the lips, just as the sun dove below the mountains and darkness filled the area. Didn't mean to, meant to kiss his cheek, but I'll go with it, too late to fix it now. In that short 2 second time frame, I felt something. Something tingly in my heart and it felt very good, like we were suppose to do this. Miniature fireworks went off in my mind. I pulled away, leaving an awestruck explorer.
"Thanks for showing me this world, for giving me the opportunity to see and touch one of the kinder animals, and for everything you've done for me so far. I appreciate it." I replied smiling as I snuggled up in his arms. Both to keep me from falling and because it felt good knowing he will be here to protect me. Sure his armor was a bit cold, but it still felt god being in his arms. He snapped out of his daze and looked down to see me in his arms. I closed my eyes and just let the feeling of comfort wash over me. I think I might have fallen in love with Jonathan. Tomorrow I'll ask him to a movie. As soon as classes are over. I'll think of something. Right now, I'm too comfortable to move or think.
(Jonathan's POV)
What the fuck just happened?!
One second I'm watching the Brachiosaurus graze majestically, next second I got kissed by Velvet square on the lips. I won't deny that it felt good, but I just can't believe it. Personality and appearance wise I know I'm no where close to perfect, yet here I am with the most perfect girl ever, of all time, snuggling up to me in my arms. I can get kissing me for giving her a once in a life time opportunity, but I expected it to be on the cheek. Isn't that how girls show their gratitude? No? Then I've been taking advice from the wrong person, thank what ever god there is that I don't listen to Tucker. I'd be missing a few important parts I can't get robotic replacements for, if I follow his advice. I don't belong to any religion. When I need someone to thank or curse, I think of the first deity that comes to mind and roll with it. That might be why I find myself in the weirdest of situations now that I think of it.
In the short time I've gotten to know her. I will admit Velvet is cute, shes funny, she has a heart of gold, what more can someone want. Never meet someone like her in my travels who is close to my age. But I know it will never work out. Someone as perfect as her deserves someone a lot better then me, someone who isn't a ever so expanding homicidal time bomb on the inside. Plus when Serena finds me, I will need to leave her behind and most likely break her heart. I can't do that to a woman as sweet as her. I can't bring her along either, don't want her to suffer the same fate as half my old friends. I look down to see the adorable bunny girl snuggling up to me in my arms. She looked peaceful and quite beautiful too. I smiled as I held her closer yet gently as I could.
"Johnathan?" Velvet asked sounding sleepy. I looked down at the rabbit girl before me. "Can you explain the multiverse a little bit more. I want to know how you view it." She asked wiggling a bit in my arms as she got more comfortable.
"How do I put this in less nerdy terms?" I asked myself resting my back against the thick tree behind me as I looked up at the slowly darkening sky. . . that might work. "When you look up at the night sky. What do you see?"
"I see. . . stars. Countless stars in a dark sea. Each one vibrant, bristling with inspiration and untold beauty." She answered looking up at the night sky with me.
"Imagine each star on a clear night sky as a different world. Each one similar yet different to your own in some way. With each world having a night sky of it's own, full of different stars representing other worlds. The more worlds you find, the more stars you see as well. Each one connected to each other in some way or another in a near infinite web, and that's just one region. Now imagine each near infinite web also connected to other near infinite webs to form a massive, spiraling, and ever expanding cloud filling the night sky in a beautiful and interconnected master piece." I explained looking up to the stars as Velvet gazed up in amazement.
"How do you do it? How do you go about those worlds knowing it's never ending?" She asked.
"I take it one day at a time, focus on finding the beauty and joy in the mess. Sometimes it's worth it. . . sometimes it's not. All you can do is hope for the best, while preparing for the worst." I informed wrapping my robotic arm around her. "You should get some rest. It's going to be a tough ride back to the portal, you'll need your strength. I'll keep watch" She nodded and closed her eyes smiling. I couldn't help but smile as I started humming to the Brachio's songs. "System: set alarm for an hour till the Portal closes. Alert me if anything changes." I quietly ordered. Small beep from my helmet insured me it herd me and followed. I smiled and looked back down at the bunny in my arms. A bright and infectious smile across her face as she closed her eyes. I used my free arm to brush her hair out of her eyes. I leaned down and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead when she wasn't looking. "Sweet dreams." I whispered looking back at the stars above. When Velvet is in my arms, happy and smiling, I feel like I would take on entire armies to keep her from harm, cross any terrain to be by her side, crush mountains to get her help, destroy anything or anyone that means to hurt her. Only felt this way about a few people before in my entire life. I swore I would never do it again, but the facts are all in front of me. This explains a fair bit now that I think about it. There is no avoiding the truth. I've fallen in love with Velvet. Which God did I piss off enough to make me fall in love with someone I know I can never stay with, even if I tried.
~Dgreen20