Chapter Nine
Lex
…..
Lex can find her breath hitching as the ranger rover of Claire drives through the smooth maintenance road heading over to the control center of Jurrasic World. She would not say it out loud but deep inside she can feel her heart beating inside her chest like a drum.
What happened was just way too close for comfort back there. If asked, she would not be able to explain what happened. All she saw was her girlfriend in trouble and before Lex knew it, she was moving. Years of learning and instinct of being exposed in the wilds had made her move, zeroing on that discarded sharpened pole which she had used to pin at the shoulder of Indominus. Did she know it would work? Of course not. She just hoped it would and thankfully with all her lucky stars, it did.
"What happened back there?" the terrified panicky voice of Claire brings Lex back to the present. The director of Jurassic Park looks extremely pale, pasty white in fact with her knuckles gripping the steering wheel extra hard.
"What happened there is your asset almost escaping," gasps out Sophie. The French beauty still has her muddied and torn outfit covered in leaves, bits of bone, mud and grass. "What in the world did you use on making it that it is bullet impervious?"
"That should be impossible, the sensors and the secondary measures should have made sure that it would never have been able to escape. The chief engineer ensured me so," protests the park manager.
"Well said Chief Engineer is dead now and your secondary measures? They count for shit! We almost got eaten, you hear me? Eaten!" Sophie points out half hysterically. Lex cannot blame her for her current attitude. It is not everyday after all a walking killing machine guns after your ass. For the record she's taking it fairly well all things considered.
"Why did you open the gates anyway knowing that it's inside?" asks Claire heatedly.
"The sensors cannot find it," the lower tone of Lex answering stops the two other women bickering.
"What?"
"You heard me, the heat sensors and even that of the thermal imagery fails to find it inside the paddock. It is invincible there Mrs. Dearing," says Lex feeling her heart calm down slowly. "That is why me, the guards, Mister Grady and the Chief Engineer entered. We thought it escaped, especially with the claw marks on the side of the wall,"
"That should be-,"
"Impossible, I know," finishes Lex with a sigh. "Which makes it extremely imperative that we ask the lab guys directly as to the details of your asset. What you have there is a dinosaur that raises serious questions Claire. Its hide is so thick that bullets cannot penetrate it and it is invincible to military grade sensors. It also has enough intelligence to put claw marks there, marks that made us think that it managed to escape and lure us inside,"
"Miss Murphy, you are talking about an animal, a wild animal," points out Claire askance.
"A very highly intelligent animal it seems," Sophie adds out removing bits of grass and mud out of her hair. "The animal that is the most dangerous in the wild is not the one who is the biggest or the most lethal but the one that uses its head,"
"So you've got any information that you'd like to share with us Miss Dearing before I face my godfather?" asks Lex looking pointedly at the Park Manager who only grimaced.
"I do not necessarily know much about the Indominus Rex layout. All I know is that its main genome is that of a T-Rex spliced with a little that of the Gigantosaurus and some Majungasaurus, the rest is classified by the lab and labeled only in a need-to-know-basis. I did not ask much more after that. It is Wu's department, not mine,"
"Then at least I know who to talk to after that of my godfather," says Lex leaning comfortably on the backrest of the car. "Is Mr. Grady really following us with that motorcycle of his at this speeds?" she can't help but ask looking at the side mirror behind showing the Raptor Wrangler keeping up with the fast moving car.
"What? Oh yeah, he's an adrenaline junkie and he can manage that bike of his pretty well in driving," says Claire waving off her concerns.
"He's a badass, are you sure that he's not your boyfriend Miss Dearing? One can feel almost the sexual tension between the two of you," points out Sophie earning her a glare from the Jurassic World Manager.
"Let me tell you Miss De Leon that the relationship between me and Mr. Grady is limited to the professional standards of this office,"
"Un-bloody likely, but I'll let it go," adds Sophie quickly at a warning glance from Lex not to pursue the subject anymore.
"He's got quite the instincts though when it comes to dinosaurs. He's the first to spot the discrepancies at the paddock of the Indominus back there," points out Lex.
"We only hire the best here at Jurassic World Ms. Murphy, Mr. Grady is one of our best, and he has the skills to back it up," sniffs Claire.
"Yes, I saw that very well back then Ms. Dearing and I agree to that. How long till we reach the control center?" asks Lex.
"Momentarily, we are almost at the maintenance roads that leads to the back parking space of the center," says Claire. Lex can see that she's right to, they are finally reaching what seems to be the start of Jurrasic World civilization as one can see more and more workers and rangers coming back and fro at the sides of the roads.
"There it is," says Claire as the familiar pavilion like structure of the center of the park comes into view.
"Good, the sooner that I can talk to my godfather, the better it would be," says Lex.
"You are not planning on decommissioning the asset,are you Ms. Murphy? That thing costs thirty million dollars in development and it would be a waste to throw it all away based on a single escape attempt that failed," points out Claire.
"It would depends, but there are some things that I would want cleared before I even say yes or no when it comes to my approval," says Lex stepping out the moment that the car of Claire stops in front of the Center's parking lot with Sophie following close behind her.
"I can't fault you for that," mumbles Claire also stepping out after them. The rev of Owen's engine can be heard as the Raptor Wrangler also parks his Harley beside that of Claire's jeep.
"Ma'am I can't just-," the guards at the back of the building try to stop them only to shut up at a glare from Lex and her showing them her VIP card which miraculously is still attached to the ID of hers despite the problem with the Indominus before.
"Either you move aside or the next job that you would be doing would be shoveling shit of the T-Rex from its paddock," she says seriously making the man balk who then backs down at the threat.
"I like it when you're all commanding and authoritative love," sniggers Sophie as the two guards let them in.
Lex just "hmmfs" in response to her girlfriend. For the record, the two of them looks less like company heads and more like vagabonds who got lost in the jungle. The guards' less than enthusiastic way of letting them enter is justified. Lex has her pencil skirt ripped up to her outer thigh and she's missing her blazer. Her hair is also askew from its ponytail wrap that it has before. Sophie has it worse, her outfit is covered in dust, mud and bits of blood and bone. Like Lex, her hair is also all over the place making her look like she has gone ten rounds with a dinosaur (Which she probably did). Owen at the back following them is pulling the rough and gruff look better than the two of them with his vest, blue shirt and his outdoor outfit but one can see that even he is looking less than stellar, especially with the pissed off look he is also sporting.
Scientists, businessmen, employees and guests all jump aside and stare as the small group marches towards the control room. It does not take long for a familiar face to come within their sights who only takes one look at them before putting two and two together.
"What happened? Are you two alright?" asks Rebecca, one of the members of the ACU running towards them with two of the ACU boys behind her.
"Long story short, escaped dinosaur, we barely managed it out and lock the damned thing inside," smiles Sophie wryly even as Rebecca signals for her guys to go back to their posts while she walks beside Lex and Sophie.
"Shit, that is a nasty encounter. You should have left that kind of work to us. It's what we are being paid for after all," says Rebecca eyeing their ruined outfits up and down.
"We don't exactly have a choice with the Indominus right there inside the paddock with Sophie and the rest of your guys," says Lex with a grimace at Rebecca who blinks at her words.
"The Indominus paddock? You three are in the Indominus paddock?"
"Not exactly me, but Sophie, Jonathan, David, and Owen are inside when the thing comes after their asses. They have to hightail it out of the gate and prevent the Indominus from escaping through the entrance of the place," says Lex.
"Wait, wait hold up there. What do you mean they are inside the paddock? Why would they be inside the paddock? There's a reason why we have thermal sensors so that we can check if the dinosaurs are inside or not before we go in," points out Rebecca.
"That's the thing Rebecca, the blasted thing cannot be seen by sensors when we checked it out and we thought it managed to get out. Thus we checked it and the chief engineer got chewed to bits when the Indominus tried to turn ape shit on those who were inside. We barely managed to close the gate and lock it behind us," explains Sophie.
"What do you mean the thing cannot be seen by the sensors?" asks a bewildered Rebecca who earns her a grimace from everyone involved in the Indominus escapade a few hours before.
"Exactly as we say it, the damned thing's invisible to the sensors, both thermal and night vision," it is Owen who explains it this time. "That is why we are here, to find answers from both Massrani and the lab as to why that is,"
"I'm finding a hard time believing it but okay, I'll tag along. The ACU could use the information that you guys would be bringing along," mumbles Rebecca walking along beside them.
When they arrive at the control center, Lex does not expect the wall of sound that slams right into her face. Everyone around the control room seems to be running around like headless chickens while her godfather, Simon Massrani looks a little lost as he tries to calm the obviously panicked people around.
"What is going on here?!" Lex shouts through the din of the clamor. She might be a woman, but her voice rings clear, loud and true making everyone immediately stop as they stare at the bedraggled group that just enters the room. Lex is caught off guard though as her godfather approaches her with large steps and sweeps her in a bone crushing hug that sends her ribs screaming in protest.
"Lex! I am so glad you are alright," he breathes out through the gesture. "When I heard that the Indominus has gotten out of its paddock I have been worried sick,"
"It tried to get out godfather, and I'm fine, both me, Sophie and the rest manage to prevent it from escaping the gates," says Lex reciprocating the hug of her godfather. She is bewildered though as the man looks at her with trepidation and no small amount of nervousness.
"After you and your group left Lex, it manages to get out of its enclosure," says Massrani making Lex's eyebrows shoot to the top of her hairline.
"What do you mean godafather? Last time I saw the thing, it is banging futilely through that six inch gate of solid steel. There is no way that it manages to get past that unless it learned how to climb,"
"We are tracking it right now Lex look," says Massrani pointing at the monitor at the front of the control room showing a red dot moving slowly southward. "We have been tacking it for almost an hour already,"
"How in the world did she manage to escape?" blurts out a very confused Claire unable to keep the bewilderment out of her voice. The gates would have hold and it has already proven that it cannot climb over the walls,"
"That's the big question, did somebody at least check the cameras of the site?" asks Owen stepping up to where Lowery is working who wastes no time trying to turn on the camera feeds of the paddock and the ones nearest to it. To the confusion of everyone, all comes out as not connected showing off a blurry feed.
"Now isn't that a coincidence if I have seen one," says Lex. "We barely managed to enclose it back in its paddock and now it's lose. Something is fishy here,"
"I agree," says Sophie beside her. "It is secure and locked behind last time I've seen it,"
"ENOUGH!" the high shouting voice of Massrani stops whatever discussion there is as every eye in the room turns to him.
"We have an asset of containment like any day. We must remember that the very survival of this park rests in our ability to deal with problems such as these. ACU will be deployed, they will track down the Indominus, bag and tag it, then bring it back to its enclosure, easy. Contact ACU and have them tranquilize the Indominus," he turns to one of the techs. "Also alert the park rangers to prepare the trucks for transportation of a large dinosaur,"
"Godfather, I'm telling you that this dinosaur is different. It is highly intelligent and cannot be subdued by the normal means," Lex tries to protest only to be silenced by a glare from Simon Massrani.
"Last I checked Miss Murphy, this is still my park and I am in charge here. You are a guest here and such you will follow my decisions. Please go back to your room and take Miss De Leon with you. Take a bath and do enjoy the hospitality of the VIP pass I have given you,"
Lex can feel the frustration bubbling inside of her as she glares a t her godfather. Yet by all accords, he is right. This is not her company despite her having large shares here. She is just a guest despite her girlfriend's near death experience with the Indominus Rex before. She has no say here.
Growling at her throat and giving her godfather the best stink eye she could, Lex marches out the control room with Sophie in tow back towards the visitors area leading to their room. It does not take long for them to reach their room which she enters quickly and closing the doors behind it with a small thud.
"Well that went well," whistles Sophie unhappily crossing her arms beneath her chest even as Lex sits on the bed wrothly. "Do you think that the ACU would be able to bring down that dinosaur?"
"If they come for it with the intent to kill and Hamada keeps his cool then yes, I think,"
"I sense a but…in there," says Sophie.
Lex just grimaces at that. "I don't think that it is very unlikely that would happen if I know my godfather. Knowing him, he would attempt to capture it back first since it is a company asset. My godfather is a practical man and I know that sooner or later he would be able to recognize it for the threat that it is, but then people would be dead, basically those that belong in the ACU,"
"So what are you going to do about it?" asks Sophie.
"Me? Nothing, I am a guest here and godfather specifically told me to stay here and wash. That's what I would do, and so would you," she smirks however knowingly at Sophie. "That doesn't mean however that I would be sitting my ass and twiddling my thumbs only. Claudia and Pauline are still out there, and unlike me they are not as deep in scrutiny compared to the two of us,"
"So it would be up to them?"
"Yeps," Lex replies emphasizing the "P" at the end of the word. "There are two things that need immediate attention right now. First is how the Indominus managed to get out of its paddock. That is a mystery that needs to be solved. Second is to make sure that whatever ACU teams that are assigned to take down the Indominus has a backup that can deal serious damage in case that things don't go as smoothly as my godfather hopes it to be,"
"So who is going where?" asks Sophie already fishing off the phone from her bag, Pauline's and Claudia's number in speed dial ready to be called.
"Claudia to the Indominus paddock with whoever I'm sure that Hamada also would be sending to investigate the site. I don't see the ACU commander also not being satisfied until he gets to the bottom of as to how the Indominus manage to creep out of its enclosure," says Lex.
"And that leaves Pauline to be with whatever team that is unlucky enough to be chosen to subdue the Indominus. Do you want anything specific to be relayed to her?" Sophie says, looking questioningly at Lex.
"Yes, bring heavy ordinance as much as she can," answers Lex simply.
…
Author's Note:
Sorry for the long delays readers, been going through some personal issues. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. This is a nice pace from the boring things we have been going on.