Jurassic Park: The Broken Lives Saga by Dinohunter55
Chapter 25: Sundown Showdown
Tyrannous stalked between the bones of dead giants. A group of mamenchisaurus, likely fleeing the tyrannosaurus pair for few other creatures could scare such large animals into this place, died among the steaming pools. Tattered and hardened flesh still clung in places but scavengers picked away the bests parts long ago.
A low rumble filled the air shortly before a geyser blew.
Tyrannous flinched at the sound. The whole atmosphere set his instincts on edge. In the climb down, the sun passed behind the tall mountain peak looming over the valley and cast it in shadow. He could see well enough in the dark normally but a miasma rose in the cooling air that irritated his senses. His eyes watered and his heart raced.
The long search since the death of his pack without a trace of his prey left Tyrannous weary of the hunt but the scent mark rekindled some of that passion. The toxic valley snuffed it out once more. What state would he find the former alpha in if he lived in such a place for so long? Would he be worth killing or should Tyrannous leave him to suffer in exile as he had? Let him die miserable and alone.
Between the ribs of the smallest mamenchisaurus, Tyrannous found the remains of a nest. The shattered shell of eggs specked it with a tainted yellow. The faintest smell remained. It was from a velociraptor. This nest was recent and broke in some struggle.
Tyrannous snarled and looked around. His prey was male and supposed to be alone. He did not know what lurked in this place but he had to leave, now. Every instinct screamed to run.
A flash of movement drew his eyes to the treeline.
He froze. A velociraptor stared at him. It was young, very young, only nearing its first year. Familiar icy blue eyes stared at him from a body of green. Tyrannous was not alone. The alpha lied to him all those years ago. His kind survived and yet he never found them in his long search.
Tyrannous was lost in the moment on what he should do, a mix of relief and rage warred for a place in the front of his mind.
The young velociraptor looked back at something deeper in the trees and then ran away.
Tyrannous raced after it. "Come back," he called.
The young velociraptor ignored him and instead kept running. Tyrannous gained ground quickly. His longer legs and drive pushed him recklessly forward. He had to catch up. He had to find his pack. If his alpha lied to him about this, a hope thought lost kindled in his heart for what else he might find.
The ground rose as it neared the looming mountain. The natural stone of the cliff that enclosed much of the valley gave way to smooth, carved walls. Age and weathering stripped whatever might have covered them before but a few stains of color remained. A human structure carved from the living rock lay ahead.
Tyrannous would catch the young velociraptor before it made it to the entrance but it would be close. The velociraptor was nearly in reach.
The young velociraptor looked back at him and then around. It turned sharply and ducked under a stone slab. Tyrannous snarled as he nearly tumbled over trying to stop. He ducked his head under the slab and saw a black abyss. It was a cave entrance, much too tight for him to attempt entry.
His breathing quickened. "Come back! I'm a friend." He knew how little those words would mean given the chase but he was desperate. "Is Tessa alive?"
Snarls answered him from behind.
Three velociraptors approached Tyrannous. They weaved slowly around blocks of cut stone and carved figures. Their claws tapped an irregular rhythm on the stone. Two were a mix of green with brown markings and fierce orange eyes. The third was deep red with similar brown markings but bright violet eyes. All had sickly yellow teeth bared and black tongues tasting the air. They were smaller and skinnier than he was but had numbers. The unhealthy number of scars covering their bodies spoke of long and frequent fighting. Tyrannous guess that they fought amongst themselves often.
What at first looked like nervous or eager trembling, Tyrannous realized was a persistent toxic tremor. He saw madness in those wild eyes and hunger. Worse, he saw his alpha's legacy in the fierce orange eyes and black tongues. These were his twisted children, half-breeds, sired from a father created by the human's experimentation on the pack in the years before the storm set them free. They were monsters, like their father, and likely shared his venomous bite.
Tyrannous breathed harder and tensed.
Thrascar had never sired live children from a female before but clearly, that changed as the human tampering faded.
"I'm a part of the pack," Tyrannous said. He raised himself up to his full height, hoping to dissuade them. He had size and weight on his side. They had numbers and clearly survived a lifetime of fighting.
The toxic shaking intensified as the lead cocked its head.
Tyrannous saw no comprehension of his words. They were beyond reason and attacked him.
Amanda felt a deep chill as her mind stirred. She wretched yellow fluid and then coughed. She lay still and felt tired beyond belief. Her heart pounded and breaths came quick and shallow. She wondered why she was in the dirt and not in her bed. That was probably the reason she felt so sore.
Her mind was fuzzy and she felt like was watching someone else lay in the dirt. And yet, she felt everything, though distantly. It was an odd feeling. Her head pulsed with the rapid beat of her heart.
A vehicle rumbled by; its engine desperately in need of repair by the banging sounds coming from it. She got a fleeting glance at the men. They did not seem to notice her, as they made no effort to stop. A rusty gate opened and then closed again moments later. The engine finally died or the man turned it off. She could not tell which but its engine coughed as it fell silent.
Amanda groaned. She felt sick but the need to wretch again subsided before it took hold. She closed her eyes and lay very still. Slowly, strength returned to her limbs. She wondered where she was.
Each breath grew deeper and slower. Her heart rate eased. She desperately tried to think back to what she did that ended with her laying on the ground next to her own vomit. Her nose wrinkled as it finally registered the smell and she spit to clear the sour taste from her mouth.
Memories trickled into her mind. She was not at home. She was on an island. Yes, that thought seemed right. Why was she on an island? Was she here for a party? That would explain the hangover feeling but she felt that was wrong. A shipwreck, no… and yes, an attack left her stuck on the island. An attack by something big she thought and then the scaly crocodilian snout filled her mind's eye. The dam of memory broke.
Amanda gasped and shuddered. Her eyes snapped open. Her breathing quickened and heart raced. It did not overwhelm her this time and she pushed back the conflicting emotions. She had to get out of the road and then she could figure out what to do next. She had to get the antidote for Silver Claw before it was too late. Amanda did not know how long she had been unconscious.
Amanda peered over the rock pile at the fence. The men clustered around the truck with Lance and Diego. She made a run for the trees.
A man shouted but no shots followed.
Amanda entered the treeline and kept running until her lungs burned. Only then, did she stop. She bent over, hands on knees, and sucked in deep breaths. She calmed down after a few minutes and then stood straight.
The jungle was dense and grew dark as the sun kissed the ridge of the mountains. Soon, only the stars and moon would light the island. Insects buzzed around Amanda, drawn by her heat and sweat. The rasp of scales on leaves came from the roots of a nearby tree.
"Sunayana?" Amanda called out. "Jack, Grey… Talon?"
No answer came.
Amanda saw the fence through the canopy and headed towards it cautiously. The antidote was the goal. The pack might be inside the fence already.
The thought of begging the men to take her off the island whispered in the back of her mind. The memory of the moments before she passed out returned. That desperate yearning to return home grew. Amanda swallowed and pushed it aside. She made her decision a long time ago. Fear made her want to escape the island, perhaps rightfully so, but she would not abandon Silver Claw, not after all they went through together. This was her home and no moment of weakness would change that now.
A clear-cut path separated the jungle from the fence. She could not climb over the fence, at least not without the men spotting her. She could slip between the bars easy enough but a wire grid kept her from going beyond. She lacked the tools to cut through it.
Amanda crossed her arms over her stomach. She still felt sick from passing out. Amanda closed her eyes for a moment and took several deep breaths. She saw a panic attack before and so knew what it was that happened to her minutes ago. It happened during an exam right before the Christmas break last year. Just over a year now, she realized grimly. The boy suffered a panic attack during the chemistry finals for the semester. She laughed and then teased him along with the other girls after they all returned from the holidays. She did not think it was so funny now that she experienced one firsthand. If she ever saw him again, she owed him a real apology. He did not pass out as she did.
The fence continued north and so she followed it, looking for a place to get through. Beyond the fence were the two large warehouses. Stack of crates filled the interior from what she spied through the few large windows. Another warehouse sat along the waterfront. Near where the fence joined the cliff face, she found her entrance.
A rusting culvert allowed water to drain from a depression inside the fence and out to the jungle. It looked like a tight squeeze.
Amanda looked back along the fence. The men were too far away to see her for the moment. When she was sure of it, she scurried to the culvert. It was tighter than expected and a layer of stagnant sucking mud slowed her progress. Crawling on her elbows, she stopped for a few minutes as a snake emerged from the muck and slithered past her. Every instinct screamed that it was venomous. It slithered over her legs and she lost sight of it. The creeping feeling it might crawl up her shorts for somewhere warm to rest filled her mind. Only when she was sure that it had passed did she dare to move forward again.
Beyond the culvert lay the depression. She quickly realized that it was likely a sewage pit and bit back the revulsion. It had been years since humans left and she desperately hoped it was just mud through which she crawled.
She was doing this for Silver Claw and tried to focus on him.
Amanda hid beside a stack of crates along the warehouse entrance as she made her way towards the water. She peered around cautiously and saw Diego and a man walking towards the waterfront warehouse. The others must have stayed at the gate; at least she hoped they did.
The radio in Amanda's pocket hissed angrily. She ripped it from her pocket and turned the volume down. She forgot she had it and was surprised it survived the crawl through the culvert.
"How's the gate lookin'?" Diego said.
"Clear for the moment. I have the men spreading out to check the fence for breaks." Lance said. "I saw a raptor in the treeline but couldn't get a clean shot."
"Stay inside the fence," Diego said. He sounded angry.
"Nah, I thought I'd go for a walk," Lance said, "Lovely weather. Did you find the damned boat?"
"Some idiot left the ferry on the far side," Diego said. "I'm searching for one of the inflatables."
"Hurry it up," Lance said. "I don't doubt the spinosaurus is headed this way."
"Damned things always loved the harbor," Diego said. "I think it was headed for the Marine Research Complex 'fore we went by."
Amanda peered around the corner again. It was clear. She decided to make a run for the warehouse Diego went into while no one was around to see her. She would have to find a way to knock him out and the man with him. It would not be easy.
The cold kiss of a metal barrel pressed against the back of her head. Her body shook and she froze in place.
"No sudden moves girl," Jabari said. He reached over and pulled the radio from her hand.
"Are you going to shoot me?" Amanda asked. She did not bother to keep the terror from her voice.
"Be silent girl," Jabari said. The radio clicked. "I found the girl inside the fence. She crawled through a culvert. It is too small for the raptors I think. The rest of the fence is intact for now."
"She dead?" Diego asked.
"No," Jabari said. "She is alive."
"Just shoot her," Diego said.
Amanda looked back at Jabari. Her heart hammered and her eyes went wide.
Jabari met her look and shook his head. "I will not shoot the girl. If you want her dead, you can stain your own hands."
"I'm heading for the central building," Lance said. "Bring her there."
"Understood," Jabari said. He motioned Amanda forward with the pistol in his hand. His rifle hung on his shoulder. He was a tall thin man with dark skin, short blue-black hair, and brown eyes.
Amanda caught movement in the trees beyond the fence. She spotted amber eyes watching her as she walked towards the central building. She blinked and they were gone.
Tyrannous breathed hard as he watched the two velociraptors circle him. The third, the female, was standing at a wary distance. She wept blood from her face where Tyrannous managed to catch her whole head in his jaws when she tried to bite him. The two males wore new lacerations to their flanks but so did Tyrannous. He managed to avoid a bite so far but he was getting tired and his reflexes would slow soon. He loosed a savage snarl and charged the closest raptor.
Lance waited for her in the main harbor control room. He looked enraged. Jabari brought Amanda into the room and forced her to have a seat.
Amanda's heart raced as Lance paced the room.
"Did you search her for weapons?"
"No," Jabari admitted.
"Emiliano, search her." Lance said, "Jabari, go help Diego find that damned boat. Tell Santiago to watch the fence with Pedro. And see if he has spare rounds for your rifle, I don't think your pistol will do much against raptors."
Jabari nodded and then left.
Emiliano came around from behind Amanda and forced her to her feet. He was larger, burly, and rough with his hands. He searched her thoroughly. Either he did not care she was a woman or he purposely checked everywhere. It made Amanda feel sullied. He stopped at the pockets in her shorts and pulled out the contents.
He pulled out a half-eaten bar and small knife from one pocket. In the other, he flinched and cursed, then pulled out a bloodied rage.
"What is this?" Emiliano said. "It poked me."
Amanda looked at Lance. He leaned against a table with his arms folded. "Lance knows."
Emiliano unrolled the cloth and the dart dropped onto the table.
Lance stood straight. "Fuck," he said. "Sit down Emiliano."
"Why?" Emiliano said and only did so because of stern look from Lance.
Lance pulled a small box from his internal pocket and opened it like a cigarette pack. Five small brown cylinders sat neatly inside. He pulled one out and popped off a red cap to reveal a needle. The box went back into his pocket.
"What are you doing?" Emiliano said. He was a little alarmed.
"Hold still," Lance said. "That's one of my darts."
Emiliano paled.
Lance jabbed Emiliano in the wrist and pressed a button. A mechanism inside clicked and snapped. Emiliano winced. Lance sighed but then turned to Amanda with fierce eyes. "Where did you get that dart?"
"I pulled it out of the raptor you shot." Amanda said. She tensed as she thought he might strike her.
"So I did hit it," Lance said. His shoulders dropped a little. "Sit down Amanda." He looked at Emiliano, "Stay there for a few minutes to make sure you don't pass out and then join the others at the gate."
"Yes sir," Emiliano said. He rubbed his wrist and looked ruefully at the dart where it lay on the table.
Amanda sat.
Lance pulled up a chair and sat facing Amanda. He met her gaze. "Why did you do this to us after all we did for you?"
"I tried to get you to leave," Amanda said. "You didn't want to listen to me."
"You should have told us there were raptors," Lance said. His tone brooked more disappointment than anger. "Why did they not kill you?"
"I'm part of their pack. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to put them at risk," Amanda said. "They wanted to kill you right away when you landed but they allowed me to try to get you to leave first avoid any bloodshed."
"As if you can understand those animals," Lance scoffed. He sat back in his chair and shook his head. "You must be crazier than we thought."
"I was rescued by one of them," Amanda said, "right after the spinosaurus attack that left me stranded on this island. The raptors are smarter than you think. The one that saved me survived the spinosaurus attack on his nest around the same time. That spinosaurus was attacking everyone and everything it found. We were together for a long time after that and I learned to understand and speak to him eventually. That is why I am so good at the raptors calls. I can talk to them. Then you shot him. You shot my Silver Claw!"
"Silver Claw is a weird name for a pet," Lance said.
"He's not my pet," Amanda snarled. "He's my friend."
"He's dead," Lance said and looked at the dart.
"He's alive," Amanda said. "Diego was right about things not affecting dinosaurs like you think they would. I'm trying to save him. Give me the antidote and I'll leave you alive."
"You're hardly in any position to be making demands Amanda," Lance said.
"When the raptors learned you were leaving, they were going to let you go," Amanda said. "Since you were leaving their territory, they no longer considered you a threat. They just wanted you gone. Silver Claw and the others were trying to find me when you shot him."
Emiliano stood, shaking his head, and shuffled out of the room with his rifle, leaving them alone.
"Two of my men are dead Amanda," Lance said.
"I had nothing to do with it and Doug wasn't dead when the others ran away," Amanda said. She did not enjoy the pain in Lance's eyes.
"You!?" Lance said accusingly.
"No," Amanda said as she shook her head. Tears tricked down her cheeks. "He was on death's door when I found him. Your men left him for dead."
Lance growled. "Doug was a good man. They would never leave him behind."
"He was a good man. Whatever attacked your camp," Amanda said and closed her eyes for a moment. "It ripped him open but didn't finish the job. I do not know if your men knew that when they fled. He's at peace now."
"Were you the one to…?" Lance started but could not finish.
"No," Amanda said. "I couldn't bring myself to do something like that, I'm sorry, so when I finished speaking to him, the raptors did." She swallowed and then choked back a sob. "It was a mercy and it was quick. I promise. He was dying slowly and would have suffered for a while longer otherwise."
Lance let out a shuddering breath. He hands tensed into fists. He looked on the verge of tears and stood up, walking away from her.
"Please give me the antidote," Amanda said. "I'll leave and take the raptors with me. I promise. No one else needs to die today." She started to cry. "I just want to save Silver Claw. I…"
Lance grabbed his rifle, her knife, and Diego's bag. He tossed the dart into a trashcan and walked out of the building without a word, leaving Amanda alone.
Amanda fought back her tears for a minute and then ran after him.
Lance stood near the water, his back to her. His attention was not on her. Trees lined the distant shore and climbed the mountain beyond. The setting sun traced the shadow of the western mountain ridges against the green eastern mountainside. An orange glow contrasted the fading light and encroaching darkness. Slowly, the shadow crept towards the peak. She spotted the boat across the inlet. It rocked gently against a concrete dock and was large enough to move the heaviest of equipment. It was also partially sank.
She realized that his gaze was lower yet.
In the gentle waves of the inlet, silver streaks darted towards them.
"There is something in the water," Lance whispered. He unshouldered his rifle.
A shadow grew beneath the waves until a sail broke the surface. The spinosaurus reared out of the water and attacked.