Grady looked around cautiously, as he scanned the road with his binoculars. Nothing moved, nothing should after all, the whole block here had been evacuated. They'd had their own fair share of hassles after things had gotten messy in some populated areas. Not that he thought that it would really matter. It seemed quiet for now. Again, that could always go either way. Checking in his radio, he cleared his throat. "how does it look on the other side?"
He waited for an answer, as he would look over on the side. The report today was supposed to be fairly routine. Someone had called in saying they'd seen footprints matching the appearance of dinosaurs in the area. He wasn't sure what that meant, but it would merit an investigation. His man Cooper was out there somewhere, and so was some of the other handlers. Zia was hanging back just outside of the expected zone, and the ACU truck with the raptors, it was somewhere. Not sure where, but it would come in handy.
He hoped not just yet. As he was hoping that they'd figure this out without too much hassle. The radio crackled to life, confirming that their sector was quiet there too. Figured, but at least, he could breathe a bit, as he stepped around the area. Rifle in hand, he'd be careful, as the street still looked rather empty. As Owen walked further down, he would see one of the store windows was broken. Well, quiet so far… he thought, as he would whisper. "Get Cooper on the line, we might have a hot one." He really was relieved on some level.
That meant it wasn't a large animal, man sized at the very least. Still…there were plenty of things out there that could cause a nightmare scenario if they were out there. :"We're at least 5 clicks out. Hold steady." The raptors were likewise in position, only to be released should he give the word. Stepping in front of the window, Grady could see there was something inside…there was a definite noise from inside, as he would level the rifle. Reaching for his flashlight, he shined a beam down, as he saw something moving inside, it was hard to figure out what it was…
It hadn't charged at him. That was the good part, he thought, sometimes in these situations, it happened that whatever these were, perhaps it was shy. It was a good chance that he was already detected. Owen knew from his experience in the navy, dealing with bogies like this. The hunter and the hunted… he would feel the sweat running down his palm, as he steadied, stepping to the side, even as he'd shine the beam further down. Oh yes. Something there. Man-sized.
The cry came from deep within, as he felt his eyes widened. That didn't sound at all like it was… he jumped to the side quickly, as he would hear the sound of glass crunching down. He wished he had night vision googles, as he could see whatever it was, now was coming into the light. Then he heard it. An Owl's hoot. Shit. Shit…he thought, as he started stepping back. Grady had thankfully not passed the line yet, as he would dive to the side.
Barely in time too, as he'd hear it rather than see it first, as almost a whistle in the darkness. A splotch of …something landed on the floor right where he was standing, and it seemed to almost pulsate, as he heard the hoot again. Crap. He knew just what it was too. "Cooper. I need backup, stat! Tell them to get the Raptors!" He was already running backwards, just as the animal exited the storefront. It was spotted, almost like a leopard, the crests on it's muscular body would be the first thing he'd see as the predator moved into the daylight. The dilophosaurus would hoot again, as it saw him. He felt another whistle as he ran, knowing that there was likely little time.
Having his gun with him, he knew that he'd likely not have time to aim. These things, they were pretty nasty, at least from all accounts that he'd heard. Their venom it could blind you, it could be treated, but it had to be pretty fast. The good thing was that they were rare, but unlike raptors, they tended to hunt alone. Their spit more than made up for it though.
It was behind him, picking up the pace, as he turned a corner. He knew he wouldn't make it out in the open with no cover. That was always bad, as he ran through the alleyway, feeling like he was on fire. A splat next to him was telling him tht it was probably better to keep running, but he saw a dumpster. Diving behind it, he'd steady the rifle, checking the chamber, as he made sure the dosage would be enough. These animals were tough, and he'd made sure to be careful…
Peeking around, he would see the Dilophosaur was poking its nose into a paint can, as it licked the side of it. Steadying his hand, Grady took a deep breath. He could not afford to miss here. As his finger was almost on the trigger, he would ready his aim. Right before he could press the trigger, the radio came to life on his shoulder. "Grady- we got backup on the way. Don't worry- the raptors too if you want it, just give the word-" As Cooper finished, the animal suddenly perked up, s Grady froze. It saw him, he was sure of that. He fired one, the dart landing right home in the animals flank. It hooted again, and he felt a glop of something stick hit his chest.
It burned faintly, as he took that moment to just run. Turning the corner, he'd see there was the ACU van. "Let them out!" He yelled as he ran, hoping that he'd run before the other animals could. They'd never been up against this one before, as he skidded to the side, watching the back of the van open. Out there, the four raptors emerged, sniffing the air, and shrieking, each of them before they'd step out into the paved road.
Just in time too, as he could see the Dilophosaur emerge from the alley. It gave another cry, as it saw the four dinosaurs. The other raptors began to fan out, in the formation that they had practiced. Blue led, she was a natural alpha, as Grady backed up, he could see Cooper and the rest falling in their places. They were a bit late, but he thought he could work with that. Loading another dart into his rifle, he could see Cooper's worried face, as he held up a hand.
"My raptors have it," he said, confident in himself. They were going to use the raptors aggressive instincts to contain it. It wasn't like the media speculations that they were being controlled by 'radio collars or chips'. At least he did not think so, Masrani had reassured him when he started this project. The raptors seemed to have it well in hand, he could see the Dilophosaur hooting again, but it didn't spit. It seemed to be trying to figure out what to do.
Blue would screech, lunging forward, as she was clearly agitated by the other animal. Maybe because it was a predator? Maybe. He wasn't sure, but the Dilophosaur screeched back, swiveling and turning in place. Almost like it was trying to look for an escape, but every avenue of it's escape was cut off. Great…great…he thought as he started breathing. Now to just take it calmly and fire again. He figured that the tranquillizer had to be taking some effect. What effect would two darts have at this moment? Couldn't hurt to try and see, he felt as he leveled the rifle.
Just then, one of the raptors- Charlie, leaped forward. It happened so fast that Grady didn't have time to think, as the animal launched itself at the Dilophosaur. His dart fired on reflex, but in the confusion he was not able to tell which animal it hit. Shit. He heard shouting behind him, but it was too noisy for him to even think, as he would step forward again, hesitant to get involved in a fray of this sort, but he knew that the raptors were going off script.
Screeching, the Dilophosaur broke formation, swiveling slightly, as the large animal broke through the ranks. The other three raptors kept pace, they were walking in sync, even as he could see Charlie snapping at the animals heels. As he could see it, there was the dart…sticking out of Charlie's neck. "Backup…Be ready…" he said on reflex as a sinking feeling in the back of his mind, as the animals movements began to slow. The Dilophosaur though did not stop, as it turned, a glob of spit suddenly appearing on the other raptors face. Charlie stumbled, falling, as the large animal was suddenly on it.
"Shoot her! Shoot her!" Owen found himself yelling, as he would get another dart, feeling his hands almost fumbling. Time seemed to slow down, and the hot sticky warmth of the spit on his chest felt almost acidic at this point. Not quite anything he could explain, but he saw Cooper was next to him, firing as well. But too late, there was a crunching sound, as he heard screeching from the raptors. Followed by the most god-awful wailing he'd heard… The raptor was on the floor, the jaws right on it's throat… The men fired, the raptors screeched…
Turning as he reached cover, he saw the camera on the back of the truck. Sure enough, it said on the monitor that it had been running at least an hour. It was exactly then, as the men were closing in on the wounded animal, the raptors screeching all the while, that he remembered what Masrani had told him after the conference. That he had been planning to get some footage of them in action for the press.