Claire looked nervous as she held onto her seat belt, in part because she really was. There was no getting around it, as she watched Owen in the front seat, eyes staring intently ahead. It had been her idea to him, as they still had yet to fully process the events of the past few days. Not that either of them wanted to really tink about what it meant, although she was not feeling very comfortable, there was a sinking weight in her stomach, like the small uplift she'd felt from the bar had vanished.
As the operations manager, she had been responsible for figuring out where these pieces should fall, settle into place. But things were not going as neatly as she had formerly believed, and now it was getting just a bit messier for everyone. Masrani had demanded answers, and Jessica was spinning it, with strict instructions for everyone not to speak of what had happened. It didn't feel right. They should be doing something, instead of just turning the other way.
But Owen had an idea, which she'd expanded on. Get some sense made of this whole scenario, and that was to try and take charge, before this got out into the world. The Masrani Dinosaur project only worked so long as everyone was on the same page about their ability to control the dinosaurs. She looked back at Owen, he was still silent… "So…this thing people are seeing, that can't be right. We cleared this area. The last animals were relocated." She said, as she would flip through the pieces of her report. It had said that they were relocated, that was true enough.
"People are seeing something. Fifty calls…that just doesn't pop up out of thing air," Grady said as he would make a turn, as he headed off the street, onto a nearby dirt road. There were quite a few bumps, as Claire held onto the seat a bit tighter, not wanting to be jostled too much. They were heading to a nearby wooded area they could see now. There were no cars in either direction, and probably would not be for a while. At least no cars except for the one behind them. The one that had some journalists with them.
The reason they were not traveling together was that Owen had insisted on bringing his rifle. No raptors, none of that with civilians around. It was far too risky on every single level… Although she was still nervous. "I think we should have brought at least one or two of the other trainers. What about Cooper?" She was unsure why exactly she had volunteered to go. Maybe because it was supposed to be cleared. Drone footage had shown as much in the surveys from a few days ago.
Volunteered. Yes, well, to be clear, Masrani had mentioned that someone would have to go with Owen. That it would be better if it was someone that had a visible face. She'd suggested someone from the raptor compound, but that had been shot down. No one knew who these people were after all. No, it had to be her.
The area was ecologically safe, and it should be- given that it was a popular tourist attraction, the campground that they were going to visit. The sign for it passed by quickly, as they entered the treeline, they were very close now. Grady was slowing the car, as they turned again, reaching an empty parking lot. Pulling in, they would see just beyond there was the campground, as Owen got out, wordlessly getting his rifle, signing it over his shoulder, as Claire got out too.
The journalists were right behind them. A woman and her cameraman. They had never really bothered to learn their names, as Claire got to the edge of the tables. They had rehearsed this speech. Owen's refusing to answer her, she knew it must weigh heavily on him, although it was fairly troubling still that she could not get a straight answer out of the man. Almost infuriating really.
However, as they were in position, Grady stopped by her, his voice almost a whisper. "Claire-I'm…I'm sorry, I know it's been a lot, but trying to figure this out. I was never a media guy, I guess you know that…" Shit, she thought, as she looked around. It looked pretty peaceful, and for that matter, she was at least still dressed in her office clothes. That would look rather presentable on screen she was well aware. Still, it was not her intention to be leading this. Claire never went into the field, that was simply not her area of expertise.
Whispering back, she looked back furtively at the journalists. They looked bored as they were setting up. "I'm not asking you to make a speech. I'm just asking you to at least smile. Like you want to be there…" She knew that the tension at Masrani was at an all time high right now, although something 'safe' like this had been decided was necessary. Showing people that the Mesozoic project was in fact a very necessary thing for the good of the people, that they were here to protect them.
But she was aware that they were being scrutinized, as she turned to face the journalists, plastering a smile on her face more for the sake of it than anything. "Now I want to thank you for coming here. This is the site of an altercation a few months back, where thanks to the intervention of the Mesozoic project, we were able to successfully recontain a Triceratops." She knew that most likely they would replay the footage over again, matching up to what she said, to show that incident- Grady was poised, rifle slung over his back like he had been before, but e seemed poised at attention.
Ignoring him, she would press on, as the journalist would begin with a set of prepared questions, all personally approved by Masrani of course. That was, clear… had been the terms of the deal for this to happen in the first place. "So, what do you say to reports that activity has continued at this location? I believe hikers and campers reported strange noises here." Now that had been number one on the lists of complaints to address, but they had decided to approach this carefully. Tactful as Masrani had asked. Not that Claire felt entirely comfortable doing it, as she exhaled.
"Look around you. There is no evidence for any other large animal. Normally in our study of these cases, the larger animals tend to create telltale signs of their presence. Either they are actively scavenging or predating in the area, or they tend to be territorial around people." It was documented behavior, although the science was admittingly still in it's infancy, they had recorded cases of people being chased or otherwise disturbed by the animals.
While that did not guarantee that this place was empty, as she looked, she could hear the birds chirping, squirrels eating out of trash cans…it seemed to her that this sort of behavior would not happen if there were anything larger nearby. Certainly fifty calls would not emerge if it were merely something smaller like a pack of compys or a Mussasaurus. Come to think of it, Compys would make their own mark somehow, they'd get their own number of complaints…
Owen was standing beside her now, much to her surprise, as Claire felt strangely better. Really, now he was playing along at the least, that illusion of a united front for the both of them. They had understood what it meant once, she was certain that they could understand it again, even if things had changed. The woman in front nodded, as she was going through her second question, fairly routine as well. They had something like ten or so to go through, and then it would be time to head back. Not that she was so sure why that they had been asked to go all the way out here just for that- but maybe it was better to just get this over with.
"So what is your response to these who say that Masrani Global needs to do better in terms of containing the animals?" As Claire began to speak, she felt a sudden nudge on her elbow, and was surprised to see that Owen was clearing his throat. Now he wanted to talk, apparently. She gave him a pleasant smile, as she silently wondered what was so pressing that it couldn't have waited. No…perhaps that was too harsh, she thought, as he would gently this time, nudge on her arm.
Turning, she looked, unsure what he meant, although she could still see nothing out of the ordinary. Just the woman and her cameraman there, that was frankly as mundane as it got. "So next question…what are you going to do to ensure that attacks are reduced to a minimum?" Another standard, fairly easy to get around.
"Simple. We are currently experimenting with an early warning system. A text message alert that will go out at first sign of anything out of the ordinary. We were waiting to formally announce it, but in light of recent events, perhaps it's better that we just go ahead and announce it now-" Claire felt at ease, although Owen was now pacing around again, and Claire was cognizant of the fact that the camera guy was following his movements.
"That's Mr. Grady. Head of our Raptor development project, the IBRIS program. A Navy veteran, he has experience working with these animals, and is a distinguished tracker in his own right. Right now he is working to ensure that our perimeter is secure," that last bit was a lie, but one of convenience, as she was sure that this feed was live. Which meant that she'd just as soon not have anything too far out of the way happening right now. Grady was walking still, almost in a semi-circle from where he had started onto where they were now, weaving his way through the tables.
Then he would walk up to Claire, as he began tugging at her arm again, this time there was urgency in his voice. "Don't move or say anything." He hissed, and for once, the tone in his voice was enough that Claire just stopped and looked at him, seeing the way his brow furrowed, and there was something in his eyes as well. A fear that she couldn't put her finger on, but it was there, and it was not going away.
"What's going on-" Claire said, as she felt her heart thump. Just then, she realized that the sounds of the forest were more apparent than ever. Maybe because of what was not being heard. Namely, that the birds had stopped chirping entirely. She felt her eyes roving around the forest clearing, as she still couldn't see anything.
"Calmly. We all have to walk back to the cars," Owen was saying, as he would hold a hand forward, trying his best to wordlessly direct the two people in front of them. Not that they had any idea of what was happening, as Claire could see the confusion born in their eyes. Not that she blamed them at all,
Owen started to guide the two of them closer, as the cameraman and reporter started to back up. Of course, they were unaware of what was going on, as they simply assumed it was a pan shot happening here. "Ms. Dearing- What would you say in regards to-" The camera lady was cut off, as they all heard the sound of a tremor. Claire looked to the left, as she heard it, the sound of crunching leaves en masse. The four of them couldn't see anything…and then Claire looked back, and then she saw it.
Or rather, it was what she almost didn't see. Her eyes widened as the space above the camera crew would come almost into focus. The outline of something. Oh shit, she thought as she felt her blood run cold. Owen was carefully untangling his rifle, as the camera crew and reporter were still unaware of anything that was going on. At least, not until the large animal began to appear above them, almost shimmering into view. Like the world's largest chameleon.
"Fuck," she heard Owen saying next to her, as she would find herself repeating it as well under her breath, not caring that she was being aired. Another part of her wondered why she'd chosen to wear formal wear today, as the animal became fully visible. Its two bony ridges and horns on it's head blocking the cars from view, as it was already sniffing the air.
"Don't move." Owen began as Claire could see him beginning to try to aim. Of course, that was when things began to go south, as the two people in front began to suspect something was wrong. Claire felt frozen, helpless, as she would clench her hands into fists, nails digging into her palm.
"What the hell is happening?" The camera man said, as he began to swivel around. As he did so, he screamed. Suddenly everything seemed to happen at once for the four of them. The Carnotaurus roared in the man's face, a sudden lunge and she could see it grabbing the man's face in it's jaws. The scream was cut off by a sickening crunch…and then everyone started running, at least Claire did.
She was running, following Owen, as he started to run towards the cars. The both of them were, as she felt glad she had chosen to wear flats at least. Her keys were in her hand thankfully, as she could feel the adrenaline pumping through her body. Everything seemed to be a blur.
They reached the cars, as she turned and looked back. The animal was still occupied with the body on the floor, as she could see the woman reporter was still trying the door on her own car. Claire turned, gesturing to Owen, as she nodded to him. He understood, as he would stealthily walk over to the car, as she got her own car unlocked. Provided she didn't panic. Claire was ready to get out of there, but she had to wait for the two of them. It seemed to be the longest wait she had in her life, as she looked down, and realized that she couldn't see the animal anymore.
Shit. She rolled the car window down, as she would watch Owen was halfway to the car. The woman seemed panicked, fumbling with her keys, as Owen was clearly trying to gesture to her to go and join the both of them.
The Carnotaur appeared just ahead of them, and Claire realized- honking her horn. Damn…there it was, There it really was. The animal lowed as it roared again, shaking it's head as it began to charge at the pair of them. Claire didn't have time to think, as she put the car into gear, starting up the engine.
She swerved, unlocking both doors, as she would drive up to where Owen was, just as the animal charged. "Get in!" She screamed, as she felt a large thud as the other animal hit the second car. The woman was screaming, as she fell to the floor, Owen scrambling for her, trying to reach her. Hand outstretched, he'd be there, as the reporter was crawling on her hands and knees, trying… at least trying, until the animal was on her. Then Owen was opening the door, his rifle in the other hand as he jumped in haphazardly.
Claire was in a panic, as she felt herself at a complete loss . "We have to go back, Owen. We have to go back!" She was already screaming, as she could see him sticking the rifle out of the car. A few shots could be heard, but she could see for herself why they couldn't go back in the rear mirror. Claire was ashamed to admit that she had never quite driven so fast before in her life, or as hard. She just didn't know what they were going to tell Masrani..and oh shit, they'd left the camera back hadn't they too?