Author's Notes: Hi, readers. Here's chapter twenty-seven of "Running From Here." There is some Tommy/Kim and Alan/Ellie. Ranger action is coming in the next chapter. Stay tuned for chapter twenty-eight.

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Chapter 27: Finally at the Visitor Center

The group reached the open gates within five minutes. It looked up at the Jurassic Park sign that had a little growth around the edges. It went through them at a very steady pace. Everyone let out very relieved sighs. Rexy raised her head and growled victoriously. Mia bellowed joyfully while stomping her foot. She bobbed her head twice.

"Rexy and Mia are obviously glad we are almost to the Visitor Center," Billy said, happiness showing from his voice.

"They sure are," Jason agreed. "So are the rest of us. It has been quite the journey."

"Who would've thought we would meet and befriend the Jurassic Park survivors?" Billy asked, peering over his shoulder at Ian.

"It's not something that happens every day, Billy," Ian commented with a soft chuckle.

"Neither is finding out the identities of the Power Rangers," Alan added and touched Ellie's wrists.

Ellie wrapped her arms around his waist a little tighter. "I don't blame them for keeping their identities a secret. They did not want to break their promise to their mentor."

"Sometimes, you have to bend the rules in order to save someone in distress. That is what the Rangers did when Zack was having a difficult time breathing because of that boa," John explained.

"It could've killed me, but it didn't," Zack whispered, his voice showing much relief. "Many snake species don't kill their prey by squeezing. They swallow it alive. I once saw a garter snake swallow a frog that way."

Tim rubbed his nose. "Talk about a mouthful."

"Indeed, Tim. A snake can open its jaws much more widely than we can," Lex pointed out truthfully. "That enables it to swallow food much bigger than its head."

"I wouldn't want to have such jaws. It would make my head hurt a bit," Tim said, chuckling nervously.

Lex slapped his shoulder lightly. "No one blames you for feeling that way."

Trini clasped her hands together. "Yep."

The Power Rangers, the survivors, and the dinosaurs spotted the Visitor Center coming into view. Lex and Tim darted out ahead of everyone. They laughed excitedly before skidding to a halt in front of the stairs. Rexy, Mia, Tommy, Kim, Zack, and Trini stopped themselves behind them. The dinosaurs lowered themselves, allowing Jason, Alan, Ellie, John, Billy, and Ian to get off. The team went to the stairs as the dinosaurs returned to their full height.

"We are definitely in the home stretch now!" Kim said and squealed in great delight.

"For sure," Tommy said and clapped twice.

"Tommy, I think we should split the team up," Jason suggested.

"That's a good idea, Jason," Tommy agreed and rubbed his hands together. "You, Kim, and I will stay outside to watch for Lord Zedd's goons. Billy, Zack, and Trini will head inside with John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian."

"I agree with that plan, Tommy," Zack said and emitted a sharp exhale. "We have to—"

The humans heard sorrowful growling and bellowing. They looked over their shoulders to see Rexy and Mia tilting their heads. John stepped forward, a sad sigh leaving his mouth. He blinked three times. Tears began to form in his eyes. His breathing became shudders.

"I hate to say, but we must say goodbye to Rexy and Mia," John whispered seriously.

"Do we have to, Grandpa?" Lex said, coming to his side along with Tim.

"Yes. It is unlikely we will ever see them again," John admitted and wiped the tears away.

Lex sniffled. "Why?"

John gave her a sympathetic look. "I will explain later. Let's bid these dinosaurs farewell."

John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian approached Rexy, who came down to their eye level. She blinked three times as they came to her side. She seemed to shed a tiny tear. They proceeded to pet her.

"Goodbye, Rexy," Lex whispered in much sadness.

"Thank you for helping us," Tim added and choked back a sob. "Don't forget any of us."

Lex and Tim hugged Rexy around the back of her head. She emitted a grateful growl. They started crying, tears falling from their eyes. Alan came up behind them in which he touched their shoulders. This caused them to let go of her. Rexy went back to her full height. She roared in a bit of sadness. Mia let out a soft bellow as John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian approached her. They petted her horns.

"Goodbye, Mia. We appreciate you helping us," John whispered in a gentle voice.

"Try not to forget us," Ellie added.

Mia bellowed gratefully before nudging each of her friends with great care. Lex and Tim tried not to laugh, but they couldn't help themselves. They gave her a gentle hug around her neck. They felt tears fall down their cheeks. They let go of her. Billy cleared his throat. This caused the survivors to look at him. Their hearts beat somewhat fast.

"Come on," Billy said while jerking his thumb in the direction of the doors. "We better go."

Billy, Zack, Trini, John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian walked up the stairs. Tommy, Kim, and Jason watched until they were gone. They looked at each other as Rexy and Mia blinked four times.

"I can't believe we have reached the end of this journey," Jason said while clasping his hands together.

"Me neither," Tommy agreed. "Things could've gone horribly wrong while we were making our way here, but they didn't."

"I don't want to have to go through this again," Kim commented in some uncertainty.

"None of us do, Kim," Tommy agreed.

"One thing is clear. John should never have played God," Jason said in a stern voice. "His creations got people killed, even if he wasn't being the least bit malicious."

"Let's hope he can keep Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna isolated after we get out of here," Tommy said, his hand curling into a fist. He, his girlfriend, and friends listened to birds chirping.

00000

Billy, Zack, Trini, John, Lex, Tim, Alan, Ellie, and Ian went through the open doors. They walked into the main room and stopped in its center. They looked around carefully. They spotted the demolished dinosaur skeletons, fallen banner, leaves, and muddy tracks. Billy took three steps forward, as did Alan and Ellie. Alan spotted the opening in the ceiling. He pointed his finger at it, his breathing soft and steady.

"That is where we climbed down to escape the raptors," Alan whispered in amazement.

"Other than some mud and leaves getting in here, this room is still the same as it was before," John added.

"I bet some dinosaurs came in here looking for food," Ian suggested and smirked. "They will eat anything that is edible."

"Indeed, they will," John agreed and turned his head. He let out a shocked gasp at what he saw. "There is the Big One."

The entire group went over to the Big One's remains that happened to be nothing more than a skeleton. Her bones had teeth marks all over them. John pointed his cane at her. Trini looked in another direction. She let out such a quiet gasp that no one heard it. She walked away slowly.

"The Big One was so named because she was in charge of the other raptors. She had a scar on the right side of her snout that distinguished her from the other raptors. According to Alan and Ellie, Rexy grabbed her just as she was about to leap at them, Lex, and Tim. They were really close to being killed by her," John explained.

"It was a really scary moment," Lex admitted as her body shook quite a bit.

"Rexy managed to get inside without us noticing. She got in through there," Tim said, gesturing toward the unfinished hole in the wall.

Zack glanced at it. "Talk about coming in completely silent."

Ian turned in the Black Ranger's direction. "No arguing with that."

Whistling sounded, causing the group to look toward Trini. She stood next to Kim's remains that was in the same skeletal state as that of the Big One. It had teeth marks everywhere. The Tyrannosaurus skeleton lay close to it in a pile. Billy and Zack went over to her. They looked down at the skeleton.

"It seems Rexy threw Kim into the Tyrannosaurus skeleton over here," Trini said while gesturing toward that skeleton. "Either the force of the bite or hit killed her."

"Kim could be identified by a small black dot on her left cheek. Randy had a noticeable scar on her right arm," John added.

"I have no doubt Rexy enjoyed feasting on these two raptors," Billy suggested with a soft sigh.

"She was looking for food. She would feast on whatever she could find," Alan murmured, shuddering in a soft manner. "It didn't matter if it was a raptor or a sauropod. It would have provided her with plenty of food."

"With the dinosaurs breeding by changing sex, she was able to provide herself with even more food," Ian added, crossing his arms.

"If only predators weren't so messy with killing their prey," Lex muttered disgustingly.

"Come on, guys," Billy said and suppressed a yawn. "We better get to the control room right now. Who knows how much longer it will be before Lord Zedd's buttheads make it here?"

"Since when did you say buttheads, Billy?" Zack asked incredulously.

"Since now," Billy admitted.

"I will show you where the control room is," John commented while gesturing toward an open door leading into a hallway with his cane. "It won't take us long to get there."

John was about to lead the group toward the hallway when they heard a soft screech. Lex and Tim gasped in some fear. They looked around, their breathing getting a little heavier.

"That sounded like a Velociraptor," Lex mumbled and whimpered in a soft manner.

"It sure did," Tim said. "We'd better—"

Suddenly, two Velociraptors walked into view. Billy, Trini, and Zack moved in front of the survivors. They placed their hands on their Blade Blasters. They panted heavily as Lex and Tim grabbed onto Alan and Ellie's arms. The Velociraptors clicked their talons on the floor. It echoed throughout the room. They flicked their tongues.

The first Velociraptor blinked three times. She was the bigger of the two. Her body was completely brown, save for light brown stripes going up and down her back. Her wrists had three black circles close together on each of them. So did the base of her tail. Her eyes were golden yellow. She had two scars across her snout. Her nose had a small white dot on the end of it.

The second Velociraptor bobbed her head. She was light brown all over, except for her back having black stripes. Her neck had three black circles close together. Her wrists had scars all over them. Her left hindquarter had a healing circular wound in the middle of it. The tip of her tail had a tiny knick in it. Her eyes were golden yellow. She and her companion growled very softly.

"Penny and Princess don't seem too delighted to see us," John whispered and swallowed hard.

Tim tensed quite a bit. "I hope they aren't hungry."

"Don't move, guys!" Zack commanded sternly. "Draw your Blade Blasters and shoot if the raptors attack!"

"We're on it, Zack!" Trini said, tightening her grip on her weapon.

Billy exhaled. "Yes, we are!"

Penny and Princess moved closer to the group. They stopped a short distance away and emitted very soft purrs. Billy, Trini, and Zack narrowed their eyes at them. Penny raised her head and chirped to them. She motioned toward herself with it. Princess mimicked her packmate's motions. Billy realized what they were doing.

"They want us to go to them," Billy said in shock.

"What?" Zack yelled confusingly. "We can't even talk to them. None of us have a Power Coin with the emblem of a Velociraptor."

"They are as smart as chimpanzees," Billy said as he went toward the duo. "We can still communicate with them."

"Billy, I wouldn't—" Zack started.

"Zack, don't start," Trini interrupted and joined Billy's side. "I'm going over there."

Billy and Trini stopped before Penny and Princess. They touched their necks very gently. They observed them looking toward the hallway. They focused their attention on it.

"You want to come with us," Billy said and laughed when Penny purred excitedly. "I thought so."

"I guess they don't want us to go alone, even if we have weapons," Trini suggested. "Danger could be lurking in the shadows. Their senses of sight, smell, and hearing would catch it quickly."

Alan sighed in relief. "I can't believe this."

Ellie chuckled. "Me neither."

"Come on," John said and clicked his tongue. "We can't waste any more time."

John led the humans toward the doorway. Penny and Princess scanned their surroundings carefully before going after them. They emitted a series of purrs as everyone made his or her way down the hallway.