Chapter 17

     Back by the Innovation Centre, the plaza was flooded with a mass of people crowding around. No one knew the extent of what was happening inside the park, most people where thinking of the worst thing imaginable, they weren't far off from the truth.

     Inside the control room the screen showed the map of the park, multiple red dots, some with ripples and warning signs in red triangles with exclamation marks. The Western Ridge in sector five in the restricted area was clear. But closer towards the middle there were a couple of dots moving around.

     Pink dots were scattered across the sectors. Sectors six, four and two were mainly clear apart from one or two pink dots. Down near sector three there was a mass of red dots, showing the body count of the guests. A clear circle from where the Mosasaurus Lagoon was surrounded in a puddle of red. Near the bottom of the screen the evacuation symbol flashed.

     "Every time this thing kills, it moves further south. It's headed right for the park," Lowery informed everyone.

     "Why would she come here?" Masrani asked, staring at the control screen in front of them.

     "She can sense thermal radiation." Vivian looked back up to the main screen. "Our emergency measures just put all the warm bodies in one place." She shook her head, her voice never wavering.

     Hoskins exited the elevator as the doors screeched open. His I.D badge already in hand.

     "Sir..." One of the guards went to stop him. Hoskins held up his badge, never looking at the guard as he strolled into the room.

     "InGen." Masrani looked back, hearing the quick conversation between the two of them. "Hoskins." He lifted his I.D to Masrani.

     Masrani pushed himself up into a straight posture, his eyes never leaving Hoskins, Vivian and Lowery turned to look back at him as well. "I know who you are."

     "Then you know why I'm here." He walked down the stairs towards the three of them. "I've been working for two years on an application for those Raptors." Masrani stood in front of him, his head lifted up as he listened to Hoskins. "They can hunt and kill that creature." He never looked away from Masrani as he pointed to a general area of the wall indicating the outside.

     "But your program was to test their intelligence." Masrani looked at him almost unsure of what to make of him.

     "Yeah, it was. And we did." He looked to the ground, shifting his weight from one leg to another, his hands on his hips. "And in the process we learned something." He looked back up to Masrani, stepping closer. "They follow orders." He nodded his head at Masrani. "You see, the solution to your crisis is standing right in front of you." He stood up straighter, almost proud of himself.

     "Let me be as clear as I can," Masrani started, Hoskins nodded slightly. "No Velociraptors are going to be set loose on this island."

     Hoskins chuckled and looked away. "Shit." He walked away from Masrani. "You're out of your mind!" He pointed at Masrani, still forcing a chuckle out. He then pointed to the main screen. "What are you going to do with all these people?" He glanced at Masrani before continuing. "You got 20,000 people here. What are you going to do?" He put his hands back on his hips. "They have no place to go." He pointed, once more, to the screen. "That thing is a killing machine!" He stared at Masrani, lowering his hand as he got closer. "And it will not stop." Lowery looked from the screen towards Hoskins, Vivian glaring at the man.

     "Okay," Masrani started in a monotone voice. "I intend to personally look into your project to determine its viability within the moral principles of this company."

     Lowery and Vivian stared at him, glancing between the two men. Lowery nodded his head with the purse of his lips.

     Hoskins breathed out. "Okay, boss." He nodded his head, stepping back. "What's your next move?"

-

     The men at the helicopter had begun to screw a large, heavy gun to the floor of the helicopter. Men were getting magazines of bullets and shells ready, fitting it into the helicopter and the gun. Other men began walking across the pad with boxes and other varied sized of guns.

     Masrani walked out of the door onto the pad, his blazer off, rolling up his sleeves as he was followed by Vivian.

     "Sir, I can't get a hold of your instructor," she informed him.

     "Never mind," he responded. He handed his blazer to her as he continued to walk towards the helicopter. "He's likely caught up in the evacuation."

     "You're sure there's nobody else who can fly a helicopter?" She asked worriedly. He took the helmet from one of the men in the front of the helicopter and glanced back to her.

     "We don't need anyone else." He got into the front, Vivian still looking at him with worry. Her mouth closed as the blades of the helicopter began to spin faster and faster, lifting off of the pad. Vivian watched as it continued to climb and move away from where it once was.

-

     Marlo followed the brothers back outside, she kept a look out as Zach lifted out the car battery from the jeep. She glanced back at Gray, who let out a sigh. He looked around as well. Marlo couldn't help but feel sorry for him, all he wanted to do was spend time with his aunt and his brother, but instead he got stuck with two teenagers and a rampaging monster.

     Over the sound of a bird, the three of them heard movement, like the sound of something snapping under the weight of something getting closer, each of them glanced over towards the sound. Gray breathed heavily in fear while Marlo's hands shook. She wanted to be brave and strong, to show Gray that nothing was wrong, that no one else was going to get hurt.

     But she couldn't. She was just as terrified as he was, she wasn't a good role model for him at the moment. She glanced back over to the two boys before Zach spoke up.

     "You think it's out there?" He asked without looking away from where the thought the sound was coming from. Gray continued to look around while Marlo stepped closer to the two boys. Zach looked back to his little brother. Gray was staring at him with a terrified look on his face, still breathing heavily as he took a step back. "I mean," Zach started as he looked down to the jeep. "I know for a fact it is definitely not out there, all right?" He sent a small smile to Gray. "We're totally safe." He stepped closer to Gray. "Here, go take this." He handed the car battery over to Gray. "You're stronger than me." He smiled at his little brother. Marlo couldn't help but smile at them too.

     Zach moved away, back towards the room they were once in, he sent a look to Marlo, raising his eyebrows as he placed his hands on her upper arm, Marlo watched him walk away. She turned back to look at Gray and offered a warm smile.

     "I'm proud of you, you know that?"

     "I haven't done anything." He shook his head, following Zach.

     "You faced your fears, you were able to push aside your anxiety and you faced your fears," she told him gently. "And for that, I am proud of you." Gray smiled lightly as they both kept walking.

     When they reached the room Zach was twisting the wench around the front. He brushed his nose with his hand and looked over to where Gray was. "All right. Turn it over." Marlo climbed into the back while Gray sat in the driver's seat. He turned the keys in the ignition. The jeep started up. "Whoo!" Marlo placed her hands on his shoulders before she laid down across the back seats.

     "It works!" Gray grinned. Zach slapping the hood of the jeep. He moved over to the passenger side as Zach moved into the driver's side. Gray watched Zach get in, putting his belt on while Zach breathed out, his hands on the wheel. "I thought you failed your driver's test?" Marlo was about to suggest that she drove, after all, she was the one who passed her driver's test.

     "No," Zach replied with a lie. "Only the driving part." He grinned to Gray. Marlo was about to sit up when Zach drove forwards, leaving Marlo to fall off of the chair. "Marlo I know you like me and all, but you don't need to throw yourself at me." Zach laughed while Marlo reached up and slapped the back of his head.

     "Shut up, Zachary." She grumbled while sitting up, placing her hands in front of her.

     "So I'm Zachary now?" He continued to laugh.

     "Watch it, Zachariah." Marlo smirked.

     "Zachary is fine." He pouted his lips with a small shake of his head, not liking Zachariah.

     "Thought so."

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