When you hear the echo, echo

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𝕋ℍ𝔼 tension in the air was almost tangible as Rosita turned her attention to Hoskins, her brows furrowing in irritation. "Excuse me?" she said sharply, her voice cutting through the quiet hum of the raptor enclosure like a knife.

Owen rolled his eyes, the irritation etched in his features as he began to walk away, clearly unwilling to indulge Hoskins any further. Rosita followed close behind, her steps firm, her presence a silent warning. Hoskins, undeterred, trailed after them like a persistent shadow.

"Hey," Hoskins called out, his tone a mixture of excitement and manipulation. "I've just seen they can respond to commands. We need to take this research and get it on its feet."

Owen slowed his pace just enough to glance at him, his expression filled with a disdain he didn't bother to hide. "Trust me," he said, his voice calm but laced with authority, "you don't want them in the field."

Hoskins wasn't deterred. "I just saw a bond. A real bond. Between man and beast," he pressed, stepping in front of Owen and Rosita to block their path.

"You're in our way," Owen said flatly, his tone making it clear this conversation was over.

But Hoskins wasn't finished. His voice dropped into a conspiratorial tone. "Come on. We're the same. Dogs of war. We both know the military needs to reduce casualties. Some people think robots are the future."

Rosita exhaled deeply, trying to reign in her temper. Her patience, much like Owen's, was wearing thin. "You're missing the point," she muttered under her breath, her tone sharp enough to draw a glance from Owen. The two friends resumed walking, but Hoskins wasn't about to give up. "Look, nature gave us the most effective killing machines 75 million years ago. And now we know they can take orders." Barry approached, his expression as unimpressed as Rosita's. "We finally make progress, and that's the first thing he says? Make a weapon?"

Rosita shook her head, the edge of her frustration spilling over. "Why is it always weapons with you, Hoskins? These creatures aren't tools-they're living beings with instincts and intelligence you can't even begin to understand."

Hoskins ignored her, his voice taking on a tone of mock sincerity. "Come on, gents and lady, it's grown-up time. Drones can't search tunnels and caves. And they're hackable. The minute a real war breaks out, all that fancy tech is gonna go dark." Rosita stopped in her tracks, turning to face him with a look of disbelief. "But that tech's not gonna eat them if they forget to feed it," she shot back, her words sharp and biting.

Hoskins didn't flinch. He gestured to the raptors, his grin almost predatory. "Look at these creatures. They've got millions of years of instinct in their cells-instinct we can program."

Below them, Blue glared up at the man, his golden eyes narrowing as if he could sense the arrogance radiating from him. The unspoken bond between Rosita and Blue flared to life. Blue's gaze shifted to Rosita's face, catching the simmering annoyance in her expression, and something passed between them-a shared disdain for Hoskins and his audacity. "Their loyalty cannot be bought," Hoskins declared.

"You're right," Rosita said softly, almost to herself. Her gaze met Blue's for a moment, a quiet understanding settling in. "It's earned."

Hoskins seemed unfazed by her words, continuing with misplaced pride. "These guys are gonna run straight into the enemy's teeth and eat them-belt buckle and all."

Barry snorted, his disbelief audible. "What if they decide they wanna be in control?" Hoskins turned to him, his face serious for once. "Then we remind them who is. We terminate the rogues and promote only loyal bloodlines."

Owen and Barry exchanged a look before scoffing in unison. Rosita let out a low whistle, shaking her head in disbelief.

"What?" Hoskins asked, clearly irritated. "What's so funny?"

Rosita smirked, her words cutting through the moment like a blade. "You come here, and you don't learn anything about them except what you want to know. You made them, and now you think you own them." Hoskins straightened, his tone hardening. "We do own them. Extinct animals have no rights." Rosita stepped forward, leaning casually on the railing as her sharp eyes pinned him in place. "They're not extinct anymore. And they're not fully animals anymore either, Hoskins."

Hoskins hesitated for a moment before speaking again, his words dripping with greed. "Exactly. We're sitting on a goldmine. And Masrani is using it to stock a petting zoo."

Rosita turned and began descending the stairs, her voice carrying over her shoulder. "He just wants to teach people some humility. He doesn't make weapons."

Her words hung in the air, a quiet condemnation of everything Hoskins stood for. Blue watched her go, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he, too, understood the weight of what was happening. In that unspoken connection, a promise lingered-Rosita would always fight for them, even when others saw them as nothing more than tools.

Hoskins chuckled, his tone dripping with arrogance. "You think the eighth richest man in the world is only into oil, telecom, and family fun parks? He's so diversified, he probably doesn't even know what he owns."

Rosita tilted her head, her voice cutting through his bravado like the edge of a blade. "How long has InGen been rehearsing this pitch?"

"Since the day we hired you and Owen," Hoskins replied smoothly, the smugness in his voice making her grip tighten on the railing. "You two knew the end game. Especially you. You've been on the island since the beginning when it all started. You know these beasts, what they can do."

Rosita exhaled slowly, fighting the urge to lash out. Instead, she walked toward the enclosure, slipping into a restricted section and closing the gate before Hoskins could follow. The steel clicked with finality. "War is part of nature," Hoskins called after her, undeterred. "Look around, Rosita. Every living thing in this jungle is trying to murder the other. Mother Nature's way of testing her creations. Refining the pecking order. Struggle breeds greatness."

Rosita turned, the faintest smile playing on her lips as if she were humouring a child. "Do you hear yourself when you talk? Better question: do you ever stop talking?" Her sarcasm didn't faze him. "This is gonna happen, with or without you. Progress always wins, sweetheart." The smile vanished, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Maybe progress should lose for once."

A sudden, sharp squeal pierced the air. "Pig loose! Pig loose!"

Chaos erupted as a worker scrambled to net the escaped pig. But before the man could secure it, a blur of mottled scales and muscle pounced. Echo, one of the raptors, gripped the pig in her jaws, her head snapping triumphantly. "Got it! It's mine!" she growled, dragging her prize.

The man holding the net stumbled and, with a sickening lurch, fell into the enclosure.

The raptors froze, their heads swivelling toward the intruder. Eyes narrowed, claws flexing, they sniffed the air. To them, he smelled like prey.

"Echo, put that down!" Rosita hissed, but the raptor only growled defiantly, her tail flicking. Blue stepped forward, his low rumble commanding silence among his pack. "What is this thing? Food?" Blue questioned, his sharp gaze scanning the man now sprawled in the dirt.

"Not food yet," Delta replied, her voice a dark purr, "but it smells stupid."

The humans outside the enclosure scrambled into action. "No, hold your fire!" Owen shouted, holding back the armed guards who had rushed forward.

But Rosita was already moving. Without hesitation, she pressed a button, opening the service gate. She crawled inside as Barry's panicked voice echoed behind her. "Rosita, are you insane?"

The air inside the enclosure felt heavier, charged with tension. Rosita positioned herself between the terrified man and the raptors, her arms raised, palms outward. "Blue," she called softly, her voice a soothing balm against their rising agitation. "Stand down. Please."

Blue's head tilted, his golden eyes locking with hers. He growled low, more annoyed than hostile. "Why does she always ruin the fun?" he muttered, but he stopped advancing.

"Delta," Rosita continued, her tone firm but calm. "I see you, back up."

Delta snorted but obeyed, retreating a step.

"She smells scared," Charlie observed, sniffing toward Rosita. "But not like prey."

"That's because she's ours," Blue snapped, his gaze softening as it rested on Rosita. "Easy, guys," Rosita murmured, her voice a melody that calmed the storm and when the new guy was safe she spoke, "Close the gate."

Barry hesitated, incredulous. "Are you crazy?"

"Trust her," Owen interjected. "Close the gate."

The heavy gate began to slide shut. Rosita smiled at Blue, the raptor's annoyance melting into begrudging respect. She darted under the gate just as it slammed shut, the raptors snapping harmlessly at the steel. As Barry and Owen hauled her to her feet, she dusted herself off and turned to the new guy still trembling on the ground. "You're the new guy, right?"

He nodded mutely.

Rosita smirked. "You ever wonder why there was a job opening?"

He blinked at her, pale and shaking, as she gestured toward the enclosure. "Hey. Don't ever turn your back on the cage."

The man turned slowly, finding himself face-to-face with Charlie, who glared at him with a predator's grin, "You lucky basterd."

Blue watched from behind the bars, his gaze lingering on Rosita as she walked away. "She's... ours.." he muttered, almost to himself. Echo said with a toothy grin. "But she's still annoying."

"Shut up, Echo," Blue snapped, but there was no real bite in his words.

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By: SilverMist707

<3 <3