Cupertino, California
December 23rd 1997
San Jose International Airport
2:45 pm

---

It was a beautiful day in San Jose as Robert Tembo slowly made his way onto the black tarmac of the local airport from the Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter. He slowly looked around through the darkened lenses of the gold rimmed aviators on his nose. Honestly, he hated California, actually in full truth he hated America altogether, not that he had anything against Americans in general, it was just their way of life bothered him to no end. In this place, it was all about how big your house was and how much money you had, and for a boy born and raised in Mombasa that way of thinking was a rather foreign concept, especially knowing his father was old school and it wouldn't fly with him either. Looking ahead Robert saw his ride, a black limo in the distance, he grabbed his black pack and started to trudge towards it. As he approached he reached his hand up and removed the weathered black leather hat from his head and let it slip behind his back. A man dressed in a full black suit that most likely cost a fortune stepped from the vehicle and greeted Robert. It was almost laughable when Robert and the limo driver stood next to each other, here was the limo driver dressed in a rather fine suit that looked like it cost 100's of dollars. Robert on the other hands was dressed in a pair of old rugged hiking boots, an old tattered pair of khaki shorts with canvas belt, a short sleeve dress shirt, and old Willis & Geiger Hemingway jacket, a leather wrist band on one arm and survivalist watch on the other and of course his trusty hat he never went anywhere without. In short, he was a walking epiphany of someone who did not belong in California, yet another reason he did not like coming to the states or the large cities thereof.

Robert climbed into the limo which was always a huge difference from the usual jeep wrangler he drove around back home and they were off. No sooner had they left the airport did Robert find himself resting in front of the Biosyn main Corporate Building, the whole reason he was in California in the first place lay beyond those large spinning glass doors. Robert exited the Limo and walked towards the building entrance, he caught a couple glances from passerby’s, they too were dressed like they were going to a really expensive funeral, he merely shook his head as he entered the building and was quickly scooted through security and before long he was sitting silently in a plush office chair with a bunch of corporate bigwigs. The room was silent, Robert was being stared at by a good majority of the Executives, more fancy funeral goers, trying to figure out if he was for real or if he had dressed like this on purpose. He supposed perhaps this must have been a black tie affair, but hell would freeze over before that ever happened.

“I think I speak for everyone here when I say Welcome to California Mr. Tembo and even more so thank you coming on such short notice. I know the flight has been long and I am even more so positive you wish to know why we called you here today.”

Robert looked at the post balding man of fifty as he stopped talking and looked at him expectantly, was this suppose to be the part where he was going to agree or say something to the same effect? He wasn't really into the whole etiquette standard of meetings, he was a hunter, not a CEO. However, to get things moving he spoke in a deepened lightly accented voice:

“It crossed my mind...”

“Good well I will make it quick as I am sure you are a busy man, we need your help on a very sensitive operation. About one week ago we sent a team of scientist to an island isolated from the mainlands on an assignment to bring back samples of local species within the island. Everything was going accordingly but a couple days ago we lost all contact with the team and have been unable to raise them. They are supposed to be arriving back here in two days and thus far we have been unable to ascertain if they have lost radio capabilities or something worse has transpired as this island has some pretty fierce predators on it. We need your help Mr. Tembo, we understand that your one of the best hunters and trackers in the better-known world. We would be willing to pay you a very generous fee if you could go to the island accompanied by a small team to ascertain the fate of our team and if necessary complete their assignment.”

Robert looked at the man suspiciously, in the back of his mind he felt like that explanation was rather vague, a lot of beating around the bush kind of talk. This was a bioengineering company, and it was curious as to why a company such as this was collecting a sample from a local indigenous species of animals on an island. Not to mention the fact that they seemed more interested in the samples then they did their own team on the island.

“Tell me what exactly kind of species can be found on this island? I might come from a smaller part of the world but I know when someone is not revealing all the facts. Let's face it, I am a decorated hunter and a tracker unparalleled to most, there has to be an actual reason that you want me on this... expedition. There are hundreds if not thousands of hunters and trackers who could fit the bill just fine from what you have subscribed to me... that is if were talking about normal animals which I am really getting the impression that were not. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.”

The older balding man smiled weakly as he looked at the others assembled around the room kind of looking like he just got busted for stealing. In truth, Robert was more curious as to why they wanted him and not his father for this assignment. His dad was still the best of the best in the entire world, it was true Robert was closing in on him, and one day he would be as accomplished as his father but at that moment Robert was second place.

“We can't disclose that information Mr. Tembo, not until you sign a non-disclosure agreement and sign on to help us, you understand?”

“Yeah I do, thanks for the trip down I will acquire my own ride back no need to worry about me.”

Robert stood up placing the aviators back over his face, he nodded to the others in the room and headed for the door but the balding man quickly came over.

“Ok, ok, ok, as much as I would like to you to agree before we tell you specifics we don't have time to find someone new. We tried your father he declined, we knew you would never agree to come down here if we told you outright but here it is, we need you to go to Isla Sorna and find our missing scientists, I am sure you know what that island is, yes? We need those samples, we need those eggs and time is almost out.”

Robert had not heard anything past Isla Sorna, his mind was suddenly revisited by a memory from past seven months ago.

7 months Prior
Mombasa, Kenya
May 27th, 1997
1:00 pm

---

Robert stood above the grave silently next to his father Roland, both of the men had been standing there for almost a good hour now and neither said a thing. There was nothing to say, neither of the strong headed... stubborn men could bring themselves to accept the facts. Robert bent down, his legs a bit stiff from standing in the same position for so long, he placed his hand upon the gleaming stone in front of him.

“Here Lies Ajay Sidhu
A devout friend and great hunter
may he always find peace in the
plains beyond.”

Robert felt the tears form in the edge of his eye's as a lump got caught in his throat, he closed his eye's to try and fight them back but they fell anyway. It wasn't right, it wasn't... Ajay had always been there in his life, every single proud moment of his life his uncle had always been there with him and his father. His body wasn't even here to bury... just a damn empty casket and nothing to help either of them find any kind of closure, nothing but a picture that would fade. All this for what?! So some stupid company could exploit some stupid island full of animals!? An even more so they denied everything! They didn't even have the respect to admit their mistake and the lives wasted because of it! Just an empty grave and weak compensation that brought no comfort! How many people were suffering the same way right now? How many people were finding no comfort at this exact moment... no, it wasn't right none of it was... when Robert felt the strong hand on his shoulder he turned to see his father motioning for him to get up. Robert got back to his feet facing the one man who understands even more than he did of this loss.

“He was a great hunter Robert remember that there is no shame in the animal winning, all true hunters must eventually face a predator that is more skilled than them. One day I and you will find that one predator too and like all great hunters we will face them head on and fight until the end. It is an honorable way to die, the way of the hunter.”

“There is no honor in this father! He died because of Ingen and their stupid greed! He deserved to die with glory, with a story that would outlast the ages of this world! But instead, his final fight is nothing more than a pathetic cover story to protect a company that has caused nothing but death! They couldn't even tell us how he died just that he did... and there is nothing left of him that we can even bury!”

Robert was furious as he yelled but when his father wrapped in his one of the strongest hugs he had ever felt, he wanted to fight the hug to be mad and angry, but the fight began to leave his body almost instantly. Soon enough he just let his head dip onto his father's shoulder and let himself cry.

“It's okay son just let it all go, it is hard to see the ones you love pass on. There is no shame in crying for the lost, no matter how tough you become, or how great you become, the loss of one you consider family will always bring you sorrow. One day son there will be closure I promise you, but don't let your anger and your sadness destroy who you are because once that happens there is no going back.”

Robert's eye's trained on the balding man as he pushed past him placing the weather black hat back on his head exiting through the door, intent to get the hell out of this building and back to Mombasa as soon as possible. He hadn't made it far before the balding man caught up with him putting his hand on Robert's shoulder trying to stop him.

“Please Mr. Tembo we need your help, I know what happened with your father expedition into Isla Sorna and I am sorry for both of your loss.”

“Your working with Ingen aren't you? That's the only way you could possibly even know anything about what happened seven months ago. Well, I am going to tell you now that I will not subject myself to that company or yours for that matter. My father rejected your offer and now I understand why, he wants nothing to do with you or Ingen and I don't either so get your hand off me.”

Robert shirked his shoulder as the balding man's hand flew off and he walked away silently however the next words stopped him in his tracks.

“We can give you something better than money Mr. Tembo, we can compensate you in a way that will help us both. Mr. Sidhu was a great asset to Ingen and he often spoke about you and Mr. Tembo your father so I know that he meant a lot to you. His death was covered up like the rest I know this, it's how Ingen works to keep itself alive, but I am willing to help you bring closure, willing to break the silence Ingen has set in place, let the world know that he died a hero.”

“You don't work for Biosyn do you? You're from Ingen, and that means your working together aren't you? What could you possibly truly offer me that would bring me any kind of closure to my uncle? What do you possibly think you could give me to make me even wanna consider working for you?”

Undisclosed Location
California
December 23rd 1997
4:30 pm

---

“Ah you must be Mr. Tembo, my name is Eddie Carr, you can just call me EJ though I never like the junior part, makes me sound small. Anyways welcome to the garage, as I am sure you're aware I will be fulfilling all your automotive needs on your expedition so let's get started, we have only hours to get to get these vehicles completed and you up to date on the designs.”

Robert was thrown off as the rather young enthusiastic engineer greeted him, it was the first time he had meant the young man but he knew the name and not because of anything he had done, but because of something his father had done. Eddie Carr, he had been the one to supply vehicles for the small group Hammond had sent in around the same time his father was hired by Ludlow to lead their expedition. Through some rather unfortunate incidents on the island, their groups merged before the end, actually in the last moments of Eddie's life. Was it really possible that this was that Eddie Carrs son or was he over thinking this?

“So uh EJ your last name is Carr, was your father also an engineer?”

“Oh, you knew my dad?

“No, unfortunately, I never had the pleasure but my dad uh knew about him, said he was a hero.”

“Oh your dad must have known my father in the war, he was an engineer and he often times did contracts with the military, he was on an assignment seven months ago give or take and he was uh killed in an enemy ambush. Said he sacrificed his own life for three others, it wasn't easy but hey not many can say their dads died a hero, uh, I am proud to be his son. But enough about me, we have a lot to cover plus your partner will arriving soon so we need to make time.”

Robert became silent as EJ started to ramble on about the make and models of their vehicles they would be using on the expedition. There was no doubt that this wasn't mere coincidence, this was Eddie Carr's son, and like his father, he was an engineer too. Kind of ironic how sons often followed in their father's footsteps, but still he would never have guessed he would meet the son of the man who gave his life in such a heroic but horrible way. He also did not know the actual truth about what happened to his father either, this troubled Robert immensely but he knew better than say anything, it wasn't his business or his right to tell EJ anything other than what he was told, crappy as it felt to know it was nothing more than another cover up.

“Did you say, partner?”

“These models were my dad's original designs but I have taken them one step further and upgraded the components... uh yeah, they told me one more was coming. If I recall her name is Madeline Ward she will be accompanying you and myself on the expedition.”

“you're going too? Why? Aren't you just an engineer?”

“Well yeah I am but my father was a man of action always in the field and I want to get some field experience myself so I offered my services not only on the vehicles but to go to the island as well. I thought they would deny my request but apparently, they need all the people they can get so I lucked out.”
Robert was about to voice his rejection for EJ's choice to tag along but a sudden yell of the word daddy through him off, a young boy of about nine came running up and slammed into EJ giving him a huge hug. Robert watched as he picked him up effortlessly and spun him in a rather big hug before setting him back on his feet.

“Hey, buddy! I am glad you could come and give your old man a hand in the garage this is Mr. Tembo why don't you say hello. Mr. Tembo this is my son Jimmy.”

“Nice to meet you Mr. Temboo.”

Robert smiled as the young man mispronounced his name and held out a small hand to him, he bent down enveloping the boy's hand in his shaking it firmly.

“It's nice to meet you, Jimmy, I don't know if it's true or not but from what I hear around here you're the real brains around here in the garage, they say you're the one who came up with all these really cool designs here. Is that true?”

Jimmy's eye's lite up with recognition as he quickly nodded his head agreeing completely with the statement.

“Yep they call me JC just like my daddy is called EJ, I know a lot about building things, I helped to build my own go-cart you know.”

“You did!? That's pretty impressive, my daddy's a hunter you know and I and he goes all over the world and sees all kind of animals, lions, tigers, bears, even elephants, maybe one day we will be using one of your really cool vehicles on an expedition huh?”

JC shook his head excitedly as EJ smiled at him putting his hand on his shoulder.

“Ah well first the master mechanic here needs to go have his lunch, which is in the office, there may be also some cookies hidden in there why don't you go sniff them out while Mr. Tembo and daddy talk business uh?”

JC quickly nodded as he started to run for the office intent on finding those cookies for himself, Robert smiled remembering a time when he was that young and carefree, seems all so long ago nowadays. Soon enough after a small tour EJ and Robert were sitting in a small cubicle to the side.

“As you can see the vehicles are highly modified for their original designs and extremely lightweight metal with the ability to withstand a herd of elephants. I would put my babies up against the fiercest predator in the world and stake my career as an engineer that they will hold up. The company also requested that the outside of the vehicle have a mechanism involving an electric charge. My fathers original design had this however it was fairly weak given he didn't have the proper time to get it ready, but not to worry EJ is a mechanical genius, those fortresses on wheels will keep you snug and out of harms way. Now aside from the custom details they are run on solar panels like the original design however I have installed various batteries so you can go longer without sunlight. The designs and functions are all put together for you to look at in this manual, it includes the smaller vehicles, we built two and they are of the same design as the Fleet woods, built in GPS and the works.”

“Thats pretty amazing for a couple days work, did you do any designs on satellite phones, I imagine we might need them just in case?”

“Yes I think you will that this design is a lot easier and dependable then the old briefcase phone, unfortunately its power is not as strong given the battery is smaller so keep it off unless your using it. There are charger bases within the RV's and the land cars.”

EJ handed a medium sized device to him that looked a lot like a GPS system, Robert looked at admiring the size, he was no mechanical genius in any way but the work was superb. Robert looked up at EJ with a smile that faded slowly.

“EJ I would like to request that you.. don't go to the island when we leave. I know this is coming out of nowhere but I really don't think its a good idea for you to go. The animals on this island... their incredibly dangerous. Iv seen your little boy and I wouldn't want anything to happen to you, I am positive him and his momma need you.”

“His momma passed away a couple years ago, Im about all he has left.”

“I am sorry I recently lost someone close to me and I know it can be hard, but its more reason to stay out of dangers way. I don't know what they told about what were doing but its not going to be a simple in an out by any means.”

“I understand that but I'm doing this for him, truth is this is my specialty and because of the secrets around my fathers death, I can't even use his designs without legal counsel. This is what I want to do and im not making money doing it, then this company approaches and offers me a sum of money to build these vehicles and even more money now that I have offered to go with you. I would be set for life, both of us would be and all I gotta do is come back, compared to losing everything because I have no means so support me or my son how bad can it be?”

Robert was about to say something but a sudden honking from outside caught his attention and EJ's as well.

“That I believe is your partner, they are right on time, so shall we go meet them?”

Afghanistan
December 20th 1997
8:30 am

---

A year had come and gone since Madeline Ward’s deployment in the hot deserted land of Afghanistan. Everyone was calling it a Global War on Terrorism, though it did not feel like a war at all just manslaughter with a cause. The soldiers were tasked with ridding the Taliban from Afghanistan, each one of them having their own cause for being there. The Taliban was led by a man named Mullah Mohammed Omar, who was a Muslim extremist, he was able to take control of Afghanistan using the Taliban.

Maddy woke up at the usual time and did her daily routine, she was able to check every medical instrument needed and check their conditions before packing them up carefully in her bag. Her history in Afghanistan is long brutal, but not in a bad way. She is well known for saving lives in high tense combat situations even when there is no hope in saving someone she still gives the person all of the treatment they could possibly need, never considering a lost cause until the pulse is gone. Some more cynical individuals view her actions as a waste of medical equipment and time, but most understand she is trying to make even in hopeless situations still have some light.

As she was sorting through her bag inside the outpost she heard someone entering her tent, as she turned around she was greeted with an extremely stern face, it was her commanding officer General Nicholson. She quickly straightened up at attention and placed her arm in salute fashion.

“At ease solider. I have orders requesting your immediate departure to the states. Once there you will be briefed further. I know this is sudden but order are orders, we all appreciate your service here.”

The General then hands Maddy a letter that confirms what he previously stated. Maddy did feel guilty abandoning her fellow soldiers but the curiosity of the mysterious orders outweighed the guilt, she was on a flight to the states the very same day.

Cupertino, California
December 21st 1997
10:00 am

---

California was disgustingly hot, Maddy was extremely uncomfortable riding in the back seat of some limo that was dropping her off. Desperately she rolled down the window for some cool air but all it seemed even the wind was hot, she rolled it back up and grimaced and whipped the sweat off her forehead. Serving in Afghanistan for a year would normally make people accustomed to the heat, but for some reason, she never had felt more out of her element. Her clothing probably did not help, she was wearing her formal military jacket, formal cap, formal pants and of course her normal undershirt. Altogether she was burning alive in a cloth prison.

As soon as the limo came to a stop Maddy had already opened the door and been stepping out, she quickly made her way to the building and was filled with relief when she felt the cool air conditioning. She slowly made her wait through the many checks that were needed, it did not seem like an American Military building so she started to question how she could have ended up in a place like this. Eventually, she ended up in a room with one other person, he seemed preoccupied when she first entered the room but as soon as he noticed her, he had stopped the paperwork he was doing and waved her over.

“Please, come in. Have a seat. You must be Madeline Ward, we have been expecting you for quite a while now. I am sure you have many questions and I will be able to answer as many as I can. Mostly what you need to know is that as of now you will be working for us on a rescue mission of sorts. You see we have sent a few researchers out to an island and now we have not been able to contact them. So we will be needing your help if any of them are injured or worse we would want a professional on the site that will be able to help them get out of whatever situation they are in.”

Maddy was fairly confused as she made her way to the seat in front of the man’s desk, the words seemed to just flow out of his mouth. The more he talked the more confusing the situations seemed to get, she was still confused on how she was pulled out of active service for such a mission. As soon as the quirky man was done speaking, Maddy piped up in her thick British accent:

“I’m sorry, I just have a few questions. How would these researchers have been injured?

“Well, simply enough the island you will be traveling too has many hazards and we are worried that one of the hazards may have gotten to the team.”

The man’s answer still seemed very vague and odd, but Maddy did not care too much about the events that happened mostly that people were in trouble.

“Ok, but why was I chosen for this? And how on earth did my superiors give you permission to take me out of service?”

“Well, our business has many connections and it turned out some of your superiors have shared investments with our business. You were specifically chosen because of your performance under high tense situations. Now you will need to excuse me unless you have any more important questions I will be needing to get back to work. You can stay at the hotel we have reserved for you, which the limo will take you too. In approximately two days you will be meeting with the others that will be joining you. We will be giving you more information as the time draws near, we appreciate your help and continue looking forward to your assistance.”

The man waved Maddy out of the room, the interaction happened fast, quick and left Maddy feeling even more lost than when she walked into the building. She had to follow the orders and she was willing to comply, the mission seemed like a simple search and rescue for lost civilians. It would only take a few days, Maddy was more than willing to spare a few in order to save some innocents.

Undisclosed Location
December 23rd 1997
4:45 pm

---

As the limo made its way to the meeting area Maddy proceeded to read over some of the files that were given to her. Specifically, she was looking over the slim files about the men who would be accompanying her. One man seemed fairly young and underqualified to be on the mission, he had an exstensive background in engineering but very little in anything else, seemed more like a handicap than a help to Maddy. The other man thought was quite interesting, a famous hunter and tracker. The presence of this man raised more questions, why would a hunter be on a rescue mission and why would they need such a well-known one such as Mr. Tembo?

Soon the limo arrived and the ride to meet her partners was complete. As Maddy stepped out of the limo, the driver sounded his horn maybe as a symbol of her arrival. She made her way to the back of the trunk and threw her large medical backpack over her shoulder and grabbed her military grade duffle bag. Maddy made sure to dress in an appropriate clothing this time, she had on her light military jacket, light pants and a short sleeve dress shirt. She was much more prepared, clothing wise than in the prior interaction.

She waited outside for the other two men to appear, she greeted them with a friendly smile and an extended hand that was not holding one of her heavy bags.

“Hello, my names Madeline Ward, I prefer Maddy though, it is a pleasure to meet you both.”

---

Military was the first thought that came to Roberts mind as a woman approximately around his age stepped out of the transport and into the nice California heat wave. As far as first impressions went she was dressed crisply in a military uniform that honestly did not look American, then again he was a visitor to the states so for all he knew this was what U.S. Military wore now and days. She approached bogged down by various bags but held out a hand with a friendly smile greeting both him and EJ. Her accent was very thick with british which had answered the earlier inquiry as to her origins, those corporate bigwigs were really pulling out all the punches if they actually hired a British soldier. Robert offered his hand and gripped her rather tightly and shook it:

"Robert Tembo, its a pleasure Maddy, most people just call me Rob. As were going to be working together no need for strict formality."

Robert became silent as he released Maddy's hand, he was slightly curious as to what made her special for this expedition, he had not expected company but even more so a soldier that was even more curious. EJ put his hand out grabbing Maddies with a smile as Robert looked on thinking to himself.

"My names Eddie Carr Jr but feel free to call me EJ as Jr makes me feel rather small. You can feel free to set your bags over here on the table, no worries we are quite a tight knit group here so everything will still be here and ready upon our departure. We have mere hours to get ourselves familiar with the equipment and each other so lets get straight down to it, follow me."

Robert looked at Maddie from the other side of EJ with a 'do as he requests look he is serious' sly smile and followed suit EJ went back into explanation mode for Maddie as the engineer went over the various equipment that they would be bringing on the expedition and their function as a whole.

"As I was explaining to Mr. Tembo earlier these are Fleetwood RV's but they are heavily modified for the particular journey into the jungle. The original design was my fathers, but I have improved upon that reality and brought them seven months forward. They are retrofitted with ultra light but incredibly strong metals, the likes of which could stop a charging Rhino in its tracks, originally the vehicle was fitted with a housing unit, a lab, a kitchen, and a communications section. However this one has a state of the art medical bay, communications with a built-in retractable antenna and portable dish for long range communications, a larger space for people to sleep and rest up, special for our soon to be rescued scientists of course. The outside of the RV itself is fitted with metal lining which can be controlled from a switch on the inside, activated it can send a shock of over 100000 volts. The vehicles including the smaller cars are equipped with solar panels and various batteries to keep them up and running but silent like a mouse in a church at night."

Robert yawned lowly to himself covering it with his hand having heard and had the tour already, EJ kept moving forward step by step explaining the vehicles to Maddy, time seemed to pass rather quickly, soon enough it was almost 5:45, all three of them found themselves in EJ's private office. JC was in the corner on the floor knocked out with a pillow and a makeshift blanket resting comfortably dead to the world. EJ looked a little tired himself having to give two tours and talking a mile a minute, even Robert was glad to sit down for a minute, he hadn't had much downtime since he arrival.

---

"Mr. Tembo I almost forgot your case came in about thirty minutes ago, apparently there was a rather large rush but it is waiting for you in the reception area, under lock and key as requested until your arrival to pick it up. Also as requested the modified Lindstradt air rifle is finished and is waiting as well. We have two of them unfortunately given the time frame but we were able to procure five darts each gun which can be loaded into a modified clip in the bottom for quicker discharge. We have more but unfortunately Conus purpurascens is a rare toxin so these other darts are a bit less potent so try to use the stronger darts sparingly. With that said I do have a question... what exactly are we up against on the island? What kind of animals are there, I was never informed."

Robert looked up at the question both to EJ and Maddie, he did wonder if EJ had known the full truth, the same could be said for Maddie as she was a soldier, did they feel the right to tell her either? What exactly was his response suppose to be in this case? After the San Diego incident people were well aware of the island containing dinosaurs it was on the bloody news for godsakes and the 7 ton killing machine rampaging the city was sort of the nail in the coffin on that particular secret not being discovered. But it was obvious now the EJ had not made the connection, but that being the case Robert could not let him go without knowing what he was going to face, neither one of them for that matter if that be the case with Maddie as well.

"Its obvious that Biosyn and Ingen feel the need to keep their secrets even now, but I do not intend to do the same even if it might deter one or both of you from coming on this expedition. There is a reason they picked me to go, a very specific reason, I am sure it crossed one of your minds why the hell someone like me is needed on a rescue operation. After all I am a Hunter a tracker not a soldier or trained fighter of any sort. I can't disclose the full reasons I am going myself but were not going to be facing normal animals, in fact were going to be facing, um well might as well just say it, were going to Isla Sorna. For those of you who might be unaware of this islands inhabitants, its the same island that the T-Rex from the San Diego Incident was taken from and then subsequently returned after its rampage. The species they talk about so discreetly are dinosaurs and the samples they talk about so lowly are dinosaur eggs. In other words we three are stepping back in time 64 million years."

"Did he say dinosaurs! Did he say a place with dinosaurs daddy!"

Robert quickly turned his head as the once sleeping JC was now fully on his feet eye's wide open, oh what a time for the kid to suddenly wake up. Robert placed his hand on his forehead shaking his head, he had forgotten JC was even sleeping in that corner.

"Can I go Daddy, can I go with you, I want to see dinosaurs! Please!"

Robert looked at EJ, his face had sort of paled as he was putting together the pieces of the puzzle that had just became clear as JC excitedly tried to convince EJ to let him come. Robert looked at Maddie but he couldn't really tell what she was thinking, Robert stood up abruptly speaking:

"I am going to retrieve my case and check on the Lindstradt Rifles, make a count of our total provisions, I think that you might need to have a small talk with JC so I will leave you to it. Ill return soon and then we can discuss the rest further and go over the plans and the paths we will be taking."

Robert nodded to both Maddie and EJ as he exited the room, he walked down the cat walk to ground level and found his way to reception. As far as news went that was like telling someone their mother had cancer, but Robert just couldn't in good faith let EJ go knowing he had no idea what was on that island. He had enough regrets in his life and he did not want anymore, reaching the reception desk Robert quickly did some signing and three large black cases were layed out for him. Two of them looked rather new while the last one, his case was quite faded and old looking like it had seen a lot of action. Opening the newer cases Robert inspected the Lindstradt Rifle and the components to make sure they were not defective or would not work when the time came, but both of them seemed top notch and even still had the look of a brand new gun. Robert nodded to the man behind the counter and grabbed his case off the counter and found a cubicle off to the side and clicked open the case revealing a 700. Nitro Express Double Barrel Rifle. Reaching in he pulled out a photograph that was placed in a small opening in the lining and he looked at it.

The photograph was old and somewhat faded but it still depicted a young man of about fifteen with a hunting rifle standing over a rather large lion surrounded by his father Roland Tembo and his uncle Ajay Sidhu. Robert raised his hand to his chest as he felt a rather intense phantom pain from the large claw like scar hidden on his chest behind his clothing. Robert for that split moment could still feel a large hooked claw slicing through his chest like a knife through hot butter.

"Soon Uncle Ajay, I am coming just hold on a bit longer."

---

Maddie’s smile remained as Robert shook her hand tightly, her eyes had a much more skeptical look though. It was clear that both of them were curious about why the other was there, Maddie had heard about the Tembo family from some fellow soldiers awhile back but she never expected to meet one. Especially for a search and rescue mission. It almost seemed as though they were on a reality show, the “Famous hunter from Kenya and the heroic medic from Afghanistan. Who will find the missing scientist first?” The more Maddie thought about it the more she enjoyed the thought of her silly made-up game show.

“Of, course Mr. Tembo… I mean, Rob. I have heard of your family before and I am sure with your history we should be able to work well together.”

It would be a nice break to be able to work with a partner instead of a squad, the simplicity would be bliss. But then another hand reached out and grabbed Maddie’s, a little unexpectedly. But her smile returned to her face as she recognized the other individual that would be accompanying the two on their mission. Was his name Eddie or EJ? Either one would work for him it seemed. He was a fairly young guy with a lot of energy, a little overwhelming for the introduction to someone new.

Maddie looked over at Robert with a little bit of a confused expression about the guy that was shaking her hand. But none the less Maddie followed along with the instructions, placing her bags were she was instructed to do so. She then followed along with the in-depth tour of all of the equipment trying to keep up with the intelligent engineer. Maddie began to understand why he was included on the expedition, there was no way she would be able to operate some of the machinery he was talking about.

At one point EJ said something about a mobile medical bay and then Maddie snapped back to attention and he finally peaked her interest. Her board strained facial expression was shifted into a childlike excitement, this expedition could turn out to be quite something special with all of this fancy technology they are sending along.

---

Maddie made her way into the office following behind EJ, he began to speak about some sort of air rifle with tranquilizer darts. It was unexpected mostly because the information all pointed to a simple search and rescue mission, there did not seem to be any need to capture or sedate any sort of animal. And if there were any dangerous animals that were attacking humans, unless they were endangered they should probably be shot with a real gun. But then EJ asked the question that bothered Maddie this whole time.

“Yeah, I am not sure if any of us were informed. The only info I received was the Intel on the last known location of the scientist. I did not realize we would be encountering any dangerous wildlife.”

Maddie looked at Robert, she was fearful of the answer but also extremely curious about what it could possibly be. But the answer was much worse than she possibly could have imagined. The moment she heard Isla Sorna, it clicked for her. She sighed deeply and paced back and forth a bit as Robert continued to explain the situation that they were all sucked into. More than anything at that moment Maddie wished she still was left in the dark on that information. It was better that she found out, she would be much more prepared and it was not like she wasn’t going to find out eventually.

Then out of the corner, a boy’s voice rang out, asking his father for permission to go onto the dangerous island. This was the first time Maddie realized EJ was a dad and had a family, she looked at EJ’s face which was pale realizing the horror trip he signed up for. It made Maddie feel terrible, she didn’t have the same concerns as EJ but she could feel sympathy for him. She felt sympathy for every soldier that realized they could lose everything just because of one mistake and that always broke her heart.

“Excuse me, I need a moment.”

Maddie couldn’t stay in the room and followed the same path Robert took but instead of going to the reception area she headed back to where she placed her bags. One of her two bags held all of her medical equipment it is her true partner in her practice without it, she is nothing, but that was not what she was interested in. Instead, she pulled out a file from her bag and flipped through it quickly, closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Carrying the files she found Robert hovering over some black cases, which she had very little interest in. Instead, she was interested in the man standing over them. When she approached the table it seemed like Robert did not hear her approaching which was doubtful considering his experience, he most likely just didn’t care. Maddie walked over to him and dropped the files on the table.

“Hey Rob, I understand why you won’t say why you are going on this trip and honestly whatever reason it is I am sure glad you are coming with. But these here these are the reasons why I am going on the trip.”

She opened the files to show the multiple researchers that are missing, each photo had a name and a description of the individual.

“I don’t have anyone waiting for me at home, I risk my life for the people that do. I am not going on this trip for honor or a large sum of cash, I am on this mission specifically to save every single one of these civilians. I am not sure why you and EJ are choosing to go on this mission and now that he knows the dangers I would not blame him for deciding against it. I just want you to know that I do not care what stands in our way, you have my word that nothing will stop us from saving these people not even an old lizard.”

Maddie had a warm smile, she was a raging optimist especially for hopeless situations, and sure the situation became extremely overwhelming but now knowing who and why everything was happening she no longer was fearful of the unknown. Instead, she was ready to charge into anything that dares step in-between her and those people.

Robert absently put the picture into his inner jacket pocket when heard a pair of footsteps approaching him. Closing the black case he latched it shut with two low clicks and turned to see Maddie approaching him with files in hand. She spoke as she set them on the table and told him of her motivations to go on the expedition. Robert was quiet as he listened intently and moved his hand forward separating a couple of the folders, he opened a few and thumb through them eyeing the pictures inside but not much else before closing them. As he caught Maddie's eyes as she smiled in a very determined way, her optimism clearly shining through. Her optimism was refreshing given the circumstances and in many ways a needed commodity for the road ahead. Robert wanted to smile, in fact he wanted to share her sediments and say that nothing would stand in their way but... putting his hand to his chest again he could feel the rough edges of the scar even through his shirt. But the simple truth was he truly did not believe Maddie knew what she was getting into, he could tell she was very accomplished the way she presented herself and he held no doubts she was telling the truth of her motivations. But a battlefield full of men with guns and a jungle filled with some of the most dangerous predators in the world were two very different realities. Men were predictable but animals were not, and it is that unpredictability that makes them so deadly.

"That is a very noble and heroic gesture which goes without saying, I have always held a certain respect for military regardless of origin because it takes bravery to protect others from danger and to face death eye to eye in foreign lands. An I can see in your eye's the same determination I am sure you have always had on the field and the same determination to save innocent life, but this expedition, this rescue mission has nothing to do with that. You want one thing the men who hired you want another, they could care less about their scientists and that's a fact. I honestly would not be shocked if they knew all those innocent people were dead and were sending us anyways, not to validate the loss of life but to complete their main goal, to collect those eggs."

Robert stood up from the chair he was sitting in and grabbed the case off the table, his words held sort of a cold air about them and his distaste for the people who hired them was quite evident in his poisoned words for them.

"Quite honestly I am the last man they wanted to hire, because they are more then aware that I know of how they deal with incidents such as this. Even more so they know that I have no intention of bringing back those eggs which I can only guess is why they brought you in. You want to know what made them hire me knowing my distaste for their company, Knowing that I have no real interest in their agenda? Well that's quite simple I am one of the only men in existence... well lets put it this way there is something on that island that I want and I will risk everything to obtain it. I'm a liability and your the insurance, none of this makes sense right now but soon it will. I apologize for speaking so coldly, but understand that this island is death, a battlefield that you have never fought on before. A lot of men have died in this place hired by the same people who hired us, don't make their mistake and underestimate these 'old lizards', we might be the top of the food chain out here, but on this island were just mice trying not to be caught by the cat. Las Cinco Muertes, or in english The Five Deaths, thats what they call the island chain Isla Nublar is part of and there is no other fitting name. I have to do some counts so if you will excuse me, I will be back up in awhile to cover the tracking aspects of our expedition."

Robert tipped his hat silently to Maddie as he got up and walked away, time was ticking and their departure was imminent so he wanted to be sure that everything was going according to plan even if he knew there was no such thing.

---

"Well I finally got JC to understand that he can't come see the dinosaurs but he is definitely not happy about it, come to think of it I am not exactly too hot about going myself at this point. JC is with his grandmother now so we can speak a bit more freely. With that said I believe you spoke of what route were going to take so please I would love to know before I change my mind about this whole thing."

Robert nodded his head at EJ as he looked over at Maddie, he hoped that she hadn't take anything her said earlier in an unintended way but time was short and he wanted to meet it the second its hit go time. Reaching into the black pack by his legs he pulled out a large map of Isla Sorna[/url] and layed it across EJ's desk.



"Okay heres our plan upon arrival we are going to be entering the island on a low piece of beach on the east side of the island, approx the same location the Mar Del Plata landed seven months ago. For anyone who doesn't know just as an FYI that was the boat that transported another team. The point of entry is very close to an inlet that leads up the cliffs and onto the island. From there we will be taking an old service road that follows the edge of the island towards the game trail, the scientists were last located there, they had a base camp set up about a half of mile out of the way so they could observe the animals. They were systematically moving around the game trail to locate nests, so we are going to have to search that immediate area first for signs of where they are or might have been. At this interval I urge caution, that is an active game trail which means a predator could come running down it at any moment so don't let your guard down at any time. Continuing on we are going to follow the same path the scientists were meant to take in hope thats we will find some sort of evidence of where they are located. If we do not find anything telling us otherwise we are going to follow the path past the game trail and hook up with a main road or whats left of it anyways, that road will lead us to the facilities on the other part of the island. Any questions?"

Maddie’s smile slowly dissipated as Robert continued to talk each word seemed to try to deteriorate her willingness to go. She learned that Robert may be a good companion on the field but his cold personality would keep her from getting too close, which may be for the better. Maddie’s face became more stern and attentive to the warnings about the company that had hired both of them. She acknowledged the fact that maybe the motives of who hired her and why she was going may be different but her feelings on the trip had not waivered. Her smile steadily returned to her face, not as large as it once was but more of a cocky smirk at the man.

Robert may be a great hunter but Maddie could tell there was something going on with him. His mysterious reasoning behind going, while being extremely negative about the whole situation. It was in Maddie’s nature to protect and she was sure that he was going to need help with whatever situation he had on his mind. She smiled and nodded as he tipped his hat and made his way to continue working.

It didn’t take long for Maddie to sit back down, at the table was Robert was sitting and go through the files of the researches. Some of there were fairly young and inexperienced, probably the only ones willing to go to an island infested with dinosaurs. Others seemed older and more experienced probably with families eagerly awaiting their return. If they were out there still Maddie sure was not going to let them become a dinosaur’s dinner.

---

Maddie stared at the map listening and following along as Robert went through all of the information that would be needed for the expedition. The island and journey seemed much more intimidating now that she saw the area for the search. For only three people and one of them being a civilian, this would be an extremely difficult search and rescue operation. Hopefully, they will be at the camp with broken radios but something in Maddie’s gut said something else had happened.


“So, EJ’s vehicles will take us only so far, or at least we should only take it so far. We should probably try to set up our own base right around the location of the scientist's area. The vehicles could be used once we have searched an area in order for us to maintain the protection on the go. But I believe we probably will be able to search more effectively on foot. Of course, if we can’t find them or if any are missing we would need to expand our search area.”

Maddie looked up at EJ with a smile and then glanced at Robert for a second before leaning back away from the map.

“And if we can’t find them after that then we will just keep expanding it until we do.”

---

Maddie left the planning room silently, she wondered over to a quiet area in the garage next to some of the vehicles that were now getting removed for relocation to the island. She pulled a piece of paper out of her front pocket and her cell phone out of her pants pocket. After pushing in a few numbers and waiting for a bit a familiar voice picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hey, it’s me Maddie.”

“Ah yes Miss. Ward, correct?”

“Yeah sure, why was I not aware that you were sending us to Isla Sorna? It is sort of a major factor in this search and rescue. We are going to need way more than just the three of us.”

Her voice was sharp and angry, she wanted to hide the concerns she was having from the others. But behind her smile, she was truly worried about the events that were about to unfold.

“This number is specifically for when you retrieve the scientists or if you can gather their research for us. Please do not call us again until you have completed the mission.”

And with a click, their conversation was cut short by a rude man with little patience for complaints. Maddie was clearly upset by the phone call, but she still calmly folded up the piece of paper and put it back into her pocket. With a deep sigh, she leaned against the wall and was beginning to get impatient thinking about the people still stranded on the island. Weather or not the three of them could actually help, Maddie was still going to give it her best shot.

---

Robert was silent when the vehicle approached him outside the warehouse, the lights were dimmed as it pulled up slowly to him and a man got out of the drivers side with a black case in hand. Pulling his hat off his head Robert let it slide behind his back an approached the man with a small smile, giving him a firm handshake he spoke:

"I am glad you could make it Gavin I know it is it late but I sort of needed the item in question in a real rush. I appreciate you taking the time to do this for me."

"Don't worry about Robert you know I don't sleep all that much anyways, I got what you requested right here. A Cap-Chur SS handheld tranquilizer gun, I also have the specialized tranq darts your requested they should be perfect dose give or take. I also prepared your second request personally."

Gavin reached into his pocket removing a small thin jewelry like case and passed it too Robert he transferred it quickly into one of his jacket pockets. Robert gave Gavin another firm handshake as the meeting ended as abruptly as it had begun, as the vehicle came to life and pulled away Robert looked at the black case and then towards the warehouse. Pulling the strings on his hat Robert replaced it back on his head and re-entered the warehouse heading for EJ's Office for one last chat before their imminent departure.



Robert watched as the last of the equipment was loaded onto the large transport barge, the last of the vehicles were tied down and secured as the waves washed gently across the ship. Robert looked up seeing Maddie quietly he set his case down and walked over to her with a smile.

"Well its time to get going, I am afraid its just going to be us thought. EJ decided last minute that it would be better for him not to risk his life considering his son. He does wish us both luck though and safe journey, we better get aboard otherwise we both might think better of this an just stay."

Robert spoke rather oddly even for one who had not known him long, as he turned his back and walked up the ramp onto the boat he knew it was almost time.

Maddie rolled her neck with a few cracking sounds as she straightened her posture up after relaxing against a wall for a few minutes. She watched as the water hit the ship, it was late and the waves were choppy, it was going to be a very long ride especially since Maddie has trouble sleeping on boats.

Maddie was started by Robert, she was in a trance watching the waves and didn’t see him approach. Her eyes were wide open she shifted her footing to make her being startled look like a natural movement.

“Well I have to admit its always good to see someone who values his family more than his job. Still disappointing he’s not coming along, guess we just need to hope that the fancy tech he made us works for the whole time, huh?”

Maddie smiled at Robert a little uncomfortably, she began to get a little nervous about the whole situation. It also could be the anxiousness of getting on the ship too.

It was only a few minutes before both of them were on the ship headed off to sea. It was dark out and the only light sources were from the boat and the moon. Maddie leaned on the side of the ship with her head bobbing up and down and uncomfortably shifting side to side with the waves.

“Ugh, this is why I didn’t join the Navy…. I am going to try to sleep for a bit so I will be rested once we finally arrive.”

Robert stood on the ass end of the ship with his hands on the railings as the ocean waves crashed lightly into the medium sized transport boat. A brown cigar like cigarette that looked home rolled was perched at the end of his lips, its cherry tip was like a very dim beacon that cut through the thick darkness that had surrounded the boat that night. Robert was in fact not a smoker of any sorts but it had become a tradition in his family that the start of any hunt was meant with a specialized herb grown in Mombasa rolled into a cigarette form. It wasn't tobacco but it was a very rare plant that could only be found in small centralized villages dotting the open lands of Mombasa's most dangerous area's. It meant good fortune and luck on your hunt and that may your strength ever be mightier then the prey. Blowing out a cloud of smoke that smelled almost sort of sweet Robert turned to see Maddie, they had not spoken too much since they had both got onto the ship, she did not look all that exceedingly well. It became apparent that she probably suffering from a little sea sickness which was confirmed not too soon after by her own words. As Maddie walked away Robert turned, she was about six or seven feet away when he spoke:

"Before you go I had something I wanted to say."

Robert went silent as he seemed to look down at the deck of the ship as if he was thinking about something really important, something that perhaps he didn't want to do. Looking back up at Maddie he sighed and continued speaking:

"A long time ago I knew a man who wanted to become a tracker, in fact you could say he was heavily obsessed with it, the problem was he had no natural talent for it. Being a tracker isn't just knowing how to be downwind or being able to survive in a hostile lands filled with predators, most trackers go on to be tour guides or in other words they keep rich nature enthusiasts safe. Its not the profession I would ever willingly involve myself in but that was his dream, his reasons for becoming a tracker, to escort rich people and be wealthy. I never downplayed his dream, a lot of people come from a lot less and want to become somebody its a good goal even if it is a little unconventional, the problem was that no matter how much he tried he just couldn't grasp the training. It eventually got to a point where it was useless to keep training him, he became arrogant and frustrated and that is not the attitude for such a risky job. I hadn't heard about him for a few years after that until I was frequenting a small tourist village for a drink. The locals spoke of a man who had recently been killed in the wilds of Mombasa along with a rather wealthy patron who had hired him on as a tracker. Sure enough it was the same man from two years earlier, the same man who just couldn't walk away from being rich. For a good time I sort of thought to myself that if I had done something, if I had worked with him more or did something different when I was trying to train him that it wouldn't have played out like it did. The truth I found was that when one is so blindly committed to something they will forge ahead regardless of the circumstances, still I couldn't stop feeling as if that if I had done something it would have never happened."

Robert became silent as he reached into his inner jacket pocket to remove something, he pulled his hand out rather quickly and the dart left the tranquilizer gun within an instant and struck Maddie near the base of the neck. The moment the dart would strike her she would instantly feel the affects as her body weakened from the strong compound. Robert lowered the tranquilizer gun as the wind blew through his hair. Walking forward he stopped a few feet from Maddie as she would already be more then numb from the dart.

"I am not a hero or am I somebody that anyone in this world really cares about. If I die then to this world another piece of hunter trash bit the dust and the world is a little safer for the animals. You on the other hand, your worth a lot more, your life is dedicated to helping others and I am sure many today have you to think for being alive. I am not asking for forgiveness nor will I offer you an excuse, but I want you to know that I am not the sort of person to do what I just did to you. The truth is though that if I do nothing and you die on that island then I truly am no more different then when that poor fool died with an innocent man in his care because I chose to give up on him. I am going alone Maddie and I am sorry if this isn't what you want, but when your safe and return to saving lives I hope you will understand why I did what I did. Goodbye Maddie, stay safe in whatever you do from here on out and please apologize to EJ for me I didn't have time before we left."

Robert looked up as a couple deck hands appeared around the corner he simply nodded them as they approached on either side of Maddie. She was fully out now, they both bent down and grabbed either side of her.

"Make sure she stays safe, place her in one of the bunks, when you return to the mainland I want you to make sure that she does not make it to the island. She will try I am sure but so long as this boat doesn't leave port again I am sure that she will realize it is fruitless."

The men nodded as Robert walked forward pulling the dart from the base of her neck, they carried her off as a rather regretful look appeared on Roberts face. He looked down at the dart in his hand for a couple moments, dropping it on the deck of the ship he crushed the glass under his boot almost in frustration as he returned to the railing. He was finally alone now and he did not need worry about more innocent life being lost on that forsaken island. The chain of greed in the name of life would end here once and for all.

"Let me put this simply Mr. Tembo we don't trust you with our best interests, your hatred for our respective companies is well documented and while we need you we also need someone who will take what we want into consideration. If you won't bring back those embryo's then we will make sure someone else does and there is nothing you can do about that now, so suck it up and get to know your team."

"Maddie? Maddie come on wake up its EJ... are you there? Oh she must have got dosed pretty good."

Maddie would feel a hand shake her should continuously, the voice would be a bit distance and echoing in her ears, but her eye's would slowly open and adjust to the inside of the Fleetwood and she would realize that it was moving, the first rays of sunlight would be peaking through the windows of the RV.

Maddie looked at Robert with a bit of annoyed expression, she was feeling sick and tired but she knew better than to take her uneasy feelings out on him. She stared at Robert for what felt like forever as he took a pause before beginning his story about an inexperienced tracker. Maddie became more interested as the story continued, her face turned from annoyed to intrigued. As he continued Maddie began to feel pity for shouldering such a burden, she also felt a joy that he was willing to open up to her on such a difficult memory. She sighed one he was done speaking.

“Oh, hun. You cannot blame yourself for…”

She wasn’t able to finish her sentence before a sharp pain struck her neck. By the time she realized what happened she already began to lose feeling in her legs. Her face was confused for a moment before she was able to understand that it was Robert holding the tranquilizer gun. The confusion turned into anger as she let go the side of the boat and tried to lung at Robert slurring threats that were ineligible, only to fall in front of him. With no movement left in her body, she could only lie face first on the ground and listen to Robert talk as the world around her began to fade to black. The last thing Maddie felt was being lifted off the deck, her last thought was that she at least would be able to get some rest.

---------------------------------------------

Maddie awoke to guns blazing, men screaming and a helmet that was a little too large for her head. She shook off the grogginess from waking up from what seemed like an impossible nap. Over to her right across the road in a building was a young man with a red cross on his helmet sewing up a soldier with a gunshot wound in his leg. Quickly she began to stand up to run over and help but bullets began to fly in front of her, she backed up a bit and then bullets flew behind her. She was stuck… in the middle of a firefight. The young man started to struggle and the injured more solid began to scream, Maddie could only watch as the young man tried struggled to patch up the soldier.

“You are doing great love. All you need to focus on is stopping the bleeding now just like I taught you ok?!”

She yelled over the gunfire, approvingly towards the building that held the young medic and his patient. Then there was silence, everything became quite. A bright flash a loud boom and the ground began to shake. The building began to collapse, Maddie was paralyzed as she watched the two men get crushed by the newly formed rubble. Her mouth opened to scream but her voice no longer worked, tears rolled down her face as she felt someone begin to shake her and call out. No one was with her anymore yet she felt someone trying to reach her.

-----------------------------------------------------

Maddie’s eyes slowly opened, but quickly they closed as the sun shined through the window onto her face. She tried to lift her hand to block out the sun but it was still heavy and took too much effort to hold it up. After a moment the sun was blocked out, she opened up her eyes again and looked out the window and all she could see was trees? She started to gain more energy back and sat straight up but became light headed instantly and needed to brace herself so she would go back down.

“Where are we? Wha… what is going on?”

EJ looked excited to see Maddie awake he helped her into a seat in the RV and was able to explain what had happened and how they have ended up in the back of an RV. Maddie was still distraught and had effects from the Tranquilizer, each bump and turn would result in Maddie slumping over to the side but gradually she began to regain some feeling. Which may be bad news for Robert if she is back to her normal self by the time they come to a stop.

“I swear to god EJ I am going to kill that man for what he tried to do. He not only attacked me and you but he put the scientist’s lives in danger also. He may have just tried to kill them all. As soon as I regain my feeling in my legs I’m going to kick that self-righteous pompous ass of his.”

"The same thought crossed my mind Maddie, trust me on that, although I think your better suited to kicking his ass then me as I have no training like you two do. However... if I might be presumptuous I don't really think he did this out of some self righteous arrogance. I am not a fighter or even an outdoors man but I am good at reading people. Even you must have noticed that something was bothering him long before and was even more so after the fact, I just... I don't think this was his plan from the start, I think he really was ready to work with us when we first meant regardless of how he felt personally but... well I think that may have changed after that phone call I walked in on. It was a couples hours or so before we were to depart and he had a conversation with our employers on speaker phone and I don't think he knew I was there."



"Face the facts Mr.Tembo, we are all aware of your disdain for our company, especially Ingen itself and even more so knowing that your fee for helping us is not money we were forced to hire others who would do what we asked. Let me put this in terms you can understand, your and unknown asset, a loose cannon on the deck. We are merely protecting our interests and quite honestly you should have expected this seeming you think you know so well what were capable of and what were willing to do to protect our interests. You can cast blame wherever you like but the fact of the matter is it was your fathers choice, your uncles choice to work for Ingen all those months ago and..."

"Don't you dare talk of my father or my Uncle... its because of people like you, people with money that innocent life has been taken time and time again and for what? All in the name of protecting your "interests"? People like you don't even have the decency to admit the truth, no you sit in your offices in your fancy little suits and throw money around like its a commodity and then produce another story to tighten your plausible deniability. You didn't even have the decency to tell them what they were going to face on the island, you were sending them in blind because you knew, you damn well knew there was a chance if they found out that they would never have stepped five hundred miles within distance of that island. I don't give a damn about what you want, because I am not going to let one egg leave that island, you will never see your "samples" as you so like to call them."

"Oh you really think that at least one of your new team mates won't comply with us? As you so put it were just a bunch of greedy men in suits and fancy offices, so you would think that we could come up with a way to ensure, even with you there, that we would get our embryos. We have already made it quite clear to both Mrs. Ward and Mr.Carr that if they do not complete this operation to its fullest, including bringing us back those embryos that they will never see a cent from us. Face it Mr.Tembo were going to get what we want and you can't stop that, money makes the world go round and one way or another money is going to get us what we want."

"Your so smug aren't you, so sure of yourself and your schemes, my father, my Uncle, even me, all of us have been hurt by people like you and I am sick of it. You think you have won but I promise you this, I will show you that there are things in this world money can't buy. I will deal with this my way and YOU won't be able to do anything about it."



"I am not saying I am not mad about what he did, he had no right to do that to me or you, but I also understand that there might be more to this then we have been lead to believe, and I think he knows a lot more then he is telling us. This whole situation has been presented in such a way with so much secrecy that even and idiot like me can see that nothing is as simple as it seems. But I did come to understand why someone inexperienced like me was allowed to come here, because I need that money and I would be willing to do anything to get it..."

EJ would become silent as the scenery outside would begin to slow down, soon enough the RV came to halt with a subtle pull and the click of the engine was heard as the vehicles went completely silent once more. There would be a low ended click from the back of the RV signalling that one of the latches holding one of the smaller cars had been popped free.

Robert stood in the foliage of the island interior as he looked around silently, he was close to where the scientists had based camped and this was as good a place as any to switch to a smaller vehicle. The area was a semi small clearing that was far enough out of the way of any main trail so nothing should bother the RV while he was gone. Shouldering his rifle he walked the length of the RV and approached one of the smaller vehicles, opening the door he placed both his rifle and the tranquilizer rifle in the passenger seat and started up the vehicle with a silent hum. He quickly pulled away and took a small trail to the left pulling out of sight. Robert was silent as he drove, in all honesty he wasn't exactly feeling in the greatest of spirits, when he had resolved to remove Maddie and EJ from the expedition he had convinced himself it was for the better. The truth though that ate at the back of his mind was he felt like scum because of it, at that moment in time he felt no better then the men that hired him in the first place.

He had no such illusions that he was above it all in this world and that his wishes were more important then anyone else s, in fact in the past seven months he had learned to hate himself. An while he was prepared to take the hatred both Maddie and EJ must be feeling towards him it did not make the situation any easier to bare. If there had been another way, there was now no way of knowing because he took the high road instead of the low. It didn't matter thought, it was done and he couldn't take it back no matter how much guilt he felt now, he just took small comfort in the fact that they were both far from this island and safe on the mainland. It was too much to hope that they would understand and forgive his actions. Robert sighed heavily as he hated who he had become since the incident, he hated himself even more now, and before this was over he knew that he could never be the same person regardless of if he accomplished what he set out to do or not.

"Hey whats going on are we here? Is this the island with dinosaurs!? Are we here!?"

Roberts heart nearly skipped seven beats as brought the car to a quick but steady stop, turning in the seat he looked back as his eye's took on a rather wide glance, JC was sitting the in the bloody damn back seat of the car. What the hell... how the hell... what was JC doing here!?

"I wanna see the dinosaurs, are they near, where are they, all I see is jungle, can I touch one of them!?"

This couldn't be happening, this could not be happening, this was a dream and he was safe and sound back on his fathers ranch in Mombasa. Robert put his hand to his forehead and shook it, no this wasn't a dream because not even his dreams could take this wide of a detour into unknown lunacy. Robert quickly got out of the car and walked to the passenger side door opening it as JC quickly popped out looking around wildly for dinosaurs. It was in that small moment Robert noticed the black, the pillow, and a small goodybag still packed with a couple candybars and the various wrappers littering the car. If this had been any other kind of situation he would have to take his hat off to this kid for being so creative, but this was not the time or the place, Robert grabbed JC with a hand on each of his shoulders and bent down stopping him in his tracks.

"JC you need to stop now. This is not a game, what the hell are you doing here JC? Don't you understand that this island is dangerous!? Didn't your father make this clear to you JC? Do you really want to put yourself in harms way!?"

Robert hissed the words angrily to the young boy as he shook him lightly but it was enough to bring on a rather sad yet scared look of confusion from the young boy as his baby eye's were caught in Roberts glare. To say he was seething from anger was an understatement, to go from one problem to another... it was as if God was punishing him time and time again.

"Answer me JC! What were you thinking coming to this island!? You are more then old enough to understand that you are not suppose to be here so answer me!?"

"I... I... I just wanted to see the dinosaurs... I didn't, I'm sorry Mr. Temboo I.. I..."

JC's eye's formed tears as he started to cry, he stammered out the words as Robert's anger quickly dropped at the site of the young man's tears. Robert sighed closing his eye's, what had he been thinking to be so hard on JC like that, he was just a young boy.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry please don't be mad at me."

Robert pulled the boy in to a small hug as he cried, only a monster would have been so harsh. Robert shushed the boy trying to calm him down.

"Its okay kid, calm down, I shouldn't... I shouldn't have been so angry with you like that. I'm sorry too, its okay JC its okay. Hey listen okay..."

Robert pulled JC back a little so the young boy could see him smile and try to calm him.

"I understand kid, I used to do similar things when I was your age, oh I used to do so much and it drove my father crazy. He used to tell me that one day some kid was gonna drive me crazy too with stunts like I pulled, are you that kid who is meant to drive me crazy huh?"

Robert poked JC playfully in the stomach as the young boy gave off a small laugh and a smile shakily crossed his face. He gave a confirming nod to Robert as he smiled at JC nodding his head.

"Okay how bout this you can drive me crazy but you have to listen to me okay? Your daddy would be mad at me if you got hurt by accident. So until we get back to your dad I need you to stick close to me and listen to everything I say. If you can do that for me I might be able to show you some really cool dinosaurs. Do we have a deal?"

JC's eye's lite up with an enthusiasm that Robert forgot even existed anymore as he shook his head really quick his excitement returning.

"Good then get yourself situated in the car and get your seat belt on we need to get moving if were gonna find some dinosaurs at all."

JC quickly fled back to the car and jumped in the backseat making sure to buckle himself in, Robert returned to the car himself climbing in. It was not the ideal situation, but he had to make the best of what he had, there was no telling what they would find on the road ahead. But he couldn't leave JC alone in the RV with a clear conscious so for now he would have to keep him close and hope that nothing serious happened. Adjusting the mirror Robert looked at JC his eye's were diverting out the windows, it was a hard road ahead now but there was no turning back now. Robert restarted the car and headed for the scientists last known base camp.

Maddie listened to EJ halfheartedly knowing full well that no matter what he said would not change her mind in the slightest. She felt bad for him, it was clear that he would forgive Robert for his actions easily. EJ seemed like an extremely nice guy and considerate but Maddie, on the other hand, held grudges and trust was a difficult thing to earn. In the heat of war trust is the only thing that holds you together, if you doubt any of the men and women around it could be the end for everyone. Robert had damaged that trust and no matter the reasoning it will take a lot to earn it back.

When the RV came to a stop Maddie began to crawl towards the door handle. As she reached for it another hand grabbed hers and pulled her back covering her mouth. EJ did not want to confront Robert yet for some reason maybe he was trying to calm Maddie down or maybe he wanted to see what Robert’s next move would be. Luckily for him, Maddie was not at her full strength and could not break out of his grip but that did not stop her from struggling. That is until they heard another vehicle pull away.

Finally, Maddie was able to break free from EJs grip and get out of the RV, falling onto the ground as she saw the other Fleetwood pull down the trail.

“Shit! He just took off.”

Maddie seemed off and much more ego than when EJ had first met her. She slowly made it to her feet and instantly began to pace back and forth. The mission was a disaster before it even officially started, everything Maddie had prepped for had gone out the window or was left on the boat. It was odd to see such a friendly and nice person filled with anger and rage.

“Everything... Everything went wrong! There are people in danger on this island and instead of saving them now we are also in danger! This uh this train wreck of a mission this pile of rubbish we call a rescue operation has exploded before takeoff and it’s all because of that idiot Robert. We need to get to him or at least get to the scientist before he does.”

As Maddie ranted at EJ about the failure that was occurring, EJ had had a great idea. He began to tinker with some equipment inside the other Fleetwood, adjusting a few settings and using equipment for a different purpose. He pulled out a medium sized box with a screen on it and a large smile on his face.

“Each Fleetwood has their own GPS installed. So using one of the satellite phones I was able to rig a tracker to locate the other Fleetwood. So we no longer need to worry about losing him instead he will take us directly where we need to go.”

Maddie stopped in her tracks and stared in amazement at EJ. She ran over to him and hugged him tightly. After completely running out of hope it seemed that EJ was her fallen angel that blessed her with another chance.

“You are a genius! I’ll take shotgun while you drive us to wherever this idiot is going. We will find the scientists and kick his butt at the same time thanks to you!”

Maddie quickly made her way around the RV and hopped into the passenger seat. EJ handed her the tracking device and they began to head out after Robert only a few minutes after he had left.

Robert was silent as he kneeled on the ground next to the open door of the car beside him, it had not been too long after he had gotten back to driving did he stop again. He was a stones throw from the main camp the scientists had been residing in when he had by small chance noticed something on the ground, reaching forward he picked it up, it was an article of clothing, torn it seemed from a larger piece. It had jagged edges and there was traces of dried blood around the jagged mark where it was ripped off. Moving forward silently still bent to the ground he looked at the marking of the dirt silently, the piece of clothing was not fresh and the trail before him was littered with impressions of various markings, most of them being animal tracks. Robert put his hand to his chin silently, it was weird that this trail was so littered with animal prints, this was outside of the game trail, the animals on the island were fiercely territorial so they were secluded to certain area's of the island, but these footprints were of various different species. If he was correct in his thinking the images given to him pertaining to locations of the various species on the island was useless, something had changed and from the looks of it, the change had not been too far off from now. Robert moved forward slowly down the trampled dirt path and followed the prints. The fauna surrounding the dirt trail was trampled and broken in various places. The animals that went through here were large, at least of a medium build, but why didn't he see any animals out here?

It was horribly quiet around him, something he did not like at all, getting a closer glimpse at the trampled ground he slowly pieced together what he thought was the chain of events. From the various foot prints, he would guess that two people had been running down this road at one point, they were panicked, something was following them and it was large, at least a couple tons from the deep indentations in the dirt. The broken fauna around supported the theory of a larger animal, looking up the branches in the trees were also broken in various places. Robert kept moving his way forward on the trail, images played him his head like shots of a movie, it had been raining when it happened, tracing his fingers through the hardened dirt there was a skid mark deep within the mud, the mud had dried in the shape of a human torso. They were then pulled back up and continued to run, he could almost hear their heavy desperate breathing, following a little further the tracks ended on the road, near the ending of the footprints some of the nearby branches were broken, hanging off the plants, and it had been somewhat recently trampled down. They went off the trail and into the jungle, looking back at the footprints two sets each in opposite directions, they were trying to split up, or at least maybe draw the attention away from one or the other for whatever reason.

”Whatcha doing Mr. Temboo you been looking at the ground for a long time I am getting bored.”

Robert motioned his hand for JC to come forward, the boy complied as Robert put a gentle hand on his back and pressed a little signifying he wanted him to kneel down.

”In the hunters world this is called Tracking, its a unique ability that is honed over a course of many years, very hard to master. You see the tracks, they are faded but still there, from these tracks alone along with several other small defining markings...”

Robert went silent seeing the confusing what the heck are you talking about in JC's eye's, he forgot that JC was not exactly at an age where he would fully understand what Tracking was. Thinking about it for a second he tried another way of explaining it.

”Think of Tracking like a game of hide and seek outside your house. Your the seeker and you have to find your friend after counting to ten. You don't know where they are but you notice some foot prints in some nearby mud telling you that they went in that direction. Now by following those footprints they lead you to your friend and you win. Tracking is the same concept except instead of pointing in a direction it also tells a story. An if your really good at it you can figure out what happened when you were not there to see it for yourself. You see these prints right here, those are from two different people, you can tell because they were side by side and the striations... um the squiggly lines on the bottom of their shoes are different shapes. One set leads in that direction and the other leads in that direction indicating...?”

Robert looked at JC whom looked at the prints, getting lower to the ground he looked at the faded markings, then it seemed to suddenly click in the young boys head.

”They went in different ways, one went that way and the other went this way.”

Robert nodded his approval to the deduction, it was nice that JC was so curious and easily enthralled but he could only wonder how long until that way of thought got him in major trouble. Either way Robert had to follow one if not both of these trails, he needed a general idea of where these scientists had disappeared to and what had happened to them. Standing up he motioned for JC to follow him, shouldering his Nitro over his back with the strap he took the tranquilizer gun in hand.

”JC climb in front of me here where I can see you, do not wonder off for any reason bud okay? Were going off the road and into the jungle and it is very easy to get lost if you don't know how to find your way back. If you see or hear anything I want you to immediately tell me JC and if I tell you to do something you have to do it no questions okay? Remember if you listen to me you will get to see some really cool dinosaurs, all right?”

JC quickly nodded at the mention of dinosaurs again and they both stepped off the road and into the jungle, Robert wished he could feel so enthusiastic about all this but the fact of the matter was he did not like the idea of a ten year old boy in the jungle where god knows what was lurking. Predators always go for the weakest links in any group and JC's size makes him the opportune target. Leaving him in the car however without any supervision at all was the worst of the two options though so jungle it was. Robert kept the tranquilizer gun trained in front of him as he listened to the surrounding area, it was still silent and that was what kept him on edge. No birds, no bugs, nothing, just complete and utter silence. Something was here, the question that nagged the back of his mind... was what?

”Whats that Mr. Temboo?”

Robert looked up as they came into a small clearing of tall grass, it was quite clear from a distance that there was a mass not more then ten feet away from them, the grass leading and surrounding was trampled down revealing it almost... almost too easily... an icy feeling hit Roberts body as all of this was just... too set up, it made no sense to him but he had no choice but to investigate. Robert pushed forward keeping the gun trained in one hand he grabbed JC's hand with his other and lead him from in front of him. Keeping a watch on the surrounding area he knelt down to what appeared to be the body of man in some rather cheap looking safari clothing, the kind of thing a wannabe survivalist would wear into the jungle.

”JC I need you turn away okay stay right at my side, this is not something you need to be seeing.”

JC turned almost in a huff as he still did catch on that there was a dead body in front of them, thank god for child like innocence. Robert reached his hand forward and grabbed the shoulder of the body and pulled it down from its side laying position. Robert quickly retracted his hand as the entire front of the body was nothing but shredded skin and exposed smelling meat filled with what appeared to be rather large larvae.

Ewww what is that terrible smell?”

JC tried to turn around to see what was going on but Robert put a firm hand on his head and stopped him from looking. The body looked like it had been sliced open in several different locations, it had also been clawed by what appeared to be a three or four fingered carnivore, the neck was completely ripped away leaving a hulking red now purple hole. From the rate of decomposition and the size of the larvae the body had been out here at least for a day or two. Robert silently rustled around the body pulling the sticky bloody clothing around as he found what he was looking for. Pulling a leather wallet from the mans side pocket he flipped it open to see the drivers license. Gregory Thompson the name of one of the scientists from the pile of dossiers Maddie had shown him. Robert slid the wallet into his jacket pocket almost absentmindedly as he looked at the body.

The material he found on the road it was not from this body, which meant it must have belonged to the other who had been running with this man, that alone did not give him much hope that he was going to find that one alive either. The thought suddenly passed through Roberts mind as he thought about the fact that this body had been left here and not dragged off or eaten. Looking at the wounds again he realized that aside from the killing blows the body had not been eaten at all but just left here in the open. Pulling up Gregorys shirt Roberts blood went cold as he saw a circular slash that had spilled the mans intestines, he knew that wound and what caused it almost immediately. The sudden low croak came out of nowhere as it turned into a hiss and then a very low growl, Robert looked up as the blood drained from his face. In the distance he spotted it almost immediately. It stood almost stoically and very still, its muzzled snout was opened revealing the curved fangs as it stared right into Roberts eye's.

”Velociraptor... why was it here?

They never came this far from their home at the abandoned facility and that was only to hunt on the trail. It suddenly made sense, the body on the ground, it was left here purposely, as much as the word made him skeptical this had all the signs of a classic trap. Robert put his hand to his chest as he looked both left and right, he saw nothing but he knew they were there, why hadn’t they attacked?

”This is so boring when are we gonna see some dinosaurs Mr. Temboo?”

Robert jumped as the voice came out of nowhere his concentration broken, the attack came suddenly from the left and right.

”Get down and cover your eyes and ears!”

Robert screamed the words as he released a cylindrical canister, grabbing JC he covered his eye's and ears with his arm and ducked down as there was a bright flash. Roberts ears started to ring heavily as he could hear very angry high pitched squeals of pain. Everything seemed to spin for a moment but Robert forced himself to his feet as he shouldered the rifle, JC was screaming as tears slashed down his face, the flash bang had done its damage, it was far to close to avoid the full affects Robert grabbed JC off the ground in one heavy grab and turned running straight for the tree line, the two raptors who had charged from the edge of the clearing were rolling on the ground still stunned from the flash.

Robert hit the tree line like a man possessed as JC was cradled in his arms still crying, Robert ran through the foliage as his hearing slowly returned, enough that he could hear something crashing behind him, it had to have been the third raptor its distance had protected it from the full affects of the blast. Robert heightened his speed as his adrenaline was pumping through his body, his heart was racing, he couldn’t stop to tranq it, he couldn't risk JC's safety so he had to outrun it and get back to the car, the thick foliage would slow it down and limit its speed and jumping, that was the only godsend. When Robert busted through the last of the foliage he hit the road hard as he saw a car approaching to his complete surprise, who the hell was that!? He didn't care at that point he turned his direction and ran straight for the vehicle. As it stopped fast sliding in the dirt spotting him he barreled around the side and grabbed the back door, he wrenched hard enough in his adrenaline induced taper that he ripped it open regardless of the automated locks and quickly pushed JC in then jumped in himself.

”Go now! Drive!”

Maddie sat in silence with EJ. It was an uncomfortable ride, Maddie was full of fury and intense on finding Robert. She would make quite remarks to herself and bark out directions towards the location of Roberts RV. They were getting pretty close when they heard a loud noise, the RV began to slow down as Maddie rolled down her window and started to scan the woods for any sign of movement. Neither of the two of them had much knowledge of the island, so they had no idea if it was a natural noise or a man-made one.

“Alright that sounded pretty far off the trail, let’s just keep going and see if we can catch up to his RV.”

Just as EJ got the vehicle up to speed, there was movement up ahead. Maddie stared with intensity at the brush that was shaking, and within feet of the car appeared Robert and JC. EJ slammed on the brakes causing the car to skid in the dirt, he was completely horrified to see his son in Robert's hands. Both Maddie and EJ were speechless, seeing Robert sprint to the car with fear in his eyes made Maddie snap out of her shock realizing that there must be something dangerous chasing them. She instinctively reached for her rifle and was about to open her own door when she realized that Robert and JC were in the back seat.

EJ seemed in complete disbelief of what was happening, the shock of seeing your own child in mortal danger can do that to a person. EJ was behind the wheel and at first did not respond to Robert’s commands, he was looking back at the both of them trying to piece together what he was seeing. Then the movement of whatever was chasing both of them became visible, it was close and getting closer.

“EJ hit the fucking gas!”
Maddie screamed at the already petrified father, which thankfully was able to shake off his shock for a short time and begin to slam on the gas to speed away from the creature behind them. He busted around the bend almost smashing into Roberts abandoned vehicle. Thankfully EJ was not only good at building vehicles but also driving them. The tired ripped through the old dirt trail causing tremendous amounts of noise and dirt to fly all across the woods. He hit a straight patch and continued to speed down for a few miles before slowing down.

Once they all had seemed to calm down from the chase each one taking a few minutes to gather themselves, Maddie finally turned around to Robert. She stared at him with pure hatred in her eyes, she wanted to punch him in the face at that exact moment, but luckily for him, there was a child sitting right next to him. Maddie clenched her fist and then unclenched her fist allowing herself to take a breath.

“Tell me right now, no bull crap. What in God’s name are you doing? Why did you use tranquilizers on me and EJ and why on earth did you kidnap EJs, son? Really I just want to know what your fucking problem is. You have literally single handily destroyed this mission every lost life is now on your head because of what? A personal vendetta against a company? What on earth is your problem?”



A few miles west from the group smoke began to billow into the air. A large mobile research lab was detached from whatever had towed it to its location and was tipped onto its side. It was badly damaged, some tires were missing and the center was crushed down by something giant. One of the windows that had been broken open now had smoke pouring out of it. At first, it seems like the trailer was on fire but eventually, the smoke began to stop and clear up. Then it started again, someone was making this fire. Someone is trapped inside the flipped trailer, hoping that anyone will be able to see the smoke and come rescue them.

Robert rubbed his eye's silently as they drove, aside from the attack on his and JC's life from one of the worst predators man would never want to see up close they were both intact and unharmed. So in all reality that was a good day in the book of a hunter, however... the day was about to go from an escape well done to a shit show in the middle of New Years in New York Square between two drunk people who just found out their girlfriend is with the other and double playing them. To realize that both EJ and Maddie were here on the island with him somehow was not as shocking as it might have been, in truth he did not make it a habit to tranquilize people who were suppose to be working with him. But he had a real bad feeling that neither EJ or Maddie were going to see it like that and he was not quite prepared to fault them on that. It was obvious that humans were a bit more resourceful then common animals and or even the smarter animals, a fact well noted now as the car slowly came to a stop. It was silent for a moment when everything calmed down but it really wasn't going to last long that was for damn sure, the tension indicated that much. Maddie was the first to lay into him, she flung questions and accusations left and to the right as Robert shook his head, he grabbed the door handle and pushed it open. Putting his hat on his head he walked to the passenger side and looked at Maddie through the window.

"You understand nothing Maddie, and its just better that you don't. But for the record this mission was fucked the moment we got it so don't put that on my head, your just too stupid and fool hearty to realize it, your nothing more then a sacrificial pawn in a game you don't know the rules to. I tried to remove you from the board, tried to keep you safe and away from this hell. I take responsibility for the things I do and I accept it, but I won't apologize for tranquilizing you because compared to getting eaten while you weakly die on the ground, seeing your intestines ripped out of..."

Robert went silent as he looked in the backseat at JC whom was listening to the conversation the flash bang having finally fully wore off. Reaching into his pocket he removed the tarnished leather wallet and tossed it through the window onto Maddie's lap.

" Maybe you should ask JC yourself why he snuck himself on the island, I hardly call him popping up in the backseat of my car when he is not even suppose to be here kidnapping. But if I am such a terrible person in your eye's then why did I even bother to protect him at all?"

Robert leaned in a bit closer and looked Maddie in the eye's an spoke in sort of a lower voice:

"You think this is about a vendetta? You truly think that I would weigh the lives of innocent people on some kind of revenge? Take JC and yourselves and leave the island... your nothing more then mice being hunted by a cat. I didn't need your help then and I don't need it now. I have nothing more to say Maddie, go home and someday have a perfect family somewhere and grow old in some guys arms, I dont care what you do."

Robert was cold as he placed his hat on his head and walked away from the passenger side window and started back down the trail to get to his abandoned vehicle, he hoped the Velociraptor had not wrecked it, but he was guessing not because whatever it wanted was more important then some foreign object in its home.

Maddie was shocked to hear such a reaction to her questioning. She felt the pure rage building up inside her as Robert continued to insult her directly to her face. Robert said the vilest things and even went as far as describing her would be the gruesome death. It was at that point that Maddie finally had enough and began to get out of the car but as she reached for the door handle a wallet fell into her lap. She no longer was listening to Robert as she opened it up and saw the recognizable face of one of the scientists. She was horrified to realize that the only reason Robert would have his wallet was if he was no longer alive. As she began to accept the gravity of the situation and realize she may be over her head then Robert stuck his head closer to Maddie and decided to add more fuel to her fire. She now flung open her car door and chased after Robert.

"Listen here you prick. I have no idea what your whole deal is and I honestly do not care. I am fucking sick of you and your self-righteous attitude, can you not think of anyone else besides your own selfish ideas. I get it, trust me I completely understand why you thought you had to shoot us in the fucking neck with a tranquilizer dart! I get it. I probably would have done the same thing if I did not have a brain.”

Maddie grabbed Roberts shoulder and made him face her.

“You might think you know best, and I am sure you do know much more about this island and its animals than me and EJ combined but if you ever dare to make our choices for us again I will slit your fucking through. You are honestly the most disrespectful and downright terrible person I have ever had the displeasure of knowing. But we are all here now and there is no way I am leaving everyone’s lives in your hands alone. So you’re stuck with me until we find every last scientist, dead or alive and escape this island.”

Maddie stood in front of Robert, her face was stern. She wanted to let him leave and be on his own, but they needed him. That was the toughest part to swallow, they actually needed the man that shot them. Her head dipped down in a bit of defeat.

“I can’t do this without you. Now I want to make sure you know that I hate you and forever will hate you, but I need to put my personal vendetta to the side for now until we can save these people, including the two in the car. You can abandon us, I can’t stop you but I will not leave this island until the mission is complete. Without you… I am sure you are correct, I will end up a dinosaur’s meal but at least I will die knowing that I was doing what was right. I hope you will reconsider your stance because I am sure you could use our help too.”

Maddie seemed to let her aggressive stance down. It was odd that for the past few hours all she wanted to do was punch Robert in the face but standing in front of him and realizing the danger of the situation seemed to change her mind. She opened up again to let him have a chance, she even tried to reason with him. Of course no matter his answer Maddie was not letting him leave them behind, she was determined but always tried to see the good in people no matter their actions.




Alana Maxwell woke up in a hot sweat, pain riddled her body as she lied on the cold floor. She quickly looked around to observe her situation and she realized that she was not on the floor but instead the side of the trailer. It must have gotten tipped over during the attack, it was hard to remember what exactly happened the night before. She reached her hand up to smooth the pounding thumps in her head but she felt something wet. As she pulled her hand away she noticed that it was covered in blood, she quickly realized that she must have hit her head and had been bleeding for quite a while.

As she tried to get herself up off her chest it occurred to her that she could no longer move her legs. She looked back in horror to find that one of her research cabinets had fallen on top of her legs. The pain caused Maxwell to scream in pain as she struggled to try to squeeze her legs out. It clearly was pointless her effort only caused her pain and no progress was being made.

After a few hours of just hoping someone would rescue her, she started to take matters into her own hands. She began to gather the paperwork that was tossed around the room from the attack. Thankfully she was surrounded by tons of notebooks and large packets of printing paper, it was enough for a noticeable fire. She knew better to yell for help, that would only draw unwanted attention but hopefully, someone still alive would be able to see the smoke and know that it was another human.

Maxwell was able to gather a sizeable amount of the paper that surrounded her and luckily she was stuck underneath a window that now was above her since the Trailer had tipped. Snapping her glasses in half and taking a frame off she was able to use her already cracked glasses to magnify the sunlight and get the fire started. She needed to keep it going and for as long as possible or until someone rescued her.

“This better work.”

"You know what I am sick of Maddie? I'm sick and tired of you throwing accusations at me and its only been five minutes, I am not self righteous and I am not a kidnapper and I am not and I repeat I am not some heartless monster bent on sacrificing life for some misguided attempt at revenge. You feel free to hate me because you know what it doesn't matter in the end, because when this is finally over you will never see me again. You will go back to saving people and whatever family you have, EJ and JC go back to engineering vehicles and living their happy father son life, and I will go..."

Roberts sentence had started out with him being rather heated, his face was close to Maddies, but the fight inside for one reason or another noticeably drained from his face as he stopped short of finishing his sentence. He backed away as his face shifted into the face of one who had just remembered something that they had forgotten about. Robert swallowed a bit harder then intended as he shook his head at something and composed himself finishing his sentence.

"home to nothing... nothing that matters to any of you. I am just the fucking villain anyways after all, so who cares? So just leave me alone Maddie, your grown adults so start acting like it. You took this assignment without asking questions, you blindly forged ahead without looking to see whats in front of your eyes, you disregarded my words thinking it couldn't be as bad as I made it out to be. You know what happens when hunters do that? They die horrible deaths, walking into the unknown without any regard for the road ahead is suicide. I am glad your starting to see that now but its a bit too late.

Robert fisted his hand unknowingly as his fingers cracked under the tightness he was exerting on his fingers. He didn't seem to really be there anymore, at least not on the island when you looked at his face. Pulling the Nitro off his back he pushed his way around Maddie and continued walking down the road.

"I am going to grab my car you can follow me if you want, but EJ and JC are even worse off then you seeming they have no training at all so you would be leaving them to die. So I think its time you start asking yourself if its more important to protect them or convince me to stay. But we both know what your going to do so, goodbye Maddie.

“Seriously. Seriously! You have to be kidding me. You know what I cannot believe you keep surprising me. Every sentence that comes out of your mouth seems to be worse than the last. Sure I may have been a little rash with my accusations but can you really blame me for jumping to conclusions, you literally shot me!”

Maddie was flabbergasted by Roberts’ stubbornness she wanted to let him leave just let him go die on his own. It actually would make her beyond happy to see him leave and never come back. But the others needed her and they also needed him too. He finally pushed his way past Maddie and began to walk away. Maddie threw her hand up in the air in anguish.

“Great! Great, just leave us alone out here. Go on your hero’s quest to take down a company, while we actually go out and save real people. You act like you have the moral high ground, like you know something that we all don’t. You are not better than us! You are killing us, you are just as bad as the people that sent us out here if you leave us. I can tell that you know what is out here and you are refusing to help.”

Tears started to flow down Maddie’s cheeks but she wasn’t sad. She cleaned off her face surprised by the sudden emotions that were pouring out of her. She truly was scared, not only for her life but everyone else’s. Her yells turned into a plea.

“I know you wouldn’t care if I died, but you cannot say the same about those two in that car. They are innocent, untrained and scared. There is a child in that car up there and the only reason he is still alive is that you saved him. I am sorry for throwing accusations at you, but if you would honestly let that child pay for our mistakes then you are truly the monster I believe you to be. So prove me wrong, I’m begging you to prove me wrong. Do not let that child die.”

Robert heard her words from behind him, her anger and he kept on walking trying not to care, desperately trying to just walk away for once and walk his own road from here on out. So many times in his life he sacrificed everything for others and this time it was his life that was going to change, change in ways he couldn't stomach, he couldn't stay and help them, he would not because he had to do right by his own family now and that meant he would do anything to make right the wrongs that he now faced. It was when her anger turned into a tone of pleading to him that he stopped walking down the road, his back was still turned to her as he listened to her final words towards him. He lowered his head down slightly as he looked at the gun in his hands, a few tears slipped down from his eye's, why... why did everything always go so wrong in his life? Robert looked at the faded polished wood of the rifle as for the briefest of moments he could see his fathers face reflecting upon it like a mirror image. It was his rifle that he carried in his hands now, the same rifle that his father treasured, almost all of Roberts memories involved this very rifle.

---

---

Robert lay quietly in the hospital bed, most of his upper body was covered in a white bandage, he shook like he was really cold, the moment that had brought him here fresh in his mind. They had been hunting, hunting a lion, his dad him and Uncle Ajay and they had been so close. But Robert had screwed up, he had alerted the lion to their location and it had attacked. All he could see was a lion the size of a buffalo turn on him and in one fell swoop its large paw struck him straight across the chest, its razor sharp claws tearing him open. He was on the ground, he could feel his blood dripping from the wounds and down his sides as his heart raced at the pain, he could remember seeing the lion approaching him, intent to finish him off, and in that moment before it would reach him his Uncle Ajay jumped in between the lion and him and blocked him off the death blow. The lion attacked him uncle instead of him, the horror of seeing that lion jump on his uncle and pin him to the ground ready to give the killing blow was burning in his head. It had all been so fast yet the loud kapow that echoed across the barren landscape signaled the end of the lions life. The animal fell sideways, the gaping hole where its chest used to be clearly visible even through the tears as Robert would then pass out and wake up in the hospital.

Robert looked up painfully as the wooden door slid sideways and his uncle walked in, aside from some bandages covering heavily minor wounds he looked rather happy a smile on his face. He walked up and took the chair beside the bed as he pulled him arm from behind his back revealing a necklace with what appeared to be a set of large fangs on hand crafted braided leather strips. Robert looked at it but turned his head as he didn't accept it. His uncle spoke in his lightly accented voice:

"What is wrong my young meerkat? It is not like you to deny a gift, come now tell me what it is on your mind."

Robert stayed silent as he didn't look back, he didn't even know what to say, because of his stupid mistake not only had he been badly wounded but his uncle nearly die too. If it had not been his dad shooting the lion uncle Ajay would have surely died and it would have been all his fault. Robert felt a warm hand on the top of his head, he felt his head move with the hand as he was confronted with his uncles smile, it completely dumbfounded Robert how he could be so happy knowing that he had almost died because the boy in front of him was stupid.

"I know that look young one, oh yes I once had that same look in my eye's when I messed up on a hunt and my father was hurt because of it. You know I could barely look at him when he walked in to see me, he had to turn my head too so that I could see the smile on his face. I don't think your so scared because of that lion but because you are thinking that it was all your fault, yes?"

"It was my fault, how could it not be? I stepped on that stick and I made that noise and it attacked us. Its my fault you almost..."

Robert felt a finger go onto his lips and this was his uncles way of shushing him, Robert felt the tears start to well up in the corner of his eye's but he fought them, crying never solved anything.

"Let me ask you this, if I had been the one to step on that stick and it attacked us because of my mistake what do you think that you would do, what would you say to me? Would you blame me or would you forgive me?"

"I wouldn't be mad at you, id never blame you, you know I would forgive you... but..."

Robert felt the finger on his lips again shushing him as his uncle smiled and looked into his eyes with that knowing look.

"But nothing young one, there is no double standard here, I do not blame you Robert, hunters take certain risks when they go after dangerous animals. All through history hunters have had triumphs and they have had failures and some even died. Even the most accomplished of hunters make mistakes, but you, your but a young boy trying to learn a dangerous tradition in your family and such mistakes are unavoidable. Remember Robert there is no shame in the animal winning, you survived even though you lost, its not about whose to blame but its about healing and getting back out there and trying again."

"But I only survive because of you and dad! I didn't survive on my own, you almost died because of me! I am not meant to be a hunter, I have no talent."

Robert could not contain his tears any longer as the strong emotion overwhelmed him and he just let himself cry letting go of the bravado, the strong front he was trying to hold. Robert felt firm hands on his shoulders as his uncle hugged him gently trying to cal him, speaking to him.

"You did survive today because of me and your father that is true, but Robert being a great hunter is not just about working alone, life is very much the same way, you need people and people need you. I would jump in front of that lion ten times over for you and do you know why? Not just because your my god son or I am your uncle but because as adults it is our duty to protect that which matters most, and that is you because the children of this world are the future that we strive to make better. Fathers and brothers, sisters, mother, we are all responsible in our own ways to guide and protect you no matter what. An one day you too will be an adult and it will be your turn to protect that which matters most and you will do what I did today, maybe not in the same way but if you truly feel you need to take blame then promise me this, when the day comes a child needs you like you needed me and your father, you won't turn your back on them. Yes?"

Robert nodded his approval to the promise as his uncle smiled again and took the hand made necklace laying it beside him on the nearby night table.

Robert reached up silently as he pulled back his shirt and let his hand feel the weather leather necklace around his neck, clutching it in his hand he remembered the promise he had made back then. But it was more then that, people need you and you need people, had he truly fallen so low as to consider leaving not only JC but Maddie and EJ to a terrible fate that he could help them avoid? He had spent so much time the last passing hours trying so hard to make Biosyn and Ingen look like monsters and he was acting like one himself in his own way. Robert sighed heavily knowing that his actions, they were unforgivable, and no matter the circumstances he was facing there was no excuse he was raised to be so much better then this. He had to make this right or at least attempt to, he couldn't just let things continue to spiral out of control knowing he could stop it. Robert wiped the stray tear drops from his face and turned around walking back to Maddie, he approached her and stop a couple short feet away, speaking:

"I would care if you died even if I tried my hardest to make myself believe I wouldn't, tried my hardest to walk away and pursue my own goals instead of trying to help you. I won't offer excuses for my behavior because I don't even deserve that at this point, but I want you understand something Maddie. This isn't about taking down Biosyn or Ingen, I hate them both I truly do but I am not here for them. I can't... I can't tell you yet why I am here and why Iv acted so horribly. All I can do for now is say I am sorry and I don't expect forgiveness. My uncle told me a long time ago that I need to trust people, ever since he disappeared I haven't been able to do that but we can't survive as a team if we can't trust so, this is not my first time on this island, I was here six months ago. I can't tell you yet why but its a start towards what I hope can be trust. If you can resist giving me the punch to the face I deserve I promise to be forth coming from here on out, no lies, no devious plots, no shooting you with tranq darts, what do you think? Can we be a team?"

Robert offered his hand as an olive branch but he honestly did not know if it was beyond too late for that, it was now in Maddies hand if she could move forward from all of this.