On a secluded beach on Isla Nublar.
Several small transport vessels docked, dropping their ramps. Jeeps packed with specialized tactical gear rolled onto the sand, kicking up plumes of saltwater spray.
"All units on standby. Be ready to move at a moment's notice."
A technician with a receding hairline followed close behind Vic Hoskins, reporting the status.
"Good. Don't start the live feed yet; the situation is still escalating," Hoskins said, surveying the men and equipment. The escape of the Indominus rex was an opportunity, an opportunity for InGen to take total control of the park's biological assets.
"Did they agree to your proposal?" the technician asked, sounding uneasy. Their actions were covert, a "shoot first, ask questions later" operation. If Masrani decided to conduct a full investigation, they'd all be finished.
"They will," Hoskins replied. He took a headset, pulling it over his ears as he prepared to contact the remaining teams.
"Owen, we've got a situation here." Barry, watching from a distant ridge, tried to reach Owen via radio, but he was met only with a wall of static.
…
Elsewhere, Owen stepped out of his Jeep, his grip tightening on his rifle. They were in the Primeval Ecological Zone now; they had to stay alert.
"Please relax and enjoy the ride."
The recorded voice of the gyrosphere chirped from the wreckage, a stark contrast to the shattered sphere. Owen pulled his hunting knife and pried a jagged Indominus tooth from the frame before noticing the slaughtered Ankylosaurus nearby.
"Damned butcher."
Claire stepped out as well, looking at the mangled vehicle with a hollow expression, praying that Zach and Gray had somehow gotten away.
"Aunng-Roar—"
A sharp, distant shriek echoed through the trees, sending a chill down their spines. Owen instantly swapped the tooth for his rifle, scanning the perimeter. His eyes caught the fresh footprints left by Claire's nephews in the mud.
…
Katyusha tucked herself deeper into the Triceratops skull, peeking out cautiously through an eye socket.
What was that sound? Way too scary.
She saw that the surroundings were peaceful. The Parasaurolophus had returned to their grazing grounds after finishing their meal, allowing her to relax a little.
Why isn't Boss back yet?
That morning, Boss had forced them all to take a bath. She still remembered the hilarious look of pure indignation on the third hatchling's face.
The air seemed thick with the scent of blood. Had Boss gone hunting? The young Parasaurolophus had grown significantly. Unlike the Giganotosaurus family, they seemed to have inherited their parents' accelerated growth genes; they were already reaching the knees of the Parasaurolophus mother.
The Gallimimus were nowhere to be seen, meaning nothing was left to disturb their rest.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over the playing Parasaurolophus hatchlings. They looked up to see a dinosaur they had never encountered before. Perhaps because the herd had lived alongside Carlo for so long, both the young and the adults were strangely trusting of carnivores near the Great Lake. They assumed that staying in this territory meant they were safe from attack.
From this moment on, that was no longer true.
The Indominus rex lowered her body, surveying the area.
His scent is all over this place...
At the thought of something delightful, the corners of her mouth twitched upward into a disturbingly human-like smile.
"Aunnng—"
A young Parasaurolophus chirped at her, confused. This creature looked like a meat-eater, yet its long arms made it look like a plant-eater.
In the next heartbeat, one of the hatchlings was snatched up and flung into the air, crashing back down into the center of the herd!
Panic exploded. The Parasaurolophus shrieked and scattered. The Indominus chose the largest group to pursue. The small ones she crushed underfoot; the large ones she crippled with a single swipe of her claws. When she saw one that piqued her interest, she used both hands and jaws to snap its spine like a dry twig.
Katyusha watched, her pupils dilating as she shrank back into the Triceratops skull.
This is wrong. Mom, Dad, and Boss... they never do this.
She huddled inside Boss's trophy. It was saturated with his powerful scent, providing her with the only sense of security she had left.
Gradually, the sounds of slaughter died down. The screams of the Parasaurolophus stopped.
Is she gone?
"Hrr-ruur..."
A low growl vibrated right beside her.
The Indominus circled Carlo's favorite tree, eyeing the Triceratops skull. Her thermal vision told her something was in there. Was it hiding under the bone?
Click.
She rested her right hand on the bony frill. Her claws made a sharp tapping sound against the surface. Then, with a violent jerk, she flipped it over!
The skull flew through the air, revealing a dark hole in the ground. For a moment, she was startled, watching a Simosuchus scramble out of the tunnel. Without hesitation, she snatched the crocodile-like creature and swallowed it in a few gulps.
Behind her, Katyusha crawled out of a different exit and bolted toward the territory of the Giganotosaurus parents.
"Eeng—"
Once she was at a safe distance, she began to wail for them.
The Indominus, still poking around the hole, heard the cry. She whipped her head around, shrieked, and gave chase toward the forest.
Tricked again?!
In front of her lay a gray zone devastated by an old fire, where fresh green shoots were just beginning to poke through the ash. The Indominus found her path blocked by charred, fallen trees. She smashed through them, charging straight for Katyusha!
Just as she was about to reach the hatchling, two colossal forms lunged from the side, slamming into her at full tilt.
"Aunng-Roar!"
Stumbling to the left, the Indominus quickly regained her balance and roared at the two Giganotosaurus. However, she quickly realized they weren't even looking at her!
Furious, she prepared to lunge at the pair, but a sudden, blinding pain exploded in her tail.
"Aunng-Roar—"
The scream of agony was cut short as the world became a blur of retreating scenery. The Indominus was sent flying, tumbling across the grass before she snapped her head up to identify her attacker.
He's not dead?!
Carlo stepped forward. Before she could stand, he slammed his massive foot onto her left leg, pinned it, and shoved off, sending her sprawling again. The Indominus realized she was outnumbered. She pulled her leg back and tried to use her arms to push herself upright.
But then, another foot slammed into her neck, pinning her down before shoving her away, spinning her 120 degrees until she was face-down in the dirt.
The crushing weight on her throat made it impossible to breathe. Realizing she couldn't stand, the Indominus abandoned her dignity, scrambling on all fours in a desperate attempt to flee.
But the tearing pain returned to her tail.
Flinging her again, Carlo sent her crashing into the shallows of the Great Lake. She sputtered as water filled her nostrils.
She had been driven back to the water's edge.
The roar of engines approached as several ACU troopers emerged from their vehicles. Carlo ignored the humans with their puny guns. He stepped forward and slammed his foot directly onto the Indominus's skull, pinning her head underwater.
The Indominus's body began to thrash violently. The surface of the lake erupted in ripples and spray. The sound of her choking on water was constant. She curled her body, her long arms raking desperately at Carlo's legs.
In the throes of a life-or-death crisis, her glands were overstimulated, instinctively releasing a chemical signal of extreme distress and danger. Carlo caught the scent. He didn't understand the nuance of the message; he simply exerted more pressure, shoving her rising head back beneath the surface.
So, you're not a monster after all.
"Control, the target is near death. Requesting extraction," the ACU squad leader said into his comms, standing on the grass near Carlo.
Masrani watched the feed, hesitating. Carlo was immensely valuable, but the Indominus was a 26-million-dollar asset. He couldn't just watch that investment drown.
Besides, it's not a lethal weapon...
"Open fire," Masrani said coldly.
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