Off in the pitch-black coastal waters of Kakushin City, shoals of fish swam away from the Spinosaurus as he got closer to the island. He kept his head and neck raised above the water line while Narumi rode on him. The constant sound of waves splashing about could numb the senses.
It was not long until Spinosaurus' feet finally made contact with the sea bed. Spinosaurus finally stood upright and was able to take a moment of respite. Narumi patted on his head once more, "You did it. Great job, Taiyo-san."
Spinosaurus honestly did not like the head pats, as if he were some kind of pet, but he was not going to throw Narumi off his back for that. While Spinosaurus was catching his breath, Narumi scanned around her. With enhanced night vision, they could vividly see their surroundings which would otherwise be pitch-black to the human eye. Despite arriving on the beach, the interior seemed inaccessible due to the steep slopes, cliffs, and rocks. She could not see any boat or landing jetty, as if this island was completely uninhabited. Tropeognathus flew past Spinosaurus and picked up speed. He climbed up in altitude and circled the island.
It was a small high-rise island, between thirty to forty hectares. Cliffs and steep slopes around the perimeter gave the island an almost volcanic appearance. Spinosaurus was on the west side of the island, the cliffs made it impossible for him or Narumi to get into the interior. On the east side of the island, there was unexpectedly a lagoon protected by the cliffs with a gap to the Pacific. Flying over the island, Tropeognathus could see structures in the center. It was a single dull grey three-story building like it was some sort of abandoned research facility. Except there was a helicopter on a helipad situated on the building's roof.
However, there was not a single boat in sight, or a dock or wharf. He let out a hiss in irritation, he banked downwards to check the entire island perimeter at sea level. There was nothing, but the mercenaries and their boat did not just disappear. Reaching the north side of the island, he finally spotted something. There was a concrete canal, seawater was flowing into it. Perfectly sized for a boat to drive into.
Tropeognathus circled back to Spinosaurus and Narumi, still resting on the shore. He flew downwards, pulled back, and spread his wings, slowing his descent. It was a crazy idea, but he was going to land on the giant dinosaur. Catching as much air as possible, Tropeognathus parachuted down onto the sailed dinosaur. Spinosaurus instantly let out a loud snarl when he felt the sudden weight on his side. Tropeognathus held onto Spinosaurus like a windsurfer. He had his wings folded and his front claws were holding the top of Spinosaurus' sail while his feet were perched on Spinosaurus' body. Spinosaurus craned his neck to give a side glare at the Pterosaur.
Narumi quickly said, "Itou. Did you find Morita or Kurosawa-senpai?"
Tropeognathus shook his head.
"Then what about the boat?"
Tropeognathus cawed and pointed his head towards the north.
"You want us to go around?"
The Pterosaur quickly nodded again. Spinosaurus growled and started wading through the shallow water, getting around the island to the north side. Another thunder rumbled over the far distance, they knew a storm was coming and they had to get Etsudo and Daichi fast. Spinosaurus continued on his way towards the north with Narumi and Tropeognathus riding on him.
Shortly, Spinosaurus reached the concrete canal. The dark tunnel awaited them. Narumi took a sniff of the air, and her eyes slowly widened when she recognized the same scent they had been tracking since school.
"Guys," Narumi said with a low voice, "They're in there. You smell them?"
Spinosaurus and Tropeognathus picked up the scent as well and they snarled with narrowed eyes.
"Everyone be careful." Narumi cautioned them. Spinosaurus headed into the tunnel, taking every step slow and steady to be as stealthy as possible. The dreary tunnel had concrete platforms on each side, the walls were grimy and stained with moss. His sail was barely out of the ceiling's reach. The tunnel led them deeper in, the sound of the sea behind them was getting softer.
Taking a left turn, they saw a boat docked by the platform which leads to an exit door. The same rigid inflatable boat Tropeognathus spotted from the river. Spinosaurus treaded to the side of the platform and his two passengers leaped off him. While Tropeognathus and Spinosaurus took the moment to change, Narumi sneaked towards the doors, creaking them open to check for anyone around. Matabei offered Kohaku his hand and pulled him out of the water.
"Ugh..." Matabei groaned with goosebumps all over his limbs as he and Kohaku stood on the wet floor with their bare feet. "When we get Morita, she's going to make shoes for our hero costumes."
"Itou-senpai, what did you see over the island?" Kohaku asked.
"I saw a helicopter on a building. It must be right above us." Matabei stepped in between Narumi and Kohaku. "There is someone else on this island."
"Must be Doctor Rossiter." Kohaku guessed.
"Come on. We got to find Morita and Kurosawa-senpai." Narumi said and the three climbed up the stairs.
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At the top floor, in Doctor Rossiter's laboratory, Delta had her severed hand inside a nanotech box. Deep red blood was still dripping from the wound. A dull green gas was emitted from the nozzles in the box, the same kind of gas back in the stairwell at GenaTech's tower.
An instant sharp sting panged in her hand and she groaned in agony.
"The nanites are going to seal up the bleeding and stimulate the healing process faster." Doctor Rossiter explained to Delta. The other mercenaries surrounded her. "Keep your hand inside the box for ten minutes, the bleeding will stop."
While the nanites were doing their work on her hand, Delta took the chance to confront Rossiter. "Hey, Doc! What the hell did your tech do to those students?"
"You made them into dinosaurs?!" Echo exclaimed ecstatically. "Those kids can transform into goddamn dinosaurs?!"
"That's how Song is involved in this," Alpha said, crossing his arms.
"I told you it wasn't the same treatment," Beverly said. "Doctor Song came to me with the paleo genetic materials, I provided the medium for it. He tried producing paleo phenotypes from lab mice for the pharmaceutical properties that paleo genetics hold. But now we have our human trial. You guys already know how the nanites work. They mutate the subject's cells. The subject will change into the new species and back for a full assimilation of the nanites."
"The same process we went through," Alpha said. "But your nanotech isn't designed for lab mice. Exposure of any amount would be fatal to small animals." Alpha eyeballed her. "Song didn't know that. You left that part out, didn't you?"
Beverly went silent after he pointed that out. The rest of the mercenaries gave her a look.
"You knew Song would be too stubborn to proceed any further if the mice trial fails. You set him up from the start." Alpha deduced, "Make him look like an idiot to Kengo, then take his work for yourself, and continue the research for your own profit."
"I don't see how this is of any concern to you." Beverly got up and stared back at him, "Getting the other three targets is your concern. Payment for the two downstairs has already been transferred. So once Delta has been patched up, you're going to get back out there and bring me the last three."
Beverly went past him and got to another lab bench. She began her work on the blood samples. Petri dishes containing Etsudo and Daichi's blood were placed in another nanotech box. The same dull gas was emitted from nozzles in the box. As soon as the gas came into contact with the blood on the petri dishes, the blood was absorbed into the mixture. Beverly did not particularly care if she was cross-contaminating the gas with two different blood samples. If all the biological properties were contained in just one mixture, that was sufficient for her. Proper and ethical protocols be damned. Afterward, the mixture was funneled through tubes out of the nanotech box, before being vacuumed and pressurized into a series of vials. The same kind of vials that started this whole mess. Soon after, they were stored in a secure case.
"Now I have to deliver this to Kengo, a sample will satisfy him for the time being," Beverly said, holding the case in her hands.
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Etsudo Morita and Daichi Kurosawa remained in their state of defeat, slumping down on the floor in their electrified prison. They could not help the swirl of emotions emanating. Morbid dread, worry, and above all regret. They did not use their new abilities when they could have.
Etsudo and Daichi could have fought back when the mercenaries came for them at school. They were stronger and faster. Etsudo could have turned into the Raptor and ripped those mercenaries apart. Daichi was the Eotriceratops, the largest of the Ceratopsians. He could have plowed right through the mercenaries. But instead, Etsudo's timidity and Daichi's self-centredness won out. They left Narumi, Kohaku, and Matabei.
They were snapped out of their funk when they heard footsteps. They shot up to their feet, bracing themselves for the mercenaries coming back for them.
"Morita, get behind me." Daichi stepped in front of Etsudo.
"Senpai." Etsudo shuddered.
The footsteps were getting closer, their hearts pounded with anxiety. The door creaked open, and they backed away from the cell gate. Their eyes went wide and their mouths gaped like a fish once they realized who it was.
Narumi poked her head through the doorway and spotted them, relief immediately swept over her. She dashed over with Kohaku and Matabei right behind her. "Oh, my God! Morita! Kurosawa-senpai! You're here!"
"Uchida-san?" Etsudo froze, "Itou-san? Taiyo-san?"
"How the hell did you find us?!" Daichi was completely bewildered. "Where are we?!"
"Long story," Matabei answered, "But we're on an island off the coast."
"What?!"
"We'll tell you about it later. Right now, we have to figure out how to get you out of there." Narumi said.
"Y-You came for us?" Etsudo had a bead of tear rolling down an eye. "You really came for us?"
Narumi, Kohaku, and Matabei paused at her question and gave glances at each other. Narumi said. "Of course we did."
"Even after we left you. You came to find us?" Daichi was equally bewildered.
"What? Did you think we were just going to leave you two?" Narumi scoffed and pointed at them, "I told you already we need to stick together. So you owe us big time for bailing on us. You understand?"
Etsudo's mouth was still gaping, surprised that Narumi still held onto that idea.
"Do you understand, guys?" Narumi asked louder this time. "Those bastards who got us into this mess are around here somewhere, and they are not going to stop. We didn't come all this way to find you two, just so you could run away again. So we're going to take them down. We do this together."
"Yes." Etsudo quickly nodded, wiping away the tear in her eye. "Yes, okay."
"Yeah. Yeah, we're with you guys." Daichi clenched a fist, "It's payback time."
Their hearts hammered, but fear was being replaced with hope and unity. Narumi, Matabei, and Kohaku came all this way to find them. They were going to repay it in kind, by finally acting as team players.
"Now do you know where the keys are?" Narumi asked, bending over to inspect the padlock on the cell gate door.
"Don't touch it!" Daichi stopped her, "It's electrified!"
"Shit!" Narumi instantly reeled back, "The lock is not enough? They got to electrify the gate?! Alright, how do we shut it down?"
"Uchida-senpai." Kohaku called her and pointed up. There was a thick cable welded to the cell gate. The cable ran along the ceiling and down a fuse box on the side of the room.
Kohaku and Matabei got to the fuse box. Matabei noticed the padlock clamped on the side of the box's cover. "Dammit. It's locked as well."
"Not anymore." Kohaku clutched the top of the fuse box's cover. With dinosaur strength in his hand, he ripped the cover open and the padlock was snapped off, exposing the circuitry inside.
"Uh..." Matabei rolled his eyes, "Why can't these things have a simple 'off' button? Do you have any idea which wire to pull?"
"Just one. Maybe." Kohaku grabbed the one thick cable connected to the top of the fuse box. Growling through his teeth, Kohaku yanked the cable free. Sparks sizzled all over before it settled down.
"Try it now, Uchida." Matabei said.
Narumi got to the cell gate, her hand gingerly approached the gate. Feathering over them, Narumi let out the breath she had been holding once she could safely hold the bars.
"Great." Narumi gripped the bars, "We still need to find the keys."
"Get back. I have an idea." Daichi made some distance.
"What are you doing?" Matabei raised a brow.
"Probably something stupid." Daichi took in a deep breath, the muscles in his limbs thickened. The sclera is his eyes blackened and his irises turned orange. He let out a low rumble from his throat and kicked off into a charge. The door snapped open and the broken padlock was flung away as he rushed right through the gate. The entire room rumbled and the sound of clanging metal echoed through the entire stairwell.
The group appeared like deer in the headlights. Narumi pipped, "Okay, everybody is going to hear that racket."
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The echoes reached the top floor and everyone heard it. Beverly Rossiter and the Five Deaths turned to the laboratory's door.
"What the hell was that?!" Delta asked in upheaval.
"We're not alone on this island," Alpha answered.
"What?!" Beverly burst out in shock. "Everything is offline here! No one knows about this place! How could anyone-" Beverly snapped back to Delta whose severed hand was finally free from the nanotech box and had finally stopped bleeding.
Beverly's face contorted into a look of fury, "Your blood! You goddamn idiot! You led the other assets right to us!"
Alpha wasted no time and took command. "Rossiter, get the chopper ready. The rest of you, weapons free."
Alpha gave the order. Bravo upholstered his suppressed pistol. Charlie and Delta pulled out their knives. Lastly, they put on their specialized earplugs to protect themselves from Echo's high-frequency screech.
"I want them alive! Their organs better be functioning!" Beverly hollered as she grabbed her case and scampered for the helipad.
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In the dank basement, the dinosaur group was heading up the stairs to the ground level. Everyone was pumped up.
At the front, Daichi cracked his neck, letting out a bullish grunt. Behind him, Etsudo made a purring snarl as she stretched a leg by pulling it from behind. Matabei stretched his arms and Kohaku cracked his knuckles. At the back, Narumi let out a growl. The sclera in Narumi's eyes blackened and her irises turned into a deep green.
"Okay," Matabei broke the silence. "I know we're ready to kick some ass and all that. But do any of you have a plan?"
"We see those soldiers, we kick their asses," Narumi answered.
"What?" Matabei winced, "I mean like a real plan, Uchida. What should each of us do?"
"Uh..."
"If those soldiers are going to come at us again, we split them apart." Kohaku brought up his plan. "I'll take the banshee again. Uchida-senpai, you take the chameleon woman. Itou-senpai, you take the baldie. Morita-senpai, Kurosawa-senpai, you two will take on the other two mercenaries. Each of us should fight the same person we fought before. You all know what that person can do, so settle the score. But we also got to get Doctor Rossiter. She sent those people after us, she started all of this."
"Guys, Rossiter has a sample of our blood too," Etsudo added.
"So we nab all of them," Daichi concluded.
"And they're going to answer for Tachibana-sensei," Narumi growled.
"Alright. Guess that's our plan." Matabei breathed in deep, "Let's get these assholes."
Etsudo listened to them while keeping quiet. She vividly remembered Charlie's face, and she was going to face her again. But this time, she was prepared.
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The group reached the ground level and they found themselves in what appeared to be an old facility lobby. It did not look completely run-down, nor was the place riddled with reeds and moss. It just appeared aged and obsolete. There were dim white lights on the ceiling. Getting into the center of the lobby, they took in their surroundings. The building's main entrance was a pair of glass panel doors that led to the woods outside. Opposite the entrance was yet another set of stairs to a walkway on the second level.
"What the hell is this? Some kind of old GenaTech site?" Daichi asked.
"I don't think so." Kohaku got to the building's entrance door. The dirty glass panel had a red 'R' insignia. "I think this place belonged to someone else."
"Guys." Narumi's nose caught a scent, coming from the second floor. She swiftly turned around, eyeing the second level. Everyone followed suit.
Out from the second-level doorway, the Five Deaths burst in. Alpha had a tall posture, giving an aura of stoicism. Bravo spun his pistol on his finger. Charlie and Delta twirled their knives. Echo stood there with murderous glares.
"Let me guess," Narumi called them out to Alpha, "You're the ringleader of this whole circus. Where's Rossiter?"
Alpha said, "Girl, you're in over your head. All of you. I don't know how you got here, or what you're trying to do now, but it stops here. If you know what is best for everyone, get back in the cell with the rest. You have one chance to surrender."
"Hey, big man. I got a better idea." Narumi pointed at Alpha hot-headedly. "It involves my teeth and your throat."
Each side glared at each other. The sound of an engine starting up came right from the top, and whirring blades quickly came after. The group knew what that meant; Beverly was getting away.
Delta slammed her hand on the walkway's railing, "Bitch! You and I have unfinished business! You're going to beg for death once I'm done with you!"
Delta whipped out a transparent knife and launched herself off the walkway. In the air, her body disappeared. This time, Narumi could sense where Delta was camouflaged in the air. She braced herself and Delta lunged into her and they both rolled along the floor.
"Echo," Alpha commanded.
Echo ran down the stairs midway, she breathed in deep and emitted her most intensive high-frequency cry ever. The sound waves sent stabbing pains in everyone. Narumi yelled out in agony before she received an invisible strike to the face. Narumi was on her back and Delta came out of her camouflage. Delta mounted on Narumi. Just as she was about to plunge her transparent knife, Narumi grabbed Delta's hand and pushed back. Both were in a lock, Delta pressed her knife downwards while Narumi held her back. All the while, Echo continued her screeching. The soundwave was putting everyone in excruciation, the mercenaries had no qualms in letting the pain linger for a long time.
Etsudo was brought to her knees clutching her ears in pain. Charlie smirked and vaulted over the walkway's railing. Twirling the knives in her hands, she stalked towards Etsudo.
The banshee's cry was cut short when Kohaku pushed through the pain and lunged right for her. This moment of surprise got Echo to step back. But on a set of stairs, she tripped and fell right onto her back. Kohaku pounced on her and gripped her mouth. Echo was faced with a pair of primal red eyes and snarling teeth before her head was slammed against the stairs.
"Shut up." Kohaku tightened his clutch on Echo's lower jaw and her mandible was snapped in half.
Echo shrieked and blood started spurting out of her mouth. "Ahhhh! Ahhhh!"
Bravo took aim with his pistol. Kohaku spotted him and let out a gasp before pulling Echo up as a human shield. There was a muffled bang echoing across the entire hall. The pistol ejected a bullet casing and Bravo fired a second time. Both rounds hit Echo's back and she screamed in pain even louder.
"Hold your fire goddammit!" Alpha commanded furiously, grabbing Bravo's arm and pointing his gun away from the stairs. Echo bled like a leaking faucet from the back, her vision was fading. Kohaku tossed Echo up in the air and grabbed her ankle, he threw her at Alpha and Bravo. Alpha ducked down in time, but the sharpshooter could not get out of the way in time. Bravo's feet left the ground as Echo slammed into him and they both crashed into the wall.
Once the sound waves stopped, Narumi was able to focus. She pulled Delta's hand close. She dodged the transparent knife and it stabbed the floor. Narumi seized the opportunity and bit Delta's other hand. Delta screamed in violent agony once more.
Alpha's displeasure was evident on his face. "Do I have to do everything?"
Kohaku got up and a fist rammed into his face. He staggered back in pain, he really felt that punch. Alpha grabbed Kohaku's hair, twisting it hard before kneeing him right on the chin. A spittle of blood flung out of Kohaku's lips. Alpha punted a boot into Kohaku's gut and he tumbled down the stairs.
"Hey!" Daichi angrily shouted and dashed for Alpha. With Daichi sprinting from the bottom of the stairs, his head and fists made contact with Alpha's midsection. Daichi rammed into Alpha, knocking him off his feet. Daichi plowed Alpha through the second-level door where the mercenaries came from.
Etsudo promptly recovered from her ringing ears. She squeaked and pulled her head back, narrowly evading the knife swinging at her face.
"I told you." Charlie brandished her blades, leering at Etsudo. "You owe me for stabbing me in the neck, girl."
Etsudo's heart hammered in her chest, but she was ready for her enemy. Charlie made a slash at Etsudo's face again and she swerved to the side dodging her attack. Charlie swung again and Etsudo pulled her head to the side, avoiding Charlie's blades. This went on for a few seconds, Etsudo's raptor reflexes gave her the edge and she kept dodging the blades coming her way. Charlie could not even make a small nick on her.
Matabei got up to the Kohaku, "Taiyo!" he helped his junior up, "You ok?"
"Get the gun!" Kohaku snarled through his teeth.
Bravo shook his head, clearing the stars in his vision. Echo, with a folded mandible and bullet holes in her back, laid on top of him pinning him down. His pistol was lying by his feet. Matabei sprinted for the weapon, Bravo shoved Echo off him and crawled for the gun. Matabei snatched up the gun before Bravo could reach. Matabei stepped back and aimed. "Oh no you don't! Hands up!"
Bravo glared at Matabei, slowly rising to his full height. He dwarfed Matabei by a couple of inches. Bravo spat, "Do you even have the balls to shoot me, boy? I don't think so."
"I know you won't have any if you don't put your hands up." Matabei spat back at him, pointing the pistol at Bravo's crotch.
In that split second of distraction, Bravo kicked the pistol out of Matabei's hand. With Matabei caught off guard, Bravo rushed at Matabei, grappling and pushing him towards the railing. Matabei yelled in pain when his back slammed against metal bars.
Bravo pinned himself on Matabei, pressing a forearm against Matabei's throat. Bravo shouted at his face. "Transform into that flying dinosaur now boy!"
"I got a better idea!" Matabei choked out, "How about you fly!"
Matabei threw a fist into Bravo's gut. The mercenary gagged from the blow. Matabei's other hand grabbed Bravo's lapel. Tapping into his prehistoric strength, he lifted Bravo over his head. Roaring out, Matabei threw Bravo over the railing. Bravo yelled and crashed onto the ground floor. Matabei vaulted over the railing, the iris in his eyes was a striking blue. Matabei landed on Bravo hard, stomping on the mercenary's guts.
Bravo let out a gurgling cough before his consciousness faded away. Bravo went out cold within seconds and Matabei leaped off him. "I guess you can't fly. Sleep well, baldie."
"Raargh!" Charlie shouted in frustration, she made a wild swing at Etsudo who bent backward to dodge the blade. Before Charlie could attack again, Etsudo lashed out and pushed her back to make space. Charlie got the wind knocked out of her as she landed on her back a few yards away.
Etsudo's eyes shined yellow and she hunched over, her muscles were expanding and she tore off her uniform revealing her navy-blue outfit. Etsudo's skin was turning greyish blue. Her hands were changing into three-fingered claws and her toes were changing into talons. Charlie was not going to wait for whatever Etsudo was doing. She got back up and rushed at her. Etsudo quickly spun around and a surprise tail swept Charlie off her feet.
A snarling roar burst out of her maw and the Raptor pounced on Charlie, stomping on her with her weight. She stabbed her talon claws into the mercenary's vest. Raptor clamped her jaws on Charlie's wrist and began thrashing about, breaking the bones and the knife was tossed aside. Charlie yelled out and blood sprinkled all over. Raptor released Charlie's wrist and clamped her teeth on her head.
Delta was screaming her lungs out as Narumi bit her hand once again. Narumi made a muffled bellow with her mouth full. Narumi's teeth crushed through the bones and ripped the flesh. Narumi clenched her jaw and yanked Delta's hand off.
"Ahhh! Ahhhh!"
Delta rolled away, blood spurting out all over. Narumi stood up with a menacing presence, spitting out the hand in her mouth.
"You! You bitch!" Delta screamed. "You're dead! Dead!"
Narumi drove her foot into Delta's face, reducing her to silence.
Raptor thrashed Charlie's head in her maw. She pressed her talon feet deeper into Charlie's body. Raptor bit harder, her teeth sinking into her scalp. She kept shaking Charlie's head left and right until she heard a snap. Raptor's eyes went wide in shock, she did not intend to break Charlie's neck. She stepped away with worry.
"Y-You..." Even more shocking; Charlie was not dead. She was paralyzed from the neck down. Her neck was bent almost perpendicularly and her body was completely mangled. Yet, the wounds all over her face were mending. Her body was healing up. "Y-You're dead. Whatever you are, freak. When I get out of this, you're going to wish you killed me properly. You understand me?"
Raptor purred, she stepped away from Charlie and regrouped with Narumi.
While the battle in the facility's lobby was occurring, Daichi continued ramming Alpha through the hallway. Alpha grunted in pain and irritation. He brought his arms up and hammered them down on Daichi's back.
"Ah!" Daichi yelled. The blow to Daichi's back was enough distraction for Alpha to force his legs down to the floor. Alpha grasped the back of Daichi's collar and threw him. Daichi was careened through a door and into Beverly's laboratory. Daichi rolled along the floor and crashed into a lab bench. Toppling bottles of chemicals all over.
Right as Daichi got back up, Alpha clenched his hand on Daichi's throat and lifted him up. Daichi choked and his feet dangled in the air. Alpha delivered a headbutt into Daichi's forehead, expecting it would knock him out like it did Etsudo.
Instead, Alpha's vision went white for a second. He released Daichi and staggered back, nearly tripping on his own feet. Daichi rubbed his neck to soothe it from the grip earlier. While Alpha was stunned, Daichi took his chance.
"My turn, asshole." Daichi gripped Alpha's vest and smashed his own head into Alpha's nose, shattering it.
"Gah!" Alpha's composure had finally snapped, and blood poured from his broken nose.
Daichi did not let up. He slammed Alpha's head on the lab table, dragging him across and smashing through all sorts of chemicals and toppling the computers and screen monitors. Daichi finally threw Alpha right into a wall, rumbling the entire lab. Gas tanks by the side toppled and fell onto the floor, gases hissed once the tanks' spigots broke. The broken computers and screen monitors sizzled sparks over the spilled chemicals, creating an ignition.
"You son of a bitch!" Alpha yelled, coughing from the fumes the burning chemicals emitted. His usual stoicism had disappeared. He pulled out his M110 silenced sniper rifle and ripped off the scope.
"Shit!" Daichi gasped and took cover behind the end of the lab bench. Alpha began irately firing his sniper rifle in Daichi's direction. He made himself as small as possible and ducked his head. The rounds hit the wall and began ricocheting all over. One round managed to hit a fuse box while another punctured the large stationary hydrogen tank.
Alpha ceased fire, but it was too late. The fuse box was sizzling out sparks, gases from the tanks were leaking out fast, and the spilled chemicals were still burning.
"Fuck this." Alpha slung his rifle and got to the door for the roof access. He brought a finger to his earpiece. "All units fall back. Vacate the building now."
Daichi too noticed all the hazards in the laboratory. Picking himself up, he ran back from where he came.
"Run!" He shouted and dashed past Kohaku on the walkway, "The lab is going to blow! Run! Run!"
"Oh shit!" Kohaku ran down to the ground floor with Daichi.
The gas from the tanks in the lab caught fire and a terrible explosion erupted. The shockwave coursed through everything indoors, shaking the entire building. On the helipad, Beverly heard and felt her lab went boom. Alpha appeared out of nowhere. He snapped the pilot's door open, surprising Beverly.
"What did you do?!" She shrieked. "What happened?!"
"I'm flying. Move over." Alpha ordered.
"My lab! What have you done?!"
Alpha pulled Beverly violently by her collar. "I said move over."
The group was reunited in the lobby after the mass explosion. The walls began to crack all over. The pillars started to crumble and pieces of debris fell from the ceiling.
"Everyone!" Narumi shouted, "Out!"
There was no chance to get the other mercenaries out. The ceiling began to collapse and the walls shattered. Charlie, who was still paralyzed, screamed out until a giant piece of debris fell on her.
Raptor was the first to speed out of the lobby, she lunged through the lobby entrance breaking the doors open. Narumi, Daichi, Matabei, and Kohaku were right behind her. They ran into the woods, clearing enough distance as the building caved in.
What was once a personal research facility became a giant pile of rubble. In the cloud of dust, Narumi shielded her eyes with her arm. "Guys?! Where are you all?!"
"Here!" Everyone responded as they coughed out. The Raptor let out a series of caws.
"Follow that Raptor's voice guys!"
Everyone quickly became visible and they grouped up. The dust was clearing up, revealing the demolished facility. Narumi and Daichi's school uniforms were in tatters, no sense to keep them on considering they still had their suits underneath.
"Everyone okay?" Narumi wheezed.
"We're fine." Matabei spat out the dirt in his mouth, "Can't say the same for those guys."
"What happened?"
"That big man blew up the lab. Cause the whole building to fall." Daichi croaked, wiping the dust off his face.
"What about that helicopter? And Rossiter?" Kohaku asked. Whirring blades from above drew their attention. Looking up, they spotted the helicopter flying away.
Alpha circled the island, Beverly was clutching onto her case of vials on the passenger seat.
"Alpha to all units, respond," Alpha said to his earpiece. No answer came through. "Respond."
Silence was all he got.
"Get back down and finish the job," Beverly ordered him. Alpha snapped at her with a furious look. He pulled the cyclic control in the helicopter.
"Hey!" she shrieked.
They elevated higher and soared away.
Back on the island, the group saw Alpha and Beverly leaving.
"We got to follow them," Narumi said.
Matabei's eyes flashed blue and he started transforming.
"The boat. Back in the canal." Kohaku said.
"Anyone know how to drive a boat?" Narumi asked around.
"Yeah, yeah I do." Daichi raised his hand.
"Alright! Come on! Let's go!" Narumi sprinted off. Kohaku, Daichi, and Raptor followed. Tropeognathus leaped into the air and flew ahead.
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The helicopter was halfway between the island and the coast. Alpha and Beverly were fuming, but each for different reasons.
"What are you doing?! You've ruined my lab! You're letting them go! Get back there and finish the job!" Beverly yelled in his ear.
Alpha clamped his hand on Beverly's head. "The job is over! You ruined your own lab when you failed to hold up your end of the deal!" Alpha shouted in her face, "You cost me my team! So now, you're going to compensate! You're going to hand over the vials. It's going to be my payment!"
Beverly's breathing was rapid, "What?! How dare you?!" She was silenced from her tirade when she felt the immense pressure from his fingers squeezing her head.
"Either you pay or you die!"
Beverly slowly loosened her hold on the case, her hand inched for her inner coat. She pulled out and aimed a SIG P238 pistol at Alpha. A small handgun, perfectly hidden in her coat pocket.
"Get your hand off me! You will not touch my work!" Beverly screeched. "We're going to land! And you're going to stay far away from me!"
The helicopter was almost at the city's beach, Alpha glared at her for what felt like years. Beverly pulled back the hammer in the pistol, giving further prompting to Alpha.
The mercenary's hand released Beverly's scalp, he slowly moved his back. Beverly almost slackened once his hand was off her. But his hand neared the pistol, and Alpha pushed her hand with swift speed. The sudden jerk got Beverly to pull the trigger.
The helicopter's panel popped and sparks flew all over with a siren blaring. The fuel to the motor was cut. The rotating blades slowed and the helicopter began to descend. Alpha wrangled the cyclic control to get any stability but to no avail. Very quickly, the helicopter spun out of control going down to the beach. As the helicopter plummeted down. Beverly's hysterical screams were cut short when Alpha grabbed her head again and clenched, crushing her head into bits.
The helicopter crashed into the sand, the tail and blades broke and flung into places, and the fuselage rolled across the beach to a halt. The motor caught fire and it began to spread. Alpha crawled out of the burning helicopter and along the sand. His military clothes were ripped apart and scars riddled all over his face. Alpha pushed himself to his feet and limped away. Back at the fuselage. Beverly's corpse was burning and her case laid there open, with the vials broken.
Alpha's limp disappeared and he stormed away from the crash. In the cover of night, the burning helicopter was the only source of illumination. Alpha slipped further away in the darkness, but he did not get far. Once he got onto the road, he felt like an invisible blow struck him in the gut, he hunched over and was forced to his knees. Alpha's face scrunched up tight before he opened his eyes; complete yellow orbs with no resemblance to anything human.
Alpha began to expand in bulk, tearing through his clothing. His growing feet tore out of his boots, turning into giant elephant-like feet. He slammed his hands on the sand, his little and ring fingers regressed into them, the remaining fingers lengthened and turned into claws. His skin was hardening with bluish-green scales and he continued to increase in mass. A tail was growing out of his rear, it swished left and right. His jaw stretched forward and his teeth sharpened into terrible fangs. A black horn popped on the top of his nose and two longer horns grew over the ridges of his eyes. The back of his skull widened, sprouting like a thick frill.
What was once Alpha stood a creature nearly five meters in height and thirteen meters in length. He was standing on all fours with ceratopsian hind legs and raptor hands. His head had a theropod structure with horns and a bony frill. A horrid animal with ceratopsian and raptor features. A terrible dinosaur, hybrid and chimeric.
Chimerasaurus.
He let out a roar that sounded unnatural even for a dinosaur, it sounded like a mix of a trumpeting bellow and a snarling hiss. Chimerasaurus took a look at himself, the clawed hands and the trunk-like feet, the slender tail, and the sharp teeth. He let out another uncanny roar before galloping into the city.
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Another thunder rumbled off on the horizon. Tropeognathus flew across the open water with a rigid inflatable boat tailing him. Kohaku sat at the front, Narumi and Etsudo huddled close, and Daichi was behind the wheel putting the boat at full speed. They bounced along the waves, they could see the beach and the burning crashed helicopter. The beach was just about three hundred meters away when the boat's motor started spurting with fumes choked out of it. Right away, the boat came to a halt.
"Are you kidding me?!" Daichi tried to start the engine again, "Those guys didn't put in enough gas?!"
"Eh?" Etsudo squeaked, "W-Well now what do we do?"
"Taiyo-san." Narumi said to her junior. As if no other words were needed, Kohaku got up and dived into the water.
"What the hell?" Daichi peered over, "Oi, you're going to swim all the way there?"
He got no answer from Kohaku seeing as he was completely submerged in the water. A short moment later, a sail rose out of the water with Spinosaurus' head in front.
"Come on, guys. Get on Taiyo-san." Narumi leaped onto him, followed by Daichi and Etsudo.
Spinosaurus swam up to the beach, Narumi sat on his neck while Daichi and Etsudo clung onto each side of his sail. Spinosaurus' feet came into contact with the seabed and waded over to the beach. Tropeognathus landed by his side on the sand. In just a day, he was impressed with himself with how fast he learned how to make a landing. Narumi slid off Spinosaurus' neck while Daichi and Etsudo leaped off his back.
Narumi scanned the beach and rushed right over to the crash, the sheer heat from the fire was keeping her at bay. But squinting her eyes, she could see a burning corpse in the cockpit. Judging from the size, she had to guess it was not Alpha.
"Rossiter." Narumi backed away from the crash. Her keen sense of smell wrenched her attention away from the smoke. Something else was drawing her attention. Tilting her head, she eyed the blood trail leading away from the crash.
"Hey, Uchida. Over here." Daichi's voice called to her. Narumi spun around. Daichi, Etsudo, and Spinosaurus followed a path of footprints with drops of blood on the sand. It started as boot prints leaving the burning helicopter, which quickly changed into a patch of upturned sand with torn clothes scattered around and a pair of boots ripped open. What followed were giant depressions and slash marks all over the sand.
"Oh, God."
If the pieces of clothes tossed around and the giant tracks were of any indication to the group, they knew what had become of Alpha. The worst of it, the dinosaur tracks were heading toward the city. Up above, a bolt of lightning flashed in the thick clouds, preceded by a crack of thunder rumbling. Cold drops of water splashed on their heads, and then the sky unleashed the furious rains and howling winds.
Daichi hunched over, the iris in his eyes became a deep orange. His mass grew rapidly. He got on all fours and his arms enlarged. His skin became a dull green with pebbly scales. The middle and index fingers along with the thumb in his hands turned into big stubby claws. The ring and little fingers regressed into his hands. His limbs became massive like tree trunks. A long tail grew from Daichi's back with a slight curve. A large frill fanned out on his head, the three horns emerged on his face and his mouth formed into a beak. Eotriceratops stomped on the ground with a snort. After his entire ordeal from school to the island, he was ready to fight.
Etsudo's eyes became a vibrant yellow. She grew in mass and her skin was a greyish blue. Her thighs were muscular and scaly. The ring and little fingers in her hands shrunk back into her hands and her remaining fingers grew into claws. Her big toes were pulled back as her metatarsals stretched. Her little toes regressed into her feet. The remaining toes became razor-sharp talons. Her tail emerged out of her behind, long and slender. Her mouth stretched forward into a snout, filled with needle-like teeth. Raptor gave a purring hiss before a growl. She was not going to flee this time, now she was going to stand together with the rest.
Narumi kicked off into a run, her eyes turned green and her body bulked up. As she sprinted for the city, her soft white skin was hardening into pebbly obsidian scales. The muscles in her limbs grew and hardened. The thumbs and index fingers on her hands grew into claws while the rest of her fingers regressed. Three middle toes on each of her feet grew and cracked into claws. Her big toes were brought back to the stretched metatarsals and the little toes shrunk inside. A tail emerged from her rear, growing long and massive. Her skull expanded with her hair pulled into her scalp. Her mouth stretched forward into a powerful set of tyrannical jaws with daggers for teeth.
Tyrannosaurus Rex bellowed into the stormy night, stampeding onwards to the city. Raptor snarled and sped past her. Tropeognathus cawed and leaped into the air, flying over her head. Eotriceratops and Spinosaurus bellowed and roared, running together with the T-Rex.
It was time to save the city, as one.