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A City Without Walls - Chapter One
By GL-Sama
"It is possible to provide security against other ills, but as far as death is concerned, we men live in a city without walls." -Epicurus
Chapter One
“I’m here outside the Capital building as members of Congress inside argue about the fate of the pteranodon flock as it continues its migration across the United States,” the reporter’s sense of journalism objectivity kept her from wanting to burrow further into her coat, as a winter wind blew by. “On the steps here, many animal rights activists are advocating adding the pteranodons to the list of Endangered Species.”
The television switched from one local television station to the next, as the room’s occupant tired of the broadcast. This channel displayed another news program, this one reporting on the current location of the pteranodon flock.
“Is nine P.M. the slated time slot for local news or something?” he muttered annoyed, turning the volume down to about a quarter, and reaching for his cell phone. To his surprise, it started ringing, he quickly answered it, if only to shut off that annoying ring tone, “Hello?”
“Billy?” Alan Grant’s voice floated through the earpiece, a bit unsure.
Billy rolled his eyes, pulling himself into a sitting position, “Who else would answer my cell phone?”
“Well I can’t be sure, since I can’t hear the meowing,” the sarcastic reply came.
He mentally cursed as he felt he was one-upped in the sarcasm, “I just can’t change the damn ring tone. I swear Cheryl must’ve booby trapped it.”
That earned a chuckle, making Billy think that perhaps she hadn’t come up with the idea all on her own to change his wonderful Mission: Impossible ring tone to that horrid meowing cat. The line went silent, and Billy knew what the next question would be.
“How did the conference go?” Alan asked, the tension clear in his voice.
“I’m not sure many people were going for the theory, I think we still need more evidence to back it up. Although I might have gotten a few converts on paleontology,” Billy was quite simply tired, the lecture hadn’t gone well, he had failed to come up with any funding during this trip, and not to mention the crowd’s questions on Isla Sorna dredging up bad memories of their own. No wonder Alan began to hate doing these. “I can’t help but think you would have done a better job.”
“I’m sure you did just fine,” an audible sigh was heard over the phone, “I just hate having to close down a dig.”
“Me too, any luck on excavating any more on that allosaurus find?”
“Luckily, yes, it’s just about out of the ground,” Grant sounded just about as tired as Billy did. “We’re running the scans now on the skull.”
“Good, well, my flight gets in mid-afternoon tomorrow. You think you could spare someone to pick me up?” Billy tried to lighten the mood a bit; “I’m running low on cab fare. My boss doesn’t pay me enough.”
There was a scoff over the speaker, “I’ll see what I can do. Any luck with your father?”
Billy frowned at that topic, “No, but that’s typical… Listen, Alan, thanks for the ride…”
His mentor seemed to get the not too subtle hint, “Sure, see you tomorrow.”
Billy sighed and shut the phone off, placing it back on the nightstand. Turning off the news, he took note that the flock was headed for the Eastern seaboard now. He closed his eyes for a second; practically hearing their shrieks fill the air. Every time they mentioned that damn flock he would have flashbacks to that awful day on Isla Sorna. Since it came up so much, he had worked through most of them. It must’ve been all the questions earlier; he pushed himself up, walking over to the window, eyeing the city beyond with wariness. This use to be his home, but he’d adopted Montana when he started pursuing his doctorate.
He’d moved out so many years ago, it was strange to be back in his childhood home again, he knew it probably would’ve been good for him to look up some of his old friends, but really didn’t feel any urge to. Five years later, most of them would barely recall him, and he had tried to get in touch with his father, but only because Alan suggested it.
He glanced at the city again, before returning to the bed and shutting out the light.
* * *
“It’s just not safe,” the man told the other, taking a sip of his brandy, “we need stricter security measures. One of my men nearly lost an arm earlier this week, moving one of the animals.”
Lewis Dodgson studied the man across the table. Joseph Robbins perhaps was the best man to run BioSyn’s facility in Thundering Pines, but his constant demands really could wear on a man’s nerves, “What’s wrong this time?”
Robbins struggled to reign in the sudden flare of his temper at Dodgson’s nonchalance, and quietly seethed, “What’s wrong, is you’ve created a bunch of monsters that are smarter than they should be.”
“I meant aside from the entire ‘they were created’ spiel. BioSyn has put in far too much time and money to just shove this project aside. I think you’ve read Ian Malcolm’s book too much. This isn’t about chaos, it’s about money.”
Robbins lifted his lip, but decided to just pursue the main matter he had come to the city to discuss, “The fences aren’t strong enough. We need something else to keep the beasts contained than just electrified fencing.”
Dodgson rolled his eyes, “You’re being paranoid, and the electrified fencing has held them so far.”
The other man narrowed his eyes, “What about that raptor? The electricity holds them perfectly, until the power goes out. You can’t just ignore this Dodgson! You’ve got to talk to the CEOs, it’s a matter of safety, not cutting costs!”
The CEO shot Robbins an angry glare, his eyes telling him more than anything to keep his voice down. Robbins wilted and Dodgson took a long sip of his own brandy before continuing, “What is our progress with allosaurs?”
“Athena is being particular stubborn, but Hercules is responding well to the training. I suspect within the next year he’ll be ready for market.”
“Good, and the goliath?”
“We started his conditioning Monday, since he’s so young, he responds very well.”
Dodgson smiled and poured himself another shot of brandy, “Well then, I propose a toast, to our success.”
Robbins clinked his glass; truly hoping it would be such.
* * *
The allosaurus known to the humans at the compound as Athena, watched as the man delivering her nightly meal left through the door. She knew through that door, and many others, led to a great open space. She’d seen her brother taken there many times, but since she refused to play their tricks like him, she’d seen it only once, when the training required it.
The overhead lights flickered, drawing her attention from dinner. That was a curiosity; she focused on the lights as they flickered once again. They hummed and struggled to stay on, before winking out completely. She let out a confused bellow, recognizing something out of the normal daily routine. Her room was completely dark now. It had never been pitch black before; there was always a dull lighting somewhere in the room. Frightened, she swiveled around, searching for the one thing that would bring her comfort.
Her tail slammed against the cage wall that confined her to her enclosed area deep below the outside surface. She pulled her tail back, almost instinctively, fearing the shock. But it didn’t come. Curious, she touched the fencing again. It again, didn’t shock.
She hit the cage door harder this time, again getting no shock. Convinced of the safety now, she saw her chance to get out of the darkness, and perhaps reach the great open outside, and threw herself once again into the fencing.
8/3/2002 12:26:37 AM
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