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Leviathans: Special Edition - Special Features
By Vader
~ Continued from The Feature Presentation ~
***AUTHOR INTERVIEW***
Conducted by JurassiClaw
JURASSICLAW: Do you remember any specific sources that inspired you to write Leviathans?
VADER: Really there were three sources that inspired me to write Leviathans. The first one was a little journal I had picked up about a group who went to Africa and just wrote down their experiences of observing the animals there daily. It was such an interesting read and had a very warm feel to it, as well as being educational. That really got me to start thinking about, "Oh, wouldn't it be cool if some people were in a similar instance, only dinosaurs were involved." Also, the second source that inspired me was Michael Crichton. I loved how he always managed a perfect blend of educating the reader about science or technology in his books, but also had a fair dose of action as well. I wanted to write something in a similar manner that would feature serious issues in science, but be very intense and adventurous as well. The third source was Shakespear's "Romeo and Juliet". I was moved by the idea of a romantic tragedy and I always thought that perhaps I could work a similar concept into one of my stories some day.
JC: What aspect (Character development, plot, etc.) of the story did you personally prefer?
V: Well, in terms of which I enjoyed writing the most in this particular story, I'd say it would be character development. I absolutely loved coming up with the plot and all the other aspects, but one of my biggest priorities was that I really wanted to have the main characters mean something to reader. I wanted their personalities to be fully fleshed out and realized. I wanted there to be hints as to what their past was as well as foreshadowing of their future. I really wanted the author to care for the characters, and I really had a good time coming up with different personalities, quirks, and backgrounds for each person.
JC: What was your favorite part of the story?
V: Hmm . . . I'd have to say the climax. I'm very proud of the work I did on it, with the entire tram sequence, the exploring of the characters' heart-wrenching emotions, and the big dinosaur battle. Just that whole part is my favorite section of the story.
JC: Were you satisfied with the final product? Often, writers end up having a different finale then what they originally expected.
V: I was very satisfied, yes. I mean, looking back, there are a few things I would change here and there, but I felt that if they were tinkered with, it might distract the reader from the main plot. But overall, yes I'm very, very happy with the final result.
JC: What was the main reason that pushed you to write it in the first place?
V: I just really wanted a story that I could be proud of, something that I hadn't done before. Up until Leviathans, a lot of my fic releases were slightly on the light-hearted side. I wanted something that would tug on the audiences emotions, and I had done that in a few places in the Site Wars series and quite a few places in JP3 Novel. But I wanted something that would just be a full-blown, emotionally driven, story - a story about a tragic love within a story about science and nature and dinosaurs. That's was I seeking out to achieve.
JC: I am aware that there was an original version before the latest draft. Why did you suddenly decide to re-write it in January 2002?
V: I really wanted to finish it, plain and simple. I had left the story hanging in the middle of the summer to start on JP3 Novel, and I really wanted to get back to it and finish it. In a way, it was sort of a lost dream that was never accomplished, but it always hanging in the back of my mind. And one day, I just decided that I wanted to finish it. And so I went about doing so.
JC: Who was your favorite character and why?
V: That's pretty tough to answer. I'd have to say either Paul or Amy. They are loosely based on me and my friend, and the way they act and the way their relationships string together is loosely based on us as well. In that way, I relate to them much more than the other characters, even though all the other characters are based on real people as well, such as my parents, friends, and such.
JC: Where there any considered ideas that were ultimately not used/written for the final draft?
V: Oh definitely. Originally, the Spinosaur was going to be the featured dinosaur that fought the T. Rex at the end of the story. Of course, I decided to use the Gigonotosaurus instead, since I really started to admire that particular dinosaur and I felt he was one of animals that wasn't really used that much in dinosaur stories those days. There were some scenes of Drakon first showing Lintino Pangaea after recruiting him, which was scrapped because I felt it was not needed for the story. Finally, there was a scene that I was going to use about a raptor escaping Pangea into an native tribal village and sneaking into a baby's room, which I decided to save as a concept to be used in the sequel, Dark Dawn. Also, there was a longer ending that involved Drakon returning home to Arizona, which I ended up not liking very much. All these scenes are displayed in the Deleted and Extended Scenes section of this Special Edition.
JC: In terms of how ideas were formed, did the ultimate "goal" of the story change from the original version to the final version?
V: As a whole, not really. As I worked on it, certain details (mainly ones about the ending) were changed from what I originally thought they would be because I thought the new ideas worked better. But for the most part, the "goal" didn't change. I'm very happy at the finished version of Leviathans and I feel it meets a lot of the early visions I had in my head far before I ever started writing it. And I'm glad for the support of the readers of the this site as I carried out that vision.
***DELETED SCENES***
~ Spinosaur vs. Tyrannosaurus (later replaced by Gigonotosaurus vs. Tyrannosaurus) ~
Just as the Spinosaur was about to take a bite out of the fleeing car, there was a massive and familiar roar as quick footsteps were heard approaching. Before the Spino had time to react, the beast was upon him, raising its neck to grip the sail atop its opponents's back. The Spino dove out of the way, swiveling its neck to recognize the image of a bull Tyrannosaurus. It had intruded into the animal's territory while chasing Drakon and had been too focused on its prey to notice it.
The Rex lunged again, once more aiming for the Spino's sail. The Spino swung its tail around to meet its enemy's head, smacking it backward. It turned its crocodilian- like snout to grab hold of the Rex's foot, grinding its teeth into the flesh. The bull howled in pain, jerking the Spino's clench away. When falling back, the Spino managed to rip one of its opponent's three foot claws strait out, banging backwards into a boulder.
The Rex was enraged, his nostrils flaring as it let out another wounded roar. As the Spino recovered from hitting the rock, the Rex charged again, aiming for the most crucial part of its enemy - the sail. The Spinosaur was caught of balance but still swiped its claw forward, taking a chunk from the Rex's nose. It didn't stop the charging beast. It heightened itself before its opponent before it could slide away, enclosing its powerful jaw around the sail and pulling it forward.
The Spino was forced to go along with the motion, doing its best not to get the bones shattered. The Rex tugged it in the opposite direction, and one again, the Spino readily followed. Frustrated, the Rex snapped its head downward, forcing its enemy to fall straight into the ground, its foot slipping. There was a loud snap as the foot of the Spino broke and the carnivore let out a hurt bellow from its long snout.
Realizing it could no longer go along with the movements of the Rex, who still had its mouth on the sail, the Spino desperately swiped upward, grabbing the bottom of the Rex's jaw, trying to pry it open. With a swift movement, the Rex kicked the Spino in the ribs. The Spino's next shriek was interrupted by a loud snap as the Rex quickly thrust its jaw down and backward, breaking off a huge amount of the Spino's sail. The Rex slammed its enemy into the nearby boulder for a final blow. Devastated after the huge loss of blood from the exposed vessels from its split sail, the Spino lost its life.
The Rex partook of it's dinner.
~ Drakon First Brings Lintino to Pangaea (cut for not being needed) ~
Lintino watched from his seat, looking outside the window, as the landing gears unfolded and the helicopter came down for a landing on the pad, the whir of the blades slowly becoming quieter. He brought his hand up and placed his hat upon his head and craned his neck around to look at Drakon, who sat beside him. The docter flashed a huge smile and slapped Lintino on the knee, "This is the beginning of a new life for you," he said heartily.
"Don't be too sure. I still have a fondness for going to the Congo trip and nothing I've seen thus far has changed my mind," Lintino smirked. In a small way, it kind of annoyed him that Drakon was so sure of himself. But then again, if he was that confident that Lintino would be dumb founded by this place, then it truly must be something to be proud of. Really, though, Lintino had no clue what could possibly be better idea than to take the adventure of a lifetime and explore the Congo.
The door opened as the pilot stepped in and waved for Lintino and Drakon to come on out of the craft. The two grabbed their packs and headed out, their hair and clothes being blown about by the blades of the chopper above them. There was a small walkway that led down through some low-lying bushes toward a jeep stationed upon a dirt road, prepared specifically for them. Drakon rushed down, eager to continue on the journey.
In a casual manner, Lintino thrust his bags into the back seat and sat down next to Drakon, who has already begun revving the engine. As Lintino buckled up his host flashed another grin, "Off we go!". The jeep took off down the road, which was really not that scenic. Thick jungle surrounded them on both sides, blocking any view of the beyond.
As they drove, Lintino thought his ears had picked up a loud roar in the distance - a roar he'd never heard before, something other-worldly. As he listened for more of such sounds, he heard nothing more. When turning his view back to Drakon, it was as if the doctor knew he'd heard the sound and was incredibly giddy about it. It made Lintino just sigh and shake his head. "I can not understand how-"
"Look!" Drakon said, slamming on the breaks and pointing straight ahead, unbuckling his seat belt. The slam to a stop had caused the Lintino to smack his head across the door. He began to rub it as he turned to Drakon for complaint. But all at once, he was in silence, for he had caught sight of what exactly Drakon had stopped for.
In front of him, right before his eyes, was something that seemed to come alive out of a dream, stepping into present time from a past long gone. A lumbering behemoth crossing their path, moving ever graceful, echoing forth a bellow, causing Lintino to do something he'd never expect he would do on this trip - be taken breathless.
"So, my friend," Drakon spoke, still staring straight ahead. "Would you still rather go to the Congo?"
"N- . . . n- . . . no . . ." Lintino finally replied, barely paying attention to anything besides the spectacle that was moving ahead of them.
~ Raptor Sneaking into Local Native Tribe (cut for not fitting into the plot) ~
The village was quaint. Made up of several little small huts enclosed together in a circle around a campfire, the atmosphere was cosey and closely-knit. Dusk was in its twilight hours, and all of the tribal families had finished their dinner. The parents were finishing up the day's work, the children would tell each other stories or play with some toys that they had made in the jungle, and the babies were tucked in for the night. The sound of the wind rustling through the trees was peaceful and lulled everyone into a calm and relaxed mood.
A pair of yellow and orange eyes, with long, black slits for pupils, watched the setting, surveying the area all around it. It had recently arrived on the brink of the small village, after having walked and ran miles from its previous habitat, which it had been confined to for an incredibly long period of time. Its old habitat had been small - too small for a pack of his kind. Yet they were not allowed to expand or leave. If they did, they were often shot down. In fact, many members of his packed had already met their dooms. Still, a very small number escaped.
The animal raised his head up in the air just slightly, taking a sniff. It started forward from its concealment in the bushes towards the nearest hut. The window was opened just a tad to allow air to flow into in the home, and that was all the predator needed to take a look inside. It stepped closer, leaning into the window and slipping the small opening in the window to become a larger gap, using the tip of its snout to do so. Its entire head protruded into the small room. The door was shut, yet there was still a little noise from the rest of the inhabitants coming in from the other sections of the dwelling.
The carnivore's eyes turned to the image of a tiny cradle below it, holding a small baby that had recently been born. It was fast asleep, tears still left on its chubby cheeks from the previous cry it had before going to sleep. It was bundled up, warm and safe - or so the parents thought.
The beast's reptilian head tilted to its side, bobbing up and down, observing the life form curiously. It bent low, running its nostrils across its' forehead, taking a sniff. At the touch of the scaly and feathery skin, the baby's eyes eased open, staring at the thing above it, widening with fear almost immediately.
Its loud, startling cry was heard not only throughout the hut, but also the village, alerting the others of the infants awakening. But all at once, in just one second, the cry was silenced, as the animal pulled its head back and sprung forward at the small body in a quick thrust. The door to the room sprung open as the parents rushed in, gasping at the sight of their familiar child hanging from the maw of the horrifying beast. They screamed loudly, having no idea what had just happened, except that their beloved offspring was no longer alive.
The father sprung to quick action, reaching for a spear and flinging it at the animal. It sprung, avoiding the sharp weapon, soaring through the air straight at the parents, its foot claws aiming straight to land on their hearts.
More screams erupted from that hut, accompanied by a ferocious squeal as others gathered around from the rest of the community, poised for the threat. Warriors rushed inside, only to allow the sounds of yells of both human and non-human to rise . . .
***EXTENDED SCENES***
~ Extended Gigonotosaurus vs. Tyrannosaurus Battle ~
When hearing the footsteps of second Tyrannosaurus coming from behind, the Giganotosaurus began to whirl around as the opponent slammed out of the jungle and ripped into its neck. The Giga kicked at its feat, causing the bull Rex to trip and fall atop the carcass of its female. The larger predator spun to finish off the second Rex, but its opponent used the female body to prop itself forward and withstand the charge of the Giga.
As the Giga went for the neck, the Rex swung its head low, thrusting the front of its body upwards again into the chest of the Giga. The front of the Giganotosaurus was tossed a few feet into the air as the Rex swung its tail across its enemy's legs, knocking it to the jungle floor. The Rex lunged for the neck as the Giga clawed at the bull's eyes. It ripped both eyelids off and slid straight slits through the snout of the Rex.
But the bull was strongly willed to avenge its mate. It held firm the neck, determined not to let go. The Giga continued to rip into its stomach, doing its best to stop the Rex. It kicked at the Rex's feet, causing one of them to slip and break at the ankle.
With a final effort, the Rex propelled itself forward with its remaining leg at the very last second before it lost its balance, flying forward, its jaw snapping the Giga's neck as its own body plunged across the air immediately above the ground to crash atop the Giga's body, its own neck snapping in the process.
The dust from the gruesome battle began to clear and the sounds of roars, footsteps, snaps, and punctures had ceased. The scene displayed three bodies of the most powerful carnivores to walk the earth.
~ Extended Ending of Drakon Returning Home to Arizona ~
A white van slowed to a halt on a quiet street. The door opened to expose Edward Drakon and his son, Nathaniel, exiting, thanking the driver for escorting them, and then closing the door behind them. They had gotten a new change of clothes, looking better than they had after the escape from Pangaea.
This street was familiar to them. It was the location of their home, the place they had spent the past several years of their lives. The sun shone brightly in the cloudless sky, beating down upon them as birds chirped cheerfully, flying from in between the nearby trees. It was a drastic contrast from the dark, bleak, and gritty environment they had recently came from, and while that was true, it did little to uplift their spirits.
Drakon looked to his son and gently put his arm around him for comfort. They both started forward, up their walkway. As they did so, they knew that this was the beginning of a new way of life - in the sense that from that point on, they would always try to forget the tragedy they had witnessed, but knew they would never be able to.
They proceeded up the steps, images of everything in their past flashing through their head - their childhood, their first trips to the paleontology museums, when the dinosaurs were first discovered to be in Brazil, when Pangaea was first established, when they'd uncovered the mammoth, and the single image of the twin trams falling into the darkness of the chasm, carrying everyone inside them to their doom. Life had been wonderful at one time, but now it seemed . . . so different.
The door to the house opened before they even knocked. Behind it, the familiar face of Edward's wife and Nathaniel's mother appeared, surprised and joyous at the same time. "You're back early! I saw you arriving from upstairs!" she smiled. It only took her a split second to pick up on the dark mood of her two family members who didn't even smile, appearing to be on the verge of tears. "What . . . what's wrong?"
Drakon was dazed. He barely realized somebody was talking to him, but he still brought his head up to look into his wife's eyes, his own eyes teary. "They . . . they're all wiped out. All of them . . ." he managed.
"Who?"
"All of the researchers. All of them are gone. Pangaea is wiped out, its lost . . . forever." His wife just stared at him, stunned. She continued to fix her gaze at them for just a moment before she moved forward, embracing her husband and her son. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, tears springing to her eyes. Dozens of questions zipped through her mind. How? When? What?
But no words were uttered. Only emotions were displayed as the family came together, each one of them knowing that something awful had happened, and drawing off of each other for support, comfort, and understanding.
***REVISING PROCESS***
I got the idea for Leviathans in April 2001, and finally started to write and release it in June 2001. After about 7 chapters were released that summer, I dropped the project temporarily to begin working on another idea I'd come up with, called "JP3 Novel". The project sat unfinished and unused for six entire months while I worked on other stories. Finally, in December 2001, I decided to go back, revise Leviathans, and complete it to begin for release in January 2002.
The first thing I noticed about the story as I began to revise it was that my writing skills had improved since I wrote it. I had worked on several other fics since then, garnering more experience, and therefore improving my vocabulary and use of detail. As part of my revision, I added more detail in several spots throughout Leviathans and replaced some of the words with new, more colorful ones. I also included more descriptions of the appearance of some of the dinosaurs, which I felt the original draft lacked.
The format of Leviathans was also changed. Originally, it had been written in chapters. I replaced the whole notion of it having chapters with the notion of having acts - like a play. Acts in a fan-fiction or any other story at Dan's Page had never been done before, and I felt it gave the story a "theatrical feel". It also makes sense because in each act, things become bleaker and bleaker for the future of Pangaea and its inhabitants.
I also started the story with a brand new beginning. Originally, the story began with a debate between Ian Malcolm and Justin O'Connel and there was no trace of the main characters. So I went about adding the sequence of Drakon first inviting Lintino to his home in Arizona to include some background for some of the key players in the story.
The final thing that needed to be completed was the ending of the story. In the rough draft, I had left off about 75% way through the story. While I had a few ideas for the ending, a definitive one hadn't even been written yet. The real challenge was to go with an idea for an ending that would be emotional, tragic, and triumphant all at the same time. I scrapped all my previous ideas to go about writing the ending with the Giganotosaurus rampage and the tram chase.
Finally, when all the completions and revisions were made, the complete tale of Leviathans was released in early 2002, bringing those who'd read the original version back in June 2001 back for another experience and bringing in new readers to experience it for the very first time.
***BOX OFFICE RECORDS***
This is a record of the comments from different people made on the story. Only one comment is counted per person (in other words, if a person left 5 comments total, only one of those comments is counted).
Original Release (June 2001) - The first time Leviathans was released, the story was left unfinished.
6/16/01 (Opening Day) - 3 different comments
Total Opening Weekend Gross - 9 different comments
Total Release Grossing - 23 different comments
Second Release (January 2002) - The second time it was released in fan-fiction, the story was re-written and completely finished.
1/7/02 (Opening Day) - 6 different comments
Total Opening Weekend Gross - 11 different comments
Total Release Grossing - 21 different comments
Total Grossing of Leviathans: 44 different comments
Excerpts from the some of the critic's comments:
"The whole action and suspense had me hooked. It was real friggon cool. For once, someone gave screen time to the Giganotosaurus!"
-JurassiClaw
"5 out of 5 stars!"
-Mr. Goodbytes
"A dinosaur story like no other."
-CarnaRaptor
"Whoa! This is your best work yet! I'm tempted to give this a 9.5! Good stuff!"
-Icebreaker
***ORIGINAL TRAILERS***
~ Original Teaser Trailer ~
Dan's JP3 Page presents
A Vader Fan-Fiction
*Blackness*
(Fade into a shot of a camera slowly approaching a nest full of large eggs in a tree; fade out)
*Blackness*
(Fade into a shot of an outline of a creature clawing on a glass window, shrieking; fade out)
*Blackness*
(Fade into a shot of a vast nesting ground with Maiasaurs and Iguanadons walking around their nests on the ground; fade out)
*Blackness; the sound of a chorus slowly begins to rise*
(Fade into a shot of a huge block of ice with a wooly mammoth incased inside, pan to a shot of a plant; fade out)
*Blackness; the chorus abruptly stops*
Voice (panting): "We've made a mistake . . . a fatal one . . ."
(Flash to a shot of a massive pair of legs chasing a fleeing tram in the darkness of a jungle, accompanied by a loud roar)
LEVIATHANS
Coming Summer 2001
~ Original Theatrical Trailer ~
Dan's JP3 Page presents
A Vader Fan-Fiction
(Fade into a shot of an egg slowly hatching in a nest as a man watches from his research post)
Man: Oh . . . way to go, Maia.
(Fade into a shot of two men climbing into a tree, pan to a close up of a large next filled with eggs settled in the tree branches.)
Man (voiceover): We are witnessing evolution before our eyes . . .
(A wide shot of a huge research facility ground, filled with vehicles and scientists near a river, who pteranadons are fishing)
Voice (voiceover): Although our find here have been revolutionary, it is time we find a way to control these creatures.
(A shot of a large eye staring out of a bush)
Voice (voiceover): Not weapons.
(A shot of a tranquelizer shooter being aimed at large animal resting under a tree in a feild)
Voice (voiceover): Not cages
(A shot of a huge cage as humans climb atop to fiddle with its lock)
Voice (voiceover): Something else . . . something new that our founder has uncovered.
(Fade into a shot of a plant encased in ice near a woolly mammoth fossil, a DNA strand being examined on a computer behind them)
(Blackness)
(A quick flash of large carnivore lunging at its opponent, which is chasing a small tram, accompanied by two huge, distinctly different roars)
LEVIATHANS
Coming June 2001
***ORIGINAL TV SPOTS***
~ Original TV Spot #1 - The Dinosaurs ~
A Vader Fan-Fiction
(Blackness)
GIGANOTOSAURUS
(Flash to a shot of a huge beast chasing a tram over a chasm with a loud roar)
VELOCIRAPTOR
(Flash to a shot of two raptors squealing as they leap high into the air and tackle a Miasaur near her nest)
TRICERATOPS
(Flash to a shot of a Trike running through science labs and tearing desks and computers apart)
MAIASAUR
(Flash to a shot of the miasaur defending its nest from a velociraptor, trampling it with a bellow)
THE DINOSAURS OF PANGAEA
(A wide shot of a plain filled with dozens of dinosaurs migrating)
LEVIATHANS
Coming this June
~ Original TV Spot #2 - The Characters ~
A Vader Fan-Fiction
(Blackness)
PAUL RUSSELL
(A shot of Paul swerving his jeep towards a brachiosaur, shot of him staring out of a tent at a nesting ground)
AMY CHRISTENSEN
(Flash to a shot of Amy hanging out of a jeep and shooting a dart, a shot of her sharing a kiss with Paul)
RICK LEAVESDEN
(Shot of Rick climbing a tree to stare at a large nest, shot of him being flung from a jeep)
EDWARD DRAKON
(A shot of Drakon motioning to a giant woolly mammoth, shot of him steering a small tram car away from a Giga)
THE RESEARCHERS OF PANGAEA
(A shot of several vehicles rushing forth from the jungle, researchers armed with tranquilizers)
LEVIATHANS
Coming this June
~ Original TV Spot #3 - The Plot ~
A Vader Fan-Fiction
(Blackness)
IN A MODERN WORLD
(Fade into a helicopter shot of a huge, vast, remote jungle)
WHERE DINOSAURS ROAM FREE
(A shot of a large field of dinosaurs migrating)
THEIR ENVIRONMENT WOULD BE CHANGED
(Fade into a shot of a plant enclosed in ice as DNA streaks across a nearby computer screen)
(A shot of jeeps rushing toward dinosaurs, open firing, shot of scientists rushing around a lab)
(Blackness)
Voice (Panting): "We've made a mistake . . . a fatal one . . ."
(A quick shot of a huge beast chasing a tram across a chasm)
LEVIATHANS
Coming this June
***CHARACTER PROFILES***
NAME: Paul Russell
AGE: 33
APPEARANCE: Black hair; handsome; muscular build; 170 lbs.; 5'11
ROLE: Russell was a field researcher who worked in Pangaea for years. His high intelligence and behavioral observances earned him high respect from his fellow workers. Russell was the one who uncovered the problem of the cloning of prehistoric plants. Tragically, he died along side his lover and his friends in the aftermath of Gigonotosaurus attack.
NAME: Amy Christensen
AGE: 28
APPEARANCE: Red/brown hair; extremely attractive; muscular build; 135 lbs; 5'9
ROLE: Known for her adventurous spirit and courage, Amy became a patroller at Pangaea, making sure everything was in order with the dinosaurs that inhabited the land. Strong willed and unafraid of roaming into dangerous territory, she proves to be extremely helpful in the matter of security at the research site. Along with Russell and all of her fellow researchers, she died in the destruction of a tram after a Giganotosaurus attack.
NAME: Rick Leavesden
AGE: 32
APPEARANCE: Brown hair; rather handsome; thin; 145 lbs; 5'10
ROLE: The only British researcher in Pangaea, Rick is a close friend of Paul Russell and is especially curious about the carnivores that inhabit Pangaea - the velociraptors in particular. He has been especially helpful in identifying the ongoing evolution of the beasts and makes one of the biggest discoveries when he uncovers the beasts are nesting in trees. Sadly, life was not easy for Rick. After his vehicle was overturned by a migrating Brachiosaur, he was confined to a wheelchair. Only a year later he met his destruction side by side Russell and Amy in a devastating tram wreck.
NAME: Edward Drakon
AGE: 50
APPEARANCE: Red hair; striking features with mustache; slim; 150 libs; 5'10
ROLE: Dr. Drakon first started the research site of Pangaea after he discovering several dinosaur nests in a remote part of brazil. A man who loathes weapons as well as cages, he has always sought to control the leviathans in Pangaea in a peaceful way. After trying other methods, Drakon rushed to find a new idea and hastily got his scientist to clone prehistoric plants in hopes of keeping the dinosaurs from escaping the research area once and for all. When the attempt failed, everyone fled Pangaea in a hurry. Drakon and his son were the only survivors of a massive tram wreck that took place during the escape. They would never have survived if a Tyrannosaurus had not engaged a pursuing Giganotosaurus in a battle.
NAME: Mario Lintino
AGE: 48
APPEARANCE: Black hair; large mustache; rather plump; 185 lbs; 5'9
ROLE: Dr. Lintino was one of the first scientists to be recruited by Drakon to oversee the operations at Pangaea, swayed from his plans to observe gorillas in the Congo to live at the Brazil research facility instead. A jolly and happy man most of the time, his spirit is broken when the repopulation of Pangaea with prehistoric plants utterly fails. He too is destroyed in the fatal tram wreck.
NAME: Nathaniel Drakon
AGE: 14
APPEARANCE: Red hair; looks similar to his father; slim; 138 libs; 5'9
ROLE: Ever since he was at a young age; Nathaniel always had a keen interest in prehistoric life - Ice Age creatures in particular. Once he grew old enough, he often accompanied his father on expeditions to the frozen north and visits to Pangaea in Brazil. After helping in the effort to bring down a Giganotosaurus, he was nearly eaten by the carnivore after becoming trapped in its cage. He and his father managed to flee a Giganotosaurus after the distraction of a Tyrannosaurus and was able to fly out of Brazil after the tragic experience.
***DINOSAUR PROFILES***
NAME: Giganotosaurus
APPEARANCE: Nearly 43 ft long; 13 ft high at the hips; 8 tons
DIET: sauropods, including Titanosaurus
LIVED IN: Early Cretaceous
ROLE: Giganotosaurus is the largest carnivorous dinosaur ever found, having lived in the early Cretaceous period. In Leviathans, the massive beast has the largest territory of a single dinosaur in Pangaea and often chooses his prey from the large grazing field below his area. After being tranquilized and captured, the Giga managed to escape from his huge cave, chasing the researchers to their destruction. In a brutal brawl with two Tyrannosaurus mates, the Giga was finished off when caught off guard by the bull Rex.
NAME: Velociraptor
APPEARANCE: Over 11 ft long; 4 ft high at the hips; over 160 lbs
DIET: other dinosaurs
LIVED IN: Late Cretaceous
ROLE: After being cloned from DNA taken from the largest velociraptor ever found, the raptors in Leviathans have evolved to display more bird-like qualities, sporting a large mane of feathers and nesting in tree branches. The raptors are extremely protective of their nests and will do anything to drive intruders away. They can easily reach speeds of 60 miles per hour. However, their group cooperation and ambush abilities is what helps them take down larger prey, which is displayed in the plot when a team of swift carnivores sneak up on a mother maiasaur in the nesting grounds.
NAME: Maiasaura
APPEARANCE: 30 ft long; 15 ft high at the hips; 8 tons
DIET: berries; seeds; leaves
LIVED IN: Cretaceous
ROLE: Getting its name for its reputation as a wonderful parent, Maiasaurs are very protective of their young, taking fantastic care of them even after they hatch - a quality that caught the attention of researcher Paul Russell. In Pangaea, the Maiasaurs nest alongside the Iguanadons in large groups in a nesting field. Fiercely protective of their offspring, the Maiasaurs encircle their nests whenever a threat is near and will even give their own lives to protect the eggs.
NAME: Brachiosaurus
APPEARANCE: 80 ft long; 23 ft high at the hips; 30 tons
DIET: cycads; conifers; gingkos
LIVED IN: Late Jurassic
ROLE: One of the tallest living things to ever walk the face of the earth, Brachiosaurs are definitely among the most beautiful creatures in Pangaea. The herd often times moves through the meadow, eating on the brink of the forest, careful to stay away from predators. However, when living in Pangaea, the herbivores are forced to eat food they don't prefer and that does not agree with the way their digestive system has been designed. While the Brachiosaurs appear to be gentle and harmless, they can do a great deal of damage when motivated enough, which they did when trying to migrate out of the research grounds with several vehicles and weapons in their way.
NAME: Tyrannosaurus
APPEARANCE: 41 ft long; 13 ft high at the hips; 7 tons
DIET: Ankylosaurus; Tricerotops; Edmontosaurus; Anatotitan
LIVED IN: Late Cretaceous
ROLE: The second largest theropod ever found (next to the Gigonotosaurus), Tyrannosaurus has a the largest territory in Pangaea, due to the fact that there is a male and female who are mates. The Rexs have the benefit of the hiding place of the vast jungle to conceal themselves while keeping an eye out for nearby prey. Since the Tyrannosaurus is not as fast a runner as most other dinosaurs in Pangaea, the emergency tram that runs through its territory doesn't have to worry about a chase. However, when a Giganotosaurus decides to chase the tram, it is a different matter. After chasing the vehicle into the Rex's territory, the male and female reacted quickly to drive the intruder away. In the conflict, the female Rex was destroyed by the Giga, and the bull was forced to catch the larger opponent off guard in order to avenge its mate's dying.
NAME: Iguanadon
APPEARANCE: 35 ft long; 9 ft high at the hips; 5 tons
DIET: gingkos; conifers; cycads
LIVED IN: Mid Cretaceous
ROLE: Iguanadon was the first ornithopod that was actually very large, and was equipped with thumb spikes for great defense. In Pangaea, the Iguanadons nested alongside the Maiasaurs, always ever watchful of predators - namely the raptors, who's territory was located just north-west of their nesting grounds. Paul Russell took particular interest in these creatures along with the Maiasaurs, having established a hidden observation tent to watch the nesting and hatching of eggs.
NAME: Triceratops
APPEARANCE: Over 33 ft long; 7 ft high at the hips; 5 tons
DIET: plants
LIVED IN: Late Cretaceous
ROLE: Bulky and incredibly dangerous, Triceratops are quick to react when threatened, making use of their massive horns above their face not only for defense, but also for attack. The herd of trikes went on the alert when it was discovered that all over Pangaea, territories were being intruded upon in order for dinosaurs to be captured. The trikes displayed most violent behavior in reaction, charging the researchers' equipment and tearing up their scientific labs and facilities.
NAME: Ankylosaurus
APPEARANCE: 25-35 ft long; 4 ft high at the hips; 3-4 tons
DIET: low-lying plants
LIVED IN: Late Cretaceous
ROLE: Carrying a 6-foot wide plate of armor on its back and a bony, spiked tail for extremely effective defense from predators, the Akylosaurus was the most lethal herbivore living in its time. In Pangaea, there is a pair of Ankylosaurus that often stick to the forest rather than roam the fields where most of the other herbivores stay. They were some of the last plant eaters to finish up the remains of the cloned prehistoric plants that repopulated Pangaea.
NAME: Pteranadon
APPEARANCE: Wingspan of 26-33 ft; standing height of 6 ft; 55 lbs
DIET: Fish
LIVED IN: Late Cretaceous
ROLE: Not a dinosaur, but a giant and graceful flying reptile, pteranadons spend most of their time above water, not land. That is why in Pangaea, the pteranadons nest above a waterfall that pours into a river that runs near the research facilities. Here is where they have plenty of fish to sustain themselves and their young ones. So that they are unable to fly away from the Pangaea ground, the pteranadons are often times clipped on their wings to weigh them down, only allowing them to fly short distances.
***DARK DAWN SNEEK PEEK***
A Behind-the-scenes interview conducted by CarnaRaptor
CARNARAPTOR: For all the avid Leviathans readers out there, will there be any returning fan favorites?
VADER: Well, the velociraptor (which wasn't really seen that much into the original Leviathans) is back and plays a far more prominent role. Also, Dr. Drakon and Nathaniel Drakon, the sole human survivors of Pangaea, make a cameo. However, it is the brand new characters that really play the most vital roles in this story.
CR: What inspired you to continue on with Dark Dawn, considering the high-risk and low-praise for sequels?
V: Two things inspired me. First was the huge support that the fans were giving. Practically all of them were asking for a story to tell of the events that take place after Leviathans. The second thing that inspired me was the final plot I came up with. At first, early on, I was very hesitant to do a continuation of the story because I felt that it would require a compelling plot, which I had not thought of yet. As time went by and I thought more about it, I developed a plot that I feel is very strong, features interesting characters, and addresses some serious issues in the world today. That was the biggest factor that compelled me to write Dark Dawn.
CR: Can we be expecting to see any intense trademark action sequences rivaling the likes of the Gigonotosaurus/Rex showdown in Leviathans?
V: Well the action sequences in Dark Dawn are on kind of a smaller scale than those in the original, but I'd say they are just as intense. The action in this one involves more suspense and grittiness than the action of the first, and are a little more bold and daring. There are some sequences near the end of this fic that is going to be a bit shocking to the reader, but I don't want to give too much away, really.
CR: To all the readers, what kind of approach are you, the author, going present to us?
V: Well the first part of the fic really deals with suspense build-up, scientific elements, and character development - it doesn't rush into the action sequences too quickly. I think fans of Leviathans will consider this a worthy continuation of the story.
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