//------------------------------// // Prologue: Prey With No Escape // Story: Friendship is Magic: Jurassic Park // by Triple B Studios //------------------------------// WARNING The following of this story will contain violence, graphical scenes, and gore! And certainly not for children at the age of ten or younger. Viewer discretion is GREATLY advised! TRIPLE-B-STUDIO PRESENTS STARRING John Hammond Twilight Sparkle Lex Tim Applejack Ellie Sattler Alan Grant Fluttershy Robert Muldoon Dr. Henry Wu Dennis Nedry Donald Gennaro Ian Malcolm Special Inspiration and Author’s dedication: In Memory of Michael Crichton The natural beauty of Isla Nublar was significantly altered by human activity, particularly after InGen leased the island from Costa Rica for business purposes. One area of the island was transformed into a visitor center, where visitors could find interpretive displays, programs, services, and information. Regularly, massive transports arrived to deliver supplies to maintain the beautiful tropical environment. These supplies were accompanied by strong steeled cages, which contained InGen's confidential possessions. Delivery was carried out almost every day between the island, the mainland, and the neighboring Isla Sorna. Separated from InGen’s construction and human activity, lay the island’s large ancient jungle valley seemingly untouched by man’s intrusion. Lush green forest with its thousands of trees that stood like guardian giants surrounded the peaceful area, shrubs dotted here and there among the dense vegetation. Grassland covered much of the rest of the valley, with a river leading off the middle. A gentle breeze swept up from the east, carrying with it the scent of rain. It wasn't yet noon and there would be none this day. The heat was already building to dangerous levels as a result.  A blue slithering river bisected the floodplain in a perfect V across the valley, its banks rising gently at either end until their tops reached the trees above. The water looked clear enough on this particular morning that even those who couldn't see the bottom could imagine the river being wide and full of fish. Lost amongst the towering trunks of trees beneath the canopy, a lone black crewman ran for his dear life. His chocolate eyes scanned frantically for any sign of his pursuers. He knew they were following him. He couldn’t see them, yes, he knew that because the forest was too dense for them to have emerged from it unerringly. But somehow he knew. He could feel them watching him, could hear their breathing through the leaves, and could smell them on the humid wind drifting down the ravine. His stomach was knotted with dread as he pushed himself even harder. His boots dug into the soft soil and left deep grooves behind them, the dirt and grass quickly turning to mud, but he didn’t slow. The crewman knew without a doubt that if he slowed down and gave in to fear, he was dead meat. The broad leaves of the jungle canopy made it difficult for him to get a good vantage point of anything more than ten feet away, so when he saw the ground ahead suddenly begin to level off, he let out a shrill screech of fright. He stumbled over an exposed root sticking out from under the soil. As he did, his boot caught on the sharp stone edge of the stump that protruded from the ground and sent him sprawling face first, his back hitting the hard ground with a thud. Dirt exploded from under his rump as he lay still for a moment, panting wildly. He waited for another second then rolled onto his belly and scrambled to his feet. When he found the tree again, he turned and fled deeper into the jungle. For seven minutes he wandered in the depths of the jungle searching desperately for somewhere to hide, but every minute his hopes grew fainter. By now he wasn’t even sure where he was going anymore. The fear had consumed him completely. The only thing he wanted now was to go home. Back with his family—back in his mother’s arms. Oh how much he missed her right now. Everything went quiet, except for his ragged breath. His legs were heavy as stone as they carried him further into the endless forest. At times the forest would look peaceful and serene, but those moments didn’t make him feel any safer. Instead, he could feel an uneasy feeling growing inside of him as if someone—no, something was watching him. He had grown accustomed to the constant noise around him. The rustle of leaves in the wind, the chirping of birds, and the sound of insects buzzing in the air. But now, as the world became eerily silent, the sounds became deafening. The crewman couldn’t think straight, everything was drowned out by his racing heartbeat that rang in his ears. Suddenly he spotted movement to his right and the fear that he'd been suppressing all day welled up inside of him once again. His chest rose and fell with shallow breaths. The crewman couldn’t hear or see the creatures. But he knew without a doubt that they were there. He could feel their cold eyes boring through his soul, their hot breath brushing past his ear. They were probably waiting for him to lose all his energy and collapse to the ground in defeat. Just like all of them did. But he won’t let them win. No! No way in hell will he let that happen! The crewman lifted his head and stared straight ahead. Passing by tree after tree in a blur of speed, pushing past bushes, tripping over roots, and jumping over fallen logs. He winced with each step. Twigs cracked underneath his feet as he raced past. Every little twig, branch, and leaf that brushed against his body sent a shiver down his spine. A sudden gust of wind kicked up, forcing him to quicken his pace. His right foot tripped over something and he stumbled forward, hitting the ground hard. Something caught him in the back, sending the air rushing out of his lungs. He gasped for a moment, sucking in huge gulps of air before he regained himself. He slowly scrambles up on his feet to stare at his left. He choked back a scream upon seeing something behind the ferns. Bright green eyes stared back at him. The crewman couldn’t breathe and he dared not move. Fresh sweat covered his brow and his feet trembled. He was transfixed on the cold stare in front of him, unable to look away. He saw another pair of eyes blink open to his right. He turned to his left and his heart sank when he saw another pair of eyes appear. Half a dozen eyes watched him from the ferns. The crewman’s eyes jumped around said ferns from one set of eyes to another. He was surrounded. A sudden shadow loomed over his side and he whipped his head around to meet the eyes of whatever it was that just took a step. The creature slightly crouched in a pouncing stance. It stood six feet tall, Its long snout was filled with glistening fangs, and its long tail stood straight like a flag. A whimper choked in the crewman’s throat. He was paralyzed, terrified beyond reason. A long low growl escaped from deep within the creature’s throat as it approached the crewman, creeping ever closer. Its long maw hung wide open as it stalked toward him menacingly. One quick pounce to ensure its meal doesn’t escape. The crewman’s screams echoed throughout the jungle. “Christ man, this is ridiculous.” “I know…” Two inGen employees of Jurassic Park, both wearing blue uniforms and white lab coats, sat cross-legged atop the large table in the center of the room and sipped from two cups of coffee. “That’s another one of our crewmen that died this week.” One employee continued while he rubbed his temples. “And I’m still trying to figure out how those Raptors got out. I thought Robert and Mr. Hammond had that under control!” He shook his head, gulping her mug. The other employee nodded sadly. “Well, Mr. Muldoon managed to round them up and put them back into their paddocks. So it could’ve been worse.” The employee sighed heavily. “But what I’m more concerned about is how we’re going to explain this to their family members.” He shook his head, staring down into his cup morosely. “I know. But you gotta remember, we signed a nondisclosure agreement that prohibits us from speaking details of what happened…” He glanced at a document lying on the table, which was littered with sticky notes and documents relating to the Raptor situation, all detailing the incident as described in the official report. The other employee nodded solemnly as he sipped from his coffee, the steam clouding up from his mouth as he inhaled the warm liquid. He looked exhausted and his eyes were bloodshot, his dark hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. The man wore an equally tired expression, though less of a frown than the older employee. “I know that… But I hate lying to people.” He shook his head, putting down his cup. The other employee frowned deeply. “Yeah, me too.” He nodded at his colleague sympathetically. He stood up from his chair. “Come on, break time’s over.” He began walking briskly toward the door leading back into the long hallway, leaving the older employee alone in the spacious conference room. His gaze drifted absently across the floor then up to the television screen mounted to the wall on his left. Videos of President George H. W. Bush's hand shaking with Princess Celestia flashed across the monitor. The images were grainy but clear. There was no mistaking who the two royals standing next to each other were. The older employee stood up from his seat, walked slowly past the table, past the chairs, and stepped into the hallway.