by Jake Bible
“Oh, sure, always with the easy way,” Raff said. “Slacker.”
“I swear, Raff, I am on my last…”
A noise from behind…
Cash stopped talking. Raff perked up then let go of the cart the same time Cash did. They both went for their rifles, spun around, and scoped out into the darkness.
“Shit,” Cash said. “Teeth. Three of them.”
“They’re getting close,” Raff said then gasped. “Uh, no, not close. They’re just really fucking big.”
“Come on. We have to book ass,” Cash said and slung his rifle once more.
Raff did the same and they pushed the cart as hard and fast as they could.
“Are we going to make it?” Barbara asked.
The dino let out a loud “Haroooooo” just after Barbara stopped speaking.
“Not if this thing keeps ringing the dinner bell,” Cash said. “Try to calm it down.”
“Really?” Barbara snapped.
“Do your best. Please?”
“I’ll do whatever I can,” Barbara said and continued stroking the dino’s neck as she struggled to keep up with the cart while also not getting run over by the cart.
A loud roar echoed behind them and both Cash and Raff let go of the cart, turned, and brought their rifles up once more.
“Haskins!” Cash shouted. “You hear me?”
“I hear ya!” Haskins called from the camp.
“Get out here and help Barbara with this goddamn dino!” Cash shouted.
“Yeah! Cash and I have a little dentistry to take care of!” Raff yelled.
“Dentistry?” Cash asked.
“Killing teeth,” Raff said with a chuckle.
“Jesus Christ…”
Cash scoped the incoming teeth and sighed.
“It’s the big ones,” Cash said.
“Giganotosaurus,” Raff said.
“Don’t give a fuck what they’re called,” Cash said. “As long as they die.”
“One hundred meters and coming hard,” Raff said and laughed. “Coming hard…”
“Fire at fifty,” Cash said.
“That’s cutting it a little close, brother,” Raff said.
“You see the size of those skulls? I want these .338 rounds to do as much damage as possible. So we cut it close.”
“Roger that. I have left.”
“I have right. We take these two then both hit center.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The two operators waited. Waited. Waited. Fired!
Crack! Crack!
The right dino fell. The left dino staggered, fell, then struggled back up onto its feet.
“You miss?” Cash snapped as he fired at the center dino, missing completely as the creature ducked its head low and picked up speed. “Shit!”
“Yeah, who missed now?” Raff shouted. He squeezed off two shots and the left dino dropped fast.
Cash kept firing at the center dino, but the beast was zigging and zagging. It was actively avoiding getting shot.
“You’d think the bastard knows what guns are!” Raff shouted.
He joined Cash and they both continued to fire until the oncoming dino finally roared in pain, spun about and fell into the dirt, sliding for a good ten meters before coming to a dead stop.
An almost dead stop.
The dino lifted its head and let out another roar, although it was a weak one.
“Christ,” Cash said and jogged up to the massive monster. He got within a couple meters, took aim, and blew most of the dino’s brow off. “And stay dead.”
“That was close,” Raff said, joining Cash.
“Way too close,” Cash said. “I’m not crazy, right? That thing was dodging our shots.”
“You are crazy, but not about that, buddy,” Raff said. “It was for sure dodging our shots.”
“Where the fuck did it learn to do that?” Cash said.
Before Raff and Cash could discuss it further, several more roars split the night. Cash and Raff had their rifles back to their shoulders and eyes staring through scopes in half a second.
“Oh, fuck me…” Raff said. “It’s a full pack of these fuckers.”
“Ten? Twelve?” Cash asked.
“Doesn’t fucking matter,” Raff said. “We need to get back to camp and lock our asses inside a roller. Now.”
“Barb isn’t going to like that,” Cash replied. “No way we can fit that dino in a roller.”
“To hell with the dino,” Raff said. “We just better hope these teeth can’t crack open a roller.”
They gave the dead dino in front of them one last look then turned and ran, both not quite sure the vehicles would keep them safe. Not with the size of the teeth heading straight for them.
Eleven
Colonel Igor Petrov was a lean man. Thin and wiry with a complexion that said he had been a good friend of both the outdoors and a fair amount of vodka during his lifetime. He sat on one side of the small table that had been set up in the field outside Flipside BOP, his eyes locked onto Commander Bloom’s as he slowly, methodically tied a long piece of grass into tighter and tighter knots.
Bloom, seated on the opposite side of the table, with Tressa on one side and Thompson on the other, kept his eyes locked onto Petrov’s as well, never letting the knot tying distract him from maintaining eye contact.
“Fossil fuels?” Bloom asked, finally breaking the silence between the two leaders.
“We make do with what we can,” Petrov replied. “You are still using electric fuel cells?”
“We are.”
“They will stop working. Eventually. Then you will want to know how we adapted our vehicles to, what do you call it?”
“Biodiesel,” Tressa said.
Petrov’s lip twitched, but he did not acknowledge Tressa’s presence, keeping his eyes on Bloom.
“Biodiesel,” Petrov said as if he had come up with the name on his own. “We make nature work for us once again.”
“What do you want, Colonel?” Bloom asked.
“We want your base,” Petrov said in the same tone as if he’d said he wanted a bagel with cream cheese. “We will have your base.”
“I’m sorry, Colonel, but to me it does not look like you have the forces or equipment to accomplish that,” Thompson said. “What do you really want?”
“Mr. Thompson, as much of a pleasure it is to meet the man that helped tame Savageside, I believe military strategy and tactics should be left to the professionals,” Petrov said, his eyes still not leaving Bloom’s. “Perhaps you and your daughter should go warn your people that they are going to have a new leader soon. Prepare them for their new lives and roles in this cruel land. That way no one is surprised when I walk through that gate of yours and take what I want.”
“I am going to have to agree with Mr. Thompson,” Bloom said. “Your people do not look up to the task, Colonel.”
“Looks can be deceiving,” Petrov replied.
“If they are, why alert us to them?” Tressa asked.
Petrov did not respond.
Tressa snickered. “If you think you’re going to get to me with your misogynist bullshit, you’re wrong, Colonel. I’ve dealt with way worse than anything you can dish out.”
Petrov finally looked at Tressa.
“I am not addressing you because the odds of you surviving are slight, Ms. Thompson. I prefer not to waste my time on the dead,” Petrov said.
That got to Tressa. She visibly stiffened. Bloom placed a hand on her arm.
“Relax, Ms. Thompson,” Bloom said. “We have eyes on them. If they fire one single shot, then we will open up and drop every person of theirs that isn’t tucking their tail and hiding inside their rollers.”
“Oh, but all it takes is one shot, Commander,” Petrov said. He made a gun with the fingers of his right hand and pointed it at Tressa. “Pow.”
“That’s enough of that!” Thompson shouted. He stood up and leaned across the table. “You threaten my daughter again an
d I’ll kill you myself.”
“Mr. Thompson,” Bloom said, restraining the man, yanking him back down into his seat. “You’re letting him get to you. Perhaps we should discuss this alone? Between two military men?”
“Perhaps,” Petrov said.
“Commander,” Tressa objected.
“Ms. Thompson, please take your father back inside the base,” Bloom said. “This meeting will not take long.”
Bloom glanced over his shoulder at the four operators that were standing several meters back. They had weapons ready and were keeping an eye on the line of Russian rollers far off across the field.
“I will be fine,” Bloom said and faced Petrov once more. “Right, Colonel?”
“To kill someone during a civil parlay would not only be against all military codes, but it would be rude, Commander,” Petrov said. “You have my word you will be safe while we talk.”
“And I can say the same for you,” Bloom replied.
Petrov shrugged. “Say what you must to feel strong.”
Tressa didn’t argue. She stood, took her father’s arm, and led the man away from the table.
Once the Thompsons were past the line of operators and to the main gate, Bloom said, “You believe what you’re saying.”
“I do,” Petrov said. “Very perceptive.”
“If you have more forces, and they are trying to circle back behind the base, then you should know that we are prepared for that,” Bloom said. “There is no angle of approach that is not being watched.”
“I would hope not,” Petrov said. “Or you would be a horrible commander. But let me assure you, Commander Bloom, you are seeing all of my people. There is no second wave coming to attack you from behind. We haven’t had that many people in a very long time. What is the saying? What you see is what you get?”
Bloom squinted his eyes and studied the Russian. He was missing something, he knew it, but he had no idea what it was he was missing. The Russians could not strike without telegraphing the attack. There was no surprise angle.
“This does not have to end in bloodshed, Colonel,” Bloom said. “Your people do not look healthy. You do not look healthy. If you disarm and can assure me you have no ill intent, we will gladly welcome you inside the base. We have food, we have shelter, we have medicine. Our Dr. Raskov is a top notch MD. He can treat your people and help get them back to full health.”
“Raskov? I knew a Raskov once, many years back. He died horribly too,” Petrov said.
“I think we are done here,” Bloom said and stood up.
“Wait, wait, my apologies,” Petrov said and held up a hand.
From the line of rollers, a slight woman ran to the table, her every movement covered by the operators behind Bloom.
“Commander, sit, please,” Petrov said. “As a sign of good faith, I want to offer you a drink.”
“Good faith? For what?” Bloom asked.
“Oh, for not attacking your base,” Petrov said. “Did I not mention that? I have no desire to fight you head to head, Commander Bloom. As you have noted, my people do not look healthy. We would not last very long against your forces.”
“Then what are we here talking about, Colonel?”
“I wanted to meet you before it is all over,” Petrov said as the slight woman reached them.
She produced a bottle of vodka and two glasses from a courier bag slung across her body. She deposited the vodka and glasses on the table then turned and ran back to the line of Russian rollers.
“If you think I am drinking from one of those glasses, you are mistaken, Colonel,” Bloom said.
“I shall drink from both to show you that I did not poison them,” Petrov said as he poured two drinks then drank them down, one after the other. “Pick your glass, Commander.”
“I would rather not,” Bloom said. “Dying because of careless stupidity is not how I plan to go.”
“Oh, but plans never quite work out how we believe they will, do they, Commander?” Petrov asked, pouring two more drinks. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.” Petrov downed both drinks then stood up. “I wish you well during your last couple of days, Commander. I would advise that you and your people do something fun. Throw a party. Dance. Make lots of love. Enjoy every second of your final moments.”
He hefted the vodka.
“I can have a case brought to your gate, if you would like.”
“No, thank you,” Bloom said.
“Then I appreciate the time you have taken to speak to me, Commander. Godspeed.”
Petrov snapped his fingers and two men ran up and folded the table, gathered up the chairs, and carried them back to the Russian rollers as Petrov stood there smiling at Bloom.
“It is a favorite table of mine,” Petrov said, glancing up into the sky. “It looks like rain and I would hate for it to be ruined.”
He gave a short bow.
“Do svidaniya, Commander Bloom.”
“Goodbye, Colonel Petrov.”
Petrov straightened, turned, and walked back to his people, never once looking back at Bloom.
Bloom watched him go until Petrov rounded a roller and was lost from sight. Then the commander turned and marched past the four operators.
“Mr. DiCenzo?” Bloom called over the comms. ‘“Tell me something good.”
“I wish I could, Commander,” Mike replied. “But I used every bit of tech we have to scan those rollers and they are dead as doornails other than their motors. I can’t even detect working comms, sir.”
“Then what is that man up to?” Bloom asked as the main gate opened just enough to let him in. “Command meeting in the hut. Now.”
***
“Tre! Keep them away from the baby!” Barbara shouted from the Russian roller.
Cash and Raff were both perched by the Flipside roller, their bodies pressed up against the overturned vehicle as they took aim, waited for their shots, and fired at the incoming teeth.
“I’ll try!” Cash shouted at Barbara. “But the dino is not the priority right now!”
One of the teeth spun in its tracks and fell, half of the top of its head gone as Raff fired two quick shots.
“Eight still headed this way, buddy!” Raff yelled. “Keep your head in the game!”
Cash growled low in his throat and moved a meter away from the roller to get a better angle on the pack. He squeezed off three successive rounds and two of the massive dinos fell. One stayed down and one struggled back up onto its feet, a good portion of its lower jaw missing.
With the smell of fresh blood and weakness in the air, two of the onrushing beasts whipped their heads about and attacked the wounded dino. They tore into their comrade without hesitation or warning. The wounded animal roared until its throat was ripped out.
“That’s two down and two occupied!” Cash shouted.
“Four still headed to eat us!” Raff said. He fired twice and another dino fell then his rifle clicked empty. “I’m out! Toss me a mag!”
Cash fired, reached to his belt, grabbed a fresh magazine, and threw it to Raff without looking, then fired again. The first shot missed, the second hit home.
Two were almost on them.
Raff had his rifle reloaded and settled it against his shoulder for barely half a second before squeezing off three shots. One dino took a hit to its left shoulder while the other dodged the bullet headed for it.
“Shit!” Cash yelled as the two remaining dinos reached the camp and went straight for Cash’s position.
He was up and running, literally shooting from the hip as he dove around the other side of the Flipside roller just before a pair of gigantic jaws clamped shut on his previous position. The dino roared in pain, but Cash knew his wild trigger pull didn’t produce a kill shot. Wrong angle completely.
The Diplodocus on the makeshift cart screeched with terror and panic as the other massive carnivore reached it.
“Hey! Fucknut!” Raff yelled, standing on top of the Flipside
roller’s side. “Over here!”
The beast didn’t even flinch in Raff’s direction; its focus was squarely on the meal that had been laid out for it.
“Asshole,” Raff muttered. He fired three rounds into the huge dino’s side. “Ignore me, will ya!”
The predator roared and whipped its body around, the creature’s massive head only a meter from Raff’s position. The jaws opened wide and came at Raff with a speed that most would not have thought possible. Unless they’d lived Flipside for a while. Which Raff had.
He jumped from the roller, tucked, rolled when he hit the dirt, and came up in a firing crouch. One, two, three, click.
The ribcage of the dino was obliterated by the three shots. Yet the thing refused to fall. It lurched and turned, facing Raff once again.
“Just fucking die,” Raff snarled.
The dino came for him. Raff was out of ammunition.
A loud whistle didn’t make the dino turn, but it did cause it to pause briefly, giving Raff time to duck and dive once more in order to get his ass around the side of the roller.
“Fuck you!” Haskins yelled after a second whistle still didn’t get the dino to turn toward him.
Three shots to the spine and the beast fell, its front claws scrambling at the dirt, its wounded jaw snapping at open air, its back legs still and useless from a severed spine.
“A little help!” Cash yelled as he tried to outmaneuver the dino on his ass.
“I’m out!” Raff yelled.
“I don’t have a shot!” Haskins shouted.
The baby Diplodocus screeched in fear.
The screech was answered.
“What the hell?” Raff asked as he turned toward the open landscape. “Oh, shit… Cash! We need to get out of the way!”
“That’s what I’m fucking doing, asshole!” Cash yelled.
“I mean really out of the way!” Raff said. “I think we got a mama incoming!”
“What?”
“A mama!”
“You sure?”
The baby screeched, the mama responded.
The ground shook.
The huge carnivore that was trying to catch and eat Cash slid to a halt, turned to face the landscape, and roared.
Then it charged.