Ethan stood on his chair and looked out of the hospital window at the people passing on the street below. A little boy with a bobble hat was laughing with his mother. Ethan found it strange that people could be so happy when he was so sad.
“Can you forget how to laugh, mummy?” He asked.
His mother let out a short, shuddering cry. She sniffed and held a handkerchief to her nose.
“No, honey,” she managed. “Don’t worry about that. The doctor said he just needs time. The electricity was that powerful it shut him off for a bit. He’s just sleeping until he feels better.”
“Like a superhero? Will Ash have powers when he wakes up?”
“He will, honey,” his mum said, picking Ethan up and squeezing him. “Healing powers. He’ll mend our hearts. He’s got the best docto…”
“The Queen’s doctors!” Ethan said enthusiastically.
“Exactly, the Queen’s doctors. And when he wakes up, she’ll give him a medal like that man on the news said, and all the country will clap and cheer. When he wakes up, he’ll be a hero.
“The Hero of Christmas, that’s what the man said.”
“That’s right,” his mum said, sniffing and wiping her eyes. “The Hero of Christmas.”
* * * * * *
Ash stared at hazy green mountains, whose peaks rose and fell with puzzling speed. How was he flying so fast? A giant finger touched the mountains. He tried to sit up, but his arms felt heavy. His whole body stung and throbbed.
“He’s waking up,” a giant head said as it lowered in front of the green mountains.
Ash blinked as a second woman in a white costume hurried into view. She shone a bright light into his eyes and held his cheeks. Her hands felt cold.
“Pupils are responsive,” the woman said. “Mr Cooper, can you hear me?”
“Th… hu… wus…hu?” Ash mumbled, feeling like his tongue was made of fat wads of cotton.
“Sip this, slowly,” a lady said, holding the back of his head and pressing a cup to his lips.
Ash took a few long sips and turned to see a heart monitor next to his bed, displaying a wavy green line that bounced in time with his heart beats. Clarity began to form as the cool liquid spread through his chest. It felt wonderful. Rejuvenating energy filled his arms and his thoughts sharpened. He grabbed the cup and started gulping the delicious liquid.
“That’s enough, not too much,” the doctor said. “Mr Cooper, can you follow my finger?”
Ash followed the woman’s finger and groaned as he pushed himself up against the headrest of the hospital bed.
“That’s good, very good,” the doctor said, adding a note to a chart clipped to the foot of the bed.
Ash gazed around the room, puzzled by all the flowers and cards that filled every surface. There were even vases on the floor. He lifted his aching arms and examined them. He gasped on noticing lightning shaped scars stretching down their length. He peered down the top of his gown and found yet more scars covering his chest.
“You got a bad shock,” the doctor said. “Fortunately, it was only for a fraction of a second. Unfortunately, those scars are for life. As the electricity moved through you it burned your skin. You’ve been extraordinarily lucky, Mr Cooper. A fraction of a second longer and you wouldn’t be here.”
Ash rotated his arms, still shocked by the incredible scars. Suddenly, he remembered his little brother sitting on the roof of the train in the smoky darkness. He remembered the water rising and jumping towards the electricity shut-off switch.
“Ethan!” He croaked, trying to swing his legs off the bed. Wires attached to sticky pads on his chest and forehead tugged on an array of machines beside the bed which jostled together. “Ethan, where’s Ethan? Where’s my brother?”
“Relax, Mr Cooper,” a nurse on the other side of the bed said, easing him back into the pillows. “He’s fine. He’s just down the hall. If you’re feeling…”
“I wanna see him right now!” Ash demanded, feeling a swell of panic. “Where’s my mum, is she okay?”
“It’s okay, you can bring them in,” the doctor said, nodding to the nurse. “Mr Cooper, please try to relax. You’ve been unconscious for over a week. You’re going to need a few days to find your legs.”
“I’m fine,” Ash said, ripping off the wires and sticky pads, causing the heart monitor to flatline and blare a solitary tone. “I just need to see…”
“Mr Cooper, you need to rest. It’s important you rest. You almost died.”
The doctor stood over him and applied pressure to his shoulders, pushing him into the bed.
“But I’m not dead,” Ash protested. “I…”
“Aaaassshhhh… Aaaassshhhh!” Came a high-pitched voice barrelling down the corridor outside. “Aaaassshhh!”
“ETHAN!”
Ethan appeared at the door to the room, his eyes wide as moons. He squealed with delight, skipped forwards and launched himself into Ash’s arms. The doctor attempted to prize Ethan off but Ash batted her away.
“You’re the hero of Christmas!” Ethan cried. “All the news and papers have your face on. The Queen’s gonna give you a medal and you’re famous. There’s cameras everywhere outside and at home. Someone gave me money just to talk, but I didn’t want the money though, because I didn’t care. I told the man that. It was a fifty pound note and everything!”
“You should have taken it you idiot, fifty quid,” Ash said, chuckling, his trembling arms tightening around his brother. “How’d you get out of the tunnel?”
“Oh, my darling,” his mum said, busying into the room and kissing his forehead.
Ash curled an arm around her too and pulled her into the hug with Ethan.
“I’m so glad to see you guys,” Ash said. “I love you. I guess this is one of those moments where you really understand something like that.”
“We love you too, sweetheart,” his mother said, smiling and stroking his hair. “How’s the pain, oh, your arms.”
“It’s fine,” Ash said. “Kinda cool though, no? I was thinking about getting a tattoo, now I don’t need to.”
“As long as my feet are on this good Earth, you will not be getting any tattoos!” His mother said sternly.
Ethan and Ash exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. Some things never changed, and for that, Ash felt blessed.
Despite the clock on the wall showing four hours had passed, it felt like minutes to Ash as he, his mum and brother chatted and laughed. He tried to ignore all the mention of him being a hero as he wasn’t. Heroes didn’t mug innocent people for phones, but he wasn’t going to do anything like that again. Dealing with Fedex would be small time compared to what he’d been through. He had his family and that’s all that mattered. He’d never be stupid enough to let anyone get in the way of that ever again.
The doctors had quite a job convincing his mum and brother to leave that night. Ash got out of bed and danced around to prove that he was better, but the doctors insisted he stay at least one more night. They said they’d assess his condition in the morning. Quietly, one of the doctors pleaded with him to stay, as the world’s press were outside and heads would roll if anything went wrong. They could see he was fine, but were too scared to let him go. Reluctantly, Ash agreed and got back into bed, despite his brother’s tears.
That night, after eating enough sausage and mash to feed a family of rhinoceros, Ash flicked through the channels on SKY TV. He came across a news story about the train incident. He laughed when he saw Ethan being interviewed outside the hospital. Ethan jumped up and down as he re-enacted how Ash had jumped from the train. He then pretended to shoot lightning from his hands as he explained of the scars down Ash’s arms. He was telling the smiling reporter how Ash had become a superhero, but was only just learning to use his powers. It was the funniest and sweetest thing Ash had ever seen.
Back in the studio, a news anchor talked over video footage of water flooding over the banks of the Thames and cascading down the escalators of a tube station
. He explained how the Thames barrier had been raised too late to protect against a tidal surge. The surge had flooded the deepest part of the tube network, the exact tunnel in which Ash’s train had been. Apart from Ash and a few dozen other minor incidents, there hadn’t been any major casualties or deaths.
On seeing the burned wreckage of the train, swarming with firemen in fluorescent yellow overalls, Ash found being reminded of the incident was giving him a headache, so he changed the channel and relaxed back to watch an old film called Back to the Future on SKY Movies. Just at the part when Biff, the town bully, skidded his car into a truck full of horse manure, an elderly Japanese looking man entered the room. Ash laughed as Biff’s gang were covered in dung. He held out his arm, assuming the man was a doctor, come to do an hourly check-up. The man took Ash’s hand and shook it firmly.
“It’s an honor to meet you,” the man said. “The Hero of Christmas himself. The boy who won the hearts of the world, or should I say, the man who…”
“Huh?” Ash said, muting the TV. “You aren’t a doctor? I thought reporters weren’t allowed in here?”
“I’m not press,” the man said. “My name is Noriyuki Yamamoto. I’ve travelled a long way to meet you, Mr Cooper.”
“You’re not a reporter? You’re not some weirdo stalker type are you?”
“No,” the man said chuckling, “I’m the administrator of a global competition that’s been seeking out gifted and miraculous young adults. The competition had been closed and the winners selected, but a few days back someone dropped out due to personal reasons, leaving a spot open. We’ve chosen you, out of all the young men and women on Earth, to be her replacement. Should you accept the prize I’m offering, you’ll be awarded one of five positions on a program that will change the fortunes of you and your family forever.”
“You must be a weirdo. Go on then, I’ll bite, why me and what’s this prize?”
“You, because you’ve displayed gallantry and heroism, not only beyond your years, but beyond anyone I’ve ever known. Whether you like it or not, you’re special now and the world will look to you for leadership for as long as you live. The program is something my corporation’s been working on for thirty years. It involves various adventures, like space travel and a trip to a lost land that only a few have visited. I’ve been myself. It’s an incredible place, beyond your wildest imagination.”
“Yeah, right,” Ash said chuckling. “It’s a joke right? Me in space? Ha! Where’s this lost land, Mars?”
“It’s no joke and you won’t be visiting other worlds, just a remote, incredible resort on Earth.” The man pulled a slip of paper from his inside pocket and handed it to Ash. “Should you accept my offer, this is also for you. I’ll also be giving another of equal value to your family. I don’t mean to come across as purposefully vague, but the program is very secretive. We’ve been in development and trying to stem leaks for decades. You’ll know more when you accept and have signed a confidentiality waiver. It’s all safe and above board.”
Ash sat bolt upright upon reading the slip of paper. His eyes practically sprung from their sockets.
“This… this, no way? Holy crap! It’s a check for a hundred thousand pounds? This can’t be real. You must be a mentalist. So, you’re gonna give another one to my family. My dad too?”
“It’s up to you. You can divide the second cheque as you see fit. I’m sure your dad would appreciate a second chance though. Sometimes people do things they normally wouldn’t for the good of their families, don’t they?” The man said, eyeing Ash strangely. “Sometimes people need a second chance, because they only acted out of desperation, under stressful circumstances. It’s up to you of course. No one’s forcing you to do anything you don’t want to.”
“Can I have a think?” Ash replied meekly, feeling like the stranger’s searching eyes were reading his soul. Did he know about Fedex and the mugging? How could he know that stuff?
“Time is short,” the man replied. “Like I said, you’re a late entry and the departure date is imminent. The four remaining candidates, the other winners who’ll be traveling with you, are already preparing for the trip. If you don’t want to accept, we’ll move down the list and select someone else. I almost forgot. In addition to that cheque, you’ll be paid royalties for a documentary we’re filming, and a book deal that’ll follow upon your return. You’ll be set up for life.”
“Only if people buy the book or watch the film.”
“Trust me, Mr Cooper. Everyone will watch the film. Your adventure is going to be a landmark event in human history, like the Moon landings. Now,” the man said, offering his hand, “do you accept? You will never receive an offer as marvellous as this for as long as you live. I can promise you that...”
The Jurassic Five
M ary Ellis stamped her feet, blew on her frozen hands and gazed up at the colossal set of doors at the base of the mountain in China’s Xinjiang range. Snowy tornadoes spiralled across the runway of the airport she and the other reporters had landed at only half an hour ago. Their pilot had said it was a Space Port over the tannoy, but Mary couldn’t spot any launch towers or space faring vehicles. It was probably simply an exciting name to make the Yamamoto Corporation’s secretive new attraction more marketable to tourists.
Many people were gullible and easily led, conned by spectacle, fanfare and flashy veneers. Working for a news corporation, Mary knew that better than most. She frequently had to bite her tongue and cover stories she knew were designed to push political messages, when she was acutely aware much more important and pressing events were happening. It was a strange time to work in the media, a new wild west where the fastest draw won the day. It didn’t even matter if your opponents’ back was turned. Be the first to the plate, that was all that mattered. Regardless, she liked to think she was wiser and less easily manipulated than most. Exciting branding wasn’t about to cloud her reporting of the events.
The press pack she’d been handed on the plane had detailed how Aaditya Bashar’s time travel probes had been successful. The failure at the Japanese Space Center had apparently been fabricated, so the Yamamoto Corporation could continue their operations in secret. Whatever they’d achieved, the huge set of doors in the mountain definitely eluded to something impressive being inside. Still, she wasn’t going to get ahead of herself before the big reveal, unlike the group of reporters nearby, who were jabbering excitedly.
“Okay, Ladies and Gentlemen,” Tim Skinner said, walking out in front of the huge doors and rubbing his hands together. “Sorry to keep you waiting in the cold. I hope you enjoyed the traditional herbal Chinese tea. It’s one of my personal favorites. We just had to make sure our stars were ready for the show.”
“Is it true we’ll get to interview the Hero of Christmas?” Someone hollered. “I heard he’s in your facility. How come no one’s heard from him yet? He’s here with four other kids, right?”
“They’re not just kids, they’re incredible assets to humanity,” Tim corrected. “I can confirm Ashley Cooper is amongst the five competition winners. You’ll meet them all soon. Boy, are you guys in for a treat.”
“What’s the competition?” The same reporter asked.
“Patience, good man,” Tim said. “No spoilers. It’s taken us decades to get to this point. At least let us enjoy the simmering anticipation leading up to the big reveal. This is exciting for us as well.”
Mary Ellis glanced at her phone to check the cameras built into her clothes and the rim of her glasses were filming. Everything seemed in order.
“Is Dr. Bashar here?” Mary asked. “Will he be answering questions about the deception at Tanegashima?”
“To be totally honest, he didn’t know about it,” Tim said. “He genuinely believed he’d failed. He’s too terrible an actor to have carried out the deception, so don’t blame him. Do, however, congratulate him as one of the greatest minds of the scientific age. Anyway, you’ll understand soon. I don’t wanna get ahead of things. Ladies and
Gentlemen, fire up your cameras and follow me. One thing,” he said holding up a finger, “no flash photography. You’ll be ejected from proceedings if you disobey this one rule. All good, excellent, let’s begin.”
Loud, triumphant music boomed. Tim Skinner turned and raised his arms. When the music reached a crescendo, a huge cloth banner above the doors dropped, revealing colorful, bold letters that read, JURASSIC EARTH. Fireworks exploded from the sign, in time with the music, which was becoming louder and ever more rousing. A squadron of fighter jets roared overhead, trailing colorful plumes of smoke. Mary held a hand to her chest, over her thumping heart. Suddenly, the enormous doors creaked slowly open. Mary staggered backwards as a wave of hot air crashed over her and the gaggle of reporters. Gasps filtered through the onlookers, some of whom were dashing either side of Mary, towards the opening doors.
Mary checked her phone once more, to double check she was capturing everything, then followed the group. When the people in front cleared, she stopped dead in her tracks. She felt her mouth sag open. Rarely did she allow herself to get carried away, but this had to be one of the most amazing feats of human engineering since the Pyramids of Giza. She tried to talk, to tell the camera what she was seeing, but could only produce a fumbling croak.
Ahead of her, in a cavern hundreds of meters high, a huge forest stretched into the far distance, as though it had no end. A cart whizzed past on a rollercoaster that weaved between the trees, before swooping high into the air and entering a series of loops. Everywhere she looked there were stalls, rides and statues of animatronic dinosaurs that roared and reared as they emerged from bushes or swooped overhead. It was a marvellous pandemonium of color and sound. There were restaurants, fountains, waterfalls, exotic birds and monkeys. Yellow, sand colored walkways weaved through the lush tropical forest. Weather-worn wooden signs pointed down the pathways. One of them read Draconyx Feeding Pen. She’d never heard of a draconyx. She recoiled as the doors cracked shut behind her.
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