by Pam Uphoff
The team conversed, low-voiced, and decided that keeping their charges away from the construction all day was not just a good idea, but less boring for them as well. They retreated along the lake shore and ate lunch in the shade of tall trees, guards out at all times. Small dinosaurs were watched and recorded. More cams placed. The triceratops herd trooped down to drink, the biggest taking turns watching them, and their back trail. They seemed uneasy, and watching their heads turned to track something . . . The feathery dinosaurs, or scaly birds, in the trees started shrieking at something in the brush.
"I think we need to get back inside. Something's got the wildlife wary, and it's circling them and getting closer to us." Ebsa cast a look all around then got himself between the (thank the One!) retreating civilians and whatever was sneaking through the brush.
Small. Maybe something that robs bird nests?
Ebsa slung the 12mm and checked the shotgun. Deer shot. Ready to go.
They exploded out of the brush at a dead run, and he'd unloaded the shotgun into the first one before it registered properly. A meter high, two long, with claws and teeth. Racked in another round and shot another, backing up. A huge boom. One dinosaur exploded. Ra'd's cannon was definitely overkill. And the rest disappeared back into the brush.
"Everyone is onboard." Acty's voice was a little high.
"Right." Ebsa cleared his throat. "Well, anyone want a specimen to dissect?"
Ra'd flashed a grin, looked back at the crawlers. "Quick, while they aren't looking." He whipped a thin rod off his belt. Jabbed it with a fingernail to split it. An odd bronze sheen inside. Dimensional bubble.
"Lift that one's head. Good, now the neck . . . " They only had to muscle in about half the dinosaur, then the rest slithered in as if falling off a cliff.
Ebsa eyed the two bits of metal. Rusty and pitted. Not a new one like Rael's. I'll bet it's his dad's. He stepped over and helped get the second raptor in. He lifted the shoulders with a grunt. "Just don't expect me to help you with a T-Rex." The rest of the critter slid in, and Ra'd put the rod back on his belt and sauntered off to the gory bits of the third one. Grabbed a front and a hind leg and carted them off to the crawler. Ebsa shrugged and grabbed the head. That and the tail were the only sizable pieces left.
Ultimate met them with large bags, and the pieces went into the freezer.
The scientists looked a little shaken. Ebsa thanked them for their quick response. "I guess we'd better be more careful in brushy areas. Those guys were uncomfortably close before I realized the danger."
They drove back up the game trail—the triceratops had decamped—to the grasslands, and headed south. Stopped to study the pterosaurs soaring overhead, then on to the line of brush that marked a small trickle of water flowing into the river. They found a spot to cross, then found a vantage point where they could see the river winding across the plains into the distance.
And hear distant gunfire.
"The construction crew's got a problem." Ra'd was on top of the Inn, with his binoculars to his eyes. "Looks like Triceratops."
"Thank the One it isn't a predator!" Dr. Ably squinted.
"Ha!" Cuba handed him her binocs. "Some of the most dangerous wild animals are herbivores. Elephants, rhinos, buffalo."
Ebsa hopped up into the driver's seat and switched on the radio. The group channel had a mixture of whoops and cussing. "Anybody on deck?" No one answered.
Acty had followed him and was listening to the cacophony. "No one is screaming, or sounding horrified. The Chief sounds pissed. I think we'd better get back."
Chapter Four
21 Jumada 1405 yp
World EM 0925
"It just walked up and scratched its shoulder on the plate. Then it reared up and gave it a shove, and over it went."
Ebsa eyed the big plate. Only slightly bent. No doubt the support struts on the back were in much worse shape.
The Chief flapped his hands. "We've got to start over. And the footing is going to have to be deeper. And the berm? At least halfway up, maybe more. Which means I need to find a whole bunch of fill."
"Not in the study area, please? A big hole would be too disruptive." Dr. Yffi looked at the two Triceratops bodies. "Why'd you shoot them?"
The Chief looked exasperated. "Because they were looking like they were going to walk all over everything here."
Action Leader Olli grinned. "And it was fun. And One damned hard."
Ebsa took a deep breath, and turned to the Chief. "We were on that hill there, across the small stream and out of the study area. The ground was a very hard pebble and sand mix. Would that do?"
"It's further than I'd like, but, what the hell. For science."
"Right. Umm, depending on how it goes, could you build the whole interior up? And then a ramp to raise and lower, rather than a gate?"
The Chief eyed him. "Why aren't you in charge?"
"Because I'm junior to everyone else and a Clostuone. Now I think I'm going to see if I can find something edible on those critters."
As he walked away he heard the Chief muttering. "That's a Clostuone? Must be an effect of insanity."
One of the carcasses had bled out well enough, and it had been dead less than an hour . . . Ebsa grabbed a knife and hatchet. Ra'd grinned and helped.
The scientists drifted over, and more interested in science than dinner, started directing the dissection. Chattering about this and that internal organ . . .
Ebsa carved off a couple of nice big chunks of meat and hauled them off to the Junkyard. He had them cut to more convenient size and soaking in various things before the gleeful scientists trooped in with eggs removed from the critters.
"We can see the stages of development of the shells as they proceed along the oviduct . . . "
Ebsa eyed the most "finished" looking ones. "Should we attempt to incubate them? You could scan them regularly and see how the, err, is it called a fetus? Develops?"
They looked speculatively at the eggs. Nodded.
The fabricator took a little persuasion, but finally spit out a large bowl with a small warming element and a transparent lid.
"It'll need to stay humid in there." Cuba shook her head. "That's no chicken, but I was raised on a farm, and they need humidity."
A cup with a heating element and battery, filled with water was settled down among four eggs.
The Chief is right. I'm insane. And I can't even steal one to give to Paer.
They unloaded the Lab squishy off to the side of the construction zone, and expanded it. Which made the analysis of the Triceratops guts much . . . less of an imposition on the crawler's kitchen space. It also freed up the flat, for the collection of firewood, and with a bit of sweat, Ebsa managed to slab the bole of a massive tree he'd downed two years previously. A big trestle table outside the lab for the messy work, and plenty of wood left over for picnic tables.
They circled the crawlers around it and had another bonfire dinner. Just stuff from the fabricators, but they could sit around outside and chat and finally wind down and go to bed.
In the morning, the Chief had the backhoe dig the ditch he needed, then sent it off with the first of the construction flats they'd unloaded. It had sides that raised up and the bed could be tilted hydraulically. It trundled back and forth all day with loads of what the Chief called sandy gravel, building a hill in the center of the ditch ring.
When the scientists tired of the Triceratops, Ra'd waited until they were busy elsewhere, and he and Ebsa pulled the Raptors out of nowhere. Ra'd sauntered off to inform them that their next subjects had arrived, and Ebsa headed for the Junkyard.
Triceratops nuggets marinated in dill pickle juice, then breaded and fried would do for the first day . . .
"Water samples! What was I thinking of! I need . . . "
Samples from the river before it entered the lake, five sites along the lake, five more out in the lake when the scientists realize the crawlers were amphibious, and more samples downriver and from the small stream.
All the while taking pictures and placing more vidcams.
Nice big steaks, the second night.
"You're spoiling my crew." The Chief chewed and swallowed. "If you're not careful they'll be volunteering for any project that has your name associated with it."
"That's the general idea. I really, really hate being stuck in an office, and being totally awesome in the field seems like my best chance of actually being assigned to a field team."
The Chief blinked.
"Yeah, this is just a temporary assignment. I'm a clerk in the Action and Exploration subdirectorate."
"Clerk. Well, I always knew upper management was stupid, but it seems to be leaking downward. Badly."
Ebsa shrugged. "I . . . managed to make myself unpopular at the school, so I really can't blame management too much. I just need to keep proving myself."
The chief shook his head and twirled a poor excuse for a proper fried potato. "For your cooking alone you should be in the field. Logistics and camp management. I'll put in the good word, but One only knows if they'll listen."
Then the backhoe was again used like a crane and they erected all the panels and got them interlocked, the bases packed solid and backed up with solidly packed sandy gravel. Then more gravel to almost fill the whole thing up.
The bent panel was straightened, roughly, by running over it with the dozer. Then cut in half and the hinges that had been planned for the gate became the hinges for the ramp . . .
Then they re-squished the lab and moved it, unloaded the domicile squishies . . .
The squishies were nice. Four meters wide, eight meters deep. Combination office/living quarters, tiny lav/shower/sink at the very back. Eighteen of them, plus the double-sized mess with the oversized fabricator and a fully equipped, if small, kitchen.
The Action Team stuck their noses in one of the Squishies and retreated grinning.
"Ooolala! Real beds! That could come in handy."
Ebsa cast a repressive glare at the speaker. It was Evlu, who, driving the Action, had pulled what could be generously called a poorly thought out, really, really stupid prank that could have been fatal. Or an attempt to murder Ra'd.
Pixie snickered . . . then turned to follow Evlu's glare at Ebsa. "What's wrong, Closey? You got a problem with us trying out some dried up old prunes?"
Several of the academics were within hearing range, including the oldest prunes. Backs stiffened.
Ebsa turned and stepped over to the alarmed Acty. "Boss? Do you mind if I spar with the Action Teamers? I need some practice." Ebsa dropped his voice. "And order Ra'd to not join, so as to avoid . . . problems in the field."
:: Spoil sport. Be careful with Pixy. He's fast, strong and damn well trained. You are faster, but you don't have the experience or techniques. :: Ra'd's clear mental voice didn't sound worried.
:: So go pop some popcorn. ::
Chapter Five
24 Jumada 1405 yp
World EM 0925
Ebsa eyed the Action Leader as he frowned around and set his team to clearing a good sized square of grass and brush.
Ebsa sauntered over and used a carefully controlled horizontal slice and an angled shield to clear ground. That caught everyone's' attention.
Pixie sniffed. "Showy waste of energy."
Ebsa pretended to not notice him muffing an attempt to copy the slice. At least no one lost any toes.
A snort from Ra'd. He and Okli were rolling up some of the larger tree trunks Ebsa had collected.
"Seats for the spectators." Okli dropped his voice. "I hope to hell Ra'd is right to be so confident."
Ebsa shrugged. "Relax. I'll no doubt collect a few bruises, but perhaps the Action Teamers can work off some energy doing it, and they'll realize that Ra'd's not the only one who can call them on misbehavior."
Should have practiced more the last few months. Especially the combined stuff Isakson taught me. This . . . is going to be painful.
A snort as Ra'd passed behind him, the smell of ersatz hot buttered popcorn wafting from the bucket he carried. He thumped Ebsa's shoulder. A quick easy merge. :: I'll watch your back. ::
The Teamers were shedding shirts and shoes, and Ebsa followed suit. Walked over, trying to look sweet and innocent. Square, whom he'd blocked at the gate area, looked over at him and "pushed."
Ebsa twisted as it hit his shoulder and staggered a bit more than necessary. It had been a warning shove, not a full on strike. "Oh, do you guys do mixed Magic and Martial Arts type sparring?"
Grins from the Teamers.
Pixy loomed. He had both the height and musculature to carry it off without effort. "Yeah. C'mon out and we'll show you how it works."
"I had some lessons . . . well, two . . ."
More grins.
And mental glee from Ra'd. :: Poor fools. They've no idea what a lesson from Isakson is like. And they didn't practice mixed a single time in the months I was with them. They aren't half as good as they think they are. ::
Square strolled out onto the cleared dirt patch. "Let me show you how Mixed works." He was grinning, his jaw clenching as he started to fire up.
Ebsa walked out to face him. Slid quietly into Speed and brought up a light physical shield. Not too much of an energy drain, but strong enough to spread impacts over a wider area.
Square laughed, and someone dinged a couple of knives together.
Square's punch was easily deflected.
Ebsa sidestepped as the follow up kick started. Threw a rotary push spell, sweeping up behind Square's legs, while knocking his torso back. A three-quarters flip and Square hit the dirt flat on his face.
Ebsa stepped back politely to let the Action Teamer shove himself up and stagger to his feet.
Square pulled power, concentrating it . . .
Oh surely he's not going to escalate to a fireball! Ebsa shrugged and threw a simple push from the side and Square hit the ground again, losing concentration, and his incipient fireball with it.
And Ebsa kept him there until the knives chinged again.
Two Teamers hauled Square up and off while Pixy faced Ebsa.
"Think a few push spells are all you need? Try it on me!" An ugly growl as the man fired up, a hard physical shield domed out around him.
Ching!
Ebsa shielded, and gave ground as Pixy rushed him. Slowed the hulk to a manageable speed then grounded his shield. Felt the other man's shield. Caught the frequency, matched it with his own. As the shields melted together, he threw a hard, power-backed punch. Jumped back and reestablished his shield against his skin.
Should have used a stun spell!
He backed away, blocking punches and kicks, counterpunched and found the man's shield out in front of his body by a few centimeters.
. . . He didn't have a mental shield up . . . doesn't he know how to hold two shields?
Ebsa threw a flurry of punches and kicks then threw a sleep spell as hard as he could.
Tripped over Pixy as he melted.
"What the One Hell!" The loudest exclamation of the lot . . .
The two Teamers who jumped in didn't seem interested in picking up Pixy. Ebsa backpedaled, blocked and punched, kicked . . .
::Duck! ::
An unseen blow from yet another Teamer swooped over his head. Ebsa started throwing spells in all directions. Laugh, spin, hiccup, drunk, itch . . . Gave and received various kicks and punches. Then sleep and stun started getting through . . .
Ebsa staggered back from the pile of Teamers on the ground.
The silence was broken by the crunch of popcorn.
Ra'd was grinning, sitting on the ground, leaning back against a log.
Action Leader Olli was staring grimly down at the five men on the ground, variously groaning and snoring. And hiccuping. One was still trying to spin, despite being sound asleep.
The new man . . . Inro or some such . . . was staring at Ebsa.
Ra'd got up, grabbed a bottle and walked over to Ebsa.
Boost. Salty, sugary and mi
neralized. Just what he needed after that mental effort. Ebsa chugged half of it, keeping an eye on Olli.
Acty spoke from behind him. "I'm afraid to ask what you did to get assigned to a desk job."
"That was the most terrifying fun I've ever seen." Pie slapped his shoulder.
"How bloody fast are you?" Okli sounded breathless. "I couldn't even see you move, that last bit."
Action Leader Olli stopped in front of Ebsa. Looked him up and down. "Right. So everyone knows that some Clostuones are very high numbers. But I don't think I've ever met one before. Where the One Hell did you learn how to do that?"
"Oh, well, I'm Montevideo. I know Princess Rael, the Presidential . . ." Ebsa broke off at Olli's nod. "Anyhow, I've worked out with the Black Horse Guards and the trainer there."
"Two lessons?"
"In Mixed. Long, intense, painful lessons."
Ra'd snickered. "You should request some training, Olli. But, word to the wise, don't mention our former association, if you do."
Ra'd started to turn, then looked back at Olli. "The scientists here are under our protection. Keep your team under control."
The next day, Ebsa was bruised and stiff. The Action Team seemed to have all recovered, and kept a wary eye on Ebsa as he mass produced crispy potatoes and fat omelets oozing cheese.
The Academics were all smiles. Apparently Team Forty-eight was firmly on their "side" and trusted. The construction crew looked happier too.
"Olli's people haven't made any friends. I hadn't ever thought of . . . how helpful being nice could be." Ra'd grabbed a plate and sat with his back to the Action Teamers.
Probably the worst insult Ra'd could dish out. "You aren't dangerous enough to be worth watching." I wonder if they realize that?
Then Acty herded them all out to explore further while the Chief started in on the plumbing. Drilling the well, installing the pumps and filters, pipes to all the domiciles, mess, and lab, and a couple of outdoor taps as well.