XCOM: Volunteer Raptor Trainer Ch. 3

Story by Dr1ft3r0I on SoFurry

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#3 of Volunteer Raptor Trainer


August 11, 2009

Hopkins sipped his glass of Coke slowly, watching the multitudes of people pass by his table on Jurassic World's Main Street. Today was likely the first time he'd been away from both the labs and his own house since Ada hatched, and his fridge was empty. Or somewhere approaching empty. Sometimes it sucked not eating on a consistent basis. But, the reason he was out and about was currently sitting right next to him on the ground.

"Squeak?"

"No, you're not coming out," Hopkins told Ada as she poked her muzzle out the side of his bag, sniffing the air in fervent curiosity. "When you can not freak out at the sight of other people, then I'll let you stick your head out, and not before." Ada chirped, shuffling her body inside the bag before she looked out the hole, an amber eye now staring up at him. Sensing her nervousness, Hopkins sighed as he relented, leaning over to stroke the infant's snout gently, his psionic aura brushing comfortingly against her.

"Hopkins!"

"Aw Christ," Hopkins groaned in irritation as Hoskins walked over to him, a patronizing smile on his face. "Hoskins," the XCOM agent grumbled as he pulled away from Ada, "What can I do for you today sir?"

Hoskins sat down across from Hopkins without concern for asking permission, that stupid grin still on his face. "Was wondering where your reports were going," the security chief said, looking around as he set small briefcase down on the ground next to him. "Went to your place, and well, I didn't see you there."

Hopkins calmed himself, more for Ada's sake than his as he took another sip of his drink. "Course I wasn't home, I'm in the middle of training," he answered casually, much to Hoskins' sudden confusion. "Today it's exposure training."

"Exposure training?" Hoskins was confused. "Exposure to what?" Hopkins could only chuckle as a faint squeak from Ada reached Hoskins' ears. "...Hopkins, are you out of your fucking mind?!?" Hoskins hissed, eyes bulging out as his face went red.

Hopkins shrugged casually as his server came to the table, a new glass of Coke flanking a greasy burger. "We work on an island that specializes in creating genetic recombinants of extinct megafauna, and you're concerned about how I raise one hatchling?" he countered after muttering a quick prayer over his food. "Hoskins, look, I understand your concerns, but frankly, if the powers that be want anything done involving raptors, there are things we, and by we I mean myself, need to try." Hoskins meanwhile looked like he was about to implode as Hopkins tore a small chunk of burger patty off and reached over to the bag.

"Hopkins, you're going to lose your fingers doing that," Hoskins warned snidely as he watched an inquisitive muzzle poke out the bag, nostrils flaring as the wafting aroma of cooked meat reached it. Hopkins rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"I'll take my chances," he deadpanned as Ada whined. "Ada, calm." Ada went silent and still, and her Alpha smiled in pride as he gave her a short, terse whistle. Fingers released the treat as Ada's head lunged forward, snapping the snack out of the air before pulling her head back inside the bag. "So, reports aside, anything else on your mind?" he asked, taking a bite from his meal.

Hoskins' eye twitched as he took a deep breath to calm himself. Hopkins, meanwhile, waited patiently for an answer as he continued eating. "Well, Doctor Wu has asked that I... read you in on our newest project," he said simply, picking up and opening up his briefcase. Pulling out a manila folder, Hoskins laid it on the table, a single orange stripe running across the face diagonally. "I doubt I need to remind you about what happens if you disclose this information to unauthorized individuals."

Hopkins paused, setting his burger down as he looked Hoskins in the eye. "Yeah yeah, I know," he replied. "Termination of employment, fines, minimum five years jail time and liquidation of assets, to start. Don't worry sir, I'm only a jackass, not a moron." Hoskins grimaced as he stood up slowly, briefcase in hand.

"Personally, Lieutenant," he said slowly, freezing Hopkins in place, "I think that Doctor Wu is making a mistake in selecting you for this program. But I guess we'll see when things go pear shaped, won't we?" From Hopkins' bag, Ada poked her head out, eyes narrowed as she hissed angrily at Hoskins. "And train him better before people freak out."

"Now Adalaide," Hopkins chided coolly, "Be nice." Slowly, the raptor slunk back into her mobile nest, glaring at Hoskins all the while. "But frankly sir, she is not the one I'd be worried about. My reports will in your inbox by the end of the week," Hopkins added.

Hoskins glared at Hopkins in disdain before turning about and walking back into the crowd. Ada growled, the noise making the human look down in bemusement. "Yeah, he's an asshole," Hopkins agreed, pulling off another piece of burger, his aura flaring softly to try and calm her down. "Now be nice, we'll be home soon enough." Ada leaned out, gently taking the morsel into her mouth, avoiding the tips of her parent's fingers. Smiling, Hopkins looked at the folder still sitting on top of the table, and continued eating.

Video Log

August 20, 2009

10:34:33

For once, Hopkins is grinning on camera as he gently adjusts it, showing the now messy interior of his home. "Well, I've got good news!" he declares, sitting back down on his chair. "Ada has finally figured out how to walk around! Now, this is important because now, she can start exploring more of the, umm, 'nest' as it were, and it means she'll be running soon enough."

A high pitched screech fills the air as Ada, now not quite as fluffy as she used to be, literally jumps into frame, knocking the keyboard off the table and startling Hopkins. "JESUS CHRIST!" he shouts in alarm before the camera disconnects. For the next five minutes, only the sounds of an annoyed Hopkins and a happy utahraptor fill the microphone before the program shuts off.

Video Log

August 21, 2009

06:12:55

Hopkins is clearly disheveled in appearance, Ada in his arms. She yawns, tiredly wiggling to squeeze herself deeper into the crook of his arm. Hopkins merely looks at the mug of what is likely coffee next to him offscreen.

"Note to self," he mutters, "Order more Kevlar coverings. And Kevlar bedding. And curtains.... Christ, I need to fucking rebuild my entire house with fucking Kevlar and Erikanite Alloy just to make sure Ada doesn't rip it to shreds. How the fuck did Owen survive four of these little shits?!"

[][][]

It was still dark outside as a small figure crept into the room, rapid breathing softly filling the air.

Ada's eyes pierced through the gloom as she tentatively made her way into Alpha-Father's nest area, the tiny sickle claws on her feet twitching. The two month old had been sleeping just fine when she had awoken, feeling something wrong in the air. So, the infant raptor had crawled out of her nest and slowly stalked her way towards her parent. After all, if she felt something wrong, then obviously, Alpha-Father already knew, right?

Entering Hopkins' room, Ada saw the tall nest that she knew Alpha-Father slept on, and his heard his rapid breathing. But most distressing of all was the feeling of muted panic and pain coming from the nest. Making her way closer, Ada eyed the side of the nest, lowering her cat sized bulk low to the ground before leaping up. Well, she tried to.

She had mostly made it when the curved talon on her right foot failed to catch on the fabric of her parent's nest, and with a chirp of surprise, Ada tumbled back to the floor with an indignant cheep. On the bed, Hopkins twisted, muttering in his sleep. Glaring at the edge of the bed, Ada righted herself, growled softly, and then jumped. She chirped in triumph upon landing, only for her father to burst into motion.

One moment, he was asleep. The next, Ada was staring into the barrel of a Glock 20, the chrome lined barrel shining dully in what little light made it inside as Hopkins stared at Ada, eyes wide in terror as he panted. Ada froze in place, the only sounds in her ears the sounds of hers and Alpha-Father's hearts hammering away.

"...Ada?" Hopkins breathed, blinking in stunned horror as the hatchling before him trembled in fear. Ada chirred, shaking as her parent slowly lowered the weapon, shaking in shock as she edged slowly closer to him. Instinct screamed at her that this being, in this moment of weakness, was now no longer capable of being called 'Alpha.'

Something else urged her to continue towards her parent.

With a soft croon, Ada lowered her head and nudged Hopkins' hand onto her head, his fingers brushing through the downy feathers atop it. Coughing out a tired cry, Hopkins reached over and grabbed Ada with both hands, the dinosaur not minding as her head was pressed against his chest, the sounds of twin hearts slowly lulling her to sleep as they slowed down. Hopkins merely petted the hatchling's spine, augmented senses on high alert to non-existent dangers. Glancing at the clock, he sighed as the crimson numbers mocked him.

01:46 in the morning. Great.

Looking at his night stand, Hopkins sighed as he scooted over and picked up his work provided cell phone, a Nokia 3310. Pushing a button, Hopkins sighed as he held it up to his head, listening through the connection tone.

"'Ello?"

"Hey Owen, you got time to talk?" Hopkins asked, sighing. "And yeah, I know what time it is."

The man on the other end of the call shuffled about, groaning at the interruption of his sleep. "Umm, maybe, why?"

"...Owen, you ever, you know, get triggered?" Hopkins asked.

"...what happened."

Hopkins looked down at the dinosaur in his arms. "Bad memory. Ada jumped up on the bed, and... I almost reacted."

"Shit," Owen said after a moment.

Hopkins huffed tiredly. "Yeah, tell me about it," he commented. "So, any ideas?"

"...there's a pretty decent dive for workers here on island, should be open until four or so," Owen said. "I'll let Barry know I'll be late with the girls in the morning, and I'll meet you at Main Street."

"Thanks Owen," Hopkins said in appreciation. "See ya in fifteen." Ending the call, Hopkins set Ada down on the bed sheets before getting up, his joints popping softly as he stood. Ada opened an eye and watched as he removed the odd skin covering he wore and exposed his hide, the crisscrossing lines of old scars visible for just a moment before he put on another false skin over it.

Five minutes later, and Hopkins was heading to his car, now fully dressed and carrying a still snoozing Ada in her travel bag. "Okay, just be still little one," he muttered, starting the car and heading over to the employee's access area for the Main Street of Jurassic World. Tapping the wheel, Hopkins sighed as he drove off to meet Owen. After all, what exactly could he say? That he was suffering from PTSD because of the traumas of fighting two wars against extraterrestrial aggressors? That he had literally been torn apart and put back together against his will?

Right, like that would go well.

Bringing the car around, Hopkins parked and grabbed Ada, slinging her over his shoulder as the raptor curled up deeper in her bag and slept. Stepping through a side entrance to the street, Hopkins looked around at the modest nightlife that traversed the area and spotted a secluded area where he could sit and wait for Owen. In matter of fact, it had only been a couple of minutes since he had sat down that he caught of Owen coming towards him, clad in board shorts and a shirt declaring the owner's love for Blue Suede.

"Nice shirt," Hopkins commented with a chuckle as Owen yawned.

"Come on man, it's a classic!" Owen replied as Hopkins got up. "'Though I wonder why you're bringing a bag with you to this."

Hopkins shrugged as he started following Owen to the bar. "Well, I couldn't exactly leave her alone for the night," he said. "I mean, I don't get my new babies for another couple of months, and I-"

"Wait, you brought your raptor with you?!" Owen hissed, alarmed. Hopkins groaned in irritation.

"Yes," he said flatly. "Seriously, why does everyone think I'm the crazy one doing this?" Owen looked at Hopkins in concern as he huffed. "I mean, come on, this is an island full of dinosaurs, that in itself is crazy enough!"

"You know, when Blue and the girls were that age, they bit. A lot," Owen commented as they passed through an employee's only door. "How yours hasn't scarred the shit out of you, I have no idea."

"Why do you think I wear a flak jacket all the time?" Hopkins asked almost immediately.

"...huh."

The two men finally made it to the employee bar, aptly named 'Hole in the Wall,' and found their way over to a small table. Sitting down, the two men ordered their respective drinks before Owen fixed Hopkins with a steady glare. "So, what's on your mind?" he asked. "And is it related to that purple shit you got going on?" Hopkins blinked at Owen owlishly before sighing, rubbing his temples with a free hand.

"Video logs gave it away, didn't they?" he said, almost in a defeated tone. Owen nodded. A moment of silence passed as their server dropped of their orders: tequila for Owen, and rum for Hopkins. Hopkins pulled slid the first shot glass closer to himself and closed his eyes. "Owen, everything I'm about to tell you... is TSI, need to know, understood?"

Owen nodded. "Yeah, TSI, got it."

Hopkins gulped down his shot, gently tapping the glass on the wood table. "Okay, let's get the obvious out of the way then," he said in an even tone. "My name actually is Gabriel, Hopkins was my mother's maiden name. I was a member of a military force, just... not a public one. And trust me, you'll be finishing off that tequila before long."

Owen looked at his own shot of the intoxicating liquid before shrugging. "Alright. Hit me."

Hopkins took a deep breath.

"I'm psychic."

Owen almost spit the tequila out, only just managing to restrain himself and swallow. Hopkins nodded as the senior raptor trainer opened his mouth to speak. "Okay, look, I know what you're thinking," Hopkins continued. "'Bullshit. I mean, really? Psychic?'" Hopkins chuckled as he studied Owen's face, the rugged man looking more concerned by the word. "I can tell you the exact emotional state of every single person within two hundred feet, which guy here in this bar is regretting telling his wife that he loves her while fucking the chick sitting next to him on the bar, and that the little tiny raptor dozing in my bag is beginning to wonder what the smells of four other raptors are."

Owen was silent as he looked at Hopkins. And then slowly at the tequila bottle. And then back to Hopkins. "...anything else?"

Hopkins smiled ruefully.

[][][]

Barry was about to panic as the girls started to vocalize angrily as he looked at the path to their compound for Owen. "Nom de Dieu Owen," Barry muttered as a car finally pulled in. "Where the hell are you?" His question was soon answered by the car parking, and then Owen stumbling out of the passenger side door. "Owen? What the hell?!"

Owen groaned as Hopkins got out, bag over his shoulder as he helped the obviously tired and slightly hungover raptor trainer up and over to Barry. "Sorry Barry, vet issues," Hopkins explained. "I dragged him out of bed, all my fault."

"And him being drunk?" Barry demanded. Hopkins and Owens stood there in the early morning light, clearly embarrassed.

"...also my fault." Barry groaned in irritation as Charlie shrieked, demanding attention from either Blue or Owen, he wasn't sure which. "Look, umm, Barry, can we, uh, get some water for Owen here?"

"Why, to cure his hangover?"

"No, because sleepy Owen might be dead Owen if we throw him up there in view of the girls," Hopkins explained as he dragged Owen to the tiny shack that was his office. Barry would have retorted, only, he recognized the logic in Hopkins' statement, and pulled out a water bottle from his truck bed.

"Hold him still," Barry ordered, advancing towards them. Hopkins waddled as far away as he could while still holding Owen in place as the latter looked up at Barry with bleary eyes.

"Wai, wha?" he mumbled, just as Barry dumped the freezing cold contents of the bottle down Owen's shirt. "JESUS CHRIST!" he shouted, suddenly awake as he jumped away from the two of them. "WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"You were asleep," Barry deadpanned as Blue screamed, demanding that she attack whatever attacked her Alpha. "Hopkins was worried about your safety with the girls." Owen looked over at Hopkins, who simply shrugged as a faint, muffled squeak came from his bag. "...Hopkins, what was that?"

This time, it was Hopkins who wilting under the Frenchman's gaze. "...couldn't leave her at home," he mumbled. "Besides, a little late now, ain't it?" Barry was torn between yelling at Owen, yelling at Hopkins, yelling at both of them, or just letting Hoskins or Dearing deal with the two moronic Americans.

"Fine, but Owen, your girls need you now, otherwise I'll be the one complaining," Barry said finally. Owen nodded as he headed to the closest set of steps, gesturing for Hopkins to find a spot along the walkways to observe. Hopkins nodded as he slung his bag off his shoulders, a curious chirp coming from the swinging back.

"You stay put," he muttered to Ada, who whined as the psionic sent a discrete pulse of warning to her before setting the bag down next a set of lockers. "I mean it, stay." Standing up, Hopkins walked away from his hatchling before going up the steps to where Owen was standing. Standing a few meters away, he nodded to the senior trainer who then looked down at the foliage below them.

"Okay, let them out!" Owen called out.

With a series of furious screams, the four raptors that comprised Owen's pack charged out of the bushes, each of them looking at Owen angrily for not having been there when they woke up. Of course, that was before Echo smelled her archnemesis in the air and screeched, talons and maw open wide in a threat display towards Hopkins. "Echo, eyes on me!" Owen barked, thumbing the clicker as fast he could. "Cut that shit!"

The tan dinosaur hissed angrily, ducking away as Blue snapped at her sister to listen. Hopkins looked at Owen, and then thumbed at the stairs, the question unsaid. Should I leave?

Owen shook his head, face firmly set as he glanced down at his girls. No. Girls too agitated. Hopkins sighed as he crossed his arms.

Fine.

The former XCOM operative focused back down on the older raptors as Owen tried to get their attention, only to notice Echo staring at the only way into the enclosure. "What the hell are you looking at?" Hopkins muttered to himself, eyes narrowing as Owen snapped at Echo to refocus on him.

And then, clear as day, a tiny squeak broke through the air. Hopkins' heart plummeted as he spotted the tiny, downy feather covered, toddler stuck frozen still as Echo looked at Ada hungrily.

Nobody who was there witnessing could say for certain who moved first; the raptor, or the handler. What everyone agreed on was that Echo was only feet away from snatching Ada into her jaws when one hundred and eighty-five pounds of paternal rage slammed into the raptor from above, sending them sprawling on the ground in a tangle of limbs and harsh language. Hopkins kicked Echo off of him, the raptor flying up and landing on the ground a good solid several feet away as Blue and the rest of the pack advanced on the two fighters. Owen, Barry, and everyone else almost hit the panic button before Hopkins snarled, flashing his teeth as he purposefully stood between Echo and his scaly daughter.

"BACK OFF," Hopkins warned, his eyes and veins visibly, albeit dimly, glowing with power as he stared Echo down. The slightly smaller raptor screeched at Hopkins trying to circle around him. Hopkins matched her paces, his eyes not once leaving Echo's. Delta took a step forward. Hopkins growled, a sound that Owen would later compare to a wolf mixed with a high performance diesel engine that was pushed past the red line.

Scowling, Echo reared back, and lunged at Hopkins with all her talons and claws outstretched. Hopkins, in a flash of movement seemingly too fast for any normal human, twisted out of the way, and grabbed Echo by the throat before slamming her back on the ground, hard. The raptor was stunned, which gave him enough time to pull out the sizable knife he kept on the small of his back and press the point against Echo's jugular.

All stood still at the impossible sight before them. Hopkins glanced up at Owen, Echo frozen still at the uncomfortable feeling of something pressed against her jugular. Owen saw Blue look up at him uncertainly, a rarity for her since she had... well, grown up. Gulping, Owen looked down towards Hopkins and cleared his throat.

"Hopkins... please let go of my raptor," he asked, trying to keep a calm tone. The dimmed lines of power pulsed, and then slowly faded as Hopkins turned his head to glare back at Echo.

"TOUCH Her, you die," he commented, pulling his knife away from Echo's throat. He made sure to pinch lightly on her scales with his other hand before all but throwing her back towards Blue with a strained grunt. With a dissonant amount of calm, Hopkins walked over to where Ada still stood and picked her up gently. "And I told you to stay put," he reprimanded Ada, who shook in his arms.

A hiss came from behind Hopkins. He stopped, then turned to see Blue growling at him menacingly. He kept his gaze on her as he turned his back to the enclosure door, his temper flaring just slightly. "Owen, I need you to meet me by the door," Hopkins said loud enough for all to hear.

"Hopkins, what do you need?" Owen asked, scrambling as fast as he could to the door.

"I need you to punch me."

Owen paused just outside the gate, looking inside to see his girls all staring at Hopkins with only just restrained fury. "...you want me to do what?"

"Right now, I'm a threat to the pack," Hopkins explained calmly... well, calm for the situation at any rate. "You punch me, it restores you as Alpha, your girls won't tear into me and Ada, and we can all put this behind us. Now, get in here, and punch me in the fucking face!"

Owen motioned for Barry to cover the doorway as he made his way inside the enclosure, the staff all watching with bated breath as the four larger raptors twitched in place, watching Owen closely. He pulled his arm back... and lightly punched Hopkins in the shoulder. Hopkins looked at his shoulder, and then back up at Owen. "Okay, seriously?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "That was the worst punch ever, of all-."

*PUNCH!!*

The four juvenile utahraptors all flinched back as Owen's fist broke Hopkins' nose, sending him stumbling back as a light trickle of blood began to flow. Ada hissed, furious at Owen for attacking her Alpha-Parent, only to watch as her parent shook his head, gripping his nose. "Ahh, ow," he grumbled, before pinching his nose. Something cracked, and Owen noted that his nose, formerly crooked, was now back in what was likely its original position. "Good punch."

Owen nodded slowly, eyeing his raptors carefully, gauging their reactions. Echo seemed smug for a little shit who had only just been basically judo flipped to the ground, and Delta and Charlie were both warbling their curious trills, looking between himself and Hopkins. Only Blue seemed relatively impassive, her eyes looking right at Hopkins' fledgling. "Blue, I see you," Owen warned, edging close to Hopkins.

In response, she hissed, and Hopkins held out a hand to Owen. "Hold on, let me see something," he said, looking over and locking gazes with Blue. Gently, Hopkins lowered Ada to the ground. The moment her feet hit the ground, Ada whined, whipping her head abck and forth between her Alpha and Blue. "Shh, shh, easy there," Hopkins murmured, nudging her gently forward with his foot. "I won't let her hurt you." Ada warbled, and then looked over at Blue, trembling.

The older raptor took a step forward, stopping to gauge Hopkins' reaction. The human merely looked at her sternly, her own Alpha ready to intervene at any moment. The sub-adult edged closer to Ada before stopping, a respectful tail length between her and the small raptor separating them. Lowering her head, Blue inhaled Ada's scent.

She smelt of... her, but, not her. Blue crooned, curious as she leaned in closer to better inspect the fledgling. Hopkins' left leg shifted an inch, and Blue froze, stone still. She had seen Not-Alpha take down Echo, and submit to Alpha, but that didn't mean he couldn't claim her position as second in the pack.

With a trembling step, Ada stepped forward, chirping as she looked at Blue, averting eye contact at all times. Owen and Hopkins watched as the distance between the two raptors shortened little by little until Ada was right next to Blue's maw. Owen glanced over, and saw a faint purple glow running along the veins in Hopkins' hands. "Relax," Owen muttered to his younger compatriot. Hopkins grunted in reply, his eyes not leaving the two dinosaurs in front of them.

Ada leaned forward, sniffing the larger raptor inquisitively. She smelled a bit of herself on the larger raptor, and that in itself made her relax just slightly.... With a timid chirp, Ada lowered herself before Blue, submissively. Blue looked up at Hopkins, and gently pushed Ada towards him with her snout. Charlie took a step forward, curious. Almost immediately, Blue whirled around, shrieking furiously at her sister. Charlie scrambled back with a startled yelp, and Hopkins had to chuckle at the sight.

"Well, guess I don't have to worry about Blue or Charlie," he commented, watching as Blue carefully introduced Ada to the rest of her pack, making sure to keep Echo as physically far away from her as possible.

"Yeah," Owen said back as he watched his girls. "So, where exactly are you in this?" Hopkins reached up and stroked the modest scruff of hair on his chin.

"Well, Ada smells like Blue, which would make her her sister. And since Blue is your hatchling, and she smells like Blue, then that means... whatever the fuck it means for raptors," Hopkins drawled as Ada suddenly broke out into a run, Blue hooting playfully after her with Charlie and Delta.

"Well, let's just... let them play for a bit, see how it goes?" Owen inquired as several dozen pounds of dinosaur zoomed by him. Hopkins nodded, lifting a knee up just in time for Ada to run under it.

"Yeah, sounds about right," he agreed, Blue and Delta swerving to avoid him while Charlie skidded to a halt, crooning to Owen. "Come to think of it... Owen, when did you last play with your girls?" Owen's face immediately dropped as each of his girls all stopped in their tracks and stared at him.

[][][]

Night had fallen over the island as Hopkins finally came home, Ada in his arms. The small raptor had excitedly exhausted herself playing with her older relatives, and Hopkins was actually glad to see that Blue had taken to being her 'mother' figure. Charlie had just absolutely spoiled the little one, and Delta was fairly aloof.

Echo though was still a bitch. A bitch who respected Blue's and Hopkins' ability to thouroughly kick her ass, but still a bitch.

Unlocking the door, he stepped inside and froze, eyes narrowing. Something was wrong, and whatever it was, it was still there. Setting Ada down on his sofa, he gently pulled a blanket over her and watched as the snoozing creature buried her snout into the folds of the fabric. Satisfied she wasn't going anywhere, Hopkins silently stepped over to his mantle piece, his psionic senses extending outward.

Other than he and Ada, there wasn't anything that he could sense in the house. But, as Hopkins pulled out the XCOM manufactured M35-A Magnetic Pulse Rifle from its hiding spot, he grit his teeth as a thought came to mind.

Something had come into his home. And it was about to face a true apex predator.

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Okay, so this was a chapter that needed some time. Anyhow, polls were open, polls are closed, and you all voted that Hopkins will be raising the I-Rex alongside Ada! Hopefully, I didn't write Owen or Barry as too OOC, much less the raptors, but hey, what can you do, right?

Anyhow, critiques and comments are welcome down below, and I am always open to input from YOU my lovely readers, via the PM button, located somewhere on your browser screen of choice!

As a side note, it has now been twelve days since my last velociraptor... what, what's that clicking sound?