Dyno-morphs Vol. 1: Enter the Dyno-morphs

Chapter 4: Unexpected Allies

An hour or so later, elsewhere in Sarasota, A young mechanic named Claire was in her garage working on a motorbike that had been damaged in an accident with the T.V. on in the background while she worked. 
"Some of the stories I hear from drivers..." She said to herself. "I don't know what they take me for. This guy said he was distracted by a bank robbery involving...dinosaurs? I mean...it can't be possible, can it?"

As if on cue, a news report caught her attention. "Witnesses from outside who saw the incident unfold, the hostages inside the bank, and even the robbers themselves claim that they were thwarted by what looked like men in dinosaur costumes, but it quickly became apparent that, whatever they were, they weren't wearing costumes and were very formidable, taking down the robbers with relative ease and only one of them sustaining a minor injury before they fled  moments before the police arrived on the scene." 
"You...have to be kidding!" Claire said and called for someone to join her. "Lucy, I think you might wanna come see this!" Seconds later, another female walked into the room. This one was a Dyno-morph, a velociraptor with blue scales, slightly darker than Gill's and pitch black hair that she wore in a ponytail. She wore a black tank top and jungle camouflage combat trousers. Her feet were left completely bare, leaving her wicked-looking claws on display. 

As she entered, the news report cut to one of the robbers, with a black eye and missing teeth being escorted into a police car while shouting erratically. "I'm telling you, those dinosaur freaks are out there! It's them you should be looking for before there's an infestation! An Uprising!" The report cut back to the reporter, Trudy Taylor. "Based on witness descriptions, palaeontologists say the creatures may have been a pterodactyl, a Triceratops and a tylosaurus. Of course, they rebuke the idea that such creatures exist, although police are already linking it all with the so-called vigilante that began working the streets at night just a couple of months ago. They alone have caused the crime rate in the city to drop. If these dinosaur creatures are real and they pose a real threat to criminals, we could well start seeing the crime rate practically disappear."
"I don't know what I find harder to believe," Lucy said. "That there are more Dyno-morphs in the city or that they are so stupid, they can't even keep a low profile. I mean, a bank robbery in the middle of the day? It'll be a matter of days before these idiots are caught. And now they've risked exposing our existence! As if life wasn't hard enough already."
"Where do you think they came from?" Claire asked.
"They probably already lived in Sarasota, and were probably turned into Dyno-morphs by Dr. X-Ray just like I was." Lucy answered.

Their attention was then caught by the T.V. again. "In other news, three young men have been reported missing since this morning." All three men suffer with Autism and a friend of one of the men stated that they had gone to the home of the scientist, Dr. Xavier Raye, known by locals as Dr. X-Ray. The scientist denied that he had even met the three missing men at all. Police are treating their disappearance as suspicious."
"That's as much proof as I need." Lucy said calmly. "That filth. I'm glad they were able to get away. I was barely able to escape his robots with my life."
"Me too," Claire agreed. "Did the reporter say they were autistic? Those poor guys. They must have been so easy for the scientist to take advantage of. Do you think you could find them?"
Lucy seemed unsure but gave it some thought. "I might be able to find them by smell. No way I can guarantee it though." 

"Blast!" Dr. X-Ray yelled as he slammed his fists down on his desk, still steaming over the Dyno-morphs' escape. "They were possibly the best specimens I've ever created. All the previous ones can recall hardly even compare to them." He sighed heavily as he rested his head in his hands. "How could I let them get away? It's even worse now. They're using their powers to make the city a safer place. If they even get a whiff of the things I plan to do, they won't give me a moment's peace." He thought to himself as he watched the news report about the three missing men. "And no doubt they'll want revenge for what I've done to them. Dyno-morphs always do. Of course, many of the previous failures were much easier to destroy. Not to worry. If they will insist on being a thorn in my side, they'll regret defying their master." The mad scientist said with an evil and dangerous glint in his eyes. 

"Okay, make a note everyone: We're not bullet proof." Gill said as Jimbo wrapped his wound in large leaves to form an improvised bandage. The three had managed to take refuge in the nearby woods and they sat at the base of a huge tree as Jimbo did his best to treat his injured friend. As he finished the makeshift dressing, he shot Gill a rather unimpressed look. "And what a fine way of testing things you have! If I hadn't tackled you out of the way, they'd be wearing your hide as belts by now!" Gill grunted at how tight the bandage was, wincing in pain. "You're damn lucky I ain't got the steam to argue right now." Gill replied. His annoyance turned into plain nervousness as he looked up at Jimbo and Jimbo down at him. The stare down didn't last long and Gill soon looked away in defeat. "What I mean to say is-" He hesitated and looked back at Jimbo. "Thanks, mate. I owe you one." Jimbo gave a light smile. "It's fine. Just try and think before you do things." Jimbo requested.
"Yeah," Crash agreed. "We're all gonna need each other if we're gonna survive on our own, and with lord-knows-how much media attention we might have gotten ourselves." 

"Looks like you're still alive," Came a strange female voice. "I'm quite surprised. Especially you, blonde one." The Dyno-morphs span around and rubbed their eyes in disbelief as they saw another Dyno-morph standing right in front of them, accompanied by a human of average height. The human's skin was very dark and her pitch black hair was worn in short dreadlocks that were tied back behind her head under a blue bandana. She wore a casual t-shirt under a pair of denim overalls that had oil stains here and there and black steel toe-capped boots on her feet. 

"What the-" Crash Exclaimed. 
"Wait, there are more Dyno-morphs?" Jimbo cried.
"Looks like it," Gill said, tidying his hair with one hand as he looked at the velociraptor. "And they come in female!" The female scoffed at the tylosaurus' comment and got right to the point.
"You three aren't the first of Dr. X-Ray's Dyno-morph creations. He's tricked dozens of people into helping him with his 'experiments'. As far as I know, we're the only ones who have escaped his lab alive. I assume you refused to be his minions and then he tried to destroy you?" She asked and the males nodded and she paused for a moment. "Did you all make it out, or were there more of you?" 
"There were just us three." Crash said and the female nodded. "Good. You're lucky you had each other. The doctor's Spinotrons are almost constantly being improved. I've not seen how deadly they are for the last while. X-Ray has been keeping a low profile for the past month or so."

 The human woman then stepped forward, almost making the nervous males step back. 
"What my friend here is trying to say is, it's not safe out in the world for you guys." She explained gently.
"Especially given how impulsively you act. Operating during the day is a sure-fire way to get us exposed, you numbskulls!" Lucy barked, making Gill grit his fangs and growl quietly to himself. "Lucy, try and remember, they're...special." The human reminded.
"Oh yes...I suppose," The velociraptor replied. "Three autistic males have been reported missing after heading to X-Ray's lab. I assume you were those men?" The males nodded and the human took another step forward, making them a bit more nervous and they stepped back, still unsure of what to make of all that was going on and struggling to absorb it all. The human smiled and held up her hands, showing that they were completely empty.
"Hey now, it's okay," She said softly. "You don't need to be afraid, guys. I won't hurt you. I'm Claire and this is Lucy." She said gesturing to the female velociraptor. "I'm a mechanic and I run a garage not far from here. There's plenty of room for you all and you'll be safe there." Jimbo and Crash looked taken aback and Gill showed no response whatsoever. "Are you sure about this, Ms. Claire?" Jimbo asked and she nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, hon," She replied. "Lucy and I have talked about it at length."
"Yes," Lucy replied. "There will be rules to be laid down but we'll discuss that later. For now, I suggest we worry about getting you all back to the garage and getting that wound properly cleaned and dressed."

Crash and Jimbo stepped forward and shook hands with the two females, introducing themselves politely. "What cute names," Claire commented. "Especially yours, Crash." Gill hadn't moved and Claire looked over at him. "What about you, hon? You got a name too, or do I need to name you?" 
"Gill." He grunted after a moment of hesitation. 
"Okay, names and pleasantries exchanged," Lucy said. "Now let's get moving. There's a lot to talk about." The two males and two females began walking and Claire looked back at Gill who still seemed unsure about what he wanted to do and gave him a wink. "You coming, handsome?" Gill's tail involuntarily wagged behind him for a moment until he reached back and grabbed it with his hand, holding it still. Claire giggled and cooed lightly at him and Jimbo beckoned him. "Come on, man. We all know you won't last on your own." Gill reluctantly nodded and began walking with the rest of them.