Survivors

48

We were chasing after Ben as he was running through the jungle biome. Ya think the boy would think.

I ran ahead and caught up to Ben, tackling him to the ground.

"Let go," he grunted, as he wriggled in my grip like a fish.

"Ben, you can't get Bumby back by yourself," I said, hauling him up.

"Yes I can," Ben said, as he continued wriggling.

"Do you see what Mr. Kon has?" I asked. "He has almost three dozen henchmen out there who would not hesitate to shoot you on sight."

Ben stopped moving as he went limp in my arms. "But-"

"Ben there is no buts," I said, releasing him. "We need a plan. One that won't get us killed."

Ben huffed as he stood up. "I just can't believe Kenji let them take Bumby."

"I know," I said. "Kenji's a fucking bitch, but that doesn't matter right now."

"Chris," Darius said, running over to us. "You guys gotta see this."

We followed Darius to see Kon walk inside the workshop. We hid behind a bush with the others.

"Look," Yaz said. "Kenji has a new friend."

"Hawkes?" Brooklynn said in confusion.

"Mr. Kon is exactly the type of guy who would work with a jerk like Hawkes," Darius said, scowling.

"Yeah, but who expects Kenji to be?" Brooklynn asked.

Darius and I shared looks of concern. Well, more like, "You hear this bitch right now?"

Sammy came over and rested a hand on Brooklynn's shoulder. "Well, at least he'll be mad when he sees the control chips are gone."

"And that Brooklynn deleted the blueprints," Darius added. "How's be gonna sell his tech to BioSyn now?"

"Shh," Ben shushed as Kon walked out of the warehouse. But he looks calm. The fuck? "Why does his mad face look so calm."

"So?" Hawkes questioned.

"The chips are gone and the workshop is trashed," Kon answered.

"By the earthquake?" Kenji asked.

"And those children," Kon added with a scowl.

"Okay, so what? We don't get paid?" Hawkes asked.

"A Kon always thinks ahead. There's a backup of the chip schematics. It's on a flash drive hidden in the jaw of one of those BRAD-Xs," Kon explained.

"But all the BRAD-Xs are down, so-" Kenji was interrupted by his dad.

"So we turn them back on, son. And then it's just a matter of calling the right one over."

"All right, let's go to the compound," Kenji said before he started to walk off.

Kon then stopped him. "Hold on. You're not going. I'm putting you in charge of the assets. The chips are priority, but these dinosaurs need to be in perfect condition for Dodgeson. And those twins, well..."

"Sure, Dad. I'm on it," Kenji said.

Kon patted him on the shoulder and Kenji walked off. Ben watched him with a glare.

"Great, now what do we do?" Brooklynn asked.

"We get that flash drive," Yaz answered. "Duh."

"I know but-" Darius stopped himself when he heard leaves rustling. We turned to see Ben gone. "Ben?"