Caught in the Cretaceous

Chapter 17: Where are we now?

A silence fills the air in the room. No one wants to be the one to break the calm. Almost as though they are worried it would turn their luck from good to bad. But they know they can't sit there with baited breath forever. 

"So," Apollo says, being the first to break the silence, "where are we now?" 

"You're the genius about all this. Shouldn't you know?" Meg retorts. 

Apollo resists the urge to roll his eyes, knowing she won't see it anyway. "I didn't eve know where we were before. How am I supposed to know where we are now?" 

It's obvious Meg sin't satisfied with this answer. "I thought you knew about this stuff." 

Apollo groans and rolls his eyes. "What don't you understand about the fact that almost all the data from this time was lost?" He takes a breath to try to calm his mind a bit. "Don't you remember that fire and computer virus that happened a few years before we went to college? Most of the older historical and scientific data was lost. Everything we know about the past now is from fragments of recovered data and guesses or theories. And, of course, all he information we gathered from out research trips through the past." 

Meg holds her hands up in surrender. "Alright. I get it." 

"If you two are done." Alex interrupts their bickering. "Do you think maybe we can explore our new surroundings?" 

"Are you sure that's wise?" 

Alex nods. "The only way we can find out anything that can tell us where we are or what type of animals live here is if we investigate." 

No one bothers to try to disagree with him. No one responds at all. They are all slowly getting out of their seats and making their way out of the room. With the thoughts of the unknown racing through all of their heads, together they slowly wander outside. 

The sun is blinding the moment each of them steps outside. They cover their eyes. After each of them has adjusted to the light they take a good look at their surroundings. It becomes immediately obvious they are in a completely different environment than before. 

The forest trees they had previously been surrounded by are no where in sight. The underbrush is missing. The sounds of the wildlife they have grown accustomed to hearing all day are absent. Everything about where they are is different. 

A warm breeze blows through the air. And with it comes the full realization that they are in uncharted territory. In place of the expansive forest is instead a rocky expanse that fades into a vast desert. The sun glints off the sand creating an even brighter light. The air is warm and dry, shifting the sands. Behind them, a little ways in the distance they can see what appears to be trees, maybe a forest. 

"No what?" Meg questions, her tone a bit sharp. "We're in the middle of a desert." 

Apollo rolls his eyes. "Yes, thank you Captain Obvious. We all have eyes." 

meg glares at the medic and opens her mouth to retort. She's cut off before she can get the chance though. "Now we settle in. We know what we need to do now. So let's get to work." Alex takes the lead. 

meg rolls her eyes again. "You mean look for water and test the plants." She gestures around them. "I think that's going to be a bit of an issue because, again, we are in a desert." 

Val suddenly perks up. "I think I can help with that." 

Everyone turns to look at the girl. She ignores the sudden attention and continues on. "Before all this, remember I was working on those portable topographic scanners?" A few of them look confused but Apollo and Alex nod, encouraging her to continue. "I think I can tweak them a little. They won't just map the surrounding area but can scan for certain topographical features and even scan the flora so you'll know what's sage right away."