Aqua (Jurassic World)

Chapter 14

I was walking around the exhibit, about to enter when I saw two workers, a man and a lady wearing red shirts and beige shorts almost like a uniform. I didn't know why they were here but the most peculiar thing was the fact that there was a group of 6 kids behind them.

"Hello, are you..." the lady took out a card and read, "Caliste Wood?"

"That's me," I nod and raise a brow at the kids. "I'm pretty sure this isn't a tourist attraction yet."

"We know but we need someone to take care of our kids for us while we do some errands," the lady explained.

"Your kids?" I don't think anyone as young as they looked could pop out 6 kids around the same age. The poor woman.

"I'm Roxy, me and Dave here, run a camp for Jurassic World, it's called Camp Cretaceous," the lady said.

I nodded finally understanding. Then I asked, "who recommended me?"

"We wanted the kids to see some hybrids," Dave said, lowering his voice.

"And we also need someone to watch them while we're away," Roxy added, side-eying Dave.

"Am I paid or?" I tilt my head.

"$50 dollars an hour," Roxy said and she checked her watch.

"Deal!" I needed the extra cash. I was considering making a saddle for Kori so I could switch between the two easily.

Dave and Roxy left me with the kids, I was going to go in and see Berilo and Kori. I would do that later.

"So, kids, what are your names," I ask looking at each one of them.

They suddenly started talking over each other in a way I could barely understand them, I could understand a few though I knew I'd forget. I pointed to a young boy in a white shirt wearing a tooth or claw necklace. "You. Explain what everyone's names are."

"I'm Darius, that's Brooklyn, Kenji, Sammy, Yasmin and Ben," he pointed at each one as he talked.

I eyed Ben, he did not look like he was cut out for this. At all. That was fine though, as long as I'm paid.

"I'm Caliste, some people just call me Cali though so whatever you're more comfortable with," I say and then I lead them down to the underwater viewing tunnel.

"We have two dinosaurs in here," I say and look through the glass. Berilo and Kori were probably waiting at the door since I usually came through at this time of day. "Aquarexes, genetically modified hybrids," I continue puzzled at how I'm going to get them to appear for the kids.

"Hybrids?" Darius looks at me weirdly.

"Yea.. do you want me to explain what a hybrid is?" I ask him.

"I know what a hybrid is but... why?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows. "I mean, we had some of the most interesting dinosaurs millions of years ago so why do we need hybrids?"

"I don't know kid, I just work here," I shrug. "And I don't think 'millions of years ago' is plausible."

He tilted his head at me.

"But that's debatable," I say and straighten up.

"It says here their names are Venom and Kelp," Brooklyn says and Sammy rushes to see.

"Kelps a cute name!" She exclaims in her accent which I couldn't quite name.

I hated the names, Kori was not 'Venom', and Kelp just didn't fit Berilos giant, affectionate nature. "They were named by our sponsors."

"Are you the handler?" Darius asks.

"I am, I raised them from hatchlings," I explain, now that the kids seemed genuinely interested in my boys I wanted to show them the true beauty of the hybrids.

"Ooo," Sammy looked excited.

"Are t-they big?" Ben gulped, staring at the glass warily.

"Very, almost bigger than the T-rex now," I say, I was very proud of them. "I was just about to feed them, so follow me and stay close."

"Do you still go in with them?" Sammy asked.

I stayed silent only smiling at her so her eyes lit up and her jaw dropped. I wanted it to be a surprise so if I didn't answer directly maybe it'd still be a surprise.

I showed them how I worked the crane and they watched as the two massive hybrids emerged from the trees and went to the two skinned cows I had placed in their paddocks.

"They are both 2 and a half years old," I explained as we walked down to the viewing thing to get a better look, the tunnel around the paddock was finished so the viewing area went all the way around the paddock.

"Will they get bigger?" Brooklyn asked, all kids pressed up against the glass.

"I'm pretty sure," I nod.

"Are they friendly?" Sammy asks.

"No," I say bluntly. If any of the kids had any ideas about going in the pen it was time to shut it down now. "They are perfect killing machines. When ACU tried moving them from their old paddock to this one, every member there died."

Every kid gasped, especially Ben.

"All the dinosaurs here at Jurassic World are dangerous, even the herbivores believe it or not," I continue. "Most of them are like toddlers that are over 6ft tall and weigh in tons."

Everyone seems to nod in agreement.

"You see the darker one?" I point to Kori through the glass. "He may even one-day exceed me in smarts, when he was the height of a human (so very young) he learnt how a taser works and managed to turn it off. He's the alpha."

"Not only that, both of them are smart, fast runners and excellent swimmers, combined with their height it would almost be impossible to escape them," I explain.

Once I had finished lecturing them they moved along the viewing area getting them from every angle and chatting excitedly with each other.

I noticed Yasmina was sitting at a good angle with a sketchbook out, I sat beside the quiet girl. She probably liked the silence so I didn't say anything and watched my boys as they finished eating and lay down tiredly.

She was drawing Berilo, his head anyway, it looked really good and the shading was well done, she really captured what he looked like perfectly.

"You're really good at drawing," I said to her gently. She glances up at me shyly and I just nod.

She writes 'Kelp' just above the picture of his head and moves down to draw Kori.

"The sponsors may have named them but if I'm being honest, I named them something else," I murmur and she looks up at me curiously.

I point to the picture on her page of Berilo and say, "Berilo," then move my finger to point at the line she had just drawn and I say, "Kori."

She drew a line across the word 'Kelp' and instead wrote beside the crossed out word "Berilo." That was enough to warm my heart, I knew at the instant this girl was under my protection.

"Which one do you prefer?" I ask, gesturing to the two dinosaurs.

"I think Berilo is my favourite," she says. Looking at the giant blue and white dinosaur.

I nod in agreement and we sit in the most comfortable silence I've ever sat in until she had finished drawing.