Dino Crisis: Stories

Chapter 6: Covert Ops Off Record

The hum of the helicopter's engine was a constant drone in the background, but for Regina, Gail, Rick, and Dylan, it was just white noise. Their mission was clear, their purpose unwavering: infiltrate the hidden labs scattered across Ibis Island, retrieve all the Third Energy data they could find, and return before anyone knew they had been there.

For months now, they had been stuck in a holding pattern, waiting for a decision from the courts on whether the island would be wiped out. But the legal delays and the bureaucratic mess had only grown worse, and the team knew that the longer they waited, the greater the risk. The creatures on the island were adapting, spreading to new locations, and there were whispers of darker forces at play—those who might benefit from the chaos, or worse, orchestrate it.

"We're on our own with this," Regina muttered, her fingers running along the edge of the map spread out on the table in the helicopter. "No official support. No backup. We go in, we get the data, and we get out. No questions asked."

Rick nodded, his face grim. "We’ve got no choice. The court’s dragging its feet, and meanwhile, we’re still hearing about more incidents—more dinosaurs showing up where they shouldn't be. Someone’s got to stop this."

Gail leaned back in his seat, adjusting his gear. "If we don’t find answers soon, we’re gonna have to deal with more than just dinosaurs. Whoever’s been studying Third Energy might be pushing the boundaries too far."

Dylan, the newest member of the team, gave a curt nod. "We don’t have the luxury of waiting around. We need to find out who's behind this before it spirals out of control."

The island loomed ahead as the helicopter descended toward their drop-off point. The dense jungle below seemed eerily quiet, almost as if the creatures within were aware of their presence. The team had received intel on several suspected lab locations—hidden away in the caves and deep within the jungle, where no one would think to look.

Regina, ever vigilant, scanned the area from the helicopter’s open door. "We’re looking for anything related to Third Energy experiments. Any data, equipment, or personnel. Get in, get out, and leave no trace."

They touched down in a secluded clearing, their boots hitting the dirt with a soft thud as the team quickly disembarked. The air was thick with humidity, and the dense jungle seemed alive with the sounds of unseen creatures. Yet there was an oppressive stillness around them, as if something was watching from the shadows.

"Stay sharp," Rick murmured as they moved through the undergrowth, the thick vegetation making it difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. "These labs won’t be easy to find. And we have no idea what kind of security is waiting for us."

"I’ll take point," Regina said, leading the way with her knife drawn. "Dylan, you’re with me. Gail and Rick, cover the rear. Stay in contact."

The team moved forward, cutting through the brush as they made their way toward the first suspected location—a series of caves hidden behind a rock formation deep in the jungle. It had been an old military facility, now abandoned, but rumors persisted that it had been reactivated by those interested in the island’s Third Energy capabilities.

After several hours of careful movement, they arrived at the entrance to the caves. The narrow path leading inside was lined with overgrown vegetation, but there was no mistaking the signs of human activity—footprints, discarded equipment, and strange symbols painted on the rocks.

Gail crouched down, inspecting the symbols. "These markings are fresh," he said. "Whoever’s been here recently is definitely still active."

"Let’s move," Regina ordered. "We don’t have time to waste."

The team entered the cave cautiously, weapons drawn. The further they ventured inside, the more they could see that this was no ordinary hideout. Metal doors and reinforced walls were half-hidden by the jungle’s encroachment, and dim, flickering lights cast eerie shadows on the walls. A cold, sterile smell filled the air—like something that hadn’t been touched in a long time.

Gail stopped in his tracks. "Look at this."

On the walls of the cave were rows of data terminals, some powered on, others left in disarray. Papers were scattered across tables, some covered in strange diagrams and chemical formulas. The team quickly realized they had stumbled upon a research facility—one that had been conducting experiments on Third Energy, possibly even refining the dangerous substance.

"We hit the jackpot," Rick said, moving toward the nearest terminal and quickly plugging in a portable drive to extract the data. "This could be what we need to prove that Ibis Island is a danger to the world."

But just as they were about to collect the data, the sound of movement echoed through the cavern. The hairs on the back of Regina’s neck stood on end. She signaled for the team to freeze.

A figure appeared in the shadows—a person, dressed in tactical gear, moving silently through the cave toward them. Regina’s hand hovered over her sidearm, ready to react if necessary.

"Hold your fire," Rick whispered, eyeing the figure. "It could be one of the researchers."

The figure stopped just outside their line of sight, glancing around as though sensing something was amiss. The team held their breath, not daring to make a sound. The figure paused for a moment before continuing deeper into the cave, unaware that they were being watched.

"We need to move," Regina said, her voice low but urgent. "Let’s finish this and get out."

The team moved quickly, gathering as much data as they could from the terminals and securing it onto their drives. But just as they were preparing to leave, they heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps—multiple people, coming their way.

"Time to go," Gail said, his voice tight with urgency.

The team backed up into the deeper recesses of the cave, moving silently to avoid detection. They had what they came for, but they weren’t out of danger yet. Regina’s mind raced as they navigated the narrow, twisting tunnels—she could already hear the sound of voices and boots approaching.

Suddenly, a loud crash rang through the cave, and the ground shook beneath their feet. The walls rumbled as though something massive had just been disturbed.

"What the hell was that?" Dylan asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

"Just move!" Regina snapped, pushing the team ahead.

As they made their way toward the exit, the ground trembled again, and the unmistakable sound of something monstrous echoed in the distance. Something was lurking in the depths of the cave—something far more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.

"We’ve got to get out now," Rick said, fear creeping into his voice.

With adrenaline pumping, the team sprinted for the cave entrance, their hearts pounding in their chests. The sounds behind them grew louder, and they could feel the ground shifting beneath their feet. Whatever was coming was relentless.

Finally, they reached the exit, spilling into the jungle just as the cave’s entrance collapsed behind them, cutting off any pursuit. They didn’t stop running until they reached the helicopter, breathless and battered, but alive.

As they took off, Regina looked out over Ibis Island one last time. The data they had retrieved could change everything. It could give them the evidence they needed to push for the island’s total destruction, but it also opened up a new, more terrifying question: What had they just disturbed in the caves?

For now, though, they had what they needed. The wait for the court decision would continue, but at least they now had the truth—if they could survive long enough to bring it to light.