Dino Crisis: Stories

Chapter 8: Betrayal and Rescue

The quiet hum of the safehouse’s fluorescent lights was deafening. Inside, the team was reeling from the aftermath of their mission on Ibis Island. The helicopter ride back had been full of heavy silence, the weight of the destruction they’d just witnessed still lingering in their minds. But something was off. A feeling of unease gnawed at the edges of their thoughts, and as the hours passed, it became undeniable.

It started with small things—misplaced files, encrypted comms that weren't in the system, odd references to their operation that only a select few would know. Then, they learned the most chilling detail: somebody knew they had been on Ibis Island. It wasn’t just coincidence. Someone had tipped off the higher-ups. But who?

Regina, ever the sharp leader, called a meeting. The safehouse was dim, the only light coming from a few low-hanging bulbs. She was standing at the front, arms crossed, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“This isn’t just a coincidence,” she said, her voice cutting through the tension. “Somebody knew exactly where we were. Somebody in this room, or someone very close to us, has been feeding them information.”

Gail leaned forward, her brow furrowed. “You think one of us is the leak?”

“I don’t know yet,” Regina replied, a coldness in her eyes. “But I have a suspicion.”

Dylan crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “You’re thinking about Cooper, aren’t you?”

Regina didn’t flinch, but her eyes hardened. “We all know he had doubts about the mission, about our methods. Maybe he didn’t agree with the choices we made. But there’s something bigger at play here. I don’t believe he would betray us… unless someone pushed him.”

Gail shot a look to Rick, who had been unusually quiet during the exchange. “What do you think, Rick?”

Rick’s fingers drummed idly against the table, his mind already working through the puzzle. “I’m not sure about Cooper,” he said slowly, “but I’m going to dig into our intel. Whoever’s behind this knows too much, and if we don’t stop them soon, it’ll be worse than just a leak.”

The team agreed, and they began the process of securing the safehouse. Every room was checked. Every piece of equipment was scanned for bugs. It didn’t take long before Rick found something strange: encrypted files hidden in the network logs, files that shouldn’t have been there. It wasn’t just random data—it was specific, and it led straight back to one person: Cooper.

Rick’s face darkened as he traced the digital trail. “This isn’t good. Cooper’s information was being fed to an outside source. And whoever has him is pulling strings we didn’t even know existed.”

“Is he still in contact with them?” Regina asked, her voice steady despite the mounting concern.

“No,” Rick answered, fingers flying over his keyboard. “But there’s a strange gap in his comms. A blackout. He went off the grid about two days ago. I think they’ve already captured him.”

The room fell silent. The thought of Cooper being captured was almost too much to process. He’d always been the most level-headed of the team, the one who could see through the chaos and keep his cool. The idea that he’d been compromised, turned against them, felt like a betrayal on a level none of them had expected.

“They’ve got him,” Rick muttered, shaking his head. “And I’m betting they’ve been torturing him for information. If they’ve broken him… then they know everything.”

Regina stood up, her face set in stone. “We need to get him back.”

Rick’s eyes met hers. “You’re not going to like how deep this goes. Cooper wasn’t just a loose cannon. He’s part of something bigger. If he’s been captured, there’s a chance they have a much wider network at play. I’m not sure we’ll be able to just storm in and take him back.”

Dylan, who had been quiet up until now, spoke up. “Then we make sure they know exactly who they’re dealing with. We don’t leave him behind.”

Regina nodded, her expression hardening. “Prepare for a rescue mission. Rick, keep searching for intel. If Cooper’s still alive, we’re getting him out. No more hesitation. We’ll handle whatever this is, and we’ll do it our way.”

---

The hours that followed were a blur of frantic preparation. Maps of the area were drawn up, aerial surveillance data was analyzed, and every possible escape route was mapped. Rick continued to work tirelessly on the digital side, tracking any signs of movement and sifting through communications for any clue that could lead them to Cooper’s location.

By the time they were ready, they had enough information to launch a full-scale rescue mission. The team assembled in the dimly lit safehouse, their weapons checked, their gear in place. Regina’s eyes scanned the room, locking onto each of her teammates, her resolve firm.

“Cooper’s life is on the line, and we’re not leaving until we’ve got him back,” Regina said, her voice steady but tinged with the urgency of the moment.

Rick turned to her, his voice low. “I’ll guide you from here. I’ve found his location—it’s a high-security compound, tucked away in the middle of nowhere. They’ve made sure no one can get in easily.”

Gail gripped her weapon. “Then we make sure they regret that.”

Dylan nodded. “Let’s make this quick. We’re going in hard and fast.”

They loaded up into the vehicle, the familiar hum of engines now accompanied by a sense of grim determination. Ibis Island might have been wiped out, but the shadows of that mission had followed them back, dragging them deeper into a world of secrets, lies, and betrayals. The further they dug, the more tangled the web became.

As the vehicle sped towards the compound, the team remained silent, each person lost in their thoughts. They all knew the risks, but the mission had become more than just a job. It was personal.

Cooper had been one of them. If he was still alive, they were going to get him back.

---

The compound loomed ahead, hidden beneath the cover of thick trees. Guards patrolled the perimeter, their movements synchronized, their eyes sharp. This was a place built for secrets—secrets that needed to stay buried.

Rick’s voice crackled over the comms. “There’s a guard tower on the north side. They’ll see you coming if you don’t take it out first. You’ve got a ten-minute window before the surveillance kicks back in.”

Regina’s jaw set. “Understood. We’ll take it from here.”

The team moved with military precision. Falk led the charge, his movements swift and silent. He neutralized the first guard, and Regina’s team followed suit, systematically eliminating anyone in their path.

They breached the compound’s outer wall and made their way through the labyrinth of halls and tunnels, Rick’s voice guiding them the entire way. They knew time was running out, and every second counted.

As they reached the central holding area, the door creaked open to reveal a dark, sterile room. At the center, strapped to a chair, was Cooper.

He was battered, bruised, his face pale from exhaustion, but his eyes still burned with defiance. As his team rushed forward, he managed a strained smile.

“About time,” he rasped, voice hoarse.

Regina knelt beside him, quickly unstrapping his restraints. “We’re getting you out of here, Cooper. You’re not alone in this.”

Cooper nodded, but there was a flicker of something darker in his eyes. "You don’t know what’s coming. They’ve already planned their next move."

The team didn’t waste time. With Cooper now free, they had to move fast. But the real danger was just beginning.

They weren’t the only ones hunting him.

The countdown had already started.