Threshold shift

Chapter 16

Velociraptors were very well able to open doors. Pushing down on a lever or even turning a knob was something the highly intelligent predators could easily learn.

Owen's pack was far more intelligent than their ancestors, surpassing the very first raptors created by Hammond Labs, and they had a direct line into Owen's mind.

Blue more than the others.

Alan Grant had once said they were no longer near-human intelligent. Those four were on the same level as Owen.

He was right.

But even a human couldn't open a locked door when they needed a digital code.

Blue tilted her head and studied the door. She trilled, sounding thoughtful.

Locked, Delta commented darkly.

This was where they had to go through to reach Owen. Delta sniffed at the door, scenting, smelling Owen and the others.

Blue barked, her voice echoing loudly within the ship. She received an answer that had Delta perk up, lips twitching back in a snarl.

Blue turned her head when she heard noises, her own lips curling back from vicious teeth, as she sized up the last surviving enemy. Charlie was keeping him in check. She and Echo had herded him here, snapping at his sides and heels, physically pushing him forward when he had hesitated.

The man was bleeding. He had been clawed at and one hand looked broken.

None of the raptors cared.

Crowing, Echo tapped her sickle claw onto the steel floor, making the man jump. He whimpered, reduced to a primal terror all of the intruders had succumbed to in the end before they had died quickly.

Blue looked back at the door, then hissed at him, planting her right paw next to the lock. She drummed her talons against the steel, snarling at him.

His eyes were wide. He was sweating, trembling with shock, and he was dripping blood.

She snarl-barked, jerking her head at the lock.

Open it. Open the lock to our alpha!

When he didn't move, Charlie head-butted him; hard. Something cracked and he cried out as he stumbled, then Echo's teeth were in his arm and he screamed. She dragged him forward without severing the limb. It would have been easy to just do so, but blood loss might have him lose consciousness.Velociraptors were very well able to open doors. Pushing down on a lever or even turning a knob was something the highly intelligent predators could easily learn.

Owen's pack was far more intelligent than their ancestors, surpassing the very first raptors created by Hammond Labs, and they had a direct line into Owen's mind.

Blue more than the others.

Alan Grant had once said they were no longer near-human intelligent. Those four were on the same level as Owen.

He was right.

But even a human couldn't open a locked door when they needed a digital code.

Blue tilted her head and studied the door. She trilled, sounding thoughtful.

Locked, Delta commented darkly.

This was where they had to go through to reach Owen. Delta sniffed at the door, scenting, smelling Owen and the others.

Blue barked, her voice echoing loudly within the ship. She received an answer that had Delta perk up, lips twitching back in a snarl.

Blue turned her head when she heard noises, her own lips curling back from vicious teeth, as she sized up the last surviving enemy. Charlie was keeping him in check. She and Echo had herded him here, snapping at his sides and heels, physically pushing him forward when he had hesitated.