Project Orpheus: A Tale of Blood and Feathers

Chapter 10: The Reveal

The flight to the lab was a short one. The plane was capable of seamless supersonic speeds, but only over longer periods and distances, and it was also nice to have some more time to talk. On the way here, Derek had given his trademark "The JACKAL is gonna MAUL YAAAH!!" Catchphrase to please Steven - and Ashton seems pleased with it too.

Noh had noticed the young man constantly looking around, trying to get a chance to talk to Derek, but seeming too shy to just openly ask him for his autograph. Apart from people trying to pry into what the secret of their project was - which only Michael and Myrtle knew - the discussion had gone fairly flavorless. Noh was happy about that.

The plane eventually landed, and the gantry platform docked to it, right on the roof of the public part of her laboratory.

The AXIS 322 Quetzalcoatl was actually capable of landing without a runway, as long as the proper equipment was installed. Through the clever use of electromagnets and pivoting engines, as well as specially resistant flooring and carbon fiber cable, the plane could be brought to a mid air stand still while still generating lift and then gently lowered to a specific location. A feat of engineering that had even impressed Noh when her colleagues at Black Sun had invented it.

The only downside was that it was a bit of a jolting experience, though what plane landing wasn't?

With a thud, the wheels of the Quetz bumped onto the grounding the engines finally started to power down. Noh led the group into the cargo bay where Bittie had already prepared the tram.

Once everyone was loaded on, the team drove the long and thin tram from the top of the roof down into the display area. Designed to look like an open Cretaceous scene, with trees planted here and there. The room was big enough that it felt like an open field too. Noh ordered a stop.

"What? Why are we stopping?" Steven asked.

"Shush. They don't like noise."

"What don't like nois-"

His question was answered by the slinking of small figures through the low brush. Curiously popping out behind the trees, they seemed to regard the vehicle with suspicion at first.

"They...are they ostriches?" Derek asked.

It's true. The creatures were tall, thin, feathered and had long necks.

Anise's smile suddenly got a lot bigger as one of them came into full view. Of course she'd be the first.

The creatures long, fanned tail waves behind it as one of them slowly approached the can, opening its mouth to reveal teeth inside.

"W-what?!" Derek said with a gasp.

"No way!" Steven added.

The animal tapped her head against the window, trying to get in through the glass. It raised its long, feathered arms up and started scratching at the glass.

"You absolute mad men," Anise said, her smile getting that much wider and the joy in her voice palpable, "you actually did it. You made dinosaurs."

"Yes," Chester said, "I did."

Noh rolled her eyes. She'd let Chester have his moment, for now.