The Jurassic Family

Chapter 10: Halloween Hallow's Eve

After a month and a half at high school, Peyton was now at home preparing for Halloween. She had no idea of what to dress like, until she saw a picture of her father in Liberia. She then got an idea. Peyton picked a M81 Woodland hat, a full Combat Utility Uniform, a pair of Jungle Boots, her M81-dyed SWAT gear, her father's M81-dyed rucksack and her M16A2. She put all of that attire on and went downstairs, where she saw her father dressed as Indiana Jones.

"Nice clothing. But can you beat a Panama-era US Marine?" Peyton teased her father.

"No one can beat Indiana Jones." Owen replied before he and his daughter exited the room with Peyton driving her car.

Once they arrived in Main Street, they saw Barry was dressed as a French Foreign Legionnaire from the Afghanistan War, Marco dressed as Flynn Carson, Kelli and the rest of Peytn's friends wearing the same outfit as hers.

"Hey, Peyton. Back in the saddle for Panama as I can see." Lindy greeted her friend.

"Yep. I also brought a Nazi buster with me." Peyton replied pointing at her father with the flat hand perpendicularly to the ground.

Owen came closer to Barry and the two men hugged while Dean and the rest of the group examined Peyton's M16A2. It was customized with a flashlight attached to the barrel via a clamp and the pressure switch taped to the handguard, a Colt 3x20 scope mounted to the carrying handle with a top-mounted rail, a buttstock-mounted magazine pouch and two magazines clamped together in a jungle-style mount. Peyton nodded, confirming she customized her equipment like the US Marines in Panama did. Her friends also had customized their M16A2s. Kelli and Liz customized their M16A2 with the same accessories as Peyton's and a M203A1 grenade launcher while Dean and Rick's M16A2 had an improvised foregrip in place of the launcher. Liv, Marry and Lindy put an Aimpoint 2000 sight on their M16A2.

Just then, Claire, wearing an angel outfit, and Valentina, wearing a Cinderella disguise, came in Main Street. Valentina giggled as she saw Peyton and her friends wearing a Panama-era USMC combat uniform.

"You'we so widicuwous! You must dwess like pwinces and pwincesses. My Daddy said me boys must be pwinces and giwls pwincesses." Valentina told the group.

"Not necessarily. I'm dressed like an Interfet-era Australian soldier." Olivia told joining Peyton and her group.

"You're just being ugly. Couldn't the nine of you find more beautiful clothes?" Claire criticized only to get a severe and hostile gaze from Peyton.

Knowing Peyton wouldn't hesitated to curse, Claire took Valentina away to a group of children dressed in mayn other costumes.

Lydia and her son, both of them wearing a huntsman outfit, came near Owen and greeted him before greeting Barry. Everyone in Main Street was wearing a costume. Sofia, dressed as Cleopatra, walked in Main Street with Alex, dressed as a stewardess, and Mike, who was wearing a Pharaoh outfit. The trio met with Marco and his daughter Quinn, wearing a Lara Croft outfit. The group then began wondering why a group of Panama-era US Marines was present, as the only people dressed like soldiers were wearing either Afghanistan-era combat uniforms or Napoleon-era ones. Peyton turned herself towards Marco, Quinn, Mike, Sofia and Alex.

"We're dressed like a Panama-era US Marine. And this uniform has been worn until 2003 by the US Marines." Peyton commented.

"Nice uniform. And I like how you customized your rifle with improvised means." Alex stated.

"Thanks. And where's Jason?" Peyton asked.

Just as Sofia was about to answer, Jason appeared in Main Street, dressed as a cowboy. Peyton also spotted Gary and his new family, and knew they had managed to buy a family ticket for the holidays to get to Jurassic World. Gary was wearing a airline pilot uniform with Zach being an astronaut, Karen a housemaid and Gray a kitchen clerk.

"Hey, you're going to war." Gray exclaimed.

"Yes, Operation Just Cause, 1989." Kelli answered.

"Incredible. You should have dressed like Napoleon-era guys, their uniforms are the most elegant of all." Zach commented.

"Shut up." Rick scolded Zach.

Just then, Masrani came onstage and began to speak before putting his hand in a bag.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Thanks for coming to this Halloween costume party. I am happy about this but this year, the first group to come on stage is... The US Marines in Panama."

With that said, the crowd cheared Peyton, Lindy, Olivia, Liz, Liv, Mary, Rick, Dean and Kelli as they came onstage. The group pretended to be a squad of US Marines during Operation Just Cause. Peyton went on stage first, aiming her M16A2 in front of her, followed by Lindy, Olivia, Liz, Liv, Mary, Rick and Dean with Kelli covering the rear of the group. The teenagers and Olivia then pretended to be clearing a room before taking a knee, allowing Claire and Valentina to come on stage.

Just then, Peyton turned 'Fight the power' by Public Enemy on, before the group pretended to be under fire with Dean being dragged to safety by Mary and Liv while Peyton gave orders to the others to return fire once they were over, Peyton and the rest of her group saluted the chearing crowd USMC style before jumping off the stage.

Claire and Valentina then began to perform a more elaborate choreography while Peyton and her friends slung their M16A2s and began to write down messages for one another. Olivia revealed she would resign and enlist in the Australian Army while Kelli, Liz, Mary and Liv would join the US Navy with Dean, Rick and Lindy would join the US Air Force. 

This time, however, nobody cheared Claire or Valentina. Everyone remained silent, having not liked their performance which has been rehearsed unlike Peyton's group's which was totally improvised.

A few hours later, the jury designated Peyton and her group winner of the Halloween costume party. The news made Valentina cry, as she now knew what Archie meant when he said nobody gets everything he or she wants. The little girl wanted to win, but has lost to less prepared but more improvization-capable and more flexible contenders. Peyton and her group smirked at the verdict while Owen and his friend Barry smiled at the results.

Peyton and her friends then began to sing in memory of those who make sacrifice so that peace may reign across the world.

"I hear the mountain birds- The sound of rivers singing- A song I've often heard- It flows through me now- So clear and so loud- I stand where I am- And forever I'm dreaming of home- I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home-  It's carried in the air- The breeze of early morning- I see the land so fair- My heart opens wide- There's sadness inside- I stand where I am- And forever I'm dreaming of home- I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home-  This is no foreign sky- I see no foreign light- But far away am- IFrom some peaceful land- I'm longing to stand- A hand in my hand- ...forever I'm dreaming of home- I feel so alone, I'm dreaming of home"

Everybody, minus Claire and Valentina, applauded the nine youngsters who walked off the stage before everyone went back home and got dressed for the days to come.