[h3]4:45 pm
5 Hours to departure. . .[/h3]

[hr]

Military was the first thought that came to Roberts mind as a woman approximately around his age stepped out of the transport and into the nice California heat wave. As far as first impressions went she was dressed crisply in a military uniform that honestly did not look American, then again he was a visitor to the states so for all he knew this was what U.S. Military wore now and days. She approached bogged down by various bags but held out a hand with a friendly smile greeting both him and EJ. Her accent was very thick with british which had answered the earlier inquiry as to her origins, those corporate bigwigs were really pulling out all the punches if they actually hired a British soldier. Robert offered his hand and gripped her rather tightly and shook it:

[b][color=tan]"Robert Tembo, its a pleasure Maddy, most people just call me Rob. As were going to be working together no need for strict formality."[/color][/b]

Robert became silent as he released Maddy's hand, he was slightly curious as to what made her special for this expedition, he had not expected company but even more so a soldier that was even more curious. EJ put his hand out grabbing Maddies with a smile as Robert looked on thinking to himself.

[b][color=gold]"My names Eddie Carr Jr but feel free to call me EJ as Jr makes me feel rather small. You can feel free to set your bags over here on the table, no worries we are quite a tight knit group here so everything will still be here and ready upon our departure. We have mere hours to get ourselves familiar with the equipment and each other so lets get straight down to it, follow me."[/color][/b]

Robert looked at Maddie from the other side of EJ with a 'do as he requests look he is serious' sly smile and followed suit EJ went back into explanation mode for Maddie as the engineer went over the various equipment that they would be bringing on the expedition and their function as a whole. 

[b][color=gold]"As I was explaining to Mr. Tembo earlier these are Fleetwood RV's but they are heavily modified for the particular journey into the jungle. The original design was my fathers, but I have improved upon that reality and brought them seven months forward. They are retrofitted with ultra light but incredibly strong metals, the likes of which could stop a charging Rhino in its tracks, originally the vehicle was fitted with a housing unit, a lab, a kitchen, and a communications section. However this one has a state of the art medical bay, communications with a built-in retractable antenna and portable dish for long range communications, a larger space for people to sleep and rest up, special for our soon to be rescued scientists of course. The outside of the RV itself is fitted with metal lining which can be controlled from a switch on the inside, activated it can send a shock of over 100000 volts. The vehicles including the smaller cars are equipped with solar panels and various batteries to keep them up and running but silent like a mouse in a church at night."[/color][/b]

Robert yawned lowly to himself covering it with his hand having heard and had the tour already, EJ kept moving forward step by step explaining the vehicles to Maddy, time seemed to pass rather quickly, soon enough it was almost 5:45, all three of them found themselves in EJ's private office. JC was in the corner on the floor knocked out with a pillow and a makeshift blanket resting comfortably dead to the world. EJ looked a little tired himself having to give two tours and talking a mile a minute, even Robert was glad to sit down for a minute, he hadn't had much downtime since he arrival. 

[h3]5:45 PM
4 Hours to departure. . .[/h3]

[hr]

[b][color=gold]"Mr. Tembo I almost forgot your case came in about thirty minutes ago, apparently there was a rather large rush but it is waiting for you in the reception area, under lock and key as requested until your arrival to pick it up. Also as requested the modified Lindstradt air rifle is finished and is waiting as well. We have two of them unfortunately given the time frame but we were able to procure five darts each gun which can be loaded into a modified clip in the bottom for quicker discharge. We have more but unfortunately Conus purpurascens is a rare toxin so these other darts are a bit less potent so try to use the stronger darts sparingly. With that said I do have a question... what exactly are we up against on the island? What kind of animals are there, I was never informed."[/color][/b]

Robert looked up at the question both to EJ and Maddie, he did wonder if EJ had known the full truth, the same could be said for Maddie as she was a soldier, did they feel the right to tell her either? What exactly was his response suppose to be in this case? After the San Diego incident people were well aware of the island containing dinosaurs it was on the bloody news for godsakes and the 7 ton killing machine rampaging the city was sort of the nail in the coffin on that particular secret not being discovered. But it was obvious now the EJ had not made the connection, but that being the case Robert could not let him go without knowing what he was going to face, neither one of them for that matter if that be the case with Maddie as well.

[b][color=tan]"Its obvious that Biosyn and Ingen feel the need to keep their secrets even now, but I do not intend to do the same even if it might deter one or both of you from coming on this expedition. There is a reason they picked me to go, a very specific reason, I am sure it crossed one of your minds why the hell someone like me is needed on a rescue operation. After all I am a Hunter a tracker not a soldier or trained fighter of any sort. I can't disclose the full reasons I am going myself but were not going to be facing normal animals, in fact were going to be facing, um well might as well just say it, were going to Isla Sorna. For those of you who might be unaware of this islands inhabitants, its the same island that the T-Rex from the San Diego Incident was taken from and then subsequently returned after its rampage. The species they talk about so discreetly are dinosaurs and the samples they talk about so lowly are dinosaur eggs. In other words we three are stepping back in time 64 million years."[/color][/b]

[b][color=red]"Did he say dinosaurs! Did he say a place with dinosaurs daddy!"[/color][/b]

Robert quickly turned his head as the once sleeping JC was now fully on his feet eye's wide open, oh what a time for the kid to suddenly wake up. Robert placed his hand on his forehead shaking his head, he had forgotten JC was even sleeping in that corner.

[b][color=red]"Can I go Daddy, can I go with you, I want to see dinosaurs! Please!"[/color][/b]

Robert looked at EJ, his face had sort of paled as he was putting together the pieces of the puzzle that had just became clear as JC excitedly tried to convince EJ to let him come. Robert looked at Maddie but he couldn't really tell what she was thinking, Robert stood up abruptly speaking:

[b]"I am going to retrieve my case and check on the Lindstradt Rifles, make a count of our total provisions, I think that you might need to have a small talk with JC so I will leave you to it. Ill return soon and then we can discuss the rest further and go over the plans and the paths we will be taking."[/b]

Robert nodded to both Maddie and EJ as he exited the room, he walked down the cat walk to ground level and found his way to reception. As far as news went that was like telling someone their mother had cancer, but Robert just couldn't in good faith let EJ go knowing he had no idea what was on that island. He had enough regrets in his life and he did not want anymore, reaching the reception desk Robert quickly did some signing and three large black cases were layed out for him. Two of them looked rather new while the last one, his case was quite faded and old looking like it had seen a lot of action. Opening the newer cases Robert inspected the Lindstradt Rifle and the components to make sure they were not defective or would not work when the time came, but both of them seemed top notch and even still had the look of a brand new gun. Robert nodded to the man behind the counter and grabbed his case off the counter and found a cubicle off to the side and clicked open the case revealing a 700. Nitro Express Double Barrel Rifle. Reaching in he pulled out a photograph that was placed in a small opening in the lining and he looked at it.

The photograph was old and somewhat faded but it still depicted a young man of about fifteen with a hunting rifle standing over a rather large lion surrounded by his father Roland Tembo and his uncle Ajay Sidhu. Robert raised his hand to his chest as he felt a rather intense phantom pain from the large claw like scar hidden on his chest behind his clothing. Robert for that split moment could still feel a large hooked claw slicing through his chest like a knife through hot butter.

[b][color=tan]"Soon Uncle Ajay, I am coming just hold on a bit longer."[/color][/b]