We’d all grabbed a hot drink from the kitchen area and moved into the lounge. I’d kept a close eye on Cody who was keeping a close eye on the entrance. The mug was shaking in his hand.

“I’m excited and terrified at the same time,” he explained to me.

“I get it, mate.”

“I haven’t seen her for years, but I still want to run screaming back out to the dinosaurs,” he continued. “It’s my mom. The woman who gave birth to me. It’s not right that I hate her so much, is it?”

“I’m the last person to ask about feelings towards their parents,” I replied. “But from what you’ve told me, I think you’ve got every right to feel the way you do.”

His eyes were pleading when he asked, “Really?”

“I’ve never met my folks and I despise them. If I’m being honest, I think I’d have taken the way your mum treated you even worse. It’s one thing to hate an imaginary figure. It’s quite another to love someone and have them throw it back in your face the whole time, especially when you’re young. When you need that nurturing touch the most. It stings enough when you’re an adult, so I can’t even begin to imagine what it felt like, mate.”

He sighed. “It was rough. I thought I was over it until Pierce said her name, then I was like a little kid again, sucking my thumb in my bedroom while she and pops went at it.”

“Listen. She’s safe. Liza’s safe. You can do whatever you want with that. The future isn’t set in stone. Forgive her. Cut her out of your life completely. You get to choose.”

“I guess I should be grateful Lake didn’t know I was involved or he’d have snatched them up and taken them below.”

He fell silent as a distant ping announced the arrival of the first scientists. The trembling of the cup got so bad he spilled some of the hot coffee on his lap. I gently eased it from his tense, vicelike grip before he could scald himself to death and weaken our party.

Pierce had done as I expected. The patter of rapid footsteps became the crashing of doors as Liza burst inside the lounge. The look of joy on her face was worth every ounce of pain I’d suffered.

She bolted towards her brother and flew into his arms. “You came for me!”

“Hey, sis! I didn’t have any other plans,” he said, the words muffled by her shoulder. “But maybe stop getting yourself in trouble for a while?”

She saw me and the rest of our warband. “You came too!”

“It’s kind of our job,” I replied.

She eased Cody away and came to us all one by one, hugging us tight. She got to Cris and grinned at me as they held each other. “He’s a good man, isn’t he?”

“One of the best,” Cris replied, meeting my eyes.

“If you don’t take him off the market, I will,” Liza warned. She let go of my mage and approached.

I held my arms open and she stepped into them. “I’m sorry I gave you a bit of a hard time when we first met.”

“I was a stranger in the middle of the jungle. I don’t blame you at all.”

She motioned towards Cody. “And thank you for keeping him safe.”

I felt it wise to keep the sewer boss shenanigans to myself. “He’s been amazing. We’ve been keeping each other safe through this shit.”

She pecked me on the cheek and leaned in close. “I wasn’t kidding about taking you out for a drink, if you’re going to be hanging around that is.”

I moved closer to her ear to keep my words secret. “I’m kind of falling for someone,” I whispered. “If not, I’d be there like a shot.”

Liza pulled away and nodded knowingly. “She’s lucky to have you.”

More people arrived who I didn’t recognise. “Please take a seat, folks. You’re safe now. It’s over. I’ll explain everything once you’re all here.”

Some broke down in tears, while others just breathed a sigh of relief and found a chair to process the news. I noticed the long shadow outside, stretching across the cream carpet. Liza’s face said it all. It was a mixture of enmity and cautious optimism.

She took Cody by the hand. “We’re working at it,” she explained. “Janice has changed since we last saw her. She has a lot of regrets that she never thought she would be able to put right.”

“She’s all loving and maternal now?” he scoffed, and the shadow flinched out in the hall.

“Not exactly, but she’s trying her best.”

“To be totally honest, I’m not sure I give a shit right now. You can’t imagine what we’ve been through to get here. I might see her later, I might not.”

And with that, Cody walked out through the other doors and vanished.

“Give him time,” I said as Liza stared after her brother.

“I’ve had days to start building the first layers of trust. I can’t blame him for being upset.” She sighed and turned towards her mother. “You can come in now, mom.”

Dr Fisk Snr walked into the room with as much assuredness as a negligent parent could muster. Even after being told he was gone, her eyes scanned the room for him. She was obviously their mother. Her features were a near copy of Liza, minus the laughter lines. Her own age markers were the indentations of deep concentration; a cleft between her eyebrows and a lined forehead. She was cold and detached, I could tell that much just by looking at her. It was the way she studied everything, even her own daughter, as if this place was just a vast petri dish of material.

Liza brought her over. “Mom, this is Mark. He’s the guy who saved me in the jungle.”

“Then I’m in his debt,” she said, offering a slender hand.

I could tell even this innocent gesture was uncomfortable for her, so I shook it quickly and let go. “No debt. I’m kind of hoping you’re going to give me good news on the Eos Protocol toxin.”

“Then I’m afraid we’re going to disappoint you, Mark. We haven’t managed to render an effective aerosol, in spite of Sheldon’s entreaties. If we could inject our current discovery into the creatures, we would eliminate the threat, but they have a shameful habit of refusing to hold still.”

“Are you involved directly in creating it?” I asked.

“Goodness, no. My speciality lies in combining living tissue with technology. Making things more than they were.”

“I’ve seen the monsters outside. I’d say they were far less than they were,” I argued.

Her face soured. “Yes, well, I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

“What I do understand is what your creations have done. I’ve been mopping up the blood since I’ve arrived.”

“Are you accusing me of being responsible for Sheldon’s actions?” she snapped.

There was the ice-maiden Cody hated. In truth, I’d only said a few words to her and I found her to be abrasive and arrogant. Deep beneath the surface level anger was a barely concealed pride. Her mention of Lake by his first name was a red flag, and the question was out before I could stop it. “Were you kidnapped or did you volunteer for this?”

It was clear Liza hadn’t even countenanced the idea, but she too caught the brief flash of guilt written plainly on her mother’s face. “Mom? You didn’t!”

Fisk senior turned her back to us. “You wouldn’t understand. The advances we’ve made will revolutionise the medical and cybernetics industry. We’ve jumped forward by decades. Decades!”

Liza backed away from her, seeing the same manic fervour that had poisoned their family all those years ago. “Why didn’t you tell me? We’ve spent more time together this week than we have in years. I thought you’d changed, but you haven’t.”

“People may hate me now for what I’ve done, but in the future I’ll be feted as the saviour of millions,” she declared, her mind taking her far away from our little reunion to a place of golden statues and plaques.

I was sick of megalomaniacs, and left the crazed woman to her musings. Cris moved to comfort the doubly broken Liza who was just shaking her head in shock. Cody had been right all along, not that it would bring him any comfort. I wasn’t a fan of violence against women, but I’d have happily tit punched Janice for the hurt she’d inflicted on her children, then twisted her head off for the deaths she’d helped cause. Instead, I grunted with disgust. The people of Osterland would deal with her in time.

Pierce returned with another group of scientists and I called him over. “Where are all the maintenance workers? The ones that keep this place running?”

“They don’t stay on the island. Lake only ever called them in if something needed fixing.”

“How did they not blow the whistle on this place? It’s a bit obvious what’s going on, isn’t it?”

The guard gave me the universal sign for cash-money by rubbing his thumb and fingers together. “And lots of it,” he added.

“Ok, so how do we get in touch with them? We’ve taken control of communications again, so just give us some details.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but that was all handled by Lake himself. We never even talked to the people, only escorted them where they needed to go.”

“Then you’re the next best thing. What do you know of any ventilation shafts, ducting for cables, stuff like that? Any other way we can get down to him?”

“There’s a series of vents on the top of the building, but I can’t promise the ones supplying air down to him are among them. He’s a paranoid asshole.”

“What about your plant rooms? Hot water, heating, all that stuff?”

“That’s back up on the ground floor, sir. I can show you if you’d like?”

The room was filling fairly quickly now that it was just the lower floors being emptied. “We’ll go once I’ve spoken to everyone.”

Pierce nodded and moved off to help the final collections. I’d never been good with public speaking, and this was a veritable stage show. A proper audience, all looking at me. To me. The familiar feeling of butterflies began, but I pesticide sprayed them with the knowledge I’d fought a T. rex in single combat. Chatting to a group of random people was nothing against that.

I guess the scientists knew when the last of their people had arrived as the muted conversations ended and they all focussed on my bizarre party.

“You’re up, Mark,” said Kordell.

“You can take this one if you want,” I replied.

He ignored me completely.

“Dinosaurs and gunfights are ok, but talking isn’t?”

“We’ve all got our strengths,” he answered with a wry grin.

“I’ll remember that,” I warned him, turning to the crowd. “Before we start, folks, who’s in charge of the Eos Protocol?”

An Asian man towards the back raised his hand. “I am. Dr Xiao.”

“We need to talk afterwards, Doc. For the rest of you, it’s over. I know what Lake did to you. As soon as I’m able, I’ll be arranging for my people to come to the island and begin the process of taking you home. With the static defences all around us, it may take a while, so please bear with me.”

“What’s happened?” demanded one woman, her ire not directed at me but at the whole situation.

“Don’t you know what Lake’s done with your work?” I asked. At least Janice had the good grace to look away as they all shook their heads.

“Wow, ok, I wasn’t expecting that. Maybe that should wait until later when you’re completely safe. I’ve still got to find Lake and finish this.”

“We deserve to know!” yelled the woman, many others agreeing with her outburst.

I held my hands up in warning. “It’s fucking awful. Are you sure you want to find out like this? Let’s put it to a vote.”

I felt like a dick for making eminent scientists participate like children in a school assembly, but I needed their confirmation. Around seventy percent of those present raised their arms.

“Fine. For those that don’t want to find out this way, I’ll give you a few minutes to head back to your rooms.”

Out of the entire staff, only a dozen or so filtered away. When I was satisfied they were out of earshot, I gave it to them straight. “Lake used your work to unleash a dinosaur apocalypse. Thousands of the things rampaging across the country, killing, eating.” Many gasped, and a few started to cry again, but I pressed on. “The species you brought back were bred in captivity on massive ships and platforms far out to sea. Lake wiped out the world’s militaries with the giant locusts, and most of the cities of Osterland with the bigger creatures.” Judging by the wails of people as they ran from the room, they had family in those same cities. “The head of your CID was the brains behind the distribution, a General Anton Milley. We’ve managed to crush their plans and now, like I said, Lake is the last piece that needs to fall. Once we’ve killed him, the world can start to rebuild. It’s going to need great minds like yourselves to guide it down a better path.”

The guards could sense the shifting mood and gathered together for mutual support and protection.

“Your captors aren’t to be hurt. They’ll face justice once this is over, along with anyone else involved.” I made a point of glaring at Janice with the last words. She scoffed and turned away. “I appreciate this is a lot to take in, but we’re on a tight schedule here. Every moment we delay gives them more time to hurt people. Once we’ve dealt with Lake, we’ll come back and go through this properly with anyone who wants to, ok? Dr Xiao, could I chat with you quickly, please?”

The scientists broke off into their own groups to begin working through the new reality I’d just laid on them.

Xiao was courteous to a fault and bowed slightly when he reached us. “How can I help?”

“I was told you’ve not succeeded in rendering the Eos toxin aerosol yet?”

“I’m afraid not. We’ve managed to create a chemical that only attacks the blood cells of the creatures. Thankfully their DNA is millions of years behind our own, with inherent weaknesses we amplified, then targeted. It’s the binding agent that we’ve failed on.”

“Forgive me for asking, but why was it such a shock to you all when I explained what was going on? Surely your own work gave you a clue? The fact you were snatched up? The genetic codes you were recreating?”

“Mark, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you ever been kidnapped before?”

“Not for a few days,” I replied, honestly.

Xiao thought I was joking and chuckled. “There comes a point where you convince yourself your captor is being honest, just to make it through another day. We’ve not seen daylight for months. For some of us, it’s been years. The medical strides we’ve achieved with his funding will be revolutionary, and that’s what most of us clung to.”

“I can understand that,” I replied.

“We all suspected there was an ulterior motive, but he was always so congenial at first. Apologising profusely for our ordeal and promising us the secrets in those prehistoric cells would eradicate all manner of diseases and illnesses. When that proved to be the case, we were suckered into believing his philanthropic motives. We became willing consorts to his efforts. Millions of lives saved. Knowing what we were creating to achieve that goal, Lake assured us that the creatures would only be brought back for full testing when we had a suitable safety mechanisms in place. It seems he put the cart before the horse, so to speak.”

“To be honest, Doc, I think the cart came to life and killed the horse. This whole situation is messed up three ways from Sunday. The reason I called you over is because I think my sponsors might have a little gift to help you out. Can you head back to the labs and ramp everything up, just in case? We’ll need to get this stuff out as quickly as possible.”

“We’ll be standing by, Mark. Is there anything else we can do to help?”

“Only if you know a way down to Lake that doesn’t involve his elevator?”

“I’m afraid not,” he replied.

“Then we’re good, Doc. Hopefully, we’ll be back soon with good news.”

He bowed and retreated.

“I guess it’s time,” said Cris.

“I guess it is,” I replied, wondering what horrors the next hour would bring.