JURASSIC PARK: LAST MAN STANDING (FANFICTION)

CHAPTER 14

As young Derek rode up on the dirt path, his smile grew brighter, leaving behind the dense foliage of the vibrant jungle. Beside him, Lily clung to him with her heart pounding against his back, their anticipation rising as they neared the anxious group. Dr. Vivian, Derek's mother, stood with her arms crossed and worry etched deeply on her face.

"Mom!" Derek shouted, pulling their dirt bike to a screeching stop. He leaped off with agility, Lily following closely behind.

Tears filled Dr. Vivian's eyes as she ran to embrace Derek. "Thank goodness you're safe," she whispered shakily, squeezing her son tightly.

The rest of the group - Dr. Henry, John Hammond, and Ian Malcolm - approached with warm smiles but couldn't shake off the fear that hung in the air.

"We finally found him," said John upon greeting them, his voice deep and exhausted from their trek across Jurassic Park's dangerous terrain.

Dr. Henry wiped the sweat from his brow and added gravely, "Now we need to figure out how to get off this island and avoid Dr. Xavius and his bloodthirsty mercenaries."

Ian Malcolm glanced pensively at the horizon before interjecting in his trademark sarcastic tone, "Yeah because coexisting with dinosaurs wasn't perilous enough."

Their conversation was interrupted when Lily spotted men in military uniforms emerging from the shadowy edge of the jungle. "Guys! We've got trouble!"

The group sprung into action – Dr. Vivian clutched Derek's hand, while the others frantically scanned for an escape route.

"We can't go back," warned John, pointing at the approaching soldiers. "We must find another way out!"

With danger looming and adrenaline coursing through their veins, they fled towards an uncharted path filled with uncertainty, their desperation for escape from the treacherous island growing stronger with every step they took.

As they caught their breath, the sound of approaching mercenaries echoed throughout the humid air. They could hear heavy footsteps and the snapping of twigs drawing ever closer.

"Everyone hide! Now!" whispered Hammond, panic gripping his voice.

They all dove behind bushes and trees just as a group of mercenaries trampled past on a muddy trail. The tension was palpable as Hammond and the others strained to eavesdrop on their conversation.

One Mercenary grumbled, "Dr. Xavius wants us to keep patrolling this area. He's fixated on finding that kid and his friends."

Another scoffed, "Yeah, ever since he took over Jurassic Park as its new owner – he's on an absolute power trip."

As the mercenaries vanished into the jungle's depths, Hammond emerged from his hiding spot with a determined look in his eye.

"We must get back to Vivian's house," he insisted. "We'll regroup and plan our next move."

Wasting no time, they ventured into the thick foliage. Derek led the way, with Lily by his side, while Dr. Vivian, Dr. Henry, John Hammond, and Ian Malcolm stayed vigilant, prepared for any lurking danger.

The jungle's dense canopy filtered sunlight, casting eerie shadows on the damp soil. Leaves crunched beneath their feet as Hammond guided them, his eyes scanning constantly, his face tense.

"Derek," called Lily. "Is this the right way? Everything looks so similar."

"Don't worry, Lily. I've been through these jungles many times," Derek assured her with a smile.

Quietly, Dr. Vivian shared her concern with Dr. Henry. "We need to stay on our guard. Those mercenaries might still trail us."

Dr. Henry nodded. "Watch the kids and stay alert."

Reaching a small clearing, Hammond wiped the sweat from his brow and exhaled deeply. "These jungles are stifling... Are you sure we're on track?"

Ian Malcolm confidently replied, "No worries; we're close." He pointed at a faint path ahead.

Another half-hour of navigating treacherous paths led them to Vivian's vine-covered wooden home. It was high up in the trees with a great vantage point.

"Finally!" she sighed in relief.

Inside her house, they regrouped to strategize against the impending enemy threat.

Around a makeshift table, they got down to business. Dr. Vivian traced the route they traveled to evade the mercenaries. "Our priority now is to keep Lily and Derek safe," she said, looking at the bewildered children.

Dr. Henry added, "We should also find help and get these kids off this island ASAP." Hammond agreed, his face pale with tension. Ian Malcolm suggested splitting into two teams - one to guard the children while seeking an escape route; the other to find communication equipment or signs of civilization.

The room fell silent before Dr. Vivian resolved, "Alright, we'll do it that way. Time is crucial." They divided their tasks and meticulously planned their next move, each member bound by their shared determination to survive against all odds.

Derek's eyes widened with excitement, recounting the tale, "Lily and I had to crawl through the ventilation ducts, hearing soldiers' boots thudding below us."

Leaning in, Dr. Vivian asked, "Did you see Dennis Nedry escaping with a duffel bag of hard drives?"

Derek confirmed, adding, "He tried to cover his tracks. But there's more!" John Hammond, Dr. Henry, and Ian Malcolm listened intently.

Ian Malcolm raised an eyebrow, "What happened next?"

With adrenaline pumping through him, Derek recalled their escape on a dirt bike and being shot at by Dr. Xavius's mercenaries from a black helicopter. Then, a massive Pterodactyl crashed into the helicopter.

Angry at the revelation of a Pterodactyl on the island, Dr. Henry sought an explanation from John Hammond who nervously admitted it was brought for research purposes.

After learning that Nedry was killed by the gunner from the helicopter before it crashed, the group decided to split into two teams - one for locating Pterodactyls and dangerous creatures and another for recovering vital information.

As they delved further into this treacherous island of prehistoric creatures and dubious ambitions, they felt burdened by their responsibilities while unaware of more challenges waiting to be faced in this race against time.