Copyright 1998 -- Robert Baer Jr. Revised -- 2000 D J Entry --- "The Dinosaur is Dead -- Part 1" W A R N I N G ----------- D I S C L A I M E R The following is a work of PURE FICTION, it DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN, only in my mind. This is presented for ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY, and NOT MEANT TO BE TAKEN TOO SERIOUSLY. It represents a struggle of the mind. The Dinosaur Chronicles: PROLOGUE ** Note from the editor --- This two part episode was planned for three months, I had reservations about posting it. I didn't want to cause a "War of the Worlds" style panic! However, I've decided to post them, please remember this is ONLY fiction! Entry # 1021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Xeren Zzoom entering this entry: This was by far the saddest day I've ever experienced in my young life. The day started out alright, we all went over to the Dinosaur's cave because it was a lot cooler there than anywhere else! Me, the Computer Gila Monster and the big guy were going to go on a hike up to Tarwa Bluff, it has a great view of the canyon. As we were preparing to leave, the "grownups" were in the living room discussing the plans for the big double wedding! The brides and grooms were there, Wanna Talk & the Renagade, Samatha Maddog & Otto. Also in the room were the Computer Counsellor, Ben Maddog, Prairie Mason and his wife Prairie Rose. The Mason "children" were there too, but all four of them begged to come with us! As we were leaving, the "planning" got rather interesting: "I don't think we need a wedding photographer!" Otto exclaimed,"I have the capability of taking digital photos like this one I took a few minutes ago." Otto handed a piece of paper to the Counsellor. "That's a great picture of the Dinosaur!" the Counsellor commented,"how did you get this to print on a printer? I know you don't have a laser printer implanted in you, too!" "Well," Otto explained,"I have a wireless port connector so I can print off of any printer, like the one in the Dinosaur's den, isn't it a great picture?" "One problem though, my canine friend," Wanna Talk said,"how can you take the wedding photos when you're in the wedding?" "That would be rather difficult," the Counsellor admitted. "How about working on the guest list?" the Renegade shouted,"I have it right here!" "Let me go over it!" Wanna said as she took the list and quickly scanned it,"hey, where's Uncle Burford on this list?" The room got suddenly quiet, Samantha and Ben Maddog growled and the Renegade's facial expression changed. "Look, he is my uncle," The Renegade said," and if it wasn't for him Otto wouldn't be alive." "But he tried to kill him!" Samantha barked, "I don't want that evil man at MY wedding!" "I agree, daughter!" Ben added,"he's a bad, bad human!" "Well," Otto said sadly,"he did save my life....." "And then he tried to take it!" Samantha screamed,"NO NO NO, I don't want him at the wedding!" "Look, can't we all just foirgive and forget?" Prairie Mason interrupted,"he did apologize after all." "You'd feel different if he tried to turn off one of your children!" Ben snapped. "Please, everyone, let's not argue," Prairie Rose said calmly,"this wedding is supposed to be a happy occasion, remember?" I whispered to the Dinosaur,"hey big guy, we better go before WE get involved in the arguing." "We're leaving, Y'all!" the Dinosaur announced to everyone,"will y'all be joining us later?" "We will," the Renegade quipped,"if we can ever get these wedding plans all figured out!" With that, the Dinosaur, Gila Monster, the four Mason kids and I went on our hike. The big guy offered to let us all ride on his back, but the Gila Monster refused, said he'd never ride on him again! It was a hour long hike, so much breath-taking scenery all around us! When we finally reached Tarwa Bluff, everyone was so excited, except the Gila Monster, who complained about blisters on his feet and a lack of ants in the area. "WOW!" Anita Mason said,"this is a really great view from up here!" "Right sis!" Alexander stated,"this sure beats seeing it on TV!" "Bet we could howl at the moon tonight!" Alice said,"it times like this I'm glad I'm a dog!" "Me too!" Allen added,"this place is probably even more beautiful at night!" "What do you think of the view, Gila?" I asked. "What so great?" the Gila Monster grumbled,"no ants, no bugs, no insects, what are we going to eat?" "Don't be silly!" the Dinosaur said calmly,"that's why I have this big picnic basket!" "Hey kids, wanna play frizbee catch?" I asked the Mason kids. "YES!" Allen barked. "SURE!" Anita shouted, so I began tossing frizbees and watching those fun loving canines catch them! I tried to get the Gila Monster involved, but all he wanted to do was throw rocks off the cliff. As the Dinosaur started munching on the leaves on a nearby tree, we all heard a terrifying sound in the air. The flapping of pteradactyle wings! "RUN FOR COVER, Y'ALL!" the Dinosaur shouted as the shadows of the big guy's ex-wife and her boyfriend came closer to the ground. "Isn't this lovely, a picnic!" Romulas shreeked,"we want to have some fun too, right?" "Right!" Remus stated,"let's start with the nerd boy!" As I ran for cover, I felt the big claws of a pteradactyle grabbing my shoulders and lifting me into the air! I screamed for help! As the Dinosaur ran towards me, the other one grabbed the Gila Monster the same way! The two flying dinosaurs went higher and higher with both of us in their clutches. The Dinosaur roared repeatedly, yelling "PUT MY FRIENDS DOWN!" as he ran back and forth looking for an opportunity to free us! "POWER DIVE!" Romulas laughed as he dived down near the dinosaur, who tried to grab me but missed by inches. "YOUR TURN LIZARD MAN!" Remus said as he also flew near the big guy, who again missed when he tried to grab the Gila Monster. "Run back to the cave!" Dinosaur yelled to the Mason's,"get help, HURRY!" That said, Anita, Allen, Alexander and Alice ran down the nature path. "Those brats are going to bring us trouble!" Romulas yelled to his twin brother, "I'll drop nerd boy and stop them!" He released me that instant and flew off after the dogs, the Dinosaur lunged and caught me just before I hit the ground. "Thank's Big Guy!" I said gratefully. "No time for thanks, I gotta get the Gila Monster away from Remus!" the Dinosaur hollered and he got up and ran toward his flying former college chum. The Gila Monster wasn't waiting for a rescue, having dropped his beloved 2x4 he did the only thing he could, he opened his mouth and bit Remus's claw hard! He screeked loudly and released the Gila Monster. In his anger, the Gila didn't realize that he was falling over the cliff and towards the canyon! The Dinosaur ran as fast as he could, slid and stretched his long neck over the cliff just in time for Gila to land safely on his large head. "Gotcha!" the Dinosaur grunted as he turned his neck around and put him gently down near where I was standing. "Y'all hide and stay low, I'll fight them off!" the Dinosaur said as he attempted to stand on all fours. Suddenly the ground gave way and the big guy fell off the cliff! I and the Gila ran to the edge just in time to see the impact, which made a thundering noise that echoed throughout the valley. Upon seeing this, those two trouble-making pteradactyles flew away qucikly. At that moment "BOOM!!!" Otto has transported the entire gang to our position. "Where's the Dinosaur?" the Counsellor asked excitedly. I was so struck with grief I could only point to the canyon. When the Renegade saw his old friend at the bottom, he yelled,"OTTO, GET US DOWN THERE, NOW!" The bionic canine complied and with another loud BOOM!!! they were all standing near our fallen friend. "DINOSAUR!" the Counsellor screamed in terror,"WAKE UP!" "He can't," Otto said sadly,"my sensors aren't picking up any pulse or heartbeat, he's not breathing either....." "It's true," the Renegade said as he held his pocket computer,"no respiration, no brainwave activity..." We all started crying, except for the Gila Monster, he was too angry to cry! He muttered,"I'll make those two pay for this if it's the last thing I ever do!" No one dared to approach the big guy, except the Counsellor, who put her arms around his big neck and wept uncontrolably. Even she had a difficult time facing this grim reality, the Dinosaur was dead. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- to be continued.....