Hungry Jungle

[Prince_Truhan]

(This thread is closed for La_Reina, Princesssexci and myself)

Dr. Henry Pyde woke with a startle, he had just had a weird dream involving feral screams and sharped teeth. Luckily for his composure nobody had seemed to notice his predicament since the rest people in the jeep were dozing off or at least busy with something else.

He blamed the nightmare on being in the jungle and on the movements the jeep kept making. He stared outside the window and saw the moon shining brightly, they should arrive to their destination soon.

It was a big group of people, all heading to study some new findings in some ruins from a forgotten civilization, well not everyone was going to study it, somehow the conglomerate that was funding the expedition had managed to send military personal to babysit the scientists. Also there were some people from the conglomerate, probably to do the math to make the expedition profitable.

The military sponsorship was one of the things Henry couldn't understand, the other one was the need to move such a big group and expensive equipment into the middle of the jungle to study a possible medicinal breakthrough due to the discovery ancient lifeforms. It was exciting, but it seemed to him like it was foolish as well, they could have sent a team to extract samples. He could only wonder however, he was one of the youngest scientists in the team, and he had gotten into this thanks to the word of his mentor put the good word for him.

Realizing thinking about the questions he had wouldn't get him anywhere, and knowing they would be at the site and needing to work soon, Henry decided to try to sleep again, and hoped that no more sharp things would appear in his dreams.

 

[La_Reina]

"SGT Batista. You are hereby redeployed to Fort Middleton where you will be on an expedition to oversee scientists on a mission to learn about new life or make contact with a new species."

"Are you fucking kidding me," Angel Batista said between clenched teeth.

Her commanding officer continued on as if she hadn't interrupted a 3rd time. "If contact is made you will determine if they are friendly or a threat. You will give us the intel and we will tell you how to handle that threat. Either bringing them back dead or alive."

"A new species that MIGHT be a threat; meaning its trying to kill me and my team and you want me to call first?!"

"Affirmative. After we give you orders you will follow them out swiftly and thoroughly all while making sure your team is alive. Any other questions Sargent?"

"A babysit mission. Who did I piss off?" She meant the question rhetorically.

"General Moron (pronounced Moe-Ren). You called him moron one too many times."

"It's his name."

"It's pronounced differently Sgt Batista and you somehow keep forgetting that detail. You leave at 0800 hours."

Angel loved the military. Sometimes she hated her life. Especially when she was given one M-16, one mag, and one standard issue Glock. If she was to find a new alien life she was seriously fucked with the ammunition. Though she knew this was a blase mission. They weren't expecting anything. She was just sent here to shut her up and when she found out it was for 6 months she was thinking of various way to kill the General. Of course she was there 3 hours before everyone else. Her commanding officer was so going to get a boot up his butt one day.

Angel glanced back and saw the good Doctor had awoken, looked around, and was going back to sleep. She sighed and checked on the other one. A pretty girl who Angel hadn't spoken with yet so she wasn't sure if she was smart or not like the doctor with his pretty words that went right over her head. She prayed the girl didn't open her mouth and fluff come out. If she said 'Oh My Gawd,' or 'Uh, Seriously,' Angel couldn't be held liable for shooting her.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2569/vrsrpxhk0.jpg

 

[princesssexci]

Valerie pursed her lips as she sat in the car on the way to some scientific expediition. Her dad was making her go. He wanted her to follow in his footsteps because 'being a cook, that wasn't good enough for his little girl'. She clenched her fists at just that thought. She was NOT a cook, cooks were for people who worked at Mcdonalds or...a cafeteria. No, she was an aspiring Chef.

"Oh Valerie, don't worry. 10 years from now, you'll thank me for this."

Valerie didn't respond, instead she merely rolled her eyes. It wasn't that she was an idiot, it was just that scientific stuff never really interested her. Even when she was a child, she had quickly become bored with anything involving science. The reasoning was probably because her parents talked about it constantly.

When the car parked, her father began setting up the tent, it was arond 9 pm or something. Valerie glanced around, catching sight of another girl. She didn't look like a scientist though. She didn't look very social though. Of course, who would be social in the jungle.

Just as she pulled out her Iphone to text her friends, her dad snuck up behind her. "Instead of texting your friends and complaining, why don't you go introduce yuorself."

Valerie stared at her dad with a look that said,'You're not serious, are you' and then he gave her the look of 'Cooperate or else..' Again, Valerie rolled her eyes and strutted over to the other girl. "Hi there, I'm Valerie Simmons. No, I'm not a scientist, nor do I wish to be. My dad made me come but I swear to god, if you say anything that has to do with protoplasms or whatever, consider us enemies."

http://www.ofcelebrity.net/photos/christina-milian-4.jpg

 

[La_Reina]

Angel didn't even have her weapon out. She was standing on the outskirts leaning against a tree wondering if watching foliage grow was more or less interesting than watching paint dry. She decided more, but only by a slim margin. She watched about 4 scientist start setting up ... she wasn't sure where they pulled the tables and other inflatable things from. It seemed like they had endless pockets. It was interesting in a 'oh my fucking goodness there's no tv', way.

Movement made Angel realized someone was approaching her. The scientist girl. Correction: the scientists' daughter. Angel had assumed the girl would be into the research just like everyone else, but the look on her face resembled Angel's. Angel slowly smiled it grew wider with every word. "At least your not an idiot."

"I'm Sargent Angel Batista here to guard and defend you all by my lonesome. It's nice to meet and ensure your safety Ms. Simmons." Angel wasn't sure how to speak to the civilian, but the phone caught her eyes. "Do you get reception out here? Can you get YouTube or Netflix?"

Angel glanced around trying to make a half ass attempt at her job. Seriously, what could really go wrong here. She watched the scientists do there stuff and shrugged. Looked harmless enough.

 

[Prince_Truhan]

Henry got out of the jeep as they stopped, he needed to walk around and get back the sensations in his legs, he expected being in the jungle to be different, but not because his extremities were asleep.

They didn't need him to get everything ready after all, the technicians were dealing with the expensive equipment and they would scold anyone that dared to touch some, the tents were getting set up quickly as well by people more experienced at this than he was.

Most investigators where in a group talking, probably reviewing the little they knew so far, Henry certainly didn't want to go over things again before they had anything to study. Being the youngest scientist hadn't been easy he had been quizzed by every member of the staff a few times to test his worthiness. They seemed satisfied with his knowledge, but it also meant he had reviewed everything to death, he probably knew more than any of them by now.

As he silently walked past the two groups he looked to the side and saw the Sargent talking to Valerie, those two hadn't ask him things, probably because the only thing they wanted to know was how to get out of there.

Then Henry heard a growl, he turned to the trees and saw nothing, he decided it was probably the dream messing with him in the daylight, so he went to get coffee, that should keep the dream spirits away.

The tent with the provisions was set but deserted, so nobody bothered him as he set the battery operated coffee maker, then he heard the growl again, nobody reacted so it had to be him. Deciding it was better to hear people talk than his thoughts he walked to the two girls.

"Do either of you want coffee? it's too much for me and the other groups are too big"

 

[princesssexci]

Valerie grinned at the girl who called herself Angel. She had a good feeling she'd at least be able to get along with Angel. "Idiot? No. Just don't want to be the stereotypical daughter who wants to follow in her father's footsteps." She said and then shook her head. "Nope, no connection sadly. Too far in the woods I guess." She shrugged, "I do have stuff I downloaded on here..America's Next Top Model, more reality based stuff, except for Big Bang Theory. That's a good sitcom."

Suddenly some guy offered them coffee, just out of nowhere..

"Uh, no thanks." She said, thinking it weird that some guy offer coffee, he looked like someone her dad would work with. She pushed her dark hair out of her hair. "I'm not much for coffee, it gets addicting..." She said.

 

[Prince_Truhan]

"You are right about the addicting but it is too late for me." He looked at her for a second before fishing out her name from the memories of what he had heard of Dr. Simmons "Valerie... right?" he raised his hand as if taking an oath "I promise your father didn't send me to cram science down your throat."

His eyes turned to the military woman and the memory of her name and position left his mind, he didn't want to risk getting it wrong remembering how some people take that stuff way too seriously.

"What about you... I'm sorry what is your rank? I don't want to screw it up. Does coffee have you in its addictive claws?" after giving her the chance to answer he volunteered "I'm Henry Pyde"

 

[La_Reina]

"Next top model? I love that show!" It was the only girly thing about Angel. Otherwise she was pretty much a smart ass. "Girl you may be my life saver. We just need to find a plug so your phone doesn't dies ..." Angel looked around and realized .. where the hell were they going to find a plug in the jungle.

"Tell me you have a back up battery supply."

Angel gave a glance at the man coming towards them, but said nothing. Thinking about how bored she'll be again if they don't find about 10 or 20 batteries for Valerie's phone. The guy spoke and glanced up. "Yeah I can take a cup. do you have flavored creamer. I'll like Hazelnut creamer and sugar. Thanks."

Angel was turning back to the phone when he spoke giving his name. "Oh. I'm Sgt Angel Batista. What do you do here? I assume you aren't a server or something or I want more pay."

 

[Prince_Truhan]

He laughed softly "No, I'm not a server, I'm just bored, I'm one of the scientists for the investigation, the thing is until we get some samples we only have so much data to analyze, and they insist about going over it again and again. Well they do guesswork too, which is frankly a waste of time"

Then he saw the phone "do you have a signal on that thing?" He reached for his phone and felt silly at the lack of bars "Right, we are in the middle of nowhere" He added as he tapped the screen knowing it wouldn't make a difference.

"Can't promise you hazelnut Angel" he said wondering if she would get angry at him using her name "but I'll do what I can" he started to walk to the supply tent "are you sure you don't want anything Valerie?"

 

[princesssexci]

"Well, uh yeah..it is my cellphone I have to communicate with the outside world somehow..." she said with a grin. She had insisted that she bring a battery supply because if something were to happen to them in the woods, she'd be able to call 911. At least, that was what she told her dad. Actually, she did it to keep in contact with her boyfriend.

"Of course I have a sig--" she looked at her phone and pouted. Damn it, no signal. "Damn it..."

And then to answer the guys question she said, "Um do you have any granola bars or anything. I'm a little hungry." she admitted. She hated eating granola but she knew she that being outside in the middle of nowhere.

 

[La_Reina]

Angel watched Valerie and Henry chat for a bit more. "Excuse me I'll be right back." She didn't really walk anywhere that was her way of telling them she wasn't listening to the conversation anymore. She turned to the jungle and the other scientists and watched them before she grew bored. This was a boring, stupid, assignment. Nothing was going to happen here.

Angel whipped around. She got that sixth sense like she was being watched. She stared and stared until she saw some birds. She didn't think they would have set her off like that, but what could do it in the jungle? She was just bored and letting her imagination run wild. That was it. There's nothing - ... Angel thought she heard something, but Valerie and Henry's conversation covered it up. She thought she heard a growl or something?

"Hey are there lions or tigers or something in this jungle?" Angel half hoped they were. That would bring her some excitement. If not then what the fuck did she just hear?

 

[Prince_Truhan]

While Henry was talking to Valerie, Henry's hair stood up as he heard yet another growl, he tried to disguise it as nobody else seemed to hear it, but when Angel asked about the lions and he started to wonder if she had heard it too.

"I think I heard something about heavy fines if anyone messed with jaguars, being almost extinct and all but I didn't think one could be near..."

He stopped his dissertation when he heard a loud scream, it wasn't some animal in anger or pain, that had been a person in extreme pain, he turned instantly to where the sound came, somewhere among the trees but not that far from camp.

As he wondered what to do, and he felt the state of panic building in the rest of the camp, Angel had already reacted, he would have liked to help but there was no time, he decided it was better to wait until she came back, she would probably come back carrying someone that tripped and was overdramatizing, that was a soothing thought, after all it wasn't as if those growls only he had been hearing meant anything.

 

[princesssexci]

While the scientist whom she'd learned was named Henry had been talking, she too heard the fierce growl. She silently told herself that it was just her imagination. Her dad promised her that there would be no fierce animals out here to bother them, especially since they were studying...whatzamawhoits. She didn't know the correct term and didn't frankly care to know.

Henry hadn't made any comment about it which further confirmed her suspicion that it was nothing but her head going crazy. Too much forest air. That was all, nothing to worry about!

She was sad that Angel had left though because she wasn't sure what more to talk about with Henry. You could only talk about fruit and granola for so long before it got boring and that topic of conversation only lasted what, 5 minutes IF that long. Suddenly, there was a high pitched scream and she whipped around.

"What..the...what was that?" Valerie asked, scared shitless now.

She was pretty certain THAT wasn't part of her imagination since the camp began scrambling about. Man, now she really wished she were back in the city.

 

[La_Reina]

Angel was just beginning to wonder about Jaguars when the scream ripped through the air. Before the scream was even finished Angel was running across camp, past all the scientists and doctors who looked stunned, and into the underbrush. She kept thinking it was an animal attacking one of the scientists that wandered too far away.

The scream ended just abruptly ended. Angel stopped and trained her gun around her. She looked down and tried to follow tracks, but it seemed this was a major walking position between here and ... Angel went further. She wasn't sure where this led. She kept walking and she started to smell something rotten. It was just behind a wall of brush. Angel tightened her grip on her weapon, aimed down the sights, and pushed through the wall. Here was a makeshift lavatory. There was a shovel hanging on a tree branch and some toilet paper. So this is the restroom. Interesting.

Angel heard a growl and turned in a 180 bringing her gun back up, but there was nothing. Angel dropped to the ground again, but tracking whoever this was was useless. Angel triple timed it back to camp issuing orders. "No one is allowed to leave camp. Stay in sight of everyone. If you need to use the restroom we'll figure something out later. Does anyone know who's voice we just heard? Does anyone know of anyone else that is missing? "

Angel was ignoring all the questions flying her way. She was not answering: who was that, what was that, has anyone seen (insert various names) and the last one that pissed her off; what was she doing about it. Angel fished in her bag for the satellite phone. She pressed on and the phone only worked one way. She called her commanding officer letting him know of the details. Her orders: Stay Put. In 1 week she'll receive a package to defend the camp. Keep the scientists working. The phone disconnected. Angel threw the phone at the back of her tent feeling satisfaction that it hit the tent with a loud tap, but fell harmlessly onto her bed.

Angel emerge. "Listen up. We have Jaguars in these jungles and their hungry. We are to start a buddy system. No one leaves without a partner IF they must go out into the jungle and only after clearance with me. We will have scheduled bathroom breaks where we will go as a group since the lavatory is so far away. If you're shy about shitting in front of others get over it now. Any questions?" Several flew at her. "Good." She walked back into her tent. What the fuck was she going to do?

 

[Prince_Truhan]

Henry waited as patiently as he could, but it wasn't much, he turned to the groups and tried to figure out who was missing, he couldn't find out for the life of him and that annoyed him, it meant whoever was in trouble could have disappeared unnoticed by him. He was probably being too hard on himself but panic tends to do that.

When Angel came back he figured she couldn't find who it was, or bring them back to camp, lots of questions flew at her and she did her best to answer them, or more like to disregard them to say what she felt necessary.

He didn't intercede or talk, people were freaking out enough without him adding to it.

He looked at Valerie but was unsure what to say to her, one thing was to talk idly about phones or food, someone might had just died.

"I'm sorry, I better go find out how I can make myself useful, I hope to talk to you again sometime."

He went to help to set the equipment, it was something boring that he dreaded before but with the last event he wanted to find something that would make him busy. Specially since he thought he had heard another growl.

 

[princesssexci]

Everyone began bustling around and Valerie felt sort of ...useless now. There was nothing better than feeling useful in a terrifying situation. Angel gave the orders to stay put but Valerie didn't exactly need that order. She'd already decided that she wouldn't move from this spot unless she absolutely had to.

Lots of questions flew towards Angel but she wisely ignored them. Valerie would've done the same thing to be honest. She decided it was best not to join the crowd and ask questions as well. She didn't want to add to the drama.

She glanced at Henry forgetting that he was still there, next to her. "Go do what you need to do." She said as he scurried off. IT wasn't long after he'd left that she heard another growl and fought back a squeak of fright. Yeah, she def needed to find something to do.

Because if something was out there, she didn't want to be someone who ended up missing and ...well, maybe it was just better to hang out with the military chick.

Finding Angel, she tapped her on the shoulder, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

 

[La_Reina]

(((Dude I posted a reply on the 8th right after yall did. Where'd it go?)

Angel went back inside and pushed the 'send' button on her cell phone. The phone rang and rang and rang. Angel just stared at it. Now they were ignoring her? Were they serious? Angel let it ring as she threw it at the tent wall. It banged harmlessly to her bed and she was going to repeat it when she heard a tiny 'WHAT!' from the phone.

"We can't wait that long." There was a click then nothing. Angel wanted to scream. She wanted to throw that phone as far as she could with all her might. She wanted to- Angel spun around feeling someone tap on her shoulder. It was Valerie.

"Unfortunately, you can't. Just try to-" Angel trailed off hearing the distinct sound of helicopter blades. She ran out of her tent and looked up. Off in the distance was a helicopter. Everyone was jumping up and down screaming 'Hey,' except for Sgt. Batista. She was told the nearest base wasn't for .. let's put it this way it'll be a good 2 or 3 months walking journey if they slept for only 5 hours each night. So how did that helicopter get here so fast? Why did they say she would have to wait? And why are they dropping a package a good 8 miles from the camp?

"What are they doing?"

"Why aren't they stopping?"

"What did they drop?"

Angel ignored it all. She turned to the scientists. "You and You," Angel pointed to two men one of them being Valerie's father. "You're in charge until I get back."

"Where are you going," they asked before Angel could finish getting the words out of her mouth.


"You and You," Angle pointed at Henry and Valerie. "With me. We're going to go get that package. I'm sure they didn't want to alert any animals of our base here which is why they dropped it so far away." Lie. Angel started walking into the trees. "I need you Henry, because you look strong and can help me drag whatever it is they dropped. You Valerie ... well you volunteered to help."

 

[Prince_Truhan]

Henry didn't understand, nothing about this matter made any sort of sense. So as he helped set up some of the equipment he started to think about the possibilities.

He did mention the jaguars to Angel, but that kind of creature wouldn't attack a human naturally, not unless it was threatened and acted in self-defense, he scratched off that possibility it was very doubtful than a member of their expedition would have been foolish enough to provoke one of those things, either out of a spirit of self preservation, or at least because they were told not to mess with them.

He had heard tales of "man-eaters" a large cat that having been wounded was forced to hunt slower prey rather than whatever it naturally ate, but such a predator would stalk them for a while, it would have been too many coincidences for it to be around at the same time someone wandered off by themselves, and so it decided to eat.

He wanted to ask Angel, she seemed alright even if a little of a control-freak, but he couldn't pin this on her, she was suddenly in charge of a bunch of people that were as unruly as children, and who knows what orders she got from her commander. This last part didn't trouble Henry until he realized Angel was lying to them... how could a bunch of jaguars even if inclined to eat human flesh, choose to attack an encampment because a box of things fell there, it made no sense. In Henry's mind they were two possibilities, Angel had little clue of what was going on and was just trying to keep the people under control, or she knew exactly what was going and was purposefully keeping them in the dark.

Henry agreed readily to go pick up the box, there was a bigger chance of Angel being sincere with him, if she wasn't in front of the people she wanted to keep from misbehaving.

"I'm ready when you two are" he said simply, as his minds was still trying to piece things together, even if it couldn't because of a lack of information.

 

[princesssexci]

Valerie raised her eyebrows at Angel as she hurriedly started to tell her that she didn't need anymore help. She pulled out her cellphone and was preparing to browse the recipe app. If she couldn't help well, then.. she could do something to preoccupy her time since she was stuck there.

Suddenly, Angell pointed to her and...the science nerd saying she needed both of them. Again, her eyebrows raised. Ugh, she wished Angel would make up her mind. She turned to her dad, "Daddy, becareful okay?" She said, he nodded quickly and then glanced over at Angel and the science nerd. "You guys becareful too.." he said before taking charge.

Soon Angel was explaining what she needed them for and found that she was only needed because she asked to help. There was nothing in specific she needed Valerie for so it made her wonder why she was even there. Great, I'm just an after thought. She thought silently to herself but didn't complain. There was no time to complain.

"I'm ready." she confirmed.

 

[La_Reina]

When they were in the middle of the jungle Angel turned to Valerie. "This is pretty unorthodox, but can you shoot a gun?" Angel was a good judge of character and people. She was pretty sure she read Valerie right. If whatever was out there was hunting them than if her and Henry were pulling the crate than someone would have to guard their backs. Angel was sure that even if Valerie was scared she wouldn't be trigger happy and kill her and Henry. Angel tried to explain this to Valerie. Valerie was now back up.

Angel turned to Henry and could see that unlike the others who were ready to take any mundane excuse to explain the death or disappearance of one of their own he had questions. He hadn't voiced any and Angel wasn't going to volunteer any information. Angel only had the 2 guns: 1 M16 and 1 handgun. She wasn't going to give up both her weapons and Henry was being used for brute strength as he was the stockier of all the science people.

"Stay close. Keep your eyes out."

 

[Prince_Truhan]

Henry wasn't sure how he felt about the idea of Valerie holding a gun, he hoped two things, one that she didn't have to use it and second that she wouldn't aim at either of them, she seemed sensible enough so that he shouldn't worry about the second one, but the first one was out of their control.

He obeyed Angel's commands and instructions, she was taking charge, and should have much more survival experience and knowledge than him, however she didn't say he should be silent, so he had to ask.

"Angel" he started when they were away enough from camp nobody else could hear "can I ask what you saw when you followed that scream? I mentioned the jaguars, but I don't see the reason to panic over a wild animal or even a few." He looked towards the direction of the package before going on "and I also don't see them attacking a camp because they saw something parachute into it." He bit his lip before arriving to the conclusion "So I guess my point is, what is it that you are not telling us? I'm not asking so I can tell anyone, if they want to believe in angry jaguars it's ok, I just want to put my questions to rest"

 

[princesssexci]

Valerie turned her attention to Angel when she asked her if she could use a gun. "Uh, yeah. I'm not a pro at it or anything..." Valerie said, blowing a wisp of hair out of her eyes. She glanced over at Henry who looked terrified of the thought of her having a gun.

If this weren't an important matter, she would have had something sassy to say. Valerie was curious as well as to what the sounds were when he'd asked his question but she didn't push it. Angel didn't seem like the kind of girl you'd want to push.

If she felt like she could answer, then she would. She actually preferred that they would be angry jaguars instead of something else. Though, she was certain that something else might be even more dangerous than a bunch of jaguars.