Chương 5: Indominus Rex (5)

Inside the genetics laboratory, the law held much the same status as the human conscience: everyone knew it existed, but no one had ever seen it, and no one obeyed it. The sulcata tortoise was a globally endangered species, yet in their eyes, it was nothing more than premium feed. Genetic engineering had opened Pandora's box, and the successful resurrection of dinosaurs had only magnified humanity's arrogance. So what if the tortoise was endangered? So what if killing it was illegal?

Inside that habitat lived one of only two Indominus rexes in the world. Being eaten by her was practically an honor. At worst, they could simply "resurrect" the sulcata tortoise after it went extinct. Was that not the entire purpose of genetic science? Armed with the power to manipulate genes, they fancied themselves the finger of God. Wherever they pointed, life could flourish. The wonder of that technology had even given them the illusion that they were creators.

At that moment, each researcher held a cup of coffee as they watched the hatchling circle the tortoise. They were relaxed, amused, and utterly unconcerned.

"Looks like our little tyrant has run into trouble. She's searching for an opening in her food like a baby trying to find its pacifier." The room erupted in laughter. They were delighted to see the young dinosaur finally encounter prey she could not easily kill.

"It is a difficult problem for her," one researcher said objectively.

"That sulcata's shell is harder than her claws, so she can't tear it open. The tortoise also weighs eighteen times as much as she does, which means she can't flip it over to attack the underside." Put simply, it was a dead end. The hatchling was destined to go hungry.

"Should we replace it with something else? Intelligent or not, she's still a dinosaur. Of course she won't know how to deal with a tortoise on her first attempt. Once she reaches the size of an adult velociraptor, she'll be able to bite through the shell easily." Then, in the space of a heartbeat, everything changed. Inside the habitat, Asset circled the tortoise several times. She tapped its shell lightly with one claw, then raked a few shallow lines across it.

Once she confirmed that her claws were softer than the shell, she immediately abandoned the idea of tearing it open. Instead, she began to dig. The tortoise was heavy and hard, with old, thick skin. No matter how she looked at it, it was a terrible meal. But she had no alternative. If she wanted to eat, she would have to find a way. She could not break through its shell or turn it over. Biting it seemed almost impossible—but the opening around its retracted neck was much softer than its carapace.

After considering the problem for a moment, she decided against attacking from the front. It was too risky. Instead, she moved behind the tortoise and drove her claws into the flesh around its tail. It was an undignified method of attack, disturbingly similar to the hunting tactics of hyenas on the savanna. But it worked. Her claws sank into flesh. The tortoise thrust out its head in pain and twisted around to bite her, but Asset was far too quick to let it succeed.

She remained behind it, nimbly avoiding every attempt at retaliation as she slowly hollowed out its body. It was less a hunt than a prolonged, methodical execution, and it made her deeply uncomfortable. Even when the tortoise weakened and she quickly bit through its throat, the fading light in its eyes still moved something within her. All living things possess a spirit. The phrase surfaced inexplicably in her mind. She fell silent without realizing it.

Then she lowered her head, tore into the tortoise's flesh, and cast aside every trace of guilt. She had her reasons. She too was now one of those "living things." To obey the laws of nature, to follow the instinct to survive, and to waste none of the food she had killed—this was also part of possessing a spirit. After spitting out a piece of leathery skin she could not chew, she calmly ate the tortoise clean. It tasted surprisingly good. The meat was tough, but carried a faint, sweet fragrance of grass.

The limbs were especially flavorful. Unbeknownst to her, the sight had shattered the composure of the "intelligent" humans watching her. From the moment she began disemboweling her prey from behind, not one of them had taken another sip of coffee.

"I don't remember us adding hyena DNA."

"Only Dr. Wu knows the complete genetic profile. Maybe he really did include some."

"Guys, that isn't the point! Fuck—haven't any of you realized what this means? If she doesn't possess hyena DNA but still devised the same hunting method, then her intelligence is terrifying. My God, this is a highly intelligent organism. Would any of you have known how to kill a tortoise the first time you saw one?" A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"Maybe her ancient genetic memory taught her," another researcher said dismissively.

"Giant turtles existed during the age of the dinosaurs. I refuse to believe carnivorous dinosaurs never ate them. She carries a wide variety of inherited genetic fragments." The argument continued throughout the entire meal. Eventually, they summoned Dr. Wu. As always, Dr. Wu looked as though he had seen everything the world could possibly throw at him. A researcher could have told him that the hatchling had sprouted wings and flown away, and he probably would have replied in the same calm voice, "Really? Wow.

Remarkable." He observed every change in his creations and welcomed them all. To him, the creation of life was already a miracle. There was nothing unusual about one miracle giving birth to many more.

"She is unquestionably intelligent, and she is constantly testing her position in the food chain," Henry said mildly.

"The project contains no hyena DNA, yet she has displayed behavior that lies outside her inherited genetic repertoire." From everything he knew about dinosaurs, neither a Tyrannosaurus rex nor a velociraptor would have used such a method against a tortoise. They would simply have ignored turtles until they grew large enough to crush their shells.

"This tells us that she is a natural hunter capable of independent thought," Henry concluded. He acknowledged that the second Asset was more intelligent than the first. On impulse, he decided to introduce another variable.

"Starting today, a keeper will be assigned to this habitat. It's time to increase her interaction with humans. While she is still young, she must learn that humans are her caretakers and trainers—not food." Above all else, he wanted to correct the idea that humans were prey. * Dr. Wu raised the two hatchlings in completely different ways, and no one could quite understand what he intended. During their breaks, the researchers often gathered to speculate about his reasoning.

Their discussions always went in circles and invariably ended with the same conclusion:"Don't try to second-guess Dr. Wu. His mind is practically divine." Still, their speculation was not entirely fruitless. Through the exchange of rumors and scraps of information, they managed to piece together parts of Dr. Wu's past. At last, they understood why nothing ever seemed to unsettle him.

"That happened ten years ago. June 1993, if I remember correctly. There used to be a place called Jurassic Park on this island—Isla Nublar."

"Right. The 'disaster park' that made the news. Dr. Wu was the laboratory's chief geneticist back then too. Every dinosaur on the island was created under his direction."

"But after the dinosaurs escaped and everything went wrong, he found new partners…"

"I heard the high-voltage fences failed. First the velociraptors escaped, then the Tyrannosaurus broke loose, and finally the entire park descended into chaos. A lot of people died. If Dr. Wu survived something like that, it makes sense that nothing can shock him anymore." The group sighed.

"Dr. Wu mentioned that the company intends to open another park. Apparently, it's scheduled for ten years from now." The researcher turned toward the habitat.

"Well, let's hope they aren't planning to use electric fences again." A Tyrannosaurus rex could live for approximately twenty-eight years. It generally entered adolescence at thirteen and reached adulthood at fifteen. Velociraptors had longer lifespans but matured more quickly, reaching adulthood at around seven according to the available data. Giganotosaurus had a developmental pattern similar to that of Tyrannosaurus, while the remaining genetic contributors were also relatively long-lived animals.

Which meant—"Ten years. If she survives that long, she should have reached adolescence." While the humans occupied themselves with complicated thoughts, Asset thought about nothing at all. She ate well, drank her fill, and slept soundly every day. A new keeper joined the laboratory—an older biologist named Susan. Her daily work involved putting on protective gear, bringing Asset prepared meat, approaching her, speaking commands, and maintaining regular contact. Susan moved slowly and presented no threat.

She also cleaned the hatchling's waste area without complaint. Naturally, Asset had no reason to make things difficult for her. Whenever Susan entered to work, Asset usually moved farther away to avoid frightening her. But there was never a shortage of trouble in the laboratory. Humans always seemed determined to create problems. When the researchers saw how well Susan interacted with the hatchling, their inflated sense of their own abilities gave some of them the impression that they could do the same.

Asset had no idea how the human mind worked. When she saw a researcher sneak into the laboratory after dark to bring her a "midnight snack," she was genuinely bewildered. Did he not know that carnivores became especially aggressive at night—dinosaurs most of all? No. He must have known. Yet he came anyway. He opened one-quarter of the habitat's enclosure and pushed a piece of raw meat inside. Even through his protective equipment, she could see an unnatural fervor burning in his eyes.

"Remember me. Remember me," he whispered with almost pathological intensity.

"Come here." He took out the meat and held it toward her.

"I'll bring you food. Listen to me. Come here, good girl. Come to me!" She did not take the meat. One of her toes tapped softly against the ground as she tilted her head. It was a tiny movement inherited from the velociraptor—a motion made just before attacking prey. The man, however, was insane. He pulled out a syringe.

"Come on. Please! I need to know. I have to know what genes Dr. Wu is hiding from us. Come here. Eat! Just give me a little of your blood. You—aaaaah!" She launched herself at him. Her jaws closed around his arm. Her tail knocked the syringe aside, and her claws punched into his face shield. The sweet metallic taste of human blood flooded her mouth. Her pupils contracted into excited slits. An overwhelming urge seized her—to tear into him, to feed on his flesh.

At that instant, alarms screamed throughout the laboratory. The alloy doors sealed automatically. Every light in the room blazed to life, flooding the laboratory with stark white brilliance. She had been biting into him with relish. Startled, she raised her head—and saw her own reflection in the metal doors. For the first time since becoming conscious, she saw her entire body clearly. For the first time, she discovered what she had become. A silver-gray monster stared back at her.

It had yellow-brown slit pupils and razor-sharp claws. A long tail swayed behind it. Spines had begun to grow along its back. Its jaws could open impossibly wide, revealing rows of serrated teeth that were tearing through human flesh. She stopped biting. As if struck by some invisible force, she released the severed hand from her jaws. She stared at herself and once again felt the agony of being divided. On one side was the blood tempting her to lower her head and continue feeding.

On the other was the soul begging her to stop. She felt as though she were about to be torn apart. Then she watched that division happen. A dark seam suddenly appeared down the center of the silver-gray reflection. The alloy doors slid apart, and "she" was ripped into two halves. Armed guards poured into the room. Researchers stumbled from their beds. Dr. Wu arrived almost immediately. In the end, a tranquilizer dart brought her confusion to an abrupt close.

But she remembered exactly what she had looked like in that moment. The image clung to her like the lingering shadow of a nightmare, impossible to shake. Suddenly, she understood what the word "demon" meant. The demon was her.