Well, if it isn't the vanishing author! Sorry I've been keeping you in the dark for so long - writer's block? Like, severe? Anyway, I hope this makes up for your waiting, feel free to comment, make suggestions, ask questions etc, and I'll be sure to get back to you when I can. Enjoy!

Chapter Two

Rex's hand trembled slightly as he gazed at the Wind stone plate in his hand. Could it really work?

"Go on Rex!" Rod urged, grinning broadly.

Slowly, Rex swiped the card in his hand along the stone. There was an impressive flash of blue light, and soon, on the floor, gazing up at him was a small Carnotaurus.

"Ace!" Rex was estatic. The dinosaur leapt up into his arms and the two friends embraced.

"I thought I'd never see you again like this!"

"It turns out," Rod explained, releasing Terry in his small form also. "That the copied stones were the only reason our dinosaurs got stuck in battle mode."

"So, now that we've got our hands on the originals again, we can play with them as much as we want!" Laura added, beaming, releasing Tank.

They were all in Dr. Ancient's lab, preparing for the time trip. Dr. Ancient himself was frowning at a nearby computer screen.

"What's up, dad?" Rex asked, carrying a squirming Ace over to him.

"Seth," the doctor replied simply. "I still don't have a clue where he is. Our instruments are having a lot of trouble locating him…"

He broke off as the door slid open and a man walked in.

Rex had never seen this man before, but he could tell that he was someone who demanded instant respect just by his posture. He was tall and thin, with a dark suit and dark glasses. His hair was an extremely pale blond, making it almost look like it was white. Although Rex had never seen him, his father seemed to recognise him as once, as he now went over to him.

Rod and Laura seemed to know him as well, because Laura called out,

"Hi, Professor Ancient!"

Said professor completely ignored them, and Rex found himself instantly disliking the man. He didn't care if he was a well-connected professor, and even a member of his own family. The way he swept past Rod and Laura without saying a word seemed extremely rude to him.

"Hello, Edgar," Dr. Ancient said coolly, and Rex could tell that there was some forced politeness in the way he spoke. "Rex, this is your uncle."

Edgar Ancient turned to look at Rex, and in doing so, removed his glasses, exposing his blue eyes. But unlike Rex's or his mother's, these eyes had no warmth, and reminded you of chips of ice.

Then he spoke for the first time. Rex found his accent arrogantly and irritably upper-class.

"Well," he said. "I'm glad to see my nephew has followed a suitable path." He turned back to Dr. Ancient.

Suitable path? What on earth did he mean by that?

"I've come to report, brother," Edgar continued. "That our space program nears completion. Within about a week, we shall be ready to begin the terraforming process. Then, after a few months, it will be ready to be colonized. I hope you are prepared?"

"We are preparing," Dr. Ancient replied. "But right now, we have another operation underway. We will complete that first, if you don't mind."

Edgar took a step forward, his icy eyes now flashing with impatience.

"You misunderstand me. I need your personal investment for the biofuel. Now! Or else…"

Fury welled up in Rex like he hadn't felt for a long time. He was half tempted to summon Ace and have him teach his bastard of an uncle a lesson, but a warning look from his father stopped him.

"Jonathon has got our cheque," he said quietly. "Go and retrieve that."

Edgar surveyed him coldly for a moment before nodding.

"OK," he said. "I shall."

He began to walk away, but then, a thought occurring to him, he turned back.

"I must also advise you brother," he said. "Before this operation is underway, I suggest you get rid of Dr. Z and all those connected with him. We cannot allow him to interfere with this."

He then strode out.

"Who did he think he was?" Rex demanded. Dr. Ancient closed his eyes.

"Professor Edgar Ancient. My older brother and one of the most influential scientists in the world."

"That doesn't give him an excuse to blackmail and bully everyone!" Rex snarled.

"I hate to break it to you," Rod said, moving forward. "But he's always like that."

"Yeah," Laura nodded, looking upset. "He's the head of our school too – we go to the Sanjō international college, which is the umm…" she tried not to look too pleased with herself. "Number one school in the world for prodigies and geniuses."

A smile returned to Rex's face.

"It's understandable why you two attend then!" he said. They both blushed slightly.

"Zander, fetch the idle scisming welder!" Dr. Z ordered.

"Yes sir!"

"Ursula!" Dr. Z barked. "Turn on the septimizing octograph!"

"Right away!"

There was pause.

"WELL?" Dr. Z screamed. "What are you waiting for?"

"Erm…no disrespect doctor," Ursula mumbled. "But you're actually just making up gadgets as you go along…"

"Nonsense!" he snapped at them. "I'm doing everything by the book!"

"Yes…" Zander muttered. "A book which you wrote…"

"Are you questioning my omniscient authority?" Dr. Z hollered furiously.

"I would if I knew what that meant…" Ed replied miserably.

Dr. Z was about to throw a tantrum when the door slid open and Helga walked in.

"Doctor, you are behaving like an unruly child again!" she barked.

"Well, it's not my fault! These three insist I can't do anything right!"

"Well, if you want to play the blame game, keep the noise down!" Helga ordered. "You are disturbing the dinosaurs!"

"Since when where they small enough to-?"

Dr. Z was cut short when Chomp, Paris and Spiny dashed into the room, in their original small forms.

"HUH?" the doctor cried in shock.

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?" The Alpha Gang added, collapsing to the floor as the three of them ran them over.

"They're back in their small forms?" Dr. Z gasped, picking up Spiny. "Is that even possible?"

Spiny bit his beard.

"WWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOWWWW, IT IS POSSIBLE!" Dr. Z screeched, dancing around estatically, with Spiny clinging on for dear life.

"Yes," Helga replied, who had watched this small episode without batting an eyelid. "They used the original stones to bring the dinosaurs back to their small form and will then use them to repair the Backlander."

"What…? But I thought the Backlander was…"

"They are going to the past," Helga explained. "They will repair the Pirates' ship with the Gel Jark."

Dr. Z's face fell.

"I'm guessing they want me to remain here," he growled.

"On the contrary, they requested you be their right-hand man," Helga replied.

Dr. Z's eyes shimmered with joy.

"YES!" he whooped. "It seems they now not to waste good talent!"

Little did he know, Edgar Ancient was passing and had heard every word.

Max knew it would probably do him good to pay attention to what Michelle was saying – if she caught him daydreaming, she'd give him detention, or worse, embark on the very long story of what happened to her when she had slacked at school. But he couldn't help it – he was watching Zoe. For some reason that Max could never understand, Michelle had insisted on sitting them apart! It was torture! He had to be near her every second of the day, or else terrible things would occur…

OK, Max Taylor, he told himself firmly. Stop it. You're being a creepy stalker and Zoe will never like you if you act like this – all you need to do is…

He was cut short from reprimanding himself when a boy leaned over Zoe's desk to talk to her.

"G'aa…ccc…" it was all Max could do to stop himself screaming in rage and horror. He was wishing that he still had a dinosaur with which to fend this nutter off, when Amy, who he hadn't even realised was sitting behind him whispered,

"Don't worry – he's only asking to borrow a pen!"

Max turned to see her smiling reassuringly.

"You mean…you know?" he demanded.

"Yeah," she nodded. "It's obvious."

Max grinned rather sheepishly.

"Look," Amy said. "If you want to go out with her – just ask her straight. She won't say no – she likes you enough. She's been your friend since childhood-"

"But," Max cut in. "Without the dinosaurs, we don't have that much in common anymore." He gestured to the front. "Apart from having to hear this old lady ramble on all day…"

"HEY!" Michelle yelled. "I HEARD THAT MAX TAYLOR! I AM NOT AN OLD LADY, AND-"

They were spared anymore screaming when the door opened to reveal an expressionless man in a dark suit.

"Hello," he said, not in the slightest bit interested in why Michelle looked as though she were about to turn a desk over. "Are Max Taylor and Zoe Drake in this class?"

Michelle pointed them out.

"Could I borrow them please?"

After permission from Michelle, Max and Zoe got to their feet and followed the man out the classroom, not saying anything, but exchanging a puzzled expression.

And there you have it! Sorry its not as long as you hoped for, but I was on a roll as I was writing it, and I wanted to give you something before the dreaded block struck again. So, tell me what you think, about Edgar Ancient, about the dinosaurs, Max, Zoe, Amy, Michelle and this mysterious man, and as always, thanks for reading!