While the potential of Project Mesozoic was a major hot spot right now, it was not forgotten the project that originally started the interest in de-extinction. The delegates/volunteers from Australia took some time to arrive at Lyre. It was mostly because of the delicate nature of the International Thylacine Species Database. Preserved thylacine specimens could not be removed from the care of museums so easily, considering how precious and rare they were. Even the promise of recreating the species made them slightly less reluctant to relinquish the needed DNA samples. But eventually, the preserved specimen was sent, guarded by a pair who will also be the first volunteers for Project Thylacine.
Sophie was also at Horizon Labs, hoping to speak with the delegates. Not just because of where they're from or what they're volunteering for, but hoping that she could a friendly foreign opinion on Animalia that could help counteract the bad press that has been happening lately. So she was among the staff members present when the delegates came in.
One of them was a young man with brown hair and somewhat familiar facial features. The other was a young woman with ginger-red hair and a surprisingly deep tan. "G'day, mates," said the man, "Here with compliments from the ITSD and the Commonwealth of Australia."
"Splendid," said Dr. Stein, "Everyone, this is Benjamin O'Riley and his fiance Tyree Davis. They're part of the zoological society in Australia and are here to volunteer for Project Thylacine."
Sophie's eyebrows raised. "Pardon me, Mr. O'Riley, but you wouldn't happen to be related to..." she started.
"Please, it's Ben to friends. And yeah, you've met me Uncle Melbourne, haven't you, Sophie?" said Benjamin.
"I can see a resemblance," said Sophie.
"Ol Benji's not quite as tough as his uncle," said Tyree, "His Uncle Mel's an adventurer abroad, Ben barely leaves the outback."
"There's plenty enough danger there for me," said Ben, "Certainly more than you see at the zoo."
"You think keeping cranky Tasmanian devils apart isn't dangerous?" asked Tyree mockingly.
"So why did you volunteer for Project Thylacine?" asked Sophie.
"Cause zoology's me life," said Tyree, "Been interested about the fauna of Australia since I was a nipper. It's a real shame I can't see a real thylacine in the wild anymore, but I'd like to do what I can ta bring them back."
"And after all the glowing recommendation me Uncle Mel has about Animalia, I just had to jump the train," said Ben.
"So, me and Ben are gonna be Project Thylacine and I hear you're gonna be in Project Mesozoic with spliced DNA of a ptero...ptero..." Tyree paused, snapping her fingers as she tried to remember the word.
"Pterodacylus," said Sophie, "But there might not be enough intact Pterodactylus DNA to use so I might have to add in some other pterosaurs."
"So what are ya gonna do about Project Cenozoic?" asked Tyree, "Let me guess, your first volunteer's gonna splice himself with that mammoth skeleton that's in your new school."
"While that is possible, it would be much more effective to extract DNA from the woolly mammoths found frozen in the north," said Dr. Stein.
"Speaking of frozen, how are you going to take care of the Cenozoics?" asked Ben, "The main reason those megafauna died out was because it got too warm for them."
"We could acquire some land far up north," said Dr. Stein, "Alaska is sparsely populated as it is and Canada is currently on friendly terms with the US. Anyways, the real estate is very cheap so close to the arctic circle."
"Gee, I wonder why," said Ben in a dry tone.
"So, when do we get our new fur coats?" asked Tyree.
"First we should make sure the thylacine DNA is safe enough to use," said Dr. Stein, "But I wouldn't worry too much. If the Animalian virus can bond with DNA from the hair of a long-dead dog, it shouldn't have trouble bonding to DNA from a more preserved sample."
Sophie could tell both Ben and Tyree were excited, and why shouldn't they be? Soon, the Tasmanian Tiger would walk the Earth again, even if it's as a humanoid hybrid.