|
Jurassic Park IV: Deadly Strain --Chapter2--
By Carnotaur3
A TALL TALE REALIZED
Lewis Dodgson, a bulky, yet skinny, mid-forties man, walked down the cracked sidewalk to the entrance of his corporation called BioSyn. BioSyn stood for Bio Synthetics, which wasn’t really anything he knew about. He just headed them all for opportunities to be accepted in the field, opportunities that only he made the decisions on. Anything he said went.
Dodgson pushed open the doors. The security guard greeted him by tipping his black cap to him. Dodgson nodded and pushed open another set of doors which led to a long corridor. The corridor lead to the conference room.
Inside the conference room sat a dozen members, not so patiently waiting for Dodgson to explain his lateness. Though they were never about to threaten him. They knew the power Dodgson withheld among them. He wasn’t head of the board, he left that to Steingarten. That man was willing to go along with whatever Dodgson had in mind.
Pulling his chair over to himself, Dodgson sat down, pushing papers aside. “Why I called this meeting should be known by now,” he said, looking around the table. He continued, “Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ian Malcolm are in our hands now, ready for the trip. There was a set back, though. In addition to Dr. Malcolm, we picked up Hammond’s grand-daughter Lex Murphy.”
“That was never part of the plan, Lewis,” Henry King said, sitting right opposite of Dodgson.
Henry was a tall round man, stood about 6 feet, but sitting down it was hard to tell. He was one of many directors for the meeting.
“I know, Henry, but… it turns out it might be a good idea to keep her. She is his grand-daughter after all, right? He could have told her anything in the last twenty-four hours. Now, the plan stays; we question them. We question them about other people they’ve talked to. If they withhold information then they might have passed it to others. It is imperative that we take all bases in this matter,” Dodgson said.
“You can’t just suspect us all to come in agreement with you here. What if they escape? What if they tell what’s happened to them?” King questioned.
Dodgson raises his hand and waves it in the air, “No, no, that simply cannot happen?”
“And why not?”
“We have certain measures, Dr. King. They are great ingenious methods. But they are nothing new to common man.”
“The board’s unanimous.”
Was King the only one in agreement with this? He started to suspect. But it was true, everyone agreed with Henry. Henry was the only one who would speak his mind in front of Dodgson and live to tell it. Lewis had been friends with Henry for many years, probably since grade school. No way was Dodgson ever going to stab him in the back.
“Have we even heard from the board yet? I’ll take a quorum in a minute. First, let’s get down to business. All viable embryos have been destroyed from our labs in Costa Rica. We’ll be evacuating the people in charge of the pins just as soon as we recover the last of the dinosaurs that escaped. Then, we’ll put in affect the Lysine Contingency, kill them all, and run out of their like raging mother fuckers. You got it?”
One of the directors spoke up, “Where are we to put the doctors? I’m referring to Dr. Grant, Malcolm, and… that grand-daughter.”
“We put them in our lab. The same one’s we’ll be evacuating from. Nobody’s going to be looking for them there.” Dodgson said, so sure of himself.
The same director shook his head, “I’m not so sure about this, Dr. Dodgson. Have you not been paying attention to the news lately? We’ve got the whole fucking Costa Rican government blowing up that God-forsaken island. If we play our cards right, the dinosaurs they find on the mainland could be taken as the ones from the island. They swam ashore to escape the blasts.”
“It’s illogical. Tell me what fucking animal swims 150 miles to land to escape getting killed. Tell me what animal has the ability to do that.”
King wrestled with Dodgson’s idea, “I want to understand this method you’re talking about. The one you’d perform on the… hostages.”
“One word for you, Dr. King… ‘disguise’,” he said standing up from his seat. “Now, I suppose a quorum is needed, right?”
Everyone’s head looked up. Of course, they were all going to agree with Dodgson and move on with his plan, whether they liked it or not.
Through the misty foliage in the wet jungles of Costa Rica, Dr. Ted Rosengard, accompanied by his companion, a Costa Rican tour guide by the name of Ciriaco, sped up the long grass and mud to the top of a ridge, looking at all the different variations of plant-life awaiting him down there. To Rosengard, this was home. It was home to all his studies, being a Botanist and all.
Ciriaco yelled some Spanish as he slowly paced up the hill, grabbing tree trunks. It was obvious the little Costa Rican couldn’t keep up with the professor, who was now googling with excitement, naming all the plants out loud so the whole forest could hear.
“Um…” Rosengard said, totally forgetting the tour guide’s name. “El Chico, come look at this.”
The tour guide hurried up the hill faster this time and reached the ridge. Rosengard greeted him with a pat on the back. If the day was normal, Ciriaco would have taken offense to this. The professor pointed to a tall, bulky looking tree among the many plants surrounding it.
“You see that? That’s a poró tree, scientifically named Erythrina poeppigiana. There are many of them around here. I’m certain you already knew that, but what the hell, right? It’s not like I’ll be making a lot out of what you say…” He said, walking back down the hill, “Come on, and let’s get a closer look, shall we?”
“Si, senior Rosengard.” Ciriaco announced, almost frustrated with the man’s enthusiasm over this subject. “I’d be very careful, plant man, some tribes still roam these places.”
“What kind of tribes?”
“Dangerous ones… they’ll get you and sacrifice you to the animals.”
“These animals… do they have a name?”
“Bird of pray. Horrific lizards – they all mean the same.”
“They are just a legend, right?”
“I don’t know, senior. I’m only a tour man.”
Finally, Rosengard reached the poró trees and examined each base of them.
“Beautiful specimens.” He said, dropping his back pack to the leafy terrain. Ciriaco started to wonder what the hell Rosengard was doing once he started climbing the trees, but he didn’t bother to ask.
Dr. Rosengard loved plants. He had studied them with keen eyes in his youth, and tried to learn all names of them by the time he was thirteen years of age. People disliked his ways back in high school; he didn’t have many friends who supported what he liked doing, and nobody ever foresaw that this would become an extreme and obsessive profession in his lifetime. When he graduated, all that was left for him to do was plant-life; he always knew what he wanted to do for his career.
It was in 1992 when Rosengard got his big break, an expedition to the uncharted islands in Costa Rica. He visited many of them, all except for two, because they had seemed to be privately owned, since people were rushing him away with their bull horns. But even so, he found some very interesting and exotic flowers. This right here was his biggest expedition yet, and the first time he was left alone only with a guide to keep him company. That was just the way he liked it. Total isolation.
As Rosengard climbed even higher up the tree, a dead animal was slumped over one of the branches, which stopped him from pursuing further. It was strange. It had dark green skin with a few lighter spots, a bumpy texture to the skin almost like a football, hind legs with three toes (or at least from what he could tell), two stout arms with three fingers, a long slender neck, and a pointed snout with a narrow lizard-like head. It was, indeed, the oddest creature he ever witnessed in his life.
“Ciriano…ah, El Chico, whatever your name is, would you take a look at this? I’m throwing it down to the ground for you.” Rosengard yelled down below.
Ciriaco waited as the little body of the animal hit the ground. The Costa Rican picked it up with both of his hands. He studied it, smelt it, squeezed it, and took a gaze at its wounds. The damage to the carcass was probably due to the exotic birds that like to eat small creature like this. That would explain it being up in a tree.
“Looks like a lizard.” Ciriaco said blatantly.
Rosengard jumped down to the ground, “I don’t think lizards stand on two feet. At least not the ones I have seen. I’m not suggesting lizard, but I will be cautious as to suggest it something… off the wall.”
Almost on cue, a terrible screaming sound echoed in the jungle. It wasn’t human, it actually was similar to something you might hear out of a dolphin’s mouth in the water, but this was clear as day. It was frightening. Ciriaco especially didn’t like what he was hearing. All kinds of thoughts ran from his mind.
“The tribe… maybe?” Ciriaco questioned.
Rosengard and Ciriaco automatically felt watched. Something was out there, they couldn’t tell what, but it was moving swiftly and cunningly through the foliage, making sure they didn’t catch a glimpse of it… until now!
A tail swung, hitting the edge of a tree trunk. Both men alerted themselves to the spot, eyeing the movement of the creature. It was cat-like, something they’ve never seen before. And it came out, pouncing onto Ciriaco like a stranded mouse. He didn’t scream right away, the shock of what happen had made his emotions freeze for an instant. As the creature, standing about six feet tall, armed with sharp claws and teeth, came into Rosengard’s view, he could see it tear into Ciriaco belly with its thick, curved toe claw so easily.
His entrails spilled out onto the grass, still some hanging inside. Rosengard couldn’t believe what he was seeing. The creature pulled Ciriaco with its mouth wrapped around the Costa Rican’s arm, dragging him into the foliage, out of sight. Whatever happened, he had to help the man. Running full speed, as fast as he could, Dr. Rosengard was catching up to the animal that had taken his tour guide. Damn was it ever fast. Possibly the fastest thing he had ever seen in any life form on earth. It was gaining more speed as the jungle began to open in space more. Trees were disappearing and the green grass turned into tall yellow looking grass.
He followed the trail of blood that was smacked around the firm stiff grass, and since there was no more screaming to be heard, he figured that the poor guy was dead. Either way, he was going to retrieve his body, he owed him that. He entered a dark area of jungle where some of the plant life had rotted away. As the sound of the creature’s footsteps slowly drifted from his ears, Rosengard stopped to make guesses which way it had ran to. He wasn’t sure. Maybe it went another way into the long grass.
Now he was thinking that he took the wrong idea and ran with it. There wasn’t much to do with Ciriaco. He was dead long before it even happened. There wasn’t a damned thing Rosengard could do about it. He couldn’t retrieve the body. He couldn’t even run for it. As a matter of fact, he didn’t have a chance himself because through the dark tree limbs that surrounded the trees, he could see the glaring eyes of the same creature, only multiplied around him like a swarm of bees. They were in every dark spot, waiting to pounce on him.
It was a long damn run back to the open long grass. But he would try… he would try.
Grant awoke to darkness again. For a moment he panicked and thought he had been blinded by the hard hits to his head, but he slowly realized that he had a piece of tape wrapped around his eye lids to the back of his head. He could hear drops of water smacking the hard concrete floor beneath him. He began to imagine himself in a cold, wet basement. But he wasn’t. In fact, it wasn’t too far from it.
He tried to get to his feet, but his hands were tied up to his back. He struggled to get up with his knees, but his whole body seemed to ache with total discomfort alongside it. His left side of his face fell back to the watery floor. He breathed in heavily. He was almost about to get up when he heard the squeaking of prison-barred doors opening. He now knew exactly where he was. Only the reason wasn’t clear to him at all.
“Get up,” a voice muttered.
Grant was hesitant. The voice had sounded so muffled like he was talking through a mask. And how in the world was he expecting him to get up?
“Move it, now!” the voice yelled this time.
He squirmed over to the wall and pushed himself up along it. It was difficult, but he finally succeeded in the end. The man that was demanding from him now pushed him through the prison bars to a long corridor. Still, Grant had no idea where he was going and for what purpose. He was afraid, indefinitely, that the only way to find out was to go along with the demands of the man.
Touching the walls, Grant felt hinges. He must be at a threshold. He entered into the room, which was actually quite bright, but to his was still darkness. Finally, he was pushed to a sea in which he sat himself down and waited for the unimaginable. But he was surprised when the man pulled the tape from his eyes in one swipe. He grunted from the split second pain. His eyes weren’t adjusting well. Grant wondered how long he had been in that wet room. But he saw in front of him a figure, sitting at a long gray table. It was a man, his hair slicked back, smiling.
Dr. Grant had a sudden reaction to leap forward and ring his neck out. He didn’t care if he was involved or not, he was going to rip his throat into two pieces. A shocker came when his hands met glass. Grant recoiled, rubbing his knuckles and groaning.
“I wouldn’t be so quick at hatred, Dr. Grant,” the man said. “After all, you might be talking to the man who will save your life.” He realized that the man was behind a glass window, talking through a speaker.
Agitated and hurt, Grant pounded his fists onto the table, “What is the meaning here? Who are you?”
“I’m Lewis Dodgson. I am the leader in this quarantined mission.”
“Quarantined?” Grant asked.
“Yes, I must admit, I should have taken you another way. It was wrong to kidnap you in such a manner and not explain why.”
“Yes, I should say so!”
“However, since you are here, I must explain why you are restrained. Look behind you.”
Grant sighed and turned his head to the back. He saw a man in a yellow bio-hazard suit, holding a black shotgun to his side, standing next to the doorway.
“His name is Mr. Burgess. Mr. Burgess will be taking care of you from now on. Why is Mr. Burgess so demanding you ask? He’s under my authority to do this. I’m afraid you would have awaken and become hostile before we had a chance to explain ourselves to you and our reasons why you have been taken,” Dodgson said.
“Can you tell Mr. Burgess to take off the tape on my arms and hands?” Grant asked, trying to hold back anger.
“Okie dokie. Mr. Burgess, would you release the doctor from his restraints; the tape.”
“Yes sir, boss.” Mr. Burgess said, still muffled to Grant.
Reaching down, Mr. Burgess cut the sticky stuff from Dr. Grant’s arms and hands. He was freed. And on that notion, Grant felt more relaxed and comfortable. He supposed he owed them a listen… after all, it wasn’t his choice now, was it?
Dodgson started his explanation, “The islands Isla Sorna and Isla Nublar have been home to prehistoric dinosaurs for a number of years now. We all know that, but it is believed by the United States government that people who have been close to these animals on those islands, had taken with them, after they had been rescued of course, a disease, which could infect the whole nation, quite possibly the whole world population. InGen knew about this. They called it D-X and they tried to convince themselves that it was a genetic alteration. A simple… mistake in the makeup. They, however, had no knowledge of it infecting human beings. But it has. It’s horrible. Many lives have died from it. Including… Mr. Hammond. He died last night in a hospital bed.”
“I thought he had some sort of cancer,” Grant stated. “He told me this over the phone.”
“I’m afraid not, Dr. Grant,” continued Dodgson. “This sort of disease can occur at any time once infected. It can lay dormant for years. In the case of John Hammond, he got it after the incident in the park.”
Grant rubbed his eyes. He was terrified by this news. What if Ellie had it too? Malcolm? The kids: Lex and Tim? Even the Kirby family…
“Is there a cure?” Grant said, knowing that it probably wasn’t so.
“Not at this time, that is why we have you. We want to study you. Ask you a number of questions concerning what you know about InGen. If there was anything Hammond told you… you know simple stuff. Then afterward, we’d like to get a blood sample from you. It would be great for you to hear that you are not alone in this matter. Dr. Malcolm and Lex Murphy have also been taken here for studies. You can talk with them at lunch.”
Grant licked his lips, “Do you want me to answer questions now?”
“No, no, that wouldn’t be necessary, Dr. Grant. We’ll hold those ‘till after lunch. Oh, the rest of the people who were on Isla Sorna and Nublar will be here shortly, so you’ll get even more company. Everything’s running smoothly, Dr. Grant, I wouldn’t worry about anything at all. The search for the D-X cure has been long going, so it’s not like we just started on it.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Yes, yes, it is.”
Dodgson motioned for Mr. Burgess to help Dr. Grant out of his chair.
Before switching off the speaker, Dodgson said, “And Grant, we still have to keep you behind the bars. It’s for your own good.”
“I’ve got him feeding – out of my fucking – hand!” exclaimed Dodgson, popping open a can of soda.
Dodgson is in his office talking with Henry King. Henry’s fascinated by the colorful walls and pictures spread across them. Most of the pictures consisted of fishing trips and safaris. Lewis was always into safaris. He grew up in Africa with his dad, who taught him how to hunt animals at a very early age. By the time he was seven-teen, Dodgson learned how to hunt humans.
Henry wasn’t assured by Dodgson’s words, “So it might appear.”
“Henry, when have I failed you? Huh? When have I failed the company? I know you like to be the smart ass around here, but I grew up learning how to play games with people’s minds. We’ve got the perfect cover up story. We’ve got the perfect motive. We’ve got the perfect plan.”
Henry laughed, “Yeah? Well your plan is still out their in the jungle, roaming around the villagers like some fucking vulture. We’ve found and recovered twenty five of your species out of thirty two. Seven of those still out there are huge and small carnivores. They are breeding.”
“You back up the breeding evidence and we’ll call it a day. I know my men are slacking on resources to get these critters, but by the end of the day, we’ll catch them. I assure you of that. And we will definitely destroy them.”
“I sure hope you are right, Lewis. This company can not stand in bankruptcy like it did in the 70’s.”
Dodgson took out a stogie from his desk drawer and lit up. He puffed the smoke out like an engine of a train. He knew the measures it took to get a company back on its feet, but BioSyn is very well funded with more money than InGen could ever dream up… even back when they were doing Jurassic Park. But Dodgson was the risk taker. He was the brave man who knew what he was going to do and wasn’t afraid to do it.
“This company is in my hands. I feel pretty good about that.” Dodgson said rocking in his chair.
6/18/2004 7:53:15 PM
Comment on this fan fiction!
|
|
|
