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Jurassic Park Dawn of Retribution Stage Three
By JPJunkee+Yvonne
THIRD STAGE
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by
people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."
-- Dale Carnegie --
Grant and Ellie stepped off the plane and into the harsh weather conditions of the San Diego Airport. The rain was falling so hard, it had the capacity to leave bruises on the skin, and the wind whirled with such might, Grant had to brace himself and Ellie in order to stand. He was amazed they had been able to land here at all.
Feeling something pressed against his back, he was smart enough to take it as a gesture to walk faster. They were escorted away from the plane and towards an awaiting Jeep. A Costa Rican man in military fatigues stood beside the Jeep waiting for them.
The man had to shout over the wind and rain, "Dr. Grant, Dr. Degler! I hope your flight was pleasant!"
Grant managed a smile, as he rubbed the bump on the back of his head, "Oh yes, it was delightful."
The man smiled, indifferent to Grant's sarcasm. "Good! I had hoped for as much! I am Sergeant Javier Martinez. I will be joining you in your quest! Now, if you would please get into the Jeep, so we can get to the choppers that will take us out of this dreadful weather, and to our destination!"
Grant and Ellie nodded and stepped into the backseat of the Jeep. Martinez got in the front passenger seat and motioned for the driver to go.
Grant looked beside him at Ellie. She looked terrible, and not just because of the rain. Her eyes were sullen and her skin was pale. Obviously the death of Mark would affect her so, but it hurt Grant to see her like this.
"How are you holding up?" He whispered to her.
She looked at Grant and frowned, "Fine."
"It's all going to be okay."
Ellie managed a smile. She reached for his hand and squeezed it. "I know."
Martinez looked back at them and said in a cheery voice, "I hope none of the officers that brought you here were too rash."
"Actually, I do think I've somewhat developed a disliking for one of them," Grant said with a small smile as he rubbed his head again.
"Ah, yes. Tall man, big beard, doesn't speak English?" Martinez said.
"Yes . . ."
"That would be Sisqo. Yes, he's not the most friendly of people, now is he? Did he handle you improperly?"
"That depends on what you take as improper," Grant said.
Martinez laughed, "I like you, Dr. Grant. You're a good man, very quick witted! Some of the people on this expedition may not be of the friendly sort. Hell, more than half of them don't speak any English! But, as long as you're near me, I won't let anything bad happen to you, or Dr. Degler."
Grant smiled, "Well, I guess that's a good thing to know."
"But I must advise you, stay out of the way of General Aldez, who will be the leader of this expedition. Answer his questions, but do not contradict him. He is not a man who appreciates other's opinions."
"I'll keep that in mind."
The Jeep came to a stop. Outside the Jeep, Grant could see nothing except a few dim lights in the dark rainy night.
"Okay, we're here," Martinez said. "I have other matters to attend to before we make for the island. I think it would be best that you meet with the other members of the team." Martinez pointed to the right side of the Jeep. "If you go in that direction, you will find the others. Good day to you both, I will see you in time." Then, with a smile, Martinez stepped out of the Jeep and ran away.
The scientists looked at each other and frowned, and then they stepped out of the Jeep and into the rain.
Ellie walked over to Grant's side of the Jeep and together, they walked to where Martinez had told them.
As they walked Grant made small talk, mostly just to get Ellie's mind of certain traumatic events, "Martinez seemed friendly."
"It's a nice change of pace compared to our current new acquaintances."
Grant smiled.
Ahead of them, they saw the faint outline of a small boxy building. Outside of the building, they saw people standing around waiting.
Grant frowned when he saw that one of the people was fighting with an armed Costa Rican officer. The man waved his arms in the air and was yelling at the top of his lungs.
As they walked closer, Grant could see that this man was very tall and was wearing all black. He couldn't help but smile, when he discovered the man was none other than Ian Malcolm.
The Costa Rican soldier was talking to Malcolm in a slow voice, "Por favor, Dr. Malcolm, permanece aquí. Aldez hablará con usted pronto bastante."
Malcolm threw his hands in the air again, "Speak English!"
"Yo no hablo inglés."
Malcolm waved his finger at the man, "Oh, I understood that one. Don't speak English?"
The Costa Rican nodded.
"Well, uh . . . find someone who does!"
The man shook his head, he didn't understand Malcolm.
"I don't believe this," Malcolm sighed, as he pushed the man aside and started to walk away.
"No me haga uso la fuerza contra usted, Dr. Malcolm," the Costa Rican said. "Yo no deseo a, pero hago si usted me hace."
Malcolm growled as he passed the man and started to walk away.
The Costa Rican did not like that. The man quickly brought up his rifle, and hit Malcolm in the back of the neck with it.
Malcolm fell to the wet ground, wincing in pain. The Costa Rican stood over him and said in a disgusted voice, "Stupid American pig." Then he spat and walked away.
Malcolm got to his knees and mumbled, "Well, at least he speaks a little English." He twisted his neck from side to side, trying to make it feel better, and that's when he noticed Grant and Ellie standing near by. His demeanor changed completely, where once it was disgusted and foul, it was now cheery and elated, "Ah, Alan and Ellie, so nice to see you both. What brings you two to this place of stupidity and misunderstanding?"
Grant walked closer to Malcolm, "Same thing as you, I'm afraid."
"Oh? And uh, what's that? I haven't been told anything other than 'our lives are in danger', and when I try to ask something, people don't understand me. Morons."
"We're going to Isla Sorna," Grant informed Malcolm grimly.
Malcolm smiled, "Ah, figures." Another Costa Rican walked by and Malcolm grabbed the man's arm to get his attention, "When are we going?" Malcolm asked.
"Muy pronto," the man said, then walked off.
"Ah, pronto, I know that means fast . . . or soon, or something." Malcolm shook his head, "Anyways, we'll be leaving soon, it seems. And the sooner the better."
"Why do you say that?" Ellie asked, speaking to Malcolm for the first time.
"Well, it's come to my attention that some of these people aren't too nice."
"You've noticed that too, huh?" Grant asked.
"Indeed, uh, it seems they have a tendency to hit you with hard objects if you do not agree with them." Malcolm peered over Grant's shoulder, as if he was looking at something, "Uh, it seems there is one more American who will be joining us."
Grant turned around and saw a physically fit young man walking towards them. "Oh, no."
Ellie turned to Grant, "What? Who is that?"
"Adam Kaje," saying those words made Grant sound like he wanted to gag.
Kaje walked up to the three of them, and stood directly in front of Grant. Kaje had black hair and was handsome in a rough and rugged sort of way. He was young, probably only twenty-five or twenty-six. He wore green cargo pants, and a green rain poncho. When he spoke, one would be able to tell that the man was quite arrogant and cocky, but in truth he had earned the right.
"I knew there was going to be another paleontologist," Kaje said, staring at Grant. "But I didn't think they'd have to dig up some old piece of work like yourself, Grant."
"That's Dr. Grant," Grant corrected him, and then he turned to the others, "I don't believe either of you have met Dr. Kaje, have you?"
Ellie shook her head, and Malcolm said, "No, uh, never heard of him."
Grant tried to hide a smile as Kaje's face began to glow red from Malcolm's remark. Grant continued, "Now, Adam, I know you're still that arrogant little bastard that I knew five years ago. And I also know that you don't have the ability to change into a better person --- at least not in this lifetime. But, as it appears we will be working together, I think it'd be best if you could at least try and be civil."
Kaje eyed Grant closely, then turned to the other two, "You must be, Dr. Sattler. I recognize your face," he said, referring to Ellie.
"Degler actually---" Ellie's eyes narrowed and she walked away, the name of her late husband ringing in her ears.
Kaje watched Ellie walk away with only faint interest. He noticed that Grant looked torn between staying there or going after her. He shrugged and then looked at Malcolm, "And you are?"
"Ian Malcolm," Ian extended his hand to shake.
"Please excuse me if I don't shake hands," Kaje said. Malcolm retracted his hand. "So, what do you do, Mr. Malcolm?"
"Well, uh, first off; just like Dr. Grant, I am Dr. Malcolm. And, uh, I'm a chaotician."
"Ah, chaos theory. An admirable field. 'Where chaos begins, classical science stops.'"
Malcolm smiled, "Uh, James Gleick, you know your fair share of chaoticians --- yet you didn't know who I was. Odd . . . but, uh, yeah, that's a James Gleick quote."
Kaje smiled, "I'm working with Gleick on a theory. We're basically trying to show how chaos theory can prove how the dinosaurs went extinct." Kaje acted very proud, and held his chin high.
"Ah, well, good for you. You're working with Gleick, yay, I'm happy for you," Malcolm said mockingly. "Uh, but I've never liked Gleick's views on chaos. He's what I call an acting scientist. He didn't set the field, he didn't make advances. He watched it all happen, and wrote about it in the back room of his house drinking a Diet Pepsi. And now, people think he's an actual scientist, when point of fact, he's an adapter, or rather, a historian."
Kaje just stood there, his mouth hanging open.
"Dr. Malcolm," Grant said, "is a man of strong opinions.
"And mad as a hatter!" Malcolm chuckled slightly. "But really, if you ever talk to Gleick again -- which as seeing that we're going to Isla Sorna, I don't think you will -- tell him, what I said about him. Sure, he'll probably threaten to kill me, or kidnap my wife, but he knows it to be true. The fact, that you're working alongside him, yet do not see this truth about him. . . . staggers me."
Kaje was lost for words. He simply spun on his heel, and walked off, only turning back to them to give them the finger.
"Delightful man," Malcolm said, "You two know each other?"
"More or less. He was a student of mine about six years ago, but he was rash, too fast to assume, and too quick to question my theories and authority. So, I made him leave. I don't think he liked that too much, and I don't think he's a very stable man."
"I kind of came to that assumption myself."
Grant smiled, "It's good to see you again, Ian."
"Oh look, you're making me blush," Malcolm joked. "But uh, I think you better stop the warm greetings, and go find Ellie. After Dr. Jackass introduced himself to her, she took off."
Grant had realized that Ellie had distanced herself from them, but was shocked to see Malcolm was right, she wasn't there at all. She had been so quiet that he hadn't noticed she had disappeared. "Oh God, where did she go? Did you see?"
"I think that way," Ian pointed to the left, "I'm not sure though. I was a bit distracted by my amusement with Kaje. . . . By the way, Ellie, is she okay? She seemed very---"
"Her husband was shot to death today," Grant said as he ran away from Malcolm, searching for her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After searching for about five minutes, Grant found Ellie slumped against a wall, crying. She hadn't seen him yet and he wasn't sure about what to do. His first reaction was to run over there and embrace her, but the thought of that made him feel awkward. She was grieving the death of another man, a man she loved dearly. The last thing she really needed was to be bothered by a former lover. He settled on just staying his distance and keeping an eye on her from afar.
It didn't work for very long.
Taking a break from crying, she raised her head and took a deep breath. She noticed Grant standing nearby, and he was looking directly at her.
He wasted no time walking over to her. "I'm going to try to get them to leave you here," he said, "There has to be some way to talk sense into these people."
"What? Why?" She asked, wiping her tears away and putting the fake strong front back on.
"You should be allowed to grieve, Ellie. You need to be with your children."
The mention of the children almost brought the tears back, but she kept strong.
"I can handle this every bit as well as you can," she challenged.
"I think---"
"And besides," she cut him off, "If you go around asking that, you'll get the hell beat out of you."
"Maybe."
"No maybe's, Alan. You would. So, the answer is no. I don't need you to protect me right now. I just need you to be a helpful friend, someone I can lean on. Okay?"
"Absolutely," he answered quickly.
"Who was that guy?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Kaje? An old student."
"From when?"
"After us."
"Which time? The first breakup or the second?"
"Second?" Grant questioned.
"Yeah, you know . . . that brief rekindling we had. The one where I finally decided you weren't right for me . . . again," she said, almost laughing. It felt good to almost laugh, but it didn't last long.
"After all of it," he answered.
"I see," Ellie said, nodding, "Well, he's an ass."
"Kaje? Yeah, he's definitely . . . one of a kind," Grant agreed.
Martinez came into view, close to them.
"Doctors, we're going to be leaving now, so please follow me."
Grant held out his arm. Gesturing toward Martinez, he looked at Ellie, "After you."
* * *
The small six-passenger plane slowed in speed as it neared the San Diego Airport.
"San Diego Tower. Saratoga 16319 is with you, level 3000, landing San Diego International with ATIS," Tony spoke into the headset. After a brief nod, indicating that an ATC controller had contacted him with instructions, he replied, "319. Thank you, sir."
Madison was sitting in the co-pilot seat, while Leah was in the back, looking very weary.
"You okay?" Madison asked, craning his neck toward her.
"I'll be fine when we're down there," she answered, gesturing toward the ground that seemed so far away.
Tony could see that Leah was looking more than just a little nervous.
"Oh, don't worry, sweetheart. I only botch up landings in those flight simulator games. The real thing is much easier," he said, smiling crazily.
Madison laughed and Leah shook her head.
"Why don't you just stop talking to me altogether?" She asked.
"That's no fun," Tony joked.
After receiving another instruction in his headset from the Tower, he became serious and repeated the runway number to the controller. He began to set the plane up in the landing formation, while still making the time to annoy the pretty lady.
"So, are you afraid of heights? Of planes? Or are you just afraid of what might happen if you and I were left alone in this tiny bucket of bolts?"
"If you don't stop bothering me, I am going to deck you."
Tony looked at Madison, "My goodness, Madison. This is one hell of a feisty woman you've got here!" He shouted happily.
He was still looking at Madison and it was making Leah uncomfortable, with the airport being so close.
"Aaron," she whispered, gesturing toward the front windshield.
Madison nodded and smiled, "Hey Tony. Why don't you watch the . . . road or whatever, man. You're freaking me out."
"Good call! I'll do that!" Tony said, laughing.
Leah didn't care for this man from the first second she had met him, but now she was actually getting close to loathing him.
After briefly talking to the Tower again, Tony set the flaps and landed very nicely. Leah was surprised that she was barely able to feel the tires hit the runway. As the plane slowed and began to taxi toward the parking area, Tony began to talk to the passengers again.
"I know that we're buddies and all, Aaron, but I don't think I'm going to be able to take you to your ultimate destination."
"Why is that?" Leah suddenly spoke up.
Tony glanced toward her, "Because I'm not taking this little plane anywhere near an island with flying reptiles or whatever."
"I understand," Madison said softly.
"Is it the money? I can pay you a lot of---"
"No, no. It's just . . . just that I would like to be able to live a bit longer. There are a lot of pilots that go near that island and never return. It's like an all new Bermuda Triangle over there."
"But . . ." Leah began to say.
"It's not a problem," Madison said, interrupting her.
As the plane made its way to the parking area, the side door opened and Leah was the first one out. She was disappointed, but she really couldn't blame the guy. Although, he did seem like the exact kind of psycho to fly over Isla Sorna for fun, she still understood his decision.
Madison stepped off behind her and put his hand on her shoulder, "It's okay, Leah. We'll find a way out there."
"We need to get out there . . . like, yesterday," she announced.
"I know. And I'll get us there. Just give me a little time."
He removed his hand and began to walk past her.
"Where are we going?" She called after him.
"To rent a car."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aaron Madison drove the rented SUV fast, probably too fast for the busy and slippery roads. Madison's face was determined, but inside his thoughts, he was uncertain. Madison looked beside him, at Leah. She was grasping the arms of her seat very tightly, as she watched Madison zoom in and out of traffic. But he knew that Leah wasn't thinking about his reckless driving, she was thinking about Alan Grant.
Madison turned his attention back to the road, and said, "You're sure about this?"
Leah continued to stare straight ahead, "Sure about what?"
"This whole thing. . . Are you sure you want to go to the island?"
Leah looked at Madison, he caught the look she gave him out of the corner of his eye -- she was sure.
Madison passed a car, and the car honked at him, Madison ignored it. "Okay, so, we can't get a flight out of here. So, the only choice left, is to go by boat. Hopefully there'll be a captain somewhere in the harbor willing to take us to the island."
"There will be," Leah said sternly beside him.
"Well, it's good to hold hope, but I mean, you need to face facts, we may not---"
"We're going to that island."
Madison nodded, "Okay, Leah."
The car that Madison had just passed, accelerated and now passed Madison.
Aaron cursed underneath his breath, "I hate these people. . . they think they own the road."
Madison accelerated and passed the car from the right, slowing down just enough to give the other driver a rude gesture, and then drove past him.
"I hate California," Aaron muttered.
Leah smiled despite herself.
* * *
Ian Malcolm was sitting down at an old table, drinking a luke warm cup of coffee. He watched as all around him, the Ricans picked up equipment and loaded it into the awaiting choppers.
"Nice job, Ian," he whispered to himself. "You've gotten yourself into deep shit, once again."
He watched as two big men worked together to carry one large container. The container was made of metal and was colored dark green, and had a sticker slapped on the side that said: "!Caution! DH-11 Explosives."
"Uhh, that's a big box," he muttered to himself with a smile.
"Indeed it is," said a voice to his left.
Malcolm jumped and looked to his left, to see the familiar Costa Rican soldier, Javier Martinez standing there, smiling down at him.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to scare you," Martinez said.
"Oh, it's okay, I just didn't know anyone was standing there," Malcolm said. He took another sip of his coffee and watched as four more men walked by, all carrying the same big boxes with the DH-11 symbol on them. "What, may I ask, are those things?" Malcolm asked, pointing at the big boxes.
"Those, are a special new kind of napalm explosives. Prototypes really."
"And what use would high explosives be on an expedition to Isla Sorna?"
"No use, probably. But, we are taking them along, just in case," Martinez said, nodding.
Malcolm looked confused, "In case of what, exactly?"
"Like I said, there's probably no reason to bring them. But, if we fail with our mission, then we may use the explosives."
"Ah, that reminds me!" Malcolm said, putting his finger up in the air as the thought occurred to him. "What . . . is the mission? I mean, earlier today, you told me you could protect me from a possible assassination attempt, and that I could answer some of your questions, in return for your protection -- and by the way, no one has asked me anything as of yet. And then, I'm taken to this damn airport, in the drenching rain, and once again, no one tells me anything. And then, just an hour ago, I learn from Dr. Grant that we're all going to Sorna together. And you know what? I would sure as hell like to know why!"
"Please, Dr. Malcolm, do not take me as some bad guy blinded by his countries' wishes, for I am not," Martinez said. "I am a human being just like you, and I realize that the way you are being treated is rude and inappropriate. For that I apologize. General Aldez wishes that all questions be saved for later, as to not arouse suspicion of unwanted guests."
Malcolm nodded, "Would you mind telling me, what this mission of yours is all about?"
Martinez tilted his head to the side, "I probably should not speak. But, you are going to be told by Aldez himself, very soon. So, I see no harm in telling you." Martinez sat down in a chair beside Malcolm and leaned in close to him, to whisper, "It has been decided upon, by my country, that the animals on Isla Sorna, are indeed treasures to us. Granted, they are very dangerous, and allowing civilians to visit the island is quite insane. But, those animals are a gold mine. After the incident in San Diego, back in 1997, it was unclear what was to be done with that island. Well, it has now been decided, that we shall take advantage of those living animals, and study them."
Malcolm shook his head, "Studying them is easier said than done. I would know."
"Yes, indeed you are correct, Dr. Malcolm. For you see, about one year ago, our country set out on an expedition to study the animals. We could make fortunes with the scientific research, and Costa Rica would get a big boost in tourism as well. The expedition went well at first. We had obtained a large amount of data, and were making great discoveries," Martinez looked up, as if thinking of the best way to word his future sentences. "But then, we realized something . . . the animals were sick."
"Sick?" Malcolm asked, his eyes filled with surprise, "What d--- what do mean 'sick'?"
"We believe the animals were all infected with some sort of disease. They all seemed to be out of breath, and their noses were always bloody. More than once, we saw dinosaurs just fall dead onto the floor."
"Uh huh . . ."
"But, we had a problem. None on the mission, had ever seen a real live dinosaur before. No one knew what to expect. Some of us even believed that the disease was a not a disease, but that the dinosaurs just acted and behaved like this at all times. We didn't know what to do. The teams two paleontologists, Dr. Kaje and Dr. Diamond were both speechless, and did not know what to say about the animals and their behavior."
Malcolm nodded, but kept silent.
"We left the island, shortly after discovering this disease."
"And, uhh, what does that have to do with me, or any of the others?"
"You people have seen the animals before they were 'sick'. You people know what a healthy dinosaur looks like. You people can identify what is wrong with the animals, so that we can possibly make them all healthy again, and save the island."
Malcolm rolled his eyes, "This is lunacy. Of course, I should have expected something like this, but I must say. . . . I'm at a loss for words. I mean, uh, you kidnap -- or excuse me, pick up -- some of the only survivors of those islands and you force them to come to your island and help you with healing the very animals that almost took our lives!"
"Please, Dr. Malcolm, keep your voice down."
Malcolm shook his head, "I mean, I'm a chaotician. What exactly am I supposed to tell you about dinosaurs?"
"We tried to get in contact with your wife, Sarah, but she was not home. She would have been a wiser choice, but you too have seen the living dinosaurs, you know what they acted like."
"Yeah, but, jeez . . . there were others that visited those islands that would have been of better use to you! I mean, what about, uhh, what's his name, Roland Tembo?"
"Mr. Tembo died two years ago," Martinez said, flatly.
"Or- or- or, Nick Van Owen. I'm sure he would have been more than willing to help you out!"
"Mr. Van Owen has been in prison for the last five months."
Malcolm threw his hands up in the air. He was obviously angered by this new information, and he wasn't afraid to show it. But after a moment, he settled down and whispered, "Does Alan or Ellie know about the mission's objectives?"
"No, and they won't be told until we reach the island," Martinez said.
"What if I tell them?"
Martinez shook his head, "I'm sorry, Dr. Malcolm. I will see to it, that you do not speak with neither Grant nor Degler until we reach the island."
"I figured as much . . ."
"I am sorry you had to be involved in this Dr. Malcolm. I do not wish to put a man, in which I respect so much, and a man who has a family at home, into harms way. But, they are my orders."
Malcolm smiled and shrugged, "Hey, it's your job."
"Thank you for not holding a grudge against me, Dr. Malcolm," Javier Martinez said as he looked at his watch. "Well, I best be going, I must prepare for the flight." Then, Martinez stood up and waved over two men. They stood before Martinez as he spoke, "Take Dr. Malcolm to the first chopper, and secure him in his seat in preparation for takeoff."
"Si, señor," the two men said in unison. The two men stood at either side of Malcolm and ushered him to one of the choppers.
"So, you two speak English?" Malcolm said as they approached the chopper.
"Nosotros no hablamos inglés," one of the men said.
"Ah, shit, you gotta be kidding me . . . I have the feeling this is going to be a long flight," Malcolm muttered underneath his breath as he stepped into the chopper.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sisqo and the other man pushed Grant and Ellie along as they neared the chopper.
Together, they stepped into the chopper and sat down beside each other. Sisqo and the other man got into the chopper and sat directly across from them.
Grant sighed as he held Ellie's hand tight, and looked out the chopper's side door. It was still raining outside, but he could manage to see the other choppers on the ground, waiting to take to the air.
Directly beside their chopper, Grant saw the chopper with Malcolm in it. Malcolm looked as though he was waving to them, like a friend would do. But, after a moment, Grant realized that Malcolm was yelling as well and his waving arms were very frantic.
Something's wrong.
Then, Grant watched as a gun was put against Malcolm's skull. Instantly, Malcolm stopped moving and sat still. But, Malcolm was still looking in his direction and his eyes were giving off a rush of warning.
Grant sighed as Malcolm's chopper began to take off, and he saw Malcolm close his eyes. Then, he noticed Adam Kaje sitting across from Malcolm.
"What is it?" Ellie asked.
Grant shook his head and looked at Sisqo as he whispered to Ellie, "Nothing. I was just realizing that riding in this chopper with this gorilla isn't nearly as bad as the trip that Malcolm's about to have."
Ellie smiled, but then gasped in surprise as the chopper began to lift off the ground.
"Here we go," Grant said, patting her hand, attempting to comfort her as they flew away from the ground.
* * *
Nearly a half an hour of reckless driving later, they were driving into the harbor.
"Smells like Moby Dick just took a shit," Madison said, complaining about the harbor's harsh smell of fish.
"That's what all harbors smell like," Leah said. "Haven't you ever been to a place like this before?"
Aaron parked the SUV and unbuckled his seat belt. "Nope, never. Not even as a kid. I'm a city boy."
Together, they both stepped out of the vehicle, and then began to approach the harbor master's office.
Madison paused, "No wait, let's not go in there."
"What, why?"
"This place we want to get to, I remember that it's restricted, right? Well, asking the harbormaster if any boats are planning to go to an illegal island may be . . . risky."
Leah nodded, "So what do you propose we do?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madison put on the most authentic smile he could manage, as he tapped the man on the shoulder. The man turned around, he was wearing a long yellow raincoat, and had a big cigar hanging out the side of his mouth.
"Good day, sir," Madison said. Leah smiled in the background.
"What do you want?" The man asked.
"The lady and I were wondering, if you could perhaps tell us where you are planning to be . . . boating off to."
The man glanced at Madison with an odd look, then he turned toward Leah and frowned. "What's this about?"
Madison smiled again, "The lady and I are try---"
"We're trying to get to Isla Sorna," Leah interrupted, "and we need a boat to get us there. We were wondering if you could help us?"
The man did not show any shock after hearing that. He did not show anything. His demeanor remained completely the same as he said, "Isla Sorna, that was the island with the dinosaurs, right?"
Leah nodded.
"You know that island is restricted. You can be arrested if you go to that island," the man said.
"We know. But we need to go," Leah said.
"Why?"
Madison nodded grimly, "Her boyfrie--"
"My husband," Leah interrupted, "was taken to the island. I want to rescue him."
The man frowned, "I'm sorry, but I can't help you. You may want to check some of the other captains, there's one that's supposedly going to some islands in the Pacific, you may want to talk to him. But in all honesty, I don't think you're going to get anyone to take you to that island, just too much risk. But I wish you both luck." Then the man turned and boarded his ship.
Leah frowned and continued to walk down the harbor, looking for other boat captains.
Madison followed close behind her. "You know, I was thinking. Maybe we could just steal a boat and go to the island ourselves."
"Do you know how to read a nautical map?" Leah asked.
"No."
"Do you think you could drive the boat as fast as the SUV, when the police start chasing us?"
Madison paused to think, then he said, "No."
"Do you even know how to drive a boat?"
"No, but I'm sure it couldn't be that hard."
"On the open ocean, it will be hard. That's why we need someone else to take us," Leah said.
Aaron frowned, "The lady’s right."
"Ladies always are," Leah said, looking back at Aaron with a smile.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three boat captains, three 'no, I can't help', and three wishes for the best of luck later, brought them to the last few boats in the harbor.
There were three boats lined up parallel to each other. Men were running all about, loading equipment onto the boats, preparing to leave. In the middle of it all, a very muscular middle aged man with long dark hair and a square jaw, stood shouting at everyone.
"Ryan! You hold that box firmly, or you're going to drop it!" the muscular man yelled. "Hey! Don't you roll your eyes at me! That's expensive equipment you're carrying! Hey, I said don't roll your eyes. I see those eyes roll one more time, and I'll use a spoon to scoop them out of your skull!"
Aaron looked shocked at the man's comment, "Delightful."
Leah wasn't as discouraged, she quickly strode up to the muscular man, who she took as the man in charge and said, "Hello, my name is Leah Owens. I was wondering if I could have a word with you?"
The man turned to the side, and looked Leah up and down, "No."
"Won't you at least hear what I have to say?" Leah asked.
The man looked annoyed, but said, "Fine, what is it?" then the man looked back to the others loading the equipment, "Hey, Russell! Yeah you, ya dipshit! Don't drop those boxes, the stuff inside is unstable, you could blow up the very boat you're standing on . . . jackass."
Leah searched for words, "Yes, well, we were wondering where you and your party were heading?"
The man gave her and ugly look, "What's it to you?"
"Well, we're trying to get a ride out to one of the islan---"
"You're not coming with us," the man said, then turned his back to her.
Leah shook her head, and turned back to Madison.
"It's hopeless," she said, looking like she were ready to burst into tears.
"No, no it's okay," Madison said, holding Leah close, and giving her a warm hug. "It's going to be okay. Grant knows how to stick up for himself. He'll be fine. We'd probably just get in the way."
"Get in the way of what? Of Ellie and Alan? Get in their way?" Leah asked, shocked.
"No, nothing like that. Listen, Leah . . . Grant's a good guy. He's not going to leave you. And he's a smart guy, he'll be coming back to you, alive. Trust my word."
"Excuse me," came a voice behind Leah.
Leah turned to see the muscular leader standing behind her.
"I couldn't help but over hearing . . . did you say Dr. Alan Grant . . . and by any chance Ellie Sattler?"
Leah nodded.
"And are you two trying to get to Sorna?" The man asked.
Leah nodded again, not quite sure of what to make of the conversation.
"What a coincidence!" The man said with a broad smile, his demeanor completely changed from what it was when they first met. "Me and my team are going to Isla Sorna now! Apparently Mr. Hammond -- I assume you must know him as well -- heard of Dr. Grant's and Dr. Sattler's predicament, and hired me and my team to go and help. Though, he never did say anything about you two. May I ask who you might be?"
Madison nodded, "I'm Aaron Madison, this is Leah Owens. Leah is Dr. Grant's girlfriend . . . I'm just a helpful friend."
"Ah, I see. I was under the impression Dr. Grant and Dr. Sattler were together, but oh well, I often times over analyze such things as people's personal relations," the man said with a crooked eyebrow. "Anyway! My name is Brock Larson, and I would be delighted if you would join us on our little expedition."
Leah smiled, and shook Larson's hand, "Thank you." Leah wiped a tear away from her eye.
"Oh no, thank you," Larson said. "If you ask me, most the people on my ship are a bunch of boring assholes. It'll be nice to talk to someone new for once. Now come, I'd like you to meet some of the crew, then I will take your baggage."
"We don't have any," Aaron said.
"No baggage?"
"We left in a bit of a hurry," Leah said.
"I'm sure you did," Larson said as he walked up to a skinny man, with a sunken in face, and a receding hair line. "I'd like you to meet Mr. Griffin, he'll be one of the key men helping me on this expedition. Mr. Griffin, meet Leah Owens and Aaron Madison, they'll be joining us."
Griffin shot Larson a look of concern, then looked back at the others, and slowly nodded his head.
Aaron extended a hand, to which Griffin commented in low drawn out words, "Forgive me, if I don't shake hands." Then Griffin turned his back to them, and walked away.
Larson shook his head and whispered to Leah and Aaron, "You see what I mean? Boring assholes. . . they seem to rule the whole goddamned world."
"I hear ya," Madison started, "On the drive over here, there were so many freaks on the road that---"
"Ah! There is the other man I wanted you to meet!" Larson exclaimed, never really hearing Madison.
Larson pointed up at a short bald man with a thin black mustache and silver sunglasses walking along the top of one of the three boats. "Hey Mick, I've got some good news!"
The bald man removed his sunglasses and looked down at Larson. "Oh, yeah? What's that?" The man's voice sounded like a very distant Italian.
"We have new companions! Leah Owens, and Aaron Madison will be joining us on our expedition," Larson said with a smile.
"Oh. . . wow, that's. . . that's great news," the man said slowly.
"Isn't it though? Oh, my apologizes, Ms. Owens, Mr. Madison, I'd like you both to meet Mr. Michael McCarney. His friends call him Mick," Larson explained.
"Despite my complaints about the fact that I hate that name," McCarney said.
After a brief stare between the men, Larson looked back at Leah and Madison and spoke quietly to them, "But, you guys probably shouldn't call him Mick."
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. McCarney," Leah said.
"Like wise. But I'm sorry, I must skip all the formal introductions. We have much work to take care of before we get out of this harbor," McCarney said, and then disappeared.
"Sadly, he is right," Larson said. "So, if you would please step on board this boat here, we'll be getting out of here." Then Larson smiled and walked away from them.
Leah and Aaron boarded the specified boat, and went into the cabin to sit down.
"That man is odd," Leah said.
"Who, Larson? What are you talking about, he was very friendly."
"That was an act. You saw the way he acted at first, he was very rude and distasteful, but once he heard Grant's name, he changed into our best friend," Leah paused, and thought more, then said, "And you saw how the others acted when they heard we were coming along."
"Why must you assume that the one person willing to help us has bad intentions?" Madison commented.
Leah just shook her head.
Comments are appreciated!
--JPJunkee and Yvonne
6/24/2003 1:52:04 AM
(Updated: 6/24/2003 1:52:47 AM)
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