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Jurassic Park The Dark Depths (Chapter 5)
By Vito_The_White
Chapter 5: Lots of Questions
Thursday June 15, 2001
Dr. Katrina Haynes suddenly opened her eyes and sat straight up on the bed. She was in a cold sweat and breathing heavily. She had obviously just had a horrific nightmare.
She looked around at the room she was now in. She honestly had no clue where in hell she was. The last thing she remembered was large teeth trying to get at her. She shivered at remembering what had happened. Katrina tried to get a bearing on her surroundings, but she couldn’t picture any of this place as familiar. The entire room seemed to be a hospital facility of some kind, because she could see all kinds of medicine bottles on counters everywhere.
Katrina moved the blankets off of her and saw immediately that all she was wearing was a hospital gown, and she also realized at that instant how cold it was in this room. She then got up from the bed and tried her best to remain standing, but her feet fell out from under her and she landed on the floor with a thud.
The woman groaned as she began to slowly lift herself off the cold floor. She grabbed hold of the bed that she was laying on just moments before and began to use it to help lift herself back up onto her feet.
She leaned on the bed for a few long seconds breathing heavily as she realized just how miserable she really was. It was freezing cold in this room, she could barely stand, her head was spinning, she was only wearing a nightgown, and to top it all off, she had no clue where she was.
Katrina grabbed one of the blankets off the bed and rapped it around her body. That helped a little with the cold, but it didn’t help with any of her other problems. She walked over to one of the nearby counters and began looking through all of the medication that was spread out.
“Shit,” Katrina whispered, once she realized that there wasn’t any kind of headache medication there. “What kind of fucking hospital is this to not have any Tylenol?”
The weak Geneticist then turned around and almost screamed when she saw what was behind her. Standing on the other side of the room was Bobby Heath dressed in a similar nightgown and looking really shaky.
“Fancy meeting you here cowboy,” Katrina said faking a smile.
Bobby smiled himself at the woman’s comment, but then sat back down on his bed placing his left hand on his forehead. He began to groan from the pain he was feeling.
“Guess we’ve both got a headache huh,” Katrina said slowly walking over to the man.
Bobby nodded. “Is there anything in here to take care of that problem?”
“Afraid not. Some hospital right?”
“I don’t think we’re in a hospital.”
Katrina frowned at this remark as she sat down beside Bobby on his bed. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, I mean, think about it. It’s pretty damn cold in here to be a professional hospital don’t you think?”
“Well, I guess, but that never really crossed my mind.”
Bobby looked up at Katrina and sighed. “You really know nothing about Biosyn do you?”
“Apparently not.”
“Well, I guess that’s really a good thing. I wish I didn’t. I’m afraid that you’ll end up knowing more then you really want to before this week is all over though.”
“You know where we are don’t you?”
Bobby nodded. “Yeah… We’re on Isla Pena.”
“Oh God.”
“Exactly. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to get off this island before something happens.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m sure they’ve got this place under control.”
Suddenly both of them heard the horrifying sounds of water compression around them.
“You hear that Doctor? That’s the sound of water all around us. This whole place is one large water attraction, and what they’re keeping here, I don’t like at all. That’s why I stay out in the open waters away from this island, or somewhere else that Biosyn owns, and believe me, they own a lot anymore.”
Katrina just continued to look around the room that she was in. “Why don’t you call me Katrina.”
“I’d prefer not to.”
Katrina turned to Bobby in disgust. “Why?”
“Because I don’t like getting involved with people at all. It would be best if we kept our relationship strictly professional. That’s how I’ve always done it, and that’s really one of Biosyn’s mottos, believe it or not.”
“Wait a second. Why are you in here for? Were you attacked too?”
“Well, my leg was kind of injured, but nothing else really. To tell you the truth, after we were taken down below, all I seem to remember is walking down the steps and then darkness.”
“You think someone attacked you?”
“Possibly, but I don’t see why.”
“I’m sure everything will be explained soon. How is your leg?”
“Well, it feels fine right now. How about you?”
“I think I’m ok. I don’t really even remember what happened to me.”
“I know the feeling.”
Suddenly the only door in the room opened allowing a medium sized man in his late fifties to enter. He wore a white lab coat over top a suit. He looked over at the two people and smiled.
“Good morning,” the man said. “I’m glad that see both of you up and going.”
“Who are you,” Katrina asked.
The man smiled. “I’m Dr. Gerry Harding.”
“You’re our doctor,” Katrina asked.
Harding laughed. “Not really. I’m the Chief Veterinarian for the island, but your doctor will be here soon if you need to speak with him.”
“Could you point us in the direction of some Tylenol,” Katrina asked.
“Oh sure,” Harding said moving over to one of the far counters in the room.
“We’re on Pena right,” Katrina asked.
Harding sighed and turned back around with the pills in his hand. He shook his head yes as he walked over to the sink and took two glasses and put water in them. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure you won’t be here for very long… unlike some of us.”
Harding walked over to the two people and gave them each the pills and the water. They both accepted them gratefully.
“How long have both of you been awake,” Harding asked.
“Only a few minutes,” Bobby replied.
Harding nodded. “That’s understandable. We had to keep both of you under for a while so we could make sure that neither of you had contracted anything.”
“Contracted anything,” Katrina asked.
“Yes,” Harding replied. “A virus perhaps. There have been some problems in the past dealing with these animals biting people and such.”
“Whoa,” Bobby said. “We weren’t bitten.”
“Yes we know you weren’t,” Harding said defensively. “But we had to make sure.”
Bobby backed down and just leaned back a little. He looked over to Katrina who looked very frightened. Harding noticed and placed a reassuring hand on the woman’s shoulder.
“Hey,” Harding began, “it’s going to be alright. I assure you that you’ll be out of here in a matter of hours.”
“Why do we have to wait here that long for,” Katrina asked.
“Apparently Mr. Rossiter wants to talk to the both of you about what happened,” Harding replied.
“Rossiter is here,” Bobby asked almost screaming. “Damn it! He told me that the next time I messed up I was going to be in some huge shit!”
“Now calm down,” Harding said. “From what Dr. Dodgson has told me it isn’t either of your fault. You don’t have to worry about all of that. Dodgson is doing his best to keep Mr. Rossiter calm and to help explain everything to him. All you’ll have to do is tell Mr. Rossiter exactly what happened from your point of view and it’ll be alright.”
“I don’t know Doc,” Bobby said. “I think it’s all over for me.”
Harding sighed and shook his head. “Just don’t worry about it alright? If I have to I’ll protect both of you. I’m going to be there for the proceedings and so will Dr. Dodgson as well as Tom Naff. You both do remember who he is right?”
Both of them nodded. Harding smiled. He was trying his best to keep them at ease, but it seemed to be getting harder. Perhaps it would’ve been better to have not told them about Rossiter just yet, but he knew that they would have to know about it sooner or later, so he thought he’d might as well go ahead and do so.
Harding was about to continue his conversation with the two when another man dressed similar to the way Harding was dressed came walking into the room with a clipboard and pen in his hand. He seemed a bit distracted and didn’t even notice the three for a moment, before he finally looked out at them and smiled.
“Good morning,” the man said. “I’m Dr. Steven Ross. I’ve been your doctor here for the past day or so. How are you both feeling?”
“Fine,” Katrina replied. “I have a bit of a headache, but Dr. Harding’s helping me with that.”
“That’s wonderful,” Ross said turning to Bobby. “And you sir?”
“I’m fine Doc,” Bobby replied.
“Good,” Ross said. “Then I guess you’re both ready to see Mr. Rossiter. He’s been patiently waiting for you both. You’ll find your cloths over in that storage shelf. They have been washed for your convenience.”
Katrina and Bobby slowly got up and moved over to the storage shelf where a couple of hospital curtains also hung. They both got their respected clothing off of the shelf and then closed the two curtains and changed.
Harding walked over to Ross and began to whisper to him. “Does Mr. Rossiter want them right this second?”
“Afraid so,” Ross replied.
“I would be much happier if they were to have something to eat first,” Harding implied.
“I agree,” Ross said. “But you know how Mr. Rossiter is.”
“Indeed I do,” Harding nodded.
A few minutes later the two people came out of the curtains now refreshed a little and wearing their cloths. They were at the least a little more comfortable now to be out of those ugly gowns. Bobby was now dressed in his black tee shirt and jeans, while Katrina was in her cargo shorts and button down khaki shirt.
Katrina looked over at Bobby. She had never taken the chance to just stop and look at how muscular he was. Heck, the muscles were popping out everywhere under his black tee shirt. And she could tell that he had a nice lower body just by looking at how tight his jeans were on him. She shook those thoughts away as Bobby turned to her. She didn’t want him to notice that she was checking him out, so she turned toward Harding and Ross and walked over to them. Bobby joined her as the four of them stood there just looking at each other.
“Well,” Ross said breaking the silence. “If you’ll both follow me, we can go see Mr. Rossiter now.”
Katrina and Bobby both nodded at Ross and the four of them all left the infirmary and started out into the other sections of the underground facility. The hallway that they were in was very dark for some strange reason. It was almost creepy to be walking in. The lighting through this area was very poor in the eyes of these two people that had never been there before.
“Why is it so dark through here,” Katrina asked. “The infirmary was so bright and welcoming, but this place is just dull.”
“We have to keep it this wall in all parts of the facility that have windows that show out into the water paddocks that you see,” Harding said. “It helps to keep the animals from trying attack the glass.”
“But what if they attacked it anyway,” Bobby asked. “I’m sure it would just smash from one hit from those creatures out there.”
“We were well aware of those dangers Private Heath,” Ross said. “That is why we have electrified surroundings all around the facility. If the animals come within ten feet of any section of this facility, they are immediately welcomed with ten thousand bolts of electricity.”
“Doesn’t that injure them,” Katrina asked.
“Not really,” Ross replied. “It’s just enough to get them to realize that they can’t come anywhere near those specified areas. Believe me, we have spared no expense when it comes to these animals.”
‘Where have I heard that before,’ Harding thought. ‘Just the spitting image of Hammond’s dream.’ Harding sighed and shook his head. Hammond. He wondered what Mr. Hammond would’ve thought of this place? Would he had wanted to something as rash as making underwater creatures? That surely wouldn’t be in his character. Harding never remembered hearing anything about Hammond wanting underwater animals. Hell, the old man probably knew better then to try to make creatures like this. What if they ever escaped and got out into the ocean? Well, that had just recently happened with one of these animals. Thank God it wasn’t the most vicious of them all that got out.
Gerry Harding had stayed part of the InGen Corporation for several years after the Isla Nublar Incident. He had actually continued a lot of his normal work on Sorna for a while, before Hurricane Carissa came and destroyed everything. After that he was approached by Jeff Rossiter who carried a proposition that he couldn’t pass up. InGen was going under a lot of strain and were being forced to fire people everyday after what happened on Sorna. He knew that it would only be a matter of time before he lost his job as well. So he took the offer that Rossiter had given him, and within two days Harding was working for his former companies rivals. However he now wished that he hadn’t have taken this job. Things seemed to be getting worse everyday, and this whole thing with the dead Liopleurodon wasn’t going to set off too well with Mr. Rossiter.
Suddenly a man in a suit and wire frame glasses walked up to the four of them from the other side of the hallway. This was Tom Naff. Tom immediately shook both Katrina and Bobby’s hands before actually saying anything.
“I’m glad that both of you are all right,” Tom said. “Umm, Mr. Rossiter isn’t quite ready to see you yet. He suggested that you go to the mess hall and have something to eat. I’m sure you’re both starving, and I bet it would be nice to get some of your strength back.”
Katrina and Bobby both nodded happily at this. Tom then smiled and led everyone off toward the mess hall.
* * *
Tom Naff lead Katrina, Bobby, Harding, and Ross into the large mess hall and directed them to a table. The room was quite nicely furnished with dozens of tables for people to choose to sit at. The room was decorated like an actual cruise ship of sorts with all kinds of marine items everywhere. They were also three fish tanks at one end of the room. This place seemed much like a seafood restaurant to them.
“I hope you both like the place,” Tom said. “We wanted to have a nice sea feel to the whole experience for our visitors.”
“Well, I’m sure that’s what they’re going to get,” Katrina said looking at all of the odd decorations oddly.
Tom then pulled a chair out for Katrina to sit in. She smiled and accepted the chair sitting down in it and moving up a little to the table. Bobby sat beside her. Tom and Harding sat on the opposite side of them and Ross sat at the front of the table.
“Where are the menus,” Bobby asked.
“I’m sure that Maria will bring some out in a minute,” Tom replied.
“I would suggest that you both try her wonderful ginger ice cream,” Harding said. “She makes the most delicious ice cream. See there’s something quite rich about it all. I do hate that you both haven’t had the chance to see the above ground area of the island, because you’d know what I’m talking about. But at the far end of the island, there is a small area that we’ve left vegetation at, and it’s a good thing we did. Maria was out there strolling around one day, when she happened upon a small area filled with ginger plants. The plants were in quite a good season, and being the lovely cook she is, she was able to make the best ice cream that I’ve ever tasted. She takes vanilla ice cream and just manages to somehow put the ginger ingredients into the mixture. It’s quite a wonderful thing. You really should try it. It’ helps to settle a persons’ stomach in mere minutes.”
“Alright,” Katrina said smiling. “I’ll try some.”
“Sure I guess,” Bobby said, obviously not really caring.
“Wonderful,” Harding said excitedly. “Now where is that girl? Maria?”
Just then a beautiful Costa Rican woman with long flowing red hair came busting out of the kitchen wearing her apron. She seemed to be in quite a hurry.
“Oh I am so sorry Senor Harding,” Maria said. “I did not know that anyone was out here.”
“That’s quite alright Maria dear,” Harding said. “Please bring out some of your famous ginger ice cream for everyone.”
“Five ice creams coming up sir,” Maria said. “Oh, and I’ll be right back with the menus for you as well.”
Maria then ran off back into the kitchen. Harding watched her leave and smiled as he saw that Katrina was looking at her oddly.
“Don’t mind her,” Harding said. “She’s always like that. A bit too jumpy I think.”
Katrina nodded and turned back to the table. She stared down at the tablecloth for a few seconds. She seemed really weird about looking at these people for some reason.
“Well,” Bobby began, “I must say this is the first time that I’ve ever had my dessert before having the actually course.”
Everyone laughed at Bobby's comment.
“Well, I would have to agree with you in most cases Private Heath,” Tom said. “However in this circumstance, who knows when Mr. Rossiter will be ready to receive the both of you. It would be best if your stomachs were at least settled a little with the ice cream, because Maria is the only person we have working back here for the moment and well, she takes her time to make sure that everything is perfect.”
“Why is she the only person working in here,” Katrina asked.
“Because everyone else is on extended leave,” Tom replied. “Don’t worry. They’ll be back before the end of the week.”
Maria suddenly ran through the door back into the room with a serving tray in her hands. She sat the tray on the table and passed the ice cream out to everyone. She then takes the tray off the table and just looks down at everyone smiling.
“Are you ready to order,” Maria asked.
“Um,” Katrina began, “you forgot to bring the menus to us.”
Maria’s eyes then became big as she started running again back into the kitchen. “Don’t worry! I’ll find them!”
The five people all laughed at the sight as they watched Maria ram herself into the door leading into the kitchen. She groaned, but looked back at everyone smiling and then started back into the back.
“At least she gives some good comedic relief,” Bobby said.
“Indeed she does,” Ross said.
Katrina took a bite of the ice cream and smiled a little. “This is quite delicious.”
“I told you it would be,” Harding said smiling.
“And he’s absolutely right,” said a man from behind Katrina and Bobby. Both of them turned around to see Lewis Dodgson leaning on the doorway looking at them. Dodgson smiled and walked into the room. He then took a chair from one of the other tables and sat down between Bobby and Ross. “Mr. Rossiter is ready for the both of you now. So if you’d hurry and finish your ice cream we can get on down there.”
* * *
Jeff Rossiter sat at his desk in the small office talking on the telephone. He seemed very tense as he continued what he was saying.
“Are you sure about this… I don’t want him getting anywhere near my island, do you understand that? Alright… Yes, I know… I’ll see you soon. Goodbye.”
As soon as Rossiter hung the phone up, Dodgson stepped into the room. He seemed a little confused. “Who was that?”
Rossiter shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. Please send them in.”
Dodgson nodded and opened the door allowing Katrina, Bobby, Harding, Tom, and Ross to all enter. Katrina and Bobby both sat down in the chairs at the front of Rossiter’s desk. The other four just stood against the walls in the room watching and listening to what was to be said.
Rossiter smiled as he looked at the two people in front of him. “It’s good to see the both of you again. I don’t believe I’ve seen either of you since you were hired.”
Katrina nodded. Bobby just continued to stare forward. Rossiter turned to look at Dodgson and couldn’t help but grin at the reaction he seemed to be getting.
“There seems to be a lot of tension here,” Rossiter continued. “You don’t have to be though. This isn’t a funeral.”
Katrina smiled a little and looked over at Bobby to see that he was still just staring forward.
“It’s the military instincts in him Dr. Haynes,” Rossiter informed. “You just aren’t much for change are you Private Heath?”
“No sir,” Bobby replied.
Rossiter smiled. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re persistent on that. Alright, let’s began. I’ve received testimonies from everyone involved in the incident with the exception of the both of you, and for good reason. So, let’s take it from the top.”
* * *
Tom Naff opened the door leading into Mr. Rossiter’s office and stepped aside, allowing Katrina and Bobby to exit the room with Dr. Harding right behind them. He then jumped in front of the two and proceeded to lead them away from the office. Tom closed the door back to the office after stepping back inside to rejoin Rossiter, Dodgson, and Dr. Ross.
Rossiter continued to sit at his desk just staring forward at the three men in front of him. He then stood up and began to pace around the room silently to himself as he thought through the whole situation. He finally looked up again at the other men and frowned.
“Before you came in this room I was talking to our Levine contact,” Rossiter informed. “He said that Levine had been trying to talk Ian Malcolm into going on an expedition to our island.”
“Did Malcolm join him,” Dodgson asked.
“No,” Rossiter replied. “However he knows about what’s going on now. Things are going to get much worse if that crazy fool does decide to get involved in one way or another. He caused much of the major downfall of InGen after the accident on Nublar.”
“That is true sir,” Dodgson said. “But I really don’t believe he has any proof or evidence on us.”
“What if he tries to get the Costa Rican’s to send in an investigation team,” Rossiter asked.
“Screw him and his investigation team,” Dodgson yelled. “If I have to, I’ll take care of Malcolm in my own damn way. He’s not bringing our company down with his stupid ideals of Chaos.”
Rossiter smiled. “Good show. I’m glad to see that you’re so knowledgeable about this Lew.”
“That still leaves the problem of Levine,” Tom informed. “What shall we do about him?”
“Anything and everything my friend,” Dodgson said as he started out of the office with Tom following behind him.
Ross turned to Rossiter with a look of concern. “Sir, I don’t really like the way this is going.”
“Well that makes two of us Dr. Ross,” Rossiter said, not even paying attention to the man as he was looking at some documents on his desk.
“I don’t mean about the Levine thing,” Ross informed. “I’m talking about Dr. Haynes and Private Heath. I’m not so sure if they should be here.”
Rossiter looked up. “Why?”
“It’s just a feeling sir,” Ross replied. “I don’t believe they can be trusted.”
Rossiter stood up from his chair and walked over to the doctor before him. He stood eye to eye with the man showing the rage in his eyes. “Are you suggesting that I don’t know who to hire in my company anymore?”
“No sir,” Ross replied. “I was simply suggesting that…”
“Well don’t bother!” Rossiter walked back over to his desk and sat back down. “I will not have some low life employee like you telling me how to do my job. I am your boss. If you don’t like the way I run this company, then perhaps you should leave.”
Dr. Ross just stared at the man in front of him. He wanted out of that room quickly, as it seemed that Rossiter was going to explode on him at any moment.
“May I leave sir?”
“Get your ass out of my office!”
Ross nodded and left the room. Rossiter sighed and turned back to his papers smiling.
Thanks for reading. Please comment:)
10/12/2003 10:22:34 AM
(Updated: 10/12/2003 10:26:45 AM)
(Updated: 10/12/2003 10:43:30 AM)
Comment on this fan fiction!
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