-Salt Lake City, Utah-

1996

Ding Dong. Ding Dong. Dingdongdingdongding-

The doorbell chimed repeatedly as the button was jammed multiple times in rapid succession.

Sighing, Alan Grant looked up from his yellowing piece of newspaper in annoyance. There was a short silence, followed by a more rapid and persistent buzzing from the doorbell.

Grumbling to himself, Alan placed his newspaper on the Chesterfield armrest and walked towards the door, pausing to look through the peephole.

Outside his door stood a man who looked like he hadn't shaved in days, and a woman who looked like she needed a pot of coffee to get her started.

Cursing to himself quietly, he opened the door halfway, the still in-place chain preventing the door from opening fully, Not that he'd like to open the door all the way. "Yes? Is there something you'd

like to sell me? Because I don't require a scented-"

Alan was cut off by the man outstretching his arm, obviously intent on making introduction.

"Hey! You are Doctor Alan grant, are you not?"

The man questioned as he produced a large smile.

Alan stared at the man before muttering, "yes,".

The man, who still had his arm outstreched, smiled even wider. "Great! Sorry to jump into this, but I-"

Alan closed his door to undo the chain before reopening it and leaning on the door frame.

"Before you ask me any favors, WHO are YOU?"

The man laughed and lowered his arm, though Alan failed to see what was so funny in his question.

"Well, I'm Doctor Halver, my wife is Trooper Marie."

The woman mentioned gave a small, weak wave.

Alan raised an eyebrow as he stared at the two.

"Okay, so what is the purpose of your visit?"

"Well, our daughter was lost on Isla Sorn-"

Alan held out a hand, interrupting Doctor Halver.

"If you're asking me to help, I apologize, but no."

"Why not? I mean, you've seen dinosaurs before."

Alan rubbed his head, before looking at Halver.

"I've been to Nublar, and I'm not going to another island in 'La Cinco Muertes' EVER again."

"Well, according to Mr. Ian Malcom, you and Ellie Sattler were able to cope better than he was."

"Ian wasn't able to cope because he had a broken leg. Sattler and I nearly died countless times. Again, I'm sorry, but I must refuse your request."

Alan replied, before beginning to close his door.

"Wait! Here, take this," Halver insisted, slipping a card through the small crack that remained open.

"What's this? Some Buffet club down the street?"

"Our number," Halver replied, sounding desperate.

"If you change your mind, please call that number."

Alan sighed to himself before responding, "will do,"

And closing the door. As he locked the chain, he stared down at the card that had been given to him. Shaking his head, he walked over to his StarTac phone and dialed Ellie Sattler's number.

Fiddling with the card, Alan perked up when he heard the voice of his former lover.

"Hello?" "Ellie! Hi, it's Alan. You got time to talk?"

There was a pause, before Ellie chuckled.

"Sure, Alan. You wanna retry this relationship?"

"Hah, Hah. Listen, you know these people by the names of Halver and Marie?" "Their last name?"

Ellie questioned, "What's their last name?"

Alan fumbled with the card before scanning it.

"Cereal." Alan heard a snort, followed by a chuckle.

"Well, I remember meeting them twice. Once at my highschool reunion, and the other time at Walmart."

"WALMART?" Alan Echoed in confusion.

"Yeah, Walmart. I ran into them in the dairy aisle."

"Heck of a place to bump into someone."

"It sure was, Al. Anyway, why'd you bring this up?"

Alan paused, before fiddling with the card again.

"They came to my house today, asking me to help."

"Help? Help with what? Their plumbing? Alan, th-"

"No, not with plumbing. With going to Isla Sorna."

There was a silence on the line as Ellie tried to comprehend Alan's last words. "Isla SORNA? Tha-"

"-s stupid? I know. It is. But, I wonder. Maybe."

"Maybe what, Alan?" Ellie questioned.

"Maybe there aren't any dinosaurs there,"

Alan finished, placing the card down on the table next to his Chesterfield. "Alan, you can't just dive into a shallow end of a pool and except it not to hurt. There are risks with going, you know..."

Alan smacked his lips before sighing.

"I know, Ellie. I saw them as annoyances. But I feel slightly guilty if I learn that I let someone's daughter die because I wasn't Willing to help out."

"ALAN. It's not your fault if someone dies and you weren't anywhere near them. The Cereals will be fine, they'll probably get someone else to help."

Alan paused. Would they? Would they be able to?

"Alan? Alan, are you okay?" Ellie questioned.

"I'm...fine, Ellie. I have to call someone else. Bye."

There was a pause before Ellie responded, "Bye."

Proceeding to hang up and dial Malcolm's number, Alan walked into his kitchen and opened his refrigerator. "Uh, Hello, who's this?" Came the voice of the snarky Texan chaotician.

"Hey, Ian. It's Grant. You remember me and Sattler from 93'?" Alan questioned as he opened a beer.

"Grant? Hey, How'd you get this number?"

"You gave it to Ellie a year ago, Ian. Remember?"

"Oh. Yeah. You guys were still dating, right?"

"Yeah." Alan replied as he sipped from his beer.

"Are you guys, Uh, still, you know. Dating?"

"No. We ended it six months ago. You want her?"

"Ah, no. Got my self Sarah Harding. Tough one."

"Of course you'd get her," Alan joked as he threw away the empty Coors Lite can into a garbage can.

"Uh, hah. Yeah, so...uh, why'd-why'd you call?" "I have a moral dilemma. Big one."

"I'm not a physiologist, Alan. Chaotician."

Alan bit his lip in annoyance. Same old Ian.

"Ian, did you talk to two people before?"

"Who are you talking about? I talk a lot, Alan."

You have a point there, Alan thought to himself.

"Two people, with the last name Cereal."

"Ooh, yeah. I did. Nice couple. They asked a lot."

"About what? About the park, or..."

"Yeah. About the park. They said they had a-"

"A missing daughter, I know. So, what do I do?"

"About?" Ian questioned before coughing.

"About their daughter. They asked me to help."

There was a pause on the line, before Ian cleared his throat. "They asked you to HELP? Well, say no."

"I told them that I wasn't going back, but they insisted that I did and that I help with the search."

"If I were in your shoes, I'd refuse to go anywhere with dinosaurs. Especially after last time."

"Ellie said the same thing, that I shouldn't."

"Well, she's right. You SHOULDN'T."

Alan sighed, and leaned against his kitchen counter. "I guess that's logical and reasonable."

"I know it is. I mean, it's more Nay than Yay for the votes here, Alan. Ellie's right. So am I. Say no."

Alan sucked in Air through his teeth.

"I guess I'll say 'no' tonight, then. Bye."

Hanging up, Alan walked into his living room and picked up the pasty white card.