A/N: My childhood obsession for Dinosaurs and the Jurassic Park franchise has returned full force thanks so much to Jurassic World (if you haven't watch it, you totally need to) and so, what better way to than to combine the two things I love - JP & Hayffie - then to write a Jurassic World AU. I'm a bit nervous about this so I hope you guys like it.
This takes place after the events in Mockingjay, so whatever happened in the books/movies actually happened and then there's this.
Part 1
In the course of Panem's history, the loss of human lives were the results of human mistakes and ego; the social disparity and the Capitol's oppressive power led to the first Rebellion, followed by the Dark Days which gave rise to the Games; and from that, it spawned off the second Rebellion seventy-five years later.
President Paylor's first mistake after being appointed president was in allowing the Muttations Genetics Incorporation to continue running and not shutting them down. There was no more civil war and there were no more Games. There was no need for mutts but President Paylor erred on the side of caution.
The mutts were deployed solely to maintain the fragile peace immediately following the fall of President Snow and President Coin. Others were later created with heightened olfactory senses which would allow them to sniff out drugs and morphlings, while others were sent to patrol the borders and secure the hard won peace. The mutts were kept clear and separated from humans, and they were only handled by highly trained personnel.
Things proceeded smoothly on that front but in the aftermath of the Rebellion, the governing body was more concerned with rehousing displaced citizens and ensuring that there was enough food and water distributed to all the districts. The Muttations Genetics Corporation was thus allowed to work undeterred and unchecked with monthly budget from the government, and major scientific discovery grew from it.
Plutarch Heavensbee, the Secretary of Communications, through his connections came across one of the discovery and saw an opportunity. He wasted no time in seizing it and developing it further.
XxX
"A park, yes," Plutarch nodded enthusiastically. "It makes sense. The mutts are already housed at the forest due to the lack of space in the city. We just need to make it more presentable."
Effie tilted her head, a thoughtful look on her face. "They're not exactly mutts, are they? I read the reports, Plutarch. These… creatures are the results of cloning from preserved DNA that was unearthed during the war. For all intents and purposes, they're animals; animals that unlike the mutts we've seen, cannot be controlled."
"Technicalities," Plutarch waved her concerns off. "I have the funds, money from before the war that remained untouched. I have the means to develop the park. I will patent the idea."
Next to her, Fulvia shifted. Effie's eyes darkened at the news that Plutarch was living comfortably. The war had changed their lifestyles. Fulvia, just like Effie, returned to the Capitol to find their homes and belongings destroyed. Unlike a Gamemaker, Effie did not earn that much and whatever savings she had, was utilised to get a roof over her head and to feed herself. The lack of financial means was how she ended working for Plutarch in the first place.
Deciding that there was no point in discussing Plutarch's good fortune after the war, Effie focused on the meeting at hand.
"This park will be opened to the general public?" Effie queried, tapping the pen against her lower lip.
"Eventually, yes, that's the aim. It's an attraction park, the first of its kind in Panem! Think about how it will boost our country's economy. It'll create job opportunities," Plutarch went on. He looked ready to burst at the seam from excitement. "It's been four years after the war and unemployment is still at an all-time high. Our country needs it."
"What about the President? Do you think she will endorse this?" Fulvia asked.
"Oh, not to worry," Plutarch laughed jovially. "We're not tapping into the Government's reserve; we're not chipping into their budgets. It will be on my account and I will spare no expense in the building of this park - I am certain that the revenues will more than cover the cost – and like I've said, the prospect of job opportunities will sway the President. She cares deeply about her people and she would loathe seeing them unemployed without means to provide for their family."
"You have a valid point," Fulvia concurred, "but what about the dangers these mutts will pose?"
Animals, Effie corrected silently but nodded in agreement nonetheless because she had seen the pictures and safety was the first thing that crossed her mind.
Plutarch propped his hand on his hip and regarded them seriously. "I've been told by Dr. Henry Wu, the geneticist of MGI, that the carnivores could pose a threat, yes. But the herbivores on the other hand… There's a solid idea here, don't you see it? Dinosaurs," he exclaimed, using the term for the first time in their discussion, "a pinnacle breakthrough of our generation! We will be remembered for this! Besides, after all the things we've done to the children in this country, perhaps this is a good way to atone for it; to give the children some joy."
Effie bristled at the mention of the Games and their direct involvement in it. She had never forgotten, of course, and she still woke up on most nights feeling guilty. It was her cross to bear but the flippant way Plutarch said it felt twisted.
"I'm – I'm not sure, Plutarch," Effie hesitated. "These animals were probably extinct for a good reason but now these people have meddled with…" she took a deep breath. "It goes against nature."
She was beginning to sound like Haymitch. She supposed this was what years of working with that man had done to her. Haymitch had expressed his disdain for plastic surgeries and breast enhancement, claiming none of it was natural. She agreed though she had never said it out loud and had refused her mother time and time again when the topic of surgical enhancement came up.
"Oh, Effie, Effie, Effie," Plutarch sighed and shook his head. "You worry too much, my dear. It will be perfectly safe. There will be measures put into place, of course. This will be a success, just you watch! Talk to her, Fulvia, please."
Fulvia swivelled around in her chair and turned towards Effie.
"Maybe he has a point, I don't know. Maybe it will be a success, maybe not. But the people in this country have seen enough death and destruction. We can show them the creation of life. The park could just be the kind of moral boost this country need, something good for them. It will be worth a try. We have to give them – what's the word? – hope. Besides, isn't it our job to entertain?"
It was true – it was her job to provide a distraction and to entertain. She was good at it; having brainstormed several different programmes that turned out to be a success. Those programmed distracted people from the aftermath of a war and for half an hour each day, those programmes entertained people.
She had been doing this for four years and perhaps a change of scenery was in order. She wondered what Haymitch would say when she told him. The forest was somewhere near District Twelve and if she had to work at the park, it would bring her closer to him certainly. Maybe that wasn't such a bad idea….
"This will be a classified project until further notice. That means nobody is to know, not even Haymitch," Plutarch smiled at her as if he had read her thoughts. "I know how you share things with him, Effie."
'Until further notice' turned out to be three years later. The approvals were sought; the necessary paper work was completed; the animals were allowed time to grow – she heard the growth was accelerated through some gene, she wasn't clear on the science of it - and the park was built. Even though the entire project did not sit well with her initially, Effie had three years to warm up to the idea. Plutarch, as if sensing her hesitation and to truly convince her to be on his side, gave her a promotion of sort. Effie Trinket was to be the park's operations manager when it opened.
As agreed by her terms, she was not allowed to speak about any of it to Haymitch or to the children. Each time she visited them, she had to physically bite her tongue from sharing the news. She wanted Haymitch's opinion on it but deep down, she knew he wouldn't have supported it. Haymitch bore a deep mistrust for anything associated with the MGI.
Her monthly visits increased in frequency and she was at Victor's Village every two weeks now. When she was asked, she merely smiled and said that she missed them dearly, which was partly true. What she left out was the visits she was making to the park with Plutarch and the rest of the team. It was usually only after her trip to the park that she would drop by to stay for a day or two with Haymitch in Twelve.
"You look awfully tired, sweetheart," Haymitch said one night during one of her visits.
He wrapped his arms around her, hooked a leg between hers, buried his nose in her hair and inhaled the sweet smell. Her frequent visits meant that he was used to having her around and he was growing reluctant to watch her leave each time.
"It's just work."
"Plutarch's either working you to your death or you work too hard. What's the point?"
"I can't afford to laze around all day like you do," she teased, snuggling into him.
"You can," he ran his fingers through her hair. "You just won't. Never seen you sit still for too long."
XxX
The electrical fence of District Twelve was taken down after the war. No one was happier about it than Katniss was. She ventured into the woods as and when she pleased, to clear her mind and to escape, at times.
What nobody in Twelve knew was that further and deeper into the forest, quite a distance away from the general population, a sturdy, heavy steel fence was erected. It was unlike the flimsy ones that used to surround their district. This fence was alive and buzzing with electrical currents and an ominous sign that read "Danger – High Voltage".
Lethal, Katniss thought when she ventured further into the forest than she ever did one afternoon after a particular bad episode with Peeta. She came across the fence and inspected the area, curious and certain that this addition was new. And a final line of defence for whatever's behind that wall.
The wall, located a few metres behind the fence, was about twenty feet high, stretching as far as the eyes could see. It was meant to keep whatever was inside from going into the populated area.
"It's probably none of our concern," Haymitch shrugged, adopting an air of nonchalance when Katniss told him about.
"You said to mind my own business when I told you about District Thirteen. You knew all along that Thirteen existed," Katniss narrowed her eyes at him. "You know something I don't?"
"No," Haymitch caught her eyes and the seriousness in his tone must have convinced her.
"It was never there before, I'm sure of it. Everything looks new; the fence, the walls. There must be something in it, Haymitch. Why all the security?"
"Maybe something dangerous they want to keep secure so it's good that there are electrical fences 'round that part of the forest," Haymitch waved her concerns away. "Don't you have other things to worry your pretty head about, sweetheart?"
Despite telling Katniss not to worry, Haymitch's curiousity was piqued. He had spent the better part of his life in the Games and planning a Rebellion, and now that there was finally some peace and quiet, he wasn't about to let it be ruined by whatever dangerous thing – because he was certain it was nothing good – that was hidden from their knowledge.
The very next day, Haymitch called Effie to ask if she knew anything about the walls and the fences, and why the forest was cleared away. She lived in the City and worked with the Government. If anyone's heard of something, she would be one of those.
"Oh, yes," she told him. "Something exciting is coming. You will know it soon. I can't divulge any information but we've started filming for marketing purposes and promotions, so you will know very soon, Haymitch."
"You know I don't like surprises, sweetheart. What's behind the wall? Why all the security?"
"Only the most incredible of things, Haymitch," she gushed. "The MGI has –"
"The MGI?" he interrupted her, slightly alarmed. "We're talkin' about the very same damn organisation that created mutts?"
"Yes, but really, Haymitch, I've been assured that –"
"I don't care what they've been telling you. You didn't tell me you were working with the MGI. Effie, nothing the MGI ever created has ever been –"
"I couldn't. It was part of the terms and besides, even if I could, this is exactly how you would react. You don't even know what's in there but you'll stop me from working. I know you're worried about me, but there's nothing for you to be concerned about. Believe me. Really. Plutarch will tell you the same."
"Plutarch," he scoffed. "Plutarch on his own is already bad enough, sweetheart. But Plutarch with the MGI? That sounds like a disaster in the making."
Plutarch's "spare no expense" was a line I borrowed from John Hammond in Jurassic Park and so is the character Henry Wu because dinosaurs won't be possible without him so s/o to Henry Wu!
I really, really hope you liked what you read and you're interested! Please let me know what you think.