How Life Finds a Way
Chapter 1: The New Job
Jurassic World is owned by Amblin Entertainment, Legendary Pictures, Universal Pictures, and Micheal Crichton.
But I do own Alice though!
1. Here it is! The story that a lot of people have been asking for, and I thought on it some. I was like, hey why don't I just take Dr. Grant(my favorite character from the franchise), add him to Jurassic World, change up some things and BAM! I'm actually pretty excited to see where this goes.
[Badlands, Montana, June 5th, 2014]
Beads of sweat rolled down Alan Grant's head as he looked up at the hot summer sun. Looking back down at his work, he continued to pick away at dirt that covered fossil remains.
With a sigh, he reminisced the last two years since he'd finished college. After school, the man had struggled to find a job that he enjoyed. Alan had graduated at the top of his class with a major in paleontology from Berkeley. Afterwards he'd gotten many job offers at museums across the country, but that wasn't what he wanted.
He wasn't much of a people person, so he didn't want to be stuck giving tours or working in some back room on fossils that would be stowed away in containers for God knew how long. He'd searched tirelessly for other paleontologists that would hire him on for their dig sites.
The problem with that was, most of the better known diggers were spread out across the world, as America was starting to be picked clean.
Though, just before he'd finally decided to give up, a letter came for him from the owner of a multi-national billion dollar company. Simon Masrani was one of the richest men in the world, and also happened to be the owner of famous island getaway, Jurassic World.
He'd cringed somewhat at the name, remembering the accident on the same island almost twenty years ago. He'd been a kid when it happened, but he remembered the footage from the news helicopters as bright as day as they filmed real dinosaurs running around freely.
Again, a few years later he turned on the news to see a Tyrannosaurus running through downtown San Diego wreaking havoc and eating people. This happened because it was someone's brilliant idea to try and build another park on the mainland. That didn't go so well.
And again in 2001, Alan watch as the news reported a couple that disappeared on Isla Sorna trying to find their lost son.
Then in 2005, John Hammond, the man responsible for building the first park gave over what was left of his company, rights, and money to Simon. Hammond entrusted a future successful park to Masrani, who did as promised and produced a fully functioning park by the end of the year. Nine years later, the park was the most loved tourist attraction in the world, always producing more dinosaurs and attractions every year.
Masrani was offering Grant a job as a lead paleontologist on his crew. This led the man to his current state of mind, an internal storm brewing over the choice. He'd always wanted to work at Jurassic World, around living dinosaurs, but after seeing the destruction they could cause if they weren't carefully watched he didn't know if he wanted that.
"Alan?"
He'd remembered going to a press conference Berkeley had held his second year, listening to Sarah Harding speak of her experience on the island that was supposed to be secret. He could see the fear in her eyes as she talked about being chased by two Tyrannosaurs, being ambushed by raptors, and even losing most of her team. "These creatures are a force that should be left alone," the woman stated.
It was things like these that Alan found himself thinking about daily, ever since he'd received Masrani's letter.
"Alan!"
He was jerked out of his thoughts, looking up to see a blonde grinning down at him.
"Damnit Ellie I told you not to sneak up on me like that." He mumbled, shaking his head and sitting up for a breather.
"I didn't sneak up on you, I've been standing here for five minutes calling your name." She laughed, as bubbly as ever.
Ellie Sattler was Alan's best friend, having met each other at Berkeley. Unlike him, she was studying paleo botany, studying ancient plants. She also had the mouthiest boyfriend ever, always going on about chaos theory and stuff he didn't understand.
"Alan, when are you ever going to learn to smile? Every time I see you, you have this frown on your face. Sometimes I think you were born that way." She joked.
Alan rolled his eyes, giving a smirk.
"I'll smile when I finally get this damn bone out of the ground." He answered half-humorously, going back to pick at the dirt.
"You mean the bone you just chipped up?" Ellie covered her mouth, barely able to keep her grin from getting bigger. Sometimes she swore up and down, that Alan could get his own TV show if he wanted.
As Alan looked from her back to the fossil with confusion, eyes widening once he'd seen where chipped a piece of bone. It must've happened when he was lost in thought.
"Damnit…" He facepalmed slowly, rubbing the sweat off his face.
"Here, let me help. This'll go faster with two people anyways." She bent down, pulling a pick out of her shirt pocket.
"Thanks Ellie." Alan shook his head at his own clumsiness.
A moment of silence went by as the two chipped at the dirt around the old fossil, before Ellie broke the ice.
"So, when are you leaving?" She asked, stopping momentarily to look up at him.
"What do you mean?" He asked back, not looking up from his work.
"I mean, when are you going to leave for your new job?"
Then it clicked.
"I haven't decided yet."
"Well why not?"
"Because, we're still not finished here, far from it. And what if I don't make the cut?"
"Now you're just putting yourself down." Ellie chuckled.
"Plus I'm terrible with technology, that's probably the only reason i've been able to keep my job here, because all we do is dig."
"Well you said it yourself, nothing is better than digging."
"Yeah, but all we get is speculation from bone. If we had the actual things here in front of us, we'd known how they really ticked."
"Now it's starting to sound like you really want to go." Ellie grinned.
Alan stopped, taking a moment to process that.
"Ellie, if you had the chance to take the job of a lifetime, would you take it?"
"Alan, I'll be honest with you, anything is better than being out in this sandbox." She gestured to the terrain.
"If that's your honest opinion, why are you out here then?"
"Because someone has to keep an eye on you." She laughed, lightly punching the man in the shoulder.
"Well that just makes me feel a whole lot better." He gave a small chuckled, sitting up again.
"So? What're you going to do?" She asked once more.
Alan processed the question, looking out over the hills and lakes in thought, before looking back at his blonde friend. He hoped he didn't regret his decision.
[Jurassic World, Isla Nublar, March 25th, 2015]
It had been almost a year since Alan accepted Masrani's job offer. The twenty-six year old had found himself instantly placed inside a lab with all the other starting recruits, and that didn't sit well with him. Upon his first month there he went to Claire Dearing, the person Masrani put in charge of running the park, and asked for a change of location.
He'd been promised a spot on Simon's team, but the man knew Grant was an outdoors man. He only took the job so he could observe and interact with the dinosaurs, not write down data on a clip board in a test tube lab all day.
After putting in the request, he was instantly put down the next day. Of course he wasn't happy with the woman, but there wasn't much he could do at that point except hope a miracle happened.
He didn't know how, but his previously turned down request had somehow reached Masrani, and he was suddenly given the position he'd been waiting for. He didn't question the mysterious miracle, but he did thank whoever was watching out for him.
Alan was then put on the team of researchers given the privilege of getting up close and personal with the creatures. He'd even made friends with the local raptor handler and the caretaker for the Tyrannosaur, Owen Grady and Alice Dearing.
He met Owen on his first routine check with the team through the park to check on the health and behavior of the animals, to see if they'd changed from previous weeks. He'd seen the trainer having trouble getting the raptors to follow his commands.
"Having trouble?" He chuckled, leaning against the railing of the walkway that overlooked the enclosure.
The man jumped, having been surprised by Alan's presence.
"Huh? Oh, nah. Sometimes they're just really hard-headed." Owen shook his head while looking down at the reptiles.
"They usually listen. You know, they imprinted on me at birth." He explained, making Alan nod.
"Just like a bird." Grant whispered under his breath, observing the raptors clearly for the first time since he'd gotten to the island.
"Excuse me?" Owen asked, raising his eyebrow.
"You yell and speak human words to them, but they'll never understand." Alan said, looking at the other man.
"Yeah I got that, I mostly just rely on hand gestures and specific words." Owen shrugged his shoulders, not knowing where Grant was getting at.
"Listen to how they communicate with each other." Alan held his hand up to silence the man, though he wasn't trying to come off as rude.
Owen nodded, looking down to his animals, listening closely.
"They're… chirping?" He questioned.
"Just like a bird. Birds communicate by giving off a certain number of chirps to each other."
"So you're saying I should chirp with them?" Owen asked skeptically.
Well, if you want, but you'll never understand them either way." Alan joked.
"True…"
"But they'll understand you. I'm not saying you should chirp yourself, but if you could get your hands on a clicker or something, you might have an easier time." Alan advised, leaning back up to stand.
Owen looked thoughtful for a moment, before facing Alan, holding his hand out to the man.
"Owen Grady, thanks for the help." He smirked.
"Alan Grant, let me know how it goes." Alan returned the expression.
"Well Alan, as thanks, let me buy you a drink sometime. The margaritas here are to die for." Owen offered.
"I'll think about it." The dinosaur researcher nodded, turning to take his leave.
A few weeks later, and a couple of drinks later, Alan and Owen became good friends. Though they took their jobs seriously, they often hit the bars and drug themselves back to Owen's bungalow where a bad hangover awaited them the next morning.
Their friendship is what also lead Alan to Alice Dearing.
On their day off, Owen decided to show Alan what happened behind the scenes of the Tyrannosaur paddock, wanting to introduce him to a friend.
Upon his first meeting with the redhead, the two men found her loading raw meat into the back of a cart with nothing but her bare hands, instead of using gloves or tools like everyone else.
Owen coughed, called the woman's name out. This made her look up, then she grinned, jogging over to the males.
"She's got a lot of spunk, but she's a great person." Owen leaned over slightly, whispering to the dinosaur expert through his teeth.
"Heya Owen!" Alice laughed, holding her hand out.
"Alice." Owen nodded, shaking the woman's hand.
She nodded back, before glancing to Grant.
"Who's your friend?"
"Alice Dearing, meet Alan Grant. He's the guy I told you about, the one that helped me with my little problem." He introduced the two.
"Hello Mr. Grant, it's a pleasure to meet you." Alice looking him up and down with an impressed grin, before holding her hand out to him as well.
"You too, and please. Doctor, not Mister." He gave a short smile before shaking her hand.
"Oh, a doctor huh?" She asked, feigning curiosity.
"Uh, yes ma'am." He nodded, now getting nervous.
"Well if I'm ever feeling under the weather I'll know who to call now." She gave a sly wink, pulling her hand back.
Alan could feel himself mentally roll his eye and facepalming. She was one of those workplace woman.
As if she could read his mind, she started laughing.
"Hey I'm just kidding, no need to get all serious on me. Lighten up some, you're at the happiest place in the world." She held her arms out energetically, motioning to the people picking up meat and shoveling droppings.
"I'm ecstatic." Alan said sarcastically, smirking with a roll of his eyes.
She wrapped her arms around Alan and Owen's shoulder with a laugh.
"That's the spirit! I have a feeling the three of us are gonna be good friends!"
Something then clicked in Alan's head.
"Wait, your last name is Dearing, as in Claire Dearing? The lady running this place?" He asked.
For once the woman's excitement was gone, replaced with a calmer, softer smile.
"Yeah, she's my older sister, by two years. I have two older sisters in fact."
'Great, the woman who most likely hates my guts for no reason, and I just made friends with her sister.' Alan thought to himself, mentally sighing.
"I know you probably think Claire's an evil witch, but trust me, she's really nice once you get to know her." Alice claimed, as if she'd read his thoughts once again.
"Jesus I hope so, every time I've talked to her since I got here I just want to ring her neck." Alan chuckled.
Owen's face paled, never having heard anyone boldly talk about Claire that way, even if it was true. And to her little sister nonetheless!
Alice began laughing with the dinosaur expert.
"Trust me, I know the feeling. When you know the woman for twenty-six years, it kind of gets old."
Owen gasped at Alice as well, not expecting her to take Alan's side on the matter. Claire's own sister thought that about her?
"But her and I, we couldn't get any different. She prefers the office and technology, and I like being out here getting my hands dirty."
"There's something I can agree with." Alan nodded.
Before the conversation could continue any longer, a bell rang, signaling that anyone on break had to get back to work.
"Oh! I guess that's my queue. I'll catch you guys later?" Alice asked, slowly walking backwards.
"Sure!" Owen nodded.
"Great! See you Owen! Bye, Dr. Grant." She winked again, speaking his name seductively.
Her voice sent shivers down his back.
"So, what do think of her?" Owen asked, crossing his arms.
"I think she's tenacious."
"You have no idea." The raptor trainer agreed.
"You wanna know what I think?"
Alan looked at him, raising a brow.
"I think she digs you." Owen gave a smirk.
"Owen, if you continue that thought I will throw you to the Mosasaur." Alan pointed accusingly at his friend.
Owen quickly held his hands up in defense.
"Hey, yeah, no problem. No problem at all." He faked fear, before laughing as the two men walked away.
"Man, you two just met and she's all over you. Lucky dog!" Owen encouraged the idea.
"Seriously? Owen?" Alan glanced at him in disbelief.
"You're right, you're right."
Alan nodded, thinking it was over with.
"You should totally ask her out, once you get to know her better."
"Son of a…"
[Owen's Bungalow, North of the park]
Back in the current time, Alan sat at a small table with Alice as they watched Owen work on his motorcycle. Both sat in lawn chairs with cold beers in their hands, conversing over the current behavior of the island's local Tyrannosaur.
"Look, all I'm saying is that maybe the reason the Rex isn't as active is because she isn't actively hunting her prey." Alan explained.
"What would make you think that's the reason?" Alice asked, taking a swig of her beer.
"Well, you see this in modern day zoo animals. They aren't as active as they are in the wild because they're being catered to with frozen meat that's already been thawed out."
"And?"
"And because of this, they see no reason for anything other than lazing around. We're talking sixty-five million years of gut instinct. This is one of the largest predators to have ever lived. T-Rex wants to hunt, not be fed."
Alice stared at him for a moment, her motives hidden behind bright green eyes. Normally it would've made him uncomfortable, but he found himself being relaxed by the stare.
She then nodded, raising her bottle and taking another swig.
"You know, I can't believe Masrani didn't higher you sooner. You're really smart, but you're not afraid to get into the field either."
"Please, you were all doing fine before I got here." He looked down with a bashful grin, accepting the praise.
"It's true, you've been a big help in the time you've been here Alan." Owen cut in, walking over to take a drink of his own Miller.
"I'm just surprised you guys didn't figure out half the stuff I did before I got here." Alan shook his head.
"You're also right about that too. My sister likes to hire the best of the best to make sure the park is fine, but then she's got people who are here just for the good paying job. Sure they're good at it, but if they don't really like it, they get careless." Alice criticized her sister.
"Yeah, that's something I've noticed while I've been here." He nodded.
"Well, I think we should pack things up for today you guys." Owen said, looking across the ocean to see clouds coming in.
"It looks like weather department isn't doing their job."
"I'll talk to Claire about it." Alice laughed, getting up from her seat.
She then gathered Alan and Owen into a group hug.
"Thank you for letting me and Alan come hang with you today Owen." She thank him sincerely.
"Hey no problem, what would you two do without me?" He confidently puffed his chest out.
"She and her crazy sister would drive me up the wall and into the Rex feeder." Alan joked, pointing his thumb at the redhead.
"Hey!" She laughed, socking him in the arm.
"Get out of here you two! I have to finish some paper work to send to Claire for tomorrow." Owen grinned, picking up the beer bottles from the table.
"See you tomorrow Owen!" Alice energetically waved as she jumped into the jeep she and Alan had drove there.
Owen gave small wave, having Alan return the gesture with a nod.
[Staff Suites, East of the park]
The drive back to their suites was relatively quiet, with the two occasionally making small talk.
Once they were back, Alan put the vehicle in park and escorted Alice up to her room on the Sixth floor, where most of the higher up staff members stayed. This became routine for them any time they stayed out late, Alice needed a lift, or if they ever came back from a bar drunk off their asses.
Alan smiled at the memory of the last time him, Alice, and Owen went out for drinks. Owen started a bar fight, and Alan being the good friend he was, backed him up. To his surprise, Alice eagerly jumped in with a loud laugh and started throwing some mean right hooks.
"What'cha thinking about cowboy?" Alice glanced up at him with a smirk as they stood in the elevator. She'd started calling him that because of the hat he wore every day.
"Oh, you know, memories." He shrugged.
"Gotcha."
As they got to the final floor, they walked out and he trailed behind her to her door. Unlocking the door and lightly kicking it open, Alice turned to Alan with a hopeful look.
"You know, my offer still stands." She grinned slyly.
"You're offer?" He asked, not knowing what she meant.
"To stay the night in my room, cowboy." She leaned against the door frame, trying her best to lure him in for the bait.
Rolling his eyes chuckling, he wrapped her in a hug.
"Good night Alice."
He pulled back, seeing the momentary pout on her face, before her expression softened.
"Night Alan." She sighed, but never letting her smile leave her face. He knew she wouldn't give up.
"See you tomorrow at breakfast?" She asked.
"Sure thing." He began heading back for the elevator.
He heard the door close, but he still heard the loud "YES!" that came from her room. Stepping into the elevator, he laughed to himself, thinking how had made the right choice to come to the island.
And there we have it, the first chapter! The following chapters will lead into the events of Jurassic World, but they'll mostly focus on Alan, Alice, and Owen and their lives in the park. Do you want me to continue this, or no? Hope you guys enjoyed it, and let me know what you thought!