InGen:

A New Beginning

A steady rain fell in drenching sheets, hammering against the vast windows of the side of the large International Genetics office building. Otherwise known as InGen, as it has been called now for years since the company was founded in the late eighties. Water fell heavy from the sky and poured down the endless wall of glass. On the thirty-second floor, in a corner office of the building, Peter Ross stood looking out over the dark city. The view was usually beautiful; it stretched from the west harbor all the way to the northern forests. Ross, a man in his late thirties, was once one of InGen's most valued genetics researchers. He had worked closely with such scientists as; Dr. Philip Maner, Dr. Eileen Horton, and his closest counterpart Dr. Henry Wu. Ross was a man of business, about 6'2", wore an all-black Armani suite with black accents, and to impress people was clean shaven and had his hair nicely slicked back. In a soft mumbled tone he spoke.

"Damn rain… Seems all it ever does is rain in this city anymore."

In the dark office, Ross stood alone looking out towards the ocean. He had worked for InGen running on twenty years and was in high up authority in the company. He had helped with many of the experiments and advances over the past two decades. However, in the past couple years InGen had took a turn for the worse, and had filed for chapter 11, bankruptcy. Ross knew he had to find a way to help the company, and soon. His job depended on it.

Standing quietly, Ross heard a knock on his office door. Looking down at his watch as he walked over to the door, his face was sullen.

"Ah, 3:15 right on time." Ross said to himself quietly. "We can fix this company, I know it."

He quickly opened the door. Evan Klegg, a tall, well-built man in his forties with blue eyes, short cropped hair and light facial hair, stood before Ross. Evan was rather cheerful compared to his usual self. With the company falling on hard times, it affected him rather hard. Klegg was one of the advisors on the board for InGen.

The two men shook hands. "Good afternoon, Peter. How are you today?" How have your wife and kids been?" the visitor asked.

"I'm good Evan, nice to see you. Carole and the kids are good – it' been a while."

"Too long my good friend," Evan said with a smile.

"Thank-you for meeting me on such short notice. Please, have a seat." Ross walked behind the desk and plopped down in the big leather seat. Evan sat in the conference chair in front of the desk.

"So what did you want to talk to me about, Peter?"

Ross looked at him. Nervous and hoping, he started to speak.

"Well, Evan, as you know, the company has been going downhill since the 97 outbreak. Our profit loss has plummeted and almost all of our investors have pulled out over the last two years. There aren't many opportunities popping up anymore. People aren't much interested in cloned sheep, or gene subsidizing. And I, um...I, uh -"

Evan sat in the chair staring blankly at Ross. "And you think you can help us, Peter?"

"I -um- do… I really do," Ross said hopefully. Moving to sit behind his computer, he started to type. "Look at these," he gestured.

Ross turned on the projector so Evan could see what was on the computer screen. Up on the white vinyl screen a series of maps were all arranged by latitude and longitudes. The land masses on the maps seemed to be islands. And there were data points all around the maps charting distances and locations. Evan knew exactly what the maps were.

"No, Peter!" Evan said firmly. "This is out of the question. I know what these maps and data are and it's out of the question. InGen is done with Section 441-2 IS/IN. The park and Site B were total failures. You do remember what happened, don't you Peter?"

Ross was a little thrown off by this reaction. Evan was usually always up for what Ross had proclaimed in the past. They were close friends and had worked together many times.

"Yes, I know, Evan, they were failures. Total failures. However, Hammond was the one that made the mistakes. He was too picky. And with our loss that the company has endured there are not many more options for us to take."

"Peter… do you remember that summer when the park was being constructed and you were there with Henry?" Evan leaned in towards Ross and spoke softly. "Do you remember the accident with the young construction worker? You and Ed had to fly him out in that storm to the mainland. Too many people have lost their lives in the pursuit of this dream. Hammond's vision"

"Yes. I remember that night very vividly, Evan. However, most, if not all, of the animals should be gone by now."

"And what do you propose we do? Even if we get on the island? And then there's the question of which island to go to?" Evan asked firmly, clearly not agreeing.

Ross started to get anxious. He shifted in his seat behind the desk. "Well, we could gather specimens at the old labs and set up surveillance of the land to get raw data to help get our investors back on line with InGen! And also, look at these figures."

Ross got up and pointed out sales values and going through charts. "Imagine what we could accomplish with the technologies of the new century. It has been twenty years since we first derived our fist animal. With these technologies available we could do so much more with the animals. So much more research, so much more publicity, and so much more money."

Evan sat in the chair staring at the screens, then back at Ross, and then back to the screens. Then quietly spoke.

"So you possibly think this could pull us out of chapter 11?" Evan dropped his head and peered at his palms. He was trying to imagine what the board would say if he proposed Ross's plan. Then he looked up at Ross, and his tone was quiet.

"Peter, if I give you this one chance, no guaranties, you will be in it despite the outcome. This is a major issue to bring back up to board. You remember the lawsuits, the penalties, the losses? The board is desperate, but I don't know if they are this desperate."

Ross had a gleam is his eye.

"I will do whatever it takes; I will get the supplies and preparations needed," Ross argued, trying to sound as persuasive as possible.

"We are going to need highly tough transportation, navigation and satellite input for the islands, direct com to the mainland, and don't skimp on the protection. You know what those animals can do, Peter. You worked with Henry on them. We need tranquilizers, and guns."

"I'll call a meeting first thing tomorrow with the board of directors and see if we can get this little 'Research Expedition' off the ground. I'll call you tomorrow and tell you the details."

Standing up from his chair, Evan looked at Ross.

"It was good seeing you again Peter. Fax me the maps and data. Hope we can work together real soon."

"Yes! Yes! It was great seeing you again Evan. Thank you for meeting with me today."

After shaking hands, Evan turned and started walking for the door. As he reached the threshold, he turned to Ross and said, "You do know you really are a crazy bastard for even thinking about this, right? Let's just hope the board is desperate enough to agree. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

And with those last words Evan left and started down the hall, leaving Ross to sit back down behind his computer and search the maps.

"Here it is," he murmured with a small smile. "Isla Nublar. I'm on my way."

The rain had started to let up. Klegg sat his desk frowning at the faxes. "How the hell am I going to go about this?" he asked doubtfully. He looked at the phone and shrugged. "Here goes nothing."

Evan dialed the number for the president of the company, George Benton. The phone rang three times before Evan heard a perky voice come on to the line. "President Benton's office, how may I help you?"

"Hello this is Evan Klegg wishing to talk to Mr. Benton."

"Why of course Mr. Klegg please hold." After a couple of seconds a tired voice on the other line.

"Hello? Is that you, Klegg?"

"Yes, Mr. Benton. This is Evan," he said softly. "I was calling you to wish to arrange a board meeting. I know it is short notice; however, I have come into some information that might help the company gain back momentum. I was wondering if a board meeting at nine tomorrow morning could be arranged?"

"What kind of information Evan?"

"Well, sir, it's a lot to explain over the phone."

"I see." There was a pause. "Okay, Evan, I'll send a memo and get the board together. This better be good, Klegg." And with that Benton hung up, and the line went dead. Evan was left sitting quietly in his office, hoping tomorrow would never come.

* * *

The alarm went off sending the clock radio full blast in Evan's ear. He slowly turned and saw that it was six-thirty in the morning. Just two-and-a-half-hours left 'till he would have to get up and stand in front of the board of advisors.

Evan pulled out his toothbrush and started to brush his teeth before he started to talk to himself, toothpaste spitting out of his mouth.

"If I can get Angie on board with me, it might add to my advantage. And Jeff, everyone likes Jeff," he mumbled.

After jumping in the shower, Klegg pulled out his best suit and tie, bending down to lace up his black dress shoes. He shut off the radio on his bed stand before ambling downstairs. He had left plenty of time so he could grab a quick breakfast, and managed got everything ready for his proposal towards the board with plenty of time to spare. Evan gathered up the maps, the raw data, and the sales charts to preset to the board, making sure nothing was left behind. Soon after Evan was out the door and getting into his car heading towards the office.

It was the start of a bright sunny day as Klegg sped down the free-way. The sun was cresting over the mountains in the east, and he could see the sun glinting of the ocean water in the corner of his eye. He lived only ten minutes from the InGen corporate office building, and had only ten minutes until nine. He sped off the exit ramp and was soon pulling into the parking lot of the building.

Grabbing his envelopes with the facts and statistics of Ross's plan, he walked into the big glass double doors to the entry of the building and started toward the elevators. To his surprise, Angie Perkins came running up.

"Hold that elevator!"

Evan pushed down on the side of the door to hold it for her.

"Thanks so much Evan!" she said, smiling.

"No problem." Evan said. He fidgeted a little, and then turned to Angie. "Angie," he began, "We're friends right? We have been for years?"

"Of course Evan, Why are you acting so nervous?"

"Well, Angie… I'm about to propose a revise dealing with Section 441-2 IS/IN," Evan told her quietly.

"Oh, Evan are you crazy? I highly doubt the board will even listen to you. InGen is having problems with carcasses washing up on the beaches of the western coast as we speak."

"Angie do you remember when I introduced you to your husband, and I said you owed me? You said you'd do anything." He smiled cheaply. "Can I have you with me just this one time? Please, Angie?"

Angie stood quietly in the elevator, her eyes closed, uneasy. She opened her eyes and looked up at Klegg. "Okay. This one time I will stand behind you. What's the worst the board can do? Say no?" The elevator chimed at the sixty-fourth floor. The very top floor consisted of the conference room and the company president's office.

Angie and Evan stepped out of the elevator and passed down through double oak mahogany doors into the conference room. The two sat next to each other on the outer lower end towards were the president sat. Five minutes before nine, other board members started to trickle in talking quietly toward each other. It seemed that at exactly nine, George Benton walked into the room and sat at the far end of the table.

After sitting Benton stated, "Good morning everyone. I would like to call this meeting towards Evan today. Mr. Klegg is the one that wanted us all to get together to discuss a way to help the company pull out of its sloping situation."

Evan stood up, facing the other members. "Thank you Mr. Benton." He scanned the room, then walked over to the overhead projector and set up the information before taking the mouse and walking over to the side table.

"As everyone knows Section 441-2 IS/IN is a sensitive issue with this company, but one that keeps coming around. InGen has been through many programs and advances throughout the years. We have all worked on something or another that has helped the nation in some way. Be it medical research, vast systems designs, entertainment venues, ect. And almost all of these fields dealt with Section 441-2 IS/IN."

The other board members stared blankly at Klegg as he went on.

"We all have done so much, but in the last couple years, especially in the past year or so, new policies and laws are being developed to prevent certain research venues. Stem cell, gene sequencing, cloning…they're all very touchy subjects. Myself, Dr. Ross – down on thirty-two – and Dr. Perkins here believe that revisiting Section 441-2 IN can help gain this company momentum and hopefully pull ourselves out of chapter 11."

Benton stood up and asked, "Why IN?" "Why not IS?"

"Very good question, Mr. Benton," he began hopefully. "I have gone over the land stats and blueprints of the labs and housing. I think Isla Nublar is better equipped for our purpose. Isla Sorna, I think, is too lost and has a higher predator ratio. I believe it is too dangerous. "

"And what is our purpose there?" Benton asked calmly.

"Well, sir, and members of the board, it deals with problems and controversies that have arisen with stem cells, gene sequencing, and cloning," he informed them. "Remember in 89, when Dr. Wu was hired by a Mr. John Hammond and we sponsored him? InGen had me go to the patent office and have all of the techniques patented. These animals and the equipment on the islands are still patented. We still own all of it; we can do anything we want with them."

Klegg started to click the projectors mouse; the maps of Isla Sorna and Isla Nublar were put on the screen.

"And I pick Isla Nublar because of it integrated underground system. Yes the island was bombed in 89 to ensure all life to have been destroyed. However, they were contained blasts and only on certain parts of island. When the accident happened with the tour group most of the animals were not in their containment areas, so there is a good chance that life still exists. We could gain so much just by a weekend research execution. Visit the old lab and get specimens, put up cams to feed back here via satellite, maybe even salvage some of the ruins."

Benton sat back down looking at Klegg's faxes, and started to mumble to himself quietly. Then he looked up, realizing everyone on the board was staring at him. From the other end of table a member spoke up.

"Sir, I think this might be a profitable solution to our company."

"Evan, come over here," Benton ordered. "I've taken into account everything you've proposed this morning. I have just two conditions if we are to go along with this. First – the vehicles and transportation will be prefabricated and custom outfitted by a man named Doc Thorne. His new shop is down south in San Diego. And second – I want Grant. If he doesn't go, we don't go. Does everyone agree to these arraignments?" Benton asked.

Everyone looked back at him, and then one by one they all nodded.

"Then it's settled. Evan you get Grant, I'll contact Thorne. Have a nice day everyone! Meeting adjourned."

* * *

Leaving the meeting, Klegg walked down the hallway, towards his office. Upon entry, he sat at his desk and called Ross, only to find he wasn't available. Shrugging, Evan left a message on Ross's voice mail.

"Hey, Peter! We are a go. Benton agrees under two conditions. Call me as soon as you get this. See ya later buddy." And he hung up. Evan then packed up his bags and headed home for the rest of the day. He had a lot of preparing to do, and little time to do it.