Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and official works from Jurassic Park.
Note: Hi all. Thanks for reading my story up to this point. I had to take a break the past year from writing. But with the addition of the previous chapter and this one, I am looking forward to continue. Since I have reached my 21st chapter, I would really appreciate any feedback. Thanks.
Chapter 21: Setbacks
"So what you are saying is that he left you?", says Dr. Wu, who is in the the new visitor center, treating Dr. Malcolm.
"He left his communication device here and there's no trace of him", says Lekki.
"Thankfully, we were able to clean off ze venom. But we are glad for ze help", L'Hopital says to Dr. Wu.
"Dr. Jackson has always been a mysterious person when it came to his research, but he's behaving a little too unusual for someone foreign to Jurassic Park, I mean World, I mean...you know what I'm trying to say".
"So, what's the plan?", asks a resting Dr. Malcolm.
"You're going to have to stay here. I guess I'll be your substitute for this mission", replies Dr. Wu.
"What about your legs?"
"They'll be fine. I'm more worried about Ralph than my ability to run. So, how about this. You can monitor the video monitors and stay in touch with Prince. Lekki and L'Hopital will go with me to find Ralph". Dr. Wu and the two members of the group leave the control room and Dr. Malcolm eases himself onto a chair. He grabs his communication device and calls out for Prince.
"This is Dr. Malcolm. Over".
"Hello Dr. Malcolm. How're you feeling?"
"Good. I need to you to go to higher ground. We can't risk having you on ground, where the animals could see you."
"Will do, sir."
"Over and out".
Lex and Tim exit their Gyrosphere and find a shattered Gyrosphere of the other group members. Tim observes the curvature of broken region of the glass cover.
"The crack is no bigger than the size of club belonging to the tail of an ankylosaur", remarks Tim.
"Well, Mr. Orion did say that one of the ankylosaurs was infected by the chemical. But take a look Tim, there's absolutely nothing inside, which means they're still alive. Try using your radio". Tim pulls out the device from his pack and calls for the two group members.
"There's just static. I guess their radio got exposed to the water from the stream over there".
"Do you think we can yell out for them in this part of the island?", asks Tim.
"I don't see why not? After all, Ankylosaurs are herbivores", replies Lex. The Murphy siblings follow dinosaur footprints along the stream and call out for Harding and Gavin. Suddenly, they hear a loud and foreign scream and something drags the siblings by their feet into the water. Lex and Tim look astonished to see Harding and Gavin hiding underwater with them. Harding signals to wait. The four hear loud thumping sounds approaching the stream, and then become faint. They all immediately rise from the water and gasp for a breath of fresh air.
"Don't tell me you were hiding underwater all this time", asks Lex.
"Of course not. We were on the other side of the stream until we heard you and the ankylosaur", responds Harding.
"What happened?", asks Tim.
"We found the ankylosaurus that we were supposed to cure. But they're tough, literally", says Gavin.
"Once she noticed our presence, she got really agitated and charged towards our Gyrosphere".
"She's still out there and we need to find a way to inject the dart into her skin", adds Gavin.
"That's what teams are for, am I right?", says Tim.
Robert and Andrea find their way to the fence where the body of the Giganotosaurus is still on the ground. Robert goes up to region where he would expect the heart to be in the animal.
"Wow, she endured the dart and the electrocution", comments Robert.
"Impressive, but I think we should find the truck now. I don't want to still be here when it wakes up", says Andrea. The two walk up the region where they had parked the truck, but for some odd reason, the land was empty.
"Oh great, we have to walk back to the visitor center", says a frustrated Andrea.
"At least this means the others are still alive", says Robert.
"That's good to know and all, but how are going to find our way back? This grass looks like it has been repeatedly driven on. We'll be wasting our time trying to find the right set of tracks back to the old visitor center."
"Don't worry. I have a map." Robert pulls out a compass and a folded map of isla nublar from his pack.
"If InGen gave you all those gadgets, how come you don't have a portable digital map of some sort?"
"Whatever I have are mere prototypes. I can only imagine that the technology we'll get in the next few years will be even more complicated." Andrea helps Robert with the compass and Robert identifies their location.
"So we're currently in the southern edge of the island and we need to circle around the Giganotosaurus paddock to go north".
"Why can't we just cut straight through the grass?"
"There could still be raptors lurking out there, so it's best if we travel on open ground".
"Alright, let's go then". Robert hands Andrea the compass while he holds the map as they try to find their way back.
Dr. Wu crouches down on the ground and notices a fresh set of tire tracks and an empty spot belonging to the truck that the Dr. Jackson's group was in.
"So, he drove off. It's a good thing I came to help you guys. Come on let's take my jeep.", says Dr. Wu. He rises to his feet with slight discomfort and he directs Lekki and L'Hopital to his Jurassic Park Jeep.
"You two don't really talk all that much. What were you two doing before InGen recruited you for the mission?", asks Dr. Wu.
Lekki speaks first, "I am from the security at the Jurassic World Asia division. InGen wanted the best for this mission, so here I am."
L'Hopital, "Same. I'm from Jurassic Europe Division."
"Alright, then", Dr. Wu says, "I'm surprised that Ralph went this deep into the jungle. Unless,... Oh no!"
"What? What is it?", asks L'Hopital.
"The Carnotaurus, it's still on the island. It's supposed to be shipped to Site B. I don't know why Ralph is heading to its enclosure. It's not like he's moving the animal."
"Do you mean the Carnotaurus that the three scientists brought?", asks Lekki.
"Yes. We have to hurry before dusk. Otherwise, we'll have some difficulty getting back to the main roads." The vehicle continues down a narrow path of jungle until it reaches an opened gate stating, "WARNING, PROCEED WITH CAUTION" and "LIVE FOREIGN SPECIMEN". They exit the vehicle and replace the darts with cure with tranquilizers. They follow the tire tracks that lead to an area of muddled footprints.
Dr. Wu comments, "The enclosure looks untouched. But, it seems he was in a rush to do something and drove off somewhere. I think we should head back to the Plaza."
"Are you sure, sir?", asks Lekki.
"It's getting late. I know it's a bit unethical, but we can't risk to venture out in the night with those other enhanced dinosaurs out there". Dr. Wu, Lekki, and L'Hopital return to the truck and head off into the direction in which they came. But, little do they know, Dr. Jackson never left. He turns on the truck he drove off with, and moves to the opening of the Carnotaurus enclosure. He grabs out his satellite phone and makes a call from outside the island.
"Thank you for calling Genesyn, formally known as Biosyn. How may we help you?", says a cheerful receptionist on the line.
Ralph says, "Hello, this is Dr. Ralph Jackson."
"Oh, Dr. Jackson. Lovely to hear from you. I hope your trip is going well."
"Yes, it's going quite well. I was wondering if you can connect me to Mr. Baselton".
"Of course, sir". Dr. Jackson patiently waits while the phone line connects and he hears a young man's voice, "Hello, Mr. Baselton speaking".
"Tom, it's me, Ralph".
"Hey Ralph, I hope InGen's treating you well."
"Let's cut to the chase. The animal's still here."
"Looks like InGen's still dealing with setbacks. The fact that they didn't bother to mention my father's death on Sorna still irks me."
"What would you like me to do Tom?"
"We need to create as much havoc as possible. Your genius idea of letting the compy's loose into the genetics lab is going to make InGen sink lower in the corporate playing field. Go ahead and unleash it."
"Alright"
"Be careful, Ralph".
"Oh, I will". Dr. Jackson ends the call and turns to the entrance of the Carnotaurus enclosure. He flashes his InGen badge and the gate becomes wide open.