After the meeting with the board of directors, Wu had immediately returned to the laboratories in order to implement there the instructions of the operation Fallen Kingdom.
While the lab technicians cleared the aisles after the earthquake damage and secured the dangerous products, the geneticists were preparing the largest equipment items for transport and disassembling others. Others were delicately removing the eggs from the incubators and the embryos from their storage units to place them in stuffed boxes and containers with refrigerated compartments respectively.
At the exit of the laboratory, an assistant had been tasked with keeping a register of evacuated assets.
When he wanted to go to his office, Wu noticed something unusual: The door was ajar while he hadn't been there for the entire day.
"Excuse me. Has anyone been in my office today?" He asked the laboratory staff aloud.
"No one, Henry," one of the geneticist replied. "You were the only one to have the keys. The door was like that when we arrived," she added.
"It was closed however when we had to evacuate…," one of the laboratory technicians told him.
"Are you sure about what you are saying?" Wu worried.
"Absolutely certain, professor," the technician affirmed.
This information troubled Wu to the highest degree. He took his phone out of his jeans' pocket.
"I have to call Bailey..." he said to his subordinates.
He dialled the J-SEC captain's number and waited for him to answer:
"Auguste? Could you have a look on the labs' CCTV footage? I think someone broke into my office."
"Ok, professor. I'm on it."
"Professor!" One of the technicians hailed him. "I think you would like to come and see this..."
The technician was staring at the security camera opposite of the door of Wu's office. Looking closely, Wu saw an orange spot on the lens.
"It's strange Professor but nearly at the same time as the beginning of the Hell Storks' attack, something covered the lens and would still be there," Bailey said.
"We just discovered what," Wu told him, "paint."
"Paint?!" Bailed repeated, disconcerted. "I send you someone to make it all clear."
Five minutes later, an officer arrived and verified with Wu if nothing had been stolen.
While the officer, a plump young man with a juvenile face, was inspecting the other cameras in the laboratory as well as those in the corridor overlooking the latter, where the visitors walked during their visit, Wu made sure to check that no files on the computer had been deleted.
As they were all still there, he relaxed but the officer came back to tell him that the camera in the tour corridor and another in the laboratory also had their lenses covered with paint.
Unable to continue his investigation for the moment due to a lack of elements, the officer left and Wu pondered for the rest of the evening about the breaking in his office and the cameras' deterioration.
X
At about six pm, he was told of the arrival of the truck that was going to transport the assets to the east docks.
"The Anne B will be at the docks in one hour. We can begin to put the equipment in the truck. Be very careful with the eggs and the embryos! We will also have to delete everything on the servers before leaving," Wu commanded.
The lab technicians nodded, but as he was about to help them load the truck, his phone rang.
"I'll be back…,"
Moving away from the agitation that had gained much of the laboratory, Wu went to isolate himself in his office, picking up the call on the way:
"Henry Wu's speaking, I'm listening."
"Good evening, Professor Wu," said the voice of a man.
"Good evening," the geneticist replied in a neutral tone. "May I ask to whom I am speaking?"
"We met a long time ago," the man, who seemed to be about the same age as Wu, said, "when we were both genetics students at Stanford under the supervision of the late Norman Atherton."
"We were more than two at the time," Wu reminded him. "If we knew each other then I think I don't remember you anymore, sorry."
"That's alright, my identity doesn't matter but if we were face to face, you would recognize me right away. I always had a great interest in your work and InGen's activities. It is really regrettable that the company is threatened again…"
"Go straight to the point Sir, my time is precious," Wu said with some impatience.
"If I called you, it is to make you an offer that you cannot refuse."
"What does this offer consist of?" Wu asked only out of politeness. "I must tell you that I am not chasing money."
"I simply suggest you to join the company I work for. As you just reminded me and as I already knew, you don't care about money. So I won't use this argument to convince you to join us."
"I'm listening…"
"Let's face it: Jurassic World is over and with it, one of InGen's biggest revenue source," his interlocutor exposed. "John Hammond's legacy is nothing but flames, ashes, ruins, blood and vultures squabbling over its remains. Because of the large amount of dead and wounded on your hands, the eyes of the world have turned towards you. Did you put on the television or consult social media? People are only discussing about this! The current disaster is being experienced as a shock similar to the one caused by those Islamist attacks in Paris two years ago. The San Diego's incident looks like your average loose zoo animal story compared to it…"
Wu hadn't had the opportunity to turn on the television and put a news channel or go on the internet and check out news sites.
He knew that at the same time, Hoskins was talking to reporters who had jumped in the first helicopter to cover the crisis, but the geneticist didn't knew anything about the reactions around the world to the disaster. This contrasted sharply with the 1993 incident, which was first considered as a hoax.
"At the end of this unprecedented crisis and once it would have finished to pay for all the damages and deaths, the giant with feet of clay that is InGen will be much weakened, even if it is still supported by Masrani Global," the man carried on. "The board is naïve to believe that the fruit of the operation Fallen Kingdom will save InGen from total ruin. They will only delay the inevitable at best. What is the point, dear colleague, to fill with water a holed barrel while your efforts could be used elsewhere for the better? Staying at InGen would ruin your talent. With us, you would have carte blanche concerning your creations and zero bill of specifications delivered by some uptight bureaucrat who don't understand anything about the talent of the artists of life that we are."
As what his interlocutor was saying was far from being baseless, Wu's attention increased and when he had mentioned the possibility of having carte blanche and the absence of a bill of specifications, Wu had been almost seduced by the offer.
"I have heard things about the Indominus rex, your latest creation, many things. A real revolution in the field of genetic engineering. A new species of dinosaur in its own right. Large, powerful, of an appalling savagery and an intelligence almost unmatched in the Animal Kingdom, as it is able to thwart the plans made to stop it by using extraordinary abilities like camouflage. You took big risks and shown audacity when you designed it, Henry, I like this. I can only be impressed."
Seduction had given way to consternation when the man had mentioned the camouflage. The mere fact that he was in possession of such information about the Indominus was frightening.
"How the hell do you know about the Indominus' camouflage?" Wu asked him on an alarmed tone.
He looked out of his office to make sure that there was no indiscreet listeners nearby.
"Before today, we were only a handful at InGen to know that she had this ability," he added in a low voice.
"As I told you, I am attentive to your research. Knowledge is power and to have it, I have deployed all the necessary means. Victor Hoskins is not the only one to send spies to competition you see… Thus, I know even some of InGen's best kept little secrets, including one for which you have taken all the precautions you deemed necessary. You can fool Claire Dearing, Simon Masrani, Victor Hoskins, InGen's board of directors, the media or the masses… But not me," his interlocutor declared not without arrogance.
He paused.
"Do you know the story of Prometheus, professor?" He suddenly asked.
"Yes, of course," Wu said quite coldly.
"In this case, I will spare you the details. I would just like to ask you why he ends up chained to a rock so that an eagle can comes each day to devour his liver? I don't remember that part much, you know…"
Wu's interlocutor knew the answer. He just wanted to hear Wu say it, as if he wanted him to realize something.
"Because he stole fire from the Gods to give it to Men," Wu answered.
"Ah, now I remember! Yes indeed, the Gods are quick to punish all those who attempt to raise their creations… I let you think about my offer as long as you wish. When the time comes, you will make the right decision. You will end up joining us, I'm sure of it. If necessary, call me back at this number. Merry Christmas, professor."
The man finished his call and Wu leaned back in his chair, deeply troubled by this discussion.
His brain was dwelling on one particular sentence, "…the Gods are quick to punish all those who attempt to raise their creations…".
The choice to mention the fault and the fate of Prometheus was far from being insignificant in the context of their conversation and now knowing what kind of information the man seemed to be in possession of, Wu realized that it was actually a threat.
If he didn't seriously consider the offer or if he opposed this mysterious geneticist instead of working with him, then there was a strong risk that the entire genomic map of the Indominus would be sent to the media or an institution tasked with ensuring bioethical regulations.
He had gone far with the Indominus, way too far and he knew it. He was starting to regret it. Being her creator, he naturally thought he was the only holder of sensitive information about her.
If ever the truth came out, then it will be the end of his career and he was good to appear in court.
It was with trembling hands that he put down his cell, haunted by the idea.
As he tried to relax by pacing back and forth, he saw, through the window that allowed him to observe the laboratory from his office, Hoskins climbing down the metal staircase that led in the lab.
The director of the security division was on the phone and when Wu opened the door of his office, he realized that the person at the other end of the line was his daughter.
"Try to have a Merry Christmas anyway, sweetie," her father wished to her. "Give Haytham my regards. I'll call you back tomorrow as soon as I could. Bye."
Hoskins put his phone in his pocket and went to Henry Wu's office.
Seeing the professor seated behind his desk, looking thoughtful, he knocked.
"Am I disturbing you, Professor?"
"No. Please Vic, come in."
He came in and leaned against the door frame. He seemed worried. He let out a heavy sigh.
"These are uncertain times that comes, with their lot of sacrifices and concessions," Hoskins said. "InGen will take years to recover from this crisis. Jeff Rossiter and Amelia Grendel must be jubilating like cartoons villains in front of their screen as they see the value of ours holdings tumbling down. The employees are scared, Henry, afraid for their jobs, their future. Some of the keepers refuse to evacuate and want to stay with the animals until the end despite the threat of the volcano and the escaped creatures. Do you know what I told them? The suitcase or the coffin. The suitcase or the coffin…"
Hoskins walked to the window that overlooked the laboratory.
"I'm afraid that your division will also be affected by the looming wave of layoffs. Among our geneticists, how many will be recruited by our rivals?" He wondered with his voice hinting clearly that he feared the consequences.
He turned to Wu.
"Tell me, you won't be one of those? Reassure me."
The geneticist was still haunted by the telephone conversation he just had. Putting aside the underlying threat in some of his interlocutor's words, he knew that he might have been right when he said that InGen was doomed.
For a second, he wanted to inform Hoskins that an individual working for the competition had just contacted him and tell him the exchange he had but not knowing how far his contact's arm extended and who was in his pay within InGen, he preferred to refrain from doing this.
"I worked all my life for InGen. I would have the impression of betraying John Hammond's memory by leaving the company of my own free will," he said.
"The good old John Hammond… He must be looking at us from up above, shaking his head while wondering what we did to end up like this. When I look at what the events had done to Masrani… I'm afraid that if he had been in his place, Hammond would have died on the spot of a broken heart."
By imagining John Hammond's reaction to the disaster and Masrani's current mental state, Wu felt his chest and throat tighten.
"How is Simon?"
"Not very good to be honest," Hoskins replied. "He has fallen into a state of mutism and refuses to drink or eat. He was so flamboyant before and now he is an empty shell… I will try to see him during the evening. Despite the argument you had, you should perhaps do the same if you have time. He is still your friend."
What kind of friend am I?
This question crossed the mind of the geneticist. His own pride had costed him the friendship and respect of Simon Masrani.
Looking through the open door, he saw men dressed in fatigues walking into the laboratory. He noticed that they were armed with assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns.
"What are those men doing here?"
Just before Hoskins visited Wu, the director of the security division had gone to the rendezvous point with the second wave of reinforcements sent from InGen Security's base in Costa Rica, the first being the Slayers and the third planned to arrive with the Arcadia.
Two Boeing CH-47 Chinook and one AgustaWestland EH101 Merlin had dropped two BAE Caiman, a hummer, as well as about fifty mercenaries and all the equipment that could be provided to them. While the two CH-47 Chinook had headed back to the mainland, the EH101 Merlin stayed on the island.
"It's for your safety. It should dissuade those who want to harm you. If you want to go out, make sure that you are escorted because take this like you want but you became a target and a subject of covetousness."
Wu knew that the intrusion into his home of Lieutenant Brunet and Warrant Officer Darbinian of the Grey Guard and the ensuing aggression had something to do with this decision.
"You are a key asset of InGen, Henry, don't forget it and it is imperative that we ensure that you leave this island along with your work. These men will also help you in evacuating the labs. Once he will be done in the control room, Commander Torres will come down here to oversee the whole thing. By midnight at the latest, you must be in the helicopter and en route to the mainland. Understood?"
"Midnight? But that leaves us only about six hours. Are you worried that the ash cloud prevent our aircrafts to take off beyond that time?"
"Yes, but that's not the main reason. You need to leave as soon as possible as long as the situation is stabilized here. Something is telling me that it's going to be a long night. Don't worry, if there is something of value left here, I will make sure that no one takes it…"
