I'm not back I say as I upload more frequently. Honestly this is the most writing I've done in a year, so hey, not gonna complain y'know?
"Blue sure seems to be hanging around a lot," Billy commented as the two sat outside on the porch. In the distance, they could see the raptor sniffing around the barn, hissing when Ripper would growl.
"Yeah," Maria said with pursed lips. She loved Blue, missed her something fierce. But she wasn't comfortable with her interacting with Ripper, especially now that he was reaching maturity. She didn't want to risk anything, she had no idea if their species was compatible or if he was even able to mate. Most hybrids ended up sterile, those that could had their trials during their pregnancy and most infants didn't make it. She didn't want Ripper and Blue to go through that pain.
"Not happy about it?" Billy asked as he looked at his baby sister. He had arrived earlier that day and the two had been busy catching up rather than working on Wu's journal.
"No, just cautious," Maria said with a sigh. She barely glanced up as Owen and Claire came outside, her mind focused on Blue dancing off into the shadows again. "Is Maisie in bed?" She asked as she finally acknowledged them. She'd been avoiding telling the young girl about the whole situation for days now, always managing to find an excuse or to distract her onto something else.
"She should be," Claire said as she sat down next to Maria.
"Why was Blue over here?" Owen asked as he leaned against the railing on the porch. Brows furrowed as he looked out over at the barn.
"She's been terrorizing Ripper for weeks now," Maria said with a shrug. "Either she thinks she's playing or…"
"Oh god it better be that," Owen said as he realized the second option left unsaid. "That is the last thing we need right now."
"I think it'd be cute," Billy supplied as he sipped on his beer.
"Not when the FBI finds out and raids the island," Maria huffed. She leaned back in the chair and picked up the journal. "I think I found something of interest," she informed them. "It makes reference to an experiment that he conducted between 2000 and 2001, on Isla Sorna. No details on what the experiment was, but if we combine that with Billy's experience, then it's further confirmation that there is indeed a lab on that island that he could have gone to."
"That's good work," Claire said as she took the journal and leafed to the entry in question. "SA-0001?" She looked up at Maria as she read further down into the genetic codex he had scribbled. "That's not familiar to me."
"I think it's the spinosaurus," Maria said as she glanced over at it. "The only reference to it, and even then I think that his hypothetical DNA groupings make it. There's too much in that codex to be just one dinosaur."
"Unless it's also a hybrid," Owen supplied as he took a swig from his beer. "He's crazy enough to do it."
"No,' Claire shook her head. "Wu didn't create anything other than pure dinosaurs before we proposed the Indominus to him. And it took him years to get her code right." Maria at least could attest to that.
"Did you tell the agents about it when they called earlier?" Owen asked as he regarded his friend.
"Yeah," Maria sighed as she reached for her wine cooler. "They agreed that it is possible and are currently petitioning for a team to go to the island."
"And you're worried because?" Owen prompted.
Maria looked at him in slight surprise. How did he even know… never mind. Owen was like that, always able to see past peoples walls. "Because they want me to go there with Ripper," she said finally.
"No," Billy said immediately. Shaking his head and standing up, agitation radiating off of him. "That is not happening."
"Billy, I don't really have the choice," Maria said as she tried to reason with him. "I'm uncovering the secrets of the journal, I have the experience with Wu that they need."
"That place is a death trap! And to bring Ripper?! What the hell are they thinking?" Billy snapped, wincing when Ripper himself let out a caw of warning. "Sorry."
"They want him there because of the other hybrid," Maria said, having her own reservations with the idea. "They know he's gaining trust with you all, albeit slowly. And saw the security footage of me forcing him to stand down when he was going after Owen and Blue. They think if the handler is there to control him, he'd be able to lead us through the island and kill the hybrid."
"So they want Ripper to be the one to kill the twin?" Claire asked as she tried to follow along. The plan sounded risky as hell, but not without some evidence to pull it into fruition. She had seen the tapes as well, it was remarkable to see the dinosaur go from attack mode to standing down.
"Yeah," Maria confirmed. "Bullets won't take him down, not if the lysine is the same with the twin. And so that leaves only a few choices, either burning it down and hoping for the best which would be too cruel. Or sending in another dinosaur and helping from the sidelines. That one at least could be quicker and less tormenting for the poor thing."
"Jesus," Owen shook his head as he finished his beer. "Well, tell them I'm in," he said finally. "Me and Blue."
"You can't be serious," Claire said, turning to face him.
"I am," Owen said simply. "They'll need a behavior specialist to accompany their hybrid trainer, I can determine if the other dinosaurs are viable enough to integrate into the island here. And Blue can help us in the field along with Ripper, especially if we come across any raptors on the island. Stave them off, back them down, whatever needs to happen." He was determined.
"I don't think they're willing to have two dinosaurs on this mission," Maria tried to reason with him, despite knowing that once his mind was made up he was doing it.
"Then I'll talk to them," Owen said with a shrug. "The point is, I will not let you go on that island alone without backup. Pack doesn't split up," he added the last part with such conviction that Maria was quiet for a moment.
"Well, if that's the case, then you'll need a guide who's actually been on the island," Billy said now. "Not me," he added as she whipped her head around to glare at him. "But maybe Dr. Grant, Dr. Malcolm?"
"I can call them," Claire pipped up. "I have their numbers from working at the park and from the Dinosaur Protection Group. I doubt they'll accept, however. Dr. Malcolm is very against dinosaurs and the islands."
"As is Dr. Grant," Billy mused as he tried to go over his options. "Wait. There is one other person, but it may take some convincing."
"You guys are running half cocked thinking that this will be allowed!" Maria suddenly said, unable to take this much longer. "For all we know they may not need any of us!"
"So call them tomorrow," Owen said with a shrug. "Run it by them, if they say no then it's a no. But if they say yes, then we'll need to have our options open for what to do."
Maria scowled as she downed the rest of her drink before standing up. She took her journal and the files and bid them all a goodnight. She'd call in the morning, and this whole thing would be straightened out. Owen would have to retire this crazy plan of taking him and Blue with them, and Billy wouldn't have to bother whoever he was going to employ. She just had to make the call.
This was utter and complete bullshit.
Apparently the FBI was a bunch of amateurs who saw the merit of a behavior specialist and his raptor coming along with a hybrid dinosaur onto a dinosaur infested island. And they also appreciated the gesture of having a guide for those who hadn't been on the island before and told her to go ahead and employ the guide. She didn't know who they worked for, but she had half the mind to call up their boss and get it set right.
But, here she was driving up with her brother and Agent Wilson to Enid Oklahoma in search for the guide that Billy had mentioned. She had a vague idea on who the person was, she had never met him before despite his involvement with Billy and Isla Sorna. But with how much Billy talked about him, prior to any of this, she felt like she already knew him.
"Are you sure this is the right place?" Agent Wilson asked as he took in the store that Billy had parked into.
"Yep, smaller than what they said it would be, but the right place," Billy said as he got out of the car. He looked over at the agent as Maria came over to his side. "Let us do the talking, eh?"
The agent pursed his lips, not looking pleased by the request, but nodded all the same. He looked up at the store again, disdain on his face. "Kirby Paint and Tile Plus," he read. "What does the plus stand for?"
"Bathroom fixtures," Billy said as he led them into the store. He looked around for a moment, taking in the lack of employee presence and customers. Finally he cupped his hands to his mouth and called out, "ERIC!"
Something fell in the isles on the other side of the store before a man around Maria's age appeared. He looked shocked for a moment before a grin spread out on his face as he came racing forward. "Billy!" he let out a laugh as the two embraced. "What are you doing here?" He asked as they separated.
"I'm here for a favor," Billy said with a soft smile as he wrapped an arm around Maria and brought her into the spotlight. "This is my little sister, I've told you about her before," he said as if he was announcing a brand new car that Eric had won.
"I am not the favor," Maria supplied as she fought the urge to hit her brother. Honestly she wanted to sink into the ground at this very moment, not only was her brother being himself, but he was doing it in front of two men who happened to be attractive and it just wasn't fair.
"The sister who raised that hybrid?" Eric asked with a slight smirk, raising a brow at her as he took her in. Of course she was that sister, he didn't have another.
"The very one," Billy said proudly, only to have that bubble popped by Wilson.
"That was confidential."
"I'm very proud of her accomplishments," Billy said with a shrug.
"So what is this favor?" Eric asked now, crossing his arms as he finally noticed the government agent behind them.
"We need to go back to Isla Sorna," Maria said now, taking the lead before Billy or even Wilson could. "We're hunting down Dr. Henry Wu and putting a stop to his illegal cloning of dinosaurs. We have some evidence that he's on the island, problem is, we don't know anything about it."
Eric tilted his head back as he let her words sink in. "What about Dr. Grant?"
"Hung up as soon as we said Isla," Billy said.
"Dr. Malcolm?"
"Laughed then hung up," Maria said pressing her lips together.
Eric thought over a moment as he looked between the three of them. "Who all would be there?"
"Three agents, including myself, Owen Grady, Miss Brennan, a velociraptor and the Indoraptor," Wilson said, voice sounding a bit stiff as he gave the list. "The assets are under strict guidance and with their trainers there we see no casualties happening."
Eric merely raised a brow at him before looking at Maria for confirmation. "If there's any casualties, it won't be by our assets themselves," she didn't sound like she really believed it but she also knew that Ripper was more controllable now along with Blue. Unless they ran into a dinosaur bigger than them, which was highly likely, then it was possible they could all make it out.
Possibly.
"Would there be pay?" Eric asked now. "Because I'm not going back there without payment."
"Of course," Wilson said as he crossed his own arms. "All those who give their services will be compensated accordingly."
Eric pursed his lips before nodding. "Then consider my services yours," he said as he looked to Maria. "When do we fly out?"
"In three weeks," Wilson said. "We still have preparations for the operation and one of Hammond's heirs is contacting us for their own favor." That piqued Maria's interest, she wasn't aware that Hammond's heirs even knew about this. Was it because of Wu or something else? She'd have to ask about it later.
Eric nodded and shook Billy's hand, "nice to see you again," he said before taking Maria's. "It was a pleasure to meet you finally," he said sincerely before letting go. "Agent," he said with a nod before bidding them farewell and going back to work.
"What did you say about me?" Maria asked as Billy drove off, Agent Wilson on the phone with his partner to let them know about the development.
"Oh, you know… how smart you are, what you did and do for a living, that you're single," Billy listed. "The general things like that- hey! Don't hit the driver!"
"Did you really say that to him?" Maria asked, scandalized. Now his introduction made more sense, he was being both himself and a self proclaimed matchmaker! She really was going to kill him.
"Oh, don't be so upset, he found it cute," Billy said with a smile. "He's also single," he added in a whisper.
"I don't care!" she hissed back.
"We need to make a detour," Wilson said suddenly, snapping the siblings out of their chat. "Tim Murphy wishes to speak to you, Maria, before you head back to the island."
Maria looked back wide eyed. This was a new development indeed.
I had to bring in the Kirby's, I loved them in the movie and I enjoyed their dynamic with my previous Jurassic Park fics. Eric is a candidate for Maria's love interest, actually a strong contender. Agent Wilson was in the running but... eh. And while I love Owen dearly, I want to keep him as just a friend for Maria since she alludes to him being like a brother often in the story already.
Also I really wished that the newer films had brought in Hammond's grandchildren more, or at all. They just flat out disappeared after the second movie. So I'm going to incorporate at least Tim in here, even if it's for a chapter. Don't know if I can justify Lex being there, since this deals with dinosaurs she's not really a big fan of them all.
But, do let me know what you think! I'm always excited to see reviews pop up!