Case 2: The InGen Conspiracy, Part 8
Disclaimer: Same as before....I invented part of Ivy's past in this chapter.
~ ~ ~ ~
16 May 2000: "Alright, I'm in. Now what do I do?" Grant said.
"Follow the overhead piping." Hammond replied.
Grant complied and found himself at a dead end. "Where am I supposed to go now?"
"There should have been a left turn back there. A small metal staircase, go down it." Hammond said.
As Grant moved deeper into the power station he heard another voice over his radio headset, "Grant."
"Grant, this is Hal. I was wondering, is there any danger from the Gallimimus?" Hal asked.
"No, there shouldn't be, unless they stampede? Why?" Grant said.
"Because there's about a herd of them in the Cretaceous Courtyard. I can see seven people in the building across from them." Hal replied, "What does it take to get them to stampede?"
"Predators, usually." Grant replied.
"Is it safe to go through them?" Hal asked.
"As long as you don't make any sudden movements it should be safe." Grant said.
"Should be?" Hal said.
"They've been extinct for millions of years, I only know theory, not fact." Grant replied.
"Bloody hell." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal tiptoed through the Gallimimus herd, quietly as possible. He was aware that if he made any sudden moves they'd stampede in a heartbeat. Just then he felt an impact tremor of something very large, walking. From out of the tree line burst an Allosaurus.
"Son of a bitch!" Hal growled and took cover in a nearby fountain.
The Gallimimus immediately stampeded with the Allosaur chasing them. Even though Allosaurus wasn't as large as the T-Rex it was still big enough to worry about. Hal reached for one of the flash grenades, if he had to, he'd throw it to disorient the Allosaurus if it got too close.
He heard an awful animal squealing as one of the Gallimimus fell afoul of the Allosaurus. He kept low, he figured just because the Allosaurus had just eaten it's main course of Gallimimus didn't mean it didn't also want a side dish of Harold Olden. Silently he crept along the outer periphery of the Allosaurus' vision, though he wanted to run as fast as he could. He knew the dinosaur could close the distance in less than a stride the moment it spotted him.
Managing to make it into the hotel and to the frightened tourists and workers he knew a back way out of the hotel through the jungle. He then knew the best route was through the jungle, at least the Allosaurus couldn't follow him without its crashing through the brush alerting him a mile away.
~ ~ ~ ~
The raptor was making its way deeper into the jungle, and so was Muldoon. The dinosaur stopped suddenly and Muldoon extended the folding stock of his weapon and took aim. Just then the head of a second raptor appeared just inches from his face.
"Clever girl....." Muldoon thought and turned around to try and face this new threat when the raptor leaped from the bush and landed squarely on top of him. He knew it was all over when the raptor had his head in its jaws. The last thing he expected to hear when the raptor had his head in its jaws was gunfire.
"Are you alright?" Hal asked after he pulled the raptor's inert mass off Muldoon.
"Minor injuries, I think I'll make it." Muldoon said.
"Get these people back to the emergency bunker. I'm going to do a final check of the Visitor's Center." Hal replied.
"Hal, did you get every one?" Ivy asked over the radio. Thanks to her help, she had guided him past dangerous areas and to survivors.
"I did. I'm gonna do one final Visitor's Center sweep. I've got a feeling something's amiss." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Very astute of him." Peter Ludlow said. Ellie was lying face down on the floor, knocked out by a blow to the head.
"I won't bore you with details, but this syringe is full of one of the more potent toxins Dr. Wu inadvertently discovered. Sufficient to say it will stop your heart within thirty seconds of it entering your blood stream." Ludlow said, taking her by the arm and putting the needle to Ivy's neck.
As Ludlow led her away, Ivy could hear Hal over the radio, "Ivy, are you alright? I heard some commotion in there...."
"Blast, our friend Hal is still alive." Ludlow said, "No problem, I'll deal with you first and then make sure he's out of the picture. Your bodies I'll then dispose of by way of the dinosaurs and I'll take control of InGen from Uncle John by means of his incompetence in this disaster...."
Ivy knew that if she tried anything the needle would go into her jugular vein and within thirty seconds she would be dead. It seemed Ludlow had no intention of letting her live. For a little corporate bastard he was incredibly strong though.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Ivy?" Hal shouted, running into the control room and finding Ellie Sattler on the floor. He checked her pulse, she was still alive, good thing.
Ellie moaned and tried to sit up. Hal leaned her against the wall, "Ludlow."
"He did this?" Hal asked. Ellie nodded.
"Where did he take her?" Hal asked.
"I don't know." Ellie said.
"Can you get yourself to the emergency bunker?" Hal asked.
"No," Ellie said, groggily, "But someone has to call the mainland, we have to get these people out of here."
"Right." Hal replied, "Muldoon, can you get to the control room?"
Over the radio came Muldoon's voice, "Sure."
"Get over here, pronto. I've got a partner to save." Hal replied.
"Go get her." Ellie said, "And give Ludlow my regards."
"Don't worry he's got plenty to go around." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Well, all I have to do is wait for that partner of yours." Ludlow said. They were standing in the boat shed, where several small boats were docked, Ludlow still having the poisoned needle to Ivy's neck.
He had already bound Ivy's wrists with electrical tape behind her back and had his other arm around her waist, holding her towards him. Ivy blinked her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. Largely fear of impending death. But what was she afraid of, exactly? Was it leaving behind her family and friends? Never seeing that new nephew or niece she was due to have? Or was it not seeing where this partnership and developing friendship with Hal was set to head? Truthfully it was all four.
Ivy knew her job had certain risks. Death was one of them. That didn't mean she didn't have her misgivings and fears about it. With a poisoned needle held to her neck, she didn't have a way out of this situation that she could think of. If she struck Ludlow in any way, he'd inject the poison and she'd die within thirty seconds.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal knew that Ludlow wasn't in the Visitor's Center. He had to have a way off the island, but how? He had a sudden flash of insight just then. Boats, there were dozens of them on the island. Therefore he must be at the boathouse.
It was more than just insight. It was something else. Almost like a weird sixth sense, it took him a moment to feel like he was inside Ivy's head for a moment. He could feel a smattering of barely controlled fear together with a single message, 'Go to the boat house.'
The existence of a sixth sense, ESP, or any other stuff of that nature was all clearly secondary right now as Hal ran for the boathouse. Even if he were wrong and that sixth sense feeling was clearly just an effect of his worry about Ivy's safety, he figured it was worth a look.
He made it to the boathouse without incident and kicked the door down. He could see Ludlow standing near the dock. He held Ivy around the waist with a needle full of some pale blue liquid to her neck.
"Drop the gun!" Ludlow shouted, "Or prepare to watch me inject this toxin into your partner. Watch her die in thirty seconds."
"You're bluffing Peter. You're not a murderer." Hal replied.
"If I need to kill both of you to erase all the evidence of my crimes, I will. Cooperate and I won't kill you." Ludlow said.
"Hal! He's lying!" Ivy shouted.
"Damned if I do, damned if I don't, Ludlow, it's not much incentive." Hal replied. He could see the shape of someone or something running behind Ludlow just then. Just keep his attention focused.
"I won't kill you." Ludlow said, "If you cooperate. Put down the gun or your partner dies."
"Right." Hal replied, making the motion of turning the safety on his weapon and dropping to one knee to place it carefully on the deck.
"You fool, you realize I had no intention of..." was all Ludlow had time to say before he fell to the ground like a pole-axed mule. Muldoon stood over him with his shotgun in his hands and bandages around his head.
"How did you do that?" Hal asked.
"Easy, I followed your signal from the Visitor's Center and Ellie suggested you needed some backup." Muldoon replied.
"Is he dead?" Ivy asked, indicating Ludlow's sprawled form.
"He'll be feeling that for a few hours." Muldoon said, dragging the knocked out Peter Ludlow over his shoulders.
Hal cut the tape from Ivy's wrists and they made their way back to the emergency bunker. John Hammond said that emergency helicopters were at the field in front of the bunker. Tourists were loaded into the helicopters and they were flown safely back to the mainland.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal watched below him as they were flown back to Costa Rica. Ivy was leaning against his shoulder, and he realized just how tired he was. But first he had to ask her a question.
"Ivy, how did you do that?" Hal asked.
"Do what?" Ivy asked sleepily.
"Tell me how to find you." Hal replied. He recounted briefly how he had some sort of sixth sense telling him exactly where to find her.
"I don't know." Ivy said, "My grandmother was part Cherokee, on my mother's side, and she used to tell me all kinds of weird stories about being able to do weird things with our minds, like telepathy. Strange I didn't believe her back then, and I'm not sure I still believe her."
"How would you attribute my rescue of you?" Hal replied.
"You were lucky, I guess. And I was lucky you found me." Ivy replied.
"That makes both of us." Hal replied. Ivy had already fallen asleep at his side and Hal leaned closer to make her more comfortable. Hal looked at Ivy, just watching her sleeping peacefully at his side. It was a few more minutes before he fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~
At the landing pad, doctors checked on the wounded patients, taking Malcolm and Ellie to the hospitals. The dead were taken account of and the living were reunited with lost family members.
The older man that had talked to Hal on the River Cruise a few days ago approached, "You said you were with the Royal Marines, correct. Sir Nigel Walters, British Intelligence, are you still active duty?"
"Yes sir. 1st Lieutenant Harold Olden, 22 SAS." Hal replied.
"I was a commanding officer with that unit in 1982 and served a tour with the Territorial SAS." Walters replied, "I should have realized your unit when you said you tested Land Rovers for a living. I really realized your current unit when I watched you lead several batches of tourists to safety. You may just be due for an award, lieutenant."
"Thank you sir." Hal replied.
"Congratulations Hal." Ivy said, lightly punching him on the arm.
"Thanks." Hal replied, grinning shyly, "Speaking of awards, Ninja Girl, do you want to keep the trophy we won from the contest a couple nights ago? Or do you want to keep that framed photograph of us? I mailed both home that night to keep the extra room in my bergen."
"I'm not sure, Limey. But how about this: you keep the trophy this week, I'll save the picture and we swap at the next week." Ivy replied.
"Settled." Hal replied.
"Well, we've got a plane to San Francisco to catch in a couple hours." Ivy said.
"Way ahead of you on that." Hal replied as they called a taxi cab and headed for their flight back home.
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC
Disclaimer: Same as before....I invented part of Ivy's past in this chapter.
~ ~ ~ ~
16 May 2000: "Alright, I'm in. Now what do I do?" Grant said.
"Follow the overhead piping." Hammond replied.
Grant complied and found himself at a dead end. "Where am I supposed to go now?"
"There should have been a left turn back there. A small metal staircase, go down it." Hammond said.
As Grant moved deeper into the power station he heard another voice over his radio headset, "Grant."
"Grant, this is Hal. I was wondering, is there any danger from the Gallimimus?" Hal asked.
"No, there shouldn't be, unless they stampede? Why?" Grant said.
"Because there's about a herd of them in the Cretaceous Courtyard. I can see seven people in the building across from them." Hal replied, "What does it take to get them to stampede?"
"Predators, usually." Grant replied.
"Is it safe to go through them?" Hal asked.
"As long as you don't make any sudden movements it should be safe." Grant said.
"Should be?" Hal said.
"They've been extinct for millions of years, I only know theory, not fact." Grant replied.
"Bloody hell." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal tiptoed through the Gallimimus herd, quietly as possible. He was aware that if he made any sudden moves they'd stampede in a heartbeat. Just then he felt an impact tremor of something very large, walking. From out of the tree line burst an Allosaurus.
"Son of a bitch!" Hal growled and took cover in a nearby fountain.
The Gallimimus immediately stampeded with the Allosaur chasing them. Even though Allosaurus wasn't as large as the T-Rex it was still big enough to worry about. Hal reached for one of the flash grenades, if he had to, he'd throw it to disorient the Allosaurus if it got too close.
He heard an awful animal squealing as one of the Gallimimus fell afoul of the Allosaurus. He kept low, he figured just because the Allosaurus had just eaten it's main course of Gallimimus didn't mean it didn't also want a side dish of Harold Olden. Silently he crept along the outer periphery of the Allosaurus' vision, though he wanted to run as fast as he could. He knew the dinosaur could close the distance in less than a stride the moment it spotted him.
Managing to make it into the hotel and to the frightened tourists and workers he knew a back way out of the hotel through the jungle. He then knew the best route was through the jungle, at least the Allosaurus couldn't follow him without its crashing through the brush alerting him a mile away.
~ ~ ~ ~
The raptor was making its way deeper into the jungle, and so was Muldoon. The dinosaur stopped suddenly and Muldoon extended the folding stock of his weapon and took aim. Just then the head of a second raptor appeared just inches from his face.
"Clever girl....." Muldoon thought and turned around to try and face this new threat when the raptor leaped from the bush and landed squarely on top of him. He knew it was all over when the raptor had his head in its jaws. The last thing he expected to hear when the raptor had his head in its jaws was gunfire.
"Are you alright?" Hal asked after he pulled the raptor's inert mass off Muldoon.
"Minor injuries, I think I'll make it." Muldoon said.
"Get these people back to the emergency bunker. I'm going to do a final check of the Visitor's Center." Hal replied.
"Hal, did you get every one?" Ivy asked over the radio. Thanks to her help, she had guided him past dangerous areas and to survivors.
"I did. I'm gonna do one final Visitor's Center sweep. I've got a feeling something's amiss." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Very astute of him." Peter Ludlow said. Ellie was lying face down on the floor, knocked out by a blow to the head.
"I won't bore you with details, but this syringe is full of one of the more potent toxins Dr. Wu inadvertently discovered. Sufficient to say it will stop your heart within thirty seconds of it entering your blood stream." Ludlow said, taking her by the arm and putting the needle to Ivy's neck.
As Ludlow led her away, Ivy could hear Hal over the radio, "Ivy, are you alright? I heard some commotion in there...."
"Blast, our friend Hal is still alive." Ludlow said, "No problem, I'll deal with you first and then make sure he's out of the picture. Your bodies I'll then dispose of by way of the dinosaurs and I'll take control of InGen from Uncle John by means of his incompetence in this disaster...."
Ivy knew that if she tried anything the needle would go into her jugular vein and within thirty seconds she would be dead. It seemed Ludlow had no intention of letting her live. For a little corporate bastard he was incredibly strong though.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Ivy?" Hal shouted, running into the control room and finding Ellie Sattler on the floor. He checked her pulse, she was still alive, good thing.
Ellie moaned and tried to sit up. Hal leaned her against the wall, "Ludlow."
"He did this?" Hal asked. Ellie nodded.
"Where did he take her?" Hal asked.
"I don't know." Ellie said.
"Can you get yourself to the emergency bunker?" Hal asked.
"No," Ellie said, groggily, "But someone has to call the mainland, we have to get these people out of here."
"Right." Hal replied, "Muldoon, can you get to the control room?"
Over the radio came Muldoon's voice, "Sure."
"Get over here, pronto. I've got a partner to save." Hal replied.
"Go get her." Ellie said, "And give Ludlow my regards."
"Don't worry he's got plenty to go around." Hal replied.
~ ~ ~ ~
"Well, all I have to do is wait for that partner of yours." Ludlow said. They were standing in the boat shed, where several small boats were docked, Ludlow still having the poisoned needle to Ivy's neck.
He had already bound Ivy's wrists with electrical tape behind her back and had his other arm around her waist, holding her towards him. Ivy blinked her eyes, feeling a mix of emotions. Largely fear of impending death. But what was she afraid of, exactly? Was it leaving behind her family and friends? Never seeing that new nephew or niece she was due to have? Or was it not seeing where this partnership and developing friendship with Hal was set to head? Truthfully it was all four.
Ivy knew her job had certain risks. Death was one of them. That didn't mean she didn't have her misgivings and fears about it. With a poisoned needle held to her neck, she didn't have a way out of this situation that she could think of. If she struck Ludlow in any way, he'd inject the poison and she'd die within thirty seconds.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal knew that Ludlow wasn't in the Visitor's Center. He had to have a way off the island, but how? He had a sudden flash of insight just then. Boats, there were dozens of them on the island. Therefore he must be at the boathouse.
It was more than just insight. It was something else. Almost like a weird sixth sense, it took him a moment to feel like he was inside Ivy's head for a moment. He could feel a smattering of barely controlled fear together with a single message, 'Go to the boat house.'
The existence of a sixth sense, ESP, or any other stuff of that nature was all clearly secondary right now as Hal ran for the boathouse. Even if he were wrong and that sixth sense feeling was clearly just an effect of his worry about Ivy's safety, he figured it was worth a look.
He made it to the boathouse without incident and kicked the door down. He could see Ludlow standing near the dock. He held Ivy around the waist with a needle full of some pale blue liquid to her neck.
"Drop the gun!" Ludlow shouted, "Or prepare to watch me inject this toxin into your partner. Watch her die in thirty seconds."
"You're bluffing Peter. You're not a murderer." Hal replied.
"If I need to kill both of you to erase all the evidence of my crimes, I will. Cooperate and I won't kill you." Ludlow said.
"Hal! He's lying!" Ivy shouted.
"Damned if I do, damned if I don't, Ludlow, it's not much incentive." Hal replied. He could see the shape of someone or something running behind Ludlow just then. Just keep his attention focused.
"I won't kill you." Ludlow said, "If you cooperate. Put down the gun or your partner dies."
"Right." Hal replied, making the motion of turning the safety on his weapon and dropping to one knee to place it carefully on the deck.
"You fool, you realize I had no intention of..." was all Ludlow had time to say before he fell to the ground like a pole-axed mule. Muldoon stood over him with his shotgun in his hands and bandages around his head.
"How did you do that?" Hal asked.
"Easy, I followed your signal from the Visitor's Center and Ellie suggested you needed some backup." Muldoon replied.
"Is he dead?" Ivy asked, indicating Ludlow's sprawled form.
"He'll be feeling that for a few hours." Muldoon said, dragging the knocked out Peter Ludlow over his shoulders.
Hal cut the tape from Ivy's wrists and they made their way back to the emergency bunker. John Hammond said that emergency helicopters were at the field in front of the bunker. Tourists were loaded into the helicopters and they were flown safely back to the mainland.
~ ~ ~ ~
Hal watched below him as they were flown back to Costa Rica. Ivy was leaning against his shoulder, and he realized just how tired he was. But first he had to ask her a question.
"Ivy, how did you do that?" Hal asked.
"Do what?" Ivy asked sleepily.
"Tell me how to find you." Hal replied. He recounted briefly how he had some sort of sixth sense telling him exactly where to find her.
"I don't know." Ivy said, "My grandmother was part Cherokee, on my mother's side, and she used to tell me all kinds of weird stories about being able to do weird things with our minds, like telepathy. Strange I didn't believe her back then, and I'm not sure I still believe her."
"How would you attribute my rescue of you?" Hal replied.
"You were lucky, I guess. And I was lucky you found me." Ivy replied.
"That makes both of us." Hal replied. Ivy had already fallen asleep at his side and Hal leaned closer to make her more comfortable. Hal looked at Ivy, just watching her sleeping peacefully at his side. It was a few more minutes before he fell asleep.
~ ~ ~ ~
At the landing pad, doctors checked on the wounded patients, taking Malcolm and Ellie to the hospitals. The dead were taken account of and the living were reunited with lost family members.
The older man that had talked to Hal on the River Cruise a few days ago approached, "You said you were with the Royal Marines, correct. Sir Nigel Walters, British Intelligence, are you still active duty?"
"Yes sir. 1st Lieutenant Harold Olden, 22 SAS." Hal replied.
"I was a commanding officer with that unit in 1982 and served a tour with the Territorial SAS." Walters replied, "I should have realized your unit when you said you tested Land Rovers for a living. I really realized your current unit when I watched you lead several batches of tourists to safety. You may just be due for an award, lieutenant."
"Thank you sir." Hal replied.
"Congratulations Hal." Ivy said, lightly punching him on the arm.
"Thanks." Hal replied, grinning shyly, "Speaking of awards, Ninja Girl, do you want to keep the trophy we won from the contest a couple nights ago? Or do you want to keep that framed photograph of us? I mailed both home that night to keep the extra room in my bergen."
"I'm not sure, Limey. But how about this: you keep the trophy this week, I'll save the picture and we swap at the next week." Ivy replied.
"Settled." Hal replied.
"Well, we've got a plane to San Francisco to catch in a couple hours." Ivy said.
"Way ahead of you on that." Hal replied as they called a taxi cab and headed for their flight back home.
~ ~ ~ ~
TBC