The Nublar Six: Before they knew
My own take on the Camp Cretaceous series. Dive in a completely new adventure starring our six protagonists! Enjoy reading!
Six lucky teens will go the most famous theme park of Jurassic World! How will it all turn out? You'll see it soon...
Chapter 01: A dream came true
The multinational corporation Masrani Global has been the leading innovator in bioengineering for several years now. Their purchase of Ingen and Isla Nublar, with their wish to recreate an attraction park centred around prehistoric animals, showed to be a great success.
The CEO, Simon Masrani, organised a new dinosaur exhibition for the public to attend, with reservations in advance. Rumours say he will be announcing a new project concerning Jurassic World, as profits slowly decreased. Everyone is hopeful for the speech of this night, but who knows what will happen in the future.
That evening
The newest presentation was organised at the Masrani Global headquarters. A giant skyscraper with a large concrete plain and fountain. Here, a lot of people were waiting in line to enter. One of them, was a 15-year-old, dark-skinned boy. He was waiting with his dad.
"I'm so glad we could claim two spots for this exhibition! Thank you so much dad!" he said, turning around.
His dad smiled. "It's for your birthday, Darius. But I am excited about it too!"
His son smiled, but then looked down. Darius' father put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"Darius, I promise. From the moment that we can, we will go to Jurassic World. Just the two of us," the father told his son.
Darius nodded. "I understand, dad."
Darius looked up to the skyscraper. The Masrani Global and Jurassic World logos were shining.
Several metres of people further away from Darius, was a 16-year-old girl with pink hair. In her hands she had her phone and turned around while filming herself.
"What's up Brooklanders? Brooklyn here, and today, or should I say tonight? Anyway, I'm here at the Masrani Global headquarters, as they asked me to come for their newest exhibition! And how couldn't I imply you all in this unboxing video? You will get the best camera perspectives of this presentation!"
Brooklyn, still standing in the line, was filming around her. "Look at all the people who are present here! I hope they all reserved in advanced or have their invitation with them, like I do!"
Brooklyn's phone was pointing down the line she was standing in. A couple of people further, an athletic 17-year-old noticed the vlogger. She rolled her eyes at the camera.
"Hmm, perhaps some are more bored than others!" Brooklyn told herself.
"As you all can see, nothing very interesting is happening at the moment, so I'll temporarily shut the camera until I got out of this line. See you inside guys!" and Brooklyn closed her phone's camera.
The athletic girl sighed of relief. Imagine you were to be with such a person for a week, Yaz. Not, for, me. She thought.
Brooklyn didn't pay attention to her and was more busy with her phone. She scrolled through the comments of her latest video.
"Quite boring, was better before, quality changed, no high hopes, better find something cool to show us… Sigh, why are people so demanding, and mean…" Brooklyn mumbled, looking down.
"Hey, could you please move on?" The person behind her in the row asked.
"Oh, sorry," Brooklyn replied, and she walked forward.
The line shrank bit by bit. At the income counter, a 16-year-old girl with black curly brushed hair waited hesitantly. The lady at the counter made her a sign to come.
"Good evening. May I see your ticket?" The lady asked.
The girl gulped. "Y-y-yes, here it is…"
The lady took the ticket and scanned it. The scanner turned green.
"Sammy, Gutierrez? Did I pronounce it correctly?"
Sammy nodded. "Correct."
"Welcome, and have a nice evening!" The lady replied, handing the ticket back.
"T-thank you!" and Sammy scurried inside.
Wait for the message he said. Sammy thought. She looked around and vanished in the masses of people.
Darius and his dad just entered the main hall, leading to the exhibition. The floor and ceiling were made of black marble. At the end of the hallway, there was an informative panel.
"The speech of Masrani is in one hour and a half, so we still have plenty of time to look around," the father explained.
Darius jumped with excitement. "Let's go then!"
Darius looked around in the first skeleton room. In the middle was a completed velociraptor skeleton. Darius stared at it in awe. When approaching it, he noticed a white boy of his same age approaching the skeleton with his back. The boy turned around and flinched when seeing a full raptor head pointing at him.
Darius walked to the skeleton. "Scary, isn't it?"
The other boy looked at him. "Sure is. Can you imagine if they, if they—"
"If they got back to life? They have raptors on Isla Nublar you know."
"Yes, I heard it. But that's very far away. And they're on an island. I don't think they can just swim off if they ever escaped. Or can they?" the boy asked with a frightened look.
Darius smiled slightly. "I don't think so. And even if they could, they wouldn't be able to swim all the way to the continent."
"Ah, that reassures me," the boy replied.
"I'm Darius by the way," Darius stretched his arm.
"My name is Ben," Ben said, taking the hand and shaking it.
"So, you came for the dinosaur exposition?"
"Well, these creatures are cool, but it's mostly my mom that insisted on coming…"
Darius looked a bit confused, but he didn't care. "They sure are interesting. What is your favourite species?"
Darius's dad didn't bother his son and enjoyed the showcase on his own.
Brooklyn also made her way inside the building, and wandered around the rooms. Her camera was on again, and she was ready to talk.
"I'm back Brooklanders! I finally made it inside, and look at all the amazing things they show us here!" Brooklyn exclaimed, turning her phone slowly around the room filled with prehistorical objects.
At some point, the athletic girl from before got in the camera's field of view. Brooklyn recognized her and smirked. The girl hadn't seen Brooklyn sneak towards her.
"Excuse me?" Brooklyn tapped on one shoulder.
The girl flinched and looked at Brooklyn. "Woah, what are— Oh, you."
Brooklyn smiled a little. "I'm not a dinosaur trying to eat you, haha! Sorry. What's your name?"
The girl looked somewhat overwhelmed and didn't know what to do.
"The camera is recording!" Brooklyn whispered, "you gotta say something."
"Eh, ehm. I'm, Yasmina, and, I don't like being on camera. No offence." Yasmina walked away before Brooklyn could add something.
"Okay then," Brooklyn turned the camera to her, "let's continue looking."
Sammy walked around too, but without knowing where to go, or what to decide. The girl was a bit lost. But as she entered one hall with fossilised embryos, Yasmina accidentally ran into her.
"Aoush, I'm sorry. I, didn't see you." Yasmina said, rubbing her head. She reached out and pulled Sammy up.
"It's nothing! Actually, people running into you isn't that bad! Or the opposite! Who knows who you run into might become your best friend!" Sammy explained while smiling. She felt relaxed for once.
Yasmina on the other hand was more busy rubbing her head than listening. "Y-yeah, totally right."
"My name is Sammy! Sammy Gutierrez! I'm from Texas! My family owns a ranch there! My favourite cow is Betsy! And you? What's your name? Where do you live? Do you have pets? Do you—"
Yasmina blinked a couple of times, now clearly hearing what Sammy was babbling to her. Sammy continued staring at her, expecting an answer.
"Eh, I'm Yasmina, Fadoula, and eh, I—"
Sammy continued looking with a smile. Yasmina was still thinking on what to say.
"Eh, what were, your questions again?" Yasmina asked. Let me finish this quickly.
Sammy rolled her eyes playfully. "You're so funny Yaz. Can I call you Yaz?"
"No."
"Ahh sure I can! We are friends now! Let's celebrate with a hug!" Sammy stretched her arms, but Yasmina took a step back.
"Eh Sammy. We just met. You just know my name, and to be fair, after this evening, we'll probably never see each other again. So no, we are not friends."
Sammy looked confused, but smiled afterwards. "Well there might be a chance that we go to Jurassic World together!"
Now Yasmina was the bewildered one. "What, are you talking about? To Jurassic World? What the—"
"That's what Masrani will announce in his speech! A new sort of camp for teens on Isla Nublar! And because it's new, he will randomly choose six lucky people to go for the first time! Hopefully we will be selected!" Sammy explained excitedly.
Yasmina didn't believe her ears and continued to stare at Sammy. "How do you even know it's that?"
Sammy gasped. "Eh, guess I have my sources…"
Yasmina frowned, but thought this conversation wasn't worth continuing. She turned around and walked away. "Nice to meet you Sammy. Farewell and good luck on your dino island!"
I hope she didn't… Sammy thought.
In another room, displaying several egg nests, Brooklyn was still filming everything.
"Look Brooklanders, have you ever wanted to see dinosaur nests from up close?" Brooklyn asked energetically to her audience. She filmed the nests, while reading the live chat. Just eggs, lame, won't even hatch. Sigh.
"See, how, big they are." Brooklyn continued, but with a less dynamic voice. From the corner of her eye, she could see lots of red thumbs down, combined with other comments. Where is the Brooklyn from before? We miss your old content.
The pink-haired girl noticed an impressive T. rex skeleton in the next room, so she ran to it.
"Imagine having such a living thing in front of you. Isn't it an impressive, powerful beast?" Brooklyn told her audience while filming the large skeleton.
"Are you talking, about me?" A voice asked comically. Brooklyn raised her head from her phone and didn't even notice a 17-year-old boy in a suit standing next to the assembled bones.
"Names Kenji." He said, stretching his hand.
"Brooklyn." She replied, shaking hands and lowering her arm with her phone still on.
"So, Brooklyn. I guess you were talking about the dino?" Kenji asked, crossing his arms.
Brooklyn giggled slightly, covering her mouth. "It's already spectacular in this form, but seeing it alive would totally make me skip a beat."
"Oh but with a bit of luck, soon enough, you'll see one!" Kenji announced.
Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "You'll have to be more specific."
"You see," Kenji said, slowly walking around, "my dad has an important position in Masrani Global, and this allows me to know some things in advance."
"Like what, mister CEO?"
"Like what Masrani will announce in his speech soon. And just for you, I'll reveal his new project now."
"How generous," Brooklyn answered, rolling her eyes ironically, "20 minutes in advance. I'm all ears!"
"Or you know, I could also just wait…" Kenji turned around and took some steps away from Brooklyn.
"Wait!" The girl said. Kenji turned around with a smile. "Go on, tell me."
Kenji walked back to her. "It's a totally new project! Groups of teens will be able to visit Jurassic World. No adults to tell us what to do! Exclusive adventures, and much more!"
"Go on," Brooklyn said.
"And the first group of campers will be selected randomly amongst the present teens this evening! So you might have a chance to win a free trip to dino island!"
Brooklyn stared at him in awe. Her phone's camera pointed at her from underneath, creating quite a funny view for her followers.
"Well, best of luck to you, and we might meet again…" Kenji finished, and turned around.
Brooklyn was still processing everything. She smiled and looked at her camera. "Guys! Unboxing Jurassic World, how amazing wouldn't it be?"
She read the comments again, more mixed now. "Would be great to see! You better win. Sounds cool. Still a big chance you lose. Sigh, true. I still have to actually win."
Brooklyn looked around, but Kenji had completely disappeared. She went her own way for the time left.
20 minutes later
Everyone was asked to go to the auditorium where Masrani was going to give his speech.
Everyone took a place. Darius sat in between his dad and Ben, who he had stayed with during the exhibition. The two got quite along.
"Ssjt, it's gonna start," Ben whispered.
The room became dark, and a man in a grey suit went to the lectern.
"Good evening everyone. I'm Daniel Kon, financial director of Masrani Global. Thank you all for coming to our newest exhibition of dinosaurs. Hopefully you had a great walk around while looking at all those magnificent creatures. If you haven't seen all of it, no worries, you can continue after this short presentation.
"But tonight, Masrani Global will make an important announcement. It is of such a scale that our CEO will publicize it personally. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Simon Masrani!"
The room started to applaud when Masrani got on the little stage. He waved a couple of times before installing his papers on the lectern. The room went quiet a second time.
"Ladies, gentlemen. I'm not a fan of long, and boring speeches. Plus, you are all probably curious about what I'm about to announce," Masrani started. The audience laughed a little.
"Tonight, I will be announcing the newest and ambitious project of Masrani Global! As you saw based on the theme of the exhibition, this new project will be about Jurassic World, and will attract a new age group to our park. It's known that lots of children like dinosaurs, but that passion disappears when the teen years arrive. But this project will resurrect the love for these creatures. I named it, Camp Cretaceous!
"This project, will take camping to a whole new level. Groups of teens will be housed in a brand-new camping site, built on Isla Nublar. Under supervision of counsellors, the group will go visit the park while being with just people of their ages, and making friends."
The room applauded again. Many people looked happy about the announcement.
"And to celebrate this new stunt, we will be randomly picking six teens present now to go to Camp Cretaceous!"
"That is amazing! You heard that dad? I might get chosen to go!" Darius said excitedly.
His dad just smiled.
"Eh, I'm not sure if I'd want to go. Those dinos are very scary!" Ben mumbled.
"A dino camp, with other people. And how many candidates are present?" Yasmina mumbled to herself, sitting on a different row.
"I see a lot of candidates in this room! I wish good luck to all!" Masrani exclaimed.
An employee arrived with a glass bowl, filled with little papers.
"I will randomly pick a name, and that person will be invited to come to the podium." Masrani explained. He smiled, and dove his hand in the bowl.
Please let me go, let me go! Darius was thinking.
I really gotta win, or else I expect the worst reactions online! Brooklyn thought.
Hopefully I get chosen. Sammy supposed to herself, sitting somewhere in the back.
Masrani took the first paper. The room went silent. He slowly looked at it. "Ladies and gentlemen, our first winner. Sammy Gutierrez!"
Everyone applauded, without knowing who this girl was. But Sammy quickly walked to the front and jumped on the podium. She shook hands with Masrani.
"T-thank you, mister Masrani, and everything! Gosh, I don't know what to say. I'm so grateful to be able to do this!" Sammy stuttered through the microphone. The room laughed a little.
"You sure will like it, Sammy. Now, let's see who will accompany you," Masrani took a second paper, "a certain Yasmina Fadoula!"
Yasmina gulped. Why, am I always, unlucky? She thought, as the room calmed down. She decided not to move.
"Yasmina Fadoula?" Masrani asked again.
"There she is! Hey Yaz! Come over!" Sammy pointed at her.
Yasmina's eyes widened. Everyone looked at her now, and she was forced to go to the front now.
Masrani greeted her. "Ah great, I was getting worried you didn't want to go."
"Actually I—"
"She's very happy to go, and it will be loads of fun!" Sammy interrupted her. The room applauded again.
"Ah, perfect. Because if you refuse, you will be fed to the T. rex!" Masrani joked.
"Now, our third winner will be… Brooklyn Ortega!"
Brooklyn stood up, her face shining happiness. She ran to the stage and took out her phone.
"You heard it Brooklanders?! I'm going to Jurassic World, woohoow!" She celebrated.
"That will certainly cost us less on advertisement!" Masrani laughed.
Just three places left. Please… Darius thought.
"And our fourth winner is, Kenji Kon!"
From the front row, Kenji confidently walked on the podium.
"Yeah, this camp project just could not not include me. I'm sure it'll be a total success just because of my mere presence. Thank you." Kenji said before turning around. Brooklyn rolled her eyes funnily at his speech.
"Ehem, now. The fifth camper's name is… Ben Pincus!"
"M-me?" Ben asked himself. He looked at Darius.
"Of course it's you! Come on! It's a once in a lifetime chance!" Darius replied.
Ben hesitated, but he did go to the front.
"Ehm, I— Eh, not a fan of speeches, thank you!" Ben turned around and joined the other campers.
"Okay then, and now, the final winner of tonight. I will happily call him by my side right now… Darius Bowman!"
Darius couldn't believe his ears, and smiled in awe.
His father gave him a friendly punch. "Go son!"
Darius as the last camper arrived at the podium. He was still looking amazed by the news.
"Good evening all. Tonight, a— My biggest dream came out, thank you so much for this!" Darius exclaimed. The room applauded.
"Perfect! The winners are known, and thus the announcement is over. Enjoy the rest of the time here!" Masrani concluded. Everyone started leaving their seats.
The six winners were lead to a party table in one of the exhibition. They received drinks and snacks.
"How amazing we won this! I'm sure we'll all become the best friends ever!" Sammy exclaimed.
"It is! We're gonna see real-life dinosaurs!" Darius added with the same enthusiasm.
Yasmina took a sip of her champagne flute. Ben sighed.
Darius noticed and raised an eyebrow. "You don't look very happy, Ben?"
Ben looked up. "I'm kinda scared of… lots of things! But my mother, just told me I had to go, to overcome those fears."
Darius put his hand on Ben's shoulder. "Don't worry. It will be fun."
Sammy looked down, then back to the rest. "I'm going to the bathroom real quick. I'll be back soon!"
Everyone looked as she walked away.
"So, Brooklyn," Kenji started, elbowing her, "we did meet again, huh?"
Brooklyn jumped a little, as she was more focussed on her phone. She looked at Kenji. "Sure it is."
Kenji thought she'd speak more, as she does to her audience. But then he got an idea. He took Brooklyn's phone and pointed the camera to him.
"Hold tight Brooksomething! Soon you will witness the best adventure imaginable! A dangerous adventure to dino island! It gets even better, as your VIP host, Kenji Kon, will come too!"
Brooklyn frowned and crossed her arms. Kenji then turned and took a selfie with Brooklyn before handing the phone over.
Brooklyn mumbled the comments. "Who was that? That was original. Funny guy. Was comical."
"It's the usual reactions I get," Kenji added.
Brooklyn closed her phone and looked at him. "I was thinking. Aren't you biased to be selected for this adventure when your father literally works for the company that organises it?"
Kenji looked around. "Well, that's how random drawing works?"
Brooklyn laughed a little. "I'll have to do with it with this group."
The two clinked their glasses.
Yasmina was minding her own business, until Sammy appeared again, from behind. She put her hands on Yaz's eyes.
"Guess who it is?"
"A, chatterbox?"
Sammy turned her around. "Your new best friend! Did I miss anything?"
"Let me think, no," Yasmina crudely replied.
A bit later, Masrani approached the table. All looked at him.
"Our winners! I hope you are all excited about this exclusive adventure!" Masrani told.
"We really are!" Darius said, "but when will we leave?"
"In one week you'll be on Isla Nublar. We will bring you to the airports needed and then via boat to the island. Everything is planned. No need to bring anything special. Just clothes for the climate and other things you want. It might be December, but it's very hot there. The rest of the details will be given when you've arrived. You will certainly enjoy it!"
"Dinosaurs. Real dinosaurs!" Darius repeated to himself. The rest laughed a bit.
"Sure is cool, yeah, really!" Yasmina added, "but it's getting late, so I'm heading back home. Good night."
"Good night!" The rest replied.
"See you soon Yaz!" Sammy said, hugging her.
"Not, really a hugger. Please!"
"You need time to open up, but you will!" Sammy answered. Yasmina let a little smile go, and ultimately left.
"Eh, she's kinda right, so I'm going too. Bye!" Ben said.
"Bye Ben!"
"I wonder where my dad is," Kenji thought loudly.
"Daniel left recently. Work-related, an outstanding employee! He left a taxi to bring you home." Masrani explained.
Kenji looked a bit sad. Always working. Not even came to say goodbye.
"C-can I give you guys a ride? It's free." Kenji said to his fellow campers.
"Nah thanks, my dad drove us here," Darius replied.
"Eh, yes, s-same for mine. I-I think I should look for him. See you on Nublar guys!" Sammy said and she left.
Kenji turned to Brooklyn. "Can I, offer you a free ride?"
"No, thanks mister CEO. I like walking."
In a by street, near the exhibition
One man stood in the dark. Another arrived and approached him.
"We got what you wanted." The one arriving said, handing a USB stick to the other.
"Good. Time for step two. We only have to wait for 'Austin' to retrieve the samples."
What a mysterious ending, right? I hope you liked this different introduction to Camp Cretaceous, and if you did, leave a comment expressing your thoughts. I'm open for constructive criticism.
As you can imagine, several things will get different in this story, but that doesn't mean less pleasant.
I only write when I have time, so new chapters can come quickly, or the opposite.
But anyway, have a nice day!