Anguirus111 Note: In the last chapter, Logan mentioned he didn't know the dinos were breeding even though Jake had revealed it earlier. The reason for this was that Logan was busy conducting tests and never went to the meeting to find out about it.
Sorna: Logan dropped off Jake at the Operations Building before heading off back into the island to conduct some more research as the afternoon sun sank low in the sky. As Jake entered, he got some claps from the remaining five workers in the building before entering into the control room and laying his rifle across a table.
"Nice job," said Gerry as he twirled a pen in his hand. "Not one shot fired, very impressive."
"I refuse to kill the last member of any species," was all Jake said in his defense.
"So what'd you inject that thing with?" Gerry asked as he pointed to the monitor showing the comatose carnosaur.
"Lysine," said Jake distantly.
"What?" Gerry said. "I thought we were out!"
"I found a vial of it wedged in my safe and I've been keeping it on hand in the case of an incident like this," said the scientist simply as he typed a couple commands in the computer. He then looked at Gerry's shocked expression.
"What?"
"So now there's fierce carnivore on the island, outside of a fence, that for now has no lysine concerns," said Gerry incredulously.
"It's comatose," Jake shot back. "It might not even wake up, but I'm not going to sit idly and just let it succumb. Besides, if it becomes a nuisance than we'll take it out but until then it owes us."
"Yeah a debt we'll never be able to collect," Gerry snorted. "Besides what about Steviesaurus, she'll need a shot soon too."
"She doesn't need it," said Jake absently.
"Huh?" asked Gerry confused.
"What?" said Jake snapping to attention. "Oh, sorry, I meant that she won't need any shots for awhile."
"Oh, okay," said Gerry still confused by his earlier statement. "So what'll we do about HR guy then?"
"The way I see it is this. We can't act like we normally have this time around," said Jake leaning forward.
"I don't understand," said Gerry confused.
"The way I see it, when he conducts his report, everything we're doing will seem like a normal and logical series of events. This island is in danger of collapsing so we're terminating the dinosaurs to protect ourselves and Ingen's personnel on this island. As a result, Ingen isn't going to do jack regarding this island and we'll still be stuck out here as the fences finally fail and the dinos get us," said Jake. "In order for Ingen to do anything, we have to scare the piss out of this guy."
"I think he'll be scared anyway," said Gerry as the monitor flashed showing a grassy field and a group of gallimimuses being chased by a trio of jeeps as muzzle fire was seen and several of the dinos dropped. "But I do see your point. Ingen has been reluctant to do anything yet and until we show them something drastic they probably won't feel obligated to do anything. So do you have a plan?"
"Yeah, ham everything up. Make it seem like we're bloodthirsty madmen than people who are just afraid for their lives," said Jake as he got up to leave. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Later Jake," said Gerry. Jake gave him a peace sign and left back to his office where he stepped over the sleeping form of Steviesaurus on his floor and grabbed a blanket and laid down on his worn out couch and instantly fell asleep as the sun finally set in the distance bringing an end to yet another chaotic day on the Ingen controlled island of Sorna.
Morning: Jake woke up with a start as he thought he heard an angry dinosaur roar right outside his window before realizing that it was just an engine backfiring out somewhere in the village. Jake sighed as he closed his eyes to ready himself for the day's events with Ed Regis before he opened them and tried to get up only to find that task impeded by a heavy weight on his chest. Looking down he noticed Steviesaurus asleep on his stomach, having apparently crawled up there during the night. Jake just shook his head.
"Oy vey," he said simply as Steviesaurus yawned and stretched out and looked at Jake wide-eyed.
"It must be nice to be young and naïve," said Jake scratching behind the protoceratops frill as the dinosaur growled in satisfaction. "You have no idea what's happening on this island and you never will. Be grateful for that."
Jake lifted up and set the dinosaur on the ground who ambled off to tear apart whatever food Jake had left on the ground for her. Jake meanwhile walked over to a mirror hanging on his wall and looked sleepily into it.
"Boy do I look like hell," he said to no one in particular. Jake's hygiene had gone steeply downhill following Nublar's collapse and so too had everyone else's, but it had been such a gradual change that it had taken looking at a new face for him to notice it.
"Has it really been four months?" thought Jake incredulously before looking down at yet another sweat soaked shirt from being out in the jungle. He sighed and quickly changed clothes without bothering to shower as water was at a premium these days on Sorna and had to be carefully rationed. Jake's alarm clock began flickering as the power hiccupped yet again. Jake scowled and picked up his phone to call the generator building only to find the line was completely dead.
"Figures," Jake said disgusted. "Guess that explains why John hasn't gotten in touch with me yet over my 'revelation'."
Jake just dropped the receiver on his desk and picked up the cord so that Steviesaurus wouldn't chew on it and placed it on his desk. He was about to leave when he turned and saw the small dinosaur whimpering to be let out. Jake laughed and put on his black Ingen hat.
"Let's go girl," he said mocking defeat as he pushed the door open. Steviesaurus hopped happily and trotted out the door as Jake followed her into the control room. As he was walking from one row of consoles to the next, he noticed Tim out cold in front of one of the terminals. Steviesaurus leapt onto one of the chairs and then the long table and walked over to the sleeping form looking at it before sniffing its hair. Jake meanwhile poked Tim who instantly shot up and startled Steviesaurus into jumping backwards.
"All systems operational!" he shouted to no in particular.
"You need to calm down," said Jake. "And get out here more often."
Tim looked around bleary eyed before putting on his glasses.
"Yeah and go out there with the dinosaurs ready to rip me apart? No thanks," he snorted. He looked at Jake before his eyes went wide-open.
"Oh sorry, sir," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to… I mean. It's not like I want to go against your advice but…"
"Don't worry about it," said Jake waving him off. "So what's the deal with that program I asked you for?"
"It's coming along," said Tim powering up his computer. "I'm running it through the beta tests right now."
"I don't know much about computers Tim," said Jake confused by his terms.
"I basically have a trial version completed and I'm testing it out before unrolling the finished product," said the programmer simply.
"Ah," said Jake. "Thanks again, just let me know when it's finally ready."
"Will do," said Tim simply as Jake picked up Steviesaurus and left the room headed for the bungalow.
"Hi-yo," said Gerry waving at him weakly as he stumbled in through the main doors as Jake laughed and exited them into the village. He made his way past a stalled Bronco in the road as one of the mechanics pounded on the engine with a wrench before giving up.
"Leave it," Jake said as he passed them. "It's not like there's anywhere we can put it anyway."
The mechanics nodded in agreement and headed off back to the garage as Jake entered into the lobby of the bungalow to see Ed Regis eating some cereal from one of the many remaining sealed plastic boxes.
"How old is this?" Regis asked amidst louder than usual crunching. Jake set Steviesaurus on a seat near the table and got two boxes of cereal from the cabinet and opened one and set it in front of the dinosaur who noisily began gobbling away as Jake took a plastic spoon and began eating his cereal as well.
"At least four months old, maybe more," said Jake simply. "I can't seem to recall when the last supply shipment came here but it was before the incident at Jurassic park, I do know that."
Regis looked at him shocked.
"How've you managed to survive all this time?" he asked astonished.
"It hasn't been easy," Jake admitted. "But with the recalls we've needed to use less and less supplies. Unfortunately, on the other hand loosing all those people makes keeping the basic facilities up and running, that much more difficult."
"You mind if I record this?" asked Regis putting a tape recorder on the table.
"Knock yourself out," said Jake as Steviesaurus swung her container around spraying cereal everywhere.
"Hey don't be a messy eater, Stevie!" said Jake cleaning up the mess.
"Stevie?" Regis asked confused after setting the recorder on the table and turning it on.
"Yeah, named after her mother Stephanie Sandelder," said Jake throwing the cereal in the trash.
"Oh I know her," said Regis as Jake was so startled by that comment that he nearly dropped the cereal he was carrying.
"Before or after she was fired," responded Jake bitterly.
"She still works for Ingen as a secretary while finishing up school," said Regis becoming disgusted with his food and pushing it away.
"I did not know that," said the scientist. "But considering we haven't had any contact with the outside world for four months aside from recall notices I guess it shouldn't have been that surprising."
"No contact!" said Regis again shocked. "Why not?"
"Because Ingen has sworn off this island," said Jake bitterly. "We're something they're trying to forget, both mentally and legally. Because if we're not here and Ingen doesn't have assets here, then they don't have to pay for insurance, repair costs, food costs, everything. That's why this island's fallen apart so badly and if Ingen had only bothered to spend a little bit more money on this place then we could've recouped our losses. But now with the way things are going, they're set to loose this island and any remaining trace of the dinosaur revivification project."
"I take it you can't be too happy about that," said Regis drinking an extremely stale bottle of water that he nearly gagged on.
"No," Jake admitted defeated. "But by this point I've given up on Ingen trying to fix things around here."
"What makes you say that?" asked Regis.
"Considering that we had a mutiny here a couple weeks back and Ingen did nothing to stop it, despite the fact that they knew it was happening, nothing they can do will possibly change my mind at this point," said Jake nonchalantly.
Regis spewed out his drink at that statement.
"You had a mutiny!" he shouted in shock.
"Yeah, Dillon and a group of others tried to take over before he blundered into the pterosaur cage and was slaughtered. Isn't that why you're here?" Jake asked, figuring Ingen would never reveal ELE to anyone.
"No," Regis said frankly.
"Then why?" asked Jake confused. He poured some water into a bowl and laying it on the ground where Steviesaurus began drinking it.
"To ensure that the well being of the personnel on this island," said Regis, repeating what he'd been told to say.
"Uh-huh," said Jake not entirely convinced. "Well no offense but you're getting here a little bit too late."
"You think this island is gone," Regis accused. Jake nodded solemnly.
"And the best we can do is to brace ourselves," Jake whispered.
"What?" asked Regis. Jake laughed and shook his head.
"Nothing, let's head for the Operations Building so we can plan out your tour of the island," said Jake simply. Regis nodded amicably as Jake picked up Steviesaurus who bleated at being moved.
"You hush," said Jake to her as Regis shut off the tape recorder and pulled out a camcorder and began videotaping the walk over to the massive building in the background. Jake walked in complete silence as Regis videotaped how empty the village was before he heard popping noises, like fireworks, and then a massive dinosaur roar in the distance. Regis looked at the sound utterly confused and then even more confused when Jake didn't seem to notice it.
"What the hell was that?" demanded Regis a couple moments later.
"What was what?" Jake asked stopping, truly confused.
"That noise," said Regis pointing to the air. "It sounded like…gunshots."
Regis could barely contain himself when he came to that realization.
"Beats me," said Jake shrugging and continuing towards the Operations Building. "But if it was something, I'll bet it's just some workers putting a dino out of its misery. That's not against Ingen Policy just good ol' Liquidation of Assets."
"No, I guess not," Regis admitted reluctantly. He had studied Ingen's policies regarding liquidation of assets and mercy killings were on the list of acceptable actions. The two then finally reached the Operations Building and pushed inside. Again the place was empty save for Mandy and Billy lying on a pair of couches throwing cards into a hat situated between the two couches.
"Hey you two look alive," said Jake with mock enthusiasm. "The HR guy's here and he'll fire you two if you don't do some work."
"Whatever," said Mandy not caring and not moving either.
"At least if we're fired we'll get off this stinking island," said Billy upset.
"Can't you just feel the love?" Jake asked to the camera. "Course I guess you wouldn't would you, Ludlow? Ha, ha."
Regis shut off the camera. "You probably shouldn't antagonize him."
"It hardly matters," said Jake as Regis turned the camera back on. "I'm going to be the last one of this island, provided I even am allowed to leave, and the day I return to San Diego I'm quitting Ingen forever."
"Why's that?" asked Regis.
"I'm fed up with it all. I'm tired of hearing dinosaurs roaring 24/7, I'm tired of the constant breakdowns around here, and I'm tired of Ingen not doing anything about it," said Jake bitterly.
"Where will you go?" asked Regis.
"Well first of all, aside from eight months ago when I last left this island for a couple days to go to Costa Rica to cool off for a bit, I haven't taken a vacation in quite awhile. I'm gonna do that and then go straight to Pacific Pharmaceuticals, pick up my workload, go to my office, and get to work," said Jake as he left the room followed by Regis who continued filming.
"What makes you think they'll even give you a job?" asked Regis.
"I know John Brown, he'll give me a job no questions asked," said Jake simply as they pushed into the control room.
"May I present the only remaining programmer on the island Tim…Tim…," said Jake before he began confused. "What the hell is your last name anyway?"
"Who cares?" said Tim typing away on his computer.
"Right," said Jake simply. "Well moving along."
The two left the room as Regis appeared a little perturbed by the fact that there was only one programmer left to ensure the systems worked on the island. Ingen rules dictated five programmers be on hand at one time following the Nedry debacle that had overwhelmed John Arnold's capabilities.
"So where too now?" asked Regis.
"Wherever you want to go I guess," said Jake shrugging. "There's not really much to see on this island besides trees and miles of perimeter fences."
"What about all the dinosaurs?" asked Regis with some enthusiasm. "I've never seen them myself besides the photos and I've been looking forward to it."
"Here's Steviesaurus," said Jake holding her up so she and the HR agent were at eye level. "Isn't that good enough?"
"No," said Regis shaking his head. "I need to document this entire island. Right now I do have a good amount of grievances to bring up to the board but I need to have everything in some record or another."
"Suit yourself but I don't know believe me whatever you're expecting to find out there. Like I said, Ingen does not care at all about us," said Jake. "As such we're free to do as we please."
"Speaking of which," said Regis reluctantly but realizing he had to get it out now. "Are you torturing the dinosaurs on this island?"
"Oh," said Jake a little put off by his abruptness. "Here goes."
"We are," he responded. Regis had been drinking some water and did an immediate spit take all over Jake.
"Sorry," he said shocked.
"No problem," said Jake brushing himself off. "I take it you didn't know that."
"No," said Regis. "But to be honest given what you've told me it really doesn't come as a surprise. Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I've been sending weekly reports on the subject. Though I can't say it's a surprise that Ingen would withhold something like that from you," said Jake simply. "Though I must admit you're taking this better than I expected."
"I'm still in shock," said Regis shaking his head vigorously. "Once I witness the implications of what you're doing here then I'll probably loose it."
As he said that, Jake saw a group of workers loading onto the bed of a truck. Jake looked at it thoughtfully as an evil thought and an evil grin crept onto his face.
"Why don't we go ride with those guys?" Jake suggested. "It'll be quicker and easier and we'll see some dinos."
"Fine by me," said Regis still a little bit shaken by Jake's earlier admittance. The two advanced towards the truck and both got into the bed.
"Hello boys, I don't know if you know who this guy is, but he's Ed Regis from the HR department," said Jake to the others in the truck as it took off straight into the jungle beyond.