"Dr. Grant, this will be your room," Sophia grunted as she struggled with her luggage and shoved the door open with her foot. She had guided Grant into a smaller building behind the large building Grant had seen on his way in and through a maze of hallways to his room.
Grant hastily took Sophia's overstuffed duffle bag from her arms before she could lose her balance. "Welcome to the Marriot," Sophia said as the door opened and revealed the room.
"Marriot," Grant asked as he turned and took in the whole room. It was a standard 12 ft. by 10 ft. room with sandy, beige walls and one window facing south. Venetian blinds dimmed the sunlight coming into the room. The room was completely square with a twin bed against the wall under the window and a desk sitting kitty corner to it. Two small doors lead to a closet and bathroom consisting of a toilet, sink, and shower.
"It's a little joke we have around here," Sophia said as she took her duffle bag back from Grant, "The rooms consist of the essentials and not much else."
"I didn't realize I would be staying in staff lodgings," Grant said as he set his luggage on the bed and began to unpack.
"You think these are staff quarters," Sophia snorted, "These are the visitor's quarters. The shower is through the door on the right. Be ready to go meet Monroe in an hour and a half," Sophia called over her shoulder as she left the room and closed the door.
Grant took a quick shower in the cramped bathroom before lying on the bed to nap. Grant had noticed upon closer inspection that everything in his room was either the sandy, beige color of the walls or off-white. The room had been designed for one reason. Sleep. Grant looked unimpressed at his room as he drifted off to sleep.
He dreamt he was back on the island with Lex and Tim. They were running from the Tyrannosaur again. Grant had the kids' hands gripped tightly in his own as they darted into the trees. Grant felt a branch whip him and as he turned to look back at it, his foot hooked a root and he tripped. He felt the ground shake as the enormous dinosaur came thundering at him.
"Dr. Grant?"
Grant woke with a start as he realized that the ground shaking was Sophia shaking his shoulder. "Dr. Grant," Sophia asked again, "Its time we were headed to the meeting.
Grant stretched and rubbed his shoulders. The muscles were taut and sore from were the branch in his dream had struck him. He gently massaged the muscles and stood up.
"Here," Sophia handed him his boots, turned, grabbed a comb and began coming Grant's unkempt hair. Sophia sighed, "I don't understand why you care so little about your appearance. You are Mr. Monroe's guest and need to make a good impression on the people we're meeting with. You need to be taken seriously."
Grant smiled at her unnatural motherly chiding, "I never had to really worry about it before. There really isn't anyone to impress in the Badlands."
Sophia huffed, "This isn't Montana." She nodded her approval as she finished combing Grant's hair before firmly guiding Grant into the hallway.
Andrew Monroe greeted Grant and Sophia warmly before starting the meeting.
"Well, its good to see everyone here today," Monroe said as he looked around the table, "I'm sure you'll notice some new faces today and the absence of others. I would like to introduce all of you to Dr. Alan Grant. He is here as a consultant and to find a former pupil of his. Munroe gave a quick wink to Grant before continuing the meeting.
The meeting progressed slowly. Grant feigned interest for the first half an hour, but found it terribly boring. They were simply reviewing past budget costs and legal red tape the company was caught up in. He had began to doodle on the notepad in front of him when the conversation suddenly became heated.
"As you can see, animal termination has progressed nicely since the implication of Dr. Malcolm's 'systematic removal by observing the chaos theory' plan. We have also received generous help from the local government and if you will look at the graphs in front of you-"
"You did not check with our clients," an elderly Japanese man interrupted Monroe as he firmly placed the graphs back on the table, "You did not check with Fujiyama Inc. before beginning elimination of the animals on Isla Sorna."
"Now, Mr. Koga, you must understand that it was done with the best intent," Mr. Monroe said calmly with a smile.
"Do not patronize Mr. Koga," snapped a second Japanese man as he rose from the table, "The islands technically belong to Fujiyama Inc. and you are there solely by the invitation of the company."
"It is not your country being invaded by these creatures. We have a right to protect the residents of Costa Rica from harm," replied a Costa Rican official.
"You do nothing without our permission. If we pull out of this project, the islands will stay as they are. You will be barred admittance to them and your country can go to hell for all we care," replied Mr. Koga's companion.
"I think this meeting is over," Monroe stated cooly, "Mr. Koga, may I speak to you and your associate later this afternoon in private? There some things we need to discuss, but given present temperament, it would be wise to wait until we have cleared our heads a bit. Until next week everyone."
People began to get up from the table and leave the room. Monroe turned to Mr. Koga to set a time for them to meet. As Alan Grant stood to leave, Monroe motioned for him to wait for him.
Grant nodded politely as the Japanese businessman brushed past him and out the door. He turned to Monroe who was gathering up his papers from the table.
"It got pretty heated in here didn't it Dr. Grant," Monroe said with a smile and while shaking his head, "Every few weeks, the Japanese think we're cheating them and have to get into it with th Costa Ricans. I hoped maybe this week we'd make it through the meeting without any conflict, but I guess not."
Monroe gestured for Grant to follow him out of the room.
"Who were those men?"
"The Costa Rican was Ray Juarez. The government representative and the most cooperative man out of the group from Costa Rica. The two Japanese gentlemen are Mr. Koga and Mr. Tsubushima."
"Why are the Japanese involved with the islands."
Monroe sighed, "John Hammond technically never owned the islands. He bought them with investors' money."
"Japanese investors' money?"
Monroe nodded, "He promised them a huge return on the principle fi they would invest. The Costa Rican government didn't discover this until after they had begun clearing out the islands. The Japanese company, Fujiyama Inc., threatened to sue the Costa Rican government once they found out what was on the islands. They were smarting from Hammond's fiasco and were looking for a way to re-coop their losses."
"Could they really sue the Costa Ricans over the islands? I thought they were a biological threat to the residents."
"The dinosaurs have never been established as a threat to the inhabitants of the surrounding islands. The Japanese's argument is that the dinosaurs are escaping on trespassing boats. They are claiming the Costa Ricans brought the dinosaur problem on themselves."
"Do they have a case?"
"It would be a hard case to win, but it would suspend all our activities for a long time, while it was in court. The Costa Ricans don't want this, so they have been trying to accommodate the Japanese the best way they can."
"So, what did they do?"
"They came to an understanding that the Japanese wouldn't stop operations if the company could send two representatives to oversee and inform Fujiyama Inc. of all activities of the "clean-up" teams. Oh, and everything we do must be green-lighted by the company to insure that the company's interests are our interests."
"Do they mind the Americans?"
Monroe snorted, "No. They blame John Hammond for the mess and are happy to have the American government clean it up. This may interest you Dr. Grant. Here comes one of our 'clean-up crews' now."
Grant looked toward the far end of the hallway they had been walking down and saw a group of six people come walking in through a door. They were clad in black and camouflaged field gear and were covered in dirt and sweat. They carried a small arsenal of weapons and small, hand- held computers.
"Georgia, how did you do," called Monroe with a big smile on his face.
"Didn't lose a single team member and cleared 87 percent of our area," replied an equally grinning woman at the front of the group, "If we had, had a few more days we could have done more."
"Two weeks on that island is long enough. You didn't lose a single man and cleared the majority of your sector; I couldn't be happier. I only wish I could be out there with you."
Grant glanced at the other five members of the team while Monroe and Georgia chatted. It was compiled of three men and one other woman. Grant swiftly looked back at the woman as recognized the short, muscular frame and the short, black hair.
"Sue? Sue Turner?"
"Dr. Grant! What are you doing here," the shocked Sue said as she ran up to Dr. Grant and hugged him, "Oh, Dr. Grant you have no idea how much I want to thank you for suggesting this internship. It has been the greatest experience of my life. I just can't-"
"Sue, did you tell your parents or anyone that you left on your internship?"
Sue turned bright red, "N-n-no. They asked me not to tell anyone when I left. It was okay for me to write once I was here, but I guess I just never got around to it with all the work I've been doing."
"Sue, your parents filed a missing persons report. The police think you're dead and they are investigating anyone who saw you prior to your trip. They think you were murdered!"
Sue paled and ran down the hallway, "I've got to call my parents. I'll be right back!"
Grant looked at Georgia and Monroe before all three followed Sue down the hallway.
"That's right Mom, I'm okay. I just decided to leave a week early and didn't tell anyone. I'm sorry if I put you in a panic," Sue paused, "I know it was a stupid thing to do, Dad. I'm in Costa Rica right now," another pause, "You and Mom are flying down here to see me? Are you sure- okay. Okay. I'll see you in a few days then."
Sue hung up the phone and leaned against the wall with her eyes closed. She looked at Grant, Georgia, and Monroe with a weak smile, "I guess I messed up, didn't I?"
"How could you be so stupid Sue? It wouldn't have taken the police long before they began to investigate the company. What do you think would have happened then? You could have ruined us," Monroe shouted.
Sue's face crumbled, "May I have a few days to console my parents?"
Monroe sighed irritably, "It's going to take more than a few days Sue. You're one of the best field workers we have and I don't want to fire you, so take two months to be with your family and return as soon as you can after that."
"What," Georgia yelped, "My team goes out next month and I can't function with just five members. You can't give her two months."
"I can do what I please and see fit for the company, Georgia."
"Besides, it is not for a long time. Just long enough for her to convince her family that everything is all right," Grant quipped.
Georgia scowled at Grant, "You know, this is your fault that she is leaving. If you hadn't stuck your nose where it doesn't belong, Sue would be able to stay and I wouldn't be a man short."
"What did Sue do on your team, Georgia," Monroe asked.
"She was our tracker and identifier. No one knows how to differentiate the different animals like Sue."
"Well, you're in luck, Dr. Grant here just happens to be Sue's old teacher and one of the best paleontologist in the world."
Grant looked nervously from Georgia to Monroe, "What are you saying?"
Georgia looked at Grant with an irritated smile, "Congratulations Dr. Grant. You're now my sixth man."