- - CHAPTER 4: The Doctor's Daughter - -
MOBILE FIELD SYSTEMS DAY
A large warehouse, it's comprised of two levels. The first level is where the main construction activities are taking place. One end of the shop is cut open with a set of large doorways where a railroad track is built into the floor. The second level has space for office areas. Several artist benches for designing vehicles as well as desktop computers are located here.
On the first floor, the SPARKS of an acetylene torch fly as workmen make modifications on several vehicles, including three Mercedes Benz ML 320's. The hoods of them are up and the V-6 engines have been pulled out; workmen are now lowering small, new engines in their place. They look like rounded shoeboxes, with the dull shine of aluminum alloy. Others are bringing the wide, flat rectangle of the Hughes converter that will be mounted on top of the motors.
Each 1997 Mercedes Benz ML 320 features 4-wheel drive, front bull bars, a front tow cable, a winch, fog lights, rear tail light guards, custom step bars, leather seats, and a camouflage paint job. Each variant includes various other small changes that add to each vehicle's purpose.
The "Convertible" has the back seats cut out and a cut out back side, leaving the trunk out in the open. This feature allows the trunk door to open like that of a tailgate. The trunk interior and back seating area are covered in aluminum as to protect it from the weather. A bubble window roof and a top mounted light bar behind the bubble window roof are also included. Bottom mounted hang on jerry cans hang from the sides of the trunk and the front seats are covered with netting.
The "Observatory" has window mounted protective bars. Bottom and top mounted hang on jerry cans hang onto the sides of the trunk, the bottom mounted hang on jerry cans covering the trunk windows. Top mounted side lights are in front of the top mounted hang on jerry cans. Dual mounted side mirror searchlights. A bubble window roof and an additional round bubble top located behind the bubble window roof. The round bubble top is located above the trunk.
The "Laboratory" has window mounted protective bars. A bubble window roof and a top mounted extra wheel behind the bubble window roof. Dual grab bars on the rear sides, above the trunk windows, for the ability to step up onto the rear tail light guards and get the extra wheel. Dual mounted side mirror searchlights. A hood mounted carrier, and door mounted guard panes.
To one side is a 1996-1997 Fleetwood Southwind Storm, named: "Challenger," and a small Trailer. A steel-casing, mesh covered accordion connector, like on a subway car, allows the Trailer to be towed behind the Challenger, this vehicle is named: "Mobile Lab".
The small trailer had been built from the ground up by Eddie's team. It has a boxy shape with a total of four wheels.
In front of the Challenger, there is a modified grille cage. The Challenger has eight total windows, the door leading inside in between the four windows on the right hand side. The area with the two middle windows on the left hand side has the ability to extend outward.
The Trailer has, on its left hand side, three windows and on it's right hand side, two windows and a door at the front. All thirteen windows also have window mounted protective bars. At the back of the Challenger, on the right hand side behind the last window, there is a ladder that leads to the Challenger's roof where the spare tires are kept.
The warehouse HUMS with activity as the workmen scramble to meet a deadline. Eddie Carr, fortyish, balding, and Dr. Malcolm walk alongside the Mobile Lab. Dr. Malcolm carries a Mitsubishi ST-151 transportable satellite telephone, a small black handset that attaches to a heavy battery base, a strap allows the base to be held from your shoulder. He dials the phone and waits for an answer while Eddie talks.
You can't shave three days off my deadline and expect everything to be ready…We're not fully supplied! I haven't field-tested any of this…
Dr. Malcolm hangs up the phone.
Damnit! Why doesn't Sarah answer her satellite phone?!
Could be anything…solar flares, satellite out of synch, It's not exactly a local call…maybe she even turned it off.
He looks at the workmen working on the 1997 Mercedes Benz ML 320s.
I need half air on the tires here guys… No, no, no! Look at the plans! Henry, you can't place that strut laterally. It has to be crosswise, for strength. Look at the plans!
Dr. Malcolm holds the phone up to his ear.
Maybe she doesn't know how to use it…
What, are you kiddi… Damnit, Henry! Henry! Henry, are you listening to me?
He turns back to Dr. Malcolm.
What are you kidding me? She's faxed me refinements on fifty percent of the plans for this stuff…
From the Laboratory, there's a white-hot CRACK like lightning. The man leaning into the hood jumps away, as a cloud of smoke rises above the car.
AJ Wade?! Did you blow another battery?!
Sorry. He called.
Damnit AJ! Henry - did you hear anything I said to you?! Put it crosswise!
Eddie turns back to Dr. Malcolm.
Well…that's one less vehicle for us to transport.
The phone is still not working, Dr. Malcolm hits it a few times on the grille cage of the Challenger.
Ow, ow, ow! Don't do that! You gotta baby it a bit…you gotta love it…
I'll love it when it works…
It'll work when you love it…
He takes the Mitsubishi ST-151 transportable satellite telephone from Dr. Malcolm.
Let me do it.
Coming along with us Eddie?
I don't like the field much…but in this case, I can't resist. Eddie said, looking down at the phone.
Let me talk to your communications designer.
You are talking to him.
A battered white 1985 Chevrolet G-20 Van ROARS through the large doorway of the garage, pulling in backwards, and comes to a stop in the middle of the floor.
Nick Van Owen, a good-looking American man in his late twenties, hops out. He's crabby.
It's 4-3 Mets in the sixth, for anybody else who's got money on it. Thanks for the two-minute warning, Eddie. Where the hell is the fire?
He slides open the cargo door of the van with a BANG and starts unloading photographic equipment - - video cameras, cables, metal supply cases.
Eddie does an introduction.
Nick Van Owen, this is Ian Malcolm. Nick's our field photographer. Ian's our…Ian…
What's your…background? Dr. Malcolm asked.
Wildlife photography?
Wildlife, combat, you name it. When I was with Nightline, I was in Rwanda, Chechnya, all over Bosnia…
A worker comes over and takes a box from Nick
Thanks…Did some volunteer work with Greenpeace once in awhile…
Greenpeace? What drew you there?
Women. 'Bout eighty percent female in Greenpeace.
Very noble.
Yeah, well, Noble was last year. This year I'm getting paid. Hammond's check cleared, or I wouldn't be going on this wild goose chase…
He turns and walks away from the van. He puts his stuff on a table and comes back.
Dr. Malcolm gets serious.
Yeah, well, where you're going is the only place in the world where the geese chase you!
Nick looks at him, unconvinced.
Uh-huh.
While they've been talking, the stuff he's unloading has changed. Instead of photographic equipment, he's now pulling out tools - - a pry bar, a small ax, a set of chisels and punches, bolt and wire cutters.
We're only going to find Dr. Harding, then we leave immediately. You won't need all that.
Oh, I think I might.
From the ceiling, a large metal cage CRASHES down, landing on the floor right between them with a deafening CLANG. The three men leap back and look up. A workman waves from a scaffolding. The scaffolding resembles a very tall pole with strut supports at the bottom so it doesn't tip over. At the top, there is a bar that extends horizontally outward.
Sorry, Eddie! Specs say it can't deform at 12,000 PSI, we had to test it!
Eddie bends down to inspect the cage, which is rectangular, constructed of inch-thick titanium-alloy bars. It had survived the fall without harm. And it's light; Eddie lifts it upright with one hand. It's about six feet high, six feet in length, and four feet in width. It looks like an oversized hamster cage with the top three feet, except the corner supports, cut out. The lower three feet act like railings. It has a swinging door, fitted with a heavy lock. An electric lantern is strapped to one of the corner supports. The roof of the cage is fitted with dark green camouflage netting.
What the hell is that? Dr. Malcolm asked.
It's a High Hide. You know, you go up, and you hide…high. This car goes up on top of the twenty foot titanium scaffold. Keeps the researchers out of harm's way.
Fifteen feet? Actually, it puts them just above a very convenient biting heigh.
Eddie continues to examine the cage.
This aluminum's too shiny. We should paint it matte black.
He turns to a worker standing behind him.
And Bobby, I said I wanted camera mounts in the corners of the cage too, not just on the scaffolding.
More cameras? Dr. Malcolm asked.
Oh yeah.
He stands up and gestures to the tall scaffold that's nearby. On it, workmen are attaching long, dangling wires to four strategically placed camera mounts.
The remote heads are automatic pivoters with heat sensors that are active twenty-four hours a day. Eddie explained.
While they talk, one of the already-installed cameras on the High Hide WHIRRS to life, picking them up as they walk past. The camera follows them as they go, displaying their image on a video monitor near the base of the scaffolding.
The data gets multiplexed and we'll uplink it back to New York at the end of every day. It's a great system, just a little buggy at the moment.
He looks back and reaches out, reframes the camera, which has pivoted off of them and is now shooting a fluorescent light above them.
Now, I want to talk to whoever's in charge of security. Dr. Malcolm said.
Eddie just looks at him.
You know, weapons. Guns. Who's doing that?
Eddie holds his arm out - - "you're talking to him."
You're kidding.
"Kidding?"
From outside, Kelly Malcolm, an African-American girl around twelve years old, runs into the warehouse.
Dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad, dad!
She jumps into Dr. Malcolm's arms.
Oh! Dr. Malcolm said.
Kelly my honey…you found it…What took you so long?
Sor-ee. Couldn't get a cab.
Sweetie, that's okay… Now listen… I gotta tell you, uh…something… I gotta talk to you.
She looks at him, suspicious, reading his face.
You're going away. Again.
EDDIE'S OFFICE DAY
Kelly is slumped in a chair on the second floor of the warehouse. Dr. Malcolm sits on the desk in front of her. Down below, work on the vehicles continues unabated. Kelly looks at a slip of paper in her hand.
I don't even know this woman.
What do you mean, it's Karen. You've known her for, for ten years…
She doesn't even have Sega… She's such a troglodyte…
That's cruel. But a good word use.
Why can't I stay with Sarah?
She gets up and walks around, passing several architectural drawing tablets. Dr. Malcolm follows her.
Sarah's - - out of town. Karen is fantastic. She'll take you horseback riding, to the museum, to the movies…you're going to have a fantastic time.
Kelly finds another chair and kneels in it, swiveling around.
Stop saying "fantastic"…Where are you going anyway?
I can't tell you. Come on, it's only a few days. I wouldn't go if it wasn't a life - -
He stops himself
- - if it wasn't extremely important.
I'm your daughter all the time, you know. You can't just abandon me whenever opportunity knocks.
Very hurtful. Your mother tell you to say that?
Eddie calls over the PA system.
Dr. Malcolm…downstairs please.
You know, I thought you appreciated the fact that I treat you like an adult. Do you want to be patronized and condescended to like other kids? Dr. Malcolm asked.
Kelly gets off the chair. Again, Dr. Malcolm follows as she walks around.
I want you to crack on me a little bit! You know, ground me or something, send me to my room. You never do any of that.
That stuff never worked with you, Kelly. Not once. You're your own person, and you always have been. You don't need a parent, you just need someone to pay the rent and try to keep up with you until you take over the world. Plus, why would I? Cause you turned out to be so beautiful, brilliant, powerful, funny, and generous? The queen…the goddess…My inspiration…
Dr. Malcolm… Eddie called again.
I could come with you! I could be your research assistant like I was in Austin.
This is nothing like Austin. Uh - - but anyway, you got your own stuff.
You got your gymnastics competition. You've been training for months…
Kelly looked perturbed.
Gymnastics? I scrubbed out, Dad. I got cut from the team. Thanks for knowing…
Oh…I'm sorry honey…I uh…know how much that meant to you.
You like to have kids, but just don't want to be with them do you?
Dr. Malcolm finally loses his cool.
Hey, I'm not the one who dumped you here and split for Paris!…
He SLAMS a desk drawer.
…so don't take it out on me!…
Kelly looks down. Dr. Malcolm winces immediately. Now he's hurt her feelings. Eddie calls out a third time, impatiently. Dr. Malcolm gets up. He pauses at the door to the stairs.
Honey…I'm…sorry…I'm sorry… Hey, you want some good parental advice? Don't listen to me…don't listen to me.
Dr. Malcolm walks out of the office.
MAIN FLOOR DAY
Kelly circles around the Mobile Lab.
In the background Dr. Malcolm and Eddie walk through the bustle of workmen.
Um…what's the time? Do you have the time? Dr. Malcolm asked.
Do I have the time? Why?
Kelly comes to the back of the Trailer. Here, the back wall will be composed of a glass wall and another wall containing a glassless window, also with window mounted protective bars. Currently, the glass wall is connected to the top of its frame and held up vertically by two metal poles. The exterior wall is connected to the bottom of the frame and sits vertically. There is a big black mat, like those used in boxing, that sits on the vertical exterior wall, so nobody falls through the glassless window.
She looks around, to see if anybody is watching. They're not, so she quickly slips inside.
MOBILE LAB DAY
Inside, the Trailer is a miracle of planning and design. The main color is grey. Along the ceiling edges, between the ceiling and the walls, are large cabinet spaces, which lock from the exterior. Below these are tiny, rectangular light fixtures that are only connected by one end. In the far front is a doorway that leads through the accordion connector to the RV.
On her left side is an open space with a window. Next to the open space is a desk with a PanaVise model 381 vacuum base vise at the edge. Next to that is a Fisher Scientific plate stirrer, model 11-500-49S. Next to that is a diagonal glass slab with a light and a two spaced, doorless, cabinet above it, also on the desk. The top space of the two spaced cabinet is filled with medical liquids; Morphine, Carfentanil, Amoxicillin, etc. The bottom has other small lab supplies including a Qtronix Scorpius Qx-022 numerical keypad. Underneath the diagonal glass slab is a Mettler Toledo BD202 Analytical Balance. On the side of the two spaced, doorless, cabinet is a Okaton analog/digital Thermohygrometer. Next to the diagonal glass slab is a Compaq 151FS 15-inch monitor, sitting at the edge of the desk. There is another window above the computer.
Next to the desk is a big radio console. Its composed of, starting at the top, two American DJ SC-9FC 8-Channel Lighting Controllers side by side. Two Furman PL-PLUS Series II Power Conditioners, also side by side, underneath them. Three Pelco PMC14E Series Monitors sit below these. Underneath the monitors, on the left hand side, is an ICOM IC-736 HF Transceiver and a Carver HTR-880 Home Theater Receiver. On the right hand side is a Furman PL-PLUS Series II Power Conditioner. Two Carver TFM-15 power amplifiers sit on top of each other below the power conditioner and a Wiremold J60B0B PDU sits below them. The Carver HTR-880 Home Theater Receiver and the Wiremold J60B0B PDU rest evenly with each other and allow three compartments, with doors, to be below them. There are two lab chairs in front of the radio console, bolted to the floor. The one on its left side can allow the user to reach the Compaq 151FS 15-inch monitor. On the side of the radio console is a corded phone, it's base hooked to the radio console.
Next to the big radio console is another desk. Like the other desk, it has a Compaq 151FS 15-inch monitor and the lab chair on the radios right side can allow the user to reach the computer. Next to the Compaq 151FS 15-inch monitor is a horizontal glass slab with a light underneath. Next to the glass slab is a Zeiss Axioskop Fluorescence Phase Contrast Microscope. Above this desk is another window. Next to that desk is the accordion connector.
On Kelly's right side is another open space, this time big enough to have two windows. In that space is a small metal table on wheels with a lamp connected to it.
Next to the table is a countertop with a compact T.V., currently turned off. Next to that is another diagonal glass slab with a light and a one spaced, doorless, cabinet above it. Inside the cabinet is various little kitchen supplies. Under the countertop is another doorless cabinet which holds two trash cans. Next to the diagonal glass slab is a sink. Above the sink is a First Aid kit and below the sink is a cabinet door.
Next to the countertop is a three-step stairway leading to the door which leads outside. Below the stairway railing on the box holding the countertop is a fire extinguisher.
Next to the doorway is a refrigerator. Next to the refrigerator is the accordion connector.
Along the floor is aisle lighting, like in a movie theater. They will turn on if the lights are off during the night or if the power went out during the night but in both cases it turns off in the day. They are dim enough to allow people to sleep but bright enough to allow people to see where they are walking.
On the wall next to the doorway leading outside there is a wall unit, placed above the sink. The wall unit is a complex of glowing LED displays and lots of buttons, and looked to Kelly like a complicated thermostat.
She pushed a button, and the T.V. at the edge of the countertop glowed to life. It showed all the work being done outside. At the bottom of the screen it says:
- Exterior Camera
Wow. She said, crossing over to the Challenger.
In the accordion conector is a metal slate that connects to the Trailers entry for easy access from the Trailer to the Challenger and vice versa. It extends out to the Challenger's entry but does not connect.
There are double bunks on both sides of the Challenger's accordion entry. The double bunks are placed right over the windows on both sides.
There is a bookshelf in front of the left side bunks. Inside, the bookshelf holds, on the top shelf, books strapped into the shelf by a Velcro strap. The books included are Modeling Adaptive Biological Systems, Vertebrate Behavior Dynamics, and Dinosaurs of North America, among others. On the last two shelves are maps of Isla Sorna's topographical locations, area elevations, and territorial dinosaur patterns.
In front of the bookshelf there is a small table with padded benches, like a restaurant booth. Above this is another window.
In front of the table is a small cubicle with a large map covering the next window. On the side of the cubicle that's next to the padded bench is an American DJ SC-9FC 8-Channel Lighting Control.
On the cubicles other side is a DOD 835 Series II Audio Crossover on top of a DOD 822 RM Rackmount Audio Mixer on top of another DOD 835 Series II Audio Crossover. This area with the table and the cubicle is the area that can extend outwards.
In front of the cubicle is the driver seat with a window next to it.
In front of the right side bunk is a countertop with a compact dishwasher underneath and next to the dishwasher is another sink. Next to the sink is an electric stove with a microwave above it. Above the countertop is another window.
Next to that is a three-step stairway leading to the door which leads outside. Below the stairway railing on the box holding the countertop is another fire extinguisher.
Next to the doorway is a small lavatory/shower, the window that it covers has blinds for privacy.
In front of that is the passenger side seat with a window next to it.
Just like the Trailer, it has aisle lighting. Above both exit doors are CTX PanoView 600 LCD monitors which are the Mobile Lab Status Indicators.
The screens are divided into three sections. The first box, the top one, shows all the systems and shows their status:
Power System:
AC Generator - OK
Battery 1 - 100%
Battery 2 - 100%
Battery 3 - 100%
Emergency Backup - STANDBY
Powertrain:
Engine - OK
Oil Pres - OK
Engine Temp - OK
Hydraulics - OK
Surveillance:
Video Feed - STANDBY
Exterior Camera - UP
Data Link - UP
Data Rate - 33 Kbps
Climate Control:
Air Conditioner - OK
Heating - OK
Ventilation - RECIRC
Communications:
Sat Uplink - OK
Transponder - NStar 4
Shortwave - OK
VHF Radio - OK
Computers:
Vehicle Monitor - OK
Passenger Monitor - OK
Workstation 1 - OK
Workstation 2 - OK
The second box, the middle one, shows a top and side schematic view of the Mobile Lab.
Vehicle Status:
Front Segment
It shows the R.V. as green.
Rear Segment
It shows the Trailer as green.
The third box, the bottom one, shows the three battery power monitors on one side.
Battery 1:
The box is 100% full and is green.
Battery 2:
The box is 100% and is green.
Battery 3:
The box is 100% full and is green.
On the other side are three boxes, in the same arrangement as the whole Status Indicator.
Master Caution
Security Warning
Equipment Failure
The text is red but the three boxes that surround them are grey
She goes to the large map in the cubicle. Off the coast of Costa Rica, there is an area that has been circled in heavy black ink. Kelly puts a finger on the map, crossing westward, through the Pacific Ocean.
There are dozens of islands out there, but in the highlighted region, there is a semi-circle of five. Isla Matanceros. Isla Muerte. Isla Tacaño. Isla Peña. And Isla Sorna.
Underneath the whole island chain, there is a bold legend - - "Las Cinco Muertes." Slowly, an ocean barge starts to CHUG its way across the face of the map, leaving a wake that rolls the printed letters of those three ominous words.