This chapter posed a particular problem I wasn't sure how to handle with the revision changes. See, Costa Rica and the fictional islands of Isla Nublar and Sorna share the same time zone as the U.S. 'Mountain Time' zone. The problem was, when Grant calls Ellie during the Spino attack on the boat, it's night time on the island. But when Charlie answers the phone, it's morning time. ... So please pardon whatever massive screw up this chapter has. I'm blaming it on the Jurassic Park 3 writers for not doing their time zone homework...
JURASSIC PARK III
15 – Courtesy of the U.S. Navy and Marines Pt 1
Mark Degler finished tightening his tie and adjusted his smoky grey shirt's collar afterwards. He looked to his wife, Ellie, smearing cream cheese on a bagel and smiled. "You know, you don't have to make me anything to eat for breakfast."
Ellie smiled up at him with those warm and brilliant blue eyes, curtained by her blond tresses. "I know." She set the bagel half down on a napkin and reached into the toaster for the second. "But you and I both know that morning traffic can be outrageous and there's no guarantee you'll be able to stop by the coffee shop before work." She took another modest scoop of cream cheese onto the butter knife and started smearing it. "Remember last time you told me not to worry with breakfast?"
Mark nodded and reached for his brief case resting on a chair by the dining table. "Oh yeah. I didn't get to eat anything until almost noon!" He shook his head. "Damn, that was a busy day."
Charlie looked up from his slurping over a bowl of Fruity Pebble cereal. "Daddy said a bad word."
Both Ellie and Mark giggled, the woman nodding her head. "Yes, Daddy did say a bad word." Mark, wearing a rather huge smile, hung his head low and held out a hand to Charlie. The little boy gave it a smack. "He showed you."
The man nodded and gave a wink to his wife, sliding the napkin to the man. He picked up one of the bagels and took a hefty bite out of it, making sure to swallow it before speaking. "So, we still on for dinner tonight?"
Ellie nodded. "As far as I know."
"Great."
Charlie patted past the two and sat his bowl on the kitchen counter. "That's not where that goes," Ellie gently scolded.
The little boy looked up at her with puppy dog eyes. "I can't reach the sink. I'm too little."
Both parents broke out in laughter, cries from a baby sounding from the other room. Mark took another bite of his bagel as Ellie rushed into the living room. She knew it was coming. It was only a matter of time and could smell it before she even got to the little ball of cuteness. Just not that cute at that particular moment.
Mark had Charlie by the hand and was leading him into the living room. The man started waving at his face from the stench. "Whoa, that's a bad one."
Ellie cocked a brow and smirked. "Care to do the honors?"
"Nope. Nope, that's absolutely fine." He reached for a TV remote on the back of the couch and turned on the TV. At first, it was a weather report but after flipping through the channels, found something more kid oriented. "There you go, buddy. Barney! You like Barney, huh?" Charlie nodded. "Alright! Well, you just stay here and watch TV while Mommy finishes changing sissy and Daddy finishes his breakfast. Okay?" Charlie nodded again. Mark patted his son on the head and went back into the kitchen.
By the time Ellie had finished changing the baby, her husband was done with breakfast and getting ready to leave. He had his car keys in one hand and briefcase in the other. "Here, I'll walk you out to the car. Just let me put her back in her swing." Ellie saw Charlie twisting and dancing to Barney on the TV and smiled. "You be good, okay?" The boy didn't answer or acknowledge his mother as he started spinning around in circles.
Ellie rejoined her husband and followed him outside. "Just to double check, dinner reservations at the restaurant are at seven-thirty tonight, correct?"
Mark nodded. "Mhm. Karen and Alex are supposed to be there, too."
"Ugh. Why does she have to be there? I can't stand hearing her talk about her cat like it's the only thing in the world."
The two people strode across the patio and towards the navy-blue Lincoln parked behind her sky-blue hatchback. "Well to her, her cat is all she has."
"I wonder why."
"Honey..." Mark unlocked his car and stopped shy of getting in. "Did the girl across the street say she'd watch the kids?"
Ellie nodded. "Yes. I'm dropping them off before I leave."
"Good." He leaned in to kiss his wife. "Have a good day. Call me if you need anything."
"Other than just finishing up this current book project, I can't think of anything going on today."
Mark smiled. "Never know. Stuff happens." With that, he slid into the driver's seat of the car and sat his briefcase down in the passenger seat.
Ellie watched him back out of the drive way and waved before turning to go back inside. That's when she came across Charlie coming outside, the house phone in his hand. "Who's on the phone?" She bent down to pick up her son.
"The dinosaur man."
"He is?" She checked the caller ID on the phone to see an unfamiliar number stare back at her. Why would he be calling this early in the day? And why was he calling from a different number than the dig site's? Did he get a new phone? "Alan?" Nothing. Apparently, he had hung up. Time to call the number back. The phone started to ring for a little while before there was an aswer.
The familiar, but desperate voice of Alan Grant filled the other line. "Ellie, listen to me!"
She could barely make out what he was saying. She was mostly hearing a lot of loud banging around and noises in the background. "Are you on a call phone? I can't hear you." But she could hear roaring. Was Pet fighting with Derek again? That wasn't Pet's roaring. She didn't sound like that. She more shrilled and barked than roared. What was going on?
"The river! Site B! The river!"
Anything else he had to say was cut off by garbling. "Hello?" The phone cut out from the other end. Something had happened.
Charlie started growling and roaring and making his scary dinosaur face. Roaring. Loud noise in the back ground. Site B. Isla Sorna? Had he gone to Isla Sorna? She quickly started calling someone she knew would probably have answers.
Terrence sat at the kitchenette bar and ate a hot dog. In the bunkroom, he could hear Muldoon's satellite phone start to ring. No one called that phone unless an emergency. Was it maybe Muldoon or Derek regarding news about Pet?
Terrence fell over himself getting to the phone before it stopped ringing and answered it. "Hello? Robert?"
A woman's voice answered back. "Who's this?"
"Who's this," Terrence returned in question.
"It's me, Ellie. Did Alan go to Isla Sorna, by chance?"
Terrence's eyes shifted to the side where Muldoon's empty bunk was. "Yeah… why? He, Billy and Pet went down there on some business trip." Should he tell her about the supposed plane crash? Or would that further panic her? She already sounded upset enough as is. Maybe she already knew?
Ellie spoke. "He just called me. Something about Site B. I think he's in trouble."
"Well," Terrence began, "there's reason to believe the plane he was riding in might have crashed on the island…" Just as he thought, the news distressed the woman even more and the call was ended instantly.
Two hours out from Costa Rica and Simon Masrani was still an anxious ball of nerves, just like the rest of the passengers. Even within the dimly lit cabin of the plane, there was no mistaking the testy scowls of uncle and nephew unblinking off Jacobs.
His plane's business phone started ringing. He could only hope it was good news pertaining to the immediate situation. "Yes?" Both Muldoon and Derek's stern stares on Jacobs shifted over to the billionaire. "What do you mean the U.S. Navy and Marines have been called to the island? Who called them? What's going on?" He intently listened to the information being said from the other person on the opposite end of the phone. "State Department Official Mark Degler called the United States military?" Simon rubbed his already stress strained eyes. "Yes, I'm already aware Dr. Grant was among those on the crashed plane." He clenched his jaw in annoyance and his eyes snapped open, him sitting more upright in his seat. "He's still alive? What about the others?"
Derek leaped out of his seat and relocated himself to one across a table from the billionaire. "What about Pet? Is she still alive?"
Simon silenced him with a wave of his hand. "What about other survivors?"
Derek could hear a man say, "That information is unknown to us at this time," through the other end of the call.
"Where's that stand by security team? In route? As soon as they land, I want to know! Have a helicopter ready for when I get there. And get me in contact with the military person in charge of this!"
Simon kept a tight grip on the phone when setting it down on the table. "At least there's some good news. Dr. Grant is still alive."
Derek turned in his seat to look at his uncle. "Pet has to be with him, too! No way would one go anywhere without the other, right?"
Muldoon spoke. "If there's any one person I know to survive on that island it's Pet."
Jacobs blurted, "Unless she was hurt in the plane crash."
Derek almost lost control of his temper. "Don't you ever say shit like that around me or Uncle Rob again, got it?"
Jacobs gulped and nodded. Whether anyone wanted to hear it or not, there was always that possibility of it being a reality. He could only hope she was still alive just as much as the others.
Billy couldn't go on. Dawn was on the rise and he physically couldn't go on anymore. He dropped to his knees and allowed his body's weight to sink into the soft sand beneath him. Clutched tightly in his hand was Grant's hat he found washed ashore a little way back. It was something he honestly wasn't expecting to come across and refused to leave it behind. Hopefully he wouldn't lose it when taking a short rest. His head was spinning and he felt dizzy all over. Just a small break to allow for rest and he'd finish his trek to the coast, however far that was. But sleep had another plan for him and he passed out. Pet wasn't about to protest and too, laid down for a quick rest. At least, so she thought. The humid air was torturous to her already fevered body.
Finally, in Costa Rica. An Agusta A109A helicopter was seen waiting near where the plane had taxied to. Standing outside was a suited man with glasses, hands folded before him. "Mr. Simon Masrani?"
The addressed man nodded and ducked his head when approaching the helicopter, its rotors spinning. "Yes?" Following closely at his heels was uncle and nephew and Dr. Jacobs.
"Chris Bell from the U.S. Department of State." The suited gentlemen outstretched his hand to the awaiting aircraft and visually studied the three other men. "Come aboard, gentlemen, and we'll take you to a Naval ship headed towards the island for survivor extraction."
"Excellent." The five men boarded the helicopter, it lifting off as soon as they were buckled in. "Has anything else been heard from the survivors?"
Chris shook his head. "No. Search and Rescue teams from the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines are being assembled, as we speak. So as soon as they're within deployment range of the island, they can be dispatched."
"I already have a specialized InGen Security team assembled. They were supposed to be on standby, here in Costa Rica."
"Yes, sir, we encountered them shortly before your arrival. They've been sent to join with one of the military extraction teams."
Long, grueling minutes crept by. Minutes neared ever closer to the hour mark. No one had to express how deeply troubled they were at the condition the survivors would be once found. Simon could barely sit still the entire helicopter ride and kept nervously fidgeting with his hands.
Chris, seated across the helicopter, curiously watched him. "Not nervous, are you?"
Dark eyes were cut down on the other man. "Depending on what is found on that island may or may not make this a controlled situation for security purposes."
Chris arched a brow in curiosity and looked to the other three men. Is that why they were there? "We're recovering a group of survivors from an island overran with dinosaurs, Mr. Masrani. What part of this situation isn't already controlled, enough?"
"That depends on who is still left alive."
Something about the way that last bit was said made Chris's hairs stand on end. "Sir?"
"Just know this, Mr. Bell, there are certain things that were created years before my taking control of InGen. You do know what InGen is, right?"
The other man nodded uncomfortably in the heat of the stares he was receiving from the scarred man and a younger man seated next to him. "Well, yeah...they specialize in genetics."
"Good." Simon's expression was impassive. "Now keep that in mind. Whatever you see on that island is to not be discussed with anyone. Should you or anyone involved in this operation speak of what's seen, the weight of my company's legal team will crush whatever lawyers you think can handle it. Do I make myself clear?" Derek arched a brow in amusement at the comment and nodded in approval at the billionaire. Maybe this guy wasn't so bad after all.
Chris gulped and nodded. "Absolutely." A Naval ship came into view, the helicopter starting to descend. "A Naval team will be joining us in our trip to the island should we need their assistance. As far as your civilian companions, I must ask they remain on the ship."
"I ask at least one of them accompany me, Mr. Bell. Mr. Muldoon used to work with the animals on the islands and is very close to one of the hopeful survivors."
Chris wasn't sure who it was Simon was talking about, but figured it to be the scarred man. He sort of looked the part, all roughed up and all from what looked like an animal attack. "I think that can be managed."
As soon as the helicopter touched down, Derek and Jacobs were escorted off by a uniformed soldier as Chris scampered over to a ranking military officer. He cupped his hands around the other's ear to be heard over the helicopter's rotor. Standing before the officer were three other soldiers wearing helmets and tactical body gear. The officer nodded in understanding and pointed to the far left soldiers. They parted and ran to join another helicopter while the officer pointed to the last two and motioned them to follow him. Chris was urged to follow them, him regretfully doing so.
The two Navy men got into the aircraft Simon and Muldoon were in, followed by Chris. The Department of State official sat down beside the billionaire, as the scarred man made him nervous, while the uniformed men sat across the helicopter from them.
The pilot of the aircraft spoke into his headset's mic. "This is Sea Shadow. We're in route to target location."
A response from a second pilot joined. "Copy that, Sea Shadow. Dust Storm is at your seven."
The commanding team leader of the helicopter call sign Sea Shadow tried to introduce himself, but since hearing anything over the helicopter's rotors was damn near impossible, all Simon got out of the introduction was the other's last name and that was because it was displayed on his uniform; Coleman.
This guy looked like someone who had been around and experienced some things. Simon felt a bit relieved to have someone like this around along with the experienced dinosaur handler seated at his left. As for the other two soldiers...Well… one looked like a Hispanic professional wrestler, his last name being Gonzales. The other looked like the average ho hum of a guy, his name being Grady. He appeared to be in his early twenties with dirty blonde hair just visible beneath his helmet.
His green eyes shifted to the scarred man, first, his gaze stern. He then looked over to the observing wealthy man, next, seated directly across form him.
Simon studied the soldier. "You look as though just a kid. What is your name?"
The seaman answered. "Grady, sir."
Simon waved a dismissing hand in the air. "No need for the sir, and I mean your first name."
"Owen. Owen Grady."
"Ah. How many rescue missions have done?"
The team's military commander, Coleman, answered. "He's done enough to earn my trust and my trust isn't too easily given. Don't worry, sir. Grady, here, is tougher than he looks." Coleman gave a strong clap on the shoulder to the much younger soldier, Owen clenching his jaw beneath a forced smile. He really hated it when someone did that. Always felt so mocking and demeaning.
Simon saw another helicopter, with its side doors open, outside a window and noticed it carried his requested team led by a man he knew by the name of Vic Hoskins. Hopefully they got the news. A minute later, they broke off from the first helicopter to fly westward.
The co-pilot called from the front of the aircraft, "The InGen team is heading to the crash site. They're going to report back with their findings after they search the area."
Simon nodded to the co-pilot and deeply exhaled a breath he had been holding. He was tingling with anticipation. The coast of the island filled the helicopter's front windshield, the wealthy man unable to contain the amounts of anxiety bursting within him.
Owen huffed a small laugh to himself. "Relax, Mr. Masrani. We're going to do a full coastal sweep. We know what we're looking for, sir. When something is found, you'll know when we do."
Sure enough, just as the young solider had stated, the helicopter buzzed along the coast line. The mouth of a river was found in their passing. Again, the co-pilot announced to the passengers. "We're going to circle the island, first, then start searching down the rivers."
Simon turned his attention to Muldoon. "Where do you think the survivors would be?"
"Anywhere, really. If she is still alive, the first place she is going to probably try and go is someplace she feels safe like an old shelter. I know she used to have one, but it was in the south-east portion of the island, whereas the plane crash happened on the west side of the island."
Chris interrupted. "What about a building or an old compound?"
Muldoon shook his head dejectedly. "They're all inhabited by packs of Velociraptors."
Coleman's bushy peppered colored eyebrows furrowed. "What's a Velociraptor? Is it dangerous?"
Owen didn't mean to come off disrespectful to his commanding officer as he chuckled to himself. "They're only the smartest and most dangerous of dinosaurs. They may look like a six-foot turkey, but they're not. They're a vicious pack hunter that will turn you into minced meat in the blink of an eye."
Muldoon was impressed. How did this kid know that? "I take it you did your homework before accepting this mission?"
"No, sir," Owen answered. "I got some good ol' schooling from a paleontologist by the name of Dr. Alan Grant."
Muldoon's brows raised and his eyes slightly widened in surprise to the news. "You know Dr. Grant?"
Owen shrugged. "Can't really say I know him. My mom did some volunteer site work for him when I was kid. She thought it would be cool for me to tag along during the summer breaks…try to get me out of the house and away from the video games. I got mouthy one day and made a comment about a skeleton being dug up. That's when I got a nice little lesson about respecting the deadly potential of a Velociraptor." He laughed to himself. "I had nightmares for weeks after that."
Simon slightly cocked his head to the side and slyly grinned. "It just so happens he's one of the plane crash survivors to be found and rescued."
Owen's eyes enlarged in disbelief. "Really?"
One of the helicopter pilots got Coleman's attention, speaking. "Sir, one of the scouting helicopters has located a wrecked boat off the western coast. Should they investigate?"
Coleman nodded. "Approach with extreme caution."
Simon spoke up loud enough for the military commander to hear. "Just make sure your men or any other, for that matter, don't harm any animals they find. Use tranquilizers first before using heavy weaponry."
Coleman snorted a laugh. "They'll do what is necessary to protect themselves or anyone else in harm's way."
Minutes drug on for what felt like an eternity. A tightness had settled in Simon's chest and he wasn't sure how long he'd be able to contain himself. The co-pilot nodded and turned around to yell back at the passengers. "The InGen Security team's chopper found the downed aircraft. It doesn't look good. It's a wonder how anyone survived that, from what I'm being told." Simon frowned. "We're swinging back around and towards that direction to check the coast there. There's a river we want to inspect."
"Very well," was all the wealthy man had to say and to the river mouth they went.
