Chapter 22 - A Tale of Two Traitors
"The only thing worse than a hater is a traitor." - Daughtry "Traitor"
oOo
One week later, two scenes play out at the same time. The settings couldn't be more different. One is a dreary and cramped jail cell. The steel bars remind Dennis Nedry that he's locked inside a cage. Dignity is a dream and freedom is a fantasy. The other is a large spacious bedroom where sunlight streams through the blinders. It's a luxurious suite that Henry Wu doesn't have to pay for. John Hammond has spared no expense to give him and his coworkers the best living arrangements.
Nedry is forcefully awakened at 5 a.m. and ordered to pack his belongings. He doesn't have a lot to begin with, but what he does have gets tossed in a clear plastic bag. As he puts together his meager belongings, his heart sinks because he knows today is the day. Transport day. Staff never give advanced notice when inmates will be transported to prison. He knows that from his previous experience, but he still has to mentally prepare himself for what's to come in the next several hours.
Wu can make his own choice to wake up early or sleep in. He's always been early to bed early to rise. He doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to. Several days ago, Hammond told him to take it easy as he adjusts to being back on the island. Wu could lounge around all day if he chooses, stroll around the park… There are no work obligations as he settles back into his routine. He knows he'll get up and go to the labs. He still wants to be productive, but for the time being, he'll take Hammond's advice. Wu lays in bed for another hour.
Both men expect a long day ahead of them.
oOo
After the routine strip-search, Nedry knows it's time to suit up. Soon, he finishes buttoning up a bright orange prison jumpsuit. DOC is imprinted on the back. The outfit has old stains as though another inmate wore it before him, and nobody bothered to wash it. He feels lost in it—it's baggy and oversized. If he was his previous weight, it would fit snugly on him. It's identical to what every inmate is wearing for transport. To him, it screams out that he's incarcerated, and that society is safer and better off when he's not roaming free.
Wu puts on a white lab coat over his professional work clothes. Hammond had purchased him a new one. It's different and more official than any lab coat he's ever worn. His full name and title are embroidered on the front. Dr. Henry Wu, Chief Geneticist. The Jurassic Park logo is sewn into the sleeve. In the past, he hated wearing lab coats. This is the first time that he feels a sense of pride and professionalism wearing one. The lab coat is individualized and meant only for him. As silly as it may sound, it helps him to feel accepted back into InGen.
oOo
The correction officers are rushing Nedry and the other inmates to eat their breakfast that consists of cold cereal, powdered eggs, and apple juice that looks like urine. He stares at the slop, refusing to touch it. It's better to eat nothing. Several inmates have told him horror stories about what happens when you need to use the bathroom during transport.
Wu can take as much time as he likes in the cafeteria. There's no hurry to get to the labs. No one's breathing down his back, while pointing at their watch. He has many delicious breakfast options to choose from—French toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and a variety of beverages. Everything looks appetizing and tastes wonderful. And he has access to the bathroom.
oOo
Just before they start their day, they get their finishing touches.
Nedry lines up with five other men and four women in a cold cramped room. They follow the orders that transport officers bark at them. Face the wall—hands on the wall—legs apart! Transport officers search and pat them down to ensure they aren't carrying or hiding contraband. Then comes the waist chain, handcuffs, shackles, and black box. All are applied too tight and the cold steel pinches his skin, but Nedry knows asking them to be loosened is pointless. His only relief is that his companions are in the same situation as him so the pain and shame he endures isn't his alone.
Then to make matters worse, the U.S. Marshals shout their commands. Nedry listens as the words hit him hard. The message is clear: he's less than human. Don't talk. Don't ask us when we will get there. Don't ask for food and don't ask for drinks. Don't ask for meds. There will be no bathroom breaks—hold it in or piss and shit on yourself. Don't puke. Face forward, eyes straight ahead. Don't make any sudden movements or you'll get shot.
He's living a nightmare that will only worsen as the day goes on…
Thousands of miles away, Wu is back at his suite by himself, and he enjoys this time of solitude. It's always been refreshing for him to start off the day with time alone. It gives him a chance to reflect, gather his thoughts, and consider what he hopes to accomplish in the next several hours. He clips his identification badge to his lab coat and then fixes his collar. Wu glances down at his InGen badge, feeling immense pride to be part of a bioengineering company that has made amazing advancements in genetics—and how he played a major role. He used to feel God-like for his accomplishments, but after everything he's been through, he carries a sense of humility that he was asked to participate in such a unique and groundbreaking project.
On his way back to the labs, he greets the maintenance workers, security guards, and other staff who help to keep the park running smoothly. How are you, Dr. Wu? Welcome back! Let us know if you need anything. It's like he came back from an extended vacation.
Sometimes it seems to be too good to be true…
oOo
Hours go by.
Nedry finds out fast that the "shuttle from hell" is aptly named. The male prisoners are separated from the female prisoners. The sweltering heat is unbearable, everyone is sweating, and there's no air conditioner in the prison transport bus that's headed upstate. He overhears two male inmates describe the ride as "diesel therapy"—a form of cruel punishment in which inmates are transported across the state (and sometimes the country) for days, and sometimes even weeks, going from prison to prison while restrained the entire time. Maybe that's the case for them, but he hopes that isn't true for him because he's not trying to catch new charges, rack up more time, or add disciplinary measures to his record. He wants to get out and leave this all behind him, but right now, it's impossible. A young female prisoner sobs quietly and Nedry wishes he could tell her she's strong and will get through this, but he can't talk to her even if he wanted to. Three U.S. Marshals grip their rifles and will shoot if given any reason to do so—that's enough deterrent to keep his mouth shut.
Meanwhile, on Isla Nublar, Wu has been in the labs, spending most of his time in the hatchery. The heat is at its usual temperature, and he's used to it. Just to be safe, he carries a water bottle that he filled up earlier, in case he gets thirsty. It feels like he never left. A batch of beige-brownish eggs sit in an enormous nest of hay and ferns. The eggs have labels attached to them with codes written in ink. He's excited to see the eggs labeled: XXXX-008/16, XXXX-009/16, XXXX-0010/16. He knows it means the number on the egg, and the "16" refers to Project 16—all presumed to be ankylosaurs. Project 16 was an overwhelming success and Wu smiles, proud that he and Hammond pushed forward with it, even when the rest of the staff was doubtful at the time. It's remarkable that he's back at the InGen labs again. He never thought he'd be allowed back to work at the place he loves—and he knows not to take it for granted. Wu finds a box of gloves and slips on a pair so that he can examine the eggs individually.
oOo
It's late afternoon by the time the bus pulls into the same prison that Nedry fears will be his home for the next several decades. It depends on what Judge Hoskins decides, and who knows when that will be. Several stops were made along the way to pick up and drop off prisoners at various correctional facilities, prolonging the ride, but now he's finally back. During the entire journey, Nedry stifled his emotions about being sent back here when he thought he would have his sentence commuted. When he disembarks, he sees Officer Johnson and the prison warden, Daniel Walker, waiting for him at the sally port. They tell him he's going straight to the SHU—Special Housing Unit. No one offers him an explanation, leaving Nedry even more mystified.
He goes through the same routine that he went through the first time around. Strip-searched, showered, and issued four of each: navy-blue prison uniforms, undergarments including short-sleeved shirts and boxers, and thermal sets to wear under his uniform for when it's cold. Then he gets four pairs of socks, one pair of canvas slip-on shoes, a pair of work boots, shower shoes, and a handful of hygiene products to start (the rest he'll have to purchase at the commissary). A sheet, blanket, pillow, and foam bedroll. He quickly suits up and clips his ID tag on. All the items get thrown in a garbage bag for him to lug around. Then there's the long, lonely walk to the SHU. The whole time, he tries to get answers.
"Why can't I go back to gen pop, Mr. Walker? Is this because of what I said in court? What about my work assignment?"
Walker never responds to his questions. Nedry gets more persistent until Officer Johnson makes it clear he doesn't want to hear it.
"Shut your mouth and keep moving."
It takes every ounce of Nedry's willpower to not curse him out.
Less than an hour after his arrival, the steel door slams behind him and the lock clicking echoes in the tiny cell. He watches through the door's narrow window as Walker and Officer Johnson walk down the hallway, completely unaffected by Nedry's confusion as to why he's been placed here and not his cell block.
His entire body is sore from being forced to sit in those horrible restraints for all those hours. The good thing about being alone is that he doesn't need to act tough in front of the other inmates. Several angry tears manage to escape when the questions hit him nonstop… Why is he here? How come no one is answering his questions? Didn't he do what was asked of him? He got Wu to return to InGen. He got as much information as he could—so why was he brought back here? Is this punishment for the Molotov cocktail? Or for what he said in court? What if it's both? Will he ever be free again? What does he have to do to get out of here? What if he never leaves this place and his only "freedom" comes from being removed from the prison in a body bag? Freedom through death or "back door parole" as he's heard it called by other inmates…
It's early evening on Isla Nublar. Wu joins everyone in the cafeteria, sitting with Gerry Harding, Robert Muldoon, Ray Arnold, and George Lawala. It feels like old times again. The constant chatter all around him. Jokes about mishaps mainly from Harding. Muldoon venting about whatever's frustrating him, and Arnold keeping his ashtray nearby while he chain-smokes. Lawala fits right in, and Wu is glad to see him after all this time. He realizes how true it is: the InGen staff behaves like a family ("dysfunctional" as Nedry once joked). Their camaraderie is what he missed most.
Tim and Lex finish their dinner early and are excited to show Wu all the names they came up for the dinosaurs in the park.
"I came up with better names," Lex says proudly, while smirking at Tim.
"Not true! Let Dr. Wu decide." Tim playfully shoves her aside and hands his list to Wu, who pours over it.
They squabble amongst themselves about names that have diverse origins. Lex gives him her list and Wu finds it heartwarming that they sought his feedback. Some dinosaurs are named after Greek goddesses—that's mostly from Lex. She favors names like "Athena", "Demeter", and "Iris". Tim favors word names like "Grand", "Lightning", and "Silver". Wu thinks the funniest name is "Bumpy" which Tim gave to the first specimen of Crichton's ankylosaur to be born in Jurassic Park. Lex gives him a photocopy of all the names she and Tim came up with. Muldoon approves of the name "Rexy" for the resident tyrannosaur.
After dinner, it's off to the control room—just like old times. Wu sits with the rest of the park staff. It's not a coincidence that he chooses to sit at Nedry's old workstation—and he wonders if anyone notices. If anyone does, they don't say anything. Grant, Malcolm, and Ellie head off into the park to study the nocturnal habits of the triceratops based on Hammond's request. Tim and Lex return to the staff lodge to play video games in the recreation room and Gennaro meets with Hammond in his office to discuss the future job candidates. Wu watches as Muldoon admires the quartz floodlights turning on in the park. This has always been Muldoon's favorite part of the day. In fact, he listens as Muldoon mentions it to Lawala. Although Wu feels at home again, there's a nagging feeling that won't leave him…
oOo
Their first "official" day back is over.
Nedry lays down on the bedroll he was provided: a thin foam pad that barely conceals the cold concrete underneath. He stares at the overhead light in his cell that will stay on all day and all night, disrupting his sleep patterns. In this dim hour, he realizes he's like Wu: he's self-deceptive when it helps him to avoid harsh reality. He deceived himself into believing a lie. The lie being that he had made peace with being handed down a life sentence. He realizes now that he had never made peace with it—he only pretended that he had.
After hearing the steel door slam behind him, the pretense vanished. The very thought of spending the next thirty years in prison terrifies him, but he knows he must accept that it's a real possibility. He wonders how long he will be punished for his past crimes, although he's made amends many times over. Then a horrendous thought whispers in his mind and he tries to ignore it, but he can't. The thought blows up in his mind, expanding and pushing out any other rational thought that would counter it. They all lied to me… It dawns on him now that he was a fool for believing—and even having a sliver of hope—that his sentence would be commuted...
Meanwhile, Wu finishes showering and puts on his night clothes in his living quarters at the staff lodge. The king-size bed is comfortable memory foam and easy to fall asleep in. Yet, Wu can't sleep because at the end of the day he knows he's like Nedry: a traitor who betrayed those who trusted him. He allowed his accomplishments to blow up his ego so that nobody and nothing mattered to him except worldwide recognition.
There was a time where he'd look at himself in the mirror and beam with pride. Today was the first time he wanted to avoid seeing his own reflection. Tomorrow, he might cover the mirror with a black sheet so that he doesn't have to be reminded of all the times he'd wear his InGen badge while standing by Dodgson's side. I can't even glance at my own reflection anymore… Although he's been welcomed back with (seemingly) open arms and forgiving hearts, Wu wonders how he will pay penance to Hammond and everyone in InGen because it's only a matter of time before he does…
Author's Notes - The title of this chapter "A Tale of Two Traitors" was the original title for this fanfiction. I came up with it, when I wasn't sure what to title the sequel. I figured, well, the two main traitors this fic is centered on is Henry Wu and Dennis Nedry. Eventually, the title changed to what it is now, and the significance of that title will be revealed in Chapter 25. The other part is the experience Nedry goes through when he is transported to prison. The correctional system in the United States is brutal. There are many accounts of what it's like when a person is being transferred from jail to prison. Some experiences are downright awful and traumatic, especially "diesel therapy". I also pictured this chapter, that if you read it in a comic book or graphic novel, Nedry's and Wu's different experiences would be in panels side by side, juxtaposed, to see the stark comparison. Lastly, the song that the opening quote comes from "Traitor" by Daughtry is a great song, and really powerful. Parts of it fit the fic in certain places. Thank you for continuing to read my story!
-Sassy Lil Scorpio