The Ninth Circle of Hell

by Sassy Lil Scorpio

Hammond returns to Isla Nublar and finds out everything that occurred during his hospitalization. Wu is miserable working for Dodgson and dreams of escape. Nedry is apprehended right after running into the Biosyn team. Hammond fights for Nedry's freedom on two conditions: convince Wu to return to InGen and bring down Dodgson and his gang. {Sequel to Reign of Chaos Trilogy} {AU}

9. Matters of Forgiveness

Chapter 9 - Matters of Forgiveness

"You will have no peace until you have discovered how to forgive yourself, to forgive other people and let them forgive you." - Dorothy Rowe

oOo

The racket started as soon as he was placed in his cell. It was like the prison version of being welcomed back. The constant banging on metal doors and shouting coming from the prisoners in the adjoining cells had just begun and he knew it wouldn't stop for hours.

Dennis Nedry thought he had remembered the awful conditions of solitary confinement, but it was like starting over again. He had gotten used to being in the outside world and had forgotten how loud it could get in the segregated unit—and how dismal it could be. The cell was the size of an elevator car and being that he had just been captured and remanded back to prison, he had very few belongings. Getting comfortable on the bed was difficult. It was like sleeping on the cold hard floor since the four-inch foam mattress barely provided any cushion. There was a thin narrow window that had frosted glass so that he still wouldn't be able to see a tree's leaves blowing in the wind or a bird flying. He thought he was in a different segregation unit, since the last one he was locked in had no windows.

He tried getting his thoughts together, but the commotion was getting louder, making it impossible for him to think. One inmate howled like a wolf, while another inmate kept kicking the window of their cell door. Someone across the hall laughed hysterically nonstop. There was an inmate sobbing, and another inmate cursing at the top of his lungs to be let out or else... Some inmates suffered from mental illness, and others fared terribly when isolated. Nedry remembered the last time he was in solitary confinement and how the inmate in the cell directly across from him had slashed his arms with a shank. The correction officers had been slow to respond as blood flowed from under the doorway… The banging, shouting, and hollering from that day when the staff finally extracted that inmate from his cell paled in comparison to what he heard now. The constant cacophony of noises was enough to drive him mad.

He clamped his hands over his ears so that he could concentrate on the questions flooding his mind. The first question was obvious because he felt overwhelmed with humiliation when he realized who was in the courtroom. What were John, Dr. Malcolm, and Robert doing at the arraignment? Who told them when I was being arraigned? Why are they here and not on the island? Were they in the courtroom the whole time? How much time am I looking at?

The last question ate away at him, causing him to feel empty inside. Nedry knew he had to come to terms with the fact that he might spend the rest of his life in prison—especially if Judge Hoskins decided he would serve his sentences consecutively—in addition to his previous sentence. How much time did that add up to? Nedry ticked off the numbers in his mind. He was certain they would make him serve the entirety of his first sentence since he escaped: ten to fifteen years. He had only served two years, so now he had thirteen years left. The other charges when added up…escape from prison, hacking into computers, the assault charges, aggravated assault, trespassing, fake ID, grand larceny…Although Ian Malcolm had done a wonderful job in advocating for him in Costa Rica to get the aggravated assault and trespassing charges dropped, he had to count them since Judge Hoskins had brought them up during his arraignment.

Self-hatred overwhelmed him now and Nedry buried his face in his hands as the harsh reality of what he might be facing became more real. What the hell did I do with my life? I threw it all away—and for what? Money? Revenge against InGen? To stick it to John Hammond? He had harmed others along the way, and in turn, he sacrificed his career, his freedom, his life…

There was no going backwards.

He couldn't undo anything he had done. Although he had helped InGen to gain back control of Isla Nublar and Jurassic Park from Biosyn, none of that mattered now. He could only move forward, although that road appeared to lead to a dead end with the possibility of life imprisonment. Judge Hoskins had made him painfully aware that a life sentence could mean a huge chunk of time—twenty years, thirty years,—even forty years. Even if he was released from prison after all that time, what kind of life would he have? Would he be able to survive in the real world after being incarcerated for so long? He tried to reason with himself that those sentences were better than life without parole—that kind of sentence would ensure he breathed his last behind the walls. Even so, a life sentence was too immense to think about.

"Stupid…so stupid," he muttered. He couldn't even hear himself because the inmate in the next cell was punching the window on his door—harder and louder every time.

It occurred to him that he could ask the warden, Daniel Walker, to allow him to re-enter gen pop—general population. That way he could keep his mind busy. He could stay active, join programs, and get a work assignment. He wasn't going to repeat the same rebellious behavior he had exhibited nearly every day the first time he was incarcerated. If he was looking at more time, then he would do anything constructive to make it work for him—wise advice Walker had told him years ago. Back then, Nedry didn't listen to Walker. He had been determined to get his revenge against Robert Muldoon and Ray Arnold, which he now knew clouded his common sense. This time, he wanted to start over. It would be extremely difficult, but he had to try.

Nedry stood up and approached the door to his cell. Looking outside the narrow rectangular window, he saw Officer Johnson walking up and down the unit—he was the same correction officer he had always given trouble. If truth be told, Nedry gave all the correction officers grief during his first run. This time's gonna be different. Knowing he had nothing to lose and everything to gain, Nedry rapped on the door window.

"Mr. Johnson?"

At first, he thought Officer Johnson didn't hear him, but then he saw him circle back around. Now he stood outside of Nedry's cell, smirking on the other side of the door.

"What do you want, Nedry?"

"Can I speak with Mr. Walker?"

Officer Johnson stared at him for some time before slowly shaking his head. "You just got back from your extended vacation and you're already making demands. You got some damn nerve, but what else is new?"

Nedry made sure to control his mouth. It would be so easy to be a sarcastic smart-ass, but that would only worsen his situation. "I'm not demanding, I'm asking to speak to Mr. Walker."

"What's the magic word?"

The inmate in the next cell had stopped punching the window of his door. That meant he was listening in on the conversation. Nedry decided not to let that deter him.

"May I please speak with Mr. Walker?"

"Using manners now? That's new for you."

"I'm serious, I'd like to speak with him."

"And I'll let him know—only if you pay me."

Only if you pay me. Five simple words that Nedry had spouted off at any correction officer he had encountered during his first stint. Any command or directive they gave him: making his bed, standing at attention for hourly count, getting searched, following the rules, and putting his hands out or behind his back to be cuffed—he delivered what became his catchphrase: only if you pay me. His noncompliant behavior had infuriated the staff back then, so he wasn't surprised that Officer Johnson was repeating those same words back to him. Part of him wanted to shout that he wasn't the same defiant inmate they had known from before, but he knew that was a waste of time. They'll think I'm bullshitting them. He was about to ask again when Officer Johnson nodded, serious this time.

"I'll let him know your request."

"Thanks."

Officer Johnson scoffed as he walked away. Nedry didn't hear him because he had his back turned as he returned to his bed. If he could talk to Walker, maybe he'd start turning his situation around…

Hours later, he heard knocking coming from outside his cell. At first, Nedry thought it was the inmate in the next cell messing with him, but when he raised himself from his bed, he recognized the warden on the other side of the cell. Nedry was startled—he had forgotten that the warden, Daniel Walker, resembled Robert Muldoon. As he made his way to the door, he hoped Walker would give him a chance. That's all he needed.

"Hi Mr. Walker…" He paused, wanting to make sure he didn't sound like he was sucking up—Walker would know it and he would be a prime target for the inmates.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Nedry. It's been some time, hasn't it?"

"It has. I was just wondering if I can re-enter gen pop. Being here…" He didn't want to mention how some inmates cut themselves, while other inmates clogged up the toilets, leading to flooding in the unit. He had seen it happen before during his first stint. At the time, he didn't care and had focused on exercising and getting in better shape. Now he wanted out of this unit, and he had a gut feeling that he would stay there for a long time. "I was hoping to get a work assignment."

Walker's hesitation made Nedry uncomfortable. Finally, he responded.

"The classification staff is still reviewing your file. Once they finish, they will determine where you'll be housed and if you'll be permitted to have a work assignment."

The word if made Nedry do a double take. That meant there was a possibility of him not getting a work assignment. He needed to find out what was behind that. "I thought everyone gets a work assignment."

"What was it last time?"

"Washing dishes in the chow hall."

A wry smile flashed across Walker's face. "If I recall, you refused to continue your work assignment after several months."

Oh…he was the reason why he might not get a work assignment. Nedry hung his head, feeling ashamed. "The pay was crap…nineteen cents an hour…" His voice trailed off and he avoided looking at Walker through the door's narrow rectangular window. "It'll be different this time. I'll take whatever's available—even the chow hall."

Walker considered his request and how he sounded sincere. Nedry wanted to return to gen pop and have a work assignment—but last time, he had shown uncooperative behavior. That was on a good day. On a bad day—which had been the norm for him—Nedry was defiant. Getting into fights with the inmates and arguing with the correction officers had resulted in him spending half his time in solitary confinement. Walker even remembered the time Nedry spat in his face after correction officers broke up a fight he had with another inmate. On that note, he felt it was best to observe him for a period of time to see where Nedry was now. Walker was aware the inmates could talk a good game. Some inmates backed it up with action to show they meant what they said, while others wanted to manipulate and gain control by any means possible. Right now, Walker couldn't determine which camp Nedry fell into—the inmate who was truly trying to change for the better, or the inmate who pretended so that he could get what he wanted.

"We'll see. I don't have an answer for you yet. That's regarding both your work assignment and classification for where you'll be placed."

"I won't go back to where I was before?" Nedry had hoped to be on the same cell block as Dieter Stark and Nick Van Owen. It would help to be around familiar faces.

Walker shook his head. "I don't think so."

He didn't want to say it aloud, but Nedry's violent behavior that he had witnessed during the first two years of his prison term had spilled over to the outside world during his time on the run. The situation where he assaulted Hammond, causing the older man to be hospitalized—this weighed heavily on Walker's mind. That didn't bode well for Nedry. His escape would also be counted against him. There was a greater chance of him remaining in solitary confinement or being placed under higher security measures. Walker felt it was best to wait it out.

"Give it a week's time and you'll meet with your assigned social worker. She'll discuss with you available work assignments and where you'll be housed."

"Okay," Nedry stepped away from the door, unsure of what else to say. Then it came to him. "I'm doing things differently, that's all. You once said if I wanted different results, that I'd have to do things differently."

Walker blinked. He remembered saying that to Nedry years ago. Hearing it come from him now was shocking. Had Nedry really changed? His demeanor appeared to be cooperative, and he was aiming to do better with his time if he was already asking about work assignments… He decided to keep in mind all his observations for a later time.

"I'll see you in a week and then we'll figure out where you're at," Walker said.

"Sounds good." Nedry went back to sit on the bed.

Walker walked away from the cell door; struck by the changes he had noticed in Nedry. He remembered the many times he had tried to get through to him years ago. Back then, Nedry ignored him at best, and at his worst, he was mouthy and sarcastic. Maybe he had listened to me after all… He decided to have Officer Johnson closely monitor Nedry for the upcoming week to see how he did in solitary confinement. If he cooperated, followed protocol, obeyed orders, and listened to authority, then it would give Walker incentive to consider Nedry's request for a work assignment and re-entry into the general population—even if he was placed under higher security.

As Nedry listened to Walker continue down the hallway, he mentally prepared himself for being in solitary for the continuing week. He had done more time in solitary before—an entire month. He would have to keep his wits about him as the time alone could be destructive. Especially with all the time in the world to think about how much time he might serve once Judge Hoskins sentenced him. He closed his eyes for a moment and was surprised to hear the inmate who had been punching the wall now talking to himself.

"My name is Barry Lowery…I had my own construction company…"

That would help. He could exercise as he had done before, but if he constantly reminded himself of who he was—or rather, who he once was before he went down the wrong path—then he could get through the next seven days—and the next twenty to thirty years. This was a perfect time to prepare for what might happen. Stifling a laugh, because he realized he may sound ridiculous at first, he forced himself to speak his truth.

"My name is Dennis Nedry…I was a systems analyst, a computer programmer…" he thought about how to end it. "I'm a man—not a number."

oOo

One week later, Corey Anderson parked in the section of the prison's parking lot reserved for visitors after passing by an area filled with vehicles labeled Sheriff Department and California Department of Corrections. Ian Malcolm, Robert Muldoon, and John Hammond exited and stood together as Anderson locked his car and came over to them.

Muldoon took in everything—the high gray walls, rolls of barbed wire, and cluster of concrete buildings. Prison, the last place Dennis wanted to be. Every single time Nedry had told him he'd never return rang in his mind now. Muldoon hoped Nedry would consider Hammond's offer as it might pave the way to his freedom, or at least, to restoring his life.

"I know we had planned to get in there sooner," Anderson said. "He was in solitary and not permitted visitors during that time."

"Why was he in solitary?" Hammond sounded worried. "Was he fighting with the other inmates or backtalking staff again?"

Anderson shook his head. "They had to review his file and place him. Walker told me he just re-entered general population, so now he can receive visitors again. I also explained to him that we're going to see if Dennis is willing to be a confidential informant. We'll be given a separate room to have that conversation."

"You can't ask him to be a snitch in front of other inmates," Malcolm confirmed. "It would put him at extreme risk."

"Exactly." Anderson was glad Malcolm was present. From what he had observed so far, Malcolm was sensible and the voice of reason, as was Muldoon. "The week also gave us time to fine-tune everything."

"It did," Malcolm agreed and turned to Hammond as the group started walking towards the administration building. "John, remember what we discussed. You must approach this from the angle that Dennis agreeing to be an informant is in his best interest. Don't make it be all about getting Henry back to InGen."

"It's what I want," Hammond grumbled as he leaned on his cane. "Henry needs to return."

"I know, but you can't make it be only that. If you want Dennis to go along with this, you must present it in a way that it's something that he wants to do because of what he can gain: a commuted sentence and a second chance. That's how you motivate him."

Hammond waved his hand in a dismissive manner.

Muldoon and Malcolm exchanged frustrated looks as they continued walking. They had this conversation with Hammond ad nauseam during the past week, after Walker informed them that they couldn't visit due to Nedry being housed in solitary confinement. Hammond was focused on Nedry convincing Henry Wu to return to InGen by any means necessary. Muldoon wanted him to emphasize what Nedry had told him just before he left Isla Nublar. Aside from Nedry making it clear that he had no plans to turn himself in, he had also mentioned how everyone from Biosyn had yet to face legal consequences for their actions. Nedry believed everyone associated with Dodgson—including Dodgson himself—should be brought to justice for their crimes. They should be locked up just as he had been.

"Make sure to mention that if he's a police informant, he will get his sentence reduced. Everyone from Dodgson's group will get put away," Muldoon said. "If they're incarcerated, then they can't interfere with InGen anymore and he can finally move on with his life."

Nice save, Malcolm mouthed to Muldoon who nodded. Muldoon knew how to steer the conversation in a manner that Hammond could hear and acknowledge—while also maintaining Malcolm's point. They entered the building and Muldoon felt like it was yesterday that he had come here for the first time. He recognized the white lobby and the glass partition up ahead. One door where prison employees entered and exited from. Anderson spoke to a correction officer and receptionist about having a scheduled meeting with the warden. Moments later, Daniel Walker came out.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Muldoon, and…" His voice trailed off.

"Dr. Ian Malcolm," Malcolm extended his hand.

"Detective Corey Anderson," Anderson did likewise.

"Nice to meet all of you. I'll have you all go through the metal detector and then we'll meet in my office."

oOo

Walker sat behind his desk while Malcolm, Hammond, Muldoon, and Anderson sat across from him in his office. For Walker, it felt like déjà vu when he had met with Hammond and his staff several years ago. Remembering how that visit ended last time, Walker hoped this would be a different experience for everyone involved.

"Where would you like to start?" he asked as he scanned their faces. Hammond looked excited as he sat up straight in the chair, eager and ready to go at a moment's notice. Malcolm and Muldoon appeared pensive as they remained silent and observant. Anderson was neutral—he had no stake in this. Just as he was wondering who would break the ice, Anderson spoke up.

"I'm the detective that apprehended Nedry, and I've spent the past week getting to know his employer, John Hammond, and his co-workers," he said, gesturing to Muldoon and Malcolm. "You're probably aware that he's looking at more charges and a longer sentence after being captured."

Walker nodded as tapped the top of a thick case file on his desk. It was almost as big as the one Anderson had brought with him to InGen's headquarters . "I was reading through it when he was first brought back. None of this is good. Years ago, I told him that if he went after anyone that he'd be brought back to serve more time."

"That's why we're here today. We're going to find out if he'll agree to being a confidential informant, so that he can get his sentence commuted." Anderson turned to Hammond. "You can explain your part."

Before Hammond started, Walker raised his hand. "I'm sorry to bring this up, but I read about your hospitalization, Mr. Hammond. Are you doing better now?"

Hammond offered a small smile. "I'm here, so I'm doing better than before. My recovery was a long journey, but I'm glad to move forward."

"That's great to hear. I understand Dennis was responsible for what happened."

Hammond turned to both Malcolm and Muldoon who sat on either side of him. They nodded, silently encouraging him to say what he needed to. "He did play a role in my hospitalization, although it was unintended."

"Unintended or not, you suffered because of his selfishness," Walker cut in.

Hammond paused before he responded. "It took time to come to terms with what he had done."

"I would think so. His behavior worsened over time when he was here and escalated once he escaped."

"But he's different from before." Hammond found himself clutching his walking cane tightly. "He's changed since that time. I'd even say that my stroke brought about that change."

Walker held Hammond's steady gaze. "What's changed?" He was curious to see what would come up—to see if it matched what he had seen the week before when he spoke with Nedry in the segregated unit.

"He accepts full responsibility for his actions," Hammond said.

Walker's eyebrows rose, but he said nothing. Holding oneself accountable for their actions was part of his rehabilitative efforts when he worked with prison inmates. He had always tried to drum it into Nedry's head back when Nedry began serving his term. In fact, it would be accurate to say that it came up all the time because whenever Nedry mouthed off at COs or got into a fight with other inmates, it was always the other person's fault—never his. Even if you showed a video of him throwing the first punch at another offender or cursing out the staff, he would shrug his shoulders and claim he was only reacting to whatever the person had said or done prior to the infraction he committed.

"He's trying to get his life in order," Muldoon added. "He mentioned that in court, how he wants to start over. We don't know the details, but after helping out InGen—"

"Wait, he helped out your company?!" Walker asked as his eyes flickered from Hammond to Muldoon. Of course, none of that was in Nedry's file. Nedry hadn't mentioned it either.

"Yes," Hammond answered. "It's a long story, but to be succinct: if it weren't for Dennis, my company would've ceased to exist. Everything my staff and I worked hard to create would've been down the drain if he hadn't taken the risks that he did."

"We're hoping that you can write a recommendation for his sentence reduction," Malcolm said. "A statement about his character—of who he is now."

Walker mulled over everything they were saying. His eye caught the thick case file on his desk, knowing it was filled to the brim with incident reports written about Nedry during his first two years.

"I'll consider writing it as I've seen a change in him as well, but I also need to observe his behavior for some more time. When do you need this recommendation?"

"Three weeks from now," Malcolm said. "It's to present to Judge Hoskins."

"That's not a lot of time, but I'll see what I can do." Walker gestured to the case file that remained closed. "If you read about Dennis Nedry based on the paperwork, it doesn't paint a flattering picture of him. Anyone who doesn't know him would think he's a hardened criminal with no remorse, who will only worsen if released."

Muldoon saw Hammond staring at the case file that was thick with paperwork.

"On his first day back, he asked for a work assignment which he just started yesterday. He's aiming to be more productive and that's saying a lot, considering he spent more time fighting and arguing with both my staff and other inmates last time he was here. Does he know about you asking him to be a police informant and the sentence reduction?"

Hammond shook his head.

"Not yet," Muldoon said.

"As a suggestion—don't mention me writing a recommendation. I want to see how he does on his own for the next two weeks. The time is cutting it close, but I'll make it happen based on his behavior. It's a good idea to mention the rest, just to see where he stands."

He dialed on his phone and spoke quickly with his staff. Based on the conversation he had, they surmised he was arranging for correction officers to bring Nedry over to another room in the prison. After hanging it up, he turned to them again.

"Robert and Dr. Malcolm," he gestured to them, "stay here while Mr. Hammond and Detective Anderson visit with him. I don't want him to feel ganged up on as he did last time; and it will give me a chance to fully understand the situation. When we're finished, we'll go from there. Sound good?"

oOo

Nedry was already seated when Hammond and Anderson arrived. They had been told it was a private conference room, but it resembled a police interrogation room. The walls were a drab gray and the overhead fluorescent light looked like it needed to be changed very soon. There was a small one-way rectangular mirror. Hammond and Anderson sat in the two empty chairs situated across the table. The entire time, Hammond tried not to stare at the bar on the table that Nedry was cuffed to. His right hand was free in case he needed to write anything or sign papers.

He also realized this was the first time seeing Nedry since the last time in the hospital. Nedry had visited with Lex, Grant, and Malcolm. Hammond recalled that he and Nedry had a pleasant conversation. Nedry had told him he would "rollerblade" out of the hospital, and Hammond thanked him for the unexpected visit. Communicating amicably was new for them …prior to it, they had a disagreeable history—and that was putting it nicely.

"Hello, Dennis…did you know we were coming today?"

Hammond started slowly, remembering the last—and only time—he had visited Nedry in prison. It was the total opposite of the hospital visit. He had accused him of passing along information to Dodgson. Nedry flew into a rage that day. He had stood up from the table and approached Hammond, which he was not allowed to do—and ended up in solitary confinement for thirty days. That was after yelling that he hated all of them—Hammond, Gennaro, Arnold—and Muldoon was his prime target. Hammond hoped this would be different as it was about helping him with his current situation and not unfairly accusing him.

"No, I didn't." Nedry shook his head and kept his voice low.

Anderson looked from Hammond to Nedry and back to Hammond again. He wondered if he should give them privacy. He noticed Nedry staring at him. It was clear that he was wondering why the cop who had captured him was present. He decided to speak on it.

"I'm Detective Corey Anderson. You know I apprehended you several weeks ago, but today, I'm working with John, as well as your co-workers to help you. It's not just for today but going forward."

Nedry's eyebrows rose questioningly. "Co-workers?"

"Those you know from InGen: Robert Muldoon and Dr. Ian Malcolm."

"And how are you going to 'help' me?"

"I'll let John explain that part."

Hammond thought about what Malcolm and Muldoon told him and now the time had come to start putting his ideas into action. "I know everything that happened during my absence. I also found out about Henry."

"Oh…that…" Nedry's eyes lowered to the table.

"I also know that you're facing serious charges because of your shenanigans with Dodgson, my situation with the stroke…"

Nedry scoffed. "My 'shenanigans'? That's an interesting way to describe it."

Hammond approached this next part carefully. "I know you're looking at more prison time, Dennis."

"It's to be expected after all the bullshit I did. 'Cause it's way more than just 'shenanigans'."

Hammond was inwardly relieved that what he said didn't elicit an angry reaction. It further confirmed that Nedry held himself accountable. If this conversation had taken place years ago, Nedry would've wasted no time blaming everyone for his choices—especially Arnold and Muldoon.

"I have an idea and I want to hear your thoughts."

"Okay…" Nedry sounded uncertain.

"I'm willing to fight for you to get a reduced sentence—I mean, I'd like it to be a full pardon so you can walk free, but I'm not sure…"

Hammond stopped when he saw Nedry staring at the table. Did he say something wrong? He was about to ask Anderson when he heard Nedry mumbling.

"I'm facing life in prison, or at least, being put away for a very long time…I'm not sure what you're looking for. You were at my arraignment for a reason, right?"

"I was there because you had been found." He avoided using the words "arrested", "captured", and "apprehended" …and he was avoiding getting to the point which Nedry was accurately aware of.

"What do you want, John?"

Hammond was familiar with Nedry's bluntness. "I want to know if you're willing to give up information about Lewis Dodgson and Biosyn—his group, what he did when he occupied my island, and even before that."

"Any information you have will be valuable," Anderson said, "We're looking to see if you'd be open to being a confidential informant."

"You mean be a snitch?" Nedry chuckled. "Just call it what it is."

"In a manner of speaking—yes."

A period of silence passed in the interrogation room. Nedry glanced at the one-way mirror as though trying to determine if someone else was outside listening in on the conversation. Then he turned back to Anderson who calmly waited and Hammond who looked worried that he'd refuse.

"I'll give you whatever information you want. Do you want this as a written statement? I can say more in writing."

Hammond exhaled slowly. This went easier than he expected, but there was more that he hadn't gotten to yet. He listened to Nedry and Anderson talk.

"I'd accept it in writing and hope that the courts will find it admissible."

"You don't know if they will?" Nedry was surprised.

"It can go either way, but I'll talk to Judge Hoskins about it."

"Fair enough. Do you want me to start writing this now? It's gonna be quite long."

"Whenever you can," Anderson said. He turned to Hammond now and sat closer to the table. "There's another part in this. John?"

Hammond had been staring at the cuff attached to Nedry's wrist. Inwardly, he questioned why Nedry had been made to sit while restrained in the conference room/interrogation room, but he didn't openly say anything aloud about it. Instead, he went on to the main part of what he wanted to ask Nedry. He just hoped Nedry would continue to be receptive.

"There's…one more thing," Hammond said slowly.

Nedry gestured with his free hand, indicating for Hammond to continue.

"I'm wondering…if you can convince Henry to return to InGen—he's been calling the control room. He hangs up all the time, but they think it's him."

"Who's 'they'?"

"Everyone on the island."

A long awkward silence passed. Nedry started to push away from the table, but the cuff attached to his wrist limited his movement. Anderson watched him carefully, studying his body language. It was obvious that Nedry was taken aback by Hammond's request.

"So why don't you call him back and tell him to return to InGen?"

"It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is! You pick up the phone and press the digits." Nedry tapped the table with his free pointer-finger in a motion like dialing a phone number on a telephone keypad. Then he imitated picking up a telephone and holding it up to his ear. "You let it ring and hope he picks up. If he picks up, you tell him to bring his fame-hungry-self back to Jurassic Park. Why's that so hard?!"

"That's him—right there," Hammond said, turning to Anderson while pointing at Nedry. "That's the obnoxious version of Dennis Nedry I've known for years. The docile quiet version you captured—that was a façade. What you saw just now—that's the real him."

Nedry looked from Hammond to Anderson, unsure of why he was being made a spectacle. Anderson was studying him, and Hammond had a strange expression on his face as though Nedry had proven a point for him that he wasn't aware of. Nedry didn't know what to make of it. He was going to ask about it and decided not to. It was better to emphasize that coming around had to be Wu's decision without outside interference from anyone.

"Henry needs to make that decision himself, just like I came around. And how would I convince him anyway?"

"You'd go back to Dodgson. Slip back into Biosyn's headquarters—"

Nedry pushed away from the table again—or as much as he was able to—in an agitated manner. "When were you gonna say all this? You're doing it again, John—expecting me to do a huge undertaking for you while keeping me in the dark about the details!"

Hammond opened his mouth, wanting to explain himself, and then closed it just as quickly. He had to gather his thoughts on how to respond. Nedry was right: he had kept him in the dark before…

Anderson's eyebrows knitted together, uncertain of what Nedry referred to. He zipped his jacket as it seemed the conference room had grown colder suddenly.

"If you want my help—then you need to be straightforward about everything. Same for you!" Nedry pointed at Anderson.

Anderson nodded in agreement. "You're right. Cards on the table. We'll accept a written statement from you. If you can get inside Dodgson's new headquarters as a police informant, obtain as much information as you can, while also convincing Henry to return to InGen, we'll fight for you to get a sentence reduction—for your sentence to be commuted."

"And what does this 'sentence reduction' entail? Five years off my current sentence?"

"We don't know yet, but we'll make sure it's worth your while, especially because of the dangers inherent in being a police informant."

"Yeah, no kidding." Nedry glared at both Anderson and Hammond, annoyed that they weren't forthright with him from the beginning. "'Cause I'm just meeting up with Dodgson and his crew for tea and scones."

Hammond had been staring at the table and he looked up sharply when he heard Nedry's vitriolic tone. He knew it all too well.

"I'll write whatever the hell it is you guys want, but I'm not going in there. Dodgson will kill me, John. He's tried before. My luck will run out this time." He turned to Anderson. "This is more for John. Not you, Mr. Anderson."

He focused on Hammond again, who had now taken off his hat and held it in his hands, as though ashamed that he had been caught in the act of keeping Nedry in the dark—again. Hammond stared at his hat, not arguing against or contradicting anything Nedry said.

"Look, I know you're still mad at me for what I did to you, to everyone, and to the company. I never meant for you to get hurt and end up in the hospital. I'm sorry, John." Nedry froze for a brief moment as though shocked that he was apologizing to Hammond. "I really am sorry for what happened to you, but you're asking me to risk my life and for what?!"

When Hammond didn't respond, Nedry continued.

"I've already helped InGen. Dodgson's group got kicked off the island after Robert kicked Roland's ass. I screwed up the tour that Dodgson was doing, which stopped him from handing the park over to Biosyn. What more do you want from me?!"

Hammond looked up sharply. He had followed everything he said, but one part stood out that he knew he had to address. "I'm not mad at you, Dennis. I've let that all go…" It was on the tip of his tongue to come right out and say it. He stalled for a brief moment before pushing himself to say it aloud. "I forgive you—I'm not angry at you for what's happened before…not anymore."

"What the hell?!" Nedry pulled away again, wanting to get up and leave the room, although he couldn't.

Anderson watched as the outsider: Nedry struggled to respond while Hammond maintained a calm composure. Obviously, there was an intense history between them. He saw that the conversation was about to get heavier—before it could, he needed to take down the valuable information Nedry had just revealed.

"Can you backtrack? You said Dodgson has tried to kill you before?" Anderson took out his pocket notebook and pen from his jacket, ready to jot down whatever Nedry shared.

"He sent his loyal dogs after me, so I took care of them. I smashed one guy's kneecap, broke the arm of another stooge, and pistol-whipped the ringleader. I let the fourth one go 'cause he was just a kid making a dumb decision."

Anderson nodded as he scribbled down everything Nedry said. Then he looked up, his eyes widened in realization. "That's why they said you were 'armed and dangerous'."

Nedry shrugged. "I didn't shoot anyone—just the van's tires and into the air. Baldy got smacked with his own gun." He made a motion with his free hand as though he were pistol-whipping someone. Then he remembered that he offered to give up names. "Howard King, I smashed his kneecap. George Baselton, I broke his arm. Roland Tembo, I smacked him with his handgun. Eric Kirby, I told him to get the hell out of there—and he did. Smart kid."

"Got it." Anderson finished writing everything down.

Nedry sighed, annoyed at how they were holding back from him—both Hammond and Anderson. "I gave you the info you wanted, so now I get to ask the questions. Why are you doing this? Why are all of you here?"

Anderson remained steadfast as he held Nedry's skeptical glare. "Because we're gonna bring down Lewis Dodgson—him and his entire group—and we need your help. You can start by telling me about the murder attempt."

"What?! Wait—" Hammond lost the tight grip on his cane and it clattered to the floor. As he leaned down to pick it up, he wondered to himself why Malcolm, Grant, or Ellie didn't reveal this to him earlier. When he sat back up again, his posture was stiff. "I had no idea, Dennis."

Nedry waited for Hammond to regain his composure and then continued. "Attempts. Plural. I told you part of it just now."

"With the four men?" Anderson asked.

"Yes, he put a hit on me after I left Biosyn. That's why he sent those guys after me—Tembo, King, Baselton, and that kid, Kirby. I just explained this." Nedry rolled his eyes, annoyed. "Do I need to go over it again?"

"No, I'm just trying to keep track of everything. That was the first attempted hit."

"Right, and then he tried again."

Anderson nodded as he scribbled on his pocket notebook. "Go on, I'm listening."

"He knew I would tell InGen about his screwy plans to invade John's island. He abducted me and Robert Muldoon not too long after that, hoping we'd kill each other off or that we'd simply die out on Isla Sorna." He saw Anderson's confused look. "It's another island that InGen has used—that John leased from the Costa Rican government."

Anderson stopped writing and looked up. "He abducted you both?"

"Uh-huh." Nedry sounded bored now and he started to drum his fingers on the table.

"What was the other attempted hit?"

"He ordered his group…to beat the living shit out of me…" Nedry's voice dropped, and he spoke slowly, recalling that traumatic experience. "That was a close one…I really thought it was over then, because the cop he had bribed to turn his back delayed me getting medical attention."

"Dodgson did that to you?!" Hammond asked, his eyes widened. "I remember seeing you in the hospital when you were brought in. You looked awful!" It was only that he noticed the fingers on Nedry's right hand appeared stiff…

Embarrassed, Nedry hung his head, refusing to look in his direction. "I'm okay now."

"How much time passed between the gang assault and you getting medical care?" Anderson asked, still taking notes. Inwardly, he reflected on the detached way Nedry delivered the information. Or rather, how Nedry tried to appear far removed from the violence he experienced at Dodgson's hands.

"I don't know. Days? Weeks?" Nedry shrugged. "Long enough."

"Got it." Anderson put away his pocket notebook and pen in his jacket. "I'll give you two some privacy." He stood up and approached the door. Just before the correction officer opened the door to let him out, he heard snippets of their conversation.

"How could you even say that, John? 'Forgive' me? That's impossible."

"It's not impossible at all."

"But why?"

Hammond leaned forward at Nedry who looked at him in disbelief. "Because I know what you did to make things right again. I know you risked it all for InGen, and I'll always be grateful to you for that."

"Yeah, but—"

"I had to forgive you, even if you hadn't helped InGen. My recovery depended on it."

That was the last part Anderson heard before the door closed behind him. Now he was outside, standing near the one-way mirror where he could still observe them. He was surprised to see Muldoon and Malcolm already there, also listening and watching.

"We finished talking to Mr. Walker," Malcolm explained. "We gave him a rundown of what Dennis did to right his wrongs and help InGen. He planned on coming back for you and John. One of the guards escorted us here."

"That was fast," Anderson commented.

"It was a lot to go over," Muldoon said. "We did the best we could, but I think he's got a full picture now of how much Dennis has changed." He watched the present interaction between Nedry and Hammond. "Watching this is surreal, especially knowing why he betrayed John. I never thought I'd witness this." He started towards the door when Malcolm called him back.

"They need to hash this out first. When you, Ray, and Dennis had that moment after kicking off Dodgson's group, I told Alan and Ellie that you guys needed that moment to finally reconcile everything."

"They need this too," Muldoon said, pointing at Nedry and Hammond who were in the midst of a heated conversation in the conference room/interrogation room.

Malcolm nodded. "Yes, and theirs has been a long time coming."

They turned their attention to the conversation between Hammond and Nedry now. Hammond moved his seat closer to the table to bridge the gap between them. Nedry shook his head, furious at whatever Hammond was saying to him.

"You did tremendous last time."

"You make it sound like I was the star actor in a Broadway play. I did tremendous." Nedry spat out the word.

"Why are you acting this way?! I told the judge and the warden you changed and now you're back to your gross sarcasm."

"Because you want me to do it again—for Henry-I'm So Special, Worship Me-Wu—of all people! For the guy who stabbed you in the back so that he can end up on the front pages of international newspapers, Time magazine, and get millions of interviews."

"You stabbed me in the back for money, Dennis." Hammond wasn't emotional when he stated this. He was stating a clear and proven fact.

"Because you wouldn't pay me—you—" Nedry stammered, completely unlike himself.

"What did I do?" Hammond was genuinely curious to hear his perspective.

Nedry stared at him in disbelief. "You can't be serious—you know damn well what you did! We talked about it after my sentence hearing."

"I'm serious and I'm listening."

They faced each other across the table for a full minute, neither man speaking. The silence was suffocating. The only other moment where they experienced this extreme tension was during their confrontation near the raptor pen. The conflict that had existed for many years between them was about to erupt in the worst way—or finally get resolved.

"I'll tell you what you already know. You wanted these systems made. You didn't give me any information on what it was for. You kept me in the dark the whole time, and then wanted changes made at the last minute." Nedry paused to catch his breath as the words had rushed out before he could process it all. "I asked for more compensation, and you refused to pay me for the extra work. On top of all that, you sent letters to my other clients, saying I was unreliable. There were other choice words you used to describe me in those letters and I'm not gonna repeat them."

"Such as?"

Hammond's question was genuine, but he could tell from Nedry's piercing glare that he wasn't going to entertain what he believed to be feigned ignorance.

"You know what they are. You and everyone working in the control room know damn well all the wonderful words you used to describe me."

Hammond didn't know how to respond. All the times he yelled at Nedry that he had screwed up, called him a slob… He could hear his bitter tone when addressing Nedry, and now, Hammond felt his face heat up with shame. He wanted to turn away but he forced himself to deal with the dreaded confrontation head-on.

"You nearly ruined my career, John—you came an inch away of destroying everything I worked hard for." Nedry palms were sweaty, a slight dizzy spell passed over him, and his heart rate leaped. All the anger he felt towards Hammond was physically manifesting itself. "You blackmailed me and threatened lawsuits, so when Lewis Dodgson came along and offered me over a million dollars to steal lizard embryos—you know the rest of the story. You don't get to act surprised that I betrayed you. I don't know why you'd expect me to be loyal to you after all that nonsense."

Hammond threw away every instinct that wanted to defend himself. Self-preservation. No, this was a long time coming. He had told Ellie Sattler in the control room that his poor decisions had a domino effect…

"I do know why you betrayed me, you're right…"

His voice trailed off as he glanced at Nedry's left hand, noticing the steel cuff, and his right hand with fingers that had been badly injured in the recent past. All of this was wrong, Hammond knew. Nedry was a brilliant computer systems analyst. He's not supposed to be locked up, and he should've never been subjected to Dodgson's violence, Hammond thought as a long sigh escaped from him. And I shouldn't have pressured and cornered him into doing what I wanted for InGen.

"Although I was furious that you betrayed me to Dodgson, I understand why it happened…" Hammond paused as he considered his next words. He hoped Nedry would hear him, and more importantly, believe him. "I see where I went wrong, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the cruel way I treated you, and for threatening your livelihood."

Nedry's eyes fell to the table before he looked at Hammond again and noticed the older man had seemed to soften over time. He didn't know what to say as a heavy feeling settled in his stomach. All he could do was nod in acknowledgement as he willed himself to calm down. He was surprised—he never expected to get an apology from Hammond, much less an acknowledgement. It meant a lot that Hammond openly admitted his part in their conflict. He wanted to thank Hammond, but the expression of gratitude eluded him.

"Okay…yeah, that's…"

Nedry was a loss for words, so he went in the other direction and considered Hammond's offer. If he succeeded, he might serve a lot less time than thirty years. That was certainly a win, hands down. He wanted Dodgson to go down for everything he had done against InGen. But convincing Henry Wu to return?! That was a big question mark.

"Your offer…the commuted sentence?"

"What do you think about it?" Hammond sounded hopeful and his lips perked up slightly, a hesitant smile.

"It sounds good, but what if Henry doesn't want to come back? What happens to that so-called clemency, sentence reduction...?"

"We'll figure it out," Hammond said. He was being honest, as he didn't have an answer yet, but he knew a solution would eventually come forth. Then he realized his tone came off nonchalant which he didn't intend. "Wait—I didn't mean—"

"That's not good enough. You want me to put my neck out there to get Henry back, but I may not make it out alive and I guess that would be better for you and everyone in InGen. With a dead Dennis you don't have to do anything."

Nedry's heart pounded and his cuffed hand became sweaty as anger drenched him again. Hammond wanted Wu to return, but there was no recourse in case things didn't go according to plan or if it blew up in his face. And why would Hammond—or anyone—care if he met his end this time? After everything he had done, it would seem like just deserts.

"You and Dodgson are two sides of the same coin—Dodgson held incarceration over my head and now you're holding freedom over my head."

Hammond abruptly moved away from the table, trying to put distance between him and Nedry. Before he could formulate a response, Nedry pulled back when he realized the weight of his words. Comparing Hammond to Dodgson was insulting.

"I'm sorry…I shouldn't have said that. I just don't see how this will end well for Henry or me."

Just then, the correction officer opened the door and Malcolm entered the room to join them.

"What's this, everyone's coming out of the woodwork?" Nedry asked, his eyes flickering from Hammond to Malcolm, who came to stand at the head of the table. "Who else is here with you?"

"Robert Muldoon," Malcolm said. "He wants to talk with you privately. I've been listening to everything the entire time if you want me to be honest—or rather, the tail end of it," he continued, not the least bit fazed by their surprised reactions. "John, your wishes can have very unpredictable outcomes. There's no reason to assume Henry will be eager to rejoin InGen, especially since he left on poor terms."

"You see? If Dr. Malcolm said it, then it's fact," Nedry said to Hammond who looked like he was glaring at Malcolm now.

"And Dennis, it's okay to acknowledge what little control you have here. You can do your part, but Henry must meet you halfway."

"Thank you! Dr. Malcolm gets it!" Nedry gestured at Malcolm, who took a bow like a Broadway actor at the curtain call after an amazing performance.

Malcolm went to stand behind Hammond and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Come on…let Robert have his chance. Give them their privacy."

Hammond stood up and took his hat from the table. "I don't know how much we convinced him," he told Malcolm as he headed for the door.

"About forty-five percent, and yes, I can hear you, John."

Hammond turned around and saw Nedry waving bye, a plastic grin plastered on his face. "Will you really think it over? This can be an opportunity for you to get your life back on track. If you get a sentence reduction, you can start over again."

Nedry's grin faded, but he nodded, serious this time. Hammond sighed in relief as Malcolm escorted him out of the room. Nedry watched him leave and slouched back in his chair, exhausted from that recent exchange. It was a lot to process—Hammond offering to fight to have his sentence commuted, apologizing for almost derailing his career, even going as far as to saying he forgave him. He had never expected any of that from Hammond. The most important thing was Hammond sounded sincere. Nedry didn't think Hammond would say any of those things unless he truly meant them. It was interesting to see how much Hammond had changed.

He didn't have much time to think about it because now Muldoon took a seat across from him. This had happened quicker than he expected. He was going to ask the correction officer in the room for paper and a pen to start writing his statement, but he figured he could wait until later to start writing all the information he had about Dodgson and Biosyn. The correction officer closed the door and Nedry looked at the one-way mirror again. The whole situation seemed topsy-turvy now, especially knowing that Hammond, Malcolm, and Anderson were on the other side listening to everything. Was Walker listening too? Nedry put that thought out of his mind and focused on Muldoon now.

"It's been some time, Dennis," Muldoon said as he sat across the table from him. He avoided staring at the cuff that chained Nedry to a bar on the table.

"Dr. Malcolm said you wanted to speak with me privately?" Nedry pointed at the one-way mirror.

"I do."

"I'm all ears, Robert."

Muldoon was surprised at how Nedry didn't sound like himself. His arrogant demeanor was non-existent. Instead, he appeared exhausted, like he wanted to go to sleep for an entire week. His eyes were dark and puffy, and he kept trying to suppress his yawning. Muldoon wondered how this conversation would go. They had developed a mutual respect when the Biosyn team left them stranded on Isla Sorna. It was a difficult journey to get to that point, especially given that they had hated each other for years when Muldoon first discovered Nedry's betrayal.

"You're here now…" Muldoon realized he had no idea how to start. He remembered their last conversation before Nedry left Isla Nublar. Muldoon had asked Nedry if he finally felt free and Nedry had reversed the question to him. Back then, Muldoon didn't have an answer, and even now, he still didn't—so all he could do was state the obvious. "You're not free anymore."

"I haven't been for some time, but you know that already."

"I'm shocked." Muldoon removed his fedora, placing it on the table. "I'm not seeing the same man who refused to turn himself in—who said he'd make the most of his time, even if it meant being a fugitive and evading the law. You even pled guilty to all the charges."

"How else did you expect me to plead?"

"Not guilty?"

"That's a waste of everyone's time. As for me not being free anymore…" Nedry avoided Muldoon's piercing eyes and found another point in the cramped dark room to focus on. "I know what I want to do with my life, but I don't know where to begin. I thought it would be great to be free, but…"

"But what?"

"But there's no way to get a job and live, and still be on the run at the same time—it's too much. I don't know how people manage to stay on the run for years. I barely made it two months on my own once I left the island."

"I told you to stay at the park."

"You also told me I have a prison term to finish serving. Now that I'm back here, aren't you glad?" Nedry gestured to the room they sat in, indicating the prison.

"No, I'm not 'glad'." Muldoon's words echoed in his mind: you have a prison term to finish serving… He regretted saying those words now, especially after everything Nedry had done to redeem himself.

"It was either turn myself in or stay at Jurassic Park. Those were the choices you gave me, and I rejected both because I wanted to start over. I couldn't stay there because that put you and everyone at risk."

Muldoon became quiet when he remembered Nedry saying that. At the time, he thought Nedry was being selfish, but now he realized that in leaving to protect everyone else—he was being the opposite of selfish. More like selfless, he mused. He also understood now that staying on the island would be difficult for Nedry, especially after everything he had done. He needed to get away from the very place that held bad memories for him. Although he did his part to help InGen, he needed to begin anew.

"I don't know how to start my life over from scratch—which is what you told me to do after I gave you back the money. The 'blood money', remember?"

Muldoon let out a low sigh. He did say that, and he had taken his money-filled bag. In fact, that bag was in his living quarters at the staff lodge, sitting on the floor of his closet. It was still filled with money… Muldoon didn't know what to do with it, so he left it there.

"I'm not gonna ask you what you did with it and I'm not blaming you. I don't play blame games anymore."

"I thought you went back to Cambridge?" Despite how depressing Nedry's situation sounded, Muldoon hoped that something had went right for him once he left Isla Nublar.

"I did and my so-called friend threatened to call the police on me if I contact him again. Don't ever show your face here again, he said. It's harsh, but at least I know where I stand in his view." Nedry swallowed his embarrassment as the memory replayed itself in his mind. Being ostracized and made to feel like he had no value because of his past poor decisions was horrible. "I was hoping to get a job, even an entry-level position in my field, but he knew about the stupidity I had done before and wanted nothing to do with me."

"You were trying to start over. Why did you give up so fast?"

"I didn't give up."

"You did."

Nedry shifted in his chair to avoid facing Muldoon. "Anyone can find my record and that'll be used against me no matter where I go. That doesn't sound like a promising future."

"So, you thought just plead guilty after they captured you?"

"It's not as easy as you make it sound." Nedry traced shapes with his finger on the table, still trying to distract himself from Muldoon's cold stare. Even if Muldoon didn't intentionally do it, he had a manner of staring him down that Nedry found intimidating. "At least in prison, I'll have a roof over my head, and I'll know where my next meal is coming from. I won't have the outside world judging me and writing me off for being a convicted felon because I'll be on the inside with folks in the same boat as me. I won't have to sleep in a used car and constantly look over my shoulder. It's scary as hell—not knowing if the person waiting at the bus stop is a bounty hunter in disguise."

Based on what he was saying, Muldoon wondered if Nedry was institutionalized—when the individual has difficulty adjusting to life on the outside because they're used to life on the inside. Muldoon considered everything he heard from Nedry so far: he was hypervigilant, overwhelmed with the fear of rejection, and anxious about his future. He felt shame and guilt for his past crimes—Nedry barely looked him in the eye when they spoke and his tone was somber.

Muldoon's eyes flickered to the cuff on Nedry's wrist. It saddened Muldoon to know that although Nedry had changed, he was still treated like an unapologetic criminal. He was still snarky as that was his personality, but the bitter man who had blamed his co-workers for his poor choices—that man no longer existed. Others acted as though he was still that same person: Judge Hoskins and the prison warden, Daniel Walker, came to mind. Even he had acted that way towards Nedry when reminding him he had a prison term to finish serving… Muldoon saw where he had gone wrong now, and he made a mental note to bring up that concern at some point. He didn't know when, but he'd watch out for an opportune time. Right now, he tried a hopeful direction.

"What about the deal that John's trying to make with Judge Hoskins? They may reduce your sentence or even grant you a full pardon."

"It sounds conditional. I can write a novel about everything I did when I was with Dodgson and Biosyn, but what if Henry doesn't want to return? What then?"

Muldoon blinked. Nedry's chair scrapped against the floor when he moved.

"That's the question no one can answer. Me earning my freedom or having my sentence commuted is based on Henry's decision—no matter how much effort I put into trying to get him to come to his senses."

"I don't think he wants to be with Biosyn though." He wasn't sure what to say about Nedry's thoughts about clemency being fully dependent on Wu's decision to return to InGen, but he didn't think that was the case.

"He doesn't, but that doesn't mean he'll turn around and leave them."

"Why not?" Muldoon leaned forward, indicating he was ready to listen. He had come to value Nedry's insight on Dodgson and now Wu. It was the complete opposite when they were left stranded on Isla Sorna. Back then, Muldoon refused to hear a syllable from Nedry about Wu's betrayal.

"Three things." Nedry ticked off three fingers on his restrained hand. "Pride. Selfishness. Fear. Pride in that he's too proud to admit that he made a mistake—although deep down inside he's overwhelmed with shame. Selfishness because he's making it be about what he wants for himself—fame and recognition for his accomplishments. Fear because he's afraid of what Lew Dodgson will do to him—he saw what Dodgson did to me, and he doesn't want to be in my shoes. Trust me on that one. I don't want to be in my shoes either—not after everything I've done, but I can't escape myself and Henry can't escape himself either. Betrayal is the gift that keeps on giving."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning when you screw over others for fame, fortune, or whatever your reasons, you end up screwing up your life. There are no winners when someone backstabs another. Everyone loses. How did John take it?"

"It's been difficult for him. He's hurting and you can see it in his face, but he won't tell us how he feels. He just wants him to come back to InGen."

"I get that, but what John fails to realize is that Henry returning has to come from himself. Just like I did."

"What do you mean?"

Nedry released an exaggerated sigh. Muldoon could tell it meant Nedry felt the answer should be obvious.

"Henry will come around when seeing his name in bright lights isn't his priority anymore. When the relationships he had with John, you, and everyone else are more important than fifteen minutes of fame."

Muldoon considered this as he stared at the bar on the table. "Was it the same for you?"

"Yeah. After you and John were badly effected from me releasing the raptors, money wasn't my god anymore. I wish I had woken up sooner, but I was selfish and wanted what I wanted. Right now, Henry is full of himself. When he stops thinking only of himself, then he will return or he'll try to reach out."

"He has though."

"By calling and hanging up the phone?" Nedry chuckled. "That's lame."

There was a long awkward silence. Muldoon glanced at his watch. He had only been in the prison for an hour, but he imagined that for Nedry, it must feel like an eternity. He stole another glance at the restraint, and this time, Nedry noticed.

"You can ask about it. I know you want to."

"What?" Muldoon was caught off guard.

"This." Nedry lifted his cuffed hand an inch above the table. "John was looking too. It's embarrassing, but there's nothing I can do about it."

"I was just wondering why. Is it even necessary?"

"I'm seen as a VO now. Violent Offender. They want to prevent me from getting up like last time."

"I remember." Muldoon kept his voice neutral.

"Then there's my escape. So, it's either I'm gonna punch someone in the face, run out of the prison, or step behind this table. All three things make me high-risk in the system."

Muldoon didn't have an adequate response. He and Nedry had fought brutally twice. Then there were times when Nedry was violent for valid reasons: such as defending himself against Baselton, King, and Tembo when they attempted to kill him on Dodgson's orders. Regardless of whether the circumstances were unwarranted or valid, Muldoon found himself unable to speak in either situation. He wanted to say that it was unfair how Nedry was still being treated like an unrepentant offender, but the words wouldn't come out and he didn't know why. Thankfully, Nedry recognized his discomfort and changed the topic.

"You were right. Running away only delayed the inevitable. I ran into them right before I got captured."

"'Them'?"

"Dodgson's group: Raúl Lopez, Sonya Durant, Roland Tembo, and…" Nedry paused, unsure if he should continue, knowing it would provoke a reaction from Muldoon. Muldoon jumped ahead of him.

"Henry Wu."

Nedry met Muldoon's steely gaze and nodded. "To go back to what you said, I could tell he's not happy running around with Biosyn. He doesn't want to be anywhere near them. You're one hundred percent right on the money, but he doesn't see a way out."

"You could be his way out."

Nedry tapped his foot, frustrated. "I don't know why John doesn't ask you or Ray to speak with him. What about Dr. Grant?"

"You have a unique advantage that we don't."

"And that is?"

"Out of everyone, you would understand why he went the wrong path. Coming from me or Ray, or even Dr. Grant, it won't be convincing."

"What makes you or anyone think I can sway Henry to return to InGen?"

"Because you get it. You came around—and you were on a dark path for a long time. Dennis, you were wrong that time we were on Isla Sorna."

"Wrong about what? Henry? You found out the truth—"

"No." Muldoon leaned forward. "Remember when you said there's no redemption for traitors?" He studied Nedry's expression to see if he remembered. They had many talks on Isla Sorna and Muldoon was referring to when Nedry spoke on the consequences of betraying those who trusted him.

" 'There's no redemption for traitors'… I said that?"

Muldoon blinked, shocked at Nedry's response. "Don't you remember?"

Nedry massaged his temples with his free hand. Muldoon was under the impression that he was wondering why this was being brought up now. More than anything, he couldn't believe this was the same Nedry he had last seen several months ago. They were two totally different people.

"You redeemed yourself. I never thought you could, neither did Ray. To be bloody honest with you, I don't believe you thought you could either, but we were all wrong."

Nedry glanced at Muldoon's facial scars, knowing full well how he got them. "I appreciate the sentiment, Robert—and I'm not being a sarcastic asshole when I say that."

A brief silence passed.

"I know what John wants—what you all want. I…" Nedry fumbled with his words, which was uncharacteristic of him. "I can't do it. I'm sorry. Let Henry redeem himself in his own time."

"Why?"

"Why can't you drop it?"

Again, Muldoon looked in the direction of the one-way mirror, knowing that Hammond was counting on him to steer Nedry into undertaking this task. He heard the edge that had crept into Nedry's voice though...

"All of you think I can just waltz into Biosyn's headquarters, tell Henry 'everyone from InGen loves and misses you!', blah-blah-blah, and he'll jump to leave. If it were Henry by himself, it would be easy, but it won't be only him. I'd have to face all of them—Lew Dodgson, Lopez, Tembo, and even Sonya. Howard King and George Baselton too, but I don't count those two idiots."

Muldoon inwardly sighed. He had one ace up his sleeve. Hammond might've already played it, but he decided to try anyway. "You're facing a lot of prison time—you know that, right?"

"Of course, I know! I was standing right in front of Judge Hoskins at my arraignment when he told me I would get a longer sentence."

"John wants to help you. It's his way of showing appreciation for what you did to straighten things out at the park."

"John means well, but there's no way I'm getting a full pardon—not after everything I've done."

"If you try to do what he's asking of you, you have a chance to be free, and to live your own life," Muldoon tried again. "That was the most important thing to you at one time, but now it's not."

"You don't get it—none of you do!" Nedry pointed at him and then gestured angrily at the one-way mirror where he knew Malcolm, Hammond, and Anderson waited and listened on the other side. "I'd rather rot in a prison cell than face Dodgson again. I would take the longer sentence that I earned, given all the stupid nonsense I did after he broke me out of prison."

"You mean all those times you trespassed with Biosyn?"

"Everything. The times I fought with you, or how I'm responsible for putting John in the hospital."

"Hammond's stroke wasn't completely your fault—we both know that."

Nedry looked at Muldoon as though he belonged in an insane asylum. "That's a line of lizard shit—and we both know that."

Muldoon clenched his fists under the table. He wasn't getting through to him. The most shocking aspect was that Nedry holding himself accountable was making it more difficult. Even so, he didn't want Nedry to notice his frustration.

"If I get locked up for another thirty years—hell, even forty years, I'm not blaming you, Robert. I'm not blaming you or Ray, or even John. I played stupid games and won stupid prizes. That's my fault and mine alone."

Muldoon realized what Nedry was implying when he heard his voice crack. Nedry wasn't just afraid of Dodgson—he was terrified of him. He'd rather face the possibility of life imprisonment than face Dodgson (or anyone from Biosyn) again. Given how badly Nedry screwed up Dodgson's plans, it was understandable. He was also glad Nedry fully accepted responsibility for his actions, but that seemed minor compared to his very real fear. Knowing that Dodgson and his group had put Nedry through hell before—and would do so again, given that he had made them fail to acquire Jurassic Park—Muldoon understood why he didn't want to be anywhere near them.

Then again, something wasn't quite right. Nedry didn't want to face Dodgson, but he had been captured in Cupertino—the city of Biosyn's headquarters. His actions and words aren't matching up, Muldoon thought. There's a disconnect. Why was he captured in the place where Biosyn is located?

"I don't understand why you were in Cupertino. You knew you risked running into them."

"I was gonna finish what I started."

Muldoon wasn't sure how to interpret Nedry's ambiguous answer. "I don't know what that means."

"You don't need to know and that's all I have to say about it."

Muldoon decided he had done enough. Nedry's snippy answer was off-putting, and they would keep going in circles. He stood up, getting ready to leave the interrogation room. Then it came to him as he sat back down again.

"There's been something on my mind lately that you need to think about. Two things."

Nedry's eyebrows rose in acknowledgement while he drummed his fingers on the table.

"The first thing: It's good that you came back that night—you know, the first time you shut down security when everyone was on the tour to approve Jurassic Park. You came back and restored the power."

Nedry continued to drum his fingers, indicating his annoyance. "So what?"

"So, do you realize that if anything had happened to you that night, or if you didn't come back in time to restore the power that people could've been killed? That we wouldn't be sitting here right now?"

The drumming abruptly stopped and now Nedry looked at Muldoon, a thoughtful expression on his face. "No, I hadn't thought about it before." The anger had evaporated from his voice.

"I'm just asking you—"

"To try to help Henry get on the right path again. Set him straight? See if he even wants to return, give him an out."

Muldoon nodded. He noticed Nedry wasn't as upset as before, and that he was now considering it.

"It's not just about getting your sentence reduced, although I understand you want a brand-new start. Do it because it's the right thing—and knowing that you have InGen backing you up. Because of what Ray said when Henry left with Dodgson."

"You mean about reaching me before I went down a wrong path?"

"Yeah…" Muldoon thought of how he would relay this to Nedry. It was something that only he and Arnold spoke about together, privately. "We've discussed it a lot. How we wish we had asked you why you were doing what you were doing. Find out why you were upset with John, why you went the route you did. Maybe if we had spoken to you, instead of calling the police on you, things would've turned out different."

"Shoulda, woulda, coulda." Nedry grinned as he wagged his finger with his free hand. "It's a nice thought, but what's done is done."

Muldoon was familiar with Nedry's usual flippancy. Although he had hoped for a more receptive response, when he revealed that he and Arnold wished they could've done things differently—this was Nedry and sometimes he hid behind sarcasm, biting humor, and a who-gives-a-crap attitude. Muldoon also knew that if Nedry was appreciative, he wouldn't openly say so. Then Nedry surprised him.

"Thank you for saying that, but the sad truth is I wouldn't have listened to you or Ray. I was determined to do what I wanted and wouldn't have let either of you talk me out of it."

"That's fair," Muldoon said. He appreciated Nedry's honesty. Because Nedry could be brutally honest with him, Muldoon knew he could be the same way—especially with his next point. "The second thing is you have to forgive yourself for everything. I don't know what it will take." He stood up now. "For your own peace of mind, let go. Maybe in letting go, you can help Henry out of this mess."

Muldoon approached the door, ready to leave when he heard Nedry finally give in.

"I'll do it, but God help you and John if I don't walk out of there alive."

Muldoon's grim smile didn't reach his eyes when the correction officer opened the door, allowing Hammond, Malcolm, and Anderson to enter the conference/interrogation room. A short time later, Walker joined them.

oOo

Later that same day, Walker summoned Nedry to his office. Usually, he walked the grounds of the prison and interacted with inmates in the chow hall, the yard, the social worker's office, at the cell blocks, and their work assignments. Of course, Nedry wouldn't be by himself. Officer Johnson brought him in and remained in the room when Walker motioned for Nedry to sit down in the chair across from his desk.

"Hands where I can see them," Walker said, pointing at Nedry.

It was an unofficial rule in his prison: if an inmate's hands weren't cuffed, he wanted them visible at all times for safety reasons. He had made the decision earlier to have Nedry restrained when Hammond visited, after inwardly debating with himself before making that final decision. In the end, he decided that everyone else's safety was primary—especially given Nedry's behavior the last time. It had been over a year ago, but Walker never forgot how Nedry angrily approached Hammond, which was against the rules. After finding out about Hammond's hospitalization, he wasn't taking any chances.

This time around, he knew he was taking a chance so that he could observe Nedry's behavior in his office—would he be defiant? He got his answer right away: Nedry folded his hands on his lap—they had been behind his back when he first entered the office. Walker made a mental note of how quickly Nedry listened. Years ago, a request such as keeping his hands out in the open where they could be seen would've elicited a snide remark from Nedry. Are you gonna make me wear your silver bracelets? Nedry complied without making a cutting comment.

"I wanted to speak with you about John's offer. What do you think?"

Nedry shrugged. "It sounds ok."

Walker sat back in his chair, studying Nedry. He was surprised at how he presented as withdrawn: Nedry stared down at the floor, not making eye contact. Walker decided to go in a different direction, and then circle back around. "I spoke with him before he left. He forgives you for what happened."

"I wanted to speak with you about John's offer. What do you think?"

Nedry shrugged. "It sounds ok."

Walker sat back in his chair, studying Nedry. He was surprised at how he presented as withdrawn: Nedry stared down at the floor, not making eye contact. Walker decided to go in a different direction, and then circle back around. "I spoke with him before he left."

"Oh...that's nice...I guess." Nedry shrugged. He didn't know what to say and he didn't want to imagine how that conversation went.

"Whatever anger he felt towards you for that situation, he's let it go."

"You mean his stroke and hospitalization?"

Walker nodded. "Yes, he said he forgives you. I'm sure it took a lot for him to get to that point."

"If the roles were reversed, and I was the one paraylzed; I would be angry the rest of my life," Nedry said as he looked around Walker's office, in an effort to try to avoid discussing the topic.

"But where does that get you?"

"I don't know...I betrayed him because I was angry at him...I never meant to harm him though."

"That was back then, but what about now?" Walker watched Nedry carefully, noticing how he appeared to distract himself on purpose. They needed to have this conversation though; it was an important part of Nedry's rehabilitation. "Do you forgive him?"

"Maybe if I follow through on what he's asking, it shows that I do?" Nedry shrugged again, unsure if he was giving the right answer.

Walker found it interesting that Nedry would pose it as a question. It gave him the impression that Nedry wasn't sure what he felt towards Hammond now. In the past, he had been resentful towards him, but now it was different: Nedry was regretful that his actions had caused severe harm to Hammond. A more important question arose in his mind. To Walker, this came before Nedry forgiving Hammond for blackmailing him and almost ruining his career.

"Do you forgive yourself? And I'm not just talking about what happened to John, but in terms of your choices and how your life has gone in a different direction than you expected. No one grows up wanting or expecting to be incarcerated."

Nedry was quiet for some time before he answered. "I'm not sure where I stand in terms of forgiving myself. Robert told me to do that—forgive myself."

"He could only tell you that because he chose to let go of what you've done in the past. Robert Muldoon forgives you."

"He never told me he has."

"He doesn't need to tell you in words. His actions show it. Think about it: would he have advocated for you more than a year ago?"

Nedry shook his head vehemently. "Hell no."

"But he does now because he's let go of the past. For your sake, he wants you to do the same."

"I don't know why he would forgive me for everything I've done. Same with John, and he outright said he forgives me."

Walker had plenty of experience of working with crime victims before becoming a prison warden. Some, not all, were able to forgive the person who had wronged them, and even harmed them. That was one part of the equation. The other part was seeing an inmate forgive himself for his wrong choices and aspiring to being a better person than when they first entered the prison. It was a lengthy process for both the offended and offenders. For the victim, coming to a place of forgiveness, healing, and acceptance was a long dark road. The inmates he dealt with had a difficult road as well. They often struggled with poor self-esteem, shame, and depression. On that note, Hammond, Muldoon, and Nedry were no different than many of the people Walker had encountered during the span of his career.

"They did it so that they could move on. It's the same for you."

"It's hard to move on when the world sees you as just a convicted felon, a worthless criminal and nothing more—or worse, when you're locked up." Nedry gestured to Walker's office, but what he really meant was the prison.

"Not everyone sees you that way."

"Most do."

"Most isn't everyone. John Hammond and Robert Muldoon don't see you as a worthless criminal. Nor does Dr. Malcolm or even Detective Anderson. For what it's worth, I don't see you that way either."

"They see me as a tool to get Henry Wu to come back."

Walker waited before responding. He knew he needed to redirect him. There was truth to what Nedry said, but it was overshadowed in a negative light. Walker wanted to give him the truth as well, but in a positive light.

"They see someone who has made changes and became a better man—and who deserves a second chance."

That seemed to catch Nedry's attention as he looked up at Walker now.

"He mentioned something about sentence commutation."

"And that's the reason to consider John's offer. So that you don't have to return here or you if you do come back here, you serve less time. You can get out sooner and go on with your life. Having your sentence reduced can be a good starting point for you."

"No one's gonna hire me with my record."

"It'll be challenging, but there are re-entry programs on the outside to help you get on your feet. There will be someone who gives you a second chance."

Nedry didn't answer as he went back to staring at the floor.

"Just think about it and we can discuss when you've had more time to consider your options."

"It doesn't feel like I have many options, Mr. Walker," Nedry mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm looking at a life sentence, once I add all my previous time left to serve and new sentences for the other charges. Or I can go on a death mission to get information that I can easily write down in a statement. It's either face death head-on or spend a good chunk of my life behind bars—those are my 'options'."

"Try not to see it that way. It's about information gathering."

"It's about trying to convince my coworker to come to his senses. I've tried that before and he didn't listen."

"When was this?" Walker's tone was uncertain.

"When I was out there on the run, acting like an idiot. That was one of the few things I did right: try to make Henry Wu see that he's going down the wrong path. You'd think he'd listen after seeing me get locked up, beat up..." Nedry's voice trailed off.

"Sometimes people have to learn for themselves."

"Ain't that the truth."

"Let me make a suggestion to you, Mr. Nedry."

Nedry stifled a chuckle. He knew Walker meant it respectfully when he called him "Mr. Nedry", but for some reason, he found it humorous. "Sure thing, I'm listening."

"Make this be about you. Not in a selfish way in that you don't care about anyone else but put what you want for yourself first."

"I did that and look where it got me. Here. Wearing this." He picked at his prison uniform.

"Okay, let me be more specific. You want to rebuild your life, right?"

"Yeah, but that's not possible—"

"It is possible. You must envision it, even if it seems outside of your reach. You must picture yourself going to job interviews, having your own place, working in your field again. Maybe a different field of work. Don't picture yourself with the jumpsuit, the prison bars, or anything else you associate with incarceration. Try to imagine your life outside of these walls, walking free, making your own choices. Let that be your motivation for helping your co-worker."

Nedry thought about it. It wasn't a bad idea, but it was difficult for him to do, especially after what he experienced with Barney Fellows. He was afraid of constant rejection due to being a convicted felon, but he understood what Walker was imparting to him. He had to see himself beyond who he was now. Maybe envisioning himself as a free man, with the freedom to make his own choices again, and even starting again in his career and field would be a good motivator for him as Walker suggested. He was older and wiser now and not as angry and bitter as he was during his first incarceration. Walker's wisdom and earnest efforts to help him were appreciated this time.

"Thanks, Mr. Walker."

Walker gestured to Officer Johnson to bring Nedry back to his work assignment. "Keep up on the right path and you'll be ok."

oOo

One month later, Hammond, Malcolm, Muldoon, along with Anderson sat in the front row of Judge Hoskins' courtroom, right behind the defendant's table. They had returned to Isla Nublar after meeting with Anderson and Walker. During that month, Hammond prepared himself to return to California with Malcolm and Muldoon. Everyone on the island was updated with the current news. Grant, Ellie, and Arnold began the interviewing process of filling the three open positions. Before they returned to California, Hammond left Gennaro in charge of the daily tasks at Isla Nublar, while Lawala and Harding would handle any issues that arose with the dinosaurs.

All in all, Hammond felt he left Isla Nublar in capable and trustworthy hands. Even Tim and Lex volunteered to help. Now that were back in California, Muldoon planned to keep in touch with Arnold, Harding, and Lawala. Malcolm promised to contact Grant and Ellie regularly. Hammond would check in with his grandchildren and Gennaro about the progress of locating the three candidates. As for where they were presently: it went unspoken that whatever happened in court today would direct their next steps—and determine Nedry's path.

Nedry sat at the defendant's table guarded by a sheriff deputy on his right side, listening along with everyone. He wore the same clothing he had been captured in and looked around. Only the court reporter and the bailiff were present. No one else. Judge Hoskins had ordered that anyone who didn't need to be present to evacuate the courtroom before he was called in. Nedry figured the judge wanted utmost privacy for this hearing. He listened as Judge Hoskins finished reading Daniel Walker's written statement aloud to the court.

"…as written above, Mr. Nedry who has served time in my facility, has presented as accepting responsibility for his past actions. In the past month since he's been here, he has shown an earnest effort to turn his life around. He has been respectful towards the correction officers in charge of his care and cooperative when given new work assignments. However, he would serve better in a capacity in which he's guiding another employee who has gone down the wrong path. This also includes cooperating with the authorities to bring to justice the individual who initially hired him to betray his employment. My recommendation is to strongly consider Detective Corey Anderson's and Mr. John Hammond's proposal for a sentence commutation in his case. Signed, Daniel Walker, Prison Warden." Judge Hoskins finished reading and looked at the small group of people present in his courtroom. "Before I pass judgement, does anyone wish to make a statement?"

Hammond stood up. "I do."

Everyone was quiet as Hammond cleared his throat.

"For what it's worth…" He started slowly and looked at Nedry as he continued. "I want this on the official record: Dennis did not assault me. He did not shake me or push me to the ground. He's not responsible for the stroke I suffered from or my hospitalization. I had health issues prior to that day. That's all."

Nedry whipped around in his chair, squinting at Hammond like he had grown three dog heads and had twisted snakes for hair. What the hell are you doing?! He mouthed. Hammond met his baffled stare but said nothing. In his mind, there was nothing more to say except his truth—which he had just shared with the court. The sheriff deputy next to Nedry directed him to face forward.

"Thank you, Your Honor," Hammond said and sat back down again.

No one spoke.

Judge Hoskins studied Nedry who sat behind the defendant's table. He couldn't tell if Nedry was relieved or reluctant from what Hammond had shared and the current proceedings. Hammond appeared hopeful; he was the only one smiling. Judge Hoskins was glad he had spoken up. Malcolm and Muldoon kept whispering to each other, their expressions serious. Anderson was neutral; out of everyone there, he had the least amount at stake. The time had come, and he decided how he would rule based on everything he had read, heard, and observed thus far.

"The actions you took to make amends to your employer have factored into my ruling, as well as the dangerous nature of what you're about to take part in. As of today, you will be in the custody of Detective Corey Anderson. Your work will determine if your current charges will be dismissed. I will also review your current prison sentence and consider commutation based on the outcome of your efforts, your cooperation, and your testimony." Judge Hoskins waited and allowed that information to sink in. He had deliberately omitted any obvious mention of Nedry being a confidential informant. Then he continued. "Should you fail to fulfill your expected responsibilities, you will serve out the remainder of your initial sentence and also be sentenced for the most recent charges." He turned to Anderson. "Do you have the papers?"

Anderson nodded and Judge Hoskins permitted him to enter the area where Nedry sat. The sheriff deputy sitting at the defense table unlocked the cuffs so that he could sign the forms. Nedry hesitated for several seconds. Anderson was going to ask if he was still willing to go through with the agreement, when Nedry picked up the pen and signed the papers. The entire time, his hand trembled. When he finished, Anderson gave a copy to Judge Hoskins who reviewed them. It didn't take long. Judge Hoskins stacked the papers and placed them in a file. He spoke directly to Nedry who sat behind the table, looking sullen, his eyes downcast.

"You're free to go. Godspeed."

oOo

The sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky when they exited the courthouse. Hammond interpreted the pleasant warm weather as a good omen. He hurried down the steps with Anderson. Muldoon and Malcolm trailed behind with Nedry walking between them, freed from the law enforcement officials he had entered the courtroom with, and freed from the restraints. Malcolm and Muldoon noticed Nedry was strangely quiet. He had greeted them earlier when they had first left the courtroom. From there, he had very little to say. They made it to the bottom of the steps where Anderson and Hammond waited.

"I'm so glad you're back with us, Dennis. We'll take you out for lunch before we start everything," Hammond said, excitedly.

"Thanks, but I'm not really hungry…" Nedry's voice trailed off as he avoided eye contact with everyone.

While Anderson and Hammond discussed the next steps of their plan, Malcolm and Muldoon brought Nedry aside to speak with him privately.

"What's going on?" Malcolm asked. "You look upset." He had sensed Nedry's trepidation during the entire hearing. There was nothing in Nedry's demeanor that showed he was relieved to be out there with them.

"Judge Hoskins is wrong. I'm not free at all; I'm in Detective Anderson's custody. He talked out of both sides of his mouth."

"It's temporary. Once this whole thing is over—"

"This is all conditional, isn't it?"

"It's not. Even if Henry decides to remain with Biosyn, that won't reflect badly on you—uh, it shouldn't. They're more focused on you getting dirt from Dodgson and his group, straight from the horse's mouth—they want you to talk, so that you get them to talk."

Nedry shook his head as though he disagreed. Malcolm noticed but continued to press forward.

"The goal is to get enough information to get them locked up for a long time. So that they can't interfere with InGen anymore. Their sabotaging efforts will be shut down if they're put away."

"That's not what John wants. It's all about getting Henry to do an about-face."

Malcolm was about to respond and then Muldoon intervened. Let me try, he mouthed to Malcolm who nodded in agreement. If there was one person who could get through to Nedry, it was Muldoon, given their complicated history. Ironically enough, Muldoon had the most success when convincing Nedry to accept what Malcolm called "a very loose plea deal with no prosecutor or attorney involvement".

"Don't hold back—you never do." Muldoon urged him to speak his mind. It was better for Nedry to be honest than to hide.

At first, they thought Nedry wasn't going to speak any further, when his questions erupted.

"What happens if I fail? Do I go to prison for the rest of my life? Isn't that what Judge Hoskins said?" He shoved his trembling hands in his pockets—he didn't want them to see outward signs of his fear. "I mean, that's the best thing that can happen. The worst…"

Malcolm and Muldoon exchanged a worried look: Judge Hoskins hadn't addressed that.

"The worst is what?" Muldoon asked.

Nedry recoiled in disbelief. How could Muldoon not know after what he had told him in the prison? Was he even listening to me? The question was on the verge of spewing out, but Nedry held back. He refused to voice what he was thinking and feeling.

"Damned if I do, damned if I don't," he muttered.

When no one answered, Nedry took their silence to mean confirmation that he would indeed face life imprisonment or a very lengthy sentence if he wasn't able to get the information needed to put Dodgson and his gang away for good. Or if Wu refused to return to InGen. That was the better ending. The worse ending…Nedry tried not to think about it, although he kept having images of himself lying in a casket. It was dark and dismal, but it was a real possibility. It bothered him that no matter how much he made it clear that he risked death as a confidential informant, no one took him seriously. No one cared. Not even Muldoon.

Contrary to what Nedry believed, Muldoon sensed he needed reassurance. "It will work out and you'll get the clean slate you want; you'll get your life and career back on track. What you're about to do takes bloody nerve."

"Then why don't I feel bloody good about it?" Why is everyone acting like I'm doing a noble good deed?! Nedry wanted to shout at them, but it would only turn everyone away. And right now, he didn't need to feel lonelier than he already felt.

"Because it's the calm before the storm," Malcolm said. "The storm will pass, and your life will get better."

"What life? You make it sound like everything will be sunshine and rainbows and that's after I go through a storm that's a tornado and hurricane combined."

Malcolm tried to approach it from a different angle. "John spoke up for you back there because he wants you to be free."

"I don't know what he was thinking. It won't change anything."

"It's—" Malcolm stopped when he saw Muldoon shaking his head.

Muldoon realized Nedry couldn't take in anything positive about his situation because his fear overwhelmed him, blocking out any hope for his future.

Nedry didn't see their exchange. He stared at the courthouse for some time before turning to them. "You don't get it…none of you do…" He sighed as he tried to come to grips with what lay ahead. "I just signed my own death warrant."

---

Author's Notes: For anyone who might be interested, there are several documentaries on YouTube about solitary confinement. One of the most poignant ones that I've watched (or begun watching-it's almost two hours long) is called "Last Days of Solitary Confinement" on the "FRONTLINE PBS" channel. It's a real eye-opener on how solitary confinement impacts prison inmates. Some of the things mentioned in this chapter that Nedry has witnessed were inspired by learning about the way inmates cope/don't cope when they are isolated. Thank you for your continued readership! -Sassy Lil Scorpio