Chapter 30 - New Beginnings
"Bring it up, make amends, forgive yourself. It sounds simple, but don't think for a second that it is easy. Getting free from the tyranny of past mistakes can be hard work, but definitely worth the effort. And the payoff is health, wholeness and inner peace. In other words, you get your life back." - Steve Goodier
oOo
Two months later, Henry Wu found himself knocking on the door of an apartment on the third floor of a public housing complex. He carried a brown paper bag with him. John Hammond had told him the address. Wu recalled that conversation and how Hammond sounded both heavy and optimistic at the same time. He hoped one day he and Hammond could speak with each other without the sadness hanging over them.
It was early evening on a Saturday, and it had been a calm and relaxing day. Wu treasured quieter days now. It hadn't been hard to locate the public housing apartment complex. So far, it was welcome and inviting. Wu waited and then Dennis Nedry opened the door and gestured to him to come inside. Wu stepped inside the apartment and closed the door behind him.
"Almost finished," Nedry said covering the phone. He gestured to the couch, inviting Wu to sit and make himself comfortable.
Wu nodded as he sat down on the black couch and scoped out the area. Not bad, Dennis, he thought as he took in the small apartment. The furnishings were sparse with a work desk and a laptop plugged in. A red lamp and some folders, a notebook. A television stand with a small TV, a bookshelf with a smattering of books—most related to information technology and computer programming. A short hallway that had rooms on either side: a bathroom and bedroom. He then remembered he had brought some items for Nedry, as he stood up and took several items out of the paper bag, laying them on the work desk: Nedry's InGen pin (which Muldoon had originally given him), a glittery Hallmark card with a sappy message, and a purple plush T-Rex doll. All the items were meant as a joke—except for the InGen pin. Wu smirked when he imagined Nedry's response to seeing the plush T-Rex: I'm glad it's not that gross spitting one. The InGen pin was different and had sentimental value.
He scanned the apartment again. Wu was shocked to see the apartment's neat appearance. He remembered Nedry being sloppy in Jurassic Park's control room. Candy wrappers, bags of half-full potato-chips, empty Coke cans, and other junk food littered his workstation. His messiness during his days working for InGen were in his past, and now Nedry was clean and organized. It reflected how much he had changed, and Wu admitted to himself that he was impressed. Nedry had told him Detective Corey Anderson's connections had helped him find a place relatively quickly.
Wu turned as he heard Nedry's conversation.
"That would be great…I can try for next Monday or Tuesday…I just have to let them know a week in advance…they have me going to several places…"
There was a pause as Nedry took out a pen and grabbed a piece of paper on the small table in what Wu figured was his dining area. He was glad that Nedry had his own place—he was making strides in going on with his life.
"Thank you, Mr. Walker…I appreciate it…I'll find out tomorrow and call you back first thing…thanks…bye."
Nedry rested the phone on the hook and came over to Wu.
"Sorry about making you wait, just making plans for next week or the week after. I'm a busy man, even as an ex-con!"
"Who were you talking with?"
"That was Mr. Walker. Want something to drink?"
Nedry went to the refrigerator and took out two cans of Coke and two bottles of water. He brought them out to Wu, who took the Coke.
"Still following my lead, huh?"
Wu smiled. "You can say that. Who's Mr. Walker?"
"You don't know?" Nedry's eyebrows furrowed in surprise. "Mr. Walker is the warden of the prison I had been sent to."
"I see." Wu wasn't sure what to say, but he trusted Nedry was speaking to him for a good reason. The conversation had sounded amiable enough.
"I'll explain in a minute," Nedry said as he placed two folding chairs in front of the window and opened the blinds to allow the fading sunlight to enter the living room. He then raised the window and checked to make sure the screen behind was intact. "They refurbished this place just before I got it."
Wu walked over and sat down on one of the folding chairs. Nedry grabbed a Coke and joined him in the other chair. Then he bolted up again.
"I'm rude—are you hungry? I got us Cokes and bottled water, but nothing to eat. I can make us sandwiches—I make the best peanut-butter and jelly!" Nedry pointed back at the kitchen. "With strawberry jam! I also have that huge five-pound chocolate Hershey bar from the party."
"No, it's fine, I grabbed something on the way." Wu peered outside the window and saw the sun was beginning to set, transforming the sky into bands of pale blues, light yellows, and mellow oranges. "I remember that Robert's favorite part of the day was around seven in the evening when the quartz floodlights would turn on in the park."
Nedry sat down again. "Yeah, he'd watch it from the control room. The island glowed like a jewel."
"It really did."
"This is gonna sound corny, but it's my favorite part of the day too. We're not overlooking Jurassic Park, but…" He gestured at the sky's dazzling colors. "I missed this when I was locked up. Two years of not seeing any sunsets makes me appreciate it more. Especially those months when I was in PC."
Wu looked thoughtful as he pondered what Nedry just told him. "What did you see?"
"Depends on which cell I was in. If it was my own, sometimes it would be frosted glass. If I was in solitary confinement, then I saw nothing, just the wall." He anticipated what question Wu would ask next, so he answered it for him. "I was in solitary more times than I can count. Mostly for fighting with another inmate or talking back to a CO."
Wu kept his gaze on the sunset and remained quiet—he didn't how to respond. He now realized that his own fear of ending up in prison caused him to clam up. There was only one time when he found the nerve to ask Nedry directly about prison, and it was during their brief time at the park, when they sat in the back of the staff lodge. Then visiting him with Muldoon really hit home that incarceration would've been his fate if he continued down that path. The idea of serving any amount of time behind bars terrified him. His awkwardness wasn't lost on Nedry either. Sensing Wu's discomfort, Nedry changed the topic to what he thought would be a more optimistic one.
"So how are things for you at the park? Have you settled back in yet? I thought you were on break and going back there soon." Nedry remembered what Arnold and Muldoon had told him—but he found it hard to believe, since Wu wanted to be known for cloning dinosaurs. It would be better to hear directly from Wu.
Wu released a pained sigh. "I resigned."
Nedry started to open his Coke and stopped midway. "Why?!"
"I needed to clear my head…I didn't know how else to do it." He heard disbelief and ire in Nedry's voice, but which one there was more of, he couldn't discern.
Nedry was about to call him out on his decision to quit but stopped himself in time. He sensed Wu's guilt. It wouldn't do either of them any good to berate Wu for a personal decision that he felt was best for himself and the company. Besides, how did Hammond take it? That was Nedry's main concern.
"John must've been devastated."
"He was." Wu paused as he remembered the glassy look in Hammond's eyes. Even now, it bothered him to think about it. "I may go back someday—I just need to reevaluate myself, my life—everything really."
"That's best after everything you've been through."
"Absolutely. John understands. I know he was upset, but I didn't feel right staying on the island after everything." Wu focused on the Coke can in his hands. "It feels like I have to prove to everyone that I'm not the man from before."
"I completely understand how that is."
Wu waited a few seconds before revealing what he didn't know what to reveal—but he knew he should. "I even told them about the Molotov cocktail—"
"I told you to not tell anyone about that!"
"Robert…Ray…George and Gerry. I think they knew already."
"How would they know unless you told them?"
Wu shrugged. "The recordings?"
Nedry sighed and Wu wondered if he was angry that he had told the park staff about it.
"I wanted to show them that I was with InGen, prove it by—"
"Henry, stop it." Nedry turned to face him now. "You did this with Dodgson and now you did it with everyone back at InGen. Stop trying to prove yourself to everyone. You don't have to prove anything. You're a genius geneticist who resurrected giant lizards. You stumbled and messed up, but you picked yourself up again. Dust your shoulders off and keep it moving."
"You got me out of that mess."
"You made the choice to leave."
"No one else gets it," Wu said, tearing his eyes from Nedry's accusing glare. "No one understands…only you get it." He mumbled the last four words.
"I get it, but you really need to look at who you are. You aren't what you did."
"Yeah, but you are. Everyone reminds you that you're a convicted felon. Even I reminded you…I said that..." What was he saying? He didn't know and he forced himself to look at the sky. It was easier that way.
"Right, so don't you think I have to prove myself to everyone? Prove that I'm not what I've done in my past?! Even so, I can't let it define me or hold me down. I have to keep pushing forward. You have to do the same."
Wu wanted to escape out of his own skin and no one else knew that feeling better than Nedry.
"Don't look so down about it, Henry. I get it—the whole thing with following Dodgson. We both know why we did what we did."
Nedry knew from his own experience that it would take Wu time to come to terms with what he had done against InGen—even though Hammond had been willing to forgive him. He'd come back to that topic though.
"Let's focus on your bright glorious future."
Wu's tense expression broke, and he laughed. Nedry took that as his cue to continue.
"What do you plan on doing?"
"I'm not sure. I was thinking of going into clinical or medical genetics. Originally, I wanted to do research and be published—have my name out there. Then I met John, and he told me not to waste my time on research, that I could do much bigger things…" Wu's voice trailed off as the memories of other past conversations with Hammond replayed in his mind.
"If you were going to start a bioengineering company, Henry, what would you do? Would you make products to help mankind, to fight illness and disease? Dear me, no. That's a terrible idea. A very poor use of new technology…From a business standpoint, that makes helping mankind a very risky business. Personally, I would never help mankind."
Wu remembered the conversation clearly. He had finished eating dinner with Hammond in his bungalow—and then Hammond wanted to have ice cream—ginger ice cream. It was the night of the initial inspection, and the power was out—which everyone found out later was due to Nedry shutting off the systems so that he could commit his theft. Hammond had been rambling about making money off Jurassic Park, not having to worry about government intervention or oversight. And then he mentioned how using genetic technology to create medications for diseases was not a worthy investment. Back then, Hammond made it clear that helping humanity was not a worthwhile endeavor.
A lot had changed since then.
Hammond had learned to appreciate his employees and staff and made profiting off Jurassic Park the last priority on his list. In fact, if Wu had to guess, Hammond was no longer focused on the profit aspect. He wanted his employees to know he valued and appreciated them. Wu had changed too, which he now shared with Nedry. From craving fame to wanting to help others. Examining his motives, doing his own soul-searching, and knowing the why behind the what of his actions—this was far more important now.
"Everything I did was always focused on me. Delving into clinical and medical genetics would benefit others. It would involve studying and counseling people who might be predisposed to inheritable diseases. You know, like different types of cancers, diabetes, heart disease—that sort of thing."
"That sounds amazing." Nedry was genuinely impressed. "I'm sure you'll help a lot of people."
A brief smile flashed across Wu's face, although he still stared at the Coke in his hands. "Thanks. I guess after what we went through with InGen and Biosyn, I had an epiphany, and decided to change direction."
There was a period of silence between them as they resumed watching the sunset. The sun had dipped lower, brightening the sky into a deep orange. After some time, Wu spoke.
"What've you been up to these days?"
"I've got a busy schedule. They have me doing community service." Nedry finished opening his Coke. He had forgotten about it and took a sip. "I have to complete three hundred hours."
"That's a lot of hours."
"That's part of the conditions I have to follow, if I want to stay on the outside."
"Isn't that still a sentence?"
"It is, but it's way better than being on the inside. Don't get me wrong—my PO can show up anytime and search my place whenever he wants." Nedry shrugged. "At the same time, it's better this way. I'm not isolated in PC, and I don't have to hear a steel door slamming behind me. I can enjoy silence. I'm not cooped up in a tiny cell 23/7, doing the same boring routine to make myself stay sane. I don't have to constantly watch my back—although I am hyper aware of my surroundings."
"I guess that's to be expected." Wu sounded solemn.
"It is, but I try to focus on the positive. I get to go outside, walk around in the park, and grab a bite. I can see sunlight streaming through the window. I can count the stars at night. I can shower in a clean shower stall without having to wear shower shoes. I'm not having to constantly cuff up. I can walk without my ankles hurting or being worried that I'll fall on my face. I can make my own meals and sleep in as late as I want. I can go out on my own and not feel embarrassed by everyone staring at me. I don't have to squat and cough before and after visits." He gestured to the living room. "I'm not in a cage anymore."
"That's a hell of a lot better," Wu agreed.
"But they do have me wearing this." Nedry lifted the pants on his left leg, revealing the ankle monitor he wore. "Judge Hoskins ordered that I wear it for a year. My original sentence of ten to fifteen years was reduced to three years. That was also for the Molotov cocktail." He let go of his pants, concealing the ankle monitor.
"They got you for the Molotov cocktail?"
"They did, but I'll take three years of community supervision over thirty years in prison. It's also for the police chase."
Wu watched the traffic below. He imagined him and Nedry in his car again, driving over seventy miles per hour on the freeway. That was one of the craziest experiences he ever had. Then he realized: what if the ankle monitor hurt or caused injury? He asked Nedry about it.
"It's not pleasant, but it beats the alternative."
"What about the charges you racked up when Dodgson busted you out of prison?"
"Dismissed since I testified against everyone from Biosyn. The written statement was helpful, and all the work I put into getting information from Dodgson's toy soldiers."
"This really paid off for you."
Nedry nodded. "It did. I know some folks back at the clink told me they'd rather do an entire sentence, instead of parole, probation, community supervision—whatever it's called. They don't want the extra hassle and all the restrictions. I'd rather have the extra hassle, the restrictions, and meetings with my officer. I can't go back to living in PC for who knows how long."
"That makes sense. How often do you meet with your PO?"
"Every other week, but it may become monthly, depending on how I do. They do random checks, so I need to make sure I follow every rule spelled out—that includes every hour of community service. Otherwise, I get sent back to the big house—and that's not gonna happen. Not if I can help it."
Wu sat back in his chair when he thought about the ankle monitor and Nedry having to see a probation officer every other week while following strict rules. He was shocked and saddened by what he had just found out. "You're not completely free."
"Not yet, but it's a sentence reduction. I'm not sitting in a prison cell for the next ten to who knows how many years. It's another reason why I spend my evenings watching the sun go down, instead of going out. I have a strict curfew."
"Can you take it off? What about showers?" Wu thought his questions made him sound naïve, but he really didn't know anything about what Nedry experienced.
Nedry shook his head and shifted in his chair. "If I tried doing that, I'd be in serious trouble—and it's waterproof. They monitor me to make sure that I'm where I'm supposed to be. I would be where I'm supposed to be without it on, but whatever. It's not forever, so I just deal with it."
Wu drank from his Coke. "You mentioned having a busy schedule."
"Twice a week on Mondays and Tuesdays, they have me go to various places: schools geared to careers in information technology, juvenile detention centers, prisons, colleges." Nedry waved his hand for emphasis. "I tell them my story, about the choices I made, how it affected others, and how my own life was impacted."
"So that others don't follow in your footsteps?"
"Exactly. If I reach just one person, then I did my job. I'll go wherever they want me to. I'm allowed to make suggestions too, that's why I was talking to Mr. Walker. I'm going to speak at my old homestead."
"How's it at the prisons?"
"It's difficult at times because some of the inmates look at you like 'you think you're better than me 'cause you got out?', but that's the mentality that keeps them on the inside. Most inmates are receptive though, it gives them hope that they can get their lives back on track."
Wu smiled. "That's great, I'm sure they need that encouragement."
"They do. Most folks forget that prison inmates are human beings who have made bad choices. I gear my talk towards not letting bitterness consume you, getting an education while you're behind the walls, and doing training classes. Better yourself while you're in there, don't walk out worse than when you walked in. That sort of thing." Nedry finished his Coke and crumpled the can.
Wu nodded as he thought about it. "That's really impressive, Dennis."
Nedry flashed a knowing grin. "Thanks, I guess something good came from all this."
"What about the other days?"
"Wednesdays is job readiness—how to interview after you've been incarcerated, filling out job applications, explaining your record. They've assigned me a counselor to help with all this. Thursdays, I meet with my therapist."
"What's that been like for you? Seeing a therapist?" Wu was curious since Nedry didn't seem like the person who would open up to a therapist. He might be wrong though…he had been wrong about Nedry before.
"It's…interesting, I guess. I have so much baggage weighing me down. I know I need to talk to someone…I just don't know where to start." Nedry shrugged, indicating his inner uncertainty.
"Why not start at the beginning?" Wu suggested.
"I could, but I have nightmares every night about everything—especially about Lopez and Tembo cornering me. Over and over. Even when I'm awake, I'm constantly looking over my shoulder. I don't feel safe…" Nedry abruptly switched the topic. "Fridays are saved for interviews."
Wu's eyebrows rose with interest. "How's that coming along?"
Nedry didn't speak for a moment and when he did, he sighed sadly. "I haven't had many of those, but it's to be expected. I'll take whatever I can get, even if it's just part-time. Right now, I have a temp position working at a warehouse. They call me twice a week to come in. It's better than nothing. I'm thinking of becoming a peer counselor, helping other ex-felons with getting their lives back on track."
"That sounds like it would be rewarding." Then another question struck Wu. "What will you do when your probation is up? When the three years are over."
"I'll go back home, but first, I'll show my face in Cambridge one more time just to spite Barney Fellows."
"Barney Fellows?"
"We used to work together. I reached out to him when I was on the run, and he threw everything back in my face. His last words to me were 'don't ever show your face here again'. So, just to spite him, I will show my face. Sounds great, right?" Nedry laughed.
"Sounds like a very Dennis Nedry thing to do," Wu gave an awkward nod. "Where's home? I thought it was Massachusetts."
"Michigan. My hometown's the capital, Lansing. I can't wait to go back. That will the be first time I feel totally free—that I can put everything behind me and start over for real."
Another period of silence passed. It seemed like neither man knew where to pick up the conversation as they watched the sun dip lower in the sky. Night was settling in.
"Have you heard from John?" Wu asked. It seemed like the most obvious question to ask.
"Yeah, he's been trying to help me get on my feet, looking out for job openings he comes across. I appreciate it, given everything that's happened. He offered to create a position for me, but I decided not to take it."
"Why not?"
"I want a fresh new start. As kind as it is for him to create a position for me, I'd rather do it on my own. I don't want to be hired out of pity, but because the employer truly wants me to work for them."
"Did you tell them that?" Wu was curious about how honest Nedry was with Hammond.
"I just told him that I want to get a job on my own and that I need to separate myself from InGen. I didn't tell him the other stuff about not wanting to be hired out of pity—I didn't want to offend him. I told him the other stuff and I think he understands. We talk every other week on the phone. I call him 'Dad' sometimes as a joke and he's like 'don't call me Dad'!"
Both Nedry and Wu cracked up laughing.
"Because you used to say it sarcastically," Wu pointed out.
"I know, but now we both get a kick out of it. I hear from Robert too; sometime George gets on the phone. Every now and then Ray checks in. It's nice, you know? To have friends again, even if it's long-distance."
Wu heard the bend in Nedry's voice. Without him directly saying, Wu understood he felt less alone. He shared the sentiment too. Neither of them openly stated what they both thought: how it was hard to believe that their InGen co-workers kept in touch with them. Those past connections were important in helping them to stay afloat as they regained focus on their lives.
"I heard from them yesterday. It's like weekly check-ins. Definitely not what I expected after everything."
"I'm glad you keep in touch with them," Nedry said as he took his and Wu's empty Coke cans and got up to throw them out. Before going back to the window, he scanned the take-out menu posted on the fridge. "I'm ordering pizza, Henry. You in?"
Wu joined him in the kitchen. "Sure, why not."
"No one can resist pizza. I'm getting pepperoni."
Nedry made the call and put the order in. After hanging up the phone, he and Wu resumed their seats at the window. The sun had set and now the sky was a smooth black curtain with glittering stars.
"Why do you think they stay in contact with us after everything we did?" Wu asked. He had wondered about this himself and thought he'd ask Nedry to get his take on it. After all, he was the only person he could ask.
"Maybe because John forgives us, but something Robert told me is true. Hell, even Mr. Walker talked to me about this."
"What's that?"
"We have to forgive ourselves."
Wu thought about it when he looked up at the stars. This wasn't the first time he and Nedry had discussed this topic. For him, self-forgiveness was as far out there for him—as far as the stars were in the sky. He would never reach it, no matter how hard he tried. He could pretend to feel like he had forgiven himself or made his own peace, but he wasn't sure it would help. "I'm working on that."
"Same here. The first time I was locked up, I grew more bitter. After John was hospitalized and Robert was injured, I finally saw myself for the big mess I really was. I had made a huge mess of my life and everyone else's. There was no one to point fingers at and it wouldn't have made sense to do so."
"Why? I mean, why wouldn't it have made sense?"
"Ray would never turn off the fences to the velociraptor enclosure and Robert doesn't even know how to work the security systems. I had to face myself and come to grips with how low I had fallen. My grudge against everyone almost killed them."
There was a long uncomfortable silence. Wu noticed Nedry was looking away. He was amazed that even after all this time, it was still difficult for Nedry to openly talk about when he had released the raptors and the disastrous effects it had on everyone—especially Hammond and Muldoon. Even more shocking was Nedry using the actual name for that specific dinosaur: velociraptor. It was a far cry from his usual mocking term "lizards". Wu realized that in using dinosaur's real name, Nedry fully acknowledged how deadly and dangerous the velociraptors were—and why Muldoon always wanted them destroyed.
"It's easier to blame everyone else, but that gets you nowhere. You end up as a prisoner of a warped version of yourself—if that makes sense."
Wu thought about it. "It does…" He didn't have the right words, but he understood what Nedry was getting at. He had blamed Nedry for the park not opening and thereby delaying his gratification. Over time, rage and hubris buried the real Henry Wu—to the extent that he thought that's who he really was. He tried to voice it. "When I was furious at you and blamed you for getting caught and delaying the recognition that I felt I deserved, I became someone else. I thought that was really me."
"Well, it was really you, Henry—wait, don't get upset," Nedry said quickly when he saw Wu sit up, ready to challenge him, his face contorted into a disgusted frown. "It was really me when I stole from InGen, when I fought with Robert, how awful I was to everyone there—I was the worst version of myself those times. Just as when you were with Dodgson; that was the worst version of yourself."
Wu sat back in his chair; his anger dissipated. "You're right."
"We can't change the past; we can only go forward."
"Where do we go from here?"
"We forgive ourselves—or try to. It's hard to forgive myself—but I try to. A work-in-progress." Nedry folded his arms across his chest. "Damn, this conversation got really dark, but let's make it darker!" He let out a weird chuckle.
"Okay…" Wu's voice trailed off. He had no idea where Nedry was going with this. "Let's go there."
"Why did you laugh when Dodgson told us he could frame the situation into a murder-suicide."
The memory came rushing back to him as though he was reliving it right then and there. He closed his eyes and reminded himself that he was at Nedry's apartment, and they were discussing getting their lives back on track. He wasn't trapped in that conference room anymore with Dodgson, the rest of the team, and a revolver being passed between him and Nedry. He focused on his breathing to try to center himself—deep breathing exercises—just as his therapist had taught him.
Smell the roses, blow out the candles, he repeated to himself.
Wu told nobody—not Hammond and not even Nedry—that he was seeing a therapist to process everything that had recently happened. All the violence, all the conversations he and Nedry had, all the conflicted emotions he felt about betraying InGen for Biosyn, his regret for harming the InGen staff, his fear that he had ruined his career forever, and more so, that he had destroyed his life. He opened his eyes when he heard Nedry calling his name.
"You alright, Henry? You blanked out there for a second."
"I'm good…just had a moment there when you asked me..."
"Flashbacks?"
Wu's eyes widened. He really couldn't hide anything from Nedry, even when he tried. He didn't want to say it aloud because he felt ashamed.
"I get it…some things we live through stay with us for a long time. I still can't turn off the lights when I go to sleep at night. Robert and I argued about that on Isla Sorna…it's from being locked up. I can't shake it off—that's why I freaked out when you shut off the lights in the basement that time."
"You can't sleep in the dark?"
"I got used to the lights being on 24/7 and it also helped with being on the lookout for possible attacks. The COs dim them sometimes, but not a lot. Prison is always dangerous no matter what time it is. Some things are hard to shake off."
Wu nodded. "Thank you for mentioning that." It helped to understand Nedry and to be understood by him. "What you were asking me though…" He closed his eyes again, willing himself to stay in the present moment, even when he was about to talk about the past. Reopening his eyes, he continued. "I laughed because Dodgson was so calm about it; he sounded like a waiter at a fancy restaurant going over the night's specials. In that moment I realized "this guy is gonna stand here, force us to play Russian Roulette, kill the surviving player and it make it look like a murder-suicide". I think it really hit me then how twisted he really is."
"That makes sense."
"I knew about the Chilean rabies situation with the farmers, but when he was dealing with us that day…I was scared shitless and all I could do was laugh."
"I was scared shitless too."
Wu shook his head, not believing Nedry. "You weren't scared—you kept stalling."
"It worked though, right?" Nedry broadcasted his infamous crocodile grin. "There was a knock on the door. "That's the pizza—they were fast! Do me a favor and get the window for me. I'll get the pizza and plates. We got our two waters. I'll set up the table trays—I have one for myself and an extra one in case I have a guest, so you can use that one."
Wu closed the window and the blinds. He grabbed two paper plates and the bottled water and joined Nedry in the kitchenette. He saw Nedry had opened the pizza box on the counter.
"These folks never slice up the pizza enough. Hold on, let me get a knife." Nedry searched in the drawer and came back with of all things—a butterknife.
Wu watched as Nedry struggled with the butterknife. It was difficult to use it to slice up the pizza. He thought it was strange that Nedry didn't have a pizza cutter. Nedry seemed to read his mind.
"My PO wouldn't let me keep the one Robert and Ray brought for me, so I gotta use a butterknife. It's so dumb."
"That's ridiculous," Wu agreed.
"It's not the end of the world, Henry. I know how to make a shank, but I don't do it 'cause I'm not trying to get violated and catch a charge. If I do that, I go back to the joint."
"Joint?"
"Jail or prison. Either one. My PO can search my place anytime he feels like it, and heaven forbid he finds a homemade shank."
Wu watched as Nedry gestured to the sloppily sliced pizza. Wu helped himself to a slice and then forced himself to ask the question he wanted to ask the entire time.
"What happened with you and Robert Muldoon when you were on Isla Sorna? When you both came back, he was defending you left and right."
Nedry scoffed. "While you were punching me in the face. I remember that—good times!"
"Yeah, good times…so what happened with you and Muldoon?"
Nedry became somber and avoided Wu's questioning stare as he focused on cutting up a second slice of pizza. "I got him out of a situation that could've turned worse."
"He said you saved his life, that he almost drowned in a river, but you got him out of there."
Nedry stopped and put the butterknife down on the table. "What about it?"
Wu blinked, shocked by his nonchalant tone. "That's a big deal, Dennis."
"Why's it a big deal? If it had been Dr. Grant who saved his life, would it be a big deal? Take out 'Dr. Grant' and put in 'Dr. Malcolm', 'Ray', or 'Gerry'—hell, put in 'Dr. Sattler'—would it be a big deal then?"
Wu stared at the butterknife.
"What I did for him isn't a 'big deal"'—it's what I didn't do that's a big deal. I didn't do what everyone expected."
When Wu still wouldn't speak, Nedry continued. "You all thought I would've let him drown. Robert thought the same thing too."
Wu didn't confirm for Nedry that he was right. He didn't have to.
"It was a big deal because of my past 'shenanigans' as Hammond calls it. Everyone expects the worst from me. I understand why that is, given my history."
"Isn't that the same thing though?" Wu asked, as he thought about it. "You saved him, you didn't let him drown."
"The key word is 'let'."
Wu tilted his head, considering it. Then the significance hit him.
"When people are surprised that you didn't let that person die an awful death, it speaks volumes of what they think of you."
"I see what you mean."
Nedry shrugged and resumed slicing up the pizza pie. "Despite popular belief, I have limits as to how far I'll go. Robert and I can beat the hell out of each other, but we won't kill each other. We may come close…and we have come close…" he held his thumb and pointer finger close together. "In the end, he wouldn't because he's a self-righteous prick—which he knows."
Wu chuckled at that. Self-righteous prick was Nedry's favorite description of Muldoon. Wu thought it was comical that depending on how Nedry used it, it was either an insult or a compliment. In this instance, he meant it as a compliment. Wu knew Nedry respected Muldoon, and that although Muldoon would never excuse Nedry's betrayal, he understood his motives.
"And me, I don't do murder." He pointed at the pizza that was finally cut into slices. "Dig in, Henry. I gotta say, this is one of the best visits I've had in a while. Usually, my PO does surprise visits to make sure I'm staying in line. This feels like I'm having a normal life again—especially after getting arrested the first time, doing time in prison, messing with InGen, backstabbing Biosyn, being on the run, getting arrested again, the whole nine yards. You should drop by more often."
Wu put a pizza slice on his plate and went into the living room to sit on the sofa. He placed his plate of pizza on the table tray. "I'll be sure to do that."
Another thought came to his mind. Although he had apologized for treating Nedry like dirt when he first reappeared on the island with Muldoon, and all the other times when he was at his worst, he still had to free himself of this awful secret.
"I have a confession."
Nedry was putting one slice on his plate when he heard Wu from the living room. "Confess and get it off your chest. That's a nice jingle!" He joined Wu in the living room, sitting next to him on the sofa, and put the plate on the table tray.
"It was Lopez."
Nedry's eyebrows knitted together, confused by what Wu meant. He looked at Wu, who stared down at his pizza slices, not eating. Just the fact that Wu avoided making eye contact spoke volumes.
"What about him?"
"He suggested you had a spare laptop with InGen's information. He put the idea in Dodgson's head. You had asked me if I told him you had another laptop…" Wu's voice trailed off.
"I'm not surprised, he's always been bent on destroying me. Tough luck. Now he can destroy himself in the slammer."
"I feel like shit." Wu played with the pizza slice, turning it around in circles.
"Why? You didn't give Dodgson the idea."
"No, but he asked me if that's something you'd do, and I said it was possible." Wu turned the pizza around on his plate as feelings of self-hatred overwhelmed him. The way his chest tightened with tension, how he froze in time—now he had no appetite. "I didn't redeem myself at all, I just want to believe that I did—even though I didn't know how to."
Nedry had picked up his pizza slice and put it back on the plate without taking a single bite. "Henry—you did redeem yourself. Thanks to you, Lewis Dodgson will never be able to play out his kidnapping scheme. Can you imagine what he would've done to Tim and Lex?"
Wu shook his head. "I don't want to think about it—I try not to."
"He'll never harm anyone again. He'll never be able to connive, manipulate, or sweet-talk anyone into ruining their careers and destroying their lives all for his so-called research, product development—whatever the hell he calls it. He's finished and about damn time."
"You did get him the first time with that virus on the laptop."
Nedry nodded. "I sure as hell did. He gave me Robert's scars as revenge, but it doesn't matter because he never got his grubby hands on InGen's information which is what he wanted. You did one better though—you put him out of commission—for good!"
Wu considered what Nedry said. So many thoughts were flooding through his mind and sometimes they seemed random. "He kept trying to distract you when you testified against him."
"I know and I was this close," Nedry said, putting his thumb and pointer finger together, "to getting up off the witness stand and knocking him out of his wheelchair. He's not worth it. I got enough satisfaction telling him he won't last a week in prison, but if I had knocked him over in the courtroom—I would've caught an assault charge. I refused to give him that satisfaction. That's why I'm glad they escorted me out when I was finished. If I hadn't been with them, I would've walked out of the courtroom, so that I wouldn't be tempted."
Wu remembered seeing Dodgson in a wheelchair at the courthouse. He considered what he was about to say and hoped he didn't sound heartless. "It's gonna sound weird, but sometimes I feel awful for shooting him—and other times I feel nothing."
"Why should you? I didn't feel anything when we found out he was paralyzed. Look, I'm not celebrating Dodgson's fate, but I'm not mourning it either. He got what he got, that's all there is to it. Don't hold it against yourself."
"Really?"
"C'mon, Henry. He laughed when John was paralyzed from his stroke—and he blamed Robert for his injuries, even though I had turned off the raptor fences because he wanted those stupid lizards. Did you know that?"
Wu looked up briefly, anger lit his eyes. "I had no idea. He laughed?! And blamed Robert too?"
"Yeah, so don't hang your head in shame. You have nothing to feel guilty about."
Nedry was quiet for some time as he chewed his pizza and watched Wu who resumed staring down at his food. He'd have to push Wu along the self-forgiveness journey because they were truly "two traitors in a pod" as he had once joked. Getting Wu out of Biosyn was one thing—but getting Biosyn out of Wu was an entirely different matter. Wu's decisions still haunted him. Mostly everyone from InGen had forgiven and accepted him back. He had plans to continue his career in an altruistic manner, but he still had a long way to go. Nedry understood this, given his own past. He swallowed heartily and drank some water. Wu still wasn't touching his pizza and his morose expression never changed. Nedry picked up the cap from his bottled water—and chucked it at Wu. It bounced off Wu's head and landed on the sofa.
"What the hell?!"
Wu snatched the bottle cap from the sofa. He was going to yell at Nedry, but he couldn't because laughter was contagious. Nedry was holding his stomach from laughing so hard and then pointed at Wu who was now cracking up. For the first time in a long time, Wu found himself laughing with happiness. It wasn't due to fear or anxiety. It felt great to laugh, to be understood, to know that he had redeemed himself to (most of) his InGen family…and to have found a friend in the person he least expected.
Nedry finally stopped and caught his breath, so that he could respond to Wu. "Don't worry about that stupid laptop or these love marks," he pointed at the scars on his face. "Or even what happened with Dodgson. Forgive yourself, Henry. Just let that nonsense go—and eat your pizza before it gets cold!"
oOo
John Hammond rushed into the visitor center's conference room. It was the same conference room they always used with InGen's aqua blue and white logo on the wall. Today was a momentous day and he couldn't wait for everything to unfold. It had been months in the making and now, finally, the time had come to introduce the three new employees. When he got inside, he saw that Alan Grant, Ellie Sattler, and Ian Malcolm were already seated at the large oval table on one side. Donald Gennaro came in and took a seat with them.
"Where's everyone else?" Hammond asked, almost panicked. "It's twelve noon and our new employees will be here shortly."
The door opened and Robert Muldoon, Ray Arnold, and George Lawala walked in and quickly took their places next to Grant. Tim and Lex Murphy trailed shortly after, joining everyone else.
"Excellent! Gerry will be here very soon with our three new hires. I hope that you're excited as I am—I'm certain they'll be a perfect fit for Jurassic Park."
"It's gonna be great, John, just take a deep breath and relax," Ellie said, smiling. "Think positive."
"Think chaos," Malcolm corrected.
Ellie playfully elbowed him while Grant smirked in amusement.
"I am," Hammond said hurriedly as he took out a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. Realizing what he had just said, he quickly amended his words. "I'm thinking positive, Dr. Malcolm, and not chaos. Thank you, Dr. Sattler," he offered her a quick smile before turning back to Malcolm. "There's no room for chaos theory today."
"How disappointing," Malcolm pretended to sound glum.
"Another time," Grant said, jokingly consoling him. "Once we break the newbies in."
Arnold and Lawala laughed at their banter while Gennaro and Muldoon maintained a serious stance.
Hammond stuffed his handkerchief into his pocket and then turned to everyone. "Joking aside, we're all a family here, and I want to ensure that our new staff members feel welcomed."
Everyone nodded in unison, completely in agreement.
"You don't have to worry, we'll make sure they're taken care of," Arnold said. "We'll even give them the park tour after we're done here."
"Perfect—I see everyone is on point. All of you are, as always," Hammond said. "Yes, even you, Dr. Malcolm."
Malcolm offered him a curt nod, indicating his agreement.
Hammond opened the door and poked his head out. Gerry Harding was approaching the conference room with the three new employees that he had picked up at the helipad. Hammond held up his pointer finger, nonverbally asking Harding to give him one moment. Harding saw the gesture and turned around and spoke to the three people with him. Hammond ducked back into the conference room and closed the door behind him.
"Everything looks good. We'll have our introductory meeting, give them the park tour, a welcome luncheon, they will be shown their office space, and then be taken to their living quarters at the staff lodge." Hammond breathed a sigh of relief as if listing everything had exhausted him.
"Trying to overwhelm them on the first day, John? They'll run out of here scared," Malcolm teased, and everyone laughed.
"Ssshhh!" Hammond said. He grabbed the doorknob when he heard Harding knocking on the other end. "They're here now!"
"Be on your best behavior, Ian," Ellie teased.
There was more laughter and then everyone silenced as they looked expectantly at the door, ready for InGen's new employees to enter so that they could meet them. Hammond opened the door and Harding walked into the conference room with two men and one woman. The first man appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, the second man was of Indian descent, and the woman had flaming red hair.
"Welcome!" Hammond said cheerfully, gesturing to three vacant seats at the conference table. "Please take a seat, everyone."
Harding found his seat next to the rest of the InGen staff, while the three new employees sat together across from everyone. The large oval table could hold up to fourteen occupants and twelve seats were filled. Two seats remained empty. Hammond took a seat at the head of the table. In front of him were five ID badges.
"Everyone, I want you to introduce you to our new team members: Mr. Owen Grady, Mr. Simon Masrani, and Ms. Claire Dearing. Owen Grady is our newly hired animal behaviorist, who will work alongside Robert, George, and Dr. Harding." Hammond gestured towards Grady.
Grady nodded politely. "It's a pleasure to be here and I'm excited to get to work."
"There'll be plenty of it," Muldoon said. "Right, George?"
Lawala nodded in agreement. "You'll never be bored, trust me."
"Sounds great to me," Grady said.
Hammond sighed in relief inwardly—he was glad that so far, the introductions were going smoothly. He went to the next introduction.
"Simon Masrani will be my second-hand man in running InGen. He helped to find Masrani Global Corporation and has shown a keen interest in our biological preserve. Simon will be working together with us to get our park open to the public."
Masrani was gracious of Hammond's acknowledgement. "I look forward to getting to know all of you and to taking on all the challenges. By the way, I'd like to throw an idea out there—I know it's premature."
Hammond looked from everyone to Masrani. Everyone leaned over, curious about his idea.
Hammond was glad to see they were interested. "No such thing as a premature idea around here, Simon. Share with us."
"When we were flying over the island, I noticed you had a lot of unused space. I was just thinking…when we open the park and it turns out to be successful…when and not 'if'," Masrani paused as he scanned everyone's faces as he broached this topic, "would you consider building an additional site?"
"What type of site are you thinking of?" Gennaro asked.
"Well…you plan to have lodging for your guests… wouldn't it make sense to have a camp for young people? I know your target audience is kids of all ages."
"A camp?!" Hammond's eyebrows rose. He had never considered having a camp on the island, but anything was possible… "What would we call it?"
"Can't use Jurassic since that's already taken," Ellie said. "Got any ideas, Alan?"
Grant offered a knowing smile. "I do—good thing I can handle being put on the spot." Everyone laughed in response. "What about…Camp Cretaceous?"
Masrani nodded enthusiastically. "I like the sound of it!"
"We got our hands full with a park full of dinosaurs. Now a camp?!" Arnold asked. "You're gonna have me smoking ten packs a day if you keep this up."
"It won't be so bad if we hire more IT people to help Ray," Muldoon said.
Everyone burst out laughing except Tim and Lex, who looked serious.
"We're applying to be camp counselors," Lex said while Tim pointed at themselves, indicating they should be the first ones hired.
Hammond clapped his hands together, excited. "This is what I'm talking about—we need innovation and drive—everyone here has it, and Simon, you will be a perfect addition to our staff." He also wanted to acknowledge Muldoon's suggestion. "You're right, Robert. We'll hire more people in that department."
Muldoon gave a curt nod, glad that his suggestion was heard.
"InGen is starting to have a double meaning," Malcolm interjected. "Innovative geniuses!"
"I like that, Dr. Malcolm. It's better than the chaotic path," Hammond said. "Really though, we are excited to have you on board, just as we are with Claire and Owen."
"Thank you," Masrani graciously accepted the compliment. Then he turned to Claire. "I'm sorry, I took up time with that."
"Not at all," Claire said. "I want to hear more about this 'camp' idea of yours later."
"And last, but certainly not least, is Claire Dearing, who will be the new park operations manager," Hammond concluded. "With Claire taking over as park operations manager, it will free me up to continue running InGen and address administrative issues as they arise."
Claire flashed a warm smile. "Thank you, I'm glad we're meeting here today, and I'm open to any ideas that will help lead to continued success for InGen! I also have many contacts in case you want to continue expanding your staff."
"Tons of contacts," Owen said.
Masrani nodded in agreement. "If you need more qualified employees, talk to Claire."
"There's Zia Rodriguez, Kayla Watts…" Claire said, putting out two business cards.
"I told these two the facts during the first park inspection," Ellie said, pointing at Grant and Malcolm who sat on either side of her, "Woman inherits the earth."
Everyone laughed warmly.
"I also have a young systems analyst, Franklin Webb," Claire finished up. "I'm here to do whatever I can to ensure Jurassic Park can finally open to the world. Thank you for having us join your team," she said, gesturing to Masrani and Grady, who nodded eagerly.
Hammond was thrilled that the three new hires were enthusiastic. It confirmed that he had made the right decision with all three individuals. Hammond had once told Grant and Ellie—just before he invited them over for the initial park inspection—that he had a gift with people, that he could tell he liked them instantly. Claire, Grady, and Masrani would fit right in. Glancing quickly at his staff, he saw they were excited to meet the new hires. He decided he'd have them introduce themselves.
"Why don't we go around the room and introduce ourselves, starting with…" Hammond smirked as he caught Malcolm waving his hand. "Dr. Malcolm, we'll get your intro out of the way since you suffer from a deplorable excess of personality."
Malcolm stood up to take a bow and then sat down again. "I'm Dr. Malcolm, how do you do? I do maths."
Hammond shot him a puzzled look. "That's it?"
"For now. Just so you three know, I enjoy keeping John on his toes."
Claire, Grady, and Masrani chuckled at the same time, entertained by Malcolm's antics.
"Let's go onto to the next person. We'll go in a circle."
"I'm Dr. Ellie Sattler, paleobotanist and consultant on the island. Welcome!" Ellie gently nudged Grant now.
"I'm Alan Grant, paleontologist, and also a consultant for the park."
"You forgot that you're Doctor Alan Grant 'world-renowned'," Hammond pointed out, smiling.
Grant shook his head. "Yeah, but you know me. I don't put on airs." He greeted the trio warmly. "We're glad to have you aboard. Just call me "Alan"."
The three nodded in unison and then waited to hear from the next person sitting next to Grant.
"Glad you're all part of InGen. I'm Donald Gennaro, sometimes I function as John's attorney. I also represent the investors for the Jurassic Park project."
Hammond wore a wide smile, excited by how well everything was going. "Next!"
"George Lawala, I work alongside Robert Muldoon. I'm glad you three are here because now I'm not the newbie anymore."
Everyone had a light laugh at this, even Claire, Grady, and Masrani found that funny.
"I look forward to it," Grady said.
"We work directly with the park's residents as we like to call them. Never a dull moment and you learn something new every day," Lawala said. "Having you onboard is great for all of us. Right, Robert?"
Muldoon gave a curt nod. "Robert Muldoon, park warden." He spoke in his usual stoic manner. "Glad to have you with us."
"Geez, Robert, lighten up," Arnold said and then turned to the three new InGen staff members. "I'm Ray Arnold and usually I'm the tense one in the group." He gestured at himself. "I'm the chief engineer of Jurassic Park. Welcome!"
"We're almost done," Hammond said. "You three must be starved—we have a special luncheon planned after this and that will give you all time to have a more in-depth meet-and-greet in the cafeteria. We've also planned for you to take a tour of the park."
"Sounds great," Claire said. "I believe you're Dr. Gerry Harding? You picked us up at the helipad."
Harding nodded. "That would be me, the veterinarian for the park's inhabitants."
Hammond looked around the room and his gaze landed on his two teenage grandchildren. "These are my two grandchildren, our target audience—kids!"
"You go first," Lex said.
"Ladies first," Tim responded.
Lex sighed and playfully hit her younger brother on his shoulder. "I'm Lex."
"And I'm Tim—and since no one said it yet—"
They opened their arms wide, gesturing outwardly to Grady, Claire, and Masrani. "Welcome to Jurassic Park!" Tim and Lex said in unison.
"So now you've met my staff, consultants, and grandchildren. It's good that you'll be staying on the island as it will give you a chance to become well acquainted with everyone. Oh, before I forget—here are your ID badges." He passed the three badges to Claire, Grady, and Masrani. All three eagerly clipped the ID badges on their clothes. "Now before I release you for lunch, you might've noticed there are two empty seats in this room." He gestured to the two unoccupied seats that were situated between Masrani and Malcolm.
The rest of the park staff knew the direction Hammond was going in. He had told them ahead of time how he wanted to approach this. Claire, Grady, and Masrani looked over at the two vacant seats.
"They are the only two people you won't be meeting today." Hammond passed two ID badges to Masrani, Claire, and Grady, who looked them over in a solemn manner.
"Who are they?" Claire asked.
Masrani picked up the first badge, while Grady checked out the second badge.
"The one Simon is holding, that's Dennis Nedry." Hammond paused as he considered his next words. "Dennis is the brilliant systems analyst responsible for the park's control systems. He developed it from the ground up."
"It's a hell of a system," Arnold added. "When you guys take the tour of our control room, you'll see what I mean."
Masrani nodded. "I'm very interested to see how this has all come together."
"And the second badge that Owen has in his hand, that's Henry Wu. Henry is the Miracle Worker of Jurassic Park. I'll never get tired of calling him that. Every animal on this island owes their life to him."
Grady passed Wu's ID badge to Claire, who looked thoughtfully at it. Then she placed it next to Nedry's ID badge as Masrani had just placed it down on the table.
"Now I realize that may sound exaggerated, but he really is the genius behind the genetic engineering that we've been doing here for years."
Silence filled the conference room as the current InGen staff listened to what Hammond shared about Nedry and Wu. They knew it was both difficult and healing for Hammond to speak about his two former employees, especially after everything that had happened in the past several years. After all this time he forgave them—and he had also forgiven himself. The peace he felt now was indescribably and necessary. It's what propelled him to move forward.
Claire, Grady, and Masrani would eventually learn about everything that had happened at the right time. In the here and now, Hammond wanted to keep the focus on Nedry's and Wu's contributions to Jurassic Park. When Hammond had first explored this with the park staff, they whole-heartedly agreed with the direction he wanted to take. No one talked him out of it or tried to steer him the other way. Not even Gennaro, who in the past, had blamed Nedry for the park remaining closed. Everyone agreed with Hammond that it was important to start with the positive aspects of both men—to focus on their successes and accomplishments.
"Although they aren't here, I want you to know who they are," Hammond said.
"Why aren't they here?" Masrani asked as he picked up Nedry's and Wu's ID badges again. Nedry's title was Project Supervisor. For Wu, it was Chief Geneticist.
"They've gone on different paths for now." Hammond's tone was somber as he looked at the three new hires.
"Different as in…?" Grady asked to clarify.
"They need to figure out what their next steps are."
A brief silence came upon everyone, and Malcolm jumped in, breaking it before it became tense. "They're on a leave of absence. It's been several months, but right now it may be indefinite."
Hammond mouthed thank you. Malcolm gave a half-smile and Hammond noticed that everyone appeared to remain neutral. He saw a solemn expression on Muldoon's face, Harding folded his hands, and Arnold looked up, curious to how the new employees would interpret Malcolm's sound explanation. Lawala made eye contact with Hammond as though to reassure him that he had handled the questions appropriately. Grant and Ellie gestured for him to continue and Gennaro glanced at them and then back at Hammond, confirming that he agreed with them. Tim and Lex waited patiently.
"Will they be coming back?" Claire asked. "I'd love to meet them."
"Same here," Grady said, passing the ID badges back to Hammond.
Masrani nodded in agreement. "It would make our experience complete."
"I appreciate that you want to know who they are," Hammond said. "They may or may not return, it's up in the air right now. The most important thing to know is that their expertise helped make my dream possible."
Hammond reflected inwardly as he held the two ID badges. It seemed like ages ago when he had first interviewed and hired them for their respective positions as project supervisor and chief geneticist. So much had changed since that time. Betrayal and broken relationships. The road to redemption and healing for Nedry, Wu, and Hammond was full of missteps, twists, and turns. Thankfully though, all three men had gotten to the point where they could part ways on a mutually respectful basis. It wasn't permanent either. It might be temporary—Hammond let that be each man's choice though. Even if Nedry and Wu never returned to InGen, Hammond still appreciated everything they had done for InGen in creating Jurassic Park.
And he would never let their contributions fall to the wayside.
He placed their ID badges on the table in front of him. The photos showed younger versions of Nedry and Wu. Hammond thought of who they were when he first met them, their individual journeys, and who they were now. A tear almost escaped, and he wiped his cheek. Now was not the time for sadness and regrets—there was so much to be grateful for, to celebrate. His dream of opening Jurassic Park to the world was on the verge of becoming reality. On that note, he smiled brightly at everyone seated in the conference room and decided to close the meeting on a positive note.
"The door is always open for them if they wish to return. No matter what, Dennis Nedry and Henry Wu will always have a home here in InGen and Jurassic Park."
-The End-
Author's Notes: Wow! It's finally done. The sequel that took ten years to come up with any ideas for, was written in a year's time, and then took almost another year to post it. I want to express my gratitude to all my readers for taking the time to read my fic. I hope you enjoyed the story. Thank you to those who left comments, kudos, bookmarked/favorited/alerted/subscribed to it. It truly means a lot to me.
I was initially nervous about writing a sequel because I didn't think it was possible for it to live up to its predecessor. However, I gave it a shot, and overall, I'm pleased with how it turned out. I remember one reader asking if this would turn into a trilogy like Reign of Chaos (RoC) did. There was never a plan for this to become a trilogy. Even the original RoC wasn't meant to become a trilogy, but the story revealed itself as I wrote it—and I went along with it.
This sequel was far different. I wanted it to be focused on Nedry and Wu and them having to deal with the after-effects of their betrayals, and Hammond coping with the knowledge that not one, but two employees, had betrayed him. I thought of writing the actual Biosyn team kidnaps Tim and Lex storyline to go along with this—but then I figured it would be best to keep the focus on Nedry and Wu. It's why the original title of the fic was A Tale of Two Traitors. Ultimately, I wanted to tie up all the loose ends: what happens to Nedry after he leaves Isla Nublar, Hammond's reaction to finding out everything, and Wu searching for redemption—and of course, Dodgson and the Biosyn team finally getting their long overdue comeuppance.
I'm sure readers recognize various characters mentioned in the story that appear in the Jurassic World trilogy, Camp Cretaceous, the video games, and the comics. When I write JP fanfic, I love imagining everyone existing in the same timeline—all the characters from the novels, movies, comic books, video games, and t.v. shows. I also love sprinkling Easter Eggs! (Although some references are obvious and cheesy!) Sometimes I'm unable to preserve the character as they were originally portrayed, so I find other ways to include them. Also, to give credit where credit is due: Nedry's hometown being Lansing Michigan, I found this on Jurassic Pedia. Wu remembers Hammond telling him that helping mankind is risky business, which is straight from Michael Crichton's novel Jurassic Park.
I'm not sure if I'll write anything else after this. There's always the idea of Jurassic Park opening to the world and what could happen if it became a possibility. Knowing me though, I'd rather just focus on the minor characters of Jurassic Park. It's what I love writing most, it's my niche. If anything, I have ideas for a spin-off showcasing Wu's and Nedry's friendship as they try to rebuild their lives. Time will tell if I get around to writing that fanfic. I'll keep an open mind, and to my readers, be on the lookout just in case.
Thank you again for joining me on this journey! I hope you'll join me on the next one!
-Sassy Lil Scorpio