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Chapter 5
The group had eaten their meal in silence, each not knowing what to say. So much time had passed since they had last been together that it was hard to strike up a conversation like old friends would. Lex and Tim’s minds were distracted by the fact that the three people responsible for keeping them safe were back in their lives again. Malcolm was worried for himself; well not entirely, he was worried that Sarah would actually show up. As for Ellie, her mind was on Alan who still laid on the couch unconscious.
“Why are you guys here?” Tim asked as he finished his sandwich.
“Your grandfather sent us to find you and bring you two home,” Malcolm answered.
“But, I would like to know why you two decided to come back here?” Ellie asked.
“It’s a long story. Let’s just stay with the word confidential,” Lex suggested.
“Confidential?” Ellie said shocked. Lex nodded her head.
“What do you mean confidential,” A voice said from behind them. They turn toward the couch to see Alan slowly stand. Ellie rushed over to him, but he brushed her away.
“I want to know what the hell is going on…
“Dr. Grant you’re up,” Tim commented as he tried to steer the conversation another way.
“Aren’t you observant. Also we’ll discuss the fact that you hit me later. Right now I want answers. I don’t care who explains, just tell me.”
Alan sat down at the table as Ellie pulled another chair up to the table and the three of them stared at Lex and Tim. The brother and sister exchanged glances before Lex took a deep breath and began to explain why they were on the island.
“B.C.D.” Lex stated
“Also known as biologically controlled dinosaurs. It’s an experiment started by our grandfather and Mr. Wu. They were hoping to stabilize the environment, so in fact people could visit…without being eaten,” Tim began to explain.
“Basically humans would create the dinosaurs and control them like a machine, but a living, breathing machine. Except the experiment isn’t completely finished…there are some minor…bugs,” he continued. The group stared at him in disbelief.
“Is your grandfather INSANE? Hasn’t he learned yet, you can’t control creatures. Didn’t almost dying and almost losing you guys have any effect on him whatsoever!” Alan yelled at the top of his lungs, as he jumped to his feet.
“Alan, don’t,” Ellie warned.
“This is stupid Ellie, I should have known better. This is exactly why I didn’t want to be here…” Alan was going to continued, until Lex interrupted him.
“Dr. Grant with all due respect…shut up. You wanted answers to why we were here, but when we begin to tell you, you start going crazy. So I’m asking you…wait, no I’m telling you to be quiet and listen, it is in your best interest.”
“Alan,” Ellie stated again as she gestured towards the chair. Alan sighed and sat back down, he didn’t like where this conversation was going to go and he had one bad headache to make matters worse.
“To tell you the truth, we believed the same thing you did Alan, but we loved our grandfather and would do anything for him. We figure it would be a few days to find some information and do some experiments. He gave us a few extra people, mostly military type. We were hoping to come here and prove his experiment wrong and leave the next day. Except, the problem was that the experiment actually did work. Our grandfather had manged to control a small baby dinosaur,” Lex explained.
“Let me guess what happened next. Nature stepped in and nice baby dinosaur, wasn’t very nice anymore?” Malcolm asked sarcastically. Tim and Lex nodded their heads yes.
“And once again you have chaos theory, thank you ladies and gentlemen,” he continued with a smile.
“No chaos theory, only a bunch of idiots who couldn’t keep their hands off,” Lex stated.
“What do you mean by that?” Ellie asked.
“The military people who went with us, messed around with the experiment and instead of creating another less dangerous dinosaur, like a “Brachiosaurus”, they created a compy with an attitude,” Tim explained.
“There’s a vision for you, attack of the compy times ten thousand,” Malcolm said off-hand.
“Don’t you ever say anything supportive?” Ellie asked.
“No, he can’t comprehend that idea,” Alan declared.
“Hey, at least I don’t keep getting knocked around,” Malcolm shot back.
“Is that an offer?” Alan asked as he stood.
“You guys are pathetic. You keep having the same argument that you had over ten years ago,” Lex stated as he stood up and marched away from the table.
“Next time my grandfather offers to save us, hopefully he won’t send you two,” Tim remarked as he pointed to Malcolm and Alan. Tim followed Lex out of the room, not wanting to speak to the people who had once risked everything to save him.
“You two need to try and accept each other, no one is asking you to be friends. Just get along for the sake of the trip. Or else the dinosaurs won’t be killing us, it will be myself, Lex and Tim killing you two,” Ellie spoke softly.
“Ellie…” Alan tried to continue since in his heart he knew this trip was wrong, but he also knew he was wrong.
“I’m going to go rest awhile, don’t kill each other,” Ellie said sternly before walking away from the table. Alan shook his head as he sat back down at the table. Malcolm decided to follow Ellie.
“What has happened here,” Alan said to himself.
Alan then noticed a folder sitting on the counter. He stood up and walked over to it. Against his better judgment, he picked it up and opened it. Inside were several papers that listed the experiments for the past several years. The file also contained the information and basic blueprints for B.C.D. Sitting back down on the chair he began to read the information. After several hours Alan felt his eyes starting to become heavy. He had read many reports, but some items were missing. It was if the experiment was a jigsaw puzzle and at least four corner pieces were missing. He sighed and leaned back against the chair.
“Is something wrong?” Ellie asked as she stepped into the room.
“No, I’ve just been reading the B.C.D information, and to say the least there is a lot of details,” Alan replied as he rubbed his tired eyes. At least he was in somewhat of a better mood.
“Does the experiment sound reasonable?” Ellie asked as she sat down next to him and looked at the papers, which were now scattered across the small table.
“It does on a theoretical standpoint…but there are too many gaps. Machines cause enough problems but to create living, breathing ones. It’s like creating…” Alan explains but couldn’t continue.
“The devil?” Ellie suggested.
“Something like that, just a whole lot bigger, and tougher,” Alan replied with a smile.
“Have the kids found any way to fix the problems?” Ellie asked softly.
“Not really…there are ways to improve and maybe one day create actually living, breathing machines. But, it is still a dream…dreams aren’t meant to be real. We wish they were, but they are just dreams,” Alan whispered.
“Why would
“For the same reason he created
“That is a very true statement, Alan. I wanted this place to show the world the good side of the dinosaurs, but that didn’t happen. Instead I found myself worrying about you and running for my life,” Ellie explained.
“Then why come back?” Alan asked.
“Maybe I’m looking for something here…I don’t know what it is, but my life hasn’t been the same since we first came to the island in 1993,” Ellie answered.
“That’s why I came,” Malcolm said as he entered the kitchen.
“And here I am thinking you came only for a free trip,” Alan stated with a smile.
“That too, but my ideal trip wouldn’t be to this island,” Malcolm shot back as he sat down. Alan and Ellie shared a quick laugh with each other.
“Not to sound mean or anything Alan, but you owe some people an apology,” Ellie commented.
“Nice change in subject,” Alan shot back with a smile. He sighed then continued.
“I know I do. I don’t know what is wrong with me recently. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, or maybe it’s because I really dislike this place, I just don’t know. But there is one thing I do know and that is I’m sorry. Especially to you,” Alan acknowledged as he looked at her.
“There’s the Alan Grant I know and love,” Ellie said with a smile.
“Thanks.”
“I’m waiting,” Malcolm said with a huge grin.
“For what?” Alan asked.
“My apology.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“Ellie said you owe some people an apology and you agreed and so doesn’t that entitle me to one also? Since you did hurt my pride and everything.”
“He is right, Alan,” Ellie commented with a smirk.
“Okay, here it goes. Ian you can… comprehend some things,” Alan said slowly.
“Close enough,” Malcolm said with a smile. The three of them shared a quick laugh.
“You guys want something to drink?” Ellie asked as she got up and headed over to the refrigerator and opened it.
“What do they have?” Malcolm asked.
“Water, soda, and a type of health drink,” Ellie said while looking inside.
“Water,” Malcolm and Alan said in unison. They looked at each other with surprised expressions on their faces. Ellie smiled and brought three waters over to the table.
“We should get the kids and call
“I agree and the sooner the better,” Malcolm said.
“We aren’t going anywhere,” Lex said from the hallway entrance.
“Lex, we promised your grandfather that we would find you and bring you home,” Alan stated.
“We aren’t leaving. I promised him that we would figure this experiment out,” Lex said.
“We don’t have time for this. Your grandfather is very sick, and he wants to see you and Tim before he…,” Alan started to explain but couldn’t finish.
“Before he dies. I know,” Lex said very quietly.
“Just give me two more days Alan, I want to be able to tell him that Tim and I tried the experiment and if we are lucky we saw it work. So I’m asking you as a friend to do this for me, please?” Lex asked.
Alan
took a deep breath,
then nodded his head in agreement. Two more
days to work out the “bugs” and try and make the experiment work. If
they failed, then they failed. But, with several brilliant minds, and some not
so brilliant they could understand the experiment.
“Anyhow, what is the worst that could happen,” Malcolm said to Alan.
“I can’t believe you said that,” Alan said.
“Don’t you know that is the worst line to say in deadly situation,” Ellie said.
“It’s a figure of speech,” Malcolm shot back.
“Okay, and when T-rex or any raptor is after you, don’t come crying to me or Ellie,” Alan said as he took another sip of water.
“You would just let me become dinosaur meat?” Malcolm asked.
“It would be quieter around here,” Alan said with a smile.
“Okay, why don’t we study the papers. Lex get your brother,” Ellie said as she broke up the banter.
“TIM!” Lex shouted down the corridor.
“I could have done that,” Ellie said between a giggle. Lex shrugged her shoulders and pulled a chair up to the table.
“What?” Tim asked groggily, his hair was sticking out in every place possible. Alan couldn’t help but smile. His memories took him back to just after Tim had been somewhat electrocuted.
“We’re going to work on the experiment, blanket head,” Lex said with a big smirk. Tim gave her a “drop-dead look” before trying to fix his hair.
“Well, it’s good to know you guys haven’t changed that much,” Malcolm said as he looked up from the paper he was reading.
“Same can be said for you three,” Lex said as she picked up a paper and began to read.
Several Hours Later:
“The information still doesn’t add up. Is there any missing information that your grandfather might have left out?” Alan asked as he leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Not that I can remember. He gave us the file and said if we need more information then it would be in the lab, but there were no papers,” Tim stated as he stretched his arms.
“I suggest we take a break and come back later, maybe we are missing something,” Malcolm suggested as he stood up and walked over towards the door.
“Where you going?” Ellie asked.
“I’m going to go play nice with the T-rex,” Malcolm said as he opened the door and went outside.
“Let’s make good on his suggestion,” Alan stated. As he sat up, he heard the muscle in his back crack. Ellie looked up at him with a concerned.
“I’m fine, just old age,” Alan said as he walked over to the barred window and looked out. Ellie stood up and walked over to him.
“I think I’m going to go and join Dr. Malcolm,” Lex said as she stood up and pulled on Tim’s arm.
“What?” Tim asked. Lex pointed to Alan and Ellie then pulled on his arm again, this time succeeding. She started to drag him towards the door.
“Let’s leave them alone,” Lex whispered as she opened the door and shoved Tim out.
“Do you think they’re up to something?” Alan asked as he heard the door slam.
“No, Lex just letting her imagination run wild,” Ellie commented as she stared out the window.
“I’m thinking that maybe we should go and look at the lab, maybe the kids missed something. Some type of information, it might be vital or something written on a chalkboard,” Alan declared.
“Who are you?” Ellie asked surprised.
“Excuse me?”
“Alan, you hated this idea and refused to even discuss the park after the first incident. Then after the second time you chose not to even acknowledge it. Now you want to go find the lab and see if the experiment even has the chance of being true,” Ellie explained.
“I don’t want the experiment to be true. Then again part of me does. Ellie, remember the first time we saw them? I couldn’t believe that a man created a dinosaur. Not some fake one, but a real breathing one that you could touch, smell, and see. And not counting the raptors, t-rex, and other creatures, it was still amazing to see them right in front of me,” Alan said.
“I felt the same thing when I first saw them too. But, that doesn’t help me forget running from a T-rex or not knowing where you were or the kids,” Ellie stated. Alan sighed.
“It was so weird when I went back the second time. Here was a group of people, seeing them for the first time. I watched Billy as an astonished expression came over him. He couldn’t wait to photograph them. I looked out the window and remembered every feeling that I had when I first saw them. But the thing that amazed me the most was watching the Kirby’s see a group of ANKYLOSAURS, CORYTHOSAURS, and BRACHIOSAURS. They were all together with the sun shining on them, and the awestruck expression on their faces made me realize that everyone should see this place,” Alan explained.
“Maybe the experiment will be able to work one day. And then millions of kids can come to either park and experience the same thing,” Ellie stated.
“That was my grandfather dream,” Lex said from behind them. Both Alan and Ellie jumped.
“We didn’t hear you come in,” Alan stated as he turned away from the window.
“Well, Dr. Malcolm is talking nonsense and it’s starting to rain. To say the least we might be here a while,” Lex said. It was then that Malcolm and Tim entered the room arguing about something.
“Chaos is a bunch of crap,” Tim said sternly as he sat down on the couch.
“No it is not. It makes perfect sense, nothing is controlled,” Malcolm stated as he joined Tim on the couch.
“But, that could also be fate, or just bad luck. Why chaos theory?” Tim asked as he made quotation marks with his hands.
“Tim, just stop,” Alan said as he walked over to the couch.
“But, it doesn’t make any sense,” Tim pointed out.
“When has Malcolm said anything that’s made sense?” Alan asked joking.
“You just can’t help yourself, can you,” Malcolm shot back as Alan sat down on the other couch. Alan shook his head no.
“Let’s make a deal,” Ellie stated as she joined Alan on the couch. Lex soon followed the lead and took a seat next to Ellie.
“Why don’t you two try to be civil for rest of the trip? No sarcastic remarks, no talks of chaos theory, or anything else,” Ellie continued.
“What else is there to talk about?” Malcolm asked with a strange expression on his face.
“Oh, I don’t know. Life, the experiment, etc,” Ellie suggested.
“That’s going to be hell,” Malcolm stated quietly.
“Well, maybe this island is exactly that,” Ellie shot back.
“So do you guys agree?” Lex asked after a few minutes of silence. Both men nodded their heads yes.
“What time is it?” Tim asked from nowhere.
“Hmm,
“No reason, I’m just hungry,” Tim answered, as he got off the couch and headed over to the refrigerator.
“I think we could all use something to eat,” Ellie stated as she followed Tim. The other three nodded and joined her a few seconds later.
“What’s for dinner?” Alan asked as he sat down at the table.
“How about some soup?” Lex suggested as she pulled out a few cans of soup.
“Sounds good,” Ellie stated as she sat down next to Alan.
Five
minutes later the group sat around the table eating dinner and discussing their
lives. The conversation went from Lex and Tim graduating high school, to
Ellie’s marriage and kids. They even manged to find out about
the new dig that Alan was working on. The thing that surprised them the
most was that Malcolm was arrested for causing problems, but he wouldn’t go
into details. Alan and Ellie had also
steered the conversation away from why they had broke up and gone separate
ways. Ellie also didn’t bring up the fact that she was divorced. She wanted to
personally tell Alan, but hadn’t found the right time. As the night wore on the
group found themselves talking about their first visit. Confessions of feelings
and wants came out from each member of the group.
“No offense to you guys, but I’m tired,” Alan stated as he
looked at his watch, it was already
“I agree, we should call it a…” Malcolm began to explain when they heard a sound.
“What was that?” Alan asked as he looked at the door. The sound came again and this time Malcolm and Alan pushed Ellie and the kids behind them.
“You guys stay behind us,” Alan stated as he and Malcolm moved towards the door.
The handle on the door shook a few times and memories of raptors flooded everyone’s minds. With no weapons in hand and nowhere to go, the group was about to meet whatever nasty creature waited behind the door. Then with a crack the door opened, the group closed their eyes and prayed. Alan opened his eyes first and what he saw left him speechless. Inside the doorway was….
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