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Chapter Text

July 2, 1993

When one considers that time is always moving forward, one might agree that nothing can ever truly be 'dead' when it comes to progress or events. If one were to explore the Hammond household, they would find that in fact it is the opposite. The very nature of progressing forward had been forgotten in the last few weeks. And it was no clearer to anyone in the family than it was to Robert Hammond.

Growing up had been an easy enough affair. An eccentric grandfather who would take him out to his game preserve in Kenya, a loving set of parents and of course that one cousin that he always hated during the holidays and every time otherwise. The only real disruption to his perfect life was the addition of his siblings. Robert did not despise them, on the contrary he adored them. He helped Lex figure out how to operate computers as they became more mainstream and available to the public, he took Tim to the local bookstores to get the latest dinosaur books by Dr Alan Grant. It was a simple life.

The problem he now faced was for once in his life as the big brother he did not know what was wrong with his younger siblings. Lex had become withdrawn; Tim did not want to go and buy a new dinosaur book. In fact, anytime the extinct creatures were brought up in private they would clam up and actively avoid him for a while. When he confronted his parents, who magically were putting off all talks of divorce proceedings now, they too would avoid the questions and pretend he had asked them about something else.

That is how Robert found himself currently standing in his grandfather's study, arms crossed, face set, and eyes narrowed on the old man as he began to set out papers and plans on a table. It was only two months after his high school graduation, he had intended to be heading out and enjoying his freedom before college, but family would always take priority.

"I suppose I should have seen this coming," his grandfather began, unfurling a large schematic. "I told them that keeping it from you would be a mistake, far too curious and caring for this to have worked. Funny, your own mother said that you'd get the hint, but I suppose that stubbornness is a family trait for us all."

Robert was not amused. The teen sighed, stepping over to his grandfather to offer him some help "I just don't like feeling useless is all. It's pretty hard to sit back and watch my siblings act like a bunch of zombies and not even know the reasons why."

"I know, I know. But you must understand everything to really know just what it is that haunts them so much." John gave his oldest grandchild a pat on the back, "Why don't you take a look, tell me what you see?"

Robert gave the older man a wary look. His grandfather had this way about him, like everything was one massive surprise or gift just waiting to be opened. "Alright, fine, but I don't know what uh...are these building plans?"

"Correct."

"And these are...related to why Lex and Tim are so withdrawn?" At the sad nod he turned his attention back to the schematics. The designs were simple to follow and looked like a visitors' center and research laboratory. "I'm guessing this isn't as simple as it appears?"

"You would unfortunately be right. I was building another park...a special park, on a tropical island in the Pacific Ocean of all places. It would have been spectacular, oh how I wish you had seen it!"

Robert gave his grandfather a small smile. There was the old man he had grown up knowing. The kind and eccentric grandfather who for all his money just wanted to make his family happy and preserve nature at the same time.

"Gramps, what kind of animals did you have on this island? I know you, and I know my little annoyances I call siblings, they would not be reacting so badly if it were just some lions and crocodiles you had brought out there. I cannot even imagine just what it was, I mean...what sort of animals were you going to display that would need the heat of the tropics?"

John slowly handed a weathered journal to his grandson. "I had this with me while I was over there, took notes on the different species, even kept a few photographs attached for some of the individuals."

Robert carefully opened the journal. Its binding was a little dull, the covers showing some signs of water damage. But the contents were intact. As he slowly began to speed up his thumbing through the pages, his eyes moving erratically from image and words on one page to the next, his eyebrows slowly rising before he reached the end of the journal. "You...you, did it? That little dream Timmy had...you actually did it?"

"I did."

"Why did you do this?"

"Because what better way to both preserve nature and make my grandsons happy than if I brought an extinct species back to life?" John waved his hand across the table, gesturing at the blueprints for the parks systems, and finally at the journal in Robert's hands "All of this, all of that, was meant to make the world see just how incredible life on this planet is. How small we are in the presence of real giants, and how it is to feel that childlike awe and wonder without needing to see something shiny and new...but old and majestic. That is why I did it."

"Because of us...so all this time...you mean they were on the island and…"

John gave a solemn nod of his head. Many things could have been avoided had he just listened to what was clearly around him. "I ignored the signs, put my grandchildren, my workers and innocent people at risk all because I wanted this to be done just in time for you."

"Hold on...for me?"

"Yes, your birthday in fact. It was going to be a gift for your graduation as well though now that part is...less than adequate."

Robert couldn't help but scoff at that "One way of putting it. Ok...so the park was a failure then? Dinosaurs...dinosaurs walk the earth again for the first time in millions of years and...no one else will ever know it?"

"That's not entirely true actually."

"Come again?"

"Ingen. You. Myself. Your siblings. Your parents. As well as the survivors...we all know the truth. But why should this be the last we hear of them?"

Robert glanced back at the journal then up at his grandfather "You are offering that I... rebuild the park? I... I mean...I am excited at the idea of seeing these animals alive and in the flesh but what makes you think that I could ever rebuild something so controversial and chaotic?"

"Precisely because of that. Chaos. You have thrived in it; you create it just by being present. The trouble you've gotten up to as a lad, and the trouble you continue to get up to now as a young man," Robert felt himself blush with embarrassment as his grandfather's pointed look found him "I was a fool to not bring in the experts from the beginning, but this time...this time I think you are just what the park needs."

Robert opened his mouth to protest, the pair were going to be locked in a debate for days if something did not interrupt them eventually. Thankfully, that interruption came in a single, nonchalant form.

"Yo, Bob! Your mom said you were going to be with the old man, we still up for our...beach trip?" Isaac Clements. Best friend. Future roommate. Current Wingman. And just the sort of friend who would talk you into and seldomly out of a fun adventure. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Old man? Did he just call me old man?"

Robert waved his grandfather's complaints aside "It's Isaac, you get used to it after a while."

"No offense Mr. Hammond but you aren't exactly young anymore, pretty sure you could put my own grandfather to shame in the age department...no offense of course."

John Hammond huffed. Young Isaac was a bit more vocal and... flippant, but the boy did have a curious nature that would get him into trouble, no less evident than as his eyes roamed over the schematics for the park's facilities.

"I'm no engineering major...but this is clearly poor workmanship."

"Excuse me?" the Hammond men replied in unison.

"Yup. See this? Walls don't go all the way up in the command center, false ceilings of that size...that looks like enough coverage for you to crawl through sure, but if a water pipe leaks or the actual roof does well...you might be in trouble with the equipment there. And the security listings are a bit off too. Locking doors but only in a few areas and not widespread in staff only areas...and don't even get me started on some of these logistical issues you've got going on."

John gave his grandson a single inquisitive look. With a single shrug and a shake of his head Robert replied, "It's Isaac, I've stopped questioning how his brain works."

"You only say that because I make sense."

"Says the guy who can't remember the study guide we went over twenty times, yet somehow remembers every detail about his ex-dates."

"Details, who needs them?"

John chuckles, shaking his head at the boys' antics. Both graduates, both going off to college together and both just as likely to stir up trouble as when they were young. "Ah, to be young and foolish again."

"Don't you just mean, young, in your case?"

"I am still young enough to give you a good whack with my cane."

"Isn't child abuse frowned upon in... roughly ninety percent of the planet?"

The two Hammond men turned to their companion.

"What? I know he is used to getting hit, bumping into things, falling, and of course failing in certain aspects...but hey, long as I can't be arrested for aiding in abuse of a minor, I am good with the free entertainment."

Isaac caught the look in his best friend's eye. Something that years of getting into trouble afterward had taught him. When Robert looks like he is thinking or like he has won the lottery...chances were, you did not want to be near him.

"Ok, yeah, no, I know that look. I am out, peace, nice seeing you Mr. Hammond."

Isaac didn't even make it to the door.

"How'd you like to go to the tropics for vacation?"

"Excuse me? Tropics? Like...tropical tropics? Pacific tropics, right? Not the jungle tropics of Brazil or the Congo? Those tropics? Like beach tropics?"

Robert gave a single nod of his head.

"Details."

Robert motioned his grandfather to start the explanations for the pair of them in his stead. "Well...I have a sort of business proposal I have made for my grandson; he seems to be a bit hesitant, but I believe that it could work."

"Ok, ok, but Isaac is still missing details here."

"I am getting to them," John huffs "Honestly, is he always like this?"

"You should see him on a bad day, I can't get him to shut up."

Isaac pouts, glaring at his friend for the verbal diss.

"Anyway...as I cannot keep it a secret any longer, I have purchased five islands from the Costa Rican government as a sort of graduation and birthday gift for young Robert here. About two-hundred miles southwest of the mainland to be precise, it is mostly jungle in places though the diversity of the foliage is astounding, and the views are absolutely breathtaking."

"Uh huh...ok...jungle islands...tropical climate...breathtaking views...please tell me there is a beach and resort plan in the future?"

"Actually, we were thinking more of a park." John chuckles as Isaac appears to be crushed. His eyes widened comically, jaw hanging open slightly. "You see, I was hoping that what I failed to do, my grandson and quite possibly you as well could succeed in doing."

Isaac turned to Robert "Is the old geezer being serious or am I being punked?"

Robert ignored his grandfather's complaint of 'old geezer, am I?' and shook his head "Not in the slightest man, and he might just be onto something. You see, this might just be the biggest opportunity the world ever sees."

"What? Come off it, it is nineteen-ninety-three, in a few years cell phones might be more than just a big bag with a phone inside. What could be bigger than that?"

"Oh, I don't know...maybe a T. Rex."

Isaac studied Robert's face for any sign of deception. None of his usual tells were present...but there was no way he wasn't joking about this. ...right? To make things worse, even the old man was nodding along with his grandsons' words. They both had to be in on some form of secret joke.

"Not cool man, not cool. A Rex...good attempt but seriously, not cool."

Robert hands him the journal. He only wished he had a camera on hand to preserve the memory of the facial expression Isaac Clements adopted as he flipped through the pages.

"You...you are both serious? Seriously?"

"As serious as you are about rocking that ridiculous afro of yours in college...seriously, cut that thing."

Isaac brought his free hand up protectively patting his fro "No one disses the fro, not even you."

"Not even if I was signing your checks in the future?"

"Checks?" That got Isaac's attention "How big are we talking?"

"Depends on how much we make. Could be hundreds, thousands, even millions you make in a week or a month. Who is to say?"

"Uh, me? Obviously!" Isaac turns his attention back to the senior citizen in the room "Ok, I am in! Where do I sign?!"

"All in due time," John responds "Of course, we will need to make sure we are prepared this time. Experts will need to be brought in, supplies acquired, samples collected and of course we will also need the dinosaurs as well."

Robert glanced at the park designs again "Didn't you say that Mr. Muldoon was on a 'vacation' recently? And I know that you would not start anything this big with electronics without Mr. Arnold either."

"Both were on the island with us," John turned to address Isaac "Robert Muldoon was my game warden in Kenya, no one better to head up security on the island either. He suffered some minor injuries whilst attempting to deal with the Velociraptors. He will be in physical therapy for a week more I think he said, but he should be eager to get back to work and of course with his paranoia he will trust no one else to oversee the handling of security where the dinosaurs are involved. As for Ray Arnold, he has been a trusted employee and he knows his way around computers better than anyone. Long as we do not have a repeat performance we should be fine there."

"Repeat performance?" Isaac hesitantly asked.

"Hurricane, dinosaurs on the loose and from what I am guessing a bad employee or two." Robert gave his grandfather a sideways glance "How much of that is accurate?"

"All of it I am afraid," John looked visibly tired, exhausted even as his mind wandered back "Dennis Nedry shut down the power, stole several samples of our embryos and then ran off and got himself killed. Dinosaurs were on the loose and with the storm we could not go out and make any repairs or undo the damage done to the system that he had caused. But that will not happen here, not again, not this time."

"Really, really, not liking this dreary mood...I mean...I'm all for this of course but uh...are we sure that we can do this safely?"

"Safely? No promises. Carefully? Yes." Robert shrugs "Not like we had any plans for our summer break."

"Beaches, babes, and no work until September ninth."

"Young Isaac's um...proclivity towards the female population aside, there is the matter of your education to discuss."

"What's to discuss?" Isaac asks, "We go to these islands, I'm thinking until mid-August, then come back and go to school until next summer vacation."

"Except we would be wasting time...Isaac? How do you feel about studying abroad?"

Isaac did not waste time thinking his response over "All for it. Foreign girls are amazing, but we already registered and have our dorm room assigned, not to mention the money we paid too…you are already thinking of how to fix that aren't you?"

"Hey gramps? You still have those contacts in London, right? The professors and tutor's mom once ranted about...think they would be up for two new students?"

Isaac raised his hand "Uh yes, hello, question right here? Are you really considering us going to London for private tutoring when we could just hop on the plane, and settle down at MIT instead?"

"Yes," Robert responds sharply "Isaac, think for a second man. The two of us are easily going into college for business associates, and potentially you could go for an engineering major after that analysis. If we are going to run this kind of a park without anyone knowing about it before we open, we need to be incognito."

"So, your idea of laying low is to be surrounded by the private tutors in jolly old England while simultaneously creating the park, did I follow all of that correctly?"

"About as accurately as I could," John supplies "Now, are you both committed to this? I will not hold it against you boys if you decline now, nothings been signed or approved yet."

"Well...Bob covered our education adjustments...but do we even have a construction crew or funding? Not to mention the scientists that we will need."

"As I said before to you both young Isaac-"

"Just call me Isaac old timer."

"As I said before," John narrowed his eyes at the young upstart. "We have a head of security and our main technical chief, what we are lacking now are the scientists and the paleo experts. Now, I have a few people I could call about this and someone who could assist in finding the rest to fill out our numbers quite nicely. On the matter of construction, I do have a private company on my payroll, the owner is young, but he is an honest worker by the name of Eddie Carr. Smart, engineering major, and he has overseen my other projects that were not dinosaur related. If anyone can do the job we need, and not cut corners, it is him and his company."

"Ok...good credentials no doubt, and the funding?" Robert made a 'get on with it' motion with his hands "You're starting to prattle gramps."

"Well, I would be happy to sign your check over to young Isaac here, grandson, if you are in such a rush to just get the job done and not be paid."

"And you know that I will absolutely take that extra paycheck." Isaac's grin made Robert roll his eyes "Not like you'd use your half of the money for anything useful man."

"Ingen still thinks they have ownership over the animals and the islands. The truth is that Isla Nublar is on loan from the Costa Rican government, and the dinosaurs there are in fact all theirs; but that is all they technically own. Since Henry Wu is not returning my calls, I can only assume that he has gone underground after the disaster at the park, which means we are lacking a chief geneticist as well as most of the data on the dinosaur's genetic code. Now, the funding will not be coming from Ingen, I just want to get that out of the way first. Instead, it will be my private foundation, the Hammond Foundation, which shall be funding this project and future endeavors."

"Hammond Foundation?" Robert asks, "Is that the same foundation that you refused to ever elaborate on when dad would ask you about your nature preserves and where that money came from?"

"Must you keep doing that?"

Robert blinked "Doing what?"

"He probably doesn't like how you keep asking a question and answering it all in one breath," Isaac shrugs. "You get used to it; teachers hate him for it but since he aces his tests, they don't really say anything since he makes them look good."

"Regardless, I will make some calls, will you boys be staying for lunch? We could discuss more of the details then."

Isaac and Robert shared a look. Isaac's growing frown and sigh of defeat marking the end of the silent debate the two had. "Yeah, sure old timer, lunch would be good. Ow! Hey!"

"Guess my hand slipped, just so hard to keep track in my old age," Robert chuckled as he watched his elderly grandfather whack Isaac in the leg with his cane and just use his age as an excuse. Isaac was in for trouble considering that is where Robert learned most of his 'innocent' behavior.

Isla Matanceros: August 13, 1993

Isaac Clement shielded his eyes as he lay in his hammock. It had been a month since he and Robert Hammond had arrived at the island chain his friend now officially owned. Las Cinco Muertes. The Five Deaths. A name that if you had asked Isaac for his opinion was far too dramatic and foreboding for this to be a good idea. Unfortunately for him the money was going to be good and the idea itself was much more realistic considering it had been done before.

Over the last month the pair had overseen the arrival of construction equipment as well as personnel hired by Eddie Carr. Primarily, Eddie was more suited to dealing with vehicle maintenance and creation but given the diversity of his company and the skill sets of his staff, he believed that he could have the park constructed within a year or two.

"Napping again Isaac?" The 'charming' voice of reason was Robert. "You know that we have to be packed by tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah, I know, and you know that I am already packed...I just got comfy with this thing though."

Robert glanced back down the grassy hill. The construction crews had done quite a lot more than he had anticipated. Their first few days were spent with a half-finished dock which until recently had remained half-finished due to storms blowing through the area. The primary staff housing facilities had been completed mostly for the construction crews to use until their stay was at an end. This week had been the beginning of their fencing project for the perimeter of the island.

"Look at it, all of this in a month, visitors center and labs could be finished before September comes around...we are really doing it Isaac."

"Yeah, that's great Bob, now if you could just let me study the inside of my eyelids that would be great." Isaac yelped, his face hitting wet grass as Robert's laughter filled the air. The rich kid had flipped him out of his hammock. "This means war y'know."

"Yeah, I figured it would, but that was so worth it to hear you yelp dude."

"Just you wait Bob, I'll get my revenge, you'll see!"

"I'm sure you will, now come on, we have to give the place a once over walk around before we go, could be that you might see something that none of us did in the layout."

"Sometimes I think your grandfather just let us work together so I would be the one being punished with work," Isaac grouches as the two descend the hill "Just remember, I get final say on where my hotel is when the first one is finished."

"I'll make sure that one is well removed from any good views."

Chapter Text

December 15th, 1993

"Remind me again why we are spending our winter break from that harpy of a tutor in San Diego, and not the beaches of San Diego?"

Robert Hammond pinched the ridge of his nose. A few months of schooling privately in London should have been a simple thing. One flight across the Atlantic, a few months getting an education from a few old professors of his mother's and then back to the eternal grind that was running a dinosaur park. Simple, right?

"Isaac for the last time, we need to be here for the meeting." Robert stressed the importance as best he could, truly he did, but Isaac seemed to fail in seeing the bigger picture sometimes. Ironic given he was a business major. "Look, this should be quick and easy, then you can go to the cold beaches and ogle the seals. Should have the same effect as regular women if you just imagine you are a hungry shark on land or something."

"Not even on your best day would that ever be funny or make sense."

"Will you just hurry up and move? Meeting is in five, and I would like to not be the last one there."

"Well, it would be a lot faster if this were a movie theater or, I don't know, not a business meeting? Do we even know who is supposed to be there?"

Robert sighed "You, me, my grandfather, and a few experts both new and old." The pair came to a set of mahogany doors. John Hammond may have been getting on in years and Ingen may have cut him loose, but he still had his own residence and quite the extensive catalog of resources at his disposal. "We are here."

Isaac Clement assumed that any 'business meeting' would involve old dudes in suits talking about profits, expenses and generally saying and doing nothing to help whatever the problem was. When he walked through those doors, he naturally found John Hammond easily enough but that was the only thing that was as expected. What he and Robert found was something much different than either of their initial thoughts. The large wooden table in the center of the room had plenty of seating, and more than enough people as it was to entertain. He recognized a forty something year old man dressed in black and looking more like a rockstar than anyone of a 'respectable' profession as his old man would put it. That was Dr Ian Malcom, chaotician, likely crazy, and a lot more interesting than a boardroom meeting.

"Well, well, you're hiring kids now John?" The good doctor speaks up from his chair, his ever present frown twitching upwards briefly "That's uh…I want to say 'dangerous' but we've all seen what dangerous really is."

Robert Hammond scanned the room. He recognized the technician Ray Arnold, a lit cigarette in hand, his grandfather's favorite game warden Robert Muldoon with his hat on his lap by the old man's side, as well as the three doctors in the room. Ian Malcolm, as unpredictable and strange as in his lectures, Ellie Sattler, the leading figure of a paleobotany field that was only just now gaining some traction; and of course, Alan Grant, the paleontologist that he and Tim never shut up about as kids to John. Granted, Tim was still a child but the love for the man's work had been well ingrained in his head.

"I don't suppose we should point out the obvious elephant in the room…right?"

Robert rolled his eyes "I don't think now is the time for that comment Isaac."

"But later, definitely later, right?"

"If young Isaac is finished trying to provoke our resident rockstar," there was a glint of mischief in the old man's eyes as he spoke "I believe we are almost ready to begin this meeting."

"Begin?" Dr Grant looked puzzled as he gestured at three empty seats at the table "We are short a few people John."

"Correct, but rest assured they will be here shortly. Just a few minutes more is all that I ask."

"A few minutes he says; you know John I'm starting to think that you did learn something about being prepared."

Isaac looked ready to jump up and continue Ian's verbal jabs at the old man. Was it childish? Naturally. Did Isaac care? Not in the slightest. It was only due to Robert having a hand on his shoulder that he didn't actually get out of his seat. The doors opening again may have also helped things a little bit. Isaac could clearly see three new faces joining their numbers, one white, one black, one of Indian descent…he blinked, rubbing his side discreetly, eyes cutting to Robert who just shook his head.

"Ah, good, now we are all here." John smiled as he stood, ushering the newcomers to take a seat "Any complications young Cabot?"

"No sir," Cabot, a relatively young man though Robert and Isaac were sure that he was older than them by a few years. "I did exactly as you asked and with quite the satisfying results if I may say so myself."

"Good, very good," Robert watched his grandfather sit back down, his signature cane by his side "Now then…to business. As I am sure you are all aware, InGen has seen fit to…replace me. Effective immediately in fact. As for why I have asked you all to come here, though some required more convincing than others, was for a…well, a 'business venture' is one way of looking at it but I believe the real mind behind this would use something a little more…relatable? Is that the word, young Isaac?"

Isaac brought his hands up "Don't be looking at me, I'm just the friend of the guy in charge, not the actual brains of the operation."

"Hmm yes, you have a uh…remarkable way with words there Isaac." Isaac gave the older chaotician a pointed look "But uh, what I want to know, and everyone wants to know is how can you guarantee that the problems of the last island won't happen again?"

Ian shrugged when he received several mixed reactions to his question ranging from confusion to incredulity.

"What? John knows that none of us are going to sign off on his scheme this time around without convincing, and from the looks of it the new kids don't know every detail either."

Robert and John shared a look. The younger Hammond sighs as he stands up, getting all eyes on him now "Dr Malcom, I understand your concerns; believe me when I say that what happened was a horrible accident."

"Accident?" the biting tone of Dr Grant cut him off "An 'accident'? Is that all it was? I would assume that the loss of a few dozen lives, potentially even more had things been different, would be more than just an 'accident' especially here, when you are trying to start over and get us on board."

"Accident is what it is, Dr Grant. I've read the reports, I have listened as my younger siblings cried themselves to sleep because of the nightmares. Because of what they went through, what they saw, what they heard…that is why I want to do this properly. No cut corners. No greed. No excuses." Robert looked the older man in the eyes, daring him to challenge him "Whether or not you all agree matters little in the end. If you all decide to not hear us out here and now, if you all choose to leave this buried in the past then we shall abandon it but understand that someone else will try where we failed. And they won't be asking the experts, they'll ask anyone willing to cut down their price and that can get the job done enough to be profitable."

"Kid's got a backbone at the least, I'll give him that." the dark skinned man beside Cabot spoke up with a gruff chuckle.

"I say we hear him out." Robert felt himself calming down now. Muldoon was a trusted employee for his grandfather, and a man who had his respect as well "The boy is right, what happened on Nublar was an accident. We all signed the waivers, we knew the risks, but we didn't expect that one of our own would turn traitor and nearly get us all killed now did we? I say that we hear him out, let him say his piece and then we can decide for ourselves on what to do."

"Thank you," Muldoon gave the kid a simple curt nod of his head "As I was saying…the events of Isla Nublar were an accident, wholly avoidable had corners not been cut and the proper precautions been taken. Just so there is no confusion as to what we intend to do here…we hope to revive Jurassic Park, properly this time, and bring these creatures back into the spotlight as it were for the world to see. Not to be abused by greedy corporations or to prance about for the military or whoever else might take an interest. And yes, Dr Malcom, I have read your book cover to cover and thought about every possible outcome as far as interested parties go."

Ian looked impressed, or as impressed as a sarcastic professor could look "John…I'll admit I was skeptical of the park at first, and rightfully so! However, you have someone here who seems interested in not making a mistake. Where'd you find him?"

"If we can try to stay on track here, Doctor, that would be appreciated." The chaotician brought his hands up in surrender "Each of you has a skill set that would be beneficial in this endeavor. Mr. Arnold and Mr. Muldoon of course are experts in their own field and already have experience with what the Park would require. Dr Sattler, should she agree, would be our botanist and of course have final say in any and all plant life introduced to the islands and altered for the animals environmental needs. Dr Grant, as paleontologists go you are both a favorite of my younger brother and myself however it is your knowledge and care for the fossils you dig up that makes you our first choice; your job would be to dig up the fossils and amber so that we can extract the DNA and thus bring these animals back to life." Robert gestured at the three new faces with a touch of uncertainty on his face "I don't quite know what you three can bring to the table, but every bit of help would be appreciated."

"Modest, intelligent, and not above asking for help? Are we sure that the kid is actually a Hammond?"

Isaac chuckled as he noticed a twitch in his best friend's brow as the chaotician kept making his comments.

"Well, I think that is where I come in," Cabot chuckled as he stood up "First up, my name is Cabot Finch, I am a businessman primarily which is why Mr. Hammond brought me on to handle the finances of the park once its up and running of course. Until then, I handle the recruitment and scouting of potential employees such as these two beside me."

Robert observes the two. The dark-skinned man seems professional enough, carries himself like Muldoon does, potentially he might have some training. The young woman however looks a little nervous, but nonetheless she carries herself with some pride.

"The man beside me is George Lambert; he comes highly recommended from his superiors in the military, two tours, and a trained sniper. Perfect for our Security Division."

"Division you say?" Muldoon frowned at Cabot "You expect me to believe, military or not, that he knows anything about what these animals can do?"

"I…I never said that," Cabot chuckles nervously "Mr. Muldoon, sir, I was made aware of your record as a Game Warden in Kenya ad your experience and recommendations regarding the dinosaurs, no one is trying to replace you but Mr Lambert is…"

"Able to speak for himself, thank you Cabot." Lambert turns his gaze to Muldoon "I'll overlook the incredulity of your comments for now. My job here is to be part of the Security Team. I'm trained as a sniper, my record speaks for itself, but ultimately my job is the protection of the people and the dinosaurs themselves. If you have a problem with me, sir, after seeing how I operate on the job then that's fine. I'll resign and return my last paycheck right then and there."

Muldoon gives a short nod, his arms crossed as he eyes Lambert up "Tell me something, will you be making judgment calls based on that paycheck, or will you make the calls based on the situation at hand?"

"Always the situation sir, money can be earned any time but once a life is lost it won't come back again."

Robert quirked a brow as Muldoon looked to him and gave a single nod of respect. It looks like George Lambert was in.

"Right…uh…well, the young lady here is Kajal Dua. She actually is somewhat of a genius prodigy, graduated early from MIT in fact, and is quite gifted when it comes to genetic research and know-how. Seeing as Doctor Wu is no longer available for whatever reason, I think she could be good as part of our Science Division."

"MIT?" Dr. Grant looks curious now, sharing a glance with Ellie "So you managed to get through Highschool…and then college, all within…roughly a year of eachother, while doing courses for both at the same time?"

"For the most part…sorry Dr. Grant, but when I went to school, I had read up on both you and Dr. Sattler at length," she admits shyly "I had not expected when Cabot approached me that I would be working alongside either of you or Dr. Malcom as well."

Ian waved her off with a friendly smile. He liked the energy, that authentic awe and shyness, but when it came to this idea and those animals, he had his doubts. "Don't worry about that. But uh…maybe you could tell us just why you are here? Georgie here makes sense given his, um, background. But you? You are a little young for this don't you think?"

"Admittedly I am young, no younger than Isaac or the young Mr. Hammond are, but I know my stuff, and of course I will take whatever you say into consideration if not outright."

Ian smirked "Well…I'm not completely convinced this will work out John. But…but I think this might have some merit to it. No cut corners, no lazy programmers, and no corporations trying to take over?"

Robert nods his head "Right on all counts. The Hammond Foundation will oversee the funding as well as payment for all of you. Sooner we are up and running in some capacity the better, however I will not allow us to hasten our work. These animals, the safety of our guests and staff, it is all equally important to me."

"What Rob is trying to say is…are you in or out Doc?"

"Yes well, I can already tell that Cabot here and his two friends are in…I assume that Muldoon and Arnold are in as well…Dr. Grant? Dr. Sattler? Anything to add in?"

Alan shrugged "I have nothing to add. My digs will be paid for, I get to continue doing what I love and…if it is indeed true what you say about security, I'll have a nice cozy spot to watch these creatures just exist. I could easily say no to this…but something wants me to say yes instead."

Ellie rolls her eyes affectionately "You mean your inner child, Alan, the only child like quality you have is when discussing dinosaurs with anyone."

Alan shrugs while a few chuckles go around the room "What can I say? You can take the paleontologist away from the dinosaurs, but you cant take the dinosaurs away from the paleontologist."

John Hammond smiles, clapping his hands together "Well, now that that has been settled…let's get down to business then, shall we? Mr. Arnold, I trust that you and your team can get the systems for the park up and running in a timely fashion?"

"Without Nedry around to sabotage us at every turn? I think I can get the computers running within a few weeks, least for the visitor center. Programming everything else as it is added in depends on how long the construction takes and then a week or two for our end of things." Ray Arnold gave his boss a smirk "But if you allow us a few extra hands more than we had last time, provided they have been properly vetted too, it could be done much sooner."

"Excellent, excellent, and Robert?"

Muldoon and Robert look up in unison.

"Sorry, Muldoon, not you grandson. Robert, how long would it take you to call up our old security personnel?"

"A week." He says "I'll need more time however to fill in any positions left vacant should they side with Ingen instead of you sir, and there is also someone I want to recruit personally."

"Go on, who is it?"

"He's a big game hunter based in Africa, talented, very skilled marksman and tracker. Best hunter I've ever encountered. Thing is, I've heard recently that he has grown bored with hunting regular animals, man seems almost depressed by it. I wager that if I offer him the chance to be a part of the capture teams we'll have he might jump at the chance to tranquilize a Tyrannosaur."

"Long as he understands that lethal force will be allowed if and when they break out," Ian jests much to Hammonds disapproval "Just saying John, the dinosaurs have a habit of doing just that."

"Your reminder aside…Doctor Sattler, I won't ask how long you'll need for a team as your part of the job will be delayed until we are ready to make even one viable batch of eggs. However, do know that anything you will require shall be provided to you whether it be people or funding for botanical research."

Ellie seemed pleased to hear this while Alan beside her was smirking at the old man.

"And I take it that I will be on call then John? Should you ever require a team of diggers to go out and dig up the next specimen of course."

"Precisely," John smiles "In fact…Cabot? Could you bring me my files? They should be on my desk in my bedroom, please."

Robert watches as Cabot promptly leaves the room. He and Isaac exchange a glance. Just what was the old man up to now?

John smiles warmly as Cabot returns, a folder in hand "Thank you Cabot. Now…the largest issue we face of course is making the dinosaurs themselves. Right now, the only genetic samples we have are all incomplete, and of course top secret. Luckily for us, Ingen has no idea we have them and even if they did it would be a losing battle as at the time of their acquisition they were listed as an asset and thus property of the Hammond Foundation."

"So, what are we looking at exactly?" Isaac questions "What's the damage?"

"I'm getting to that part. The 'damage' as young Isaac so eloquently put it, is that we do not have enough samples nor complete genomes to effectively run the park the way we would want to. Right now, we have only four species in any sort of status to be used."

"Percentages grandpa, what's the percentages?"

"We have roughly twenty-five percent of a T-Rex genome, thirty percent of a brachiosaur, ten percent of a Triceratops and forty percent of the Dryosaurus. As of right now, Dr. Grant, those would be your top priority to dig up."

Alan hums in thought, leaning back in his chair "Not much to work with…and new fossils would just add to the collection of unfinished genomes…well, Hell Creek has plenty of specimens buried deep within it…but that's a lot more than we would be expecting. I could send my team to Morrison…but again there is no promises of an exact find John."

"We understand sir," Robert interjects before his grandfather can respond "We'll ensure your team arrives safely and compensate them for any trouble they encounter. Long as it gets done, we can't really complain."

John nods, watching his grandson step up a little into his new role "Now…next problem on our list. Construction. As of now I have a construction company run by an Eddie Carr on the payroll. He and his men are talented and hardworking, they'll cut no corners and ensure the park is built to our specifications. As for a veterinary team…that has been a little more difficult. Gerry Harding has agreed to return; however, he is a bit concerned about security. So, he will be staying away until the park is ready to receive not only additional staff but the dinosaurs themselves. Surprisingly enough he has only two requests for specific staff members, both of which are his daughters."

"I…I'm sorry, did you say 'daughters' John? As in more than just one?"

"Is that a problem for you Dr Malcom?" Arnold snarks "I thought you could handle a few kids after the last time."

"Hey now, kids I can handle, love kids, but um…by any chance is one of them a Sarah Harding?"

John looked confused. He expected young Cabot or even Ray to figure out who was who in his agenda and information but for Malcom to know…that did not bode well. "She is…she's actually an animal behaviorist, her father recommended her, and his younger daughter Jessica Harding be his assistants at the park once it opens."

"Well…that will be…interesting." Ian says, tugging at his shirt collar "Miss Harding is actually one of my students, granted I should say 'was' since Ingen has tried to keep us all quiet about the incident, and my reputation has been less than stellar at work."

"And here I thought she might be the next 'ex' Mrs. Malcom." Grant jokes lightly.

"Yes, well…no one can predict the future, but for now that is false."

Robert pinched the bridge of his nose. This meeting was starting to drag on. "If that's everything…"

"Quite right," John says "Ladies, gentlemen…I shouldn't have to warn you about how dangerous this line of work will be in the future, nor how groundbreaking it currently is. I expect great things out of all of you and…yes, Dr. Malcom?"

"Uh yeah…what's my role in all of this?" Ian looks around at the others "I mean…you hired experts and professionals in their fields, you already have a yes-man, and a new young boss to run things along with his sidekick…so why am I here?"

"Dr. Malcom, you told me once that life finds a way. You warned us at every opportunity, you predicted trouble would follow us and you were right."

"I…I'm sorry, can you say that again John, I don't think I quite heard you properly?"

"You were right." John admits again with a huff "Honestly…I would offer you a job at the park not to be a direct overseer but to be a voice of reason shall we say, in our young leader's ear. Tell him when you see or sense trouble, tell him when you think something is not possibly a good idea. Keep him grounded in the reality of the moment, not in the awe of it all."

"Right…so I just have to make sure that junior here doesn't do what you did? Sounds simple enough."

"Now…if there is nothing else?" John looks around the room, eyes scanning every face carefully, and narrowing as Isaac opens his mouth to speak before promptly shutting it "I believe we all have work to do, lives to get back to. I'll see you all in a few months for an update. Welcome, to the team."