Jurassic Park: Loose ends

Jurassic Park: Loose ends

Prologue

As the rescue helicopter moved frantically in circles just off the coast of Isla Nublar, Dr Alan Grant manically tapped the buttons on the on-flight radio and screamed down the radio.

“This is Dr Alan Grant, we are going down I repeat we are going down, requesting immediate assistance, someone talk to me!” he shouted at the radio. He looked around him to see everyone in the helicopter terrified. Mr Hammond looks at Dr Grant in fear. In his eyes they both knew it was game over. Rescue wouldn’t make it. Dr Grant heard a scream. He turned to look at the pilot.

“They’re coming back!” the pilot screamed as a Teradactyle plunged into the helicopter, its beak like a knife cutting into the cockpit and dragging the pilot out. Dr Grant looks with horrific epiphany and turns to see the cold, blue merciless water racing towards them. As soon as they hit the water the helicopter was engulfed by the water. Dr Grant closed his eyes as the water poured into the helicopter, all he could think about was the first time he’d stepped onto Isla Nublar and his amazement at seeing the creatures he’d spent his whole life admiring right before his eyes. Then the water swallowed everything up and the helicopter sunk to the murky depths of the sea.

Chapter 1

Shamus O’Connor closed his eyes relishing the cool sensation of his ice cold Jack Daniels going through him. Costa Rica had always been his favourite place. Good drinks, good food, good place for jobs as well. Ever since he’d left the army and became a mercenary he’d always come to Costa Rica for jobs before anywhere else. However, his happiness was drowned out when he Winston Chapp walk into the room. Representive to the American government on Mercenary affairs and Blackops, the small weedy man walked in with a grin on his face. He knew before he’d even walked into the smoky bar on the coast of a small village in Costa Rica, he’d walk away having fulfilled his job. He outstretched his arm not expecting a friendly reply. He withdrew his hand and spoke.

“We need your skills again” He explained.

“And I care why?” Shamus replied uninterested.

“Isla Nublar, you’ve heard of it haven’t you” Chapp explained. “We need you to get something”

Shamus smirked. “You want me to go on a fucking dinosaur hunt, I’ll pass, that’s the army’s job”

Chapp looked at him angrily and threw a document on the ground. “Fernando Carreros, use to be a faithful supporter....”

“Fidel Castro, what’s your point” Shamus interrupted him.

“He’s now part of an animal rights activist group” Chapp said, anger in his voice due to the interruption. “He believes...”

“You want me to kill a hippy, smooth Chapp, real smooth” Shamus interrupted him again. “What is it that he’s got anyway?”

“Vital information on how the genetic creation was done in the first place Chapp lost his patience. “And interrupt me one more time and I’ll.... “

“You’ll do what, I’ve squashed cockroaches with more of a spine than you” Shamus stood up angrily, his 6ft tall body against Chapp’s 5ft and 4 inches body meant Shamus loomed over him by and intimidating amount.

Chapp swallowed what saliva was left in his mouth, cleared his throat and spoke. “Here’s the details, if you’re interested, come to the naval base in San Jose, there’s also a recording of the distress call made to one of the ships, the pay will be fifty-four thousand dollars given that you complete the mission and an extra fourteen thousand if you bring Carreros back alive”

Chapp stepped back to reduce the demeaning he was receiving, nodded and walked away. Shamus stood silent for a moment and sat back down on his chair. He thought about his options. He knew what kind of place Isla Nublar was, but admittedly he’d never been there. He’d read an article about Isla Nublar, genetic engineering to create dinosaurs, what a stupid idea. He walked back to his apartment in the warm night and thought about the job. When he got in he put the recording on a tape recorder. As he listened he walked over to the fridge. He opened it and saw a couple of beers and some milk. He reached over for a beer and suddenly his head hurt. That’s enough drink for one night, he thought and took the milk. He winced as he heard the screams of children over the radio as a grown man pleaded for rescue.

The next day the marines at San Jose naval base looked in curiosity as Shamus walked around the compound trying to find the chief officers. He was walking along when a young soldier ran up to him and told him to follow him. Shamus walked with him into a room where at least forty-five soldiers sat in a room and a Field Major stood with a pointer explaining the mission.

“Ok people this is your mission” The Field Major said ordering a new slide to be shown on a projector. Fernando Carreros’ face turned up on the board. “Fernando Carreros, no doubt you’ve heard of him because of his place in the Cuban revolution. He and his little band of mercenaries and activists believe that even those moving piñatas deserve animal rights, for that reason Carreros and his activists have taken control of the island, Carreros is radical, and he’s we’ll known for getting mercenaries to do the dirty work so expect military confrontation, you’ll be dropping to the left side of the island in three choppers” the Field Major explained pointing at the left side of the island. We’re not sure how well the enemy is armed so be prepared for everything, you’ll be led by this man, Shamus O’Connor, he’s been hired to lead this operation” he said pointing at Shamus. “Raiders dismissed, good luck”

As the room began to clear and the soldiers left the room Shamus walked over to the Field Major and spoke. “So this is why you asked me, Isla Sorna, dinosaur theme park turned activist fortress, not like old times” Shamus laughed his wrinkles showing is age. The Field Major revealed a cigar laughing and lit it. He smiled and then spoke. “Hehe, you right about that, in my day it was just you see someone with a Communist flag you shot him, nowadays its different” he offered a handshake and continued to speak. “Field Major Donald Farns, you’re the mercenary then”

Shamus began to walk and replied. “Guess that’s me” Shamus said running a hand through his grey hair. “I got to admit, when you give out missions, you really take the top spot for weirdest shit ever”

The two aged men laughed together but also abruptly stopped as well. Shamus looked at the wrinkled, sun-burned Field Major, shook his hand and after explaining that he needed to go he walked over to his car. From his car he revealed an assault rifle and body armour. He didn’t take his employers body armour since it was once used to kill him by placing a bomb inside it. He walked over to the armoury to meet the other soldiers. One African-American soldier walked over to him and spoke.

“Sergeant Omar Samson, 4th platoon Marine Raiders, you the merc, a lot of these kids don’t know what they’re going to see out there, they’re good, but not like us” Omar said stepping forward. “They’ve not seen shit like us, none of the six mile tunnels underground where there’s an enemy waiting to blow your brains out as soon as they see you”

Shamus looked at him and spoke. “Sounds like you worry too much, they’ll be fine, all that happens is we go in, kill anyone that gets in our way, get Carreros and get out again”

The Sergeant stood silent for a second and then walked off muttering “for your sake I hope so”

After half an hour all the soldiers were ready and headed to helicopter and Shamus rounded them up for a pep talk. “All right listen up because I’m only going to say this once, you do as I say or you die, simple as, I’m leading you, that makes me responsible for your safety, so I need your help to do that, what you see here never happened, what’s more you will see things more horrifying than your deepest nightmares, now get into the choppers”

Swiftly the forty-five soldiers dispersed into the three choppers. Shamus sat in the one to the right. He sat down to see the pilot preparing to lift off. The pilot turned to the soldiers in his chopper and spoke. “Hustle up ladies, let’s go, Hooah!” The soldiers laughed among themselves after seeing the pilot. Shamus grew impatient and barked at a pair who we’re giggling childishly to themselves.

“What’s so funny soldier” Shamus shouted over the engines.

The pair stopped giggling and one spoke. “No sir, it’s just, the pilot, he’s a fucking kid, guy probably still wets his bed, he’s a freaking teenager”

Shamus looked back at him unamused and then leaned forward. “I’ve seen grown men cry like children because of the horrors they’d seen while men younger than you fought on, age is not important, the soldier inside is what’s important” The two soldiers sat silently and Shamus leaned back. He watched as the soldiers applied face camouflage and checked the equipment. The turned to see the pilot looking giddish.

“Welcome gentlemen, to Isla Nublar” the pilot said as they gazed in wonder at the grassy plains. They heard something over the radio.

“Awww man, I got to take a barbeque here sometime” another pilot joked over the radio.

The pilot in Shamus’ helicopter grinned and replied. “I hear you bro, couple of girls, booze, barbeque, sounds good” the pilot put his receiver down and spoke to Shamus. “Flight Lieutenant Steven Farren, nice to meet you, but everyone else calls me Kid”

Shamus shook his hand and replied. “Shamus O’Connor, no offence but, you look a bit young”

Steven smiled and replied. “Yeh, no offence but you look a bit old”

Shamus smiled at the young pilot’s cockiness. And then he pointed at a flock of Teradactyle flying beside the convoy of helicopters. He looked to his side and saw another on the other side. The blood in his veins froze as he remembered the recording. He wondered if they we’re flying past the wrecked helicopter right now. He raised the radio to his mouth and spoke. “Keep an eye out for those two flocks and tell your gunners to load up, they get too close take them out, I don’t like how they’re following us” over the radio Shamus heard the other pilots affirm the orders and saw a flash of fear go past Kid’s face. Shamus tapped Kid on the shoulder and turned to the soldiers. “Samson, get on the machine-gun” Samson obeyed the order immediately. Almost in perfect, as Shamus suspected, the two flocks turned to come right beside them.