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"The constituents of Biology Synthetics Technologies, Inc., are hereby found guilty of corporate espionage and bribery. Biology Synthetics Technologies, Inc., is found guilty of murder - an account of those who have died because of their actions, at Isla Nublar, Isla Sorna, and the Biosyn Dinosaur Sanctuary.
"It is the decision of this court that Biosyn, Inc., be required to pay reparations to those affected by their questionable business practices, including those families affected by the Isla Nublar incident in 1993. Furthermore. . ."
The voice on the TV drones on as the court makes known more of its decision. The young man has stopped listening. His sister called him, telling him to turn on the TV. She had been invested in this trial from the start - God knows why.
Once upon a time, this young man had loved dinosaurs. He loved them with all his heart. He read every book he could find and spoke to everyone who would listen. The year 1993 had fixed that. But he still loves them. Or maybe he loves these people on the screen, and dinosaurs are something he shares with them.
There were three big names attached to this trial. The young man only agreed to listen to the sentence when his sister begged him to. He didn't think that any of these three would be there, not in a million years. These three were Dr. Ian Malcolm - he has been a big name in the dinosaur game since the San Diego incident, when a T-Rex was brought to the mainland with its baby; Dr. Ellie Sattler - she had settled down with her husband and child and, as far as the young man knew, was happily teaching botany at a university; and Dr. Alan Grant - the man who got him through Isla Nublar.
"Timmy? Timmy, are you still there?" a female voice asks from the other end.
"You didn't tell me Dr. Grant, Dr. Malcolm, and Dr. Sattler were testifying, Lex!" Tim Murphy snaps.
"Uh, who else would be testifying?" Lex Murphy-Kirby, Tim's older sister, replies. Her tone implies that she has rolled her eyes.
"Oh, I don't know, literally anyone from the Jurassic World incident. I mean, what's his name? Grady? He could've been testifying for all I knew."
"Okay, fair. Listen, Timmy, Eric and I thought about surprising the doctors. We want to go and meet them."
Lexie and Tim had met Eric Kirby during one of Dr. Grant's last speaking engagements. They learned that Dr. Grant had met Eric on the island of Isla Sorna - the first time they heard of anyone besides Dr. Malcolm being on the second island. He had done for Eric what he did for Lexie and Tim on Isla Nublar. Tim had been content to let the friendship rest. He wasn't exactly excited to talk over the trauma with Eric, but he wasn't opposed to being friends. Lexie and Eric took it a step further - Eric proposed to Lexie on the anniversary of his rescue from Isla Sorna.
Tim still thinks that was tacky. Eric explained it to him as realizing he could die any time, and he didn't want to regret not taking this step. Tim admired him for doing it - he just thought he should've chosen a better date. Thankfully, their actual wedding anniversary doesn't land on any dinosaur-related dates.
"Have you talked to Kelly yet?"
"Nope, not yet. We wanted to get you in before we talked to her. So, are you in?"
Tim sighs. "Yeah, I'll see you guys there."
"Do you want to call Kelly for us?"
"Come on, Lex! Of course I don't want to call Kelly."
"Don't be a baby."
"Fine."
"Thanks, Timmy! See you there in two days?"
"Sure. See you then."
He hangs up and begins scrolling through his contacts.
Kelly Malcolm, the daughter of Dr. Ian Malcolm. She sought Tim and Lex out six or so years after the San Diego incident. They learned later that she had also contacted Eric. She was the only one interested in the Jurassic World project, and that was the last time Tim and Kelly spoke. She decided to go against Dr. Malcolm's instructions and her friends' better judgements to attend the grand opening of Jurassic World. That had been a disaster.
"About time you called me! I thought we weren't speaking?"
"We weren't, but Lexie asked me to call you."
"Ohhh. I see how it is. So what does Lexie want?"
"Have you been watching the news?"
"Watching? I've been here for the trials, Tim! Nice of you to notice. What, did you think I wasn't going to be here for my dad?"
Tim groans. He runs his hand down his face. "Listen, Lexie, Eric, and I are coming down to surprise the doctors. Lexie wanted to know if you're in?"
"When will you be here? I'll make hotel arrangements!"
"Lexie wants to meet in two days."
"Got it! I'm flying Owen Grady, Claire Dearing, Maisie Lockwood, and two others out and putting 'em in a hotel too. Will that hotel be fine? Or do you want a different hotel?"
"I don't know," Tim shrugs, "that sounds fine to me."
"Okay! Have Lexie send me her flight information, and send me yours, and I'll make sure everyone makes it to the hotel! Do you want a taxi or a triceratops?"
Kelly hangs up before he can answer, her laugh being the last thing to be transmitted before the dial tone. She has always had a messed up sense of humor.
"Aunt Claire!" Zach watches his little brother run to their aunt. They didn't really expect her to be here. The pleased smiles on his parents' faces make him think they knew. Why wouldn't they tell the boys?
Claire Dearing spins around. Owen Grady and the girl with them look over their shoulders first. Claire kneels down and holds her arms open. Gray, Zach's little brother, runs into the waiting arms.
Zach approaches more slowly. "Hi, Aunt Claire."
"Zach!" Claire stands up and pulls him into a hug as well. "Oh my gosh, let me look at the two of you!" She looks them up and down before sighing. "Oh it's been too long."
"I mean," Zach shrugs, "I don't know, you could've visited."
"Zach!" his mother chides.
"It's okay!"
Owen steps toward the boys. "Hey."
"Owen!" Gray runs into Owen.
"It's been a while."
Claire hugs their parents. "What are you all doing here?"
Zach hears the explanation, but none of it sticks. He's fascinated by the girl behind his aunt and Owen. He remembers seeing her on the news. What was her name? Maisie? Zach looks at Owen and Claire. The two adults are distracted and seem to have forgotten to introduce them. He decides to introduce himself.
"Hi, I'm Zach," he says, approaching the girl and holding out his hand.
She examines him before shaking his hand. "Maisie Lockwood-Grady."
"Grady? Like…?" He points at Owen.
Maisie simply nods.
"Oh, right!" Claire motions for Maisie to come to her. She places her hands on the girl's shoulders. "This is Maisie."
"Our daughter," Owen adds, placing his arm around Claire's shoulders.
Zach watches his mother take a step back. She puts her hand on her chest. "Where have you been hiding a daughter?" she gasps.
Claire laughs. "No, we adopted her."
"Oh!" Karen laughs. "Oh. Right."
"Maisie, this is my sister, Karen. Her husband, Scott, and her sons, Gray and Zach."
"Hello," Maisie nods at them. She looks at Karen. "I guess that makes you my aunt?" Then at Zach and Gray. "And you, my cousins?"
"I- I guess so." His mother is smiling, but her eyes aren't lit up. Zach has a feeling his mother isn't exactly thrilled about Maisie. "Claire, can I- Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Yeah, of course!" Claire pats Maisie on the shoulder before following Karen.
Zach catches Owen's eye. "So, does that mean you and Aunt Claire got together?"
Owen laughs. "I guess so."
Tim looks at the hotel. It looks nice. Kelly and Lex say it's a five star hotel. He has no reason to doubt them, but he would love to know how they can afford such a fancy place. Sure, Kelly got paid off big time by the Masrani Corporation - as did plenty of other families involved in the Jurassic World incident. Still, that was years ago. Has she really been saving up for this moment?
He is met by three people upon exiting the cab: Lex, Eric, and Kelly. Lex is the first to approach him. She hugs him while Eric removes his bags from the cab.
As Lexie takes a step back, she gives Tim an awkward grin. "I hope you didn't want to rest too long. Kelly sort of scheduled our surprise dinner for tonight."
"That's okay," Tim smiles, "I got to rest a bit on the flight. How long do we have?"
Honestly, Tim would be miffed if this were for anything else. He has been looking forward to seeing Dr. Grant again since Lexie brought it up. He was very confused and concerned when Alan resigned from teaching and basically began living at his different dig sites. It took Tim a while to forgive Alan for that. Alan had held a strict No Contact policy since his resignation. Not that he wouldn't answer if the children contacted him, but he wouldn't contact them first. He never contacted them first. Eventually they had just lost touch altogether.
"Long enough for you and Eric to haul your things to your room. Kelly and I are going ahead."
Kelly nods. "I have to make sure everything is set up. The other guests are meeting us there too and I want to be at the park when they arrive."
It doesn't take long for Tim to get settled into his room. He asks Eric to put the bags on the bed while he takes a quick shower.
"Hey, Kelly texted and said the other guests have arrived already," Eric tells Tim when he comes out of the bathroom.
"Tell her we'll be there soon."
Eric nods and begins to type away on the phone.
A short taxi ride later and they arrive at the park. Tim is ecstatic, but wary, at the site of the little dinosaurs that have swarmed the park. One is busy squaring off with a goose over a dropped piece of candy. Nearby, a kid - and he says that very subjectively, this boy is maybe 16 or so - plays with some compsognuthi.
"Hey!" Eric goes over to the kid, pulling him away from the compys. The kid looks genuinely surprised as Eric kicks the tiny dinosaurs away before turning back to him. "Don't play with those! Compys are poisonous! Do you want to get yourself killed?"
Tim opens his mouth, prepared to warn Eric, but it's a little too late. The man he's been hearing about since Jurassic World - the Owen Grady - grabs Eric's wrist. They lock eyes.
"Hey, let the kid go."
Eric releases his grip. The teen stumbles back.
"No! Wait!" Kelly runs over and places her hands on top of Owen's hand and Eric's forearm. "He's with us, just chill."
Owen pulls his hand away and addresses Kelly, while still staring Eric down. "I don't appreciate him getting after a kid like that."
Gray frowns. "I'm not really a kid anymore," he mutters.
Eric folds his arms. "And I suppose you want him to get poisoned by compys?"
"Gray knows what he's doing." Owen casts a quick, disapproving glance at the teen. "He may not think sometimes, but he knows what he's doing."
Lexie wraps her arms around Tim's arm, dragging him toward the group of people. "It's about time you got here," she hisses. "Everyone, this is my brother Tim Murphy." She waves her hand at Eric, causing him to join them. "And this is my husband Eric Kirby."
Owen moves to stand next to Claire Dearing while Kelly pushes in next to Tim.
"So, where does your knowledge of dinosaurs come from?" Owen asks Eric, raising an eyebrow. "Is it a book or was it your wife?"
Eric turns red. "It was Isla Sorna. I was stuck there for eight weeks." He huffs, folding his arms. "You'd think the entire military showing up would've caused it to get more coverage."
"Hey," Kelly whispers to Tim.
"Hey."
"Glad you came."
"Glad to see you didn't die."
Kelly whacks his upper arm playfully. "Come on! My dad is Ian Malcolm, you really think he didn't teach me to be smart about dinosaurs?"
"Well clearly he didn't teach you to be smart enough to stay away from them!"
"No, no, he taught me that. It was Sarah Malcolm who taught me to not stay away from them." She laughs, turning to face him. "I mean, come on! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity! I didn't get to go to Isla Nublar like you did! I couldn't pass up that opportunity!" She folds her arms and smirks at him. "Besides, now I can truthfully say I'm the only person to have stepped foot on Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna."
"That's incorrect," Tim raises his hand to stop her. "Dr. Grant has been to both islands. Your dad has been to both islands. Or did you forget that you literally went with him to the second island? I mean, the way you tell it, you stowed away. And, pretty sure Dr. Wu was on both islands at some point. I mean, he had to be, right?"
Kelly nods. "Okay, fair. I'll give you that. So I'm the only female that's been to both islands."
"And why is that something you wanted?"
"Once in a lifetime opportunity!" She repeats, emphasizing each word.
Tim shakes his head. He can't help but smile. She does remind him of what Ian Malcolm was like when they first met. Before everything happened.
The young woman turns to face him, shoving her hand toward him. A big grin adorns her face. "So, friends?"
He rolls his eyes and shakes her hand. "Friends."
Zach approaches Maisie again. “So, is it true-“
“That I’m a clone? Like the dinosaurs?” Maisie cuts him off, sounding a bit miffed. “What do you think?”
“That wasn’t what I was going to ask,” he laughs, “but thanks for clearing it up.”
She just stares at him. Not even an apology.
“Is it true that Aunt Claire and Owen adopted you?”
“Well yeah. It’s not like I had anyone else to go to.”
Zach shrugs. He doesn’t really know much about her. The news said she was the clone of Mr. Lockwood’s daughter. She had been portrayed as his granddaughter over the years and had gone missing after a disaster at the Lockwood estate - the same disaster that filled the world with dinosaurs.
"Do you have a problem with it?"
"Why are you so defensive? I was just asking a question."
Maisie just shrugs and looks away.
Claire walks over and puts her hands on Zach's and Maisie's shoulders. "Having fun?"
"Sure," Zach scoffs.
"I'd be having more fun if-"
"Okay, Maisie," -Claire circles back around to meet Maisie face-to-face- "he's your cousin. Play nice. If I have anything to say about it, you three will be hanging out a lot more."
Maisie rolls her eyes. "Fine."
Claire nods, smiling proudly. "Okay. Good. Carry on."
"Zach! Did you see the compys?" Gray runs over and grabs his brother's arm. He motions to the compy and goose that are still fighting just outside their picnic area while laughing. "I think they're going to take over for the geese."
Maisie seems interested now. "Didn't that guy just say compys are poisonous?"
Zach chuckles. "That will make for some interesting geese encounters."
Gray hits him even while he laughs at the implications. The comment even draws a laugh from the girl. Maybe she won't be such a bad cousin after all.
"So, when are Alan, Ellie, and Ian supposed to get here?" Zach hears the woman introduced as Lex ask.
Kelly waves off her question. "I sent someone to pick them up from the hotel. They'll be here soon."
"Alan, the hat?" There is amusement in Ellie's eyes as she looks up at his hat, then back into his eyes.
He shrugs, a little awkwardly. "I don't have to be dressed up anymore, do I? I mean, we aren't going to court again." Alan Grant's face twists with concern. "Right?"
Ellie Sattler laughs. She motions for him to follow her down the hotel hallway.
"Right, Ellie?" he calls out, a knot forming in his stomach.
"Gosh, what took you guys so long?" Ian Malcolm is at the elevator door as soon as it opens.
"Why are you in such a rush?" Ellie pushes Ian away from the elevator while pulling Alan into the lobby.
Ian holds his phone up slightly. "Kelly called and said she has dinner reservations set up and she's sending someone to get us."
Alan groans. "Can't we just have dinner here?"
"Come on, Alan! We get to see more of the city this way."
He prepares to object when he is cut off by someone to his left. "Dr. Grant?"
Ian, Alan, and Ellie turn toward the doors, where a young man with a big grin is. He looks familiar. Alan squints and takes a step forward. He begins to smile.
"Billy? Billy, is that you?"
Billy Brennan grasps Alan's forearm. He hugs him a second later. "It's been a while, Alan!"
Dr. Grant takes a step back to examine Billy. "How- When was the last time I saw you?"
Billy waves his hand. "Ah, we kept in touch for a couple years after the Kirby's, so close to 20 years."
He sees Ian and Ellie share a worried glance. Or are they confused?
"Oh, I'm sorry," -Alan grabs Billy's shoulder and faces his colleagues- "Ellie, Ian, this is Billy Brennan. He used to be one of my students. Billy, Ellie Sattler and Ian Malcolm."
Billy shakes both their hands.
"Kirby's?" Ellie repeats. "Were you on Isla Sorna with Alan?"
"Yes, yes I was." He looks at Alan. "Almost got left there."
Alan's smile fades a little once Billy turns away. He remembers it clear as day, and he still feels horrible. Billy's right: he would have been left there to die if Ellie hadn't called in the military. Billy had taken a parasail to save Eric from pteranodons. Until they saw him on the helicopter, they thought he was dead.
"You're as bad as the people that made this place."
Billy hits Alan's hat gently, pulling the older man from his thoughts. "I see you still have the hat."
"Oh yes," Ian says with exasperation dripping from his tongue, "he was very insistent on the hat, even when it was about to be crushed by a t-rex."
Alan knocks the brim lightly with his finger. "Heh, lucky hat." He adores this boy. How did they ever lose touch? "I'm glad you're here, Billy."
Billy nods. He jerks his head to the doors. "Come on, I got a taxi waiting."
"So, you had the displeasure of seeing the original haunting grounds of John Hammond too, huh?" Ian asks, following Billy. "Did you, uh, see any ghosts?"
"No, but I think a couple followed me home."
Ian slaps Billy on the back. "I like you, kid."
The chatter between Ian, Billy, and Ellie is a backdrop as Alan idly stares out the taxi window. A flock of birds - with some unusually large additions - catches his eye for a little while. He begins to scan the streets next, not really up for conversation. A juvenile pachycephalosaurus can be seen running around in the street past one of the buildings their taxi passes. Similar dinosaur activity is sprinkled along their journey. He frowns.
Alan used to love dinosaurs, until they tried to eat him and ruined his life. He still respects them. Maybe he does love them a little, too. He is in awe every time he sees one in a more natural environment. But the awe has started wearing off. Fear and longing are taking the place of awe.
He is scared of what could happen now. There will likely be more dangerous encounters with dinosaurs. From what he understands, there are two velociraptors - maybe more - out there somewhere. The very thought keeps him awake at night. Dinosaur encounters with tourists will likely make the news as often as, say, bear-tourist encounters. He can just see the headlines: "Tourist follows Triceratops to nest - gets mauled," or "Tourist startles herd of Gallimimus - trampled to death."
He finds himself longing for the times when the only dinosaurs were those in the museums and those in the rock. He longs for the time when he could sleep through the night, without waking in a cold sweat with the feeling of raptor breath on his face. He longs for the days when he didn't feel alone in a crowd.
Alan looks at Billy, Ellie, and Ian. This crowd doesn't make him feel alone.
The taxi pulls to a stop. Ian helps Ellie out of the back seat while Billy pays the driver. Alan slides out on the street side of the taxi. He rests his hat on his head and turns to face the park. Ellie is already embracing a young woman. Ian is with his daughter and Billy is shaking hands with a young man. Alan can see Owen, Claire, and Maisie past them. A second young man is standing beside Ellie and the young woman. Ellie soon embraces him.
Dr. Grant rounds the taxi to join his friends in the park. The young woman Ellie was embracing runs to him as soon as she sees him.
"Dr. Grant!" she exclaims.
"I know that voice," he comments. "How have you been, Lex? You're a grown woman now!"
Lex laughs, pulling back. "Yup! All grown up!"
"It really can't have been that long since I last saw you."
The young man Billy greeted walks over and places his arm around Lex's shoulders. "Well, it's been at least 10 years."
Alan stares at him for a moment. He laughs, taking the other man's hand. "Eric? Is that you?"
Eric grasps his hand. "Sure is!"
"Wait, how do-" He motions between the two children. He hopes his question is understood because he doesn't have the words.
"We met at one of your speaking engagements before you stopped teaching," Lex explains. "A couple years later and…" She holds up her left hand. A golden band adorns her ring finger.
"Married?!" Alan looks between the two. He really has lost touch. "Congratulations!"
"Wait, wait," Ian gravitates toward Alan and the kids, "did I hear that right? Little Lexie got married?"
Ellie's head snaps to look at them. Excitement dances in her eyes.
Lexie nods, holding up the ring as proof. "I tried getting you all invitations, but it kind of just happened!"
"Well, congratulations!" Ian grasps her hand with both of his.
Dr. Sattler moves in when Ian backs away. "I'm so happy for you!"
"And she got married to another dinosaur nerd," Billy pipes up.
Eric rolls his eyes, still grinning from ear to ear.
"Dr. Grant, good to see you again." Owen shakes Alan's hand.
"Mr. Grady," Alan greets. "Hello, Maisie."
Maisie walked over with her father. She smiles at him. "Hello, Dr. Grant."
He nods his head to Claire. "I didn't realize you all were in Washington."
Owen laughs. "We got an invitation."
"Oh. Well, I'm glad you came." He addresses Maisie again. "You should probably say hello to Ellie."
"Yeah," Maisie agrees. Owen nods again before following Maisie to Ellie.
There is one final greeting. The second young man has been waiting patiently for Alan's attention. When he sees Owen and Maisie leave, he walks over.
Alan tilts his head slightly. "Tim?"
Tim smiles. "Yeah. I'm all grown up too."
He feels his heart drop. When did little Timmy grow up? His smile disappears as guilt suddenly floods his mind. "Tim, I'm sorry."
The young man looks concerned. "W-"
"I'm sorry I wasn't there for your grandfather's funeral, or your sister's wedding. I'm sorry I didn't try harder or do better. I'm sorry I never contacted you." He stammers for a moment, trying to find the words.
Tim doesn't let him continue. Instead, he throws his arms around Alan. It feels like he has wanted to do this for a long time - and Alan finds himself melting a little. "Thank you, Dr. Grant. I wouldn't be here without you. And thanks for always coming back for us."
"Thank you, Tim," Alan's voice cracks slightly. He pulls Tim in closer, closing his eyes and trying to bury his face.
Maybe this new world won't be so bad after all.