𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐒 . ian malcolm

𝑽𝑰𝑰𝑰. ⸻ the lights

JUNE 12, 1993 — JURASSIC PARK

BACK AT THE VISITOR'S CENTER CONTROL ROOM, Minerva was bent over Dr. Malcolm's hurt leg. He was sitting on a clear flat area under the stairs where it would be easier for him to sit and get his gash tended to. Ian had unbuttoned his shirt and Minerva couldn't bring herself to look in his direction. She kept her eyes down, looking anywhere but at Malcolm.

Ray Arnold, one of the system programmers, was voicing his opposition to what Hammond was asking him to do. "No, no, no. That's crazy, you're out of your mind." Then looking at the others, "He's absolutely out of his mind."

"Well, wait a minute, what exactly would this mean?" Ellie asked. Muldoon moved his chair in front of Minerva, grabbing her arm. She had a large red gash and her arm was entirely limp, like when it falls asleep. Ian dragged his eyes over her, watching her pinch her fingers together at the nipping pain.

"We're talking about a calculated risk, my dear, which is about the only option left to us. We will never find the command that Nedry used. He's covered his tracks far too well," Hammond explained to her. Muldoon cracked open the white first aid kit. Minerva unbuttoned her shirt, revealing a tight black undershirt. Ian didn't try to stop his eyes.

Dennis Nedry was a computer programmer too, but he was the reason for the entire park's power shut down. He had made the system impossible to get running again, and there was only one other solution.

"And I think it's obvious now that he's not coming back." Everyone in the bunker was quiet. "So, shutting down the entire system-"

"You can get somebody else to do it because I won't do it," Ray said quickly. He was leaned over, smoking a cigarette with his tie hanging loosely around his neck. He was tired and slightly annoyed about this whole debacle, and everyone knew it. They were just as annoyed with Hammond.

"Shutting down the system is the only way to wipe out everything that he did. Now, as I understand it, all the systems will then come back on their original startup mode," Hammond said. Turning back to Ray, "Correct?"

"Theoretically, yes. But we've never shut down the entire system before, it may not come back on at all."

"Will we get the phones back?" Ellie asked meekly.

"Yes, again, in theory," Ray answered.

Muldoon turned from Minerva's arm to look at the group, "What about the lysine contingency?"

"We could put that into effect?" Muldoon continued.

"What's that?" Minerva asked, looking between all three men.

"That is absolutely out of the question," Hammond concluded, walking over to Muldoon angrily. His cane shook underneath his hand and he made Minerva feel tense.

Ray looked in Minerva's direction and began to explain, "The lysine contingency is intended to prevent the spread of the animals in case they ever get off the island. Dr. Wu inserted a gene that creates a single faulty enzyme in the protein metabolism. The animals can't manufacture the amino acid lysine unless they're completely supplied with lysine by us, they slip into a coma and die."

"Couldn't they just get lysine from eating each other or...any meat they find on the island?" Minerva asked while Muldoon wrapped her arm with a gauzy bandage.

"They can't get protein from the food they consume." Ray explained, looking beyond her.

Minerva didn't say a word and tried not to grimace at the tightly wrapped bandage.

"People. Are. Dying," Hammond said angrily, walking up to Ray. "Will you please shut down the system?"

Ray moved across the room and unlocked a control panel. He flipped the top three switches off, and all of the computers and lights shut down. Muldoon grabbed a flashlight, and Ray turned off the final bottom switch. The lights went out, even though it was only temporarily.

"Hold on to your butts," he said, before flicking the bottom switch back up. The lights didn't turn on.

"Um," Ray said, moving back to the computer. Text at the bottom right corner of the computer read, system ready. "It's okay, look, see that? It's on. It worked."

Everyone, except a temporarily disabled Ian, moved over to the computer. "Wait a minute, what do you mean it worked? Everything's still off."

"Well, maybe the shutdown took the circuit breakers. All we have to do is turn them back on, reboot a few systems in here–telephones, security doors, a half dozen others–but, it worked. System's ready."

"Where are the breakers?" Muldoon asked.

"Maintenance shed. The other end of the compound. Three minutes, I can have the power back on in the entire park."

Ray walked past us, and Hammond continued his speil, "Well, just to be safe, I want everybody in the emergency bunker until Mr. Arnold returns and the whole system's up and running again."

Ray hastily left to get to the shed, and the six of them remained quiet.

༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺

ELLIE PACED DOWN THE STEPS NERVOUSLY. Ray wasn't back yet, and it had been much longer than the three minutes he promised.

"Oh god, something went wrong. Something's happened. Something's wrong."

Minerva pushed a blanket over Dr. Malcolm. He had moved spots and was now sitting on a metal table.

"It's just a delay. That's all it is, all major theme parks have delays. When they opened disneyland in 1956, nothing worked."

Minerva patted blood from Ian's leg as he sat up. "Yeah, but, John, if the Pirates of the Caribbean breaks down the pirates don't eat the tourists."

Ellie was nervously pacing, "I can't wait anymore. Something went wrong."

The four of them looked back at ellie. "I'm gonna go get the power back on."

Muldoon looked at Ellie like she was unintelligent, "You can't just stroll down the road, you know?"

"Well, darling, don't be too hasty," hammond warned. "He's only be gone..."

Muldoon walked over to a locked cupboard-closet, his keys jangling when he opened it. There were guns inside. He pulled one out, grabbing extra ammunition from a top shelf. "I'm going with you."

Hammond opened a drawer, pulling out multiple large maps and placing them over Ian's legs, causing him to wince.

"Now, this isn't gonna be just like switching on the kitchen light, but I think I can follow this and then talk you through it."

Hammond looked over Ellie's shoulder at a metal shelf lines with walkie-talkies. She grabbed two of them, switching them on and clipping one of them into the front pocket of her shorts. She handed the other one to Minerva.

"You know it should be me really going," Hammond said guiltily, pressing a hand to his chest. Minerva wanted to nod, but only because it was Hammond's fault the power was out and they had to worry about death from dinosaurs.

"Why?" Ellie asked.

"Well, I'm uh-and you're..." He tried, unable to explain himself.

"Look," she sighed, as her and muldoon began to walk away, "We can discuss sexism in survival situations when I get back. you just take me through this step by step." Then facing Minerva, "I'm on channel two."

Minerva turned the dial to channel two, grinning at Ellie's perseverance.

When Ellie and Muldoon left, Hammond hurried upstairs to get another page of directions. Ian and Minerva glanced at each other. The fluorescence of the emergency lights made the room–and the quiet between Ian and Minerva–eerie and tingly.

"You okay?" Ian said, groaning a little. Minerva nodded. He grabbed her wrist, patting her hand with the strength he could. "It'll be alright soon."