Clarissa Hammond

Chapter Three

Once we got back into the jeeps, we headed off to the control building and got out. Ian grabbed my hand to help me out and I smiled at him, a slight blush on my face. My father came over and interrupted us, softly taking my hand and leading me away from Ian, who smiled and shook his head. 

We walked into the building and I looked around as Dad explained, "The most advanced amusement park in the entire world, incorporating all the latest technologies. And I'm not talking just about rides. Everybody has rides. No, we've made living biological attractions so astounding that they'll capture the imagination of the entire planet," I walked beside Ian, our hands brushing together as we followed my father up a set of stairs, "Dearest Clarissa will inherit the park after I am gone, I will not be selling this after we are up and running." 

Ellie looked at Alan and me, "So what are you thinking?" Alan chuckled, "That you and I are out of a job. Maybe we can sucker Clary into letting us work here." I smiled, "No suckering involved, you're hired." Ellie and Alan laughed as we continued walking into a lecture room of sorts. 

We all sat down in the seats, all in a group. I sat beside Ellie who sat beside Alan and Ian sat beside me, causing my father to give him a sour look. My father continued standing and I smiled, looking at the screen in amusement. 

"Hello, John," The replica of my father on the screen greets him and my father pats his pockets, "Yes, I've got lines." I giggled behind my hand and Ian waved to the screen. The screen Dad looked around, "Well, fine, I guess. But, how did I get here?" My father read off the cards, "Well, let me show you. First, I'll need a drop of blood. You're blood." 

I covered my face for the rest of it, covering up my giggles, my father had already shown the presentation to me before everyone got on the helicopter and it's still funny. I didn't notice that Ian was softly smiling at me as Ellie and Alan grinned at Ian, knowingly. 

I looked up just in time to see the ride moving and I spotted the lab, turning around to look at my father, "Wait a minute. How do you interrupt the cellular mitosis?" Ellie also turned around, "Can't we see the unfertilized eggs?" My father waved me off, "Shortly, dearest." Alan looked around, "Can't you stop these things?" Father apologized, "I'm sorry. It's kind of a ride." 

 I looked at Alan and Ellie, smirking at Ian and pushing the bar in front of me so I could stand up. Alan, Ellie, Ian, and I ran off the ride and into the lab to see the eggs. My father smiled at a man, "Good day, Henry." Henry continued writing but smiled, "Good day, sir." I gasped in surprise and hurried over to look at an egg that was shaking. Everyone turned to me and gasped as well, seeing the egg move more. Henry smiled and followed us, "Perfect timing. I'd hoped they'd hatch before I had to go to the boat."

Father came over and handed me a pair of gloves, "Put these on, I want you to help it out of its egg, Dearest Clarissa. Henry, why didn't you tell me? I insist on being here when they're born." I smiled as the baby nudged its way out, "Come on. Come on, little one. Show Clary your face," The baby squeaked and I giggled, "Push. You got this. Very good." I frowned, seeing its face, recognizing it as a predator. I pulled some of the egg off of it's face as it stared at me, squealing. I swallowed some spit and my father smiled, not noticing my face, "They imprint on the first creature they come in contact with. Clarissa, it's imprinted on you. I've been present for every birth on the island." 

I glanced at Alan in nervousness and he looked concerned but didn't voice it. Ian crouched beside me and set a hand on my lower back, "Surely not the ones that have been bred in the wild?" I looked at Ian and whispered so my father couldn't hear, "I don't like this, Ian. Something is wrong." Ian frowned and nodded as Henry smiled, "Actually, they can't breed in the wild. Population control is one of our security precautions. There's no unauthorized breeding in Jurassic Park"

I looked at him, "What frog did you use to fill in the DNA." Henry looked confused, "Just frog. Does it matter?" I gritted my teeth and calmed down, but not being off guard, continuing to help the baby out of the egg. Ian looked at Henry, "How do you know they can't breed?" Henry smiled, "Because all the animals in Jurassic Park are female? We've engineered them that way." 

I sighed as I held the dinosaur in my hands softly, "Again. How do you know they're all female?" Ian nodded, "Does someone go out in the park and pull up the dinosaurs' skirts?" Henry crossed his arms, "We control their chromosomes. It's really not that difficult. All vertebrate embryos are inherently female, anyway. They just require an extra hormone given at the right developmental stage." 

I looked closely at the dino and my eyes widened. I quickly handed the dino to Alan, who looked confused, "What's wrong?" I looked at my father, "Where's the Raptor paddock?" My father acted confused, "What on earth do you mean, dearest?" I sighed, "Don't play coy. Whatever, I'll find it myself." 

I ran off with everyone confused and out the door, down a road. I grinned triumphantly as I found the paddock and a man turned around, "Shelia. You don't have access here." I narrowed my eyes, "My name is Clarissa Hammond. I have access everywhere." The man nodded, "Apologies, miss. My name's Robert Muldoon. Great to meet Mr. Hammond's daughter. What are you here for?" 

I stood close to the electric fence, "To see the adult Raptors other than the baby I was holding two minutes ago. These creatures were created and destroyed by God. Don't you think it's unethical for my father to create something so...." Muldoon smiled and nodded, "I understand. Are you having second thoughts about being excited about this?" I sighed, "I'm afraid of the consequences that the lab isn't thinking of. This will all change and it will be for the worse. These creatures can breed, no matter what Henry will do, these animals will find a way."

I didn't turn around when I heard footsteps behind me. Alan yelled out, "Clary knew the whole time!" I didn't look at him, I just looked into the cage, "Father, this isn't right." My father side-hugged me, "You're just nervous about being the sole heir of my company. You'll get it eventually." 

Alan and I watched as they lifted a steer in a crane and lowered it into the cage. "What are they doing?" Alan asked as I stood close to the cage and Ian looked nervous, "Clare, I don't think you should stand that close." My father nodded, "She's fine. They're feeding them."

Everyone jumped as the cow was aggressively eaten and I stood there in fear about what my father had created. Muldoon came walking up, "They should all be destroyed." My father ignored him and laughed, "Robert Muldoon. My game warden from Kenya. I see you've already met my daughter." Muldoon nodded, "Lovely vision of a woman." 

Ian stood beside me, wrapped his arm around my waist, and glared at Muldoon. My father continued, smacking Ian's arm off of me, "Bit of an alarmist, but knows more about Raptors than anyone." Alan smiled and looked at me, "More than likely less than Clary." He continued asking Muldoon questions, excited about the Raptor and everyone listened in.

I pulled Ian aside, "This will not end well, Ian. He's created something here that is so unethical, there has to be consequences for this." Ian grinned, "Where have you been all my life? I know. I told him that life would find a way. This won't end his way." 

My father turned to us, "Dearest, are you hungry?" I nodded slowly, not really hungry after the food show we had.