"What the fuck is going on this time?"
After dispatching search parties to look for Maisie, Dodgson, guided by a security monitor, arrived in front of a display screen in the main control room.
On the screen, the locusts inside the incubation chamber were in an uproar, and two figures in lab coats climbed out of the mess in disarray.
"Who are those?"
"Grant and Sattler."
"Is this live?"
"It was 12 minutes ago... Our men were tracking that girl, so they happened to miss them stealing the DNA samples."
Are you kidding me, bro?
Who would have thought that two world-renowned scholars would stoop to sneaking into his company to steal samples? Don't people of that caliber usually use elaborate schemes? How could they resort to such a bizarre, reckless method? Well, I suppose he's really making a name for himself now.
Classic Isla Nublar graduates playing it straight, as expected. Confirmed.
"How did they get in?"
"High-level wristbands... The surveillance footage shows Dr. Malcolm slipping something into Sattler's pocket."
Oh, fantastic. Another grand event. What else could possibly be waiting for me?
Dodgson looked as though he had grown used to it. After all, what could possibly be more terrifying than that vague, looming threat outside?
"I want to see him... And have Ramsey come too."
As a sharp-nosed capitalist, he was already planning his escape route. Fortunately, Ramsey had always been fiercely loyal to him as his most capable assistant; he would definitely have to take him along when fleeing.
…
Grant took the lead, clutching his precious hat back in his hand, and guided Ellie and... Maisie?! through the underground tunnels with furtive steps.
How on earth did these two reach a consensus with Maisie so quickly? Could it be that to Maisie, running into two spies at the enemy's headquarters was just a regular Tuesday?
Well... that was actually quite possible. After all, Grandfather Lockwood's grand headquarters also had an undercover agent working as the CEO. Surely BioSyn's CEO couldn't also be an undercover agent, right?
"We need a passcode..."
"Try this."
The group arrived in front of a transit pod. Dr. Grant pulled out the wristband Malcolm had given them and tried to unlock the system, but it only flashed red text accompanied by a warning chime.
[Insufficient Privileges]
Ding!
"Oh, shit... Quick, hide!"
As luck would have it, the sound of an elevator chime rang out behind them once more. The two doctors hurriedly motioned for Maisie to hide while straightening their clothes to make themselves look as unremarkable as possible.
"Um... Oh thank god, it's just you."
Ramsey walked briskly toward the two of them, causing the latter to let out a slight sigh of relief; there was still a chance to bluff their way through this.
"Ah... Yeah."
"This place is like a maze."
"Good thing you're here."
Before Ramsey could finish speaking, he froze. He looked at the two doctors' excruciatingly awkward, third-degree-burn-inducing acting and wondered if he should wait until they finished their performance.
He glanced back; the underground laboratory personnel had been reassigned by Dodgson, making it relatively safe for the moment, so he decided to drop the act.
"Did you get the samples?"
The question hit like a bombshell, instantly pausing the two doctors' performance and leaving looks of utter disbelief on their faces.
"What?"
"What are you talking about?"
Their simultaneous inquiries finally made them realize that something wasn't quite right.
Guess why your infiltration went so smoothly.jpg
"The DNA samples. The locust swarm sweeping across the world was caused by BioSyn. Dodgson wants to cover it up, but you're right. I'm here to help you... So, did you get them?"
He explained as quickly as possible, short-circuiting the brains of the two for a moment. Dr. Sattler even nodded in a daze.
"We got them..."
"Awesome."
With the agile stride typical of a young man, Ramsey teleported over to the control panel behind them, punched in the passcode, and opened the transit pod doors.
"This train goes straight to the airfield. There's a plane ready to take off at any moment."
"Did Ian (Malcolm) tell you about the Hexapod Allies?"
Ellie still wanted to double-check the man's allegiance, while Dr. Grant experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, suddenly feeling that this bet was a sure win.
"No... I told him."
"Huh?"
"You guys need to go."
Ramsey stepped into the car, entered the destination, then turned back out and motioned for the two doctors.
"Wait."
Dr. Grant suddenly called out to stop Ramsey, reaching out toward a stack of boxed cargo nearby.
"Maisie... come on out."
He spoke in a low voice, hesitation written across his face, but ultimately decided he couldn't leave her behind.
Maisie stepped out from behind the crates, her steps similarly hesitant. However, the two doctors opposite her were individuals her grandfather had praised to the highest degree... She decided to trust her grandfather.
"Maisie Lockwood..."
Ramsey noticed the arrival, his expression unreadable. He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, but in the end, he nodded at Dr. Grant, signaling that it was fine to take Maisie with them.
Hiss... Hum—
The transit doors slowly slid open and closed, acting like a barrier separating heaven from hell.
Ramsey watched the three of them board the train and depart, then glanced down at his watch and hurried toward the control room.
…
"Dr. Malcolm, Mr. Dodgson is waiting for you in the control room."
A security guard walked up to the edge of the BioSyn building and shouted to Dr. Malcolm, who was peering through binoculars up on the observation deck.
"It seems my career is coming to an end," Malcolm muttered to himself with dark humor, completely ignoring the increasingly impatient guard below, continuing to scan the horizon through his binoculars.
He looked remarkably confident. Even though Dodgson had indirectly caused countless deaths, he remained certain that Dodgson wouldn't dare touch him openly, he would even have to escort him out... Though Malcolm had no intention of riding in the transport vehicle prepared for him.
"Such a pity to lose a job with so much pay and so little work... Ah, found you, you clever ghost who doesn't get drawn to fire."
Though Malcolm often acted unserious, and had even accidentally lured Rexy right back to the park in the old days, he was undeniably the most clear-headed person of all.
He firmly believed that the moment a certain unnamed clever egg stepped foot inside BioSyn, the company was finished.
He had survived so many armed attacks, coupled with those vague attempts to cover up traces and his own unusually massive size; Malcolm had already vaguely picked up on something.
"Huh?"
Carlo, who had been traveling for goodness knows how long, was resting in the shade. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he snapped his head up, shifted into a crouching sit, and whipped his head around toward the direction of BioSyn.
His gaze crossed mountains and forests, locking directly onto Dr. Malcolm.
"Holy shit..."
Malcolm lowered his binoculars.
———————
This fanfic is now complete! If you want to read the whole story ahead of everyone else, head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]