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roksanalyasin · 6 years

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Predatory Instincts | Chapter One

Rating: Explicit. Status: In-progress. Pairing: Owen Grady/Elizaveta Volkov Characters: Elizaveta Volkov (OC), Owen Grady, Lex Murphy, Tim Murphy, Barry. Tags: Slow Burn, Slow Romance, Romance, Awkward Flirting, Action, Adventure, Awkward Sexual Situations, Sexual Tension, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Tension, Light Angst, PTSD, Strong Female Characters, Isla Sorna, Research, Academia, Opposites Attract. AO3 | FF.net

...The invitation ignited a thrill of adventure in her veins – as desperate and heady as the first time she’d been offered the chance to get into the field in the second year of her Bachelor – but at the same time, her mind grew wary. She’d heard the stories first hand from Dr Grant and Dr Malcolm over the years, had lived the terror of their encounters on Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna vicariously through their cautionary tales. Though her nightmares were haunted by other monsters, she felt the prickling of the hairs on the back of her neck, the icy shiver that danced on her spine at the thought of facing the animals she studied in the flesh...

Chapter One The Logical Mind

Ping.

The sound reverberated through the room, a noise so high-pitched and metallic that even the piles of books and paperwork that surrounded the moderately sized office and lined the walls could not effectively deaden the ear piercing screech.

Elizaveta refused to glance at the dual screens beside her. She’d muted notifications for general Harvard news and FYIs long ago, receiving more each week than she could count. This ping was yet another in the relentless onslaught of emails she received daily from students, prospective interns, and fellow colleagues. Though often marked as high priority, everyone in the department knew that she dealt with emails only in the afternoon, after she’d finished more pressing tasks; she would attend to them at the allotted time in her schedule, as she always did.

She adjusted her grasp on her pen, scribbling a few more notes before the next ping could derail her train of thought, again reminding herself to take a moment to mute her computer. With a final flourish on the page she dropped the pen before she could get distracted again, looking up at the screen, intent on silencing the high-pitched ping, ping, ping of the default – and, frustratingly – sole notification sound available in the university��s system, a sound that had grated her nerves since she’d first heard it years ago at the beginning of her doctorate. As she floated the mouse pointer over to the sound controls, her eyes caught on the name in the sender line. Sitting at the top of the list of unread messages from formulaic university email addresses, the name stuck out as if scrawled across the screen in red pen.

Alexis Murphy.

Elizaveta tapped her fingers on the table, nails clicking on the smoothly varnished hardwood. She’d heard that name before, she knew. Curiosity quickly got the best of her as she stared at the name and she pushed her notes aside, clicking to open the email. She scanned the first few lines, one sharply groomed dark eyebrow rising.

Dear Professor Volkov,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alexis Murphy. You are likely familiar with my grandfather, John Hammond, though I do not expect you to be so with myself. Until recently, I have had little involvement in my grandfather’s affairs beyond helping settle his estates. Recent events, however, demanded my attention.

My brother Timothy Murphy and I were devastated by the tragic incident on Isla Nublar last year. As I am sure can understand as a palaeontologist, we had been frustrated by the direction of the company and, following the incident and the death of Simon Masrani, CEO of the Masrani Global Corporation, in November last year we moved to seize control of InGen with the help of sympathetic board members. We are now in possession of the company and are working to make our grandfather’s final wishes a reality – he knew from the day Jurassic Park fell at Denis Nedry’s hands that a park would never truly be safe. The smallest blip in the system has catastrophic consequences, as we saw again on Isla Nublar in 2015. We had hoped, after so many years of smooth running that Jurassic World would remain a safe place for people to experience the wonder of prehistory, but the bioengineering that took place – creating the Idominus Rex – should never have occurred.

It is time for both Jurassic Park and Jurassic World to truly become a part of our past, but that does not mean that we want to shut off the island completely. My grandfather’s final wish for Isla Sorna and Isla Nublar was for them to become places of low impact, non-evasive study. We have much to learn about and from these marvellous creatures, and the islands offer that opportunity.

As a world-leading vertebra palaeontologist and the Head of International Palaeontological Research at Harvard, my brother and I would be honoured if you would meet with me to discuss the possibility of a research endeavour to Isla Sorna. I am in Boston for the next three days, but I understand your schedule is hectic at the best of times. Please contact me at your earliest convenience. I would be happy to fly back in the future should you wish to schedule a meeting.

Warm Regards, Alexis Murphy

______________

President and Joint CEO International Genetics Incorporated (InGen)

Elizaveta stared at the screen a moment longer as she tried to process the information before she leant back in her chair. She’d followed last year’s events closely as every palaeontologist – and indeed the world – had. She was as surprised as many when the Murphy siblings seized control, and it appeared they had stuck by their promises, lofty though they had seemed at the time.

The invitation ignited a thrill of adventure in her veins – as desperate and heady as the first time she’d been offered the chance to get into the field in the second year of her Bachelor. But, at the same time, her mind grew wary. She’d heard the stories first hand from Dr Grant and Dr Malcolm over the years, had lived the terror of their encounters on Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna vicariously through their cautionary tales. Though her nightmares were haunted by other monsters, she felt the prickling of the hairs on the back of her neck, the icy shiver that danced on her spine at the thought of facing the animals she studied in the flesh.

Elizaveta glanced at the diagrams, charts, and posters on her walls, her eyes drawn to claws and teeth of all shapes and sizes. She needed only to see the life-size casting of a Compsognathus Curiosicarius skeleton standing atop a short display pillar in the front corner of her office to know that even the smallest predator could be a deadly menace.

Thoughts churned in her mind, twisting and warring as she contemplated the offer. Much as she disagreed with InGen’s patchy history of bioengineering and unethical conduct she knew, logically, it would be remiss of her to pass up such an opportunity as the one offered by the young CEOs. After all, one of her key responsibilities was to investigate any and all field research opportunities.

Elizaveta leant forward again, resting her fingertips on the keyboard for a moment before they began to dance across the keys.

Dear Miss Murphy,

I would be pleased to meet with you to discuss this matter in person. I am available at eleven tomorrow. I can highly recommend Buckminster’s refreshments and menu. It should prove an ideal location to discuss your proposal.

Best Wishes, Elizaveta Volkov

______________

BSc(Hons) MSc (Yale), DSc (Harvard) Head of International Palaeontological Research Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

A pleasant sounding swish marked the email’s departure. As simple as the words appeared on the page, the opportunities they unlocked were potentially endless. Building a working relationship with Alexis and Timothy Murphy and developing a research program in partnership with InGen to benefit students and professional researchers alike was not out of the question. There would be limitations to any potential study, she knew. The question of time, finances, and desired findings (though she had never been one to respect the ‘desired’ outcomes if the research contested them) would be the focus of her meeting with Alexis, but she was a natural negotiator. As a woman, people often labelled her as manipulative and bossy when she fought for the respect she’d earned over the past sixteen years as a palaeontological researcher, but she much preferred her father’s labels.

Independent. Driven. Steadfast.

A woman like Alexis Murphy would understand well the importance of rising above bitter opinions, of fighting for the things she desired most in the world.

Elizaveta put the meeting in the university’s planning system, marking herself as out of the office for that period. She remembered well how frustrating it could be when a teacher mysteriously disappeared during their usual office hours. Though she got fewer visits as Head of International Palaeontological Research than when she’d been running classes, students often came looking for her to discuss applications for research travel.

She returned her focus to her notes, picking up her pen. She tapped it on the page as she tried to pick up where she’d left off, but questions continued to filter through her mind. What kind of research would she be conducting? What resources would be available? Would she be bringing her own team or would a team be supplied? If the latter, who would be on that team?

She could only guess.

Alexis glanced down at her watch, the shining silver face sparkling in the sun. It was five minutes to eleven, and the minutes were ticking by slowly. Her latte remained untouched, despite the delicious aroma from it – she wasn’t quite ready for her next intake of after a strong morning coffee only two hours before, not when she needed to keep herself focused. She stilled her tapping foot, the only indication of her nervous seven-minute wait.

Early, she thought to herself as she glanced around, seeing students, staff, and the general public milling around the tables, early is always better than late.

There was no sign of Professor Volkov yet, though Alexis knew it was irrational to be concerned. Elizaveta had long maintained a reputation for being earnest and efficient; she would not accept a meeting she did not plan to attend, and she was well known for her timely arrivals.

Four minutes later, much to Alexis’ relief, Elizaveta’s reputation held true. Alexis resisted the urge to leap out of her chair and stand at attention when the petite woman rounded the corner, but she did allow herself to admire the aura Elizaveta projected. Though her stature was small, she commanded attention and respect with her steely expression and strong stride, her heels clicking firmly on the pavement with every step. She wore a form-fitting pair of neat black slacks and a navy silk blouse with an attractive high neckline, accented by a thin black strip along the top edge. She drew the gazes of men and women alike, but her laser-like focus remained on Alexis.

Alexis rose to her feet when Elizaveta reached the table. ‘Professor Volkov,’ she said, containing her enthusiasm as best she could. It had been a thrill to receive a reply from such a reputable young scholar both she and Tim so admired. Meeting her in the flesh was a true privilege.

‘Miss Murphy – a pleasure,’ Elizaveta said, a pleasant smile lighting her lips as she settled into the seat opposite Alexis. She raised her hand at the passing waiter and he nodded before disappearing into the café. Elizaveta barely spared him a glance, her focus still on Alexis as she said, ‘shall we get to business?’

Alexis knew from Elizaveta’s reputation that the Professor was a no-nonsense, straight to the point kind of person. There would be no need to butter the academic up, so to speak, as she’d had to do with select board members who’d needed to feel important to be persuaded, and she was excited to dive into the proposal.

‘Oh, yes. I’ve brought a detailed proposal for you to peruse,’ Alexis said, reaching down and extracting a crisp flip folder from her bag, ‘we’re willing to give you full access to the island and equip you with any supplies and resources you need.’

‘And the research parameters?’ Elizaveta asked as she studied the document, eyes travelling so fast over the text that her irises were almost a blur. She was speed reading, Alexis realised as the woman soon flicked over the next page.

‘They are yours to set.’

Elizaveta paused, glancing up from the document. ‘Indeed?’

Alexis nodded. ‘The primary aim of the first three research trips will be to establish resources and a code of practice to be followed in regards to the islands and to decide if the available infrastructure is appropriate. We believe it would be best if the initial expeditions are as low impact as possible. Then, when you’re happy, you are welcome to conduct research on the island as you see fit.’

‘And who is in charge?’

‘You will lead the missions, and we’ll provide you with a small, expert team,’ Alexis said, hastily adding, ‘for safety purposes, and to provide any research support you may require,’ when Elizaveta arched an eyebrow at her.

Elizaveta gave an almost imperceptible nod of her head. The waiter returned, placing a small black coffee beside her without a word. She sipped at the steaming beverage as she continued to flick through the proposal.

Alexis folded her hands in her lap, linking her fingers to keep herself from fidgeting. ‘Also, once you’re satisfied with the resources on the island and the systems in place, we’d like to open up opportunities for other researchers and students from the university to make trips to the island under your supervision.’

Another small nod to acknowledge the words, before asking, ‘what systems?’

‘Well, since my brother and I took over InGen with the view of making Isla Sorna a research facility and later expanding onto Isla Nublar once the site has been appropriately secured, we’ve been working with engineers in the company’s employ to build the state of the art shelters and bunkers for your protection.’

Elizaveta closed the proposal and laid it on the table. ‘Excellent, but it will do no good if I do not know I am being hunted.’

‘I agree, wholeheartedly,’ Alexis said, ‘which is why, shortly after the Kirbys landed illegally on the island, InGen implemented an island-wide tagging initiative. We use heat scanning technology to detect dinosaurs and to monitor numbers, making it possible to track new specimens for tagging, and missions are conducted on the island as necessary to tag young dinosaurs.’ Alexis placed her netbook on the table. ‘As I’m sure you know, recent advances in technology make it much easier to monitor the dinosaurs on the island; the system on Isla Nublar at the Park was adapted from one tested on Isla Sorna, and we’ve made further upgrades only last month. We can remotely monitor the location of each individual dinosaur, and if a predator sets foot within a mile radius of your location, you receive an automatic warning.’ Alexis opened the screen, and with a few clicks she brought up the mapping systems. She turned the compact device to face Elizaveta. ‘Each dot is a dinosaur. Green for herbivores, yellow for scavengers, orange for small predatory species, and red for large predatory species–’ she tapped beside a dot, following it across the screen– ‘this dot shows this dinosaur’s movements in real time, and if you click on any dot it will bring up a catalogue of information about that dinosaur. All of the data that has been collected on that specific animal, including movement patterns, can be viewed from our devices.’

‘So you can see which areas of the island it frequents,’ Elizaveta said, and for the briefest moment, Alexis thought she caught a smile on the academic’s lips, perhaps even a hint of approval or admiration, ‘you have thought this through, Miss Murphy.’

‘With all due respect, I would not occupy your time if I did not believe we are ready to take the next steps with our program. My brother and I want nothing more than to see these animals and their islands treated with respect. InGen did enough damage when they forced them back into existence for our entertainment almost three decades ago, which is why I have approached you. I’ve read your research extensively, including your critiques of InGen’s practices in bioengineering. As far as my brother and I are concerned, there is no one we trust more to conduct research in an appropriate, low impact manner than you, Professor.’

Elizaveta held Alexis’ gaze, her dark eyes unwavering. In that moment, Alexis felt like she was under a microscope, the intensity of the woman’s gold-flecked eyes almost overwhelming her. This is what it means to be studied, she thought, resisting the urge to look away as Elizaveta’s eyes bored into hers. She felt trepidation trickle into her mind, a cold, sinking feeling in her gut that she couldn’t shake. It would be easy for Professor Volkov to dismiss her – after all, InGen’s reputation among palaeontologists was shaky at best. Combine that reputation with multiple disasters on both Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna, and Alexis wouldn’t be surprised if the academic threw the folder back in her face.

Elizaveta picked up her coffee, taking a few final sips of the rich blend before she returned her focus to Alexis. ‘Give me the evening,’ she finally said, rising from her seat, ‘you will have your answer tomorrow.’

Alexis rose too. ‘Thank you for your time, Professor.’

Elizaveta offered a nod. ‘And for yours, Miss Murphy.’

She turned away and Alexis stepped around the table. ‘Please, take this with you,’ she said, offering the dossier, ‘I’m sure you want to go over it in more detail.’

‘Not necessary,’ Elizaveta said, tapping her temple and flashing Alexis a rare, mischievous smile. She turned again, striding away from the table. She paused only to catch the waiter’s attention, handing him a note before pressing a kiss to his cheek to thank him for her drink, it seemed. It was a surprising gesture, in Alexis’ mind – she couldn’t have imagined the serious, almost stern academic being so gentle with anyone had she not witnessed the scene with her own eyes – but the waiter smiled warmly, Elizaveta’s name rolling smoothly off his tongue as he wished her well for the rest of the day.

It seemed there was much Alexis had to learn about Elizaveta Volkov.

Soft flickering light bathed the room, the candles casting shadows on the walls of her study. Though it lacked the posters and skeletal reproductions of predators, it held just as many books and files – perhaps more – as her Harvard office, the floor to ceiling bookcases almost filled to the brim with old research files, articles, and books.

Elizaveta tucked the silken robe tighter around herself as she settled into the soft leather chair, leaning in to make herself comfortable. The old clock on the wall ticked contently before a chime announced the arrival of two AM. After attempting a few hours of restless sleep, she’d realised that her tossing and turning was in vain. Her mind was simply too awake, too busy trying to process her thoughts and make one of the most important decisions in her career. She’d realised there was only one thing to do.

Her parents would be awake soon, getting ready to sit down to their breakfast as they did every morning at seven AM. If she could trust anyone to counsel her at this moment, it was them.

She tapped on her keyboard, bringing up Skype. With only a few clicks, she was dialling them across the seas. She picked up her mug, holding it between her hands and basking in the warmth of the strong tea within as she waited. Though she’d finished her studies six years ago, they still kept a laptop on overnight in case she called in a moment of need such as this.

Elizaveta perked up when the dial tone stopped, leaning closer to the screen, a smile breaking on her lips when she was greeted by her parents’ glowing smiles.

‘Eliza! Slishkom dolgo, solnyshko moye! Too long since you last called!’ Kazimir said, waving a finger at her playfully, ‘we missed you.’

‘Let me get a better look at my daughter – it’s been so long since I last saw your lovely face,’ Galina said, gently nudging Kazimir aside to get right in front of the screen, but when she laid her eyes on Elizaveta, her brow furrowed at the sight before her, ‘you look tired, zvezda moya. What is wrong?’

Elizaveta smiled warmly, trying her best to ease her mother’s concern. She often wondered why she had not been blessed with her mother’s gentle warmth, with her sweet heart-shaped face and soft curves. People in the states might have considered Galina homely and plain, but to Elizaveta, her mother was the most beautiful woman in the world, inside and out. She always sensed when Elizaveta was troubled, no matter how hard Elizaveta tried to hide her emotions behind her usually steely visage. She should have known this time would be no different.

‘I had an interesting meeting today,’ Elizaveta said, placing her mug aside, ‘I wanted to tell you about it.’

‘It must have a very interesting meeting,’ Kazimir said as he settled into one of the chairs in front of the desk, ‘last time you called us at seven was to tell us your book was finalised. You have happy news again?’

‘I am not sure, otets. I have to be wary of opportunities that appear too good to be true.’

Kazimir chuckled. ‘Enough suspense, we are too old to wait so long!’

‘I met Alexis Murphy today,’ she said, pausing to allow her parents a moment to process the words, ‘she and her brother want me to run research trips to Isla Sorna, with the view of setting up both Isla Sorna and Isla Nublar as research venues.’

‘Well, you are the Head of International Research. You’ve run digs on every continent, yes? It does not surprise me they want you,’ Kazimir said.

‘I run digs, otets. I am a palaeontologist. I study fossils, the remains of creatures that have been dead for millions of years buried in dirt, rock, and sand, not the animals themselves.’

‘That may be true, solnyshko moye, but you forget where you began all those years ago. I have not – I paid the bills your scholarship did not cover, after all.’ He tapped his temple, a playful smirk on his lips that made her chuckle. ‘You are a scientist, first and foremost. Much as you love palaeontology, you did your Honours in zoology. That makes you just as equipped to study the living creatures as you are their bones.’

‘We know what you think of InGen,’ Galina said, leaning closer to the screen to catch her daughter’s gaze, ‘but I also remember what you were like as a little girl. Your favourite toys were always the dinosaurs, no matter how many people tried to tell you they were for boys. You would always put your hands on your little hips and tell them science was for everyone.’ Her rich, chocolate coloured eyes shone with endless pride at the memories. ‘I know you, zvezda moya. You would not have called if you were not considering it an option. Why not take this opportunity, study the creatures you love dearly in flesh rather than bone?’

Elizaveta thought back to the posters in her Harvard office, to the detailed images of predators of all sizes that hung on her walls. Much as her rational mind knew to fear their teeth and claws, that same thrill of adventure she’d felt in her office when she’d first received Alexis’ email ignited in her veins. Alexis believed the dossier she’d offered was small but Elizaveta knew the opportunity held within the pages was vast beyond the dreams of her colleagues and students, and the young CEO had proven well that she would not sacrifice safety for spectacle, as had been done at Jurassic World.

‘Sleep on it,’ Kazimir said, drawing on the turmoil in Elizaveta’s features to craft his reply, ‘you will know by morning what to do, I am certain.’

Elizaveta bit back a sigh at his suggestion. Sleep on it was his usual direction when she felt torn by decisions such as this. Though it made sense logically, she wondered if she could truly sleep with so many thoughts buzzing around in her mind.

‘I will try, otets,’ she said finally, knowing she did not sound confident that she would succeed, ‘I will let you get ready for work. Ya lyublui vas,’ she said, placing a kiss to her fingertips and pressing them to the screen. Her parents did the same, both of them smiling warmly at their daughter one last time before Elizaveta ended the Skype call.

She settled into her chair, picking up her mug. Most of the warmth had evaporated from the ceramic, the contents barely lukewarm as she took a sip, but she was too far lost in her thoughts to care. Deep down, she knew that no matter what, her decision would be clouded by her judgement – of InGen, of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World – but also by her excitement. She needed a moment of peace, a second of clarity between the clamour of clashing views that she feared would never come.

She glanced over at the wall as she tried to wade through the mess in her mind; the original copies of each of her degrees hung in the only space not occupied by towering bookshelves, framed handsomely in rich mahogany, the protective glass reflecting the dancing light of the diminishing candle. With them hung a photo of her and her colleagues at Harvard, taken shortly after she accepted her current position. She slid out of her chair, stepping closer and staring at the image. It wasn’t one of her favourite photos – her expression was firmer than it should have been, the ghost of a smile on her lips that did not quite reach her eyes, despite the happiness attached to her memories of the moment – but looking at that image made her realise that clarity should come not from her clamouring opinions, but the firm belief in her ability.

I am the Head of International Palaeontological Research at Harvard University, one of the most accomplished and renowned of universities in the world, she thought, her decision settling into her mind, if anyone can make this work for myself, my staff, and my students – it’s me.

Notes Slishkom dolgo, solnyshko moye - too long, my small sun/sweetheart. zvezda moya - my star. otets - father. solnyshko moye - my small sun/sweetheart. Ya lyublui vas - I love you.

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