Ch. 17 Hammond

Ch. 17 Hammond

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= MALCOLM STAYS IN THE DARKENED CORNER of John Hammonds room, watching as his female companion embraces the old ill man who had taken care of her during her youth years.

"Jesus, Dr Malcolm please enter the room more. Especially when you're beside my child." John ushers the much taller individual further into his room, smiling warmly up at the chaotician.

"It's good o see you, it really is. How's the leg?"

Malcolm shrugs while watching the older man lift himself to his feet. "Resentful."

Hammond chuckles. "When you have a lot of time to think, it's funny who you remember. It's the people who challenged you. It's the quality of our opponents that gives our accomplishments meaning." He wanders to the chaotician. "I never told you how sorry I was about what happened after we returned."

Madison notices Malcolm had to look everywhere but John, like he was holding back some packed up anger. Probably because of the older's deteriorated self.

"I didn't know you - - weren't well." Malcolm responds through somewhat gritted teeth. Eyes landing on the purple and pink headed female who moves onto a pile of folders on the desk.

Slipping off the cosy bed, Madison allows the pair to talk amongst themselves and shuffles through the files. Finding names.Names that shouldn't be there with the title 'SITE B' written in broad letters.

"You seriously aren't thinking about this Hammond?" Madison asks the older man in disbelief, interrupting their conversation as she tosses a file into the man's hands. "Site B has been off limits to the public for god knows how long!"

"That's why I need you two to go, I was just telling you both thi-"

"And take his girlfriend!? That's even more fucked up than last time!" Madison shouts out in frustration. "Also, you're taking a tourist?"

"They aren't just any touris-"

"Wait what? You sent Sarah where?" Malcolm immediately jumps onto the bandwagon and approaches the pair closer.

"Isla Sorna, another island filled with dinosaurs." Madison responds in a hushed voice, narrowing her eyes at her uncle.

"What!? Why?"

"-before you ask that, she came to me." Hammond tells the man. Pointing a finger at the individual.

"So you thought it'll be good to piss me off more and let her!"

"That's why Madison is going, she'll be tasked with using her ability." Madison groans and rests her forehead against the wall nearest to her.

"Still no reason to send her! Get someone else."

"There is no one else! Paleontological behavior study is a brand new field, and Sarah Harding is on the frontier." John firmly states to the 6'4 male. Malcolm plants his hand harshly against his head and gritted his teeth.

"Her theories on parenting and nurturing among carnivores have framed the debate for the last five years, who else could have-" John stops his words as he see's Malcolm making way over to his phone he picks up. "what are you doing?"

"You're too late." John whispers softly and Malcolm stops to turn around, a terrified look on his face. "She's already there."

"The others are meeting her in three days."

Malcolm could only speak in a pained whisper. "You sent her to this island alone?"

Hammond laughs gently. "Sent" is hardly the word, she couldn't be restrained! She was adamant about making the initial foray by herself. "Observation without interference," she said, went on and on about it."

"What is it, you couldn't kill me the first time, so you recruited Sarah to manipulate me into going down there again?! Is that it?!" Malcolm shouts in anger.

"It wasn't intentional!" John protests.

"You know how she is, better than anyone! After you were injured in the park, she sought you out, didn't she, traveled all the way down to the hospital in Costa Rica and ask someone she didn't even know if the rumors were true! She's a firebrand once she's engaged on a subject, how could I refuse her the chance to complete her life's work?!"

"You should've consulted Malcolm, if anything happens to Sarah. I'll gut you like a fish." Madison threatens the older man.

"What has happened to my child?" John looks to her in shock.

"Reality has happened, I've witnessed first hand the terror and fright stricken faces of humans when they see the blood thirst side of them." Madison hisses, eyes blown wide.

"What do you mean?"

"InGen spilled the secrets of my ability, and so every time I go outside. I am watched heavily by both police and civilians." Madison explains, crossing her arms. "Anyway, that doesn't matter now. What matters is you will get a hold of Miss Harding and return her back." Madison narrows her eyes.

"Isn't quite that easy Madison." Hammond sheepishly informs the girl.

"Then send me, I'll speak to Fury and he will get a rescue team." Madison tells him, Malcolm joining in on the conversation.

"This is criminal, and I will never forgive you for it. You wan to leave your name on something, fine, but stop putting it on other peoples' graves!" He tells the man who sighs heavily.

"She's going to be fine. She's spent years studying African predators, she knows what she's doing. Believe me, the research team will take every possible pre-"

"African predators are not the same as extinct beasts." Madison laughs out loud in disbelief. She and Hammond tears their eyes from one another as Madison meets Malcolm's worried ones.

"No, It's not a research expedition any more. It's a rescue mission. It's leaving tonight and I'm going with it. And for all our sakes, whoever you've got for protection had better be good." He says before exiting the room, leaving John to turn to his young child who in response shakes her head and turns away. Fists clenching closed in annoyance.

"Ian-" the girl jogs forward, chasing after her old friend as he exits the house with irritation written all over his face.

Just as she was about to receive an answer, Madison swiftly drags the tall 6'4 male into a squeezing hug. He tenses at first. Having her face somehow higher than his, confused to this fact. Ian had to look down and find that the ends of her pants brushing mid-femur.

"How-"

"Mutant, learnt a ton of things." Madison responds, pulling away as she spurts in grey smoke and returns to her normal height, a few feet above his shoulders.

"Thank you for that Maddy." Ian thanks the girl, moving his hand up to ruffle her hair. "Now... we got to go back on the subway." He huffs in an agonising tone.

"We are going to the same place correct?" Madison asks him, and the man nods.

"Then you can have a lift from my friend approaching us as we speak." Madison shrugs. Surprising the male who awkwardly mumbles a short 'sure'.

Just then, their eyes settle on a speeding black car. Dust collecting behind the vehicle before it swerves around the corner and shortly stops into a smooth stop in front of the two. Madison smiles up at her companion then pulls the car door open to the passenger.

"Tony, you're going to sit with my friend, Malcolm here in the front while I'm in the back." Madison gestures a hand for her companion to take a seat before she hops in the back, popping her head between the two.

"Uh- thank you Mr Stark." Ian thanks the man in an awkward manner, taking his seat belt and attaching himself in the seat.

"You can just call me Tony, I've read your work Dr Malcolm." Tony Stark holds his hand out to which Ian shakes, nodding. "And the chaos theory is quite interesting I might add, actually- I have been wanted to meet you for some tim-"

"Yea yea, where's the food?" Madison interrupts the man, shuffling around and scavenging through the car. Ian noticed Tony rolling his eyes.

"Jarvis, open the secret compartment please." Madison asks out loud and Ian watches in surprise as a drawer at the front in front of him opens. Filled with different snacks such as crackers, sweets, chocolate and drinks. "Thanks!"

"You are welcome Lady Faye."

"That is cool."

END OF CHAPTER SEVENTEEN