This chapter is an entry for the Round 7 of Fanfic Bootcamp.

Fandom : Amazing Spider Man x Jurassic World

March 28th, Hammond Creation Lab.

"As an Oxford graduate, I expected it from you." The professor said, toying with the syringe I recently emptied. The compliment flustered me, but not as close as to to how Peter used to do to my nerves.

I slapped myself inwardly for the mere flashback with him. They were memorable days, but not now when I'm supposed to impress my senior.

"Thanks, Doc." I smiled politely, tucking a loose strand back to my ear. My neck cracked at the tilt of my head, after bowing to a set of microscopes for anyone knows how long. I began focusing on arranging the equipment on my desk.

"Claire's decision to accept you proved worthy."

At the mention of another senior employee here, I grinned, reminiscing her central roles in my life. Besides accepting her friend's recommendation of me, she was the first to welcome and brought me around on the orientation week despite her piling jobs.

Which is against the fact that she's a Type A personality bearer—a workaholic. A bean she spilled during our first awkward small talk.

"Ms. Stacy? Do you follow?" The doctor's trailing voice snapped me awake. "You're finished for today. So far, you're among the most promising interns."

I beamed with pride as his hand patted my coated shoulder thrice, a gesture of appreciation. As his swift footsteps marched farther from my desk, I hastened to assemble things back to their original states.

I rolled my lab coat's sleeves a couple of times before my slippery hands grabbed the items. Setting aside the microscopes, keeping the embryos back to their storages, tossing away trashes . . .

"Gwen?" A voice called from my back, in a tone which sounds like my stern mom. I tilted my neck aside, smiling when I found Zara, a tablet palmed on her hands. Her cocoa brown hair triggers the jealousy in me at how she managed to look fine after such a rambunctious day at the newly-opened theme park.

"Hey." I let out a puff of air, stretching my aching back and faced her. "How's your day?"

Her clicking heels approached me, sounding oddly rhythmical. "Average." She drawled on, throwing herself on the vacant chair I spent hours on. "Can't say the same for Claire. That woman, duh. I'm amazed she hasn't collapsed."

It's almost six. The wave of tiredness I forgot after Dr. Wu's compliment returned when the realization of the clock struck me.

I haven't taken any accurate personality tests yet, but possibly I share the same type with Claire after working for straight ten hours.

"And I'm amazed you haven't too. Don't you share the same blood?" I sneered at the mockery her remark contained, amused at her sarcastic sense of humor.

"Hard workers tend to stay together, after all." A singsong voice chimed in from the lab's entrance, revealing an orange-headed woman with her trademark—her knee-length white coat and red high heels.

"Claire." I forced a better response than gloomy, trying to reach their standards of enthusiasm but ended up failing. "How's your presentation?"

"Seriously," Zara interrupted with her agitated tone, "should you ask that to almost everyone?"

"Excellent. The inventors were intrigued at the project. Surprising enough, the raptor behaved well today." Claire said as I hurriedly slap her sneaky hands away, preventing her from accessing my scientific needs. Knowing her organized life, she'll end up piling my items into a neater place, which waste my time tomorrow.

All this for my promotion and bragging rights. To tease Peter about how exciting this place is, with the surreal atmosphere and friendly environment. Another thing I can win from Spider Man. And of course, four more bragging rights to mom and my three brothers.

If only dad hadn't passed away . . .

"Gwen? You're here?" A palm flicked swiftly in front of my face, plunging me back into reality. "You seemed off." Instead of being concerned, Zara's voice sounded accusing. Which is something ought to expect from the lively secretary.

"See? She's the one needing treatment." As if scolding an oblivious child did Claire scold her personal secretary. "Take her back. Dr. Wu has pushed her limits too far."

"He didn't." I objected, flipping my drooping eyelids wider. I could feel the fading mascara staining the corner of my eye, urging me to head back quicker to my room. "I'm okay. We should go to the Main Street."

"Oh, yes, yes! We'll have a chicken cordon—"

"Is it the night shift, ladies?"

The three of us turned around simultaneously at the intervening deep voice which belonged to the CEO, Simon Masrani. The older man hides something behind his back, igniting our curiosity.

"I smell food, sir." Claire and I withdrew our laughter at Zara's straightforward behavior. "We're just about to go to the Main Street. These two machines need additional fuels." She glanced slyly at us from the corner of her thick lashes, earning both our quirked brows.

"Well, too bad the chicken cordon bleu's chef is absent. He asked for day-offs today and tomorrow. But as an exchange . . ." He dramatically revealed the big, brown package with the words 'PIZZA' on the lid. My insides instinctively growled at its desirable appearance. "You guys can have these."

As I held back my drools from escaping out, Zara squealed in excitement and Claire pinched the spot between her brows as she shook her head, clearly tempted at its presence.

*****

June 2nd, Hammond Creation Lab.

"Ms. Stacy, someone wants to talk with you outside." Indignant, I threw the pen back on my desk, stomping out of the lab to meet whoever's here to meet me.

After Mr. Simon promoted me as Dr. Wu's personal assistant, the pride doubled up, along with the frustration and jobs.

A low whistle resounded nearby as I slammed the glass door back to its state, causing me to jump back in shock.

I was wrong to expect my Peter Parker, fool of me.

Instead, stood Victor 'Vic' Hoskins, the leader of Jurassic World's private security force. It was how Claire introduced him to me in the first place.

The sight of his authoritative face tempts me to land a punch on it. He expected superiority, but even I'm an intern in his institution, I won't bow to such an ambitious tyrant.

"Gwendolyn Stacy." I maintained a void face, careful not to display my impression of him there. "Can I have a minute?" Tsk, that doesn't even sound like a question.

"Sure." I moved closer to the wall, folding both my arms to rival his pompous gesture.

He planted a tight smile on his lips. Whatever his intents are, I hope it won't threat my skyrocketing career here.

"So you work under Henry Wu now?"

I responded with a curt nod. "Yes, I'm his personal assistant. Is there something wrong?"

"No, nothing at all, Gwen." I shivered at his false pronunciation of my name. "Just, Henry told me how amazed he was with your works. He told me earlier that you're also talented in other . . . scientific fields."

I can directly guess where this small talk is heading to. "I'm glad to hear it from him."

"Surely you understand robotics too?"

How could this man grate my patience until it becomes bits? "I knew the basics, but I never stoop deeper."

"Good, I knew we can count on you. I tend to keep this as a secret, but I think it won't harm to tell you. You must've known our newest hybrid, Indominus rex. Well, Dr. Wu and I planned to make it more than just an attraction."

He successfully snatched all my grumpiness and inattentiveness, replacing it with curiosity. My eyes widen in shock, unready for this news.

To my horror, he took a step forward, and I squirmed as he inched closer to my ear. How I regret to be this curious. I bated my breath tensely as I avoided all possible contacts with this disgusting man.

"We're going to weaponize it. And to develop it greater, we may need you." His whispers brushed my ear like a breeze, and until he returned to his spot then I released the suppressed breath.

I cast him an incredulous look. Why would they conspire against the park that bounced their fames? What's the purpose of their coalition? Why the new hybrid?

And how that fatherly and perfectionist Dr. Wu got involved with this dangerous man?

"What'll you use it for?" The adrenaline slugged my sentences. "World domination? Military troops?"

"Perhaps both." A crude smirk appeared on his puffy face, increasing the intimidating aura he brought. "However, you only have two options now. To agree or disagree with the proposal."

The rusty wheels in my head spun in a panicked motion, whirring for a reasonable solution to this dilemmatic situation. If I agree, I'll be a part of a country's early apocalypse. But if I disagree . . .

The early apocalypse will dawn on me.

Knowing this venomous tyrant, he'll do anything to smoothen his way to the victor. Knowing a calm man Dr. Wu is, he won't take any acts to defend me—a mere, bright intern with maximum obedience to his demands.

But what about Mr. Simon, Claire, and Zara? What'll they do if I leak this out to them?

"You know the rules. How long have you accompanied your superhero boyfriend, hm?" My fists crunched at the mention of Peter. The anger bubbled within me, caused by the discomfort of his stalking activities merely for the sake of intimidating me.

And by then I knew what to choose between the options.

"My life isn't for the public to consume." I steadied my pacing breath, trying to make no room for miscommunications. "And sorry, I must refuse your offer. I . . . the goal doesn't suit me—"

"Because you've lived on the bright side for years? Come on, Gwen." His demeaning chuckle adds more burden onto my throat, constricting me from speaking. "We need a revolution. These creations—" he flung his meaty arms to the air, a coercing expression on his face. "We can't use them solely for entertainment, right? We must utilize their abilities . . ."

"You're abusing them. You don't deserve science." I bit my lower lip forcefully, lifting a sharp-nailed finger to his unaffected face. "I refused because this isn't why I'm here. I won't serve those misusing the facilities they're given. Most importantly, I won't serve . . ." I penetrated his eyes with my emotional ones. "those with opposing visions to mine."

*****

June 3rd, Hammond Creation Lab.

A sudden burst to my room caused my heart to jump, yet my limbs seemed too reluctant to respond. It was Zara. A hand clinging to the wall, she panted and flashed a worried gaze from her panda eyes.

"What happened?" I reflexively asked although I could've guessed what's looping in her mind. The heat my coffee emanated seemed to vanish as I eyed her frantic gestures.

Slurred words slipped out of her tongue in a fast motion, and she threw her tablet right on the empty couch next to mine, urging me to look.

I refused softly, unready for whatever trick they utilized.

"Was it you?" Her chin quivered, a clearer sign of her shock after hearing the audio. "How—why?"

I wanted to slam her tablet to the wall and convince her it's a hoax Hoskins or Dr. Wu had made. My brain threatened to spill out the threats Hoskins placed on my plate, the intimidations, schemes . . . everything.

But my tongue failed to process all my sentences, thanks to the jumbled mess my head has become.

I recalled the words Dr. Wu uttered in the audio record.

"This is the first time in years I've created a paralyzed creation. The poor embryo didn't match the complement's. Someone's sabotaging my crafts, and I think a name must instantly appear in our minds."

I choked back a cry as my own name appeared ahead of my eyes although I knew I'm innocent even others don't.