Improbable not Impossible
The damp, dark sub-basement of the Anomaly Research Center is rarely visited except for when necessary. Few lights cast light down there to conserve energy, being turned on only whenever a brave soul dared venture down to do work. Somewhere in the darker corners water dripped from the damp pipes that ran along the ceiling, echoing much like water dripping from rocks in a cave would. From one of the passage ways, a soft golden light shone, casting unfamiliar shadows across the walls.
The glowing light pulsed as a creature oozed forth, a wet slurping sound issuing from it as it moved across the concrete floor. It paused for a moment, sensing that its environment had changed and made sure it was safe to proceed. After a few minutes, it continued forth, investigating the new surroundings that were different, yet felt the same as where it came from. It left the glowing floating shards of light behind, and began to explore its new surroundings, careless of the obstacles in its way as they seemed easy to move.
At the same time, several floors up another object appeared. The glowing shards of light flashed into existence, an opening to another time. Inside the lab, all metallic objects that were not bolted down or too heavy flew into the anomaly. From the other side, growls filled the air. A large cat padded through from its own time into the sterile lab. Moments later four more cats arrived, following the leader of the pack as it continued to hunt. They spread out around the room, sniffing everything they could, before laying down in wait for their unsuspecting prey to arrive.
Within minutes of the anomaly's appearance the anomaly detector went off. Connor raced over to the detector and stared at the screen waiting for it to pinpoint the anomaly's location. As soon as it displayed the location he stared at in unbelieving what the computer was showing him. He checked and double checked the system, and began running a diagnostic to make sure the computer was running properly.
"What have we got Connor?" Danny asked as he approached the boy.
"We've got an anomaly," Connor replied. "That just can't be," he muttered to himself as he continued to run his hands over the keyboard.
"Where is it?"
"I'm not sure yet," Connor stated. "I'm running a diagnostic to make sure the location is correct."
"What the hell is going on?" Lester demanded. "Why haven't you left to contain the anomaly?"
"Um…about that…" Connor started, baffled by the readings. "We don't have to go anywhere for this anomaly."
"What are you talking about? This had better not be a false alarm."
"This is not a false alarm," Connor asserted. "This is the real thing. The problem at hand is the detector is saying the anomaly is here."
"That's impossible. This site was determined to clear of any potential anomalies." Lester declared. "Sure there is a problem with the equipment."
"One can never be certain as to when or where an anomaly will appear," Cutter stated as he walked into the room. "While we are getting better at tracking and trying to predict their appearance, it is impossible to say that any place is safe from anomalies."
"I've checked and rechecked the system," Connor announced. "The anomaly is here somewhere."
"Then quit talking and start looking," Lester called out gruffly.
Danny picked up a hand held tracking unit and tossed it over to Nick. "You heard the man," he said. "Best bet is to split into teams and start looking."
Cutter stared at the man a moment, upset that his teammate would take the lead, before he nodded his head. Nick knew it was just Danny doing what he had been trained to do. He noticed that Danny was looking at him awaiting his further instructions, and began to formulate an idea.
"Danny is right," he stated. "By splitting up we can cover more ground and find the anomaly faster before anyone gets hurt." He looked at his team and smiled inwardly. "Danny, take Connor and some troops with you and start on the second level." He turned to Becker, "Captain, you and you're team will accompany Abby and me, we'll start in the basement and work our way up."
"Lieutenant Johnson will accompany Danny with his team," Becker commanded drawing attention to a burly man stationed just inside the room by the door.