Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.
****Spoiler alert***
If you haven't seen Primeval New World, there are a couple of small spoilers in this fic, nothing much but thank you for joining me, but please don't read if you don't want to know!
This chapter is still setting the scene…oh! Someone's beginning to notice a certain co-ordinator, at last…
Six!
Chapter Two- The Six!
The team stepped back when the golden anomaly began to shimmer as they saw the shadows of something about to come through. There was always a nervous anticipation of what they would have to deal with, and the team raised their weapons in readiness as they waited.
They didn't have long to wait however, as no sooner did they hold up their weapons, a figure appeared from beyond the sparkling shards, followed by another…then another…The team hadn't encountered this before and as they stood, mouths open in amazement, no less than six people came through the anomaly and stood in the gym facing the EMD's pointing at them.
"Hey! Lower your weapons- we're friendly- we mean no harm" an accented voice said calmly and reassuringly.
Connor glanced over at Abby and raised his eyebrows. "American?" he mouthed.
Abby shook her head- she'd heard that kind of soft accent before. "Canadian, I'd say." she mouthed back.
"And who are you?" Matt asked, as the team still kept their weapons trained on the newcomers. They were all waiting for Becker or Matt's order before lowering them when they deemed it safe.
"I'm Evan Cross, and this is my team- Dylan; Ange; Mac and Toby." Each person nodded as they were introduced.
"And you?" Matt said to the last man in camouflage grey who had remained silent, and mainly forgotten
"Or... er...Lieutenant Kenneth Leeds, at your service." he said quietly.
"So...this is the Anomaly Research Centre!" Evan said, looking around. "We're your friendly Canadian counterparts- sort of."
Abby glanced at Connor with one sharp nod, as if to say 'there- I told you they were Canadian!' and he grinned back at her until the main speaker of the group spoke directly to him.
"So we meet again! We've brought your weapons back to you, as promised. We all wanted to see your ARC, so the others came too!" Evan said as he approached Connor with his hand outstretched in greeting, ready for a handshake.
Connor didn't respond as he expected however, and kept his gun trained on the man. He looked dumbfounded and confused as he stammered in response.
"What? Do I know you? My name's Connor..."
"Yeah, I know. Connor Temple, right? We've met before...don't you remember? How's Keiran- is the leg OK?"
"Kieran?"
"Oh…. " Evan concluded looking at his team mates in sudden realisation. "Oh, oh! Er...what year is this? We seem to have made a mistake...we'd better get back..."
"No-one's going anywhere until we discuss a few things." Matt stated. "Everyone come this way, please…"
"Are we under arrest?"
"Not at all, you're just our honoured guests, for the moment. I wouldn't want that to have to change so please, no one try to leave. Connor- lock the anomaly. Now... this way, please ladies and gentlemen."
"Lock the anomaly...how… can you really do that?" the woman called Toby asked, watching Connor open his case and pull out a strange looking instrument.
"Sorry, miss…you need to come this way just now." Matt said and indicated that the woman should walk on. He led the Canadian team through the ARC and took them to the interview rooms. As they passed by the Hub, Toby's attention was immediately taken with the young girl sat at the controls of the amazing computer system.
"Wow!" she breathed. "Can I just..."
"Don't worry, Miss...?"
"Nance- Toby Nance."
"Miss Nance- don't worry, you'll be able to see everything soon enough… perhaps."
"Toby- how long will the anomaly stay open?" Evan shot at her, worried it would close, trapping them there.
Toby took out a piece of equipment and studied it for a few moments. "It's got a strong signal – I'd say that it will remain open for about a week. We're fine."
"Whoa! How can you know that?" Connor asked, impressed as he caught up with them.
"Well I..."
"OK, you two- there's plenty of time for you to talk if our friends here get clearance."
Evan's eyebrows shot up and he looked at his team mates. "If we get clearance?" he wondered- what sort of establishment was this ARC? "Clearance from…?"
"You'll find out soon enough, but for now- where are you from, and what are you all doing here?" Matt began asking the Canadian, as Matt and Becker closed the door behind them, leaving the others standing outside, looking at each other in wonder…
~~oOOo~~
A little later, Connor and Abby were able to take the visitors to the canteen for some refreshment, leaving Matt and Becker discussing the information they'd found out with Lester, and deciding what they should do with the six strangers.
"Well, they obviously mean no harm, in fact they can share their knowledge with us. Connor's already itching to talk to that Toby girl and she in return's fascinated about the ADD. I think it will be mutually beneficial for them all to spend a few days with us" Matt told Lester. "They're from a little later than us, though and I've stressed they mustn't divulge anything we shouldn't know about their time. They understand the problems that could cause. They'll be fine."
"Very well, Matt. Arrange for them to stay in the ARC apartments for now. Go along now to the canteen with the others to welcome our guests- get to know them- and keep an eye on them at the same time."
"Right!" Matt agreed, nodding at Becker as they both turned to leave.
"Wouldn't you like to know what they know about us- they've obviously met Connor before?" Becker observed as he and Matt walked down the corridor to join the others.
"No. I'm from the future as well, Becker. Don't forget that- sometimes it's better not to know!"
"Yeah- and look at how that panned out…it was something we needed to know…to fix, before it had devastating results!"
"Well, they don't look as if they've come from extreme situations. In fact they just seemed curious to see our version of the ARC. No, Becker, best left alone."
Becker nodded to Matt and they joined the others- Jess and Emily had also made their way to the canteen and Becker noticed Jess was talking nineteen to the dozen to the girl named Toby, and they seemed to have a great deal in common. Connor was also joining in with them now and again, and Becker grunted when he realized they were discussing 'tech talk' and turned away to listen to the other conversations.
Dylan, Mac and Evan were chatting with Abby and Emily about the creatures they'd encountered, and Ange and Leeds just sat with their drinks listening and watching the others. Ange was fascinated about how the ARC was run- she'd heard a little about the public- private partnership during the briefing, and was determined to speak more about it with the man called Lester.
They all seemed harmless enough, Becker thought, but he'd keep an eye on them all the same. His eye wandered over to where Jess was talking animatedly. She really was pretty. He sighed. Would he ever have the courage- or the opportunity to ask her to…no! He mentally shook himself. He had a job to do. He couldn't let his feelings get in the way. People got hurt or died in this business, and he had to remain alert. He couldn't allow himself to get distracted. All the same…she really was pretty...!
~~oOOo~~
The little party broke up as Matt decided it was time the newcomers were taken to their apartments for the night. Jess said she'd arrange for some clothes to be sent over- there was already food and general bathroom products, including toothbrushes and soap in the apartments as standard equipment, so they'd be quite comfortable. The Canadian team were to be able to roam free around the ARC the next day, and they were all excited to share their knowledge with each other, being careful not to divulge anything that would alter the timelines.
Toby and Jess exchanged a hug as they parted, they were already fast becoming friends. Becker was astounded how quickly people took to Jess- even that Mac was giving her a kiss on the cheek as he left. He really didn't like the look Jess gave him in return...she wasn't interested in him, was she! He'd have to keep an eye on that one. He was very sorry these people had come here at all, the sooner they went back through the anomaly- the happier he'd be!
Becker and Matt escorted the Canadians and Mac, who it seemed actually originated from the UK, to the cars and Becker gestured to some of his men to follow them on their journey and to remain on duty outside the apartments to ensure they didn't go wandering through the city alone.
"You OK?" Abby said next to him as he watched the cars depart.
"I'm fine." he answered shortly, turning away.
"You don't like them, do you?"
"I neither like nor dislike them, Abigail. It's whether I trust them that's the question!"
"Why wouldn't you trust them? They all seem perfectly alright to me. Evan said…"
"I don't really care what Evan says, Abby. Not until I know why they're really here, and what they want."
"Becker! They wanted to return the EMD's and see the ARC. You heard them. That's all."
"We'll have to wait and see. I mean…where did they get the EMDs from in the first place- Connor? But when? There's a lot of unanswered questions, Abby. Now, if you'll excuse me- I have some…'security stuff' to do."
Abby watched as Becker walked away, and was still pondering on her conversation with him as Connor appeared by her side.
"Seem nice don't they?" he said.
"Becker doesn't think so."
"What?"
"Never mind…Yes, Connor, they seemed very nice. Evan's very knowledgeable about the creatures, and I like the way he tries to get them all back home. He's really interested in the menagerie…not bad to look at either…very muscly…."
"What!"
"Joke!" Abby laughed, but when Connor took his time replying, just looking at Abby for a long time before speaking, she became a little concerned. "Connor?"
"You liked him, didn't you?"
"Yes, didn't you?" she answered in surprise. "I was only joking- about the good looking thing, you know!"
"Yep. I know. Just being…never mind…C'm here…" and he pulled Abby to him and kissed her gently on the cheek.
As they parted, and Abby walked away to go back to the menagerie, Connor watched her wondering exactly how much she'd liked the handsome team leader. Their own relationship had been rocky to say the least during New Dawn, and he had hoped they were back on track- she had proposed, but they hadn't really spoken about it since.
All he needed was a good looking 'he-man' to draw her attention away. He groaned and rubbed his hands over his face, scrubbing away the tears that had suddenly fallen. He sadly started walking back to the ARC. He had to talk to her- properly, this time. Find out her feelings and tell her his. He loved her more than anything, and he wasn't going to lose her. He just couldn't lose her….
To Be Continued…