Chapter Three, Body Swap: Matt and Lester
"Jess, are you playing the predator frequency?" asked Abby.
"The one that freezes them? No, I have it up and ready to play, but I'm not yet."
"Curious," mumbled Lester, following close behind the Captain.
"I have five more inside the room in back," said Jess. "They're just standing around, sort of dazed, like the other. I'm getting a sort of sound, it's annoying and high."
"Could it be what's slowing them down?" Becker asked Abby.
Abby shrugged.
"It's not the same frequency as the predatory signal we use," said Jess. "I analyzed it through our computers."
"Right, well, I suggest we approach with caution, ready to blast anything that moves," said Lester, making Becker smile with appreciation.
"I like that plan," he said.
Lester smiled Matt's playful smirk. "Yes, I imagined you would appreciate its merits," he said with a brogue.
Becker laughed. "His voice, your words. Weird."
"Connor?" asked Abby.
"Still with the anomaly," called Connor. "It's acting weird, and won't close."
"Stay on it," said Becker. He ordered two of his men to guard the anomaly with Connor.
They moved over the predators they'd shot. Becker winced at the noise. "I hear it now, Jess. It's awful."
"I know," Jess said. "I think it supposed to be music, but the sound system playing it is messed up."
"I know I'm a bit repressed and stodgy," said Lester, "but if this is music, please, cut off my ears."
Jess giggled.
"Five more predators, just standing in a daze," said Abby. "Like Jess said."
Becker smiled. "It's almost unsporting," he said, aiming his EMD.
"I'll take unsporting. These bastards have almost killed me more than once," said Lester, shooting three of them with unashamed glee.
Becker and Abby took the other two.
Emily held her hands over her ears. "This is not music!"
"Make it stop!" cried Lester.
Becker began aiming around the walls.
"I'm pretty sure, Becker, that blasting the sound system is overkill," said Jess.
"You aren't present, Miss Parker. Captain Becker, you have my permission to blast the first speaker you see," said Lester.
"I appreciate that," said Becker.
"Hold on," said Jess. "I can access the system from here and stop it."
"I shudder at your power, Miss Parker."
Jess laughed as she hacked and soon the shop was quiet.
"God bless you," said Lester.
"Brilliant," said Becker.
"So, I guess it was the sound system," said Abby.
"I think it was," said Jess. "I think you were hearing a very bad, warbled version of the Beatles."
"I've always hated those long-haired bugs," said Lester.
"Guys! Something else is coming through!" screamed Connor.
They ran back to the first room, where Connor and the soldiers were tensed and aiming at the anomaly. The room shook as tremors swept through.
"It's big," said Becker.
They all backed up. The anomaly was glowing strong now, and the tremors were worse.
"Here it comes!" cried Becker.
"It? I think there is more than one," said Lester.
Jess bit her lip.
"What's going on?" asked Lester's voice. Matt had left Lester's office and now stood behind her. The minister had followed.
"They handled one incursion, but now something else is coming through the anomaly," said Jess
Matt laid Lester's hand on her shoulder, as all three of them watched helplessly.
The team was armed and ready. Lester wished for his own office full of brandy. And his own body. If he was about to die, he'd prefer doing it as himself.
Then, a stampede burst through. Actually, it was three baby mammoths.
"Hold your fire!" cried Lester. He lowered his weapon, and he and Abby carefully walked up to the youngsters, soothing and calming them.
Jess let out a huge sigh. Matt chuckled.
"I knew you had one animal expert, but I see your man Anderson can handle the creatures well too," said the minister.
Jess and Matt smiled at each other.
"Yes," said Matt. '"That man down there definitely has a way with mammoths."
Lester was cooing and petting two of the mammoths. "Did you go walking without your mama?"
Becker smiled, shaking his head.
"OK, I think the anomaly is stable now," said Connor. "We should send them back before the parents come looking."
Abby nodded. 'I don't think we have enough man power to push three babies this size."
"No pushing, needed Miss Maitland," said Lester. "Ever see the movie, Hatari?"
Abby smiled. "Several times. What does catching zoo animals in Africa have to do with this situation?"
Lester smiled, and lured the mammoths to follow him, kind of forming a line.
"Now, keep them in line and following me," he said, walking toward the anomaly. "It's the Elephant Walk scene, Miss Maitland, mammoth style."
Lester led the three mammoths through the anomaly, just like the woman in the film, leading three baby elephants to a water hole. Only Lester and his charges disappeared.
"Lester!" screamed Becker. "No one goes through...Damn it!
"That did not seem wise," said Emily.
Abby held her breath.
A few seconds later, Matt's legs strolled back through. Lester smiled wildly. "Just call me the Mammoth Whisperer," he said.
The team all laughed, and Connor closed the anomaly.
Back in Ops, Jess and Matt laughed.
"Excellent show," said the minister. "I'd give that Captain some time off, though. He mistakenly called your name when Anderson disappeared."
Jess giggled.
"I'll make the recommendation, but the man's a workaholic," said Matt.
The minister nodded. "Well, I hadn't planned on a demonstration, however, I just got confirmation that the funding of the facility must continue."
Matt smiled. "Thank you, Sir."
The minister shook his hand. "Excellent work, James." Then he left.
Matt sighed, leaning against the ADD. '"That was stressful."
Jess nodded. 'But it worked out alright."
"I'd take a thousand mammoths over one government pencil pusher," said Matt. "I don't know how Lester does it. Jess, the questions were never ending, and frankly, dumb."
Jess giggled. 'Welcome to the wonderful world of administration."
"No thank you. I want my position, along with my body, back."
On screen, they saw Lester, in Matt's body, swaggering out of the building, very pleased with himself.
"You alright, Lester?" Matt asked through comms.
"Oh, quite alright," said Lester calmly.
"Yeah, you're making me a bit uncomfortable. That's my job, you know."
Lester chuckled. "You can keep this job, Anderson, I assure you. Predators in suits are more my forte."
"Good. I'll leave you to them."
Lester smiled. "Although, I'm always up for mammoth walking."
Jess giggled, and Matt smiled.
"The ADD is quiet, so bring your team on in,' said Matt.
"Roger," said Lester, corralling the team into the truck. Then, he tried to take the keys from Becker.
"Thanks, but I'll drive, Mr. Incursion," said Becker.
"Ooh, a nickname," replied Lester. "I like it."
End of Chapter Three