Becker was leaning over the railing, watching the ground below. He'd arrived to the old facility minutes ago. Waiting for Abby was nerve wracking. After everything that had happened during the day and the information Jess was leaving with them, they had no time to waste, nor time to get caught.
Abby jogged into the control room. She immediately looked up and exhaled deeply. She carried Connor's laptop in her arms. Abby jogged to the ramp and ran up to Becker. "What's going on?"
"She knew." Becker said.
"What?"
"Jess knew all along what was going on. That's why she's missing. Whatever Phillips planning is happening now, and without Matt to help us-"
"The future will happen." Abby finished.
Becker nodded.
"So what do we do?" Abby asked.
"Keep it from happening. We still have the data Jess downloaded from Prospero. With any luck we can use it to stop Phillip." Becker explained.
Abby nodded. She opened Connor's laptop and turned it on. Becker passed her the flash drive. Abby inserted the flash drive into the computer and brought up the data.
"Becker, the data in here covers a project of Prospero's called 'New Dawn'." Abby said.
"What does it do?" Becker asked.
"Apparently it's meant to be a form of green energy…that's harvested by the anomalies." Abby explained.
Becker looked at the computer. "That's impossible."
Abby shook her head. "Not if he has Connor working on it. I recognize some of his equations from his lab. This is what he's had Connor working on for the past few months."
"Is there any way we can stop it?" Becker asked.
"Shut down the anomaly would be my guess. But if I'm reading this right, and I would like to think I am, Phillip will have the only control over the anomaly. The sealing devices won't work on it." Abby explained.
"Does it have the coordinates for the site?" Becker asked.
Abby nodded. "Yeah it…"
"What?"
"Becker we were there today. In the field. That's the main site of New Dawn." Abby explained.
"Damnit." Becker cursed. "It was Phillip the entire time."
"Becker there's more. That site is the exact place where Matt sent Emily." Abby continued.
"How do you know?"
"Because Jess sent a copy of Emily's coordinates as well." Abby answered.
Becker shook his head. "He'll take Emily out with 'New Dawn'. That's why he chose the site. He must've tracked Matt or Jess there."
"What do we do?" Abby asked.
"Stop him." Becker answered. "is there any more information about the project? Tests, execution dates?"
Abby typed. "Looks like the execution date's schedules for next week."
Becker shook his head. "Phillip won't keep to the schedule if he knows Jess hacked his system. He'll move it up. My guess is, he's already started, which puts us at a disadvantage."
"So what's the plan?" Abby asked.
"We head to the site. If anything, we can get Emily out before Phillip executes the project." Becker said.
Connor woke with his head searing in pain. He groaned, placing his hand on his head. He opened his eyes. A bright light shined down on his face, causing him to close his eyes suddenly. Connor groaned.
"Are you alright?"
"Jess?" Connor asked. He opened an eye. This time the light was to the side. He could make out Jess' face from the low lighting. Across from Jess was Matt.
"How're you feelin?" Matt asked.
"Like I got trampled by a mammoth." Connor answered.
"Two shots from an EMD will that." Matt said.
Connor groaned again. "Ow."
"Connor, focus. We have serious problem." Jess said.
"Phillip's put 'New Dawn' ahead of schedule." Matt said.
Connor shot up, amplifying the pain in his body. He shook it off. "What? No, no, no. He-he can't do that."
"Connor he's going to do it, today." Jess replied.
Connor shook his head. "That's not. If he activates the project now everything will go wrong."
"What are you talking about?" Matt asked.
"The plan was to use the energy created by a single anomaly was supposed to be a new energy source. But I miscalculated the output of energy. If Phillip activates the device and creates the anomaly, it'll overload the device and the anomaly won't be able to be locked of shut down." Connor explained.
Matt shook his head. "Damnit! How the hell are we supposed to stop him?"
"We can't." Jess answered.
Matt rose from the ground and slammed his fist into the wall.
"Where the hell are we anyways?" Connor asked.
"We don't know exactly. But it's basically a maze in here." Jess answered.
Connor closed his eyes. "Oh god we're inside 'New Dawn'"
Matt turned around. "What?"
"This room is new Dawn?"
"No, this entire warehouse is New Dawn. I can't believe I didn't realize this sooner. This room is just the conductor chamber." Connor explained.
"Please tell me you're joking." Jess begged.
"I don't think he is Jess.' Matt answered. He grabbed Connor's arm and heaved him up to his feet. "So what do we do?"
"Once the device is powered up, the energy will run through these walls for distribution. If we don't touch the walls, we should be fine." Connor explained.
Matt nodded. "And how do we get out of here?"
"Well…there is one way I can think of." Connor said.
"And that is?"
"When the device is activated, the anomaly will open. What I was doing before someone shot me was fix a glitch in the calculations. As it is, if the anomaly opens here, a second one will open somewhere outside this area. The two anomalies are linked together, that's why they both closed simultaneously. If we slip through the one here-"
"We'll come out on the other side." Matt finished.
Connor nodded. "Exactly."
"Which happens to be where Emily is." Jess said.
Connor turned to Jess. "What?"
"Those coordinates of the secondary anomaly are where Emily has been living for the past six weeks." Jess explained.
"Oh god." Connor gasped.
Matt looked at his watch. "Alright, we've got four hours until dawn. Let's try to get to the center of this thing before the anomaly opens."
The sun was just starting to rise as Becker and Abby pulled up to the coordinates. Becker slammed on the breaks several meters from the house. He killed the engine and climbed out of the car. Abby threw open her door and jogged to the house. Becker moved quickly behind her. He glanced around, checking the security of the area.
Abby grabbed the knob and threw open the door. "Emily!"
Abby took one step through the threshold and stopped. Becker came behind her and froze. Inside the cottage, stood at least a dozen armed men. Each soldier carried live weapons and ammunition rounds. The men held their guns raised, aiming at Becker and Abby. In the center of the armed men stood Phillip.
"I wondered how quickly the two of you would arrive. And you certainly did not disappoint." Phillip said.
"Where's Emily?" Abby asked.
"I don't know. My men have searched this entire house and the surrounding area, she hasn't been found." Phillip answered.
"Guess not everything is going as you planned." Abby said.
"Disarm and detain them." Phillip ordered. He walked toward them slowly. "I want them to see history being made."
From beneath the ground, Emily heard the front door burst open. She heard Abby's panicked voice, but remained silent. Hours ago, Burton and his men had entered the house and searched for her. By some miracle, they hadn't found the cellar door.
Emily carefully pushed on the cellar door above her head. She lifted it enough to see into the room. The boots of Phillips armed guards stood not a few feet from the door. Emily looked beyond the guards toward Abby and Becker. She titled her head to look up at them and caught Becker looking at her. He quickly took his eyes from her, back up to Phillip. Emily caught his hand moving, waving slightly toward the ground.
"Where's Emily?" she heard Abby ask.
"I don't know. My men have searched this entire house and the surrounding area, she hasn't been found." Phillip answered.
Emily bit her lip and lowered herself back into the cellar. She waited in silence, listening to the conversation above her.
"Disarm and detain them." Phillip ordered. Emily heard footsteps moving from the cellar. "I want them to see history being made."
There was a rush of footsteps toward the front door. Emily waited, listening to the shuffling of boots and the slamming of the door. Emily rested her head against the cellar door. There was no doubt in her mind now that Phillip was putting his plan into action, and Matt had no way of helping her out of this. If she stayed in the cellar, Phillip would no doubt win. But if she moved out to help the others, there was a chance she'd be caught, or they would stop Phillip. Emily closed her eyes tightly and bit her lip. She pushed up the cellar door.
Phillip stood in the center of the field, facing the forest line. Burton's men were spread out across the field, holding security positions. Becker and Abby were tied, and seated beside the trucks. Abby twisted her wrists in the rope, trying to free herself. Becker sat calmly beside her, watching Phillip.
"Leave 'em. You're only wasting your strength." Becker said.
Abby looked to him. "How can you do nothing?"
"Because we have an advantage Burton doesn't." Becker replied. He turned and looked to the car.
Abby turned to look back, but Becker caught her attention forward.
Phillip was looking at them. In his hands he held a small device, one that Abby had seen before. The top portion of the device was crystal blue colored. The base was grey and wide enough to use two hands. "You are about to witness the start of a New Dawn."
He turned back to the field. He raised the device. He pressed a combination of buttons. Suddenly an anomaly opened in the field. The glow from the anomaly overtook the remaining darkness around them.
"Now what?" Abby asked.
"We move." Becker answered.
Abby turned. Suddenly she felt her binds loosen. Abby looked behind her. Emily was beneath the truck. She slipped her knife back into her boots. Abby crawled beneath the truck to the other side. Becker followed her. They slipped to the opposite end of the car, away from Phillip. Becker quickly opened the door and climbed into the car. He grabbed the only remaining EMD from the car and dropped it to Abby. Becker climbed back out of the car and dropped with them.
"Where are the others?" Emily asked.
"We don't know." Abby asked.
"Abby, take Emily and get out of here." Becker ordered.
"I'm not going anywhere." Emily replied.
"These are live rounds, not EMD's." Becker explained.
"And you can't stop them all on your own." Emily stated.
"Emily, Matt brought you here to keep you out of danger. We can't let you put yourself into danger." Abby explained.
"I know, but Matt's not here to stop Phillip, we are." Emily said. "Besides, I have an idea. All I need are the keys."
Becker glanced to Abby. "God help us."
Suddenly one of the guards screamed. They looked beneath the truck out at the field. The men were staggering from the anomaly. Phillip was fast ahead of them. A predator dragged one of the guards towards the anomaly. The man thrashed about, screaming hysterically.
"Get in the truck!" Becker ordered. He stood up and pulled opened the door. He hauled Abby and Jess onto their feet and into the truck. He climbed into the driver's side and started the engine. Becker threw the truck into reverse and stepped on the gas.
What are they?" Emily asked, looking out the window.
"Not something you want to meet." Becker answered. He turned the wheel of the truck, changing the direction.
Suddenly a predator slammed into the side of the truck. It climbed across the hood and slammed its head through the windshield in front of Becker. It lashed out in the front. Abby grabbed the EMD and fired. The predator shrieked and flew out of the car.
Abby leaned forward. "Becker you alright?"
Becker groaned. His left hand covered a pair of massive lacerations across his chest. Blood seeped through his fingers. "Not entirely."
"Out of the car." Abby ordered. She threw open her door and helped Emily out.
Becker limbed out the car, clutching his chest. "Get back to the house."
Abby took point, watching for predators as they moved toward the house. Emily stayed with Becker, helping him along. All around them, predators were leaping and lashing out at the guards. Phillip has disappeared entirely. They were almost to the house. Emily grabbed the knob of the door.
"Emily!"
Suddenly a massive force collided with her, sending her rolling on the ground. Emily found herself lying on her back, looking up at the creatures. Its jaws were open, ready to tear at her flesh. It moved down toward her in a quick motion. But as it moved, its head jerked to the sign. The creature toppled to the side, off Emily.
Emily glanced at the creature, and then behind her. "Matt."
The darkness off the warehouse suddenly vanished in a haze of gold light. Connor, Matt, and Jess turned toward the glow. It was in the center of the room, not too far from them. Over the top of the conduction walls, they could make out the top of the anomaly. Their way out.
"Let's go!" Matt ordered.
They broke into a jog through the walls. The silence slowly diminished as a hum echoed through the walls. Matt led the way with Connor behind him. Jess moved behind them, carrying her shoes just to keep up with them.
"The walls are generating the energy! Don't touch 'em!" Connor yelled.
Suddenly a low growl echoed through the warehouse. Jess paused, looking around. She couldn't see anything out of the anomalies light, be she was sure something was out there. She turned, moving to catch up with the others.
Matt turned another corner, coming out just meters from the anomaly. Connor came out behind him. They looked back at the exit, waiting for Jess. But after a few seconds, Jess still hadn't emerged.
"Jess?" Connor called.
No answer.
"Jess!" Matt called. He moved back toward the opening of the walls.
Suddenly Jess came running toward him. "RUN!" Behind her was a lanky creature. Through the darkness corridors, Matt could make out its dark colored body and domed skull. Its projected jaws were open, baring its many razor teeth. Matt felt his heart rate increase.
"Connor go!" Matt ordered. He grabbed Jess' arm and pushed her toward the anomaly.
Connor looked back just as the predator emerged from the corridors. Connor's eyes grew wide and ran through the anomaly. Matt and Jess ran through as the predator leapt at them.
Through the anomaly was not what they had expected. Truth be told, this timeline was the last one Matt and Connor ever wanted to see again. The earth was barren, carrying only the remains of a shattered civilization. Whatever buildings remained were in shambles, and couldn't hold up for much longer.
"Connor?" Jess asked.
Connor shook his head. "I was afraid this would happen."
"What happened?" Matt asked.
"The two anomalies are similar to those two that appeared in the same spot. One opening causes the other to open. Coincidentally, they both lead to this time." Connor explained.
"Which means the corresponding anomaly should be here somewhere." Jess said.
Connor nodded. He pointed off to his left. "Right there."
Matt looked back at the anomaly. "Let's move. That predator could come through any second."
They ran toward the anomaly. Matt took the rear, staying between the others and the predator. As he ran after them, he could hear the gathering of other predators. The one from New Dawn had already emerged through the anomaly, chasing after them.
Suddenly a predator passed through the other anomaly, right in front of Connor. Connor skid to a stop, reaching out to stop Jess. The predator snarled at them, dragging a carcass of a dead guard. His firearm was still strapped to him. Connor moved quickly toward the dead soldier. He grabbed the weapon and slipped it from his arm. The predators snarled and lashed out at Connor, but Connor ducked the blow.
"Matt, live rounds." Connor explained.
"Must be Phillip." Matt said.
"Guys, if the predator came from our side then-"
"Then there's probably more on the other side." Matt said. "Go!"
Connor grabbed Jess' hand and pulled her toward the anomaly. He aimed his weapon out at the predator. He pushed Jess behind them, through the anomaly. He fired several rounds at the predators, taking out several. He waved for Matt as a small company of predators came after them. They both threw themselves into the anomaly.
Matt's first thoughts as he passed through the second anomaly, was that they were back. His second thought was of the predators making meals out of men. Beside him, Connor was shooting those he could. Matt ran to one of corpse and searched for a secondary weapon. He found one on the man's holster and in his boot.
"Jess!" Matt called. He tossed one of the weapons to Jess. He looked around briefly. He aimed his pistol, taking out a charging predator. Off in the distance, he heard cry.
"Emily!"
Matt turned his head quickly. Emily was lying on the ground just meters from the house. Abby and Becker stood behind her. Looming above Emily was a predator. Matt quickly took aim and fired. The predator jerked and tumbled off Emily. Emily rose and turned her head. Her eyes found him instantly.
"Connor, Jess, let's move!" Matt ordered.
They moved quickly across the field toward the others. Behind them, more predators emerged from the anomaly. Matt shot off several more rounds, only killing two predators. He could hear the shots of a single EMD pistol behind him, taking out another predator.
"We need to seal the anomaly." Abby said.
"We need the control pad." Connor explained.
"Burton still has it." Becker replied.
"Connor get Phillip, we'll deal with the creatures." Matt ordered.
Connor looked to Matt.
"Go!" Connor nodded and ran off.
"Just how do we oral them back through?" Becker asked.
"Doesn't matter. Just disrupt their echolocation." Matt ordered. "Anything loud."
"What about the radio?" Emily asked.
Matt glanced to Emily.
"She's right. We can use the truck radio. Turn up the volume and drive them toward the anomaly." Abby explained.
"There's a second one inside the house." Emily explained.
"We use both and we could send them all through the anomaly. "Jess finished.
Matt nodded. "Abby, you, Jess, and Becker, set up the truck."
Abby nodded.
Matt turned to Emily. "Let's go."
Abby, Becker, and Jess headed to the truck. Abby moved first, keeping the path clear. Becker came up behind Jess. His hand covered his chest, well coated in blood. Abby opened the passenger door. She climbed into the seat and reached for the dashboard. Becker groaned and leaned against the truck. He bent over, breathing heavily. Jess moved beside him, inspecting this wound.
"Oh god, we need to stop the bleeding." Jess said.
"I'm fine." Becker groaned. "Just a scratch."
Jess looked up at him. "Bollocks!"
"We have bigger problems, Jess." Becker said, pushing her from him.
Jess shook her head and rolled her eyes. She lifted her pistol again.
"You any good with that?" Becker asked.
Jess shot off a few, taking down two predators. "My aims not as good as it used to be, but my accuracy hasn't-aah!" Jess was ripped off her feet. She hit the ground hard on her stomach, knocking the pistol from her hand. She grunted as she hit the ground. Jess screamed as she was dragged beneath the truck.
"JESS!" Becker called. He dove for her hand, but missed. He looked under the truck. A predator had Jess by the ankle, dragging her viciously from the car. Jess' arms were outstretched, trying to catch herself on something. Becker grabbed her fallen gun and aimed, but the angle wasn't enough to hit the predator.
Abby turned her head. Her eyes widened see the predator. She turned up the radio and switched station. The radio instantly started blasting an obnoxious rock station. Abby covered her ears and threw herself out of the car.
The predator screeched in pain, releasing Jess' ankle. It leapt from the car, from the noise. The radio screamed through the field. The nearby predators screeched in agony, fleeting from the noise.
Becker moved around the truck and dropped to Jess' side. Jess groaned, pushing herself up right. Becker inspected her ankle. Like his chest, the predator had managed to slice through the layers of skin. Blood seeped from her large cuts around her ankle. Becker carefully lifted Jess to her feet, keeping her weight off her injured ankle. Abby came to her other side and took her other arm. They moved back to the truck, where the echoes of the radio emitted a perimeter of safety.
Jess groaned as she dropped to her knees again.
Becker knelt beside her. "We need to stop the bleeding."
Jess shook her head. "It's just a scratch."
Becker smirked. "Right."
"Where're Matt and Emily?" Abby asked.
Becker looked up. "They're coming."
Matt opened the door of the house and ushered Emily into the house. They moved into the kitchen with Emily leading the way. The radio remained on the windowsill from the day before. Emily grabbed the radio from the sill.
Suddenly a predator head slammed through the window. It Emily screamed, staggering backwards. The predators snapped its jaws at Emily. It racked its arm through the window, reaching for Emily. Matt pulled her out of the way. He fired twice at the predator, killing it. Emily exhaled deeply.
"Turn it on." Matt ordered.
Emily turned on the radio. She rotated the dial, changing the station. The radio suddenly started releasing an obnoxious noise that resembled the kind of music in the truck. Emily turned it up as loud as it would play. Matt grabbed Emily's arm and moved her toward the door.
Outside, the others already had the truck radio play. The predators were keeping a distance from the truck, some slipping back through the anomaly. Becker and Jess were propped up against the truck. Jess was nursing her dangerously bloody ankle. Abby stood beside them, watching for Predators. Becker looked up to Matt as they rejoined the group.
"Where's Connor?" Matt asked.
"He hasn't come back yet." Abby answered.
"Alright, how many rounds do we have left?" Matt asked.
"Two here." Becker answered.
Matt shook his head. "That makes three between both guns."
"Abby?" Matt asked.
"Half a battery charge left." Abby answered.
"Look!" Jess called.
Matt looked over his shoulder. Connor was running toward them. Matt could make out the device in Connor's hand. Connor moved fast toward the truck, with his weapon strung around his back. Suddenly a predator leapt from the forest line behind Connor, and landed on Connor. Connor stumbled to the ground with the predator on his back. The predator slashed at his back, shredding his shirt. Connor screamed in pain.
"CONNOR!" Abby screamed. She and Matt ran for Connor, firing. The combination of EMD pulses and bullets sent the predator tumbling off Connor. Connor groaned, dragging himself from the predator's corpse. Abby dropped beside Connor.
"Abby we gotta get him to the truck." Matt said. They each took one of Connor's arms and pulled him onto his feet. Connor groaned as the motion seared his already stinging back. They moved fast toward the blaring truck. They eased Connor back onto the ground beside Jess and Becker.
Matt dropped to his knees in front of Connor. "Connor, how do you shut down the anomaly?"
"Matt what are you thinking?" Becker asked.
"I'm shuttin' down the anomaly. Connor can't move without some help and we can't lose any more time."
Connor lifted the device. "I can input the code for the closing sequence. All you have to do is press one button. Unfortunately, you have to be really close to the anomaly."
"How close?" Matt asked.
"Close." Connor answered. He handed Matt he device. "There you go. Just hit the button and the anomaly will close."
Matt took the device and nodded. "Got it."
Emily rose to her feet, still holding the radio. Matt rose and looked at her. "You stay here."
"How do you intend to keep those creatures from attacking you? You can't carry a weapon, the device, and this while you move." Emily pointed out. She stepped around Matt. "We've lost enough time as it is."
Matt groaned and followed Emily. Their pace quickened into a jog toward the anomaly. The predators near them moved back through the anomaly, far from the screaming sounds from the radio. The closer they grew, the fewer and fewer predators stood in their way. They were meters away from the anomaly, close enough where a predator could easily reach through and take one of them if wanted.
Matt held up the device to the anomaly. Movement flashed above them in the corner of Matt's eye. Matt turned his head slightly. He looked up in time to see a predator hanging in the air, coming down toward them. In a split second, Matt set his jaw and pushed Emily from the predator's path as it came down where she'd stood seconds later. The weight of the predator threw Matt onto the ground in front of the anomaly. The force of the collision on the ground jarred his hand, causing him to activate the closing sequence. The predator grabbed Matt's leg, dragging him through the anomaly.
"Matt!" Emily screamed. She threw herself toward Matt, reaching out for him as the anomaly closed in front of her.
London, England
July twentieth two thousand and eleven
Today I learned the words of an American President. "There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs." Dwight D. Eisenhower.
