Another long chapter...This chapter is where I try to write myself out of the hole I've dug, or in other words, why is the one anomaly in the ARC car park not closing? I start to address that problem here. I'm still not quite happy with the explanation. More of the answer I came up with in other chapters. It looks like there will be 14 chapters total. Thanks.
Chapter Ten, Armageddon
Becker lied in the medical bed, staring at the ceiling. He was bored and he missed Jess. He was tired of listening to other patients. He began plotting his escape.
"Becker?" said a soft voice. He looked up.
Jess was a radiant vision. She was freshly showered, her long hair shining beneath a gold ribbon. She wore one of his favorite short dresses. I was pink and gently hugged her curves. Today she wore it with a gold belt. She wasn't as tall, because her shoes didn't have high heels. They were bright, attention-getting red.
"I'm wearing shoes again, Captain. In your weakened condition, I'd like to see you wrestle them off me now," she said, defiantly.
He smirked. "If I was to wrestle anything off you, it wouldn't be the shoes."
She blushed bright red. "Becker!" she cried, as he laughed.
Then she skipped over to him, threw her arms around him and kissed him passionately. He ran his fingers through her hair, and slowly removed his lips from hers.
"You look beautiful," he said.
She smiled. "Thank you."
"Wait. You weren't wearing this before," he said, then it dawned on him. "You went home?"
"Calm down. I didn't go alone, one of Augie's men took me. I was ordered home, actually. The ARC demands me fashionable, apparently."
Becker laughed. "OK. Don't do it again."
"I'm not stupid, Becker. I know it's still dangerous. There were lots of soldiers on the streets."
"It's an emergency, Jess."
"I know. You know my neighbor, Mrs. Bannerton? She looked so scared, and lonely. I hated leaving her."
"She'll be fine. It shouldn't be too much longer, then things will get back to normal."
"I hope so. Relief units are already out. Other parts of the country are sending. It's just, how many other Mrs. Bannerton's are out there? It makes me sad."
"I know. You did what you could. Sometimes we have help one person at a time."
Jess nodded. "I feel so bad. I didn't think of her."
"You've been busy."
"And worried about you, Captain." She leaned in for another loving kiss.
"I'm glad we're together," said Jess.
"It is convenient," said Becker. "I don't have to run across country, chucking monsters aside to find you."
She beamed. "You would too, wouldn't you?"
"You better believe it," he said, pulling her onto the bed. They cat, cuddling for a short while.
Jess sighed. "I'd love to stay here doing this," she said with a grin, as he kissed her, and nibbled on her neck, "but I have an ADD to fix." She pushed gently away, Becker groaning.
"You can't leave me here," he whined. "I'm going bonkers."
Jess laughed, putting her red shoes on, and straightening her clothes. "Sorry. You're out of commission, remember?" she asked.
He groaned again. "Just let me make a few rounds."
"No."
"Clean guns then."
"No."
"Direct my men from this bed?"
"No, Becker. You're hurt, and you are staying here and mending," she said, firmly. "End of discussion."
"Where was the discussion, Jess?" he asked as she left. "I missed the discussion!"
Night was falling, and Jess was feeling slightly proud of herself. The staff members seemed much happier since many were allowed to go home. Even the ones with families were grateful, even if it was heart-wrenching to leave them and come back to the ARC.
Family members were a touchy subject. Everyone had someone to worry about. Now that the immediate dangers were settling, people were anxious to find loved ones.
This is what Lester, Augie and Jess were discussing.
"I've obtained a list from hospitals of people identified as in their care. They have lots of John and Jane Does though," said Jess.
"Not uncommon during disaster," said Augie solemnly.
"How about the missing?" asked Lester, with a pause, he added, "and the dead?"
Jess sighed. "Too little information at this point. No one can confirm."
"Not even my staff," said Augie. "We are trying. There is too much confusion, too many lines of communication down."
Lester nodded. "Also common for a major crisis, I'm afraid."
"I've been distributing whatever lists I get. I'm a bit uncomfortable, though, they're hardly confirmed at this point. People are just so hungry for information."
"I know, Jess. Distribute what comes in," Lester said. "Let them know it's an unorganized mess at this point."
"They know already," she said, causing Augie to grin. She looked at Lester. "There are families displaced," she said. " Our people are wondering where their loved ones will go," she told him.
Lester was quiet. "Send the names to relief agencies. I'm sorry, but that's all we can do for now. Our jobs are to close the anomalies and secure the creatures. Other people will have to handle the injured and homeless. For now."
Jess looked at him. He was clearly unhappy, but he had a point.
"Can I pass the information on to Augie's patrols?" asked Jess, biting her lip. She knew Lester wanted to help. That wasn't the problem. The problem was, that there was too much to do.
Lester sighed. He looked to Augie, "I'll pass this question on to you, old man."
Augie smiled. "Pass the names along, but make sure everyone understands that our priority right now is to keep law and order."
Jess nodded. "Thanks," she said softly.
Augie nodded.
Jess bit her lip again. "Lester, I, uh, my neighbor...she's old and on her own. I gave her the food I had in my house. Could I send some stuff to her, from the canteen?"
Lester's face became agitated. "I just said that we are not in the relief business."
Jess winced.
Lester sighed. "Still, we can't turn our backs. Give her name to the relief workers."
She nodded.
The Lester sighed again. "If you send someone home, and they travel in her direction, I suppose the world won't be destroyed by dropping off food to an old lady."
Jess smiled. "Thank you."
He nodded, and left.
Augie chuckled. He leaned down to Jess and whispered, "He thinks he's the one in charge."
Jess smiled. Augie laughed again, and followed his old friend.
A few hours later, Lester walked back into Ops.
Connor and Jess squealed in delight, high-fived each other, and hugged everyone in Ops.
"What's the meaning of this party?" asked Lester, sadly sitting on a damaged chair where his office should have been.
Jess and Connor smiled.
"The ADD is repaired," said Jess.
"Really?" asked Lester.
Connor beamed. "Yes, really. We are up and running."
"Let's hope we get no business," said Lester.
Connor and Jess' faces fell briefly, but nodded.
"Well, I guess I can go back to my lab now and work out why the anomaly won't close."
Jess smiled. "Some reward, huh?"
Connor laughed.
"Take a comm," she said.
He did, and left Ops.
About half an hour later, Matt dropped by Connor's lab.
"How's it going?" he asked.
"Damn it!" yelled Connor.
"That bad?"
Connor buried his head in his hands. "I don't know what else to do. I can't figure out why the anomaly in the car park won't go away."
Matt sighed. "Any theories?"
"No."
Connor was frustrated and tired.
"Break?" suggested Matt.
"It won't help. I've taken breaks. I can't come up with an answer."
Connor had the portable ADD running. Suddenly it lit up.
"No. No!" he cried.
The pair watched helplessly as the ADD showed readings that indicated the car park anomaly re-opening.
Jess talked in their ears, "Matt?"
"We know."
The sirens weren't ompletely re-connected through the ARC yet, but they could hear them faintly blaring from Ops.
"I'm seriously tired of this," muttered Connor.
The ADD then lit up again.
"Another anomaly," whispered Connor.
The ADD lit up again. And again.
"Multiple anomalies," said Jess.
"No!" cried Connor.
Matt ran out, and into Ops.
"Same places?"
"No," said Jess. "Only the one in the car park. One is located a kilometer away, and another one is five kilometers to the north."
Matt cursed.
"That's strange."
"What?"
"All three anomalies are fluctuating."
"She's right, Matt," said Connor, in his ear. "The car park anomaly is reading stronger than the other two."
"And now they are both getting fainter," said Jess, "while the car park one grows."
"Finally, I think we have a clue," said Connor. "The car park anomaly is draining the others."
"You're guessing," said Matt.
"Of course I am!"
"The other anomalies are completely gone," said Jess.
"Status on the car park anomaly?"
"Still open," said Jess. "No signs of predators, plus the audio equipment is still transmitting nearby."
"Good. I'll be in Connor's lab," he said. "Keep that anomaly monitored."
"Absolutely," she said.
A few hours had gone by, with no new anomalies or incursions. The sound equipment kept predators on the other side of the anomaly.
Jess had joined Becker for dinner in the medical section.
"Connor's got no idea?" he asked.
Jess put down the canteen-made pizza. "No. It's driving him insane."
"I'm sure," said Becker.
"Hey, Jess," said Abby, strolling in. She was wearing new clothes, and she looked less tired and beat. "Rast is heading out. The canteen gave him some supplies for Miss Bannerton."
"That's wonderful," said Jess. "Lt. Rast is such a sweetie."
Becker's eyebrow went up. "Who is Lt. Rast?"
Jess smiled. "The man who drove me home. He is super nice, and don't worry. He's afraid of you."
Becker smiled. "Good, so long as he knows you're taken."
Jess kissed him. "He does."
"Connor's doing better. He's got an idea on the anomaly," said Abby.
"Great," said Becker. "What is it?"
"The car park anomaly was affecting the other two, so he thinks they're connected in some way, possibly all the anomalies are. "
"There have been a lot of them," said Jess.
"More since convergence," said Becker.
"Yeah, Connor thinks they are some kind of a response to convergence or the anomaly Burton created. He thinks that's why most of the anomalies are happening in London."
"Can he shut down the car park anomaly?" asked Becker.
"Not yet, but he thinks he's close."
"I hope he's right," said Jess, "and we can put this nightmare behind us."
"Amen," said Becker raising his glass of water in toast. Jess smiled and clinked her glass to his.
"How are you doing, Becker?" asked Abby.
Jess rolled her eyes. "Don't ask," she said.
"Get...me...out...of ...here," he said calmly, and with a forced smiled.
Abby laughed. "Sorry. I don't break anyone who's not an animal out of jail," she said. "I'll see you."
Becker, got off the bed.
"Whoa! Get back in there!" cried Jess, pointing at the bed.
"No, Jess. I need to move. I'll be careful, I swear. I can't just lie about anymore."
Jess frowned, but let him walk a few steps around his bed.
"Now, will you lie down?"
Becker smirked. "No," and he pulled her close.
"What are you doing?"
"Dancing with my girlfriend."
Jess looked at him with surpise. "You want to dance?"
"I told you Jess, I'm going bonkers."
Jess giggled, and the two of them lightly danced in place. She sighed contentedly, held in his arms.
"I missed you," he whispered.
"I've been here."
"Not like this," he said.
She smiled.
They danced, and hugged, hanging on to each other.
Then their moment was shattered.
Alarms blared. Jess darted out, looking helplessly at Becker.
"I'll stay, I promise," he said, sitting back in bed.
She smiled, and ran out.
Finally she ran into Ops. Connor was in her seat. Lester and the team were all assembled, and they were all white with fear.
Jess looked at the monitors. She saw the yellow flashing light in the car park, noted the sound equipment lying on the ground, as streams of predators poured out of the anomaly.
"We're dead," said Connor.
End of Chapter Ten