Hello. I so sorry for the wait, esp. with the cliffhanger. In my defence, I have no defence :D Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Oh, if only I owned Primeval.

PPP

Connor was getting anxious. He'd agreed to meet with Becker and Jones after checking the offices. This had been accomplished over ten minutes ago and Connor had caught himself daydreaming in that time. Yet there was still no sign of the Captain and co. Ok, so they had further to go to get to the changing rooms, but still, a quick check was all that was needed.

His worry increased no end as Abby came running up to him, Banks in tow.

"The top floors are clear," she reported.

"I've lost Becker," answered Connor.

"What!" growled Banks. "We're not exactly in Hampton Court."

"He was checking on the pool. They haven't come back."

"Then what are we waiting for?" asked Abby, as she set off towards the pool. The group followed.

They increased their pace as they heard shots being fired.

PPP

"I take it this is a new arrangement," Becker said, still unsure how much movement Delaney would allow.

"Your people. They're doing it all wrong!" said Delaney. "Those creatures are dangerous, and all your lot are doing are poking at it all with a stick." Becker frowned. "The research! You think that'll end well. You saw those creatures. Savages."

Becker finally understood. The dinosaurs were easy to explain; after all, everyone knew dinosaurs once roamed the Earth. So, if you can cope with time-travelling portals, you can cope with dinosaurs coming through. But Delaney had seen a glimpse of the future and it had obviously scared to see the beasts that would evolve to cope with it.

"Delaney..."

"You see, you think I'm just annoyed at their lack of respect because my rank is due more. Which it is. But it shows the bigger problem. Those scientists have no respect for the Army and it prevents them from accepting the right course of action."

"We're not the Army," said Becker slowly.

"But we should be. These creatures, it's a matter for the Army, for the Defence of the country, of the world. The Army should be brought in, ready to kill these creatures before they kill others."

"Delaney... Captain," Becker stopped him before he went further. "Captain, you've been fed lies."

"I haven't been."

"That woman over there killed Cutter," he pleaded.

"Yes, that was a shame," Helen said, finally taking a role in the conversation as she made her way over to the frozen duo. "But it was necessary. To stop the future. Captain Becker, you must understand this is for the best." She smiled slightly.

"He was your husband."

"This is greater than marital vows," she hissed, the smile falling. "This is the state of the planet."

Becker was silent. Cutter had tried to talk sense into her and failed. There was no chance he would have any chance of doing any better.

"Nothing to say?" Helen smirked eventually. "Well, I can't hang around. I have a Sordes to catch. Or two of them." She started to saunter off. "Delaney, kill him."

Becker immediately braced himself for the worst, a chill running through his veins as he did so. His mind was also plunged into a frozen bath of clarity. His entire life displayed itself in front of him, as if awaiting analysis.

"What?" The cry brought Becker back to reality. Delaney should've fired by now. Instead, the other Captain appeared to display visible shock. "We need to bring the anomalies under Army control to save people. We can't kill them to achieve that."

Helen stopped and swung round, a look of pure annoyance scrawled across her face.

"We're saving humanity from the ARC. Becker is part of the ARC," she stated, as if Delaney was being stupid.

"She killed Cutter," hissed Becker, amazed at the stupidity of Delaney. How could he not get the point?

"I thought you meant dispersing them. Not killing them." Delaney ignored Becker as he began to focus his attention on the older woman. His face was a picture, one of confusion and the realisation of a terrible mistake.

Becker held no sympathy. In fact, quite the opposite. He was being offered a respite and a chance and he was going to take it.

Dropping his own gun, he swung to push Delaney's out of his face. There was a bang as a shot whistled past his ear. Caught unawares, Delaney grabbed for Becker's shirt to prevent himself from falling. Getting underneath him, the Captain hooked him over his shoulder and straightened. Delaney toppled over, diving headfirst into the pool with a loud splash.

There was another bang and Becker felt something pierce his leg. Opting to ignore the pain, he grabbed his own gun and brought it up. Helen, however, had broken into a run, charging away and out of shot.

Cursing, Becker pushed off like a sprinter. She couldn't get away, not after what she did to Cutter, to Connor, to all his new friends at the ARC. He drove himself forward as he entered the outside world.

Helen was round the corner of the pool, abandoning the hope of capturing the Sordes. Becker went as fast as he could after, but the adrenaline wasn't quite enough to overlook the fact his leg now had a hole in it.

He lined up his gun once more and took a shot, but it went uselessly past Helen's left arm. He started off again as Helen aimed for a nearby SUV. Realising that is she got in that, he'd never catch her, Becker dug deep for a last boost of power as he charged after her.

She tugged open the driver's door with Becker still 200 yards away. Not bothering to close it properly, the engine turned over a couple of times, before bursting into life.

Becker was fifty yards away and set his course for intercept. Knowing she'd easily run him down, without a second thought, he allowed her to reverse out. Instead, he pulled up a little and began firing.

The first shot went through the passenger window, but Helen seemed unscathed. His next shots missed as she accelerated forward. The window now at too great an angle to hit, he began on the car in general. One through the back doors, another couple through the side window. The wheel was the next victim, causing the SUV to lurch wildly as Nick's widow pulled out the car park.

Speeding off, Becker was left in a cloud of tyre smoke. Jenny and Sarah came running up behind him, as he folded over. His forehead was creased in frustration, with a hint of pain.

He looked down at his leg. The blood was barely visible on the black fabric, but the damp patch was cool against his warm skin. He grimaced, knowing he'd probably lose a pair of trousers by the time the medics were finished with it.

"What on Earth were you doing?" demanded Jenny angrily.

"Helen," explained Becker, as he shook his head. "I couldn't..." Sarah lay a relaxing hand on his arm and he straightened back up again, determined to hide any exposed weakness away; they didn't need that from him right now.

Sarah went to say something, but was cut off by a piercing cry ripping through the air. The trio spun sharply to their source to see the second Sordes plummet to the ground. Jenny broke into a run forward and Becker did his best to follow, Sarah hanging back due to her lack of weapon.

They arrived at the patch of grass to find Abby and Connor crowding around the pair of creatures. Lyons was lowering his tranquiliser rifle. Becker spared him a look, nodded his approval at his good shot. However, his eye was caught mid-way by the scene behind him.

Banks was dragging the sodden Delaney from the pool. The other man seemed to accepted this help until he saw Becker approaching. Then he grappled at the side, causing water to splash all over the Sergeant. Banks cried out in annoyance, but Delaney was out before he could continue. He skidded away as best he could, but on the wet tiles he stood no chance.

In fact, he didn't stand at all.

Within a couple of paces, he lay flat on his front, groaning and wincing in pain. Becker calmly strode over to stand above him.

"Did no-one ever tell you not to run in swimming pools?" Delaney looked up and grimaced as he realised what was coming. "Sergeant!" Banks acknowledged him distractedly, peering down at his soaked T-shirt. "Arrest Delaney." Banks stopped fussing over his appearance immediately and stared at his Captain questioningly. "Aiding and abetting a criminal will cover it for now, but I'm sure Lester will come up with something more creative."

"Captain?" asked Banks, still not sure what was happening. However, when Delaney tried to pick himself up, Banks lowered his knee, along with the rest of his not unsubstantial weight onto the disgraced Captain's back.

"What's 'appening?" asked Connor. "Only we need to get these creatures back up to the anomaly sooner rather than later."

"It closed," groused Delaney bitterly from his suppressed position.

"Right, well, we need to get them back to the ARC before they start, y'know, waking up. Could do without a dozy Sordes."

"Where's Jones?" asked Becker.

"He's off with the medics. Nasty crack to the head by the looks of things," reported Banks. He paused, still on top of Delaney. "Erm... sir? What's going on?"

Becker sighed. "Captain Delaney here decided to team up with Helen."

That was enough for the Sergeant. Banks tugged Delaney's arms back with a little more force than was necessary and began to read him some form of rights. Technically, he had little or no authority to make an official arrest, but he could detain people and he certainly wasn't passing up the opportunity to make the traitor squirm.

Everyone took a moment to stare in disgust at Delaney, who stopped squirming. The moment passed and Jenny broke the silence.

"We can't hang around here all day," she stated firmly. "Connor's right; those Sordes need to be moved and Delaney needs to be taken back to the ARC for proper questioning. Captain Becker, I hope you'll..."

Her speech was broken by a haunting screech.

PPP

Oop. The action's not over yet.