Dawn had eventually turned up the next day, somewhat bemused at all the fuss she walked into when she came through the door. When questioned by a furious Lester she'd admitted that she'd been to Stephen's grave for a couple of hours before staying around a friends' house that night. Lester had suspected she was holding something back but had let it go when an anomaly alert had sounded.
"Why does Sarah get to go but not me?" she complained with a pout when she discovered the older woman had tagged along to the site. Lester had frowned.
"Because you're a sixteen year old girl who shouldn't even be in this facility in the first place."
"Nearly seventeen." She reminded him. He raised an eyebrow.
"Still not old enough. Now stop moaning." He placed a hand on her shoulder and forced her to sit on a desk in front of her schoolwork. She propped her chin on her hand but stayed there obediently, barely noticing when the elated team returned to the ARC.
Abby, Connor and Sarah were distracted by the Dracorex but Becker noticed her strange behaviour and when he received no explanation from her he mentioned it to Lester.
"Is she ok?"
Lester followed his gaze to the teenager, who sat with her hair in a bun, a black cardigan thrown over her school uniform and her wrists absent of their usual bracelets. He sighed. "I don't think so. But there's not much we can do other than keep an eye on her."
He glanced meaningfully at the captain, who nodded. "Noted sir."
"Hey kid!" Danny stuck his head around the door, frowning when he saw Dawn jerk. "Are you ok?"
She bit her lip, nodding. "I… ah, could you not call me that?" she asked apologetically. Danny nodded, making a note to ask someone about that later.
"Sure thing. I was gonna ask if you wanna help me and Becker test security? When I mentioned it everyone said you're the one who knows the place better than anyone." He raised an eyebrow. Dawn grinned.
"They were still building this place when we all moved in- I spent my summer holidays here with absolutely nothing to do but explore." She explained. "So yeah- I'd love to!"
Danny grabbed her hand and they ran off, Dawn quickly changing from her school uniform into jeans and a shirt. "So- any ideas?" Danny asked her.
"There's a loading bay at the back- if you duck in when the door is half down the camera is blocked so can't see you." She suggested. He grinned.
"Let's do it."
They did so, managing to evade capture for a few minutes before they turned a corner and ran smack bang into Becker, who smirked. "Close. Not quite close enough."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Dawn pointed out in puzzlement.
"Not when we're trying to beat him." Danny said grouchily. "Come on- I have another idea."
They tried his way of scaling a fire escape and dropping in through the roof but got caught in even less time. They tried a couple more but Becker got them in less then twenty seconds. "What about the ventilation system?" Dawn eventually suggested. Danny considered it.
"There's a way in through the car park." He grinned. "Let's go."
They abseiled down, Danny quickly disarming the system so they could drop to the floor. They were grinning, right up until the point an alarm was triggered when Danny stepped into the corridor. They exchanged a weary glance and he took off running. "Bang!" Becker appeared from a side door, a small smirk on his face. Danny sighed, leaning against the wall. "Twenty four seconds, congratulations. That's three seconds longer than last time."
"Bang." Dawn stepped up quietly behind him, pressing her finger to his back. Becker froze, annoyance flashing across his face which caused Danny to break into helpless laughter as she dodged past them down the corridor, running from the soldiers who looked at Becker in confusion.
"He's dead." Danny said helpfully. They gave a nod, sprinting after the faux intruder while Becker looked to Danny.
"How did you get in?"
"Car park, ventilation system. I suggest you-"
"Check all infrared systems are tamper proof and secure all ventilation shafts." Finished Becker into his device.
"Exactly." They walked up the corridor, spotting Dawn skipping back towards them.
"I reached the operations centre before they caught me." She crowed cheerfully. "That's enough time to throw a bomb and cause quite a lot of damage."
"Smart ass." Becker rolled his eyes. Dawn winked.
"Yup. Hi Sarah!" she scampered off as she spotted the scientist, looking over the now-clean artefact. "Any idea what it is yet?"
"None." Sarah sighed. Dawn watched as she and Connor ran around it, trying to figure out what it did, staying silent as they became more and more stressed until suddenly Connor knocked it and caused light to come shooting out of it. They all stared in awe, the entire room stilling as they stared at the golden shapes.
"Oh my god!" Dawn laughed breathily.
"Did you see that!?" Sarah beamed, her hands on her head.
"That was like… incredible! It… was that some kind of map?" Connor stammered excitedly.
"It… the point where the lines crossed, it looked exactly like-"
"Cutter's research model! He knew!" Connor beamed, glancing at Dawn joyfully. "Cutter knew. This is some kind of key to… I don't know, predicting anomalies!"
"Dad wasn't just plotting anomalies that had already opened- he was working out ones that would open again." Dawn grinned.
"Whatever we did we have to do it again!" Connor stated. Dawn raised her eyebrows as Sarah voiced what she was thinking.
"What did you do?"
He paused. "Not a hundred percent sure." He admitted. They were trying to work it out when Danny hollered across the room.
"CONNOR!"
"Yo?"
"They've seen it!"
"Who's seen what?" he questioned confusedly.
"Johnson! She knows we've got the artefact- we've got five minutes." He began to rush down while everyone scrambled into action. They began to race out but Becker yelled at them to stop, informing them it was too late and hustling them into an adjacent room.
"I know one exit she won't have got covered." Danny smirked. Becker grinned.
"Lester's looking for a safehouse. Whatever you do, don't break cover." He ordered. "We'll find you when it's clear."
They got to the ventilation shaft, Danny and Connor helping the girls up first. "Not you Dawn." Becker held her back.
"What?"
"She's probably in more danger than all of us!" Abby protested.
"She's also underage. If you take her with you, Johnson could have you all on kidnapping charges too." Becker said urgently. "I'll look after her- now go!"
He waited until they were gone before he looked to the teenager. "What's she going to do?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know. Just remember we all promised Jenny and your father to look after you, ok?" he led her to the main operations room, pressing her against the wall as he ordered them to drop their weapons. Dawn listened with growing trepidation as Christine announced that he now took orders from her, before she vanished upstairs. Becker motioned for Dawn to stay with him- dressed as she was she didn't immediately stand out. She slipped into the room and blended into the crowd until she felt her stomach drop as Johnson's voice rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, James Lester has been relieved of his duties. Please continue working normally and this transition will run smoothly."
Dawn met Lester's eyes, horror running through her but he merely winked inconspicuously while continuing to walk. She bit her lip, sitting at a nearby table as she watched everyone carry on like nothing had happened, until Becker was escorted in to meet with Christine.
"You do realise this isn't personal, captain." She said with a smirk. "It's purely a question of national security."
"Of course ma'am."
She turned to him with a smile. "I've looked at your file, Becker. You're a good soldier." Her smile dropped slightly. "I am your commanding officer now. I assume there is no conflict of loyalties?"
"None at all." He answered emotionlessly.
"Find me that artefact… And you're looking at a very rapid promotion." She told him. He showed no reaction, other than to lean forward slightly.
"I'll do my best."
Dawn quickly left the room at this point, walking quickly to her father's labs- which were still cordoned off- and ducking into them. Over the last few weeks she'd been trying to make sense of his notes, which were now pinned around the walls all around his office. She sat on the floor in the middle of them, the tangled wires now pushed into one corner out the way and began to continue to decode them with one headphone in, not noticing as a few hours passed.
Eventually, she heard movement behind her but didn't bother turn around- Becker was the only one left in the building who would know where she was. "Becker, what would you guess P.E.T.P. means? It's not a location, or a creature or a time but it's written all over this section of notes." She asked, frowning at the paper in front of her.
"I'm afraid I haven't the faintest idea Miss Cutter." A female voice answered. Dawn jumped, looking behind her to see Christine Johnson standing there. She unhooked the earphone, rising to her feet.
"I'm sorry, I thought you were…"
"Captain Becker, yes. I'm afraid not." She finished. "I don't believe we've ever been properly introduced- I'm Christine Johnson."
Dawn took the offered hand. "Dawn. It's nice to meet you."
"Tell me Dawn." She began, casting her gaze over the surrounding walls. "Is it usual for you to do the work of a government scientist when you're not even a legal adult yet?"
"I'm not exactly a usual case, Miss Johnson." She answered quietly. She got a small smile.
"I'd noticed." She said somewhat dryly. "A teenaged girl, doing top secret work for the government. Unofficially, of course."
"Miss Johnson, I don't mean to be rude but is there a point to this?" Dawn asked softly. Christine smiled, flashing teeth.
"Of course. I wanted to know if you knew where the team are with the artefact."
Dawn raised an eyebrow at her bluntness. "I have absolutely no idea." She said dismissively. Christine stared at her.
"Would you tell me of you did?" she inquired, before her tone lightened and began sweeter. "You won't be in any trouble Dawn, you have nothing to do with this. But what they've done is stealing and if you know where they are or where you're going you must tell me."
Dawn smiled coldly, turning to face her fully. "Miss Johnson, I'm going to assume you've read my file in which case you're perfectly aware of the fact that I'm not your average teenager. I'm cleverer than anyone realises, even my father and have a higher IQ than everyone currently in this building. And right now, neither is there anyone else who knows more about the anomalies. So please don't treat me like a child- I'm perfectly aware of the consequences of what they've done and the sanctions they'll likely be facing when they're caught."
Christine looked surprised, but a slow smile spread across her lips. "My apologies, Miss Cutter. You're absolutely right. But of I may say so, you don't seem to have much loyalty to them."
"Why would I?" Dawn questioned brusquely. She raised an eyebrow.
"You've been around them for a long time, they're your fathers' team."
"Exactly. They're not mine." Dawn pointed out. "Miss Johnson, the anomalies have taken almost everything from me. Do you really think I would allow them the opportunity to take something else? I've become quite good at distancing myself- I intend to continue to do so."
Christine looked startled, blinking. "It appears I underestimated you, Miss Cutter." She said mildly. "I have a… proposition for you."
"Oh?" Dawn looked at her curiously.
"I want you to work for me. Off books, for now, until you're of age of course. I want you to continue your father's research into the anomalies, the prediction model." Christine explained. Dawn raised her eyebrows.
"So… basically continuing what I'm doing now?"
"Yes. But being paid for it." Smiled Christine. Dawn blinked, before slowly nodding.
"Why not?" she shrugged. Christine's smile widened.
"Excellent." Suddenly, the soldier accompanying her leant forward and whispered in her ear, causing her to frown. "I have to go- it was a pleasure Dawn."
Dawn inclined her head as she walked out, blinking slightly in surprise one she was gone. Of all the things, she hadn't quite been expecting that. She lowered herself back to the floor but heard someone else enter the room before she could even pick up her pen.
"What did Johnson want?" Becker asked her.
"To offer me a job." Dawn watched his eyes widen in surprise.
"She's obviously intending to stay." He murmured.
"Were you expecting anything else?" Dawn questioned in surprise. He gave a faint smile.
"I suppose not. She seems that sort of person." He commented, meeting her eyes.
"Yes. Very… independent." She agreed, watching him carefully. A look passed between them, and with that Becker nodded once ad left again, leaving her alone.
A few hours later, she wandered down to the operations centre, sorting various files into the correct places. Becker met her eyes from across the room, gave an almost imperceptible nod as he came over, a hand on her waist as he leant across to pick up the set of keys lying on the desk.
Dawn smiled.
Johnson was occupied with a phone call in her office so Dawn quickly slipped from the building, sending a small smile to the soldier on duty. "Taxi!" she called, climbing into the black cab and gave the address, wishing not for the first time that London wasn't quite so busy. "Bloody hell- if he has a house like this why's he working for the government?" she muttered, knocking on the door.
She was surprised when a pretty brunette opened it. "Can I help you?"
"Oh um… yes, could I speak to James Lester please?" Dawn asked politely. The woman stepped back slightly, calling into the house.
"James! You have a visitor!"
The woman looked curiously at Dawn, who was well aware she was likely not the usual sort of visitor Lester got. She heard Lester approach before she saw him, masking her surprise when he finally appeared dressed more casually than she'd ever seen him. "Dawn what are you doing here?" he grilled immediately.
She raised an eyebrow. "Good afternoon to you too, I'm fine thank you. How are you?"
Lester rolled his eyes while the woman- his wife?- laughed softly. "Don't be smart." He frowned at her but she saw amusement twinkling in his eyes. She smiled.
"But if I wasn't smart you wouldn't be expected in the office in a few hours." She said innocently. His eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" he demanded. She smirked, slipping her hand into her pocket and pulling out the recorder Becker had put in there, pressing play. Lester began to smirk as Christine's voice rang through. "Remind me to give the captain a raise."
"What about me?" Dawn said indignantly. He grinned, kissing her forehead.
"You don't work for me."
He sat down at the computer while his wife raised an eyebrow at Dawn. "Since my husband is too rude to introduce us, I'll have to do it myself. I'm Amelia Lester."
"Dawn Cutter." She smiled shyly. "It's nice to meet you."
"Dammit. Dawn- how do you upload an audio file?" Lester questioned in annoyance. She grinned, leaning over and doing it with a few clicks. He frowned. "Oh."
"Shall I send it as well?" she enquired helpfully. He tapped her on the nose, sending the email with a few swipes of the keys.
"There. I wonder what the minister will say to that." He smirked. Dawn giggled while his wife rolled her eyes.
"Be nice." She scolded playfully.
"To Christine Johnson?" he questioned incredulously. She paused.
"Point taken." She conceded.
"I really wish I could see her face when she realises!" Dawn laughed.
"Well, maybe you will. It can be your reward." Lester said.
True to his word, she was at his side when he walked into the ARC that afternoon, although unusually she stayed silent as he and Christine faced off, only breaking into audible giggles when the other four did. Sarah skipped over to Becker, kissing his cheek. "You are my hero!" she declared as Abby wrapped her arms around Dawn.
"And mine." Lester agreed. "Though don't expect any kisses from me."
Dawn couldn't stop the smile as they left his office, Danny slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Alright, admit it." He grinned. "You did something while we were away."
Dawn opened her mouth, then closed it again. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about." She smiled wildly, bounding forward to spin happily on a chair while the others greeted various colleagues. And when Lester appeared by the railings, she made sure she was clapping as loudly as anyone.