Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, nor does the song "Holding Out For A Hero". This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
A/N: A collaboration with Mijo54. A/N2: story takes place after Detour.
10.3-7 What You Wish For
…coming home…
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The echoes of Lester's words rang in Becker's head as he drove to Hyde Park. Civilians really shouldn't be involved in a search and rescue operation. The last time members of the ARC had gone through an anomaly had proved that. And if an anomaly opened tonight, Becker and his men would be too busy to watch out for the ARC's director.
"I can't believe you left Abby on her own," growled Becker. His teeth were clenched tightly as he spoke.
The soldier might not be able to convince Lester that he shouldn't be at the anomaly site, but maybe he could convince the man that he was needed somewhere else.
"Abby's not alone," replied Lester. The man gripped the overhead railing as Becker quickly turned the SUV around a tight corner. "When she went inside the child care to pick up little Sarah, I called her brother."
"Jack?" asked Becker in surprise.
"Yes," replied Lester, "when I explained what had happened, Jack said he'd be right over. As a matter of fact, the young man was waiting for Abby and Sarah when we got back to their home."
Becker didn't know whether to be more surprised Lester knew how to reach Jack, or that Jack actually came to help Abby. The soldier still remembered having to go into an anomaly to rescue the young man. As the vehicle completed the turn on the sharp corner, a long narrow box slid across the back seat of the SUV.
"Did we really have to bring that?" asked Becker.
It was bad enough that Lester had insisted on coming back to Hyde Park with the Captain and his security team, but that box was just too much.
"We might need it," insisted Lester.
The director had ordered the dusty old box from the equipment storage room placed carefully into the back seat of the SUV. The box was long and narrow, and entirely filled up the seat. The rest of the security team had to follow Becker and Lester in a second SUV.
"Why," asked Becker as he turned the vehicle into Hyde Park for the second time today.
Lester raised his eyebrows and looked at the young Captain. The director knew that Becker and Connor were good friends. Lester remembered how devastated Becker had been when Danny, Connor and Abby had gone missing years ago.
"Connor made quite a few really good inventions," began the director.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," muttered Becker. "The anomaly detector, the locking device, a dating calculator…"
"Remote reconnaissance vehicles," interrupted Lester.
"What?" asked Becker. The surprised tone in the soldier's voice made Lester smirk just a bit.
"Before you joined the ARC," replied Lester in a diffident tone.
"Before the decision was made that the ARCs mission was meant to be a preventative measure, lock anomalies, contain creatures…" continued Becker.
"Back when Cutter and Hart were still involved in the ARC, and we explored anomalies," responded Lester. "Connor built a remote control surface vehicle to reconnoiter the land…"
"That's not likely to do us much good tonight now," interrupted Becker.
"And another aerial remote control reconnaissance vehicle," concluded Lester.
Becker parked the SUV and looked at Lester. The glare of headlights from the second SUV pulling up behind them left the directors face in shadows.
"When the anomaly opens, I think it might be a good idea to know where we're going first," said Lester. "Unless you think you can walk on water."
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Becker had been surprised when a representative from park services met the ARC's security team shortly after they set up a perimeter near where the previous anomalies had been. The small pickup truck and trailer the man parked was dwarfed by the ARCs huge SUVs.
"Rowboat like you ordered sir," said the park superintendent. The chubby man held out a clipboard towards Lester. "Please sign here."
Lester had signed the requisition form and the man had departed. The soldier raised his eyebrows and looked at the director.
"Best to be prepared," said Lester. "Don't you agree?"
And Becker did agree. The team had tested the aerial remote control device successfully to the delight of the two youngest recruits. The rowboat was ready to be deployed if, no when, corrected Becker, when needed. And now, they waited.
"It's been four hours," hissed the youngest security officer to the man closest to him.
Becker ignored the young man's comment, but he too was beginning to worry. The Captain had been sure he had seen a pattern in the way the water anomalies had marched across Europe. The water anomalies had started opening closer together. Becker glanced from the muddy tracks of the anomaly that had opened on the bank of the Serpentine to the water where the second anomaly opened.
"The last anomaly opened while the previous one was still open," Becker muttered to himself. "The next one should open within six hours."
Becker was startled by the sound of Jess's voice. He'd left his com device on.
"Hil," said Jess "Connor always said the anomalies used electromagnetic energy. You don't think two versions of the same anomaly being open at the same time… I don't know… shorted the anomaly out… do you?"
For a moment, Becker considered the awful idea. But before he could answer Jess, a glowing spinning splintering light appeared half in and half out of the Serpentine.
"Get the reconnaissance vehicle in the air," ordered Becker. The soldier turned to the two men standing nearest the rowboat. "In the water with that boat now."
Lester was peering anxiously over the shoulder of the pimply faced young soldier operating the remote control airplane. The camera attached to the toy provided a grainy picture on the monitor before the young man.
"I can't make anything out," complained Lester. "Jess, are you getting anything?"
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In the ARC, Jess adjusted the contrast on her monitor display. She bit her lips.
"All I see is waves," replied the field coordinator.
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Becker didn't want to think what Jess's words implied. If Connor had somehow managed to escape the creature, how long could the scientist swim? The soldier strode over to the men with the rowboat. They were standing in shallow water trying to get the boat situated.
"Let's get the boat afloat," urged Becker.
"Captain," objected the sandy haired man before him, "we can't, the water is too shallow."
Becker pointed impatiently towards the anomaly.
"Push the rowboat in there," the soldier suggested. "Then we can climb in."
"No," explained the man, "the water is too shallow over there."
Becker stood still for a moment as the man's words registered. Then the soldier was moving. He was through the anomaly and never heard Lester's outraged shout.
"Captain Becker!"
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Jess heard Lester. And from her seat at the console she watched as a long tentacle reached up from the water. The purplish green grasping thing neared the remote control device. The camera zoomed in on the suction cups along the tentacle and then the image darkened. It was only when the picture blacked out completely, that Jess realized what had happened.
"That creature crushed the reconnaissance vehicle," whispered Jess.
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In another time and place, Becker stood ankle deep in shallow green water. Rocky ground extended to the side of him. Before him, sand dropped away. The water quickly deepened to a darker shade of blue. The soldier saw a tentacle reach from the depths and snatch the remote control airplane that was hovering just above the surface. A groan sounded from behind Becker. The soldier turned to face the new threat.
"Becker?" asked Connor. "What are you doing here?"
The soldier stared in relief. The dark haired scientist was sprawled on the sandy beach. Beside Connor, the purplish brown creature that had grabbed him earlier lay bloated and heaving. The slow, rise and fall of the carcass seemed to indicate death was nearing.
"Somebody has to keep you out of trouble," replied Becker.
The tall soldier stepped forward and knelt down. Becker began to disentangle Connor from the tentacles holding the scientist close to the purplish brown creature.
"What is this thing?" asked Becker.
"Dunno exactly," answered Connor. The scientist gestured towards the deeper seawater. "But its big brother is out there, and it's hungry."
Becker realized then that the remains of the creature holding Connor were missing several tentacles. He swallowed. Becker reached an arm around Connor's chest and helped the smaller man get up.
"Let's go home," said Becker.
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At half past ten, when the SUV pulled into the car park, Jess left her workstation and ran down the corridors. She met Lester as he entered the building. The door behind him opened and the security team entered, talking loudly. Through the open door Jess could see only one SUV. The field coordinator looked at the ARC's director. Her eyes must have shown the worry she felt.
"Where is Hil," asked Jess, "and Connor?"
Lester smiled and reached out to pat her shoulder. The security team walked around the pair standing in the corridor. Jess heard snatches of their conversation. The lieutenant was shaking his head.
"I still can't believe the Captain went through the anomaly," muttered the man.
"I can't believe we all did," replied the second man, "against all safety protocols."
"Captain Becker is amazing!" exclaimed the youngest cadet. "He saved Temple single handedly!"
The young man idolized Becker and tried to emulate the Captain in every regard. His hero worship was sometimes so obvious as to embarrass Becker. The soldiers continued talking together as they passed Jess and Lester. Jess stared after them. Video feed on her monitor had gone when the creature crushed the reconnaissance vehicle, audio feed had been sporadic. Mostly Jess had heard a lot of shouting. One blinking symbol for tracking the team had disappeared momentarily, then several others disappeared. The reappearance of all signals had reassured Jess, as well as Lester's orders to lock the anomaly, but now Jess turned to Lester.
"Where is Hil?" Jess asked again.
"Becker took Connor to the hospital," the bureaucrat replied in a soothing tone. At her worried look, Lester continued. "They are both fine. Connor just needs some stitches. Becker's going to drive him home afterwards."
Jess released a breath that she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Why don't you go home," suggested Lester.
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Becker wasn't home when Jess arrived. She entered the empty house and looked around at the warm and cozy rooms. The home she and Hil were making for themselves suddenly seemed barren and empty. Her chin trembled as she thought about the days events. Jess had wanted desperately for the anomaly to reopen. She had wanted Connor returned safely, but she hadn't wanted anyone else endangered. It was twelve minutes before she heard the front door open. A very bedraggled looking soldier stepped into the home and pushed the door closed behind him.
"Hil!" exclaimed Jess. She ran to him. Becker grabbed her arms and held her back.
"Jess," said Becker, "I'm all wet, and sort of seaweedy... you can't hug me, I'll ruin your dress."
Jess's nose wrinkled up as the smell of the soldier assaulted her nostrils. She didn't care about her dress. Jess stepped closer and reached her arms up. The tiny woman began to beat her hands on Becker's chest.
"You're not supposed to go into anomalies! What were you thinking?" cried Jess. "What were you doing going into an anomaly?"
"My job," replied Becker.
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