This is the last chapter! Wow, my first fic complete. Please, please, please review, so I can work out whether this was good or bad or middling as a whole. On that note, thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this, placed this on alerts or added it to favourites; the encouragement was priceless.
So, here is the last chapter. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own Primeval. I know, you're amazed at that fact. ;-)
Captain David Meers signed his name on the dotted line again. He knew his position would entail a lot of forms, but this was ridiculous! He'd spent half the day in here and he was getting uncomfortable in the pale blue room, the coloured walls a constant reminder of how settled his second-in-command had had to become in the small office. A reminder of how many men had held this post. Of how many men had failed in it.
But not him. He was determined that he would stay, to change and reorganise the security so that it was something to be proud of, which so far, it wasn't. In his opinion. OK, he'd admit he hadn't been here long, as only a week had past, and that there were some very experienced members of the outfit, but he was a hardened soldier too and he knew a decent team when he saw one, which he didn't here. To long without a firm leader; Howard was good, but not good enough for Meers' tastes. Meers was fair though. He blamed any problems the Sergeant had on the amount of paperwork.
Slamming down his pen as his thoughts returned, he made the decision that the paper would still be here tomorrow, so long as he was actually out there defending people so they could save the world... and the paperwork. There was always a downside to some things.
Striding out of his office, he headed down to the armoury, where Howard was drilling the men in ARC defence procedures. Meers had no idea why this seemed to be Howard's favourite drill at the moment, so he put it down to nervousness after his predecessor's betrayal. Leaning against the door-frame for a couple of minutes, the Captain let Howard drone on a little longer, before halting the lecture, midway through a sentence.
"Isn't it rather useless to have this defence procedure?" he interrupted, and quickly became aware that every eye in the room was focused on him in surprise. "I mean, if this person who is attempting to find out about you can forge documents, they'll surely know any measures that you will take to keep them out. It's a waste of time." He noted the locking of the Sergeant's jaw and realised he'd lost a friend there. No matter. If he wanted to improve everything, he'd have to rustle a few feathers, starting with those older soldiers, who would be stuck in a certain way.
"With respect, sir," replied Howard, with absolutely no respect whatsoever in his tone. "By that reasoning, any steps taken would be useless, as these people would know us. Therefore, technically, we can dispense with all these drills and be left panicking when... if it happens. I'd rather have people who have an aim to work for than a load of headless chickens. Besides," he smiled, turning to face the men. "I have every confidence that these men will be able to adapt a plan when needed." There was a low murmur of agreement and the eyes returned to Meers, who left before they could reach him.
The murmuring rose again and the soldiers relaxed back. One sidled up to Howard.
"What do you think he was on, sir?" Banks whispered to his Sergeant. Howard shook his head in puzzlement; this new Captain was erratic at best. Sometimes, he supported Howard to he hilt and then others (in fact, generally), he was rather insulting. "He's staying, though? I mean, he's not too bad. Just a little hot and cold on you." Howard looked to the taller man and sighed.
"Yeah, he stays. I'm not going to veto him on my behalf. I need the break if nothing else and he dealt with that anomaly pretty well." The other soldier just nodded. "Right, what next?"
"Professor Cutter! A word please," cried the Captain after the scientist, who turned around with a bemused look on his face. "I was wondering if you'd be so kind as to have a meeting at some point to talk about security/scientist relations. I need to discuss a few issues with you."
"If it's about Stephen and I being armed, there's nothing to discuss."
"No, not that. About the availability of information and... companionship between the two halves."
Cutter frowned. "We go for drinks with Howard and a few of the men every week. Isn't that enough?" Meers opened his mouth, but Cutter continued. "I prefer real friendships to professional ones. They tend to be safer." The scientist walked off, leaving the soldier agog; he'd at least expected help from the professor. There was, however, no time to rethink his plans, as the sirens blared out. He sighed, and knew many others would be too; apparently, the anomalies only appeared when you were in the middle of something important.
Rushing to the garage, Meers found that Howard had already got everything under control. The Captain breathed in deeply, wondering why he'd been employed. Breathing out again, he strengthened his resolve and strode up to the Captain.
"Any details, Sergeant?" he asked, steering clear of the corner of the box Howard held as he swung around.
"Yes, sir. There's a witness with this one. She phoned into the police, so we know it's pretty small and in some ruins out of London."
"A distance away, then," thought Meers out loud. He paused. "Howard? How about you stay behind? In case there's an emergency here. I'd rather have a man I know to be competent in charge."
"But sir...!" protested Howard.
"I think it's the best course of action. Take a unit of men, including Banks if you want." Howard tried to object, but Meers ignored him and got into an SUV. Howard clenched his teeth and his hand became a fist briefly, before he backed down and picked a unit of men, including Banks. However, he chose newer troops purposely, so that he knew the experienced troops could protect his scientific friends.
Meanwhile, the Captain's SUV was silent as the other men awkwardly shifted. After a couple of minutes, one of the younger members spoke up.
"Are you sure that was a good idea, sir? I mean, he is used to commanding around anomalies."
"Exactly, Swann. It's time to see how you lot can cope without him," replied Meers sternly. No-one told him that Howard was really only there to delegate tasks, that really they could do the tasks on their own, thank you very much.
Leek was walking to the armoury, having taken a rather annoyed phone call from Cutter about Howard staying behind. After a conversation where Leek was pointing out the professor was always rushing in without back-up so why did it matter and the professor assuring him it was the principle that counted, Leek was riled up. He had a feeling Jenny helped in that argument.
On arriving in the armoury, Leek found Howard organising kit with ten others. He watched the fluid motions and the expertise that each man had with the weapons. A fleeting hint of unease crept into his thoughts, before he quashed it.
"Heard you were here, Sergeant." Howard just grunted around a magazine in his mouth, before the gun he was holding clicked and he was able to load it. "Still, I'm sure you'd be pleased to hear Cutter's missing you. That's almost a sign of appreciation from him." Howard stopped what he was doing and looked Leek in the eye.
"Good. Then he won't mind if I tag along with his lot next time."
"What?"
"I'll ask him next time I see him. Actually, it's probably a good idea. If I arrive with him, it's harder to lose him."
"Yeah," put in Banks. "And I heard Meers asking Cutter to help improve security/scientist relations, so the Captain can't object."
"But... surely you're just acting like a child!" complained Leek; he could imagine Howard being present on more and more occasions. The PR man didn't think he could stand a board room meeting with the Sergeant.
Howard shrugged. "Possibly. Works for Connor." He returned to his sorting and the rest of the men busied themselves, ignoring Leek, who marched out.
When the alarm sounded again, Howard could barely believe it. As much as he hated to admit it, Meers appeared to be right in leaving him behind. He didn't mention it as he phoned his Captain, though, instead stating the situation and briefing him on the action he was going to take. The Captain seemed rather annoyed that fate wanted Howard to be leader; Howard wasn't too pleased either, but everyone else was now almost eighty miles away, so there wasn't any choice.
"Well, this anomaly is more or less sorted, so we'll be on our way to you as fast as possible."
Grabbing a spare locking device that Connor had just finished, the small team headed out to an abandoned small-ish mansion in the suburbs.
On arrival, Howard left three men, with Banks in charge, to set up the science equipment, with Connor giving directions over the phone, so that they merely had to place it in front of the anomaly, when they found it, and press a button. Safer.
The other eight men split into two groups; one to locate the anomaly, the other to check the house for any incursions. The anomaly team started in the basement and prepared to work their way up. Howard headed up the incursion group and signalled for them to follow single file, guns and tranquilisers at the ready. They crouched as they walked, weary of the danger that they could be in. They explored the kitchens and a dining hall to begin with, but this job was broken off part way. Heavy footsteps could be heard above, creaking the ceiling above them.
Returning to the main hallway, they climbed a flight of stairs and turned left onto a large landing.
A vase broke in one of the furthest bedrooms.
Waving his hand, the soldiers ducked at Howard's orders, knowing that he would guide them through. Holding his palm to face them, Howard walked out, across the landing to the facing room, a sort of nursery. Peering out down the corridor, where the noise came from, he couldn't see any danger yet, so he skirted along and ducked into the next room. Another soldier took up his previous position. Three more lay between him and the end room.
A low growl echoed towards them.
Dipping back into the room, Howard waited about ten seconds, before glancing out again. The corridor was still empty, but there was a movement down at the end.
One of the soldiers, Marson, suddenly overtook Howard and went into the room in front of him. Turning back, Howard frowned at him.
"The creature was on the right hand side of the room. It could see us," he whispered, indicating to the final soldier, who was now sharing a placement with the second. This man, Keyes, nodded to confirm the story.
"Any ideas what?" mouthed Howard, conscious of the close proximity they were to it. The shake of the head told him all he needed to know. Mindful of the fact he needed to lead, Howard scurried a little further up, so he was outside the door, and positioned himself in the middle of the corridor, posed and ready to shot the tranq. He heard the others soldiers moving behind him.
What he didn't realise was that the last two rooms were conjoining. The future predator leapt out between him and the other three, cutting off not only his back-up, but his escape route too. He turned as quickly as he could, but could see his men had been caught off balance, their guns pointing down while they were creeping forward. The predator raised its claw to swipe at Marson
"Retreat! Retreat!" he shouted above the roars and realised his mistake. The predator whirled round and its arm hit the readied gun, jerking it out of the Sergeant's grasp so it fell against the wall.
Howard's flight instincts kicked in and he scrambled away, back into the bedroom. As he faced this one, he sensed a second to his left, hidden from the others. Crawling back further, he hit the wall and was able to pull himself up to see his men taking aim. A shot rang out but it missed the first predator, instead burying itself in the wall besides Howard's head. The Sergeant shivered involuntarily and just regained his senses enough see the first predator chase after the others down the stairs. Further shots sounded, but Howard ignored them; he wasn't even concentrating on the predator that was slowly advancing on him. He concentrated on the figure behind it.
When Banks heard the shot, he hung up on Connor, the instructions that the young scientist was giving being of no use to a non-scientist like himself. Reaching for his gun, he jogged into the house porch, then indicated to the others to follow. Upon entering, he ran straight into the four men who were trying to find the anomaly, their faces showing they'd had no luck. A split second later, three men came tumbling down the stairs, closely followed by a future predator. Banks gasped, then dropped, readying his gun. He felt the others do the same, providing a front for the bewildered three men to dive behind.
"FIRE!" he ordered and there was a volley of bullets, which all fell uselessly against the steps as the creature dodged away, so fast it was a blur. It bounced through a side doorway and out of sight.
"Follow it!" he commanded.
"What about Sarge?" cried Keyes. "He still up there."
Banks swore. "Is he in danger?" Keyes bit his lip nervously, but shook his head. "Then we follow it! Come on!" he urged and the ten men gave pursuit to what they thought was the only threat.
"Leek." Howard stared at the small, grey man in disbelief, his eyes widening. "What...? Why?"
"Sorry Sergeant. Nothing personal, you understand; I have bigger things to do really, but... I believe you'd only be a hindrance. Going along with the professor... you die now or later and I prefer to spread my work." Howard glanced at the predator that was getting closer. "Oh, yes, I worked out how to control them. The probe on their heads."
Howard noticed to box for the first time. How did he not notice that? 'Imminent death' replied his brain. Howard replied that now was not the time to be flippant, especially towards himself. He was facing death and having a conversation with himself. Maybe that's how normal people react. Howard doubted it.
"You're going to kill me?" he asked, once he'd finished his inner monologue, his voice steadied than he thought it would be. He felt he was expecting his men to turn up in the nick of time. "You're going to kill me because I protect the team too well." Howard let out a small laugh in disbelief, his tear ducts starting to water. No, he couldn't cry. He met Leek's glare. The man smile in an almost sympathetic way and held the gaze.
"Take it as a compliment."
And the predator pounced.
Half an hour later, Banks heard the SUV pull into the drive as the ten men were searching garden, Marson being certain he saw something move in the bushes. There was nothing there so they gave up once they heard the engines come up the drive. Walking round to Cutter, who jumped out, Banks briefed him on the situation, as Meers hurried inside to find Howard, who by this point was obviously missing.
"Try the top floor. That's where we left him."
Five minutes later, the Captain came out pale.
"I can't stay, can I?" stated Meers to Banks as they watched Howard's locker being cleared out.
The other soldier sighed, not wanting to tell the straight truth, but knowing it would be an insult to Howard to lie. The Captain read the silence and nodded in acceptance.
"I thought I could to improve this place, but that's not how others will see it. Lost one of the most experienced soldiers in a week and made it clear I didn't want him any more beforehand. Some will say planned." Banks nodded once. "Well," said Meers, with more force, drawing himself upright. "Good luck in finding a replacement. Hope you find someone who'll stay in the job, especially now..." His voice lost strength and he looked at the silent Banks. "Maybe you should try for it."
"No chance," said Banks abruptly, keeping his eyes on Howard's possessions being searched for any classified information before being sent on to his Mum.
"Well, you'll get someone eventually. I mean someone suitable and with brains," corrected Meers as a joke. Banks didn't laugh. "Sorry." Banks glanced down at the ground, before returning to the scene. Meers tried a smile and failed. "Goodbye." And he left.
After a while, Cutter came up to Banks and slung a friendly arm around.
"So, the anomaly must've been brief and we've lost the future predators, along with our acting Captain," stated Banks. Cutter nodded.
"They'll turn up. And in the meantime, you'll be good enough. Only temporarily," reassured Cutter, as the soldier began to protest. "Howard trusted you, so can we. And hopefully, we'll soon have a new Captain permanently." Banks acknowledged this statement, but straightened to move away. Cutter stopped him. "Just one thing. Good luck."
"What? With the dinosaurs? I'm experienced too, you know," said Banks, a smile creeping up his face. Cutter smirked and shook his head.
"Not with the dinosaurs!" Banks frowned. "With the paperwork." And, with that, Cutter tapped the man on the shoulder and walked off and Banks realised why Howard spent so much time with his friends, the scientists.
The End.
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