Chapter 13

Disclaimer: unless noted otherwise, all characters belong to Impossible Pictures™.

Note: contains spoilers for the official series.

Contrary to Lester's assumptions, the ARC field team did not leave the ARC building proper to watch a movie: aside from the entire 'Ethan and friends' situation, the weather wasn't looking particularly inviting to go outside, and so the field team decided to use the Center's own media room to watch something amusing and celebratory (holidays-wise). Therefore, they were able to watch Lester leave with Caroline (on their way to the media room) via Jess's control center without any problems... and did not do anything.

Becker, of course, voiced the main opinion: "Yes, Lester's married, but his wife's a piece of work, and if he decided to have a good looking lady friend to pass the time with, who're we to judge?"

"Well," Connor said in an uncertain voice, "that's Caroline. She used to work for this rather nasty character called Oliver Leek, who was going to take over the world – or at least England – with neutrally clamped future predators. But," he paused and shook his head, "I've run into her when I had to stay at his place because of Jack, and apparently, she works here – breeds dogs to the ARC, as Lester had hired her to do."

"Really? She looks rather glamorous to breed them," Jess said, sceptically.

"And yet she does – I've been over to her place few times," Connor said, musingly. "Come to think of it, the last time the two of us had run into each other also was dog-related: Lester's neighbour, Sir Alexander, bred dogs, and also fancied me – without Caroline to diffuse the situation I know not how that would've turned out..."

Everyone stared at him. "What?" Connor said, somewhat defensively. "What was I expected to say: hey, Abby, if I wasn't so into you, I could've been a count's boyfriend? No, thanks, pass."

"Heh," surprisingly it was April who broke the silence. "Life in the Center is just one big fest of bizarreness, isn't it?"

"Yes it is," Becker said firmly. "Surprised that it took you to figure out so long. Me, it took just a day or two after arriving at the post. Of course," he shook his head, "my past had its' own bits of bizarre, but that isn't the point here."

"Oh? What is the point?" Jess asked, cautiously: by now everyone generally knew that when Becker grew maudlin, you should not push him, or he will push back, badly.

"What is the point? That ARC is bizarre and not always rational – that's my point," Becker told primly. "The faster you accept it, the quicker things will start to make sense here."

"Gee, thanks," April shifted her poise. "So, now that's out of the way, any revelations I should be making? Why, yes!" she straightened up and did her best to look Matt Anderson in the eye. "Since we're making revelations tonight, then let me tell you-"

Sadly, whatever April was going to say, remained unsaid, as a time anomaly manifested in the ARC, and through it stepped the painfully familiar Ethan Dumbrowski, followed by his partner and his minion.

"Surprise!" Ethan yelled cheerfully. "Bet none of you had seen this coming!"

The next moment all Hell broke loose.

End chapter 13