He had six experienced men on call that night, including Smythe, which was fortunate.
"Do night alerts happen often?" he asked the lieutenant quietly, as they established a rough perimeter in front of the museum. He would have to contact the site security in a moment.
"No, actually. They're pretty rare." The lieutenant glanced around. "Word of advice, sir?"
"Please."
"Find security, and stall until Ms. Lewis gets here."
Becker took the advice, and luck was with him, for only minutes later, a sleek sedan pulled up and discharged a woman on a mission. This would be Becker's first meeting with the formidable public face of the ARC, Ms. Jennifer Lewis.
For three in the morning, she looked remarkably put together in a black trouser suit and blouse, her hair pulled back into a sleek tail. Even without makeup, the woman's creamy skin glowed. Her walk clearly transmitted to all around that She Was In Charge, and she managed to intimidate the security guard completely before she even uttered a word.
"Yes, we need complete access to this building," she announced brusquely, flashing some sort of Home Office credentials. "There's been a report of an incendiary device left inside."
"A bomb!" the man yelped.
"Well, we wouldn't want to make predictions, now would we? We simply need you to give us access, and to all our crew when they arrive. Let the professionals handle it, hm?"
Becker had to admit, her smile was more teeth than cheer, but it did the job.
Moments later, as Smythe's men took control of the entry access, a silver SUV arrived, disgorging Hart, and the infamous Professor Cutter. Hart gave Becker a grin and waved him over.
"Nick, this is Captain Becker. Lester sicced him on us today. Team Security."
Cutter gave Becker a sardonic once-over. "So you're the new Ryan?"
"Pardon?" Becker asked as Hart hid a wince.
Without explanation, Cutter turned to head into the museum. "Just don't get in the way."
Suddenly feeling out of his depth, Becker followed the two scientists. They briefly spoke with Ms. Lewis, and then Cutter waved everyone into the museum. They hadn't gotten far before the sound of running feet and someone calling Cutter's name made them turn. The pair that came around the corner couldn't have been more unlikely had they tried. Both carried small arms, and Becker twitched his rifle up instinctively, though neither appeared threatening. Both were disheveled and breathless, dressed in the punk de-rigeur of vintage b.d.u.s and multiple layers. No one else seemed surprised to see them.
"Connor Temple, Abby Maitland," Cutter introduced dryly. "This is Captain Becker. He's here to protect us, so do as he says. Unless I think he's wrong. This way."
The two new arrivals shared smirks and eyerolls with Hart, and shot grins towards Becker. Apparently Cutter's dry sarcasm was normal.
As they walked, Temple started speaking quietly to Maitland. "You know, when I was a kid, I used to think that all the exhibits came to life at night." She snickered as he went on. "When I was about eight, I decided to stay behind one night, to find out."
Becker glanced over his shoulder, but Temple's expression was utterly earnest. Hart was smirking, and Cutter ignoring them.
"What happened?" Maitland asked.
"Nothing...really." The childish disappointment in Temple's voice came through clearly. "Apart from I got locked in the toilet for three hours." Maitland started laughing. "It's not funny. When they found me, I was hysterical. I've had a problem with...museums ever since."
"Shouldn't you have a problem with toilets?" Maitland suggested snidely, like a proper straight-man in their little comedy routine.
"Got over that." Temple told her with a shrug. Becker couldn't tell if Temple's story was true, or if the pair were playing at something just to wind up 'the new guy'. Neither looked to see the effect of their little routine on him, and Hart's smirk seemed a permanent expression. Becker figured either they were trying to get a rise out of him…. or Temple was certifiable, which was entirely possible given his IQ rating. In Becker's experience, all geniuses were insane, and now he had at least two – Cutter and Temple – on his hands full time.
Unfortunately, all humor vanished in the next moment, when they discovered a woman's body on the floor.
Hart and Maitland immediately moved forward. "It's an animal kill," Maitland announced as Hart nodded.
Hart looked around carefully before shaking his head. "Nothing. It could be anywhere in the museum by now."
Temple groaned. "I really don't like this place," he muttered quietly.
"Which way now?" Becker asked, trying to instill some discipline.
Cutter's eyes swept the group before deciding. "Becker, Stephen, you're with me. Connor, Abby, and Smythe head that way." The other military men smoothly split at Smythe's nod to accompany each group.
They hadn't been searching long before they heard voices, and rounding a corner they discovered the team of Temple and Maitland had found someone wandering the building.
"Stay where you are!" Cutter ordered as he jogged forward, Hart hot on his heels.
The woman in casual clothing looked like a deer in the headlights.
"It's all right," Cutter reassured her. "Who are you?"
"Doc- Doctor Page." She answered nervously. "Who are you?"
"I'm Nick Cutter."
"Okay, um… I– I'm guessing you're some kind of thieves?" Her eyes kept roving over the weapons in everyone's hands. She clearly didn't recognize the difference between proper weapons and tranquillizers.
"No, actually, I'm a professor." Cutter told her with a slight smile. Hart grinned.
"I've never seen a professor with a gun before." She countered.
"It's a pretty specialized field." Hart said facetiously.
They brought Dr. Page with them, retracing their steps, but when she spotted the body on the floor, she let out a cry. "Marion!" Before anyone could react, she bolted.
"Cutter!" Stephen shouted, and they all gave chase.
The woman was fast, Becker had to give her credit for that. They lost her briefly before hearing roaring and screams.
Becker and Hart were the first to burst through the double doors to a loading dock area, both of them low and loaded, weapons ready. When no immediate threat appeared, Hart went for Doctor Page.
"You ok?" he asked her as Cutter and the rest caught up. Her shivering and terror were plain to see. "I'm guessing not."
"What did you see?" Cutter demanded.
She blinked at them, clearly trying to gather her thoughts. Finally, she stuttered. "A-Ammut. I saw… I saw the Goddess Ammut!" When everyone exchanged looks, she took it the wrong way. "Look! I know what I saw!"
Cutter nodded at Hart and Maitland, who immediately headed to the open docking door. Hart continued outside as Maitland took a moment to speak with a pair of shaken delivery men.
"It looked – it looked like that!" Dr. Page insisted, pointing at a stone statue sitting on a crate.
"I believe you," Cutter told her soothingly. "I've seen things that confused me too. I just don't think it was Ammut."
"Cutter!" Maitland jogged back. "We've found tracks. Biped and quadruped. Stephen says it's heading south. Rough description from the delivery guys is 'mutant crocodile'."
"I've got to get back to the ARC," Ms. Lewis gasped, turning.
"The ark?" Doctor Page yelped.
"Not that one," Temple told her.
"I'm going to brief Lester," Ms. Lewis called back as she left. Because of the unknown quality of the threat, Becker quickly indicated a soldier to escort her.
"Becker, can you secure the area? Connor – Stay here and work out what period the anomaly's linked to. Start on crocodilian species. And find out what Dr. Page here knows about that statue." Cutter tossed out orders. "Abby? Which way?" Cutter and Maitland hurried off after the creature.
The Captain sent his men to do a fast perimeter check with a few hand signals, establishing that no other Egyptian gods lurked behind boxes as Temple spoke to Dr. Page.
"Becker? I need m'kit, be right back!" Temple suddenly called out. Luckily, the soldier sent with Ms. Lewis met him at the door, and with an eyeroll, turned on his heel to run escort on the scientist.
Becker moved back over to stand by Doctor Page. Privately, he found his first view of an actual anomaly completely fascinating. The glittering magnetic field shone brightly against the frame of black stone that made up the Egyptian statue.
He could feel the woman's eyes on him before she spoke. "So…. if you're not thieves, then you're… government?" He glanced down at her. "Which agency?"
"Does it matter?"
"Well, that thing wasn't there earlier today, I can assure you of that. Which means you people knew when it appeared. And you showed up here, prepared for… gods and monsters? Is anyone going to explain what's going on?"
Becker was tempted to tell her everything, including the thought that the entire ARC field team were certifiably insane… except it seemed they drew insane people to them, so what did that say about him? Uncertain as to the protocols, Becker went with the tried and true method of response. "I'm sorry, ma'am. That's classified."
to be continued
** AN: I don't know if anyone noticed this, but I don't hold with the "claudia-fication" of Jenny in Series 3. I liked hard-nosed, smart-mouthed Jenny, and I didn't at all approve of the softening of her that was done. So therefore, Jenny will stay the tough PR chick she originally was. Except, of course, that now a real team bond is forming, for everyone.