Author's Note: This turned out slightly more serious than I intended, but I like it. It also carries on the theme of Armageddon: that the world has changed and the ARC is out in the open.
Chapter 6, Abby's Public Awareness Advertisement
Abby sat in Lester's office, in the middle of a heated debate.
"It's the perfect opportunity!" cried Chuck, the video director.
"I refuse! I will not have this facility looking ridiculous!" cried Lester.
"It won't be ridiculous! It will be charming!"
"A fierce carnivorous dinosaur carrying out a rap session with a highly prized member of the ARC is not charming! It is ridiculous!"
"You were the one expressing concern about the youngest members of our population!"
"I want to educate them, not give Blue Peter a dinosaur for their animal segments!"
Abby sighed. She exchanged hopeless looks with Erin, the news reporter temporarily assigned to the ARC. Finally, Abby spoke up. "I think Erin and I will pop out for tea, while you two 'discuss' things."
Erin gratefully nodded.
"Don't move," said Lester. "I'm in charge. I make the decisions."
"Perfect. Instead of entertaining while we educate, we're going to put the little tykes to sleep with a boring public advert. No offense, Erin."
Erin smiled. "None taken, Charles," she said with her posh accent. She and Lester represented the well-dressed in the room. Both were in designer suits, though Erin matched hers with high heeled pumps... Lester did not.
Abby and Chuck were dressed in jeans and sweatshirts. Their casual attire belied the professionalism of both.
"We could compromise," said Erin.
"Oh, I'm all for that," said Abby.
"How about I ask Abby some serious questions, perhaps provide some easy-to-understand safety tips for children concerning the creatures, but…"
"I can still do my charming Doctor Doolittle thing! I like it!"
Abby raised an eyebrow. She hated to burst his enthusiasm, but she agreed with Lester: having her chat on camera with a t-Rex was silly.
"No."
"It could be misunderstood," said Abby gently. "We're trying to discourage kids from trying to pet the creatures and so on, aren't we?"
Chuck crossed his arms, and plopped sadly into a chair. "Go on, stifle creativity."
Abby shook her head. "I don't mean to. Isn't there any other way to entertain the kids and help them be safe?"
"You're the big showbiz producer," said Lester. "Dazzle us."
Chuck stared daggers at him. "Oh, I will. I promise."
Erin pulled him out of his chair. "Let's go get that tea. Coming Abby?"
"In a sec."
Abby waited until they were alone. "Lester, you didn't have to fight with him."
"I can't help it. I'm confrontational."
"I may not be the best person for this job. Maybe Connor should do this ad."
Lester smiled. "Connor does spring to mind when I think of the word 'childish." He chuckled. "No. I have faith in you. Besides, you're the creature expert, who is more fitting to discuss the creatures than you?"
"I just don't want to mess it up," she said. She sighed. "I've become a little less…cuddly since I first joined the ARC. I haven't had any real contact with children in ages."
"I have faith in you, Abby. Just use the same gentleness on the kids that you use on the creatures."
"That's good advice."
"Why is it that everyone acts so surprised when I share my brilliance?" he asked with a light smirk.
Abby laughed.
A week later, Abby was on set. She looked nervously at the three child actors. She took a deep breath. 'Gentle,' she reminded herself. 'Be gentle.'
Erin spoke with the kids, and then walked over to Abby. "Nearly ready," she said. "I'll cue you when you're up."
"Right," said Abby, smiling nervously.
Erin patted her shoulder. "You'll be great."
Abby smiled.
She watched as Chuck yelled, "Action!" The kids immediately began playing, as directed. The set looked like a playground. Bindy, an eight year old Hindu girl skipped rope. Alvin, a ten year old freckle-faced blond shot basketball hoops. Mellie, an adorable seven year old brunette played with a doll as she sat on a bench.
Chuck nodded for a green screen to be dropped behind the kids. This was where the computer-generated t-Rex would go later.
Chuck began counting silently counting on his fingers which he held up so the kids could see. 'Five' was the signal to start screaming.
On cue, Bindy looked to the green screen and screamed. Alvin dropped his basketball and Mellie began to cry.
Abby had to laugh. They were really convincing.
Mellie fell to the floor. Alvin and Bindy ignored her, as planned, and ran around, bumping into each other. They were panicking.
Erin cued Abby, and she walked on set.
"Hey!" yelled Abby. "Don't panic! Don't run!"
Since it wasn't logical to carry on a safety class with a dinosaur that was so close to them, Chuck came up with a gimmick. Abby pointed a remote at the green screen. In the finished commercial, she would 'turn off' the dinosaur, making it freeze in place.
Bindy and Alvin froze.
"You have to keep your wits. That t-Rex is dumb. You aren't," said Abby.
"What should we do?" asked Bindy.
"What did your teachers and parents tell you to do if you ever came across a creature?"
"Stay calm," said Alvin.
"Get away if you can, but don't make it chase you," said Bindy.
"That's right. They respond to movement and sound. The best thing to do, if you can't run away because you're too close, like now, is to move slowly and carefully."
Abby showed them, slowly backing up. She moved toward the back of the playground. "And watch."
"Watch what?" asked Bindy.
"Lots of things. Watch the creature. Does it see you? Watch for help. The ARC keeps track of anomalies and they know every time one forms. Even now, while you're scared and figuring out what to do, the ARC is on the way to help."
Then Abby walked over to Mellie, still lying on the floor. "Watch for others. Mellie needs help. If you can, you should help her," she said, pulling Mellie up. "If it's too dangerous to move, whisper to her to stay calm and quiet."
Bindy put her arm around Mellie, and said, "Sorry we left you."
Alvin nodded.
Mellie said, "That's Ok."
Abby smiled. "Creatures and anomalies are scary. Talk with your mum and dad, teacher or another adult about your fears. Every creature is different, and you may not know what to do. The best thing you can do is stay calm and think."
Just then Rex flew over head.
Abby smiled. "The ARC teams are here," she said.
Actors dressed like Becker and carrying fake EMDs arrived. They ran to the kids.
"You Ok?" asked a lady in black.
Little Mellie nodded. The lady smiled and took her in her arms, running off the set.
"You can help them too," said Abby.
A man in black asked, "How many creatures came through?"
Alvin calmly said, "One. I recognized it from my dino book. It's a t-Rex."
The man smiled. "Good job, thanks."
Then other men and women in black led them off.
"Always let the ARC forces do their jobs. Never try to stay and catch the creature."
Rex landed on her arm. "Some creatures are cute and look harmless."
Abby had worked out a trick with Rex. She touched him in one special spot, and on cue, he hissed, and pretended to try to bite her.
Abby waved her arm and Rex flew away. "Stay clear of all creatures. They might be dangerous."
Rex flew around and landed back on her arm. "Actually, this is Rex. He's my friend, and the ARC mascot. We've known him for a very long time, and we know for a fact that he's a friend. Just like with strange dogs, its best to just keep your distance. Right, Rex?"
Rex nodded, and then hissed again. Abby laughed. "It's good to know who your friends are. The ARC is here to keep you safe. Please, do your part to keep yourself safe. Stay away from any anomalies you may see and tell a grownup right away. Same thing if you see an animal and don't know what it is. Sure, you might be wrong and it didn't come through an anomaly, but it's best to be safe."
The kids came back on set.
Abby asked, "Should we try that situation again?"
The kids nodded. Abby waved Rex off and pointed her remote at the green screen and then she moved off. The kids were back to where they had been before Abby arrived.
The t-Rex unfroze. Alvin and Bindy stopped running around in a panic. Mellie was still lying on the ground. Bindy called out in a loud whisper, "Stay still."
Mellie nodded and lay still.
Bindy began slowly backing away from the dinosaur.
"Stop," said Alvin.
Bindy froze. Alvin had seen that the t-Rex was looking around for movement. He'd called to Bindy just in time for her to freeze when the t-Rex's eyes fell on her.
Mellie began to cry.
"It's alright," said Alvin softly. He was across from Bindy, so the creature's eyes were off him. Slowly he moved to Mellie's side. "Slowly," he said, and Mellie nodded, letting him pull her up. Then they slowly backed away together.
That's when the 'ARC' arrived, shooting the t-Rex and rescuing the kids.
Abby reappeared, stopping the action again with her remote. "That was great!" she said, hi-fiving the kids and smiling with them.
"Remember, it's OK to be scared, but you're smarter than the creatures. Use your head and you can beat them. Never go after a creature, not even a cute one. Let the ARC do their jobs."
The kids nodded.
Abby turned to the kids, "You guys are heroes!" She turned back. "You can be too."
Chuck called, "Cut!"
Erin and the crew clapped.
"Brilliant!" yelled Chuck.
The kids cheered. They all wanted to pet Rex now. Abby let them, reminding them to be gentle. She then answered their questions and educated them about him.
Erin and Chuck stood, smiling.
"Told you that you'd be great," said Erin.
Abby smiled.
"You're a natural," said Chuck. "I think this ad's going to make a real difference and help keep kids safe."
"I hope so," said Abby.
"It's brilliant," said Erin.
"Yeah, but I still think Doctor Doolittle would have been charming," said the director sadly.
A few days later, the team watched Abby's commercial in Lester's office. Everyone loved it.
Connor kissed Abby. "That was awesome!"
"You were brilliant!" cried Jess.
Even Becker said, "Impressive."
Abby blushed. "Thank you. I really hope it keeps kids safe."
Lester nodded. "It should. It was a very effective job, Miss Maitland. Now, if you'll all go back to your jobs. It would be so embarrassing not to live up to the praise we just gave ourselves."
The others laughed and left.
"Miss Maitland?" called Lester.
Abby hung back.
"I'm proud of you," he said simply.
She grinned. "Thank you."
Lester nodded. "Don't repeat this, but your commercial is the best so far, in my humble opinion. It wouldn't surprise me if it won an award."
"Seriously?"
Lester nodded.
"And you're still not going to let me say anything to the others?" she asked with a smile.
"No."
She smiled. "You're mean."
"Thank you, Miss Maitland," he said genuinely. "I appreciate that."
Abby laughed and shook her head.
"Oh, and keep that reptilian pet of yours out of the limelight. I've already had offers."
"Offers?"
"Apparently, they think he has 'star material."
Abby laughed. "You know, they're right. He could be the most famous ARC member of all."
"Great, first the beefcake Captain and now a renowned reptile. Perfect. He's not getting any special treatment: no specially flown in produce, lizard-sized sunglasses, or an iguana girlfriend."
Abby was shaking with laughter. "Actually, they wouldn't be compatible…"
"Don't tell me! Ew!"
She laughed harder. "Oh, Lester. You're one of a kind."
"Thank you."
She nodded, making for the door. "Oh…I might request a miniature sauna for him, though."
"Miss Maitland, get out!"
She laughed and left the office.
Author's Note: Blue Peter is a long-running British children's show that frequently airs animal care tips and stories, and I think there are always animals with the hosts on set. I think it is still airing. I'm American though, and I only know what I find on the internet. I'd be grateful for any corrections. Thanks.