The ARC
AN: Thank-you to alwaysamarauder16 for reviewing the last chapter.
Also, this is a completely new episode that popped into my head whilst wandering aimlessly around the Wiltshire countryside.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Primeval.
Chapter 10-
"Two Vodka and Cokes?"
Lorelei nodded as the waitress laid the round tray on the table before placing the glasses of alcoholic liquid onto the dark wood of the table.
"And," She began again, pulling something from her pocket, she handed Lorelei the small, folded piece of paper, "From the man at the bar."
Lorelei turned as Jenny sat down opposite her. The older woman's gaze followed that of her friends. She spied a tall man, in an expensive-looking suit as he raised a glass Lorelei. Jenny kept her gaze on the man until her friend's laugh distracted her from her thoughts.
"Oh god, I didn't know people actually did this!"
"What?" Jenny leant over the table as Lorelei slid the small piece of paper toward her before taking a mouthful of her drink. In a messy handwriting, the name David Mason was scrawled across the paper, followed by a mobile number.
The two were sat in a small bar, a week after Jenny had left the ARC. It was a cosy, local bar, almost like one that would be found in a quant village in the middle of nowhere. Lorelei had called the night before, just wanting a chat with her friend; although Jenny hadn't been gone long, the younger woman had honestly missed her and this normal meeting, with no holes in time, no dinosaurs and no death defying acts was truly needed.
"He's cute." Jenny gestured to the man- David- at the bar.
Lorelei lightly kicked her under the table.
"Stop it."
"What?"
Lorelei leant forward.
"Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do."
Jenny blanched, "I don't know what you're talking about."
The American rolled her eyes and sighed. Speaking quietly against the cool glass of her drink—
"Sure."
The two fell into a comfortable silence before Jenny said gingerly—
"You do need someone, though."
"I am fine."
"You're lonely." Jenny countered.
Lorelei didn't answer, merely finishing her drink and beckoning another waitress over. She ordered another of the same and quickly, her empty glass was taken away.
"I've got this friend," Jenny began.
"No. You're not setting me up!"
"He's lovely! His name's Alex-"
"Jenny!" Lorelei complained, "I said 'no.'"
Her friend's hands raised in defence.
"Fine. I just thought you'd be interested."
"Well, I'm not."
The waitress now placed down Lorelei's second drink as Jenny spoke again. Simply saying—
"He's a doctor."
She had a knowing glint in her eye as she glanced across the dark wood to see her friend's expression change. Lorelei rubbed the back of her neck, trying hard to stay calm.
"What did you say his name was again?"
Jenny simply grinned.
)()()()()()()(
The anomaly alarm blared over head and pulled Lorelei's gaze off of her computer screen. Connor sprinted in at that moment, sending a small smile his friend's way as he did. He skidded to a halt in front of his ADD and began typing quickly. Lorelei came to a stand still behind him and peeked over his shoulder.
"Where?" She questioned.
"Savernake forest." Came her answer.
Having never heard of the place, she merely nodded and followed his lead. Upon turning around and beginning to walk away from the computer quickly, she noticed Becker step in. He repeated her earlier question to which she answered—
"Just follow Connor."
The Captain nodded slowly.
"Where's Quinn?"
Abby stood from her desk at this point and walked past him.
"Late." She answered his question before following Connor out of the building.
Lorelei followed a few seconds later, politely pushing past the Captain who was now, clearly, irritated with Danny.
"Did you expect any less?" Lorelei questioned wryly.
Becker now walked beside her.
"No." Was all he said. The exasperation in his tone was evident.
)()()()()()()(
After a two hour drive, the group pulled up in the large make-shift car park. Several cars were there, indicating lots of visitors to the forest. Lorelei wasn't surprised; even in the car park, the area looked rather grand— tall, thin trees branched out far above their heads, it went on for as far as the eye could see. A person could spend days wandering and never see anything twice.
"Should we evacuate?" Abby questioned.
Connor blanched, "How long do you think that would take? By the time everyone's gone the anomaly would've closed anyway."
"Where is the anomaly?" Becker asked.
Connor glanced downwards at his detector before gesturing down a nearby track.
"That way."
Lorelei followed his line of sight before looking at her shoes. She growled quietly.
"I don't suppose there's any chance of a piggy back, guys?" She received blank looks, "No? These converses are brand new." She gestured to the purple sneakers she wore.
"Just… don't step in the puddles." Connor offered.
Lorelei glared at him.
"Oh, thanks, Connor. Thanks a lot. You're brilliant." Her tone was thickly laced with sarcasm.
Connor merely shrugged, not wanting to continue into an argument with his friend. Abby tried to cheer the group up—
"C'mon. The anomaly won't close itself."
()()()()()()()()
The four of them now stood in front of the anomaly. As usual, the orb of light dangled deftly in mid-air. Lorelei still found it beautiful. For all the danger and suffering that they could cause, they truly were a magnificent force.
It was at that moment, Connor locked it. It collapsed in on itself to form a tighter, smaller sphere.
"Sir!"
One of Becker's men had now entered the small clearing of which they stood. Becker turned towards the younger man, a questioning look on his features.
"We've found a body, sir."
"What?"
"A body, sir. We've found a body."
Everyone seemed to move at the same time, although Lorelei was slower off the mark, still caught up in her thoughts to truly process the information.
And so, when she finally caught up to the group, who were now crowded around the body of a young woman?
In all honesty, Lorelei didn't get a good enough look, for her knees fell weak at the sight of the body. Gashes covered the person's face, blood had stained her hair and coat. She was sprawled across the mud, her last emotion- panic- still etched plainly across her features.
Creatures, lots of them.
Circling, prowling, assessing their new prey.
Stephens eyes staring straight at her.
Even in death he gave her his full attention.
Blood. So much blood.
Her own voice; screaming at him to open the door.
Blood. So much blood.
"Lor? Lorelei, you alright?"
It was only then that she realised she was leaning on Becker. He was actually the only thing that was keeping her from face planting the mud beside the corpse. Lorelei had the shoulder of his jacket in an iron-like grip. The Captain was looking at her, confusion and worry flitting across his face. It was Connor that was speaking to her. His face close. After seeing that she wasn't going to answer, Abby laid a hand around her waist. The blond peeled her off of Becker before gently leading her back to the anomaly.
Once there, Abby let go of her friend. Lorelei sat heavily on a fallen log before covering her mouth with her hands. She wanted to be sick. The dizziness was gone, now, but she still felt like emptying the contents of her stomach. What was wrong with her? She'd never reacted like this before. She had seen bodies before, granted not many were that bloody, but still. What was so different?
Stephen. Just like Stephen.
Abby knelt before her, her hands resting on Lorelei's knees.
"You alright? You look as though you're going to faint."
"I feel like it." Lorelei answered, her voice hoarse.
"Becker's going to call the ARC- get the body taken back." Her voice was soft. Gentle.
The American nodded and straightened. Taking a deep breath, she made to talk, only to spot Abby staring curiously at something behind her. She turned to see a small dog sitting on the leaves about a metre away. It cocked its head to side at the sight of the two women, who stared back at it. It gave a little whine in question.
Lorelei studied it. It stunk, that much was obvious- she could smell it from where she sat. It was obviously some kind of Westie; light tan fur covered it in long dreads. Lorelei laughed quietly.
"She's cute."
It was then that the dog leapt haphazardly towards her, its tail wagging furiously.
Connor and Becker entered the clearing then. Both men stopped short at the sight before them.
Connor pointed, "Is that a-"
"Dog? Yes, Connor." Abby answered, "We think it's the woman's."
The younger man nodded whilst Becker pulled a distasteful face.
"It smells." He stated simply.
"She's lovely." Lorelei countered.
Becker merely rolled his eyes.
"We've identified the body as a Miss Laura Sharp."
"What killed her?"
"Can't be sure." Connor answered, "Lots of dinosaurs had claws but I'd say we were looking for some kind of raptor. Still, maybe not."
Abby nodded, "So, take her back to the ARC? See what Doctor Clark can find out?"
The Men nodded.
)()()()()()()(
Megan Clark, a tall woman with shoulder length auburn hair, stood over the body of Laura Sharp. It had been a while since she'd had to deal with an actual dead body. She would almost say that she preferred the dead- they didn't complain nearly as much as the living.
After studying Miss Sharp for little over two hours, she had come to the decision that Connor's theory was almost definatly right; the woman had most likely been attacked but a raptor. There was definitely something odd about how the poor woman had died, though.
Her phone rang from the table beside her, she picked it up quickly.
"Doctor Clark."
"What have you got for me?"
Connor.
"Well," she began, "You were right- I'd definitely say she was attacked by a small raptor. But, Connor, there's something odd."
"Yeah?"
"She didn't bleed out."
"Right…?"
"I couldn't find a cause of death. At all; there are now teeth marks anywhere, no major arteries were cut."
"What are you getting at?"
"It got to the point where I checked for cardiac arrest- Y'know, she may have died out of fear- but there was no evidence. So, then I did a blood test."
"And?"
"Connor, she was poisoned. It's not one I've seen or heard of, so, it must be the creature, right?"
"So, a poisonous raptor?"
Megan sighed, "Is that just completely ridiculous or might I actually have something here?"
Connor stayed silent on the line. This caused Megan to exhale deeply.
"You want me to look it up, don't you?"
"Please."
"Fine. Listen, I'll call you back?"
The line went dead.