Meanwhile Connor was trying to strike up a conversation in order to break the awkward silence as he and soldier boy strode across the field trying to find the road once again. He asked the question that had been on everyone's mind – especially Jess'. For a minute she forgot about the temporary disappearance of Abby and Matt and focussed on listening.
"What happened with Phillip at the ARC?"
"You heard Lester well enough." Becker grunted.
"His yells weren't that detailed. Please tell me?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"No."
"Abracadabra!"
"What?"
"It's the magic word."
Jess laughed.
"If I tell you will you stop pestering me?" Becker grumbled.
"Yes!" chirped Connor.
Becker sighed, an enthusiastic Connor meant disaster - or clumsiness at the very least. He was not a superstitious man but Connor made him long to touch wood at all times.
"Matt pushed Phillip through the anomaly and I went in after him. I wasn't going to let anyone pull a 'Danny' on my watch." Connor laughed at the reference but Becker's tone was deadly serious. "As soon as I was through I could hear a roar echoing through the pre-historic plains. Phillip was nowhere to be seen. I followed the sounds afraid of what I might find."
"Well? What did you see?"
"Phillip. The creature I'd heard was nearby but it hadn't attacked him yet."
"What did it look like?" Connor asked.
"Luckily for us we never found out. I told him we had to get back to the anomaly. At first he resisted muttering something about needing to find her but he eventually gave in. I dragged him back over to the anomaly."
"Then what!" Becker glared at Connor's innocently eager expression. A grown man shouldn't know how to act like a two year old during storytime. "Shutting up." Connor amended.
"Just as I pushed the man through I thought I caught a glimpse of someone familiar but I couldn't stick around, the screeches were approaching. I dived through and the anomaly closed behind me."
"Who did you see?"
"An idiotic boss. What was he doing in the armoury in the first place?"
"No I mean the other person."
"You won't believe me. I don't believe me!"
"Just tell him Becker!" cut in Jess taking them both by surprise.
She's been so quiet they'd virtually forgotten that she was there.
"Try me." said Connor.
"Helen Cutter."
"B-but how?" Jess stuttered.
Connor was shocked too but not surprised, this was only the second time he'd heard of the troublemaker today.
Phillip is connected to Helen Cutter.
The progressed towards the anomaly in silence as Connor pondered this. Suddenly his phone went off. The ringtone of TARDIS brakes startled everyone. He plucked it from his pocket and answered.
"Hello? Connor Temple here."
"Connor it's Phillip." Becker's eyes widened, he and Jess could hear every word through the comms."Where were you this morning? We have work to do!"
"Hold please." Connor responded promptly smothering the phone with his hand. "What do I say?"
Becker shrugged; this was not part of his job description. Fortunately it was around this time that Matt and Abby came back online.
"What's the situation?" asked Matt.
Jess sighed in relief.
"Where've you two been? Phillip just called, what do I say!" Connor repeated in exasperation.
Abby was the first to reply.
"Tell him there was an emergency."
"What kind?"
"I don't know just make it up!"
Connor groaned and started talking to Phillip again.
"Sorry it was a – family emergency." Abby rolled her eyes. Connor covered the phone again. "Now what?"
"Keep him talking. We're coming over." Matt decided. "The rest of us have to stay completely silent – if we can hear Phillip talking to Connor the communication might work both ways."
Connor uncovered the phone.
"Sorry about that – you were saying?"
"Connor, what does one family crisis matter when the world is at stake? Come down to your office. In a few hours time you've achieved what my scientists have been trying for months!"
"Remind me again, what exactly have I achieved?"
"Don't be modest! You've created the first ever anomaly that we can control. One that won't dare to randomly appear in your office again!"
"What!"
Matt put his hand over Abby's mouth to stop her from crying out in shock. Becker's bewilderment however mirrored Connor's. He was just as surprised as everyone else.
"This anomaly we can move, we can close, we can open, we can predict – "
"Can you make it dance?" Connor interrupted.
Jess stifled a snigger.
"Just make sure you get down here quick. This is something you have to see!"
Phillip Burton hung up. There was a short silence.
"Connor is there something you're not telling us?" Abby asked discerningly.
"I told you everything I remembered!" Connor exclaimed desperately.
"Phillip must be bluffing." Becker decided.
"But what if he isn't?" Connor panicked.
"It's either that or he's done something to make you forget half of what you did last night." Matt commented.
"I told you he might've drugged you!" Abby reminded although her tone was far from smug.
"But I feel fine!" A searing pain suddenly hit Connor in the head like a physical blow. He staggered backwards and blinked his eyes. Rubbing his sore head he winced, the headache had definitely gotten worse.
"Connor?"
Becker approached the young man with a look of concern on his face.
"Okay I take that back. Ow."
"Connor are you alright?" Abby asked.
"Y-yeah just a headache."
"We need to find out what Phillip's up to and stop it."
"What about the anomalies?" said Becker.
"Ours has been dealt with." Matt and Abby exchanged glances both remembering the conversation well. "We'll be with you in a few minutes – then Connor and Abby can go down to Prospero."
Predicting and ignoring the protests Becker continued.
"Connor can find out what Phillip's up to, Abby can protect him this time round."
The leader's reasoning made sense. Becker was starting to warm towards Matt again.