"Walked through an anomaly, you say? Right, you there," said Lester this time directing his words at the soldier of whose name Jess had yet to learn, "fetch Cutter."

Jess's eyes widened at Lester's last statement. Although she was still shocked about her whole situation at least this morsel of information allowed her to figure out what time she actually in.

Seeing as Becker was there Sarah would obviously be working at the ARC since they joined at the same time. Cutter was there as well but if Becker and Sarah had already joined the ranks of the team Jess knew that his death was fast approaching.

Jess felt her eyes cast down as she contemplated this, looking more disturbed by this fact than she was to find herself trapped in the past which was noted by both Lester and Becker as they regarded her.

Soon the door was reopened as Cutter was herded in by the soldier who had been sent to get him. The soldier made as if to follow him into the room but a sharp glare from the Professor sent him hurrying from the room.

Cutter was surprised by the scene that greeted him, not that it showed much on his face. Standing in the corner quiet and observant was the new military captain; sitting at his desk looking as bored and pompous as ever was Lester but that was not what seemed to be slightly off about the scene.

Both of the men's attention was rapt upon a small woman who sat slightly hunched over in her chair with what looked like a serious gun strewn across her lap. As the door clicked shut behind him the woman looked around.

She looked barely out of her teens, like she should be studying at university or talking to her friends about trivial things such as social plans and television. Not sitting in the office of a secret government organisation.

Even as he watched she turned around and he knew he wasn't imagining it when her face turned a shade paler and her eyes widened a fraction.

~o~o~o~

Jess couldn't help the surprise she felt course through her at the sight of Professor Nick Cutter, even though she had been mentally preparing for this moment since she heard his name. It wasn't like she hadn't known what he had looked like; as field co-ordinater she'd had free access to any files on the database.

The real difference was just how alive he really looked, the photo's could only convey so much. When neither Lester or Becker showed any inclination to do anything she shifted the EMD from her lap so it rested on the floor against her chair and stood.

Offering only a slightly shaking hand towards the Professor she took a step towards him. With a bemused look upon his features Cutter stepped forward and shook her hand briefly while sending a questioning glance to his colleagues before turning back to her.

"And who are you?" He asked bluntly.

Jess felt herself colour slightly as she realised that he still didn't know why he was there,

"I'm J-Emily." She closed her eyes momentarily hoping no one had spotted her blunder. When she opened them again the bemused look on Cutter's face had been tinted shrewd light that told her immediately that he didn't believe her.

"Why are you here?" He said to her before turning to address Lester, " I can't be called up here every time-"

"It seems we have a problem." Said Lester as he cut across the irate professor's protests calmly, "Miss Merchant here was found as she walked through an anomaly earlier today. Under the circumstances I thought it would be best to call you. Forgive me for the interruption." He finished with a raised eyebrow and a bored tone. It was almost comforting to Jess to know that Lester, at least, remained constant.

His words however, held no comfort at all. Jess watched and began to feel distinctly uneasy as Cutter's eyes narrowed and he looked her as though trying to extract information through sheer will power. He sat down on one of the two chairs opposite Lester and gestured for her to take the other. Nervously she did so.

"What do you know of the anomalies?" Asked Cutter.

"Anomalies?" Said Jess trying to school her face into a passable imitation of confusion, " I don't know what-"

"Don't give me that." Said Cutter with a slight quirk to his lips, " We both know you know what I'm talking about, so tell me, what do you know what about the anomalies?"

Jess opened her mouth to speak but ended up shutting it again. She knew that this moment was inevitable but it seemed a lot harder to actually say the words rather than just think them. "I work at the ARC."

Lester scoffed at her answer "I think we'd know if you worked-"

He was cut off by Cutter holding up a hand to him. He looked affronted but remained silent.

"Ok," said Cutter seemingly pleased that he was getting somewhere, "so you must know a lot about them. What do you know about Helen Cutter?" Cutter never broke eye contact with her but she could see his body tense. Out of the corner of her she saw Lester pull of a face of disdain at the name of the woman who had caused so much trouble and would cause so much more.

"I-I can't tell you." said Jess aware that this was not the answer that they wanted to hear.

"I've got to know. When did you last see her? Where-"

"See her?" Jess almost squeaked, "I've never met her! What, just because I came through an anomaly you think I work with her?"

Cutter seemed slightly fazed by this answer. Jess's honesty was transparent and he decided to believe her on this one since it seemed he had no other option, but he resolved to keep an eye on her just in case.

"Fine." He said shortly, "One last question, how far in the future are you from?"

Quickly, Jess did some rough calculations in her head, "About fifty years, maybe a little bit more." She was quite pleased with this answer. By saying she was from this far in the future she was sure that they would accept that this was why she knew so little about some of them, because she seriously doubted that they would like to be told their entire fate by someone they'd never met.

"Liar." Piped up a voice from the corner.

Jess swivelled towards Becker, slightly surprised as she'd forgotten he was present. Her heart sank when she saw what he was holding. He must have picked it up at some point when her mind had been distracted by trying to avoid all sorts of time paradoxes while talking to Cutter, because she was sure she would have seen him pick up the EMD from the floor if not.

His finger traced over the point where she knew the compulsory identification plaques were welded on. Becker leant forward and passed the weapon to Cutter who looked at it with interest. Jess could see the tag from where she was sat and read it even though she already knew what it said,

ARC

Capt. H. Becker

Collar number, 3985

"Well, unless I really am that dedicated to the job that I'm running about with one of those things in my seventies, you must be lying." Said Becker giving a half stern and half amused glare. Something with which she was all too familiar. As though hit with the days events all at once Jess slumped forward slightly, utterly exhausted.

"I think you had better start explaining, Miss Merchant." Said Lester as he reclined in his chair looking to all the world indifferent. Jess looked at Cutter though tired eyes; he was leant forward ready to listen to whatever she said, a look of intent concentration on his face.

Jess sighed, there was only one way to deal with this really.

…

A/N- Hope you liked the chapter, it was a lot of fun to write. Thank you so much for your responses, it really means a lot to know that people like your stories. All reviews and any suggestions are entirely welcome! All the best- VE