Chapter Five, Armageddon
Jess and Becker walked into the makeshift Ops, or Connor's lab.
Matt, Connor, Emily watched monitors, looking worried.
"What is it?" asked Becker.
Emily shook her head. "New anomalies, and unfortunately, more creatures."
"I know this sounds selfish, but I'm relieved they aren't near us," said Connor.
"I think we're allowed to be a little selfish," said Matt, glancing around at the lab. It was one of the 'undamaged areas,' but it was not unharmed. Shelves were on the ground, smaller equipment knocked over, books strewn about, and some cracks apparent in the walls.
Jess politely nudged Emily, and she took her place at the ADD.
"I'm beginning to think Connor was right, and we are in Armageddon," said Jess.
"What exactly is going on, and where?" asked Becker.
"A t-rex rampaging down Wood Lane, wrecking the BBC Centre."
"Might not be a bad thing," quipped Connor.
"Spinosaurus terrorizing Kensington Gardens, terror birds swarming the campus of the Royal College of Art, and ichthyosaurs swimming under the London bridge.
Connor groaned.
"That's not the worst."
"It isn't?" asked Becker, in disbelief.
"No, we have monkey creatures disrupting EDF Energy. That's where emergency is concentrating their efforts."
"If we lose the power grid," said Connor, cut off in mid sentence, as they were suddenly plunged into darkness.
Then, limited lights and computers and the ADD came back on.
"Generators are kicking in," said Jess. "Radio and telly are down. No CCTV, traffic cameras or anything."
"I never thought I'd wish that telly and radio were on the air," quipped Connor.
"I am getting something on an emergency channel," said Jess, "It's from the minister's office."
She motioned Matt over, and he read the screens.
"What?" asked Becker.
"Martial law," said Matt. "Curfew, no one goes anywhere. Stay in your homes. Looters will be arrested, so on. Nothing else?"
"No, communications are dead, except for the emergency channel, and I can't access it."
"We really are cut off," said Becker.
Jess shuddered. "The silence is eerie," she said, taking out her ear pieces.
Becker held out his arms, and she got up, and walked into them.
"We'll be fine," he whispered.
"We will," said Matt. "Jess, I want you to go around the ARC, and pass the word. I don't want panic from rumors. Also, be positive and encouraging. You can do that, right?"
Connor smiled. "She's perfect for the job."
"Yeah that smile is like a beacon from heaven," said Becker.
She smiled for him.
"I'll do my best," she said.
"Take this," said Becker, handing her a torch.
"Always looking out for me," she said to him, with a quick kiss.
"Jess, wake Abby?" asked Connor.
"I will," she said, then left.
"We're still stuck. We should be out there, doing our jobs," said Becker.
"I know. Go see how they're coming," said Matt.
Becker nodded.
"Matt, what about the predators kept at bay by the signals?" asked Emily.
Matt and Connor looked wide eyed.
"I'd forgotten," whispered Matt, ashamed.
"You're exhausted," said Connor. "You and Becker haven't slept."
"He is correct, Matt. You should sleep. It is necessary."
"You want me to sleep! With the whole world falling apart!" he yelled.
Emily was calm. "We do not know if the world is affected."
"Just the city," said Connor with a grin.
Matt laughed. He was exhausted, and scared. He was near the end of his strength.
"I guess there isn't much we can do with limited power and no way out," said Matt.
"And no way to contact anyone," said Connor. "I'll try to fix that."
Emily nodded. "The men will keep digging, and the engineers will try to restore power. You should take advantage of this time and rest."
"Yeah, we'll need you later. Becker, too," said Connor.
"All right," said Matt, too tired to fight. "I'll talk to Becker.
To Matt's surprise, Becker gave in easily. Work went on without them. It was the early morning, a few hours before dawn. They hoped they would be able to leave the ARC then and help the city.
Emily saw to the EMDs, and gathered the conventional firearms that Becker had kept inside the ARC. Becker had been quite smug about it.
The whole ARC was rotated, allowing everyone to get much needed rest. The soldiers were like Becker, exhausted but anxious to get out and do their jobs.
Connor's research team was assisting engineering with getting power restored to all systems. Communication was a priority, and they worked feverishly.
Jess and the computer techs were trying to hack into anything. She hoped they could somehow get other emergency frequencies or even ham operators, anything.
So far, all the ARC could do was work and hope.
An hour before sunrise, Jess tiptoed into the canteen. Matt was asleep in the corner cot, away from everyone.
Jess smiled as she saw Becker, asleep in a group of black-occupied cots. Even now, his people clung to their leader.
She tiptoed up to his cot, and still barefoot, crawled carefully in, beside him.
"Jess?"
"I hope you weren't expecting anyone else," she whispered.
He chuckled, and put his arms around her as she snuggled into his embrace. He kissed the top of her head, and she sighed happily.
"That looks comfortable," whispered Emily.
Jess giggled, and looked up to see Emily walking into the corner, and stealing Jess' idea, she crawled in beside Matt. He reacted as Becker had, and readily made room.
Jess smiled, and laid her head back on Becker's chest.
They only laid together a short while, when Abby's voice whispered all their names.
"What is it?" asked Becker.
"Connor thinks he's got communications back up."
"That's wonderful," whispered Jess.
Both couples got up and followed Abby to Connor's lab.
Connor had all kinds of radio equipment in front of him, as well as television, and of course, computers.
"Hey," he said, "I'm getting static from radio, which is better than just silence."
"But no actual words yet," said Becker.
"Give me a chance," said Connor. "Jess, the techs are getting close to repairing an internet connection. If they make contact, I want you ready to hack."
"Absolutely," said Jess.
"Come on, Becker, let's see how the digging is going. Contact us if you get through," said Matt.
Jess and Connor nodded.
End of Chapter Five