Title: Armageddon
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Through series 5
Description: After convergence, anomalies are frequent. Several anomalies hit around the ARC causing destruction and death. Is this the end?
Disclaimer: I write only for fun. I appreciate that I did not create Primeval or the characters. I am only borrowing them for entertainment, and nothing else.
Chapter Seven, Armageddon
Jess screamed but no sound came out.
Then the lights all came on, and a shrill, high-pitched hum went out. The predators froze as the signal poured out of every ARC speaker close by.
The soldiers and staff quickly dispatched all the predators.
Jess bravely stayed at her station, directing troops and guiding rescue.
Her heart was gone.
"Where is he?" she heard Connor cry.
Then she heard several voices call, "Becker?"
"Jess, do you see him?" asked Matt.
Jess tried to answer. Finally she found her voice. "No."
"He's a fighter," said Connor, descending the mountain, searching.
"We shall find him," said Emily.
"No," said Lester.
They all stared.
"I'm sorry. We have a city to purge from creatures. We can't afford more delays."
"He's right," said Matt. He turned to the forces. "Move out, as Becker would order."
They nodded and moved. The soldiers wore hard, focused faces that masked their pain.
"No new anomalies," said Jess, in an ultra-controlled tone.
"Good," said Matt. "Hang in there Jess. It' isn't over."
"He'll probably come riding in on a tank," said Lester.
"Probably" she said, through tears. "Air forces report pterosaurs contained. Crocodilian sighting near the Thames Reinforcements requested in residential areas. Stand by for direction."
Abby appeared next to her. She put her hand on her shoulder, but Jess kept performing her job. "Communications are restored to Downing Street. The minister is requesting a briefing Lester."
"Tell him I'll be there as soon as I locate my head of security."
Jess cried. "I thought...other priorities."
"Indeed, but I myself shall look for him, Jess," said Lester. "We shall find him. I promise."
The next few hours were a blur for Jess. She dispatched personnel with what equipment they had to various incursions across London.
The search for Becker continued. Lester led maintenance, medics, and volunteers who were supposed to be resting. They picked through the wreckage and bodies, looking for survivors.
"We have a survivor!"
Jess caught her breath.
"It's not one of ours. He's wearing an army insignia."
Jess's heart fell.
"I have another deceased body."
Jess nearly died.
"It's corporal Ali."
Jess felt horrible that she was relieved.
"I've got something. I need help, he's buried!"
Jess waited painful seconds.
Then she heard Lester's voice, "It's Becker. Jess, he's alive! I need medics now!"
Jess broke down, sobbing into her hands.
A tech relieved her and she ran to the wreckage, standing out of the way, as Becker was carried up and past her.
He was unconscious, his face dirty, his chest covered in blood.
Lester put his arm around her and they followed Becker to medical.
Hours passed, and dusk fell. The teams of soldiers, workers, and rescue personnel were still out, all over the city.
Jess remained in medical.
Around 10 pm, some of the ARC forces were returning, to recharge their EMDs and themselves.
Becker's soldiers wandered in desperate for information. They'd sit for a while, then Lester ordered them to rest and eat. They'd be called back out before dawn, he knew.
The team returned also and went right to Jess' side. They stayed as long as they could, but other needs called them all away. Matt had rounds to make, the ADD to check, and soldiers to coordinate with. Abby was needed in the menagerie. Emily and Connor stayed with Jess and Lester.
Connor, though, had a mystery to solve. The anomaly in the ARC car park kept re-opening with more predators. He and Lester discussed it, in whispers and away from Jess.
"It's almost like someone's opening it deliberately," whispered Connor.
"I can't post guards on it," said Lester. "They'll get eaten." He nervously eyed Jess.
"I've sent portable audio equipment to the anomaly," said Connor. "We'll blow them back through with sound and the signal."
"Brilliant," said Lester.
"It was Jess' idea," said Connor.
Jess sat, her hands clenched together, with Emily's arm around her.
Finally, a doctor appeared.
He smiled. "Once again, the captain beats the odds. Believe it or not, despite a severe bite to the abdomen, the damage was not as bad as we thought."
"What took so long then?" asked Lester.
The doctor was taken aback. "Sorry, we are operating in grim circumstances. Power failures, shortage of supplies, not too mention we're exhausted."
"Forgive me," said Lester. "I'm sure you've been swamped."
"It hasn't been easy. Injured just keep coming."
"Again, I apologize."
"He'll be OK?" asked Jess.
The doctor took her hand. "Yes, but you should go and see him. He's been muttering your name in his delirium."
She sobbed with relief, and followed a medic inside.
"Doctor, I will get you some relief," said Lester.
"Thank you, but we need fresh supplies even more urgently, especially blood."
"I'll get right on it," said Lester. "You have my word."
The doctor nodded.
Inside medical, injured people were everywhere. Jess found Becker in a quiet area of the harried section. She took his hand.
He moved.
"Sh. It's alright," she whispered.
"Jess?"
"I'm here."
He opened his eyes and smiled. "Jess."
She smiled, but tears fell. "I won't leave you. Ever."
He held her hand tightly. "I thought I was gone."
"Me too."
"I love you, Jess."
She cried, but smiled. "I love you too, Becker."
He chuckled, but then winced.
"Easy, captain," she said. "You're hurt."
"Its...just a scratch," he said with a grin.
She laughed. "That's not what the medic said."
"A bite then."
She laughed harder, and leaned down to kiss him gently.
"Don't ever scare me like that."
"I'm sorry."
"You should be," said Jess.
Connor quietly interrupted. "Still with us, Action Man?"
"Yeah," said Becker.
"Good. I'm glad, really. I have to go,and figure out how to shut the predator anomaly."
"That would be a good thing, Connor," said Becker.
Connor smiled. "I'll come back, soon as I can."
"Good luck," said Becker.
Connor left, and was replaced by Matt.
"Where have you been?" asked Jess.
"Freeing a college campus from terror birds. Took a while," he said, with a grin. "How are you?"
Becker groaned. "A little scratched."
"Don't listen to him. It's a bad bite, and could have been worse," said Jess. "He is out of commission," she said, looking fiercely at Becker. "You hear me?"
Becker laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
"We'll manage without him," said Matt, giving Becker a teasing smile. "Lester wants to pop in, but he's got his hands full."
"More creatures?" asked Jess.
"The human variety," said Lester, entering. "Restored communication has its drawbacks." He looked at Becker, a small hint of relief on his face. He recovered quickly. Formally he said, " Nice to have you back, Captain."
"Thanks," said Becker. "Thanks for looking after Jess." Jess nodded and smiled appreciatively.
Lester looked slightly embarrassed, but nodded. He cleared his throat and said, "Excuse me. I have an incursion of blood-thirsty bureaucrats to deal with." He gave a small smile to the couple, and walked out, yelling into his mobile.
"I'm truly sorry that the Queen's prize roses were trampled. Offer my condolences. Perhaps she'd like to send hers for the people I've lost!"
Jess raised her eyebrows. She saw that look on Becker's face. Lester's remark about losses had hit Becker.
"We've lost a lot," she said gently, "but there are more of us still here."
"How many?" he asked.
Jess frowned. He was wounded, and didn't need stress, but she knew he wouldn't be satisfied unless he got an answer.
"I honestly don't know. I do know, however, that we have one more survivor than I feared." She smiled, holding back grateful tears.
Matt smiled. "You're in good hands. I'll look back in on ya later," he said, and left.
Becker held out his hand, and Jess took it. He sighed, and smiled at her, and beckoned her to sit next to him on the bed. Carefully, she did, avoiding his injuries, and they rubbed their heads tenderly together.
End of Chapter Seven