Title: Armageddon, Chapter Eight
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: PG, some innuedos and violence
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 right 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 Eight, Armageddon
After a while, Abby and Emily stopped in to see how Becker was doing.
Becker was impatient for news.
"Go ahead, tell him," said Jess. "He'll be a nuisance until you do."
Abby chuckled. "Well, for starters, the numbers of creatures loose in the city are dwindling. They're either killed, sent back through anomalies, or sent here," said Abby.
"We're receiving creatures?" asked Becker.
Abby smiled. "Giant holes in the side make it easier," she teased. "Actually we've finally got the loading bay running . My staff are grateful they're actually doing the jobs they were trained for. They were happy to lend a hand during the emergency, of course, but now they're starting to feel like things are getting normal again."
Becker nodded.
Jess's stomach rumbled.
"Oh, dear, we have a creature in here," teased Emily.
Jess blushed and laughed.
"Get her out of here," said Becker. Jess looked unhappy. "Only for a bit, Jess," he said. "You've been here for hours, and I bet you were outside waiting before that."
"She was a wreck."
"Abby..." scolded Jess.
"Abby is correct. Jess was a wreck," said Emily.
Becker laughed. "Go get something to eat, Jess, then come back." He looked seriously at her. "You have to promise to come back."
She giggled and kissed him. "I promise."
"And promise to chew, not swallow your food in a hurry," he added.
She laughed more. "I promise to chew."
Abby smiled and took Jess' hand leading her out of medical.
"Emily, how are things, really?" asked Becker.
Emily looked at him. "Bad," she said, "but improving."
Becker nodded. "Good. Thanks, Emily."
She smiled and nodded.
The ladies went to the canteen/makeshift sleeping quarters. Lester was on the side with tables crammed together. The other side was lined with rows of cots. Almost all of them were occupied.
The canteen staff, like the rest of the ARC, operated magnificently during the emergency. They helped outside the canteen when needed, assisting injured, looking for missing colleagues. They went into 'hotel mode,' tending to the cots, offering blankets, and even talking with strained, frightened co-workers, comforting them.
Of course, they cooked and served food. It was not business as usual. Service was buffet style, leftovers were served, and for once, liquor was served openly.
Lester was sipping brandy at the moment.
Now that the ARC was beginning to get back on track, a nice dinner was served. Steak and kidney pie, macaroni and cheese, soup and hot sandwiches. The servers brought the food to the weary soldiers, and some of them even helped bandage minor wounds the stubborn soldiers did not want to bother medical with.
The TLC was heart-warming.
"How is Captain Becker?" asked the canteen employees.
Jess beamed. "Ornery."
Abby laughed.
"I do not understand this word," said Emily.
"It means Becker is being a pain," said Abby.
Jess nodded.
"Ah," said Emily. The servers laughed.
Jess and the ladies sat with Lester.
"Aren't you eating?" asked Abby.
Lester shook his head. "Food would not stay down at the moment," he said. "I will try later, perhaps."
The women nodded.
"Are you really being bothered by your superiors?" asked Jess.
Lester smiled. "Its reassuring, actually. Once the government stops acting concerned and helping each other, you know we're getting back to normal."
They all laughed.
"Don't worry, Jess," said Lester kindly. "I'll be fine. Humans I can deal with."
Jess smiled.
"How is Becker?" he asked
"Grumbling to get back to his men," she said, with a smile.
Lester chuckled. "Good man."
"He's going to stay where he is," said Jess.
"That is a daunting challenge, Jess," said Emily.
The others laughed.
"He will, don't worry," said Jess with a snicker.
Her companions smiled.
Lester downed the last of his brandy. "If you will excuse me, ladies. I'm going to medical. I have good news for the doctors, supplies and reinforcements should be here by noon tomorrow, or today, rather.." He winked at Jess. "I'll check in on Becker."
"He'll be grateful," said Jess. "They all will be."
"Indeed. I'll tell Becker you're pining for him in his absence."
Jess giggled, nearly choking as she ate.
Lester smirked and left.
Matt staggered in. Emily ran to him.
"I'm fine, just exhausted," he said. "The lads are doing a wonderful job. I don't mean to put down the other soldiers, but our people are the experts."
Abby nodded. "How is it out there?"
Matt sighed. "Heavy casualties across London, less throughout the country," he said.
They all looked solemn, and hung their heads.
"Is it only the UK?" asked Abby.
"No, by the reports that are coming in, but so far, byy comparison, we've had many more anomalies and incursions."
"Why?" asked Emily.
"That's for Connor to figure out," he said, then he yawned.
"You are going to bed," said Emily.
He nodded. She laid him in a cot, then laid next to him.
Jess smiled at the couple. "I don't know what I would have done, if..." she whispered.
Abby squeezed her hand. "Don't go there, Jess." She smiled. "You don't have to, your man is safe and sound, mostly, in medical."
Jess, tears forming, nodded. "I know."
Abby smiled. "Will you be alright? I'd like to check on Connor."
"Of course. I'm going right back to Becker as soon as I'm finished."
Abby nodded, and hugged her sideways, then left to find Connor.
Jess finished her soup, threw the trash away, and looked over at Matt and Emily, asleep together. She smiled, and went back to her own love.
Becker had his eyes closed, and though she tip-toed, he smiled as she approached.
"How do you do that? I'm not even wearing shoes."
He smiled. "I know when you're nearby."
"Aw," she said, carefully crawling in beside him. "Are you alright? Am I hurting you? I can move."
He quickly grabbed her in his arm, wincing a little at the pain. "No, you can't," he said.
She giggled, and they cuddled as best they could.
They sighed in unison, happy to be together.
Dawn in the UK, and the ARC functioned as normally as possible. Matt checked in with every department. He gave words of encouragement, and sent stubborn workers off to rest and eat. He saw to the EMDs, locking devices, and other special equipment.
General Augie and his men were stationed with the ARC temporarily. They coordinated their forces and led with recovery efforts. They were alert and cautious, but so far no new anomalies were detected.
Augie arranged for top computer people to work with Jess, who was dragged literally, away from Becker. They were fixing the main ADD, lying unused and forgotten in damaged Ops. Work was finally able to begin on repairs to the main wall in Ops, but Lester's office was still low on the list of priorities.
He made do with a table in the canteen, next to the emergency liquor.
Connor and his team were still working on why the anomaly in the ARC car park would not stay closed. They had no answers yet.
Emily was given the most grim task, which she handled well. She made a new list of ARC personnel, and gave the news to Lester and Matt.
"One third of ARC personnel missing, injured, or dead," she said.
Matt shook his head, and Lester took a swig of whiskey.
"It could have been much worse," said Matt.
"I know," said Lester. "It is bad enough, though."
Matt nodded.
"I do not know how many are missing or dead in London."
"It's going to be bad, I fear," said Lester.
"It is," said Augie, walking in and swiping Lester's whiskey. "It would have been worse without the ARC, and I'll tell anyone you want that."
Lester smiled. "I will take you up on that," he said. "So, how do we move from here?"
Augie shrugged. "Continue rescue, recovery, and cleanup. Be on alert."
"For what," said Lester. It wasn't a question. He knew no one had the exact answer.
"Right," said Augie. "For what?"
End of Chapter Eight