Rated PG/Teen for violence and innuendos
Spoilers through and including series 5
Chapter Nine, Armageddon
Lester, Matt and Augie walked into Ops. It was a hectic place, with lots of noise from all the repairs. The ADD was being repaired and reprogrammed.
"How's it coming Jess?"
"Would you people stop asking me that?" snapped the young woman.
Lester's eyebrows went up, and Matt laughed.
"Someone's grouchy," said Lester.
Connor, fiddling with the back of the ADD laughed. "She misses Becky Baby."
"Connor!" she snapped.
"Right, sorry," he said. "I meant Captain Becky Baby."
"Do you want me to hurt you?"
"All right you two," said Matt. "Why don't you take a break, Jess. You look horrible."
"Of course I do! I haven't changed my clothes in two days!"
"Ew," said Connor.
"Go home, Jess, change, eat, and then come back, quickly," said Matt.
"Is it safe to let her out alone?" asked Lester.
"No," said Augie. "Ordinary citizens pushed beyond their limits are often powder kegs. Add the usual bad element and creatures...I'll send one of my men with her."
Jess stared at them. She felt the tears starting. "I can't even go home without an armed escort? Where are we living now?"
Lester patted her shoulder. "It's just until things calm down. They always do. Why don't you get some clothes, and some of your frilly, girly things and bring them here. Just like a weekend away."
He smiled, but it didn't help.
"A weekend away," she said, "at Armageddon Hotel."
Matt smirked. "It'll be alright Jess."
Jess nodded, and a young man, Lieutenant Rast, drove her home. Jess didn't know what to expect.
There were lots of uniforms on the streets, and ordinary citizens trying to go about their business. They had no trouble getting to Jess' place, and everything looked fine, inside and out.
"I'm glad there's no damage," said Jess.
"It's like a tornado, Miss Parker, some places are completely unharmed, and others two or three doors down are completely demolished," said Rast.
"That's terrible."
Jess started nervously throwing clothes in a bag, but then she saw a pink dress, one of Becker's favorites, and began to sob. She took a deep breath, and calmed herself.
"Do we need to be in a hurry?" she asked.
"I don't think so," said Rast. "I've got my comm on, and there are no disruptions or riots nearby."
"Are there other places?"
"Afraid so. It's sporadic, like I said."
"Oh."
"Take your time Miss Parker. We're safe."
"Alright," she said. Jess dumped the mismatched clothes out of the bag. She picked up the pink dress, and selected other outfits she knew Becker liked. She folded them neatly and placed them in the bag. She filled her large makeup case with toiletries, a hair dryer, some hair things, perfume and as much makeup as she could cram in it.
Jess lugged the case and duffel bag out of her bedroom, and Rast took them from her.
Jess sighed. "We're in a state of emergency, and I'm concerned with looking pretty for my boyfriend," she said.
Rast chuckled. "I'm sure he'll appreciate it, and if you promise not to repeat this to him, so will I."
She laughed. "I feel like I'm being silly."
"No, you're craving a normal life. We all are. It's not silly at all. I would make sure you've got things like prescription medicine, though."
She laughed. "No medicine, but there are a few things my life depends on." She raided her bedside table, the table by the couch, and the cupboard in her kitchen.
"Got them," she said, holding the precious chocolate bars to her chest. "Can't live without it," she said, offering the lieutenant one.
Rast laughed. "I wouldn't think of depriving you of even one, but thanks."
She smiled. "I think I'm ready. My laptop and ipod are at the ARC."
They headed to the car.
"Jess!" cried a woman's voice. An elderly woman, hugging a white, fluffy cat close, came running from next door.
"Mrs. Bannerton."
The woman looked frightened. The cat looked hungry.
"Are you alright?"
Mrs. Bannerton nodded. "I was worried for you. I...there are things out in the streets."
"Yes, Ma'am," said the Lieutenant, putting Jess' bags in the car, "but we're taking care of them."
Jess nodded. "You'll be alright. Stay in your home."
"Are you leaving?"
"I have to stay at work, Mrs. Bannerton. Do you need anything?"
Miss Bannerton didn't answer, but looked embarrassed.
"Ma'am, do have electricity and food?" asked Rast.
"I have electricity now, yes."
Jess looked at the woman, clinging to her cat.
"Let me see what I have in the kitchen," said Jess, walking back to her house. "I don't have much."
"She likes her takeaway," said Mrs. Bannerton.
Rast smiled, and he followed Mrs. B and Jess back inside Jess' house.
"Oh! I still have some cat food from when I fed Rocko while you visited your son," said Jess.
"I haven't been able to reach him," said Mrs. B.
"The phones are overwhelmed," said Jess. "Should be fine in a day or two."
"I hope he isn't fool enough to try to travel here," said Mrs. Bannerton.
"Don't worry," said Rast. "If he is, he'll run into plenty of troops and peace keepers who'll help him get here safely."
Jess found a nearly full bag of cat food, and Rocko nearly dived inside. "Is your water working?" she asked Mrs. B. She nodded.
"Good. OK, let's see. I have some tea. You like tea. I don't trust this marmalade, not if the fridge was off. The bread is getting stale."
"It'll be fine as toast dear," said Mrs. B. "It's very kind of you."
"Don't be silly. We look after each other. I'd take you to work with me if I could," Jess said. She rummaged around her kitchen. "I have a tin of sardines. Why do I have a tin of sardines?"
Mrs. B smiled. Jess went on, digging in cupboards, "Microwave popcorn, microwave noodles, half a box of granola bars, a box of biscuits, and a couple of energy drinks." She surveyed the provisions. "This is pitiful," said Jess.
"It's fine, and it will help," said Mrs. B. "I'm truly grateful.
"I have to have more, something nutritious." She stood still, thinking. "I have soup. I know it. It's in the bottom cupboard." Jess dropped to the floor, digging in the cupboard.
"I knew it! Three cans of soup. What else is in here?" Then she actually crawled into the cabinet. "Aha! Canned tuna! I better check the date, yep, it's good. Oh, there are three more! Yay!"
Mrs. B. chuckled at the young woman. "You are a precious jewel, Jess."
Jess smiled as she got up from the floor. She loaded the food into a shopping bag.
"And just to show how much I like you...two bars of chocolate," said Jess, adding them to the bag with the rest. "I wish I had more food to give you."
"It's enough. I'm very grateful," she said, and she hugged Jess.
"Don't! I'm gross," said Jess.
"Never, Jess. You're an angel. It's absolutely angelic of you to help me."
"I'm happy to help. I might also be able to get some stuff from work, too."
"If you can, Miss Parker, I'll bring it to her. I'm going to check on you tonight, Mrs. Bannerton, if I'm free."
Jess could have kissed the lieutenant then.
"You don't have to," she said. "I would be relieved, though."
Rast smiled. "I'll pass your name on to the patrols too. It's their job to check on people and keep them safe."
Mrs. B teared up a little.
Jess held her hand. "I'm going to give you my torches, some candles and matches, just in case, and my emergency scanner/radio. It runs on batteries. I think I have some of those too."
Rast, Jess, and Mrs. B lugged the emergency supplies back to Mrs. Bannerton's.
"Stay inside, lock the windows, and doors," said Rast.
Mrs. B nodded.
"I'll call later, I promise," said Jess, kissing her cheek. "Bye, Rocko." She petted Rocko's head, and he purred.
"I'll be seeing you, Mrs. Bannerton, and if I can't make it, I'll send another officer. They'll use my name, Ben Rast. If they don't, don't open the door," said Rast.
Mrs. B nodded, closed and locked the door after them.
On the way to the ARC, Jess said, "You're a sweetheart, lieutenant."
"Thank you, Miss Parker. Please don't tell your boyfriend though. I've heard things..."
Jess laughed. "He'd agree with me," she said. Rast smiled.
They walked into Ops, through a hastily fastened door, and Jess took her things from Rast.
"Thanks again."
"Anytime," said Rast. "I will look in on Mrs. Bannerton."
"Thank you," said Jess.
He nodded, and left.
Jess sighed. Looking at her few things did make her feel a little better. The locker rooms and showers had been damaged by the incursions, so she kept her things in Connor's lab.
Abby looked jealously at Jess' things.
"Do you think we could run home too?" she asked no one in particular.
"I'm sure you could," said Jess.
"Yeah," said Connor. "We aren't prisoners. Although, I do need to figure these anomalies out."
"I'll ask Augie," said Jess, "and not just for you. Everyone here would work better if they had a chance to check on their homes and get some stuff."
"That's a good idea," said Connor.
"And very thoughtful," said Abby, hugging Jess.
"Oh, don't get close, I'm disgusting," said Jess.
Abby rolled her eyes. "No worse than the rest of us."
Connor smiled. "There's a shower down in the chemistry lab, Jess," he said.
"Thanks," said Jess. She stared at her fresh clothes.
"Trying to decide which Becker would like?" teased Abby.
Jess blushed. "Stop it."
Abby and Connor both chuckled.
"As soon as Jess Parker is strolling down the halls looking like a fashionista, we'll all feel better," said Abby.
"Here, here," replied Connor with a smirk.
Two new voices added, "Amen," and "That's very true."
Jess turned to see Matt and Lester standing in the doorway.
Jess laughed.
"I'm glad to see the two of you," said Jess. "My trip home has me thinking."
"Oh, Lord," said Lester.
Jess ignored him. "You need to let everyone go home, not all at once, obviously."
"Oh, I do?" asked Lester.
"Yes," said Jess. "They've been locked in here, terrified. They need to go home, and check in on their lives."
"She has a point, James," said Matt. "If for no other reason than peace of mind."
Lester looked skeptical. "I suppose the immediate dangers are dealt with. As long as they go in small groups, and return promptly, in case of more disaster."
"Don't even say that," said Connor.
Everyone mumbled agreement.
"Very well, Parker, you may start sending people home, briefly, and with escort."
"Right," she said. "As soon as I freshen up."
She picked an outfit, got her toiletries and makeup kit, and went off to make herself gorgeous.
Lester stood speechless. "That's a priority?"
Matt laughed. "Apparently, yes," said Matt. "We all keep sane in different ways. For Jess Parker it's through fashion."
Abby laughed.
Lester murmured. "I suppose. Anderson, make sure everyone understands that they are all still on emergency status."
"No one's going to think otherwise," said Matt.
Lester nodded, and left.
"I'd like to go next," said Abby.
"I'll stay here," said Connor.
Matt nodded. "I'll get someone to escort you Abby. Tell Jess to find me when she's done."
Abby nodded.
End of Chapter Nine