Rating: PG for violence, and vague gore
Author's Note: I apologize for not naming Becker's men in this chapter. I got so confused, and thought you would be too.
Chapter Twelve, Armageddon
It never made it. A beam of energy blasted it just as it touched Jess' body. It was blasted backwards, off Jess, not even leaving a mark on her.
Jess shook. She opened her eyes. The predator lay unconscious across from her. She stared off into space, shaking with fear and shock.
Then a beautiful face crowned by lovely hair appeared in front of her.
"You Ok?" he asked. "Jess, are you hurt?"
She shook with relieved laughter, and threw herself into his arms.
"Becker!" she cried.
He held her close. "Jess. Are you alright?"
"I...I think so."
He smiled, pulling her up, wincing at the pain it caused him.
"You...you shouldn't be here."
"With those things inside the ARC? I had to get to you."
She jumped back into his arms. "I love you."
"I love you too. God, Jess. When I saw the predator...I thought you were dead," he said, stroking her hair.
"I would have been. You saved me," she said, crying into his chest.
Reluctantly, he pulled back. "We have to move. The ARC's not secure."
"How...how did you get past the predators?" asked Jess, trembling. She was still shaken from her ordeal.
Becker smiled. "I ran, blasted, ran, and blasted," he said. "Nothing was going to stop me."
She chuckled. "My one man army."
"Where you're concerned."
She smiled. He led the way, his EMD out and ready, his other hand holding onto Jess.
They rounded a corridor, and ran into two more predators. Becker quickly took care of them.
"Becker? What the hell are you doing here?" asked Lester, running up, three security men behind him.
"Keeping predators from my girlfriend," he said.
Lester saw the fear on Jess' face. "Are you alright?" he asked her.
She nodded.
"Excellent work, Miss Parker. Above and beyond," he said, proudly.
Jess smiled.
"We've got the bottom floors secure, Cap," said one of the security men.
"Any word on the rest of the building?" asked Becker.
"No," said Lester.
"Right, stay alert," said Becker.
Together, they walked down the corridor, towards medical, the canteen, and research.
They heard EMD fire as they approached the medical section.
"Captain Becker," called a security man as they ran up.
"Good work," said Becker, seeing several predators on the floor.
"We fought them off, but they headed that way."
"We know," said Becker. "Let's go."
"Wait," said a doctor, emerging from the doors. You're bleeding again."
Becker looked down. "It's OK."
Jess looked concerned. The doctor tried to examine Becker, but he pushed him away.
"It can wait. We've got creatures, Doc."
"If you bleed to death, you won't be helping anyone," said the doctor.
"He's right," agreed Lester.
"Fine. Take a look, but hurry," said Becker. The other security men went on ahead.
The doctor frowned, mumbled something about proper procedure, and then said, "You've ripped a few stitches, but for now, it isn't life-threatening."
Becker smirked.
"Be careful," said the doctor. "I suppose you won't come back inside?"
Becker shook his head. "Not til we're secure."
The doctor nodded.
"Doctor, seal yourselves inside, until further notice," said Lester.
"Jess, go with him," said Becker.
She snickered. "No way."
The doctor also protested, "You'll need us for the injured."
There was a commotion. Several 'walking wounded' came out of medical.
"We can help," said one of the wounded soldiers.
"I'm not critical," said another.
The doctor shook his head. "We should be out here helping, you all should be back inside."
"If you can walk, you can help," said Lester to the men. "Doctor, you have far too many seriously wounded inside. They need to be protected. We'll manage til we're secure."
The doctor nodded, retreated inside medical, and locked the section down.
"Lead the way, Captain," said Lester.
"The armory," said Becker, glancing at the unarmed, wounded soldiers. The rag-tag group slowly made their way.
Once in the armory, everyone, including Jess, was armed. Jess took Becker's EMD, while he took an assault rifle.
They moved toward the canteen, Jess behind Becker, Becker's wounded men in front.
One of the men halted the group. He signaled that there were predators ahead.
Becker motioned Jess and Lester back. Becker and his men crept slowly up on the canteen. On signal, the men opened fire.
Six predators dropped onto the ground. Becker moved in. Just inside the canteen, were bloody remains smeared across the floor. The rest of the canteen was clean and clear. He heard movement inside the kitchen.
Motioning to the others, Becker moved that way. The kitchen door swung open as Becker approached.
"Don't shoot!" cried a chef.
Becker sighed. "Predators?"
"Not in here. Most of us got away. A few of your men drew them away from us. Are they..."
Becker shook his head. The chef was visibly upset.
"They saved us, Captain."
People moved toward the door then, and Becker saw with relief that dozens of ARC employees had survived, hiding in the freezers.
"Parks, Koll," said Becker, calling two of his armed, wounded men over. "Stay here. Guard them until we know we're secure."
The pair nodded, moving the survivors back inside the kitchen. "It's easier to defend," they told the survivors.
Becker moved back to Lester and Jess, just outside the canteen.
"Most of them are fine," he said.
"We saw the carnage," said Lester.
"Any chance you'll wait in the canteen?" asked Becker to Jess.
Jess shook her head no.
Becker smiled, and moved them out. They moved down the hall. They met up with the security men from before, locked in a fight with predators.
One of the men had been mauled.
"Take him back to medical. The doc will let you in," said Becker to one of the wounded officers.
He nodded, and helped the mauled man back up the corridor.
Becker looked at the group now. It was Lester, Jess, one wounded and armed man, and two of the men who had protected medical. He wished he had more.
"Computer lab is up this way, sir," said one of his men. "We think it's clear. We hope."
Becker nodded, and led them forward to the computer lab.
It wasn't clear.
Becker inwardly cursed. Five predators feasted on the techs that had been caught inside. Two predators were playing a disgusting game of tug-of-war.
Becker took a deep breath, and tried not to think of the pretty, precious person beside him. He wished she was safe inside the canteen or medical.
Becker held his hand up, showing five fingers. Lester instinctively pushed Jess behind him, causing Becker to smile. His men moved with him, cautiously setting up for an attack.
Becker quickly looked at Jess. He mouthed, "I love you," and she smiled.
He sprang out into the open, firing into the lab. His men did the same, picking off the predators that were still alive.
"Clear?" asked Becker loudly.
"Clear!" each man called.
Becker nodded, catching his breath.
"Ugh," said a sickened, soft voice next to him.
"Jess, no. Don't look," he said, pushing her away.
"Are they all dead?" asked Jess. "Brenda, Kyle, Orlando?"
Becker nodded.
"How many more?" asked Lester, rhetorically. "My people...not just dead, but torn to shreds."
Jess took his hand. "I'm sorry," she said weakly.
Lester looked helplessly at her.
"We move on," said Becker firmly. "Right?"
"Right," said Lester, shaking his head to compose himself. "We move on."
End of Chapter Twelve