Chapter Thirteen, Armageddon

The group didn't encounter any more predators as they pushed further down the main floor.

"Becker, I'm getting Anderson on the comm," said Lester, passing the comm-link to Becker.

"Matt?"

"Becker, what the hell are you doing out of medical?"

"We had unwanted visitors."

"We were afraid of that. What's your location?"

"The loading docks. I was afraid they were breached too, but they're secure."

"Roger. We're in Ops. We'll double check that we're secure."

"Right. We'll meet up with you."

"Good. Jess?" asked Matt.

"Right beside me. Connor, Abby, and Emily?"

"The girls are with me. Don't know about Connor."

"Copy. We have survivors in medical and the canteen," Becker told Matt. "We didn't get to the computer lab in time."

"Understood," said Matt.

They went back up the corridor, meeting up with Matt, Abby, and Emily outside the canteen.

"Where have you been?" asked Lester.

"Sorry, we got overwhelmed with predators," said Matt. "They pushed us away from the ARC. Took us a while to take them down, and make our way back."

"No word from Connor?" asked Abby.

"No," said Jess. "I lost you all too, and you're fine. I'm sure he is too."

Abby gave her a small smile.

"If Ops is OK, I should get back to the ADD," she said.

"Right, I'll go with you," said Becker.

"No, Captain," sid Lester. "You go to medical. You and the other injured. Now."

Becker cursed.

"I'll stay with Jess, until we're certain the predators are all contained," said Matt. "OK?"

Becker reluctantly nodded. Jess quickly hugged and kissed him.

"I'll be fine," she said.

Becker held her hand as long as possible. "I'm trusting you Matt."

Matt smiled. "I know."

Becker grudgingly led the injured back to medical.

"We have more dead," said Lester, sadly.

Emily gave him a small smile. "I am truly sorry," she said. "There are survivors, though."

"Yes," said Lester.

"That is what you must concentrate on."

Lester nodded.

"Come on," said Matt. "Let's get back to Ops."

Once in Ops, Jess moved to her chair, trying not to notice the stunned predator nearby.

"No new anomalies," said Jess. "There's no reading from the car park anomaly either."

"At last," said Matt.

"Hopefully, it is closed," said Emily. She nodded toward the predator. "What do we do with the living ones?"

Lester walked up to it, with a revolver. "I don't want to hear anything about ethics or the problems with time."

"We can't get them back to their time," said Matt. "Not now, anyway."

"And we've killed a lot already," said Abby.

Lester looked at her in surprise.

"They're too dangerous, Lester," she said.

"Agreed," he said, pulling the trigger, and killing the creature. "I won't deny that I'm giving into revenge as well."

No one said anything. The mood was somber.

"Reports coming in," said Jess. "Incursions dealt with, some still being mopped up. More casualties, requests for aid, and more men."

Suddenly she went pale.

"What is it Jess?" asked Lester

Jess sat still, quietly crying.

"Jess?" asked Matt.

Jess controlled her tears, and said, "I received a report from a patrolman, from my street. He asked for me, by name." Tears ran down her cheeks.

"It's OK, Jess," said Abby, her hand on Jess' shoulder. "What happened?"

Jess wiped her eyes. "Mrs. Bannerton," she said, through sobs.

"Oh, no," said Abby. "Was she hurt?"

Jess shook her head. "No, not her. Her house was attacked though. One of Augie's men, Lt. Rast, he fought them off. He saved her and her cat, but...he was killed."

"I'm sorry," said Abby, hugging her.

"It's my fault," she sobbed. "He was checking on her, because of me. He wouldn't have even met her if he hadn't taken me home."

"It is not your fault," said Emily. "The predators killed him."

"She's right Jess," said Lester. "He was doing his job, protecting civilians. He was there because he wanted to help."

"I know. He did too. He saved Mrs. Bannerton and Rocko."

"Rocko?" asked Emily.

"Her cat."

Emily smiled. "No death is good, Jess, but if a life is given to save another, than it has not been given in vain."

Jess nodded.

"He saved two lives, the cat too," said Matt, smiling gently.

Jess nodded, but tears still streamed down. "Mrs. Bannerton, has to be upset. He was so kind to her. To me too. It's so unfair."

"I'm sorry, Jess. I really am," said Abby. "I'm sure Mrs. Bannerton will be fine."

"She is. She's staying with another neighbor now, she and Rocko. The neighbor was so moved by Lt. Rast's sacrifice, that he took Mrs. Bannerton and Rocko in. The patrol man said that the whole neighborhood is caring for each other."

"That's wonderful," said Matt.

"It is. Lt. Rast would be happy."

"I'm sure," said Lester.

Everyone smiled gently at Jess.

"I'll be OK," she said, trying to compose herself.

"Good," said Matt.

At that moment, Connor walked in.

Abby ran into his arms. "Where have you been?"

"With him," said Connor, pointing to a stretcher being carried in.

"Augie?" asked Lester, going over to the stretcher.

"Hey, James. One of the nasty monsters nipped my leg."

"How is it?"

"I think I'll live," said Augie. "Connor insisted we come here. He didn't want to risk the trip to hospital."

"No, indeed. Come on, old man, let's get you looked to," said Lester, walking beside the stretcher as it was carried to medical.

"How bad is he?" asked Jess.

"Nasty bite to his leg. I don't know,," said Connor. He noticed Jess' red eyes. "You OK?"

She nodded. "I got some bad news," she explained.

"Becker?" he asked in alarm.

"No, he's fine," said Abby. "We're all fine."

"What about the anomaly?" asked Matt.

"It's quiet. Fingers crossed it stays quiet," said Connor.

"Yeah," said Matt. "You opened a man-made anomaly?"

"Yeah, and every time I switched it on, the car park anomaly closed."

"Really?" asked Matt. "Hmm. We'll have to monitor it closely."

"No kidding," said Connor.

"Do you think it's all over?" asked Jess.

"Hope so," said Matt.

"Indeed," said Emily. "We have all earned a rest."

Everyone nodded.

"Jess, take a break. Someone will watch the ADD. Go," said Matt.

Jess nodded.

She found Becker arguing with the doctor.

"I'm fine! I shot predators, walked the whole floor, and I didn't bleed to death. Let me out! Please," he said, turning to a begging voice.

"He's starting to beg, Doctor. I think it might be time to release him," she said with a smile.

"I'd be more than happy to get rid of him," said the doctor. "Given the fact that you did do all that, and not rip your stitches more, I will let you go..."

"Yes!"

"If you promise not to get hurt for the next 36 hours."

"Promise," said Becker.

"Get out of here," said the doctor, chuckling.

Jess looked puzzled. "Why 36 hours?"

The doctor smirked. "That's when I'm off duty."

Jess smiled, then squealed as Becker swept her up into his arms.

"Careful," she said. "You might want to wait til the doctor's out of sight to get...frisky."

The doctor shook his head. "I didn't see anything. I'm going to administer to my less bothersome patients."

Becker laughed, as he carried Jess out of medical. "I'm so glad to be leaving here. Now, if we can just get cleared to go home, so we can be alone."

Jess smiled sadly.

"What's wrong?" he asked, setting her gently down.

"Lt. Rast died protecting Mrs. Bannerton. And her cat."

"Jess. I'm so sorry."

Jess broke into tears. "If he'd never met me, he'd be alive."

"You don't know that. He sounded like a good bloke. Sometimes good blokes die doing good things. Mrs. Bannerton's a nice lady. Would it have been better had she died?"

"Of course not! I just feel...awful."

Becker smiled. "That's cause your a nice bloke too."

Jess laughed. "Am I?"

Becker pulled her close. "Very nice," he said, and tenderly kissed her. Then he held her close, and neither of them ever wanted to let go.

End of Chapter Thirteen

Author's Note: I'm sorry about Lt. Rast. A story like Armageddon needs a loss, in my opinion, but I wanted his death to be noble. Hope you forgive me!