Disclaimer: Primeval and all its characters belong to someone else.

Summary: - Connor needs help- and so does Vancouver!

New Dawn is over, but Connor still feels the after effects badly. Matt and Lester have a plan to help him get his confidence back by sending him to Vancouver to help the newly formed Vancouver ARC- and to retrieve something that belongs to him!

Just saw the Vanvouver Panel talking about New World and their characters. Danny Rahim spoke a bit about his character Mac, so I have integrated him into my story. I'm not sure how much he was joking about the character, but over the next few chapters I've fitted him in with my story plan. I think it works, but you decide for yourselves...

Vancouver Calling

Chapter Six- Gifts

It was more like a twenty minute break before the Vancouver personnel and Connor resumed their briefing, but once everyone was reassmbled, Connor positioned

himself in front of them once more, standing straighter and more confident than before.

"Thanks for coming back! Thought I might have bored you too much!" he quipped, and a few people sniggered. "The second part of my presentation includes some gifts for you, from the UK ARC. But first, let me explain what we do with the creatures we either capture before they do any harm, or the ones left behind when an anomaly closes. I'm hoping you might adopt the same approach in dealing with this aspect. I'm here to give you as much help as possible, although you may want to talk to Abby at some point, as she's the real expert! In the UK ARC, we have allocated a large area, which has been turned into a menagerie. We house the animals there and care for them as best we can until we find an anomaly to their own era, and we can then return them to their own time safely."

Connor was interrupted by Dylan Weir, "Connor- we already have a- what did you call it- a menagerie? We call it our zoo, though."

"Well, that's a great start!" enthused Connor, pleased they didn't just kill the creatures. "We try not to kill any dinosaur unless it's absolutely necessary. Apart from altering the timelines, it's not these creatures fault this is happening- I was hoping to convince you to adopt the same line, but I can see we're on the 'same page' with that already!"

"Yes" Dylan replied "I insisted before I agreed to join the team that we wouldn't hurt these dinosaurs, if possible. It's such a privilege to actually be able to see these wondrous creatures- I'll do all I can to ensure that privilege isn't abused."

"Wow! You must meet Abby one day- you'd really get on!"

"We don't have many animals in the zoo yet, though. What do you have in yours?" Dylan asked with interest. The other staff watched the exchange, fascinated and enthralled at the prospect of the UK ARC helping them, now that the fear of them 'taking over' had been dispelled by this boy- no he wasn't a boy- he was a scientist now in their eyes- he'd earned his stripes!

"Well, quite a few actually- a Smilodon, a Dracorex, named Princess, two Deinosuchus, a Coelurosauravus called Rex- but he's more Abby's pet really...oh... and a Columbian Mammoth, amongst others."

"A mammoth!" the watching people murmered. "A pet?" They were becoming more amazed and impressed by the minute, and Connor was thrilled by their enthusiasm, but tried very hard to curb his natural instinct to become over excited- he would do something stupid if he wasn't really careful! It seemed that it was time that Connor Temple grew up! Well, that wasn't such a bad thing, he realised- he was about to get married!

"Now, I'm not sure what kind of weaponry you have here..."

"We use tranquilisor guns." Dylan intercepted.

"Ah! Well here's one of our gifts to you. These were created by out team leader, Matt Anderson..."

"The man from the future!" a man called out, in awe.

"Er...that's right.!" Connor smiled, pulling out an EMD from his case. "These are a type of neutralising weapon and are called 'electro disruption weapons'-EMDs! These weapons don't kill the creatures, but bring them down long enough both to protect the public and to return them back through the anomalies. I'm not an expert on guns by any means, and I have a programme for your military to review which tells you all about these EMDs, sent to you from our Chief of Security, Captain Becker. I have been briefed a little, though and I can tell you some general information about them. I've used them myself and they're easy to use and really work well on the creatures. These guns don't require ammunition. They generate their own but they do, however require these-" Connor held up a power charge, much in the same way Philip had once held one up to him when Connor had tried to stop him initiating New Dawn. "These are nuclear power cells, which charge the guns. There are different sizes of EMD, and each EMD has three settings, high, medium and low. Matt has brought down a T-Rex using these weapons, so they are very powerful. Be careful though, they work on humans as well!" He smiled, remembering Jess telling him the story of Matt and Becker's try out when the new weaponry had first been introduced into the ARC. "I have some crates of them for you, together with crates containing the power sources."

"That's brilliant!" some of the soldiers murmered to each other, although there were a few sceptics, like Becker had been in the beginning. They couldn't wait to get their hands on these new toys!

"And, that's not all! I have two more gifts for you! This time, they are from me- oh, er with Lester's sanction, of course." He quickly amended, seeing Evans eyebrows raise a little. "As you may have guessed, I've invented a few little bits and pieces- the ADD..."

Connor was cut off as laughter followed this announcement. They thought it amazing that Connor thought the ADD was a 'little' piece of technology, and very endearing that he was so modest about his achievements.

Connor continued, not realising why they were laughing, "And the device to close the anomalies, which is one of my gifts for you. Anyway, my most recent project was this little beauty." He held up his dating calculator for them to see. "It's my dating calculator- sorry, girls," he laughed, looking at the little cluster of office girls, drooling over his every word. How they loved his accent! "It will tell you what era each anomaly leads to!" He handed the little device to Evan to look at and then pass around. "During the rest of my stay here, I'll go through how to make both the anomaly closing device and the dating calculator- I've brought the plans and data for you all! Well, that's me done! I hope I haven't bored you too much, and thank you all for listening. I'll look forward to working with you all... er...Evan?"

As he looked towards Evan to take over from him, the whole VARC personnel started to applaud him. He looked up, surprised. He flushed and quickly looked down, but he was very pleased. This had gone better than he ever could have wished! Evan and Dylan indicated to him leave the room, and they all went back to Evan's office together.

"Tell me about the mammoth!" Dylan said as soon as the door closed.

"Well...He saved Lester's life once! He..."

"Leave the poor boy in peace- let him have some lunch now, and you can grab him afterwards, and show him the zoo, and chat to your hearts content about animals!"

With that, the three of them left to go to the cafeteria, but Connor could hardly eat, he was so excited! He'd done it! He'd spoken to these people- these complete strangers- and they'd actually listened to him! HIM! Connor Temple! He settled down, feeling as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders. These people now felt more like colleagues with an equal goal, and he finally began to feel as much a part of this team as he did with his own colleagues at home. He hoped it would continue for the rest of his stay! He still had to face the scientists, but he knew he could hold his own there. At least they were no longer being – well 'spikey' was the only word he could use to describe how they had seemed to act around him before. He smiled as he tackled his plate full of chips...

Connor spent the rest of the day with Dylan. They went to the zoo, but he didn't see any of the animals they held there- Dylan said she would show him those tomorrow. They went to her office, and Connor gave her the discs and data he had brought with him for her.

"So..." she started "You're engaged!"

Connor smiled, thinking of Abby. He was longing to see her again- and not just over the computer. He almost felt a physical pain at their separation- as if someone had torn him in two, and a huge part of him was missing. He wanted to hold her in his arms, and feel her soft skin next to his- to feel those rosebud lips against his lips, and their bodies responding to each other in harmony. He wanted to look deep into those bright blue eyes and see all the love and passion reflected in them. He missed her so much!

"Yeah, she's brilliant" he grinned stupidly.

Dylan laughed, she really was beginning to like this young man. "That's wonderful, and...she really has a Coelurosauravus for a pet, Connor? Amazing!"

"Rex! Yes, he lived at home with us for a while, but when we got trapped in the Cretacious, he was taken to the ARC for safekeeping. He has his freedom there, pretty much- but we're hoping that when we get our own home, we can have him back with us!"

Just then, Connor happened to look out of the window and saw a couple of people walking past the office.

"Who's that?" he asked.

"That's Mac..why?"

"Oh, I just thought I recognised him, that's all."

"Well, it's quite probable- he's from the UK- came to Canada when he was about sixteen, I think. He was apparently sent over to your UK ARC for a while as a security guard. The unit returned to Canada after a while. He eventually joined us by bringing us a gift, but he seemed to have ben in a little bit of trouble over it!- I'm not sure why. He was given a second chance though and was given a better job with us here a little while ago as he had an exemplary record until his little indiscretion! You'll like him- he's crazy- in a good way! Does lots of extreme sports!"

Connor watched Mac thoughtfully as he strode through the corridor. He made a mental note to speak to Mac at some point- - he had a few questions to ask him!

"Connor..." Dylan was saying, breaking him out of his reverie, "These creatures- everything you've seen and experienced- do you ever get- well frightened?" She suddenly looked young and vulnerable. He realised this was all new to them here. He remembered how he'd felt back in the beginning.

"Oh yes- but no matter how many times I see these creatures- no matter how long I spent in the past amongst them, there's always a sense of wonderment. It's thrilling, exciting, mind-blowing, but it's also terrifying- petrifying! I've looked straight into the eyes of a T-Rex- felt its breath on my face! But, you know- we have been allowed to see something others can only read and dream about. These dinosaurs are real- they're here and we get to see that. We must never lose sight of that. With the right team, equipment and knowledge, you'll be fine- you're sharing history and making a difference, saving people's lives. Some people can't handle it and they've left us- Jenny for instance. She just wanted a normal life, husband, children. But that's fine too. You just have to decide what's right for you. There's no shame in being scared, or deciding it's not something you want to continue doing. For me, it's my life! Everything I do is for this. Maybe when Abby and I have children we'll need to rethink- plan. Maybe come off the core team and fieldwork. But that'll be OK too- I just want- no need- to be part of it all!"

Dylan smiled and nodded, and Connor knew she'd be fine. After all, who'd ever thought that a geek like him with allergies and a dislike of outdoor activities would end up in a job like this!

"OK, well I'll leave you to it- I'm going to look around a bit, then head off home, if that's OK with you? I'm still feeling a bit jet- lagged. A couple of hours sleep should see me alright!"

"Of course- just get a driver to take you back. We've allocated Shaun Richards to be your personal driver whilst you're here. You'll find him in the driver's halls along the corridor. Just tell him when you need him."

Conor smiled his thanks, and began to leave, but was called back when Dylan said, "Oh, and Connor- we're meeting in the bar tonight. You'll be very welcome to come- everyone will be excited to have the chance to meet you! The driver can take you there- he knows the way very well!"

"OK, that would be great!" enthused Connor- just what he needed!...

To Be Continued...

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