1590 Words, this chapter

Chapter Twenty, Just a Costume 2: Redressed

Finally, it was Halloween. For days Jess had been planning and re-planning what outfit to wear and when. "Maybe I should wear Red Riding Hood to the ARC."

Becker laughed. "I'm not wolfing up at the ARC, Jess."

"Oh. Right. How about the Crimean War costumes?"

"Jess, Lester made it clear: no costumes except at the party during Lunch. That is, if we don't have anomalies."

"There will be no anomalies. They're closed for the holiday."

Becker chuckled. "I hope they got the memo, Babe."

She frowned. "They better have." she sighed. "I want to wear a costume into work," she whined. "I'm defying the boss."

"Really?" he asked, with a classic Becker eyebrow raise.

"Yes. And if you won't wear a costume in, then fine. I'll go solo."

"Only til the party, Jess," he said sternly. "Right?"

She laughed "Promise. I"m yours. You know it."

He nodded. "Just checking."

She jumped up and kissed him. "You're silly. Now. What do I want to wear?"

"In defiance? Why not something rebellious?"

"Hmm. Joan of Arc? She was a rebel, wasn't she? She heard messages from God. I get messages from Lester and he thinks he's God."

"You have a Joan of Arc costume?"

"Oh, yeah. It's got this sweet little faux armor miniskirt."

Becker smiled. "Wear that one."

Jess looked at him. "You don't think it's weird that armor turns you on, do you?"

"You said armor miniskirt, Jess. It combines armor with your gorgeous legs, of course I'm turned on."

She giggled. "OK. One Joan of ARC coming up."

Jess changed into a short, black, flared out skirt, with a silver shiny overlay that looked like armor. Her top was black again, with the silver 'armor' like an apron. She even had a miniature helmet that sat atop her head.

"You look cute," Becker said.

She curtsied, "Thank you, monsieur."

"Ready?"

"Yeah," she said. She gathered her stuff. She hesitated. "I shouldn't bring my prop. You'll get...weird."

"Huh?"

She sighed and produced a cute, sleek, shiny sword.

Becker's eyes popped out. "I...uh...let's call in sick."

"Becker you're weird."

He simply smiled.

Jess strutted in to Ops. No one seemed surprised that she was in costume.

Until...

"Miss Parker, you agreed, no costumes except at the party!"

Jess giggled. She spun around in her chair at the ADD. "I know. I'm rebelling."

Becker laughed.

"Oh, you are, are you? Fine. You're fired."

Jess giggled, shook her head, and spun back around to face the ADD.

"Did you hear me?"

"Of course I did. I'm ignoring you."

Abby laughed. "How she gets away with things."

"Dressed like that I'll let her get away with anything."

"Very nice," said Lester. "Just the kind of thing I want my head of security to say."

Becker smirked.

"I like her costume," said Matt.

"It is very Jess," agreed Emily.

"Very inaccurate," said Connor.

"You want real armor, huh?" asked Becker with a smirk.

"Her legs aren't even covered, Becker!"

"I know! I like it!"

Abby laughed hard, urging Connor to drop it.

"Why do I even give commands?" muttered Lester, retreating to his office.

"Heck if I know," said Jess. She giggled at the Add. "I love Halloween. Everyone is so light and happy and...Shoot!"

The ADD blared.

"Darn it," she said. "Multiple anomalies. Multiple creatures."

The team groaned.

"Why today?"

"That's right, Jess," said Becker. "Multiple creatures are fine, just not on Halloween."

She glared at him. "You know that's not what I meant."

They took their black boxes as more teams ran in and were deployed.

Jess anxiously looked to Becker.

"I know," he said, moving over to kiss her. "I'll be fine."

She nodded.

The creatures turned out to be largely herbivorous. They're were just so many all over London. Jess was swamped, directing several teams.

She was relieved that there weren't any fatalities. So far.

The main team was sent to Syon Park.

"Where's the anomaly?" asked Connor. "Because that place is huge. We visited it when I was a school kid. There's the conservatory, ice house, the lake, and the huge Italian garden."

"Please tell us the incursion is in one spot," said Matt.

"No such luck," Jess answered. "There's a swarm of tiny dinosaurs running a muck all over."

The team groaned.

"Well, let's see what we've got," said Matt, arriving on site. "Direct us, Jess."

"The good news is it's all behind the main house. The bad news is that it's a huge area."

The team made for the back. Abby whistled. It was huge.

And littered by dozens of small dinosaurs, about two feet in height.

"Boy, they're ugly," said Becker.

"Microceratops," said Connor. "Smallest of the ceratopsians or horn-faced dinosaurs."

"They run on two legs," said Abby, watching them zip by.

Connor nodded. "Yep. I like it when they're small."

"But there's dozens of them," said Becker.

The team watched as over a hundred small dinosaurs sped around the trees, bushes and flowers.

"We're splitting up," said Matt. "Connor, you and Abby go after the anomaly. Jess, any idea where it is?"

"Yes. It's down by the lake. There are more of the little beasts along the way."

"Understood," said Connor, moving off with Abby.

"Em, you and I will head off the ones trying to get into the buildings. Becker, you and your men get the garden."

"Thanks, Matt," said Becker sarcastically.

"Be careful."

"Come on Jess, what are they going to do, bite our toes?"

"They could try," said Jess. "Thankfully your boots should be dinosaur-proof. Watch your fingers."

"Will do," said Becker.

Nearly an hour later, every team was back in, or in the process of wrapping up. Except for Matt and the team.

"Wow, that's a lot of Microceratops," said Connor, looking at three trucks full of screeching dinosaurs. "We can't drive them down to the anomaly, the terrain is too rough."

"And you can't knock down any trees," said Jess. "Lester's pointed that out about twenty times."

Matt laughed. "Yeah, the staff here are pretty nervous. How about some All Terrain Vehicles?"

"ATVs on the way," said Jess. "How's Becker?"

"Having a fit," said Connor, laughing. "It's hard to chase these things around fountains, rose bushes, and flower beds."

"And you're not helping?"

"Hey, me and Abby got all of the ones from here to the anomaly. We're the ones who get to reopen it and shove these things through," he said.

Jess sighed. "There goes our Halloween."

"Maybe not," said Matt. "We're almost done."

"Is Becker?"

"Um...not so much," said the team leader, watching a rather comical scene as dozens of black-clad figures were led in several chases around the garden.

"Like I said, Halloween is ruined," whined Jess.

Another hour passed, and the ATVs made many trips between the trucks and the lake. It was nearing dinner time.

Finally Jess heard Becker's voice. "The little buggers are finally tiring," he said. "Shouldn't be too much longer."

"Yay!"

Becker laughed at the sound of his girlfriend's glee. "Don't get too excited." He sighed. "Jess, it's going to be a while yet..."

She sighed. Sadly she said, "I know."

"And there's no point in all of us missing the parties tonight."

"Becker, no," said Abby. "We'll stay."

Becker shook his head. "Thanks, but you'll just be in the way. I've got more than enough troops, plus, it's kind of personal now. We hate these things."

The team laughed. "If your sure," said Matt.

"Yeah. I'm sure. Sorry, Jess. I really am."

"I understand," she said. "I love your commitment to your job." She sighed sadly.

"Matt, do me a favor?" asked Becker. "Take Jess with you guys to the clubs."

"No!" cried his girl.

"Honestly, man, I don't we want to go without you."

"I certainly don't," said Jess.

"I want you to go. All of you," said Becker. "Please?"

Jess shook her head at the ADD.

She heard Matt agree.

She moaned. "I don't want to go."

"It's your favorite time of year. Jess, go," Becker insisted.

"I...I can't. I have to stay on the ADD...and wait for you and your team."

"You do not," said Lester behind her.

She groaned and thought, 'Great, now he's involved.'

"You will accompany me and my wife," said Lester. "You got us into costume wearing, so you are going."

She sighed.

Becker laughed over comms. "Thanks, Lester."

"Don't mention it. Besides, someone needs to take pictures. I will look awesome. I'd hate for you to miss the big moment when I win."

Jess frowned. She was pouting. "Do I have to go?"

"Yes," said Lester and Becker.

"Fine, but I won't enjoy myself."

"Try, please?" asked the Captain.

She sighed again.

"We'll cheer her up," said Connor.

"Thanks," said Becker. "Have a good time. We'll finish up as fast as we can."

"Maybe you can still join us," said Abby. "I'm sure Jess won't mind texting you our itinerary."

He laughed. "Yeah, I don't think she will."

He waved them off site, then joined his team, still chasing dinosaurs.

End of Chapter Twenty