Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
A/N Part of the Claudia story verse (AU) Transitions, Transitions Too, Continuum, Trimming the Tree, Missing
6.5-3 Running Out
…luck…
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By the time Abby reached the entrance of the restaurant, Connor had caught up with the little hamster. The scientist knelt on the damp gravel in front of a large rounded rock at the far end of the parking lot with his hand extended. His soft voice carried across the small car park.
"Come on Mr. Lucky," coaxed Connor.
Abby, Sarah and Jess stood by the front door with the Cutters and Jack. Becker, Danny and Stephen were in the car park, near Jess's car. The little bells dangling from the open door of the restaurant started rattling merrily. Abby looked up at the bells in surprise.
"What's making the bells ring?" asked Abby.
Sarah's eyes opened wide. The archeologist raised her hand and pointed. Abby turned to look. In the park, just past Connor, a glowing light was spinning, swirling, twirling.
"Connor," called Abby.
Connor turned first towards the sound of Abby's voice. He grinned at Abby, but her worried expression and the hurried movements of his friends caused the grin to falter and disappear.
"What?" asked Connor.
"Move away from the anomaly," cried Abby.
The dark haired scientist turned to look in the direction Sarah pointed. Danny and Stephen crossed the car park to open the rear hatch of the ARCs SUV. The tall red head pulled out a locking device, while Stephen reached for a weapon.
"Connor," shouted Becker, "back up."
Becker opened the boot of Jess's car. The former soldier's hand hovered briefly over the tire iron before reaching for the black sword.
"I need my lucky mascot," objected Connor. He reached for the hamster.
"Connor, the mascot is only lucky on the way to the wedding," called Sarah. "You are supposed to let the mascot run on… especially before you travel."
Connor looked over his shoulder at the dark haired woman in surprise.
"And how is that lucky for the mascot?" asked Connor. "There are cats in this neighborhood."
"Connor!" Abby rolled her eyes at his question. "Get away from the anomaly, yeah!"
"I should have made Connor carry another amulet in his pocket," muttered Sarah. She shook her head in dismay as Connor reached forward again for the hamster.
The petite blonde started towards her husband.
"Abby," urged Jack, "you should stay here."
"I've got to get Connor," objected Abby as she continued across the gravel parking lot.
"Abby," called Jack. He shook his head and followed after his sister.
Behind them, the others at the door also moved. Jess joined Becker beside the rear of her car. Sarah and Jamal moved past the SUV to where Danny and Stephen stood slightly to the right of Connor and the big rock. They faced the glowing anomaly. Cutter and Claudia stopped at the SUV. The Professor reached for an anomaly dating calculator.
"What are you doing?" asked Claudia.
"We need to measure this anomaly," exclaimed the Scot. "This one wasn't on our predictions matrix."
Claudia and Cutter walked to the left of Connor. The professor flicked the power switch on the dating calculator. The device started whirring. The anomaly opened. The hamster took that opportunity to bolt. The little creature scurried from the edge of the parking lot into the grass.
"Mr. Lucky," shouted Connor.
Connor dove across the grass trying to capture the hamster. The scientist landed on his stomach right in front of the anomaly. His arms were stretched out, reaching, grasping for the little creature. The hamster stopped for a moment. The rodent stared quizzically at Connor. The creature twitched his whiskered nose and then scampered through the glittering, glowing opening.
"Connor, no!" shouted the Professor.
Connor pushed himself up off his stomach. He leaned back on his hands and twisted around to face the Professor.
"Don't worry Professor," said Connor with a grin, "I'm not chasing a hamster through an anomaly, especially not on me wedding day."
A yellow and black butterfly flitted through the open anomaly. The butterfly circled above Connor's head. The scientist looked up and stared.
"Do butterflies have teeth?" asked Connor. "Or stingers?"
Connor's friends glanced at each other.
"Not usually," answered Stephen. The muscular young man raised the tranquilizer gun and pointed it at the yellow and black fluttering creature. He smirked. "Do you feel threatened? Do you want me to shoot the butterfly?"
"That's the same kind of butterfly we saw at the racetrack anomaly during convergence," hissed Sarah.
Danny looked up at Sarah from where he was kneeling on the damp ground. He was trying to set up the equipment.
"The racetrack anomaly?" asked Danny. "That place is dangerous."
"Hurry up then," agreed Sarah. "No more monitoring the anomaly, it's time to close it!"
"This isn't easy you know," exclaimed Danny. "I'm working as fast as I can. Connor usually does the tech stuff."
Sarah smirked at his words and knelt beside him.
"Scoot over," ordered Sarah. "Let me handle it."
Muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "all thumbs," Sarah started assembling the pieces of the anomaly locking mechanism.
Abby reached Connor. Jack still trailed behind his sister, eying the anomaly warily. Abby squatted down. She faced Connor.
"We should back up, yeah," urged the blonde.
Connor continued staring at the butterfly. The creature fluttered back through the anomaly.
"Yeah, don't know what might come through," agreed Connor.
"Guess that thing didn't like March weather," remarked Jack.
"There could be something worse than butterflies on the other side," continued Connor.
"Shh," hissed Abby. She placed one hand on Connor's shoulder and looked past the dark haired scientist. "Something's coming."
Stephen raised his weapon and pointed it towards the anomaly. Becker moved to stand beside Stephen. The soldier brought the sword up and pointed it at the anomaly. Behind him, he could hear Jess talking hurriedly into her cell phone.
"Delta team will be here in another ten minutes," Jess announced.
"A lot can happen in ten minutes," muttered Becker.
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