Fic: Trust Is (part 3)
Chapter 3
Matt’s flat had been their first stop. Once Connor had divulged that he’d been building an anomaly creation machine, and that Philip had been building a giant version to use in project New Dawn, he’d quickly put two and two together and figured out what had caused the chain of events that had put the destruction of their world into motion. Convergence was a natural event, and Philip and Connor’s manipulation of the phenomenon, essentially preventing nature from running its course, was the likely trigger. With any luck, they’d interrupted the events that had come to pass in Matt’s timeline. They should still have time to save the world. Matt called their team together, figuring they’d need everyone’s help to stop Philip Burton.
Once Matt had semi-convinced Lester that he actually was from the future and not clinically mad, Connor began to explain what had them all gathered together in secret in the wee hours of morning.
“So I wiped everything, to include the operating system. He’s got nothing left, save for what he might have in a personal computer, and he never allows data out of the lab so I think we’re safe there. What do we do now?” Connor asked, facing the assembled team.
“And you have no proof?” Lester stated more than asked.
Shamefaced, Connor shook his head in the negative, “Just the bit about Helen that I saved on a jump drive,” he shrugged, “Was all I had. Keep one on me keychain.”
Lester nodded, “We might be able to make that work. Association with an enemy of the state, a known terrorist and all that. Perhaps along with the fact that he made no mention to the Minister about all the people that would be in danger when convergence occurred, nor made any attempt to help the ARC prepare to face it, it could be the justification we need to halt his operation.”
Connor exhaled in relief and studied the faces of his friends and teammates. He had been so sure that they’d abandon him when he told him what he’d done. He’d nearly made the world end because he’d been proper blinkered. He’d forgotten the true purpose of understanding the anomalies, got caught up in basking in Philip’s praises, and stopped looking after the important things in life, like Abby. “We’ll also have to destroy the machine,” he added, “It’s only a matter of time before he sorts out how to use it himself. I got it to work, after all.”
Becker nodded, “And if the Minister won’t listen?” he asked Lester.
Matt lifted his head, “Then I’ll stop him, destroy the machine, however I have to. It’s why I was sent.”
Becker traded a glance with Jess before locking eyes with Matt and giving him an almost imperceptible nod. He’d aid him, no matter what the cost. He understood what Matt was saying, even if the rest of the civilians didn’t.
“I’ll give you the security codes. You should be able to sabotage it,” Connor added.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Lester said, but he didn’t object. He was a practical man, and he saw no sense in wasting time on things that may never come to pass, but he also knew the value of a back-up plan. They had to stop Philip, but at the moment, he had more immediate concerns. Connor and Abby both looked dead on their feet. Lester cleared his throat, “Have you two been awake all night?” he asked Connor and Abby.
“Yes,” Abby answered, sparing a glance at Connor’s puffy dark-circled eyes.
“Well it’s only a matter of time until he realizes Connor is to blame. I always assume it’s Connor to begin with. Saves time.”
Abby raised an eyebrow, not amused.
“Might as well get you two out of sight while I sort this out with the Minister. I’ve got a place where you’ll be safe.”
Connor shook his head, “No. I want to help. I need to fix this… it’s my fault.”
Becker grunted, “Nothing you can do right now. Rest up. We’ll get you if we need you, I promise.”
Connor looked at his feet and nodded. He didn’t enjoy being pushed to the side, but if there was truly little to be done… “Explain it to Philip, okay? He might do the right thing if he understood.”
“I don’t know that he’ll listen, Connor. But I’ll try,” Matt assured him.
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“Well, this is certainly better that the last place we hid out in, but not by much. Cleaner, anyway,” Connor said, setting his bag on the floor.
“It’ll do, Connor. We’ll not be here long. As long as we’ve got a bed it’s fine.”
He gave her a small smile, “You’re still sure you want to share it with me?”
She rolled her eyes, “Connor…”
“It did seem as if you were writing about me, Abby. Talking about how all we’d faced-“
Abby sighed, “Me and Jack… we had a rough life in foster care, and I spent my whole life looking after him. I just sort of expect that he’d bother to ring me when something important happened to him. He got married, Connor. To a stripper. He’d ‘forgotten’ to tell me. Oh, and he cancelled coming round on Christmas. They’re going to Brazil. And he asked to borrow money for the trip. Was the only reason he rang me at all. Never mind that I’ve not seen him for nearly two years. I just never realized what an idiot prat of a brother I had until then. I’m sick to death of letting him hurt me. I love him, but until he grows up some, I’m done with him. I’m done fixing his life and trying to be his mum.”
Connor opened his arms, “Come ‘ere.”
Abby laid her head on his chest and put her arms around his waist, “Let’s go to bed, Connor.”
He pulled away, “I need to give you something first. I was going to wait until Christmas, but I can’t think of a better time than now.”
Bemused, she gave him a nod, “All right.”
Connor dug through his bag and pulled out a small box, “Open it.”
Abby’s brows drew together and Connor shifted, his stomach bunching in knots awaiting her reaction.
“A key?” she asked.
“It’s to a house. Our house. I know you’re not ready to get mar… um, well… or don’t want… anyway,” he stammered, “but I thought it would be nice to have our own place. And if you hate it, we can keep looking. I haven’t signed yet; I just got a lease to try it out first. The flat was only meant to be temporary, and it’s so small. We’re on some land, too. You can go outside if you fancy it without neighbors starin’ at ya.”
Abby’s eyes shone, and he stopped talking, “Oh, god. I’ve mucked it up again, haven’t I?”
She shook her head mutely, “No. It’s perfect.”
Connor grinned and swept her up again, “Yeah?”
Abby burrowed her fingers into his hair and pulled him close, kissing him so thoroughly that she left him breathless. It was a good answer.
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Connor lay still, staring at the ceiling long after Abby had fallen asleep. His mind hadn’t stopped chasing its own tail. Dawn was breaking the horizon, leaking light into the darkened room; it had been hours. Philip wouldn’t listen to Matt. He knew that down to his core. Connor needed to speak to him if there was to be any chance of Philip backing down and doing the right thing. If he could just explain how mad Helen was, how she’d stop at nothing to end what she saw as the plague of humans on the earth, he might listen. Philip said he respected Connor’s opinion. He supposed it was time to find out if it was true. He slid out of bed, careful not to wake Abby. He made this mess. No sense dragging her into it. Besides, she looked well exhausted. Had for weeks now.
He pulled on his trousers and shirt, scooped up his boots and jacket to take them to the other room.
“Where are you going?”
Connor froze, then turned to face Abby, “Philip will listen to me. I need to try. I need to explain things. He won’t hurt me. I don’t think I’m in danger, to be honest.”
Abby shook her head, “I think you are. You know things.”
“Abby-“
“I’m going with you.”
“Abby-“
“Connor Temple, if you argue with me about this-“
“Don’t forget your jacket. It’s cold out,” he finished with a grin. “I know. We do things together. Sorry. I just didn’t want to wake you. I know you’d not slept either.”
Abby cocked an eyebrow and fixed him in her steely gaze, “You ever going to try to sneak off without me again?”
“No. Sorry.”
“You’re not alone, Connor. We’re not alone.”
He dropped his head, the smile vanishing. Abby knew him better than anyone, “I know, but I did this. Just seems like I should be the one to put it right.”
“It’s okay, Connor. We will.”
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It was early, but Connor knew for a fact that Philip Burton would be in his lab at New Dawn. The moment that something went awry in that facility, Philip was to be notified. Standard protocol. He also knew that any attempt to speak with the Minister about shutting New Dawn down would be delayed at least a couple of hours. He’d not be disturbed before breakfast for anything short of an apocalypse… and the one he was trying to prevent hadn’t started yet. That meant that he and Abby had about an hour.
Getting into New Dawn was easy. He thought that he’d be stopped at the gates or something, but he was waved through. A blanket thrown over the floorboard and a few well placed boxes concealed the additional cargo he was bringing into the facility. It was hardly perfect, but he figured if they let him in then that meant Philip hadn’t figured out that Connor had been to blame for wiping his files, and they’d have no reason to suspect him. At least, that’s what Connor hoped would happen. He parked the car, then left the doors unlocked with the keys in. He’d shout if he needed help, but convincing Philip was something he’d have to do on his own. He took a deep breath as he stood before the doors to the control center of New Dawn. Best to get to the point quickly. He pushed open the door.
“Connor. What are you doing here?”
“I need to speak with you, Philip. It’s important, and we haven’t got much time.”
“You wouldn’t happen to know why every file in my database has been wiped, would you?”
Connor shifted uncomfortably. Philip had this way of asking questions to where you weren’t sure if he actually was asking, or if he knew the answer and was trying to trip you up. He decided to dodge the question altogether, “Philip, you have to listen to me. Helen has tricked you. She wants to be rid of the human race, and she’s using you to do it.”
Philip paused, swiveled in his chair to face Connor, “Don’t be ridiculous, Connor. You know that’s not true.”
“It is. And if you don’t stop this-“
Philip stood up, “What Connor? What will you do? What more could you do?”
Connor swallowed hard, “We’re talking about the end of the world, here. I’m giving you a chance to do the right thing! They’ll be coming for you, and if you don’t-“
“This is the most important contribution to the human race since electricity, and you think the ravings of a madman are enough to change my mind?”
Connors eyes narrowed. That “madman” was his friend, and Danny deserved better, “No. I thought that hearing it from me would make a difference.”
Burton laughed, “I’m afraid not, Connor.” Philip smiled at him, and for the first time Connor realized how Philip’s smile never reached his eyes, “I have a lot of work to do. Guards. Take him out of here.”
Connor lifted his chin, “Don’t bother. You’re finished. Your files are gone, and I’ll not ever tell you how to create an anomaly.”
Burton turned to face him once more, “I know exactly what to do, Connor. Your lab is under surveillance. I don’t need you at all.” He shook his head, “I’m doing a trial run this morning. You could have been a part of something monumental. What a pity.”
Connor tried to shake off the two guards that had grabbed hold of him, “Philip, don’t do it! You don’t know what you’re doing!”
“Get him out, and his girlfriend, too,” Philip added as another guard opened the door, Abby Maitland in tow. “Hold them until we have an escort from the ARC to take them back and collect their things. They’re to surrender all access badges, and their security codes are to be wiped. Oh, and Connor? You’re both fired. If either one of you set foot on Prospero, New Dawn, or the ARC, I’ll have you arrested.”
“Lester will get him shut down,” Abby said to him once they reached the car.
They’d been held for a ridiculous amount of time whilst they waited for someone from ARC security to show up. They likely had Jess to thank for that. He was sat in one of the ARC vehicles, waiting on them.
Connor glanced over at the escort and nodded, “Yeah,” he said softly, “But he knows how to create them, Abby. I’ve shown him how. There’s not time for all that bureaucracy. According to my calculations, convergence can happen at any moment. The machine is built, and data or no data, if he knows how to get it to work, he can use it to harness the energy of convergence.”
“Let’s hope that Matt’s managed it, then. I think we provided more than enough distraction.”
He took her hand in his, “Do ya think Becker got through?”
Abby snorted, “It’s Becker.”
Connor gave a little smile, “Good point.” He sighed, “I really thought Philip would listen to me, but he’s not like Cutter at all, is he?”
Abby just shook her head, “Come on, Connor. We’re meant to meet up with Matt. He’ll be waiting on us.”
“What about that guy?” Connor asked, pointing at the escort.
Abby smirked, “Philip should have used his own security people. That guy is one of Becker’s men. He’s with us.”
“Right. Okay then,” he squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. Abby was right. This wasn’t over yet. Matt and Becker were still inside, and if he had to guess, he’d wager that Emily was in there too. She wasn’t one to allow herself to be left behind. He and Abby had done their part, even if it wasn’t as much of one as he’d like. Lester was probably going to sack him for going against his orders, and convincing everyone else to do the same. It hadn’t been easy, but the figures had kept going round in his mind and he couldn’t shake the feeling that if they didn’t act right away, they were going to be too late. Abby said that they weren’t alone. She’d been right. The rest of the team had come around once they realized he’d not be deterred.
Abby climbed in the passenger seat and waited for Connor to join her in the car. His hand was on the door when an explosion rocked the world under his feet and sent him reeling. New Dawn was burning.
“Oh god, Abby. They’re in there!” he took off at a dead run, Abby’s voice shouting his name behind him.
The ceiling was falling down around him, smoke stung his eyes, and he could hear screaming above the din of the collapsing building. He pulled the collar of his t-shirt up over his nose and mouth to help filter the air and ran for the voices. It was hard to see once he got past the entryway, but he searched the faces of the people running for the exit, hoping to see a familiar face. He squinted his eyes, trying to make out the figure headed straight for him. Dark hair, body armor and a rather large gun… it could only be…
“Connor! Is Abby clear?”
Connor gave Becker a quick nod, “What’s happened?”
“Not sure. Matt was in, I went in to secure Philip… next thing I know the thing’s blown apart. Tried to get in, but the room was blocked off. Trying to find another way around.”
Connor nodded, “Let’s find them.”
He tried not to think about what he might have just done. If Matt had done as he’d instructed him to, the machine should have just fried a coil and some circuit cards at worst. Not this. Not all this. He shook it off. He was going to get himself killed if he didn’t look after himself and stop worrying about what caused it. They found Emily fairly quickly. Becker was furious because he’d told her she was to stay behind, but she just rolled her eyes. They assured her that they’d find Matt, and asked her to meet up with Abby and radio in for some back-up and medical personnel from the ARC.
They’d about given up hope when they finally found Matt, pinned under a girder. His face was covered in blood from a nasty cut on his cheek, but he was alive.
“You all right?” Connor asked as they came upon him.
“Been better,” he replied diffidently, but his face was pale and he was trembling.
“Pretty sure that your arm isn’t meant to bend that way,” Becker added, gesturing to the arm that had taken the brunt of the weight of the girder when it fell.
“Oh yeah, thanks,” Matt answered, “Any time you two would like to get me out of here, that would be great.”
Connor and Becker gripped the beam and lifted, but they were only able to budge it a couple of inches. Matt was going to have to shimmy out from underneath. It was going to hurt.
Matt swallowed hard and prepared to move, “This wouldn’t be payback for me shooting you is it?”
Becker smirked, “Oh yeah. Stop being a little girl and get out of there. We haven’t got all day.”
“If you could hurry?” Connor gritted out. He was about to lose his hold.
Matt gave him a quick nod, set his jaw and moved. He cried out as he pulled his injured arm through, but he got out. Connor and Becker both threw an arm around him and headed for an exit.
“Philip… where is Philip?” Connor asked.
Matt shook his head, “Still inside. He wouldn’t leave. Kept trying to fix the machine.”
“We can’t just leave him; I’ve got to find him,” he disengaged from Becker and Matt and raced back inside the building.
“Connor, no. There’s not time!” Matt argued. He looked to Becker, “I can make it. Go get him before he throws his life away on that worthless bastard.”
Connor didn’t have far to go. Philip was with what was left of the anomaly machine. He lay unmoving, bleeding from a large gash on his forehead. He checked him, found him still breathing, and began to drag him out the door. Becker took one look at what he was attempting and moved to help. He’d seen enough death. Deserving or not, he’d not let someone die when he could stop it.
“We are not going back in there,” Becker ordered as soon as they cleared the wreckage. A medic hurried over and took charge of Philip. Connor shaded his eyes from the sun and looked for Abby.
“You’ve convinced me,” Connor agreed. He spotted Abby was running towards him, and it was the most welcome sight he thought he’d ever seen.
He swept her up into a fierce hug and held her close.
“Scared me, Connor,” she whispered in his ear, so quiet he could hardly hear it.
“Sorry,” he kissed her cheek and held her tighter before he let her go, but kept hold of her hand as they made their way over to where Matt was being treated by a medic with Becker and Emily looking on. He had to smile as he saw that Emily was holding Matt’s hand.
“Do you think we’ve done it? You think we’ve changed the future?” Connor asked Matt.
“I think so,” he answered with a weak grin.
Connor looked at the faces of his friends, “Something went wrong.”
Abby squeezed his hand, “Something always goes wrong. It’s okay, we’re safe. We’ll sort the rest of it out later, yeah?”
Connor grinned, “Can we go home now, or are we going to prison?”
Abby laughed, a sound he’d not heard nearly enough recently, “We’re going home. You want to tell me where we live?”
“I’ll drive.”
“It does have a garden, doesn’t it?” she asked as they made their way back to Connor’s car.
“Course it does. I remembered ya said you always fancied having your own garden.”
Abby leaned in close again, “Good. Perhaps we can get married there.”
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Epilogue
Connor looked down at the pale form on the bed below. It hardly even looked like him, “So Philip… he’s?”
“He’s in a vegetative state, but he’s still holding on. Given enough time, he could recover some large motor function and basic speech. We just don’t know.”
Connor thanked the doctor and took a seat by the bed. He’d been hurt, angry, betrayed… but he’d never wanted this to happen to him. He lifted his head as the door opened.
“You all right, Connor?” Matt asked as he moved inside the room and sat himself in the other chair.
He nodded, “Fine. Was just… seeing for m’self. How’s the arm?”
Matt snorted, “Broken.” When Connor barely smiled, he added, “Better, thanks.”
They sat in silence for a few moments before Matt broke it. He knew Connor would want to hear an explanation, “He had two of them. Two machines. When the first one failed, he started up the other. It started to come apart, but he refused to shut it down. He kept insisting that he knew how to fix it. Connor, you couldn’t have known what would happen.”
Connor gave a short laugh, “They must have been sequenced in a parallel circuit. The voltage spike would have destabilized it. He should have shut it down.”
Philip nodded, “He couldn’t admit that it was beyond his control. I’m sorry, Connor. I tried to drag him out, but the roof started falling in.”
Connor nodded, “Tell Abby I’ll be back in a little while, yeah?”
“We have a meeting with Lester in twenty minutes,” he said, turning to leave.
Connor sighed. He hoped he still had a job.
Matt’s mobile rang before he was able to make it out the door, and from the expression on his face, Connor knew it was important.
“Put in your earpiece, Connor. Convergence is happening now. Anomalies are popping up everywhere, all over the world, and they need everyone. They’re even calling in the teams on holiday. We’ve got work to do.”
Connor spared a last glance at Philip, and then fitted his earpiece in his ear and hurried out the door. It looked as if he still had a job.
END
A/N: Really hope that you liked this! It certainly took on a life of its own. Thanks for reading, and please tell me what you thought.