Primeval Fic: Predator Or Prey (2/2) - Secret Santa for Isamazed
Title: Predator Or Prey? (2/2)
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3200
Characters: James Lester, Hilary Becker, plus Danny Quinn, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Tom Ryan, Abby Maitland, Connor Temple, Blade (OC), Lyle (OC), OCs,
Rating: 15
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
Warning: Peril? Angst?
A/N 1: Isamazed’s Secret Santa, hope you like it and that you had a great Christmas. Her prompts are these: 1) You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. 2) Soldiers were the greatest gossips. 3) I am not one to hold grudges and 4) I only finished what he/she started. All of them are in there, more-or-less.
A/N 2: Thanks goes to Fififolle for looking at it, all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 1
Bloody hell, in my opinion, journalists and anomalies were a match made in hell, and I wasn’t surprised when every journalist rushed for the door. At least, they did until Becker yelled out, “Stop!”
I nodded to Becker to continue as I turned my attention to calling the ARC for backup.
“You can’t keep us here.” A rather burly journalist got in my space and tried to intimidate me, stepping back when I merely raised an eyebrow and smiled at him.
“I think you’ll find I can.” I raised my voice to gain the attention of everyone present. “The ARC has full authority when an incursion occurs.” I frowned before doing a quick headcount, swearing beneath my breath when I came up two short. “Where the hell are Graves and Barnes?” I demanded to the burly journalist, Greg or Gary or something Harris. I wasn’t sure and I really didn’t care what his name was.
“I’m here!” Emma Graves announced as she came out of the bathroom. She frowned as she sensed the tension in the room, suddenly all business. “What did I miss?”
“Sir James was wondering where you and Barnes were,” Harris informed her, before adding at her raised eyebrow, “There’s an anomaly in the kitchen.”
“That bloody bastard, Miles is out for a scoop! Come on!” Graves cried as she grabbed her camera and lead the mob towards the door.
“Gentlemen and ladies.” I used the term loosely as I shouted to make myself heard over their racket. “Captain Becker will stop the next…” I bit back on the word I was going to use,” individual who tries to leave, whatever their reason.” When that order was met with resistance, with several comments about a police state, restrictions on their rights to the truth and other such nonsense. I raised my hand for silence, continuing when they finally fell quiet. “You have all those rights, you even have the right to risk your own lives,” I informed them in my most commanding tones. “However, you do not have the right to risk the lives of others, especially those of my team. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear.” I clearly and carefully enunciated each word, staring down each and everyone one of them until they all backed down and stood in sullen silence.
“Sir?”
I glanced at Becker and sighed, I knew exactly what he was going to say, going to request, and, as much as I wished he wouldn’t. “Becker?”
“The team isn’t going to get here in time, sir. I need to get that...”
He trailed off, obviously searching for a suitable description and I had the perfect one for the occasion, one I had heard Stringer utter more than once. “Fucking shitgibbon?”
Becker blinked before smiling. “Yes, sir. That will do. Well, I need to get him.”
“I know.” And I did, it was his job and I, much as I wished I could, wouldn’t order him not to do his duty. “Would you happen to be armed?”
“I’ve got Vera in the boot, sir,” He replied, shrugging at my raised eyebrow before adding, “I forgot to unpack her before we left, sir.”
Forgot? A likely story when we hadn’t had an anomaly all week? “Excellent, Captain. Would you happen to have another weapon?”
“Sir!” Becker clearly didn’t want me to go with him to face who knew what creatures. I saw him glanced around the room for inspiration and saw the precise moment he found it. “Sir, I need you to stay here and make sure everyone else stays here.”
Unfortunately, he made a valid point, I could hardly leave these idiots without supervision and expect them to still be here when we returned; not when there was an open anomaly for them to report on. “Do try not to get killed.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.” Becker paused, glancing around the room once more and then he pulled me into a kiss. Before I could quite gather my wits to respond, he was out of the door and heading into who knew what danger.
“Nice one, Lester.”
I shot Graves a quelling glare before leaning against the door. My thoughts kept turning to that kiss over and over again, and what it might mean… what I hoped it might mean.
As time dragged on, I must admit I was somewhat short with any journalist who even looked sideways at the door. Finally Graves threw up her hands before strolling over to me and thrusting a mug of tea into my hand. “I’m going to assume this is new?”
I queried an eyebrow at her in reply.
“Hey, we might be hacks but we have hearts.” She squeezed my arm before continuing, “He’ll be fine out there.”
“I hope so,” I murmured before shaking my head. “Although I feel I should point out we don’t know what’s out there.”
“No, but I’ve read the reports. Captain Becker is highly skilled and capable, he took care of those scary Future Predators by himself in that future ruin and survived.”
“How?” I knew that report had never been declassified and released to anyone.
“I have my sources,” Graves tapped her nose. She nodded at my cooling tea. “Don’t waste the whisky I put in there.” She rose and left me to my thoughts, some of which revolved around the hope it wasn’t another bloody Future Predator, but knowing my luck...
***
“Lester!” Graves cried out when there was a loud thud against the door.
“Get back!” I hissed, looking around for a weapon as the door vibrated again. The thudding continued, clearly something, some creature was trying to gain access and…
“Help!” A voice cried out, full of fear and desperation.
“That’s Barnes!” Graves hissed at me.
I glanced at her for a moment before yanking the door open. I had to step back when Barnes almost fell through and scrabbled away from the door. White and shaking as if he’d seen his own death close at hand and the stink.. Still I had to know, “Where’s Becker?”
When Barnes didn’t reply, I grabbed him by his collar and hauled him to his feet, throwing him against a nearby wall and glowering at him. “I asked you a question, Barnes.”
“I… out there. It… it almost got me. It was like a hairless great ape. It moved so fast, so bloody fast,” Barnes stammered.
I closed my eyes at that description. Fuck!
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry,”Barnes mumbled.
“You didn’t think of anything but your fucking scoop.” I leaned in as close as I dared, my voice low, cold and hard as I continued, “Do you have any idea how many people have died under their claws? How many people I’ve buried? How many families I’ve had to tell their loved ones won’t be returning to them?” My voice had dropped to a deadly near hiss by the end of my speech.
“Lester!” Graves tugged futility on my arm, trying to drag me away from Barnes. “James! This won’t help Becker.”
I glanced at Graves before I took a deep breath and regained some of my control. “Thank you, Graves.” I heard Barnes sigh in relief and shot him another icy glare before hissing at him, “I'm not one to hold grudges, Barnes, but risk the life of one of my people again, and you’ll find out I am not a man to cross. Do I make myself clear?” Barnes swallowed hard and gave me a shaky nod. “Excellent.” I turned and dispensed a glare at the other journalists. “Stay here until my people arrive.”
“Lester!” Graves grabbed for my arm again and I swung around, my glare dying as she held out a bottle of bleach to me. “It might blind it. At least for a few seconds.”
“Thanks,” I said as I slipped out of the door, pausing only to repeat my instructions to remain inside and barricade the door. The last words I heard were Graves wishing me good luck and Harris telling Barnes to fucking shut up his complaining.
***
I glanced around and swallowed, second guessing myself and why the hell I was out here when safety was behind the door I stood outside. Future Predators still haunted my nightmares and here I was, voluntary hunting one down.. At least, I hoped it was only one.
I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves and listened intently, for either Becker or the Future Predator. I cursed when I realised in my rush, my need to find Becker now, that I had forgotten to ask Barnes where he’d last seen Becker. Cursing my rookie mistake, I also knew it was far too late to go back and ask, I doubted Graves would allow me to leave for a second time.
A crash downstairs had me jumping before I froze, every sense straining but I could hear nothing further. I carefully made my way down the stairs, every nerve on edge and jumping at the slightest noise. I started when I heard a door snick open and met the frightened eyes of a woman peering out into the corridor. I licked my dry lips before saying, “Please remain inside until you’re been told the situation has been resolved.” She swallowed, nodded and closed the door firmly and I heard furniture being dragged, I assumed, to hold the door closed. I continued to creep along the corridor, every sense alert for danger, while keeping my eyes open for a weapon better than a bottle of bleach.
I stumbled over something under my feet and almost fell, I spun around to see what it was and almost cried out as I fell to my knees when I saw the shotgun lying discarded on the floor. I couldn’t imagine Becker ever voluntarily abandoning ‘Vera’, I knew what she meant to him. I took a deep, shaky breath and made myself think. Although ‘Vera’ was here, Becker wasn’t and I couldn’t see any blood. I had to hope he was OK. I had to. I couldn’t lose Becker now, not when we might have something… I took another deep breath, before I began to examine the shotgun with shaky hands. Feeling a wave a relief when I found it was still loaded. I forced myself to chamber a shell and stand on unsteady feet, I had to find Becker. I had to find him, now.
The corridors I walked down were empty, although I could hear the sounds of people cowering behind closed doors as I moved past them. Doors I could only pray were stout enough to withstand any attack. I could feel my heart beating hard and fast in my chest, as if a bird frantic to escape its cage. The beat roaring through my ears, deafening me, and I attempted to slow that siren call to any nearby Predators. Memories of my previous encounters with these hellish beasts flooded my mind, nearly immobilizing me with fear as I could almost see Becker lying there… bloodied and… I swallowed the bile that image caused before forcing myself to move. The only thought in my mind, the need to find Becker.
I continued cautiously onwards, jumping at the slightest noise, before I came to a door barely hanging from its frame. I stepped inside and froze at the sight of the Future Predator lying before me. I only moved when I realised it’s skull was crushed. I carefully approached, ‘Vera’ swinging from side-to-side as I waited for an attack.
I froze when I heard the familiar clicking of a nearby Predator coming from the corridor and I slowly turned to face it. My finger tightening on the trigger but I didn’t fire, not yet. I recalled how fast they bloody moved and I had a very limited number of shots. I had to wait for the right time, for the moment it committed itself to its attack and then… well, then I had to hope my luck held for this, my third encounter with these bloody things.
The Predator leapt at me and my shot went wide as I was forced to dive to the side to avoid its raking claws. I spun quickly, hoping it was off-balance from it miss but it was already gone. I felt sweat run down my back as I gulped lungfuls of air, my gaze darting this way and that for my target. My fingers fumbled as I tried to chamber a fresh shell, dropping it to the ground before my fingers scrabbled to pick it up. I carefully checked it over before loading it into ‘Vera’. All the time, I kept my gaze fixed on the doorway, wondering it the Predator would be hanging over it, waiting for me to exit and… But I could hardly wait in here for my soldiers to arrive. Not when Becker was out there, now unarmed… although as my gaze returned to the fallen Predator, clearly not incapable of taking down one without ‘Vera’.
A door opening down the corridor seemed to gain the Predator’s attention as I saw it’s shadow disappear towards that sound. I paused for a moment before cursing, I was armed and I could hardly leave whoever had opened that door to face it alone. I was still careful about the doorway, almost diving out of it to cover the ceiling, although I was thankful I didn’t pull the trigger as nothing was there.
I regained my feet and set out to follow the Predator, unsure if it would be turning back towards me after all the noise I’d made. I heard it’s clicks and barely managed to fire as it leapt at me, forcing me to dive away from it once more. I scrambled to rise, my legs shaky, to find it lying motionless beside me. I fired my last shell into its skull.
I leaned forward, ‘Vera’ dangling from my grip as I rested my hands on my knees and concentrated on just breathing for a moment. But only for a moment as I still needed to find Becker. After what seemed forever, but which I hoped was only moment, I managed to straighten and set off again. Where the hell was Becker? He should have recognised the sound of his own weapon firing. He should have appeared out of a door or from down a corridor. He should have… and that image of Becker, lying all bloodied and… I shook my head to clear that image. Becker was alive, he had to be.
A sound behind me had me swinging around, not that I had any shells left and I didn’t think Becker would appreciate me using ‘Vera’ as a club. ‘Vera’ almost dropped from my nerveless fingers as I found myself staring at Becker. Standing there all battered and bloodied but very much alive. I had no idea how long I stood there, before I crossed the distance between us and shook him. “You’re an idiot, Becker,” I told him before I kissed him hard. “But you’re my idiot. Don’t…” No, I couldn’t ask him not to do his job.
“I’m fine, sir,” Becker began, before his eyes lit up at the sight of ‘Vera’.
I relinquished his shotgun and watched him check her over, his hands gracefully and… Not a thought to have and I shifted as my trousers grew somewhat confining. I caught Becker’s worried glance, concern and… was that something else I could see in his eyes? It was now or never, I decided and cleared my throat. “Hilary,” I began, about to bare my soul to him, when I saw his expression. Fuck! Had I read the situation so wrong? The last thing I needed right now was a sexual harassment claim… but he had kissed me first… “Is there a problem?”
“Well… I prefer Becks.”
“Becks?”
Becker rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking somewhat nervous. “Er… assuming we’ll on the same page.”
“I believe we are.” I certainly hoped we were, and as I was not a coward, I continued, “So, if we are to do what I believe we both want to… I think we should be James and.. Becks.” I kissed him again and felt his cock harden against my hip. I smiled, hopeful that it was a reaction to my presence and not just due to the adrenalin coursing through both our bodies.
We broke apart when a wolf-whistle sounded behind me, and I turned to see a number of ARC soldiers grinning at us. “There better not be a book, Lyle.”
Lyle just grinned back before giving us both a thumbs up. “Jenny won, sir.”
Lyle was just as incorrigible as Danny and I knew when I had to admit defeat, besides there were more important things to deal with right now. “Lieutenant Lyle, there is another Predator in that room.”
“Did you get that one too, sir?”
“No, Becker did, I only finished what he started.” I glanced at Becker, as much as I wished we could continue what we had started, duty called. “Please make yourself useful, Lieutenant, and have the men do a thorough search of the hotel for any more of these bloody beasts.”
“The kitchen staff were sensible, sir. They barricaded themselves in as soon as the anomaly appeared and didn’t make a sound until Blade and Finn found then.”
“Is there a point to this information?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. They said they could see the anomaly and only two of those ‘ugly sods’ came through before it closed.” Lyle raised a hand before I could speak. “I’ve left Finn and Blade with the anomaly locker in the kitchen and the rest of us will do a sweep, just in case,” He drawled as his gaze flickering from Becker to me before he tilted his head and asked, “So, boss, does this mean we get a tank now?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, it doesn’t.”
Lyle just grinned before kicking the Predator I’d killed and whistling again. “That’s a fucking good shot, sir.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” I replied before straightening my clothes. With the anomaly closed and the Future Predators dealt with, the minister would expect this conference to continue. Which meant I had a roomful of journalists I needed to talk to. I glanced at Becker and fought to keep the grin from my face, after that, of course, there was a perfectly good double bed booked in our name for the rest of the weekend. “I’ll be in Conference Room 3 with the journalists if you need me, Lieutenant. Coming, Captain.” I walked off in that direction, Becker beside me, when I heard Lyle’s smothered snigger. I turned and quirked an eyebrow at him. “Oh, Lieutenant?”
“Sir?”
“Ask nicely and I’m sure the budget could run to a coffee and a plate of sandwiches in the morning.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
I grinned as I strolled off, linking my fingers with Becker’s and hoped the journalists wouldn’t demand too much of my time. I glanced at Becker and smiled, their questions could definitely wait until the morning, for I had plans for tonight.
Author: knitekat
Word Count: ~3200
Characters: James Lester, Hilary Becker, plus Danny Quinn, Jenny Lewis, Lorraine Wickes, Tom Ryan, Abby Maitland, Connor Temple, Blade (OC), Lyle (OC), OCs,
Rating: 15
Disclaimer: Primeval belongs to Impossible Pictures. Certainly not me. Writing for fun and will replace.
Warning: Peril? Angst?
A/N 1: Isamazed’s Secret Santa, hope you like it and that you had a great Christmas. Her prompts are these: 1) You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. 2) Soldiers were the greatest gossips. 3) I am not one to hold grudges and 4) I only finished what he/she started. All of them are in there, more-or-less.
A/N 2: Thanks goes to Fififolle for looking at it, all remaining mistakes are mine.
Part 1
Bloody hell, in my opinion, journalists and anomalies were a match made in hell, and I wasn’t surprised when every journalist rushed for the door. At least, they did until Becker yelled out, “Stop!”
I nodded to Becker to continue as I turned my attention to calling the ARC for backup.
“You can’t keep us here.” A rather burly journalist got in my space and tried to intimidate me, stepping back when I merely raised an eyebrow and smiled at him.
“I think you’ll find I can.” I raised my voice to gain the attention of everyone present. “The ARC has full authority when an incursion occurs.” I frowned before doing a quick headcount, swearing beneath my breath when I came up two short. “Where the hell are Graves and Barnes?” I demanded to the burly journalist, Greg or Gary or something Harris. I wasn’t sure and I really didn’t care what his name was.
“I’m here!” Emma Graves announced as she came out of the bathroom. She frowned as she sensed the tension in the room, suddenly all business. “What did I miss?”
“Sir James was wondering where you and Barnes were,” Harris informed her, before adding at her raised eyebrow, “There’s an anomaly in the kitchen.”
“That bloody bastard, Miles is out for a scoop! Come on!” Graves cried as she grabbed her camera and lead the mob towards the door.
“Gentlemen and ladies.” I used the term loosely as I shouted to make myself heard over their racket. “Captain Becker will stop the next…” I bit back on the word I was going to use,” individual who tries to leave, whatever their reason.” When that order was met with resistance, with several comments about a police state, restrictions on their rights to the truth and other such nonsense. I raised my hand for silence, continuing when they finally fell quiet. “You have all those rights, you even have the right to risk your own lives,” I informed them in my most commanding tones. “However, you do not have the right to risk the lives of others, especially those of my team. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear.” I clearly and carefully enunciated each word, staring down each and everyone one of them until they all backed down and stood in sullen silence.
“Sir?”
I glanced at Becker and sighed, I knew exactly what he was going to say, going to request, and, as much as I wished he wouldn’t. “Becker?”
“The team isn’t going to get here in time, sir. I need to get that...”
He trailed off, obviously searching for a suitable description and I had the perfect one for the occasion, one I had heard Stringer utter more than once. “Fucking shitgibbon?”
Becker blinked before smiling. “Yes, sir. That will do. Well, I need to get him.”
“I know.” And I did, it was his job and I, much as I wished I could, wouldn’t order him not to do his duty. “Would you happen to be armed?”
“I’ve got Vera in the boot, sir,” He replied, shrugging at my raised eyebrow before adding, “I forgot to unpack her before we left, sir.”
Forgot? A likely story when we hadn’t had an anomaly all week? “Excellent, Captain. Would you happen to have another weapon?”
“Sir!” Becker clearly didn’t want me to go with him to face who knew what creatures. I saw him glanced around the room for inspiration and saw the precise moment he found it. “Sir, I need you to stay here and make sure everyone else stays here.”
Unfortunately, he made a valid point, I could hardly leave these idiots without supervision and expect them to still be here when we returned; not when there was an open anomaly for them to report on. “Do try not to get killed.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.” Becker paused, glancing around the room once more and then he pulled me into a kiss. Before I could quite gather my wits to respond, he was out of the door and heading into who knew what danger.
“Nice one, Lester.”
I shot Graves a quelling glare before leaning against the door. My thoughts kept turning to that kiss over and over again, and what it might mean… what I hoped it might mean.
As time dragged on, I must admit I was somewhat short with any journalist who even looked sideways at the door. Finally Graves threw up her hands before strolling over to me and thrusting a mug of tea into my hand. “I’m going to assume this is new?”
I queried an eyebrow at her in reply.
“Hey, we might be hacks but we have hearts.” She squeezed my arm before continuing, “He’ll be fine out there.”
“I hope so,” I murmured before shaking my head. “Although I feel I should point out we don’t know what’s out there.”
“No, but I’ve read the reports. Captain Becker is highly skilled and capable, he took care of those scary Future Predators by himself in that future ruin and survived.”
“How?” I knew that report had never been declassified and released to anyone.
“I have my sources,” Graves tapped her nose. She nodded at my cooling tea. “Don’t waste the whisky I put in there.” She rose and left me to my thoughts, some of which revolved around the hope it wasn’t another bloody Future Predator, but knowing my luck...
***
“Lester!” Graves cried out when there was a loud thud against the door.
“Get back!” I hissed, looking around for a weapon as the door vibrated again. The thudding continued, clearly something, some creature was trying to gain access and…
“Help!” A voice cried out, full of fear and desperation.
“That’s Barnes!” Graves hissed at me.
I glanced at her for a moment before yanking the door open. I had to step back when Barnes almost fell through and scrabbled away from the door. White and shaking as if he’d seen his own death close at hand and the stink.. Still I had to know, “Where’s Becker?”
When Barnes didn’t reply, I grabbed him by his collar and hauled him to his feet, throwing him against a nearby wall and glowering at him. “I asked you a question, Barnes.”
“I… out there. It… it almost got me. It was like a hairless great ape. It moved so fast, so bloody fast,” Barnes stammered.
I closed my eyes at that description. Fuck!
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry,”Barnes mumbled.
“You didn’t think of anything but your fucking scoop.” I leaned in as close as I dared, my voice low, cold and hard as I continued, “Do you have any idea how many people have died under their claws? How many people I’ve buried? How many families I’ve had to tell their loved ones won’t be returning to them?” My voice had dropped to a deadly near hiss by the end of my speech.
“Lester!” Graves tugged futility on my arm, trying to drag me away from Barnes. “James! This won’t help Becker.”
I glanced at Graves before I took a deep breath and regained some of my control. “Thank you, Graves.” I heard Barnes sigh in relief and shot him another icy glare before hissing at him, “I'm not one to hold grudges, Barnes, but risk the life of one of my people again, and you’ll find out I am not a man to cross. Do I make myself clear?” Barnes swallowed hard and gave me a shaky nod. “Excellent.” I turned and dispensed a glare at the other journalists. “Stay here until my people arrive.”
“Lester!” Graves grabbed for my arm again and I swung around, my glare dying as she held out a bottle of bleach to me. “It might blind it. At least for a few seconds.”
“Thanks,” I said as I slipped out of the door, pausing only to repeat my instructions to remain inside and barricade the door. The last words I heard were Graves wishing me good luck and Harris telling Barnes to fucking shut up his complaining.
***
I glanced around and swallowed, second guessing myself and why the hell I was out here when safety was behind the door I stood outside. Future Predators still haunted my nightmares and here I was, voluntary hunting one down.. At least, I hoped it was only one.
I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm my nerves and listened intently, for either Becker or the Future Predator. I cursed when I realised in my rush, my need to find Becker now, that I had forgotten to ask Barnes where he’d last seen Becker. Cursing my rookie mistake, I also knew it was far too late to go back and ask, I doubted Graves would allow me to leave for a second time.
A crash downstairs had me jumping before I froze, every sense straining but I could hear nothing further. I carefully made my way down the stairs, every nerve on edge and jumping at the slightest noise. I started when I heard a door snick open and met the frightened eyes of a woman peering out into the corridor. I licked my dry lips before saying, “Please remain inside until you’re been told the situation has been resolved.” She swallowed, nodded and closed the door firmly and I heard furniture being dragged, I assumed, to hold the door closed. I continued to creep along the corridor, every sense alert for danger, while keeping my eyes open for a weapon better than a bottle of bleach.
I stumbled over something under my feet and almost fell, I spun around to see what it was and almost cried out as I fell to my knees when I saw the shotgun lying discarded on the floor. I couldn’t imagine Becker ever voluntarily abandoning ‘Vera’, I knew what she meant to him. I took a deep, shaky breath and made myself think. Although ‘Vera’ was here, Becker wasn’t and I couldn’t see any blood. I had to hope he was OK. I had to. I couldn’t lose Becker now, not when we might have something… I took another deep breath, before I began to examine the shotgun with shaky hands. Feeling a wave a relief when I found it was still loaded. I forced myself to chamber a shell and stand on unsteady feet, I had to find Becker. I had to find him, now.
The corridors I walked down were empty, although I could hear the sounds of people cowering behind closed doors as I moved past them. Doors I could only pray were stout enough to withstand any attack. I could feel my heart beating hard and fast in my chest, as if a bird frantic to escape its cage. The beat roaring through my ears, deafening me, and I attempted to slow that siren call to any nearby Predators. Memories of my previous encounters with these hellish beasts flooded my mind, nearly immobilizing me with fear as I could almost see Becker lying there… bloodied and… I swallowed the bile that image caused before forcing myself to move. The only thought in my mind, the need to find Becker.
I continued cautiously onwards, jumping at the slightest noise, before I came to a door barely hanging from its frame. I stepped inside and froze at the sight of the Future Predator lying before me. I only moved when I realised it’s skull was crushed. I carefully approached, ‘Vera’ swinging from side-to-side as I waited for an attack.
I froze when I heard the familiar clicking of a nearby Predator coming from the corridor and I slowly turned to face it. My finger tightening on the trigger but I didn’t fire, not yet. I recalled how fast they bloody moved and I had a very limited number of shots. I had to wait for the right time, for the moment it committed itself to its attack and then… well, then I had to hope my luck held for this, my third encounter with these bloody things.
The Predator leapt at me and my shot went wide as I was forced to dive to the side to avoid its raking claws. I spun quickly, hoping it was off-balance from it miss but it was already gone. I felt sweat run down my back as I gulped lungfuls of air, my gaze darting this way and that for my target. My fingers fumbled as I tried to chamber a fresh shell, dropping it to the ground before my fingers scrabbled to pick it up. I carefully checked it over before loading it into ‘Vera’. All the time, I kept my gaze fixed on the doorway, wondering it the Predator would be hanging over it, waiting for me to exit and… But I could hardly wait in here for my soldiers to arrive. Not when Becker was out there, now unarmed… although as my gaze returned to the fallen Predator, clearly not incapable of taking down one without ‘Vera’.
A door opening down the corridor seemed to gain the Predator’s attention as I saw it’s shadow disappear towards that sound. I paused for a moment before cursing, I was armed and I could hardly leave whoever had opened that door to face it alone. I was still careful about the doorway, almost diving out of it to cover the ceiling, although I was thankful I didn’t pull the trigger as nothing was there.
I regained my feet and set out to follow the Predator, unsure if it would be turning back towards me after all the noise I’d made. I heard it’s clicks and barely managed to fire as it leapt at me, forcing me to dive away from it once more. I scrambled to rise, my legs shaky, to find it lying motionless beside me. I fired my last shell into its skull.
I leaned forward, ‘Vera’ dangling from my grip as I rested my hands on my knees and concentrated on just breathing for a moment. But only for a moment as I still needed to find Becker. After what seemed forever, but which I hoped was only moment, I managed to straighten and set off again. Where the hell was Becker? He should have recognised the sound of his own weapon firing. He should have appeared out of a door or from down a corridor. He should have… and that image of Becker, lying all bloodied and… I shook my head to clear that image. Becker was alive, he had to be.
A sound behind me had me swinging around, not that I had any shells left and I didn’t think Becker would appreciate me using ‘Vera’ as a club. ‘Vera’ almost dropped from my nerveless fingers as I found myself staring at Becker. Standing there all battered and bloodied but very much alive. I had no idea how long I stood there, before I crossed the distance between us and shook him. “You’re an idiot, Becker,” I told him before I kissed him hard. “But you’re my idiot. Don’t…” No, I couldn’t ask him not to do his job.
“I’m fine, sir,” Becker began, before his eyes lit up at the sight of ‘Vera’.
I relinquished his shotgun and watched him check her over, his hands gracefully and… Not a thought to have and I shifted as my trousers grew somewhat confining. I caught Becker’s worried glance, concern and… was that something else I could see in his eyes? It was now or never, I decided and cleared my throat. “Hilary,” I began, about to bare my soul to him, when I saw his expression. Fuck! Had I read the situation so wrong? The last thing I needed right now was a sexual harassment claim… but he had kissed me first… “Is there a problem?”
“Well… I prefer Becks.”
“Becks?”
Becker rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking somewhat nervous. “Er… assuming we’ll on the same page.”
“I believe we are.” I certainly hoped we were, and as I was not a coward, I continued, “So, if we are to do what I believe we both want to… I think we should be James and.. Becks.” I kissed him again and felt his cock harden against my hip. I smiled, hopeful that it was a reaction to my presence and not just due to the adrenalin coursing through both our bodies.
We broke apart when a wolf-whistle sounded behind me, and I turned to see a number of ARC soldiers grinning at us. “There better not be a book, Lyle.”
Lyle just grinned back before giving us both a thumbs up. “Jenny won, sir.”
Lyle was just as incorrigible as Danny and I knew when I had to admit defeat, besides there were more important things to deal with right now. “Lieutenant Lyle, there is another Predator in that room.”
“Did you get that one too, sir?”
“No, Becker did, I only finished what he started.” I glanced at Becker, as much as I wished we could continue what we had started, duty called. “Please make yourself useful, Lieutenant, and have the men do a thorough search of the hotel for any more of these bloody beasts.”
“The kitchen staff were sensible, sir. They barricaded themselves in as soon as the anomaly appeared and didn’t make a sound until Blade and Finn found then.”
“Is there a point to this information?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. They said they could see the anomaly and only two of those ‘ugly sods’ came through before it closed.” Lyle raised a hand before I could speak. “I’ve left Finn and Blade with the anomaly locker in the kitchen and the rest of us will do a sweep, just in case,” He drawled as his gaze flickering from Becker to me before he tilted his head and asked, “So, boss, does this mean we get a tank now?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, it doesn’t.”
Lyle just grinned before kicking the Predator I’d killed and whistling again. “That’s a fucking good shot, sir.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” I replied before straightening my clothes. With the anomaly closed and the Future Predators dealt with, the minister would expect this conference to continue. Which meant I had a roomful of journalists I needed to talk to. I glanced at Becker and fought to keep the grin from my face, after that, of course, there was a perfectly good double bed booked in our name for the rest of the weekend. “I’ll be in Conference Room 3 with the journalists if you need me, Lieutenant. Coming, Captain.” I walked off in that direction, Becker beside me, when I heard Lyle’s smothered snigger. I turned and quirked an eyebrow at him. “Oh, Lieutenant?”
“Sir?”
“Ask nicely and I’m sure the budget could run to a coffee and a plate of sandwiches in the morning.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
I grinned as I strolled off, linking my fingers with Becker’s and hoped the journalists wouldn’t demand too much of my time. I glanced at Becker and smiled, their questions could definitely wait until the morning, for I had plans for tonight.