Vermin
Title: Vermin
Author: TalliW
Rating: T
Characters: Philip Burton, Connor Temple
Word count: 630
Summary: Connor has changed so much Philip is now scared of him
Warnings: mentiones the death of main characters
Connor aimed quickly and shot the creature in the left eye, the bullet driving straight into its brain and killing it on the spot.
He wasn't a mean person by nature but he detested vermin. And for him the future predators were the worst kind of vermin.
With a satisfied smile, Connor slung the rifle over his shoulder and walked slowly towards the creature’s corpse, ignoring April's awe-filled gaze and Becker's appreciative nod.
"That's for Matt and Abby, you damn bastard," Connor mumbled, so low that only Philip, leaning trembling against the concrete pillar, only two metres away from the dead predator, could hear it.
Philip stared with wide open eyes as Connor removed the tongue of his prey to carry it as a trophy on his belt. He didn't know what he feared more at the moment. The future predators still rooming the building or the young man in front of him.
Not for the first time, Philip regretted the trap he had laid out for Abby. He had wanted to get her out of the picture, leaving behind a heartbroken, easily mouldable Connor. But something had gone wrong. Instead of a vulnerable scientist he had got several dead bodies and a vengeful killer.
On top of it all, his action had left the ARC so shorthanded that the PM had decided the project wasn't worth the trouble any more and had withdrawn his support.
When Matt had died of the injuries he had received as he tried to protect Abby, Emily had said goodbye to her friends and disappeared through an anomaly. Jess and Becker had almost left their jobs as well. Only their loyalty to Lester and their friendship with Connor had kept them from following through with their plans.
Of course Philip had immediately hired a contingent of mercenaries. But the men he had got were too undisciplined and lacked the Special Forces soldiers' combat experience. Set against the future predators they had been little less than cannon fodder.
"Philip! Philip, did you hear me?" Connor asked much too close to his position for Philips comfort. "You wait here with April while Becker and I clear the other levels out. Understood?"
Philip nodded silently, trying not to shy away from Connor's close proximity.
There had been a time where he had yearned for Connor's attention. So often he had envied Abby when Connor had looked at her like she was the centre of his world. Now he wished Connor's cold eyes would focus on someone else but him.
Philip still couldn't believe how much Connor had changed after Abby's death. The young man's expressive eyes had turned to ice, he had lost all interest in science and he'd learnt to handle a gun better than Becker.
By now the old Connor was gone completely, withered away in the dark hours after Abby and Matt's burial. Another crime Philip counted himself responsible for. Even if killing the spirit of a scientific genius wasn't something he could have held criminally liable for, unlike the other things he had done recently.
Connor walked off at a brisk pace and Philip breathed out in relief. Predators of all kinds gave him the jitters.
A while late,r Philip heard the staccato of shots from the corridor where the labs were located. And then an almost inhuman cheer of triumph.
On wobbly legs, Philip turned away from the mutilated corpse of the future predator and prayed that Connor never found out that he was involved in Abby's death.
Connor Temple wasn’t cruel by nature but he detested vermin. Philip had no doubt that by Connor's standards he would absolutely fit into that category.
Author: TalliW
Rating: T
Characters: Philip Burton, Connor Temple
Word count: 630
Summary: Connor has changed so much Philip is now scared of him
Warnings: mentiones the death of main characters
Connor aimed quickly and shot the creature in the left eye, the bullet driving straight into its brain and killing it on the spot.
He wasn't a mean person by nature but he detested vermin. And for him the future predators were the worst kind of vermin.
With a satisfied smile, Connor slung the rifle over his shoulder and walked slowly towards the creature’s corpse, ignoring April's awe-filled gaze and Becker's appreciative nod.
"That's for Matt and Abby, you damn bastard," Connor mumbled, so low that only Philip, leaning trembling against the concrete pillar, only two metres away from the dead predator, could hear it.
Philip stared with wide open eyes as Connor removed the tongue of his prey to carry it as a trophy on his belt. He didn't know what he feared more at the moment. The future predators still rooming the building or the young man in front of him.
Not for the first time, Philip regretted the trap he had laid out for Abby. He had wanted to get her out of the picture, leaving behind a heartbroken, easily mouldable Connor. But something had gone wrong. Instead of a vulnerable scientist he had got several dead bodies and a vengeful killer.
On top of it all, his action had left the ARC so shorthanded that the PM had decided the project wasn't worth the trouble any more and had withdrawn his support.
When Matt had died of the injuries he had received as he tried to protect Abby, Emily had said goodbye to her friends and disappeared through an anomaly. Jess and Becker had almost left their jobs as well. Only their loyalty to Lester and their friendship with Connor had kept them from following through with their plans.
Of course Philip had immediately hired a contingent of mercenaries. But the men he had got were too undisciplined and lacked the Special Forces soldiers' combat experience. Set against the future predators they had been little less than cannon fodder.
"Philip! Philip, did you hear me?" Connor asked much too close to his position for Philips comfort. "You wait here with April while Becker and I clear the other levels out. Understood?"
Philip nodded silently, trying not to shy away from Connor's close proximity.
There had been a time where he had yearned for Connor's attention. So often he had envied Abby when Connor had looked at her like she was the centre of his world. Now he wished Connor's cold eyes would focus on someone else but him.
Philip still couldn't believe how much Connor had changed after Abby's death. The young man's expressive eyes had turned to ice, he had lost all interest in science and he'd learnt to handle a gun better than Becker.
By now the old Connor was gone completely, withered away in the dark hours after Abby and Matt's burial. Another crime Philip counted himself responsible for. Even if killing the spirit of a scientific genius wasn't something he could have held criminally liable for, unlike the other things he had done recently.
Connor walked off at a brisk pace and Philip breathed out in relief. Predators of all kinds gave him the jitters.
A while late,r Philip heard the staccato of shots from the corridor where the labs were located. And then an almost inhuman cheer of triumph.
On wobbly legs, Philip turned away from the mutilated corpse of the future predator and prayed that Connor never found out that he was involved in Abby's death.
Connor Temple wasn’t cruel by nature but he detested vermin. Philip had no doubt that by Connor's standards he would absolutely fit into that category.