anomaly 006 . fourth wall

[dinosize]

Noticed a few of you complaining that you were bored.

Extra hands are always welcome in maintenance.

Comments

[dinosize]

[ He shoots up from the ground immediately and grabs the communicator, drawing it close. ]

Connor?

[isahumanbeing]

[and in almost perfect unison with Stephen:] Connor.

[dinosize]

Shut up!

[coolnickname]

...there are two of my dead friends fighting over talking to me. This would be so cool if it was fiction.

[There's no enthusiasm in Connor's voice, and he hopes that when he rubs his hand tiredly over his face it's not too obvious that he's wiping his eyes.]

Where are you?

[dinosize]

Where are you?

[coolnickname]

At work. Like I'm ever anywhere else these days. If you're talking through an anomaly, I can't find it - I'm trying to track your location.

[dinosize]

I'm - not. Not any kind you know.

[coolnickname]

Stephen, look I - I was fine with your like, communicating in two-word grunts when you were -

[Alive.]

[Not gonna cry.]

When you were here, right? But can I just say? It's sort of the opposite of helpful right now.

[dinosize]

I don't know how to explain it. [ He is frustrated, and it all sounds so unbelievable. ] There's more than just time, there's other worlds, and things in between. I got a second chance, that's all.

I'm - sorry. I thought I'd leave you with Nick. I thought everyone would - would rather -

[ Rather have Nick than Stephen. The one who was always right, who didn't care what was in his way, who played by his own rules and saved lives. Not Stephen. Stephen was just a shadow.

He couldn't let Nick die for him. Not him and Helen. ]

[coolnickname]

A second chance?

[Connor's not doing that hopeful-puppy look on purpose, Stephen.]

[dinosize]

I'm - I'm trying.

[ He hadn't realized until just now that he does want to go back. ]

[coolnickname]

Look, mate, even if you are a hallucination, I - we really miss you, okay?

What'd you want me to do?

[isahumanbeing]

Would rather what, Stephen?

[dinosize]

Rather you than me, all right?

[coolnickname]

Um, can't we just have you both back?

[isahumanbeing]

That wasn't your call to make.

[isahumanbeing]

[as innocently as possible] I'm not fighting.

[coolnickname]

You're not where Stephen is. Are you?

[isahumanbeing]

No. I'm--

[soft laugh] You know, I haven't the foggiest idea where I am.

[coolnickname]

Did you see him say second chances? We're like the SAS, Cutter. Never leave a man behind!

[That's not the SAS, Connor.]

[isahumanbeing]

That's not-- Nevermind.

And I heard that part. If I can find a way to reach it-- [now he's thinking seriously about this. No, Stephen, you don't get a say.]

[coolnickname]

At least he won't be on his own then. I'm not doing very well trying to track him. The detector - well, it's telling me there isn't a signal.

[Tell him he's not just imagining this, please, boss.]

[isahumanbeing]

Well, there wouldn't be. The detector finds the time anomalies. Whose to say there aren't other types of anomalies out there, ones that bridge universes rather than just time.

What's causing this could be completely different.

[dinosize]

Fine, yes. It's the Barge. Find the Admiral.

[ He wishes he could say how, but he doesn't know. ]

[isahumanbeing]

All right. Who is the Admiral?