Title: Transfer 2: Feeling the Heat
Author: Pinkcat4569
Rating: Teen, violence and mild adult situations
Description: Sequel to Transfer. Becker's temporary transfer to international branches of the ARC continues. This time he is in Yemen, one of the hottest places on earth. As Jess patches in though comms to direct him, she feels a different kind of heat thanks to the differences in cultures.
Author's note: I intended this just to be Becker in a hot place, but I chose Yemen, not realizing some of the tensions lately with terrorist ties, struggles for democracy, and the very different views of women from some of the cultures in the West. I didn't want to get too bogged down in political drama, but I felt I had to mention these things at least.
I mean no offense to anyone. I have never been to any Arabic country and any opinions expressed here are purely for fictional drama.
Total words, just under 10,000 but not finished yet. Only one or two more chapters left though. Plus, there will be one more sequel story at least. 979 words this chapter.
Transfer 2: Feeling the Heat, Chapter One
Jess walked into Ops, sipping a frothy coffee. She was in a pleasant enough mood. As she sat down at the ADD, her mobile pinged. Seeing the number, her mood went from pleasant to ecstatic.
"Becker!" she squealed into the phone.
He chuckled. "Good morning. It's morning there, right?"
"It is. How are you? How's Norway?"
"I imagine it's as cold as it was when I left."
"You left? Becker, are you coming home?" she asked hopefully.
He sighed. "No, I'm en route to Yemen."
"Yemen?"
"Yeah, apparently they're getting some heavy anomaly activity."
"Why couldn't Lester send someone else?" she asked, a little whiny actually.
"Believe it or not, Norway isn't that far. Plus the ARC in Norway is up and running. They didn't need me. I was actually scheduled to fly out tomorrow. Lester simply redirected me."
"Simply," said mumbled. "I hate my boss."
"Good morning to you, too miss Parker," said Lester, strolling by at that exact moment. Jess death glared at him.
"Oh, my, that's a face. What did I do?"
"You sent Becker to Yemen."
"Oh," he said. He turned slightly pale. "Please don't glare at me like that so early in the morning."
"Deal with it. I'm not happy with you."
Lester rolled his eyes. "Is that the good captain on the phone?"
She nodded.
"How nice of him to fill you in on his good news so quickly. I needed more stress. Several of my highly trained staff are currently loaned out to ARC branches scattered around the world, so it's not an imposition at all that one of my remaining subordinates looks like she's plotting against me."
Jess eyed him, but continued to listen to Becker on the mobile. Then she giggled. "Becker wants me to surrender my heels."
"What?"
Jess giggled more. "So you don't get a stiletto heel lodged in your back."
"Good lord, how macabre. Tell the Captain that he's on the clock. I expect him to keep the flirting with you to a minimum.
Jess turned red. "We aren't…flirting."
Lester stared. "While I am grateful to the Captain for restoring you to your normal chattering self," he said, while she turned redder, "I will remind you both that you are professionals."
"Of course," said Jess, clearing her throat. "We weren't flirting."
Lester shook his head. "Well, the Captain will be back soon and you can 'not flirt' in person. If I know him he'll have the Yemenites tiring of his charming personality soon after he arrives in the desert."
"Desert?" Jess asked.
"Yeah, from one extreme to another," said Becker.
"Which reminds me," said Lester. "Becker was deployed quickly. See that he has all the equipment he needs. Working with him on that won't be a problem, will it?" He smirked.
Jess shook her head. "Of course not."
Lester nodded and walked to his office.
"What did he ask?"
"Nothing," said Jess. "He just wants me to make sure you don't melt."
"Right. The stuff I took to Norway won't be much use. Sorry to add more work to you, Jess."
"Don't be silly, "she said. "You're out in the field, and it's my job to make sure you have what you need."
He laughed. "Still, the field shouldn't be so far away."
"No, it should not. Lester's going to get an earful later."
"Easy, Jess. It isn't him. He's under pressure from governments all over the world to assist them with anomalies. We can thank Convergence for that."
Jess sighed. "I know. It's just…I miss you."
"I miss you too. It won't be long."
"Yes, it will."
There was silence on his end. "We'll get through it," he said finally.
"We will," she said, taking a sip of coffee. "First things first, let's make you sure you survive long enough to catch creatures. OK, Becker, what do you need?"
"Well, the arctic clothing I have won't be much help."
"No," she said. "You'll need gear for heat."
"Better send some tents and stuff. The place I'm going is pretty small and sparsely populated. I'll be roughing it, I think."
"This just sounds delightful, Becker," she said, very unenthusiastically.
He chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll be fine. Soldiers are used to basic conditions." He laughed. "I'm not you."
"Oh my God! I would die! No boutiques, spas, or coffee shops. You poor thing!"
He laughed at her genuine concern.
"I'm going to do this right," said Jess. "I need to make sure you get everything you need. Where specifically are you going?"
"Some town called Zabid in Yemen."
"Za…bid," she said, typing. A few moments passed them Jess gasped. "Oh my God! Becker, it's one of the hottest places on earth!"
"Of course it is," he said rather casually. "Figures. I just left one of the coldest so why not the other end of spectrum?"
"There's a desert in the area called, the Tihama, an actual desert, Becker! Plus, the area is rustic, like you said. You really will be roughing it. There are no hotels in the area, no air conditioning. Becker, what if you have to chase creatures in an actual *# ( & desert? You'll get heatstroke!"
"Did you, Jess Parker, actually swear?"
"I did."
"Wow," he said, chuckling.
Jess turned pink. "I'm just…concerned."
"I get that. I'm touched," he said, making her smile. "Honestly, I'll be fine. Don't freak out. I'm trained for survival in the most extreme conditions. I can take it, I swear."
"OK. Thank you."
"Feel better?"
She giggled slightly. "Yes. You're the one going into a bloody desert and I'm the one freaking out. I'm sorry you have to calm me, but thank you."
"No problem."
"OK, well, now that I've got that out of my system, let's get you outfitted," she said. "Boy are you going to be prepared."
End of Chapter One