Chapter Two, Interference

Jess smiled as each team member returned the black boxes. Her smile was bigger and brighter for one member.

"I have some news," she said cheerfully.

"The jogger?" Becker asked.

Jess smiled. "They think she'll make a full recovery."

Becker smiled and then sighed. "That's good Jess, thanks for telling me."

"You're welcome. I know there was a casualty, and that is horrible, but there could have been two, and probably would have been without you and the others."

Becker smiled. "Trying to cheer me up?"

"Always," she said with a chuckle. "You really should stop being so grumpy."

"Then you'd have nothing to do."

"Just my regular, paying job," she said with a grin.

"Yeah, you'd be so bored."

She laughed.

"Captain Becker! Get in here now!" screamed Lester.

"What did you do?" asked Connor.

"I don't know," said Becker.

Becker walked into Lester's office to see the director more angry than he'd ever seen him. His face was red, every vein in his neck and forehead stood up, and he was fuming, literallly.

"What's wrong?" asked Becker.

"What's wrong?" repeated Lester, dumbfounded. "What's bloody wrong!" he screamed.

Becker looked behind him, where the team and Jess had gathered.

"Calm down," said Abby.

"Yeah," said Connor. "Whatever it is we'll work it all out."

"Oh, how very nice, Connor. Tell me, how do you work out betrayal, hm? Or backstabbing, or at the very least deceit?" Lester walked up to Becker. "You might have least had the decency to inform me."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Becker.

"Oh, you don't know what...you bloody well put in the request!"

"Becker, you didn't request a tank, did you?" asked Jess.

"Not lately," he said with a smirk.

Lester yelled, "This is no light-hearted matter, and I am incensed by your attitude! How dare you act like you have no clue! I just spent a humiliating morning on the phone, first, in an unsolicited call with a general clearly decended from babboons, then in a call with the minister when I was the babboon."

"Lester..."

"Shut up, Captain!"

"Lester, please," said Jess sweetly. "What's going on?"

"Our good Captain has requested, without my knowledge, a transfer."

"What?" asked Becker.

"You didn't," said Abby.

"Jeez, you could have told us Action Man."

"You're...leaving?"

Becker looked at her, and Jess had tears in her eyes.

"I swear, Jess, I didn't. I have no idea what he's talking about."

Lester kicked his trash bin. "The treachery! I trusted you. I put my faith in you. How dare you make me look like a fool in front of the minister. Now, you add insult to injury by playing ignorant."

"I'm not playing, Lester, I don't know. I didn't request a transfer. I wouldn't."

"I don't know why you're playing with this, but it doesn't matter. It's done and over. The transfer has been approved."

"What!" cried Becker.

Everyone looked shocked, but Jess, she was crying.

"This is insane! I never requested a transfer!"

Jess sobbed. "You didn't even tell me."

Connor glared at him and shook his head.

"Would you listen to what I'm saying?" cried Becker.

"I am," said Matt. "Lester, he seems as shocked as the rest of us. Maybe you should stop yelling and listen."

Lester stopped raging. He stared at Becker. "You...didn't ask for a transfer?"

"No."

The sounds of Jess attempting to stop her sobs cut into him. He turned to her. "I didn't. I swear."

Jess nodded.

"Then we have a substantial problem," said Lester. "You've been transferred, and are no longer a member of this facility."

Everyone stood, shocked into silence.

A cell phone ring broke the stillness.

"By all means, Captain, take a phone call. We aren't doing anything important," said Lester.

Becker looked at the phone and sighed at the number.

"Dad, this really isn't a good time," he said softly.

Laughter greeted him. "Let me guess, you're in front of your former boss and he's screaming at you."

"Did you say my 'former boss?"

There was more laughter. "I did. Everything's all sewn up and you can get out of there today. Right this moment actually. I've got other things in the works too. You'll be right where you should be, a general at the top of government, before you know it."

Becker clenched his fists, his mouth went dry, and he struggled for control. "You did this," he said with eery calm.

"Of course. Come on over for dinner tonight and we'll discuss the plans. No need to thank me, Son, just doing my job as your father."

"Thank you? Seriously?"

"Hilary? You...don't sound pleased."

Becker was furious. He hung up.

Lester stared at the young man, now hanging his head in front of him. "I take it your father did some arranging of strings?"

Becker nodded.

"Captain, what is it you want?"

"To stay here, under your command, in the ARC," said Becker, barely above a whisper.

"Good," said Lester. "Then we have work to do. Jess hack whereever you have to and stop the transfer from, uh...transferring."

Jess smiled and ran to her station.

"I thought it was too late," said Abby.

"There's done," said Lester, "and there is done, with a capital d, italicized, and underlined. Fortunately, that takes longer. I'm hoping we can grab him from the actual personnel files before he's installed into a new position. I think its time for the babboon to call the minister back."

"I'm sorry, Lester."

Lester was taken aback by the helpless tone from the Captain. Suddenly, the captain and confident soldier vanished and a son, under the wing of a powerful father stood in front of him.

Lester smiled. "Not to worry. I have some experience with over-reaching parents, you know," and he winked at Becker.

Becker smiled.

"Can we help?" asked Connor.

"Yes, pour me a scotch," said Lester.

Connor smiled and went to fetch the drink.

"I may need your help, Captain. I think the minister would be more inclined to help if he knew that he was being manipulated."

"Easy, he's still my father. I'd rather not put him in too much hot water."

"Will a scalding bath suffice?" asked Lester.

Becker grinned. "As long as he can crawl out of it...eventually."

Lester smiled. "Right. Let's get to it, then," he said, dialing the phone. "The things I do for you people, I swear."

Connor handed him his scotch.

"Thank you. I need fuel. 'Hello, Minister. Yes, it is James Lester again. Well, the situation has changed and I am terribly sorry to inconvenience anyone, but I will be keeping my head of security."

End of Ch. 2