(AN: Okay, so here we are...I thought this chapter would take longer, but I had a nice lazy day on Sunday and spent most of it churning this out, and the following couple of days proofing it. Notwithstanding, there may be some grammatical errors or the like, so please be patient. The beginning of this chapter will be giving background on Captain Pelayo...if you're familiar with Call of Duty, Modern Warfare II then this won't come as a surprise...

And I would like to continue to ask the readers' indulgence in the odd pacing and back and forth perspectives of these chapters, I can't emphasize enough that this is just the 'training mission'. As to whether or not Kilo Company will make an appearance? Well, just keep reading and find out!)

Captain Pelayo awoke with a start. At first the Marine felt panic, as her last thoughts before losing consciousness was the CH-46 Sea Knight that had evac'd her and the rest of the Marines in the Capital City had been caught up in the nuclear blast. She had vague recollections of surviving the crash, only to succumb to radiation poisoning minutes later, alongside her fellow Marines.

But when she opened her eyes the Marine pilot was in for a shock. She was in bed, but not her barracks rack, but a real, honest to goodness bed with a blanket and comforter. Pelayo slowly took in her surroundings. The room she was in was rustic with vague nautical theming, and although it was clearly well-furnished, the lack of personal touches like photographs or mementos make it look a guest room versus someone's bedroom. Behind her, sunlight shone in through a brass-framed round window that was opened on a hinge. It let in a cool breeze that smelled like the ocean, and vaguely the Marine could hear seagulls crying in the distance.

As Pelayo looked about she saw a familiar and comforting sight; her gear was stashed by a large wingback chair that was sitting next to a small fireplace opposite the bed. Placed on the chair's cushion was her flightsuit and MARPAT camo uniform, both neatly folded. Her desert boots were at the foot of the chair, her MP-5 was leaning against the chair, and her M9 was still in the shoulder holster harness dangling off one of the wings of the chair back.

She was still taking in all of this and trying to process how she got from a nuclear wasteland in the Middle East to this odd guest room, when the door opened. A large Belgian Malinois padded in and sat right at the foot of her bed. He had a fine, dark brown fur coat, and stared at Pelayo with very intelligent eyes.

The the dog shocked Pelayo by opening his mouth and speaking in a cultured, British accented voice.

"Good morning miss- Ahem, I mean, good morning Captain Pelayo. I trust you have slept well?"

The Marine was still trying to process the talking dog, but finally she got her jaws to work long enough to speak.

"Ahhh...yeah? Umm...excuse me, er-"

"Ah yes, I beg your pardon ma'am, for not introducing myself. My name is Barnaby."

The dog said 'ma'am' but it sounded like 'mum', and Pelayo just stared at the dog as if he were an apparition. Finally she found herself speaking as if her brain was on autopilot.

"Ahhh, right. So Barnaby, where am I? I'm pretty sure I died in a helo crash..."

The dog nodded sagely.

"There you are right, ma'am. You did in fact perish in after-effects of that horrific explosion."

Surprised that the talking dog would know about her fate, Pelayo continued.

"But...I don't understand, what happened to me afterwards? Why am I here?"

The dog shook his head.

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am, but I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to discuss that. However, my Master will be more than happy to fill you in."

He turned around and started for the door, his paws clicking on the polished wooden floor.

"Your..master?"

Barnaby paused.

"Yes, ma'am. He is the one who brought you here, and wishes to discuss something important with you. He is indisposed at the moment, but should be available shortly. In the meantime-"

He reached up and pushed open the door with one of his large paws.

"I am making breakfast, you are more than welcome to partake."

Barnaby paused.

"If you are still feeling out of sorts I can bring in a breakfast tray-"

He stopped when Pelayo waved him off.

"No, that's alright. I need to get up anyways."

The dog nodded and left without another word, leaving the Marine pilot trying to figure out what was going on. But the more Pelayo tried to figure it out, the more the sheer incongruity of her situation made no sense. And just thinking about it made her head hurt. Finally, she remembered something her Drill Instructor taught her in boot camp. When faced with an unknown sitch, just remember: Improvise, Adapt and Overcome.

Pelayo shrugged. That made as much sense as anything since she woke up, so without any more thoughts, she threw the covers off and sat up.

A phantom pain shot through her left leg. That's right, she had broken her leg when her Cobra gunship had crashed in the Capital City. She reached out and massaged her leg, but found no bones broken, no signs of scar tissue or any injury. And yet, she could still vividly remember the pain of her leg being broken. She could even remember the agonizing pain as she was being carried from the crash site to the CH-46 Sea Knight. And yet, now it was completely healed. No, scratch that, she thought, it was as if it never happened.

Pelayo stood up and walked over to the corner of the room where there was a wash basin with a small mirror. As she splashed some water on her face she saw that she was dressed in her coyote brown undershirt and silkies. As she untangled her hair and tied it up into a bun she noticed her face was none the worse for the wear. She grabbed her MARPAT uniform and got dressed, then pulled on socks and her boots. She decided against strapping on her weapon, and stuffed her jarhead cap in one of the pockets. Before leaving Pelayo took a quick glance in the mirror, making sure her uniform didn't have any obvious wrinkles, then exited the room.

As she opened the door the fragrant odor of breakfast cooking assaulted her nostrils. The smell of eggs frying and bacon cooking took Pelayo back to her base at Camp Pendleton, specifically the DFAC at chow time, and as if on cue her stomach growled. She walked down a small corridor that took her into a room that seemed to function as both a study, dining room and pretty much everything else. There was a set of double doors on one end of the room that obviously went to an office or study, and on the opposite side was an arched doorway where the smells of breakfast emanated from, it was clearly the kitchen.

"Well, you're the last person I expected to see here..."

She turned around, and for the first time saw another person. Sitting at the table was another Marine, this one wearing desert MARPAT, and was in the process of wolfing down a large heaping plate of scrambled eggs, sausage and biscuits with gravy. Pelayo also noted that his plate was the same standard-issue metal plate that be in any Marine DFAC. Finally she spoke.

"Jackson?"

The Marine looked up from his plate and grinned.

"Good to see you, Capt'n."

Pelayo's mission during Operation Shock n' Awe was to support Gunnery Sgt. Jackson's squad on the assault on the Capital City. It was Jackson's CO Lt. Vasquez that made the call to turn around their CH-46 Sea Knight to rescue Pelayo after her Cobra gunship had crashed. It was the right call, no Marine leaves another behind. It also doomed them all, as their delay in stopping to rescue the downed pilot got them caught up in the blast after Al-Asad detonated the nuke. Jackson saw that Pelayo was still staring at him like an apparition.

"S'matter? You look like you just saw a ghost..."

"...And in a matter of speaking, she is..."

Both turned to see the new voice, which was Barnaby, who was standing at the entrance to the kitchen.

"I beg your pardon for interrupting ma'am, but Gunnery Sergeant Jackson is expected in the Master's study."

Jackson wiped off his mouth with a paper napkin and stood up.

"Well, the reunion's gonna have to wait until later, but I'm glad you made it outta that hellhole."

He gave a quick salute.

"Ma'am."

Pelayo was still staring at the Marine and returned his salute involuntarily. She watched as Jackson made his way to the double doors, and knocked. A muffled voice spoke and the doors opened. Without another word Jackson entered through the open doors, which shut behind him. The female Marine heard a slight cough behind her, and turned around. Barnaby was still sitting there, looking up at her.

"Would you be taking some breakfast, Captain?"

Her stomach growled again, and Pelayo saw the dog actually smile.

"Very good ma'am, I'll take that as a yes. Please follow me."

Barnaby turned around and padded into the kitchen, Pelayo followed. The kitchen was bright and well-appointed, all gleaming white surfaces and chrome accents, in contrast to the rest of the house's more rustic style. She saw the dog standing on a stool and serving food onto a metal plate. When he was done Barnaby nudged the plate closer towards her with his nose. It smelled divine, and Pelayo took no time in grabbing one of the forks and tucking in.

Just as she thought that a cup of strong coffee would wash this delicious meal down, then one appeared right by her elbow on the countertop. She looked over to Barnaby, and if dogs could shrug, he did.

"I assumed you would want coffee with your breakfast, ma'am. Brewed extra strong with just a pinch of salt, just the way you had it back at the Fleet."

Pelayo just nodded and took a sip, and was rewarded with a nice hit of caffeine. She chuckled to herself, almost causing a piece of bacon to go down the wrong tube. The dog seeme to notice.

"Everything alright, ma'am?"

She nodded.

"Yeah, it's just this is almost exactly like the sort of breakfast we got back at base, and it always surprised us Marines that the cooks were trained to make awesome breakfast like this, and then serve us shit on a shingle for dinner..."

She finished her meal and, without thinking reached over and scratched behind the dog's ear. Realizing what she did, she pulled back.

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean anything by that..."

But to her surprise, Barnaby merely thumped his tail once on the kitchen's tiled floor.

"Think nothing of it ma'am, that was probably the highest compliment you could pay me for your meal."

The dog paused, and turned his head towards the double doors.

"And now, I think, the Master will see you."

Pelayo nodded and set down her plate. As she made her way across to the entrance, she paused. Going into any situation, especially one that was an unknown, always filled the Marine with a mixture of apprehension and dread. She turned to Barnaby, who gave her a reassuring nod.

"There is nothing to fear, ma'am. The Master is not what you expect. Just listen to what He has to say, and keep an open mind."

Pelayo nodded, then knocked on the doorframe. She heard a muffled voice say 'Enter!' and the doors opened. She stepped through them, and her first impression was one of an old-fashioned study. There was a rustic but cozy-looking fireplace on one wall, with a couch on one side and a large easy chair opposite it. On one wall was a floor-to-ceiling bookcase teeming with old leather-bound books, beside it was a table with a desk lamp and papers strewn about. Seated at the desk was a man who was in the process of typing on a laptop. The man didn't seem to notice her at first, but then he spoke up.

"I'll be with you in a minute..."

He continued typing, then stopped, and stood up from his chair. As he came around to table Pelayo got a good look at the man. He looked to be in his thirties, with sunburned skin, a scruffy beard and blonde hair that had been sun-bleached. He was wearing an old Hawaiian shirt, khaki shorts and flip-flops. Pelayo heard him speak again.

"Ah, well you certainly clean up nicely, much better than before..."

She had a vague memory of seeming the same man peering into the wreckage of the Sea Knight as she lay dying of radiation poisoning, but he continued.

"I know this must be a lot to take in, Captain Pelayo, so please have a seat."

She noticed that, although he spoke fluent English, it was with a slight accent. Slowly Pelayo made her way to the couch and sat down. The man took a seat opposite her and pulled out a pipe from his pocket. As he went through the ritual of cleaning it and packing tobacco into the bowl, he continued.

"You must have many questions, so before I begin please feel free to ask away..."

Pelayo watched as the man lit his pipe, then finally found her voice.

"W-who are you?"

The man finished lighting his pipe, took a deep puff and smiled.

"An excellent question. I am...well, I am someone who fixes things. With my powers I can fix all the problems in a world, or create a dozen new problems, or even create a whole new world and fill it full of inhabitants."

The Marine raised an eyebrow.

"So...you're God?"

The man chuckled.

"I prefer the name Country Ollman, but to answer your question, I am not 'God' but I might as well be one, for all the powers I wield."

He saw the look on Pelayo's face and chuckled.

"I know, I don't look anything like the pictures in Bible study, but for what it's worth, everyone got it wrong. And, by the way, I'm not unique. There is a whole Pantheon of Beings like us, who create worlds or fix existing ones with our powers."

The man called Country paused.

"You okay? You look a little...out of it..."

He glanced over to a small table where a group of bottles and carafes sat.

"I know it's a bit early but Barnaby can mix up a mean tissue-restorer if you need a boost."

Pelayo shook her head.

"No...no it's okay. It's just a lot to take in. I always imagined the Afterlife to be different, not..." She waved around her, "...this."

She saw Country tilt his head, and quickly added.

"Not that you and your dog haven't been great, it's just...weird."

Country took another puff on his pipe and smiled.

"Don't worry, you're not the first one to have that sort of reaction..."

He nodded towards the drink bar.

"Your fellow Marine actually drank half a bottle of my bonded bourbon when I told him the same thing, he wasn't as stoic."

Pelayo grinned to herself.

"Yeah, that surprises me. Gunny was always one who was super cool and collected under fire. Then again, this..."

Her voice trailed away, but then she regained her composure and directed her attention back to her host.

"So, you're basically a 'god', so I gotta ask, why?"

The man gave an enigmatic smile.

"Why what?"

"Why did you rescue me and Gunny Jackson from that irradiated hellhole?"

The man shrugged.

"Because I saw potential. And it seemed like the right thing to do."

Her eyes narrowed.

"Why just us? If you're a god, why not save all my fellow Marines?"

The man's smile was still on his face, but for a brief moment there was something both majestic and terrible about it.

"Who says I didn't?"

Then, as soon as it appeared it vanished, and the man called Country Ollman was back to smoking his pipe, a friendly grin on his face. He spoke again.

"And to answer your first question, it is because I have a need for your and the Gunny's services."

"Such as?"

"Skills that only a Marine possesses. You see, there are others like you. Others who,like you, had their threads were cut before their time..."

He paused.

"I had their threads plucked and re-woven into another story. One where they can do good, and earn their happy ending, so to speak."

Country finished his pipe and tapped out the ashes into the hearth.

"Unfortunately, they're going to get themselves into quite a few scrapes before they earn the title of hero, and that's where you come in."

He glanced at the mouthpiece of his pipe and stuck it back into his pocket.

"Actually, they're about to get themselves into quite a pickle and will need your help soon."

Pelayo sat back.

"Soooo, you want me to play sidekick to these wannabe heroes?"

The man shook his head, laughing lightly.

"Oh no, you all will be on equal footing. As a matter of fact, with a couple of exceptions, you will be the one in charge of them."

She chewed on her lower lip, processing this information.

"So, assuming I agree this, what's in it for me?"

"Well, the adventure of a lifetime for one. Second, it gives you a chance to be a hero, not just a pawn in someone else's game of bloodsport otherwise known as war. And lastly, I will grant you your heart's desire."

A small memory pushed itself unbidden into Pelayo's mind, and her eyes narrowed at Country.

"I highly doubt that."

The man shrugged.

"If you don't want to play along, that's perfectly fine. I'll send you on your way, and you can pass on, move on as it were, to the Beyond."

He saw the puzzled look on her face.

"It's what would have happened if you had perished in the Capital City and I had not intervened."

Pelayo thought about it for a while, then finally spoke.

"What did Gunny, I mean what response did Jackson give?"

"Oh, the usual reaction. First disbelief, then denial, followed by venting...Although, after he thought about it, he did agree."

The Marine nodded, then stood up.

"Fine, sign me up, whatever. It's gotta be better than spending time bored in a fluffy bunch of clouds or being stuck on Fire Watch for all eternity."

Country also stood up and clapped his hands together.

"Excellent! This has been most informative..."

He paused.

"Although I know that a certain self-proclaimed book critic will probably not like these little interludes, but hey, if you don't like it, don't read it..."

Country saw the odd look Pelayo was giving him, and waved it off.

"Sorry, god-people problems...anyways, since you agree I will be sending you on your way. As I said, your companions have managed are going to need some help. And speaking of help, you'll have help, in the form of transportation."

He smiled in a self-deprecating manner.

"It won't be as glamorous as your Cobra, but it will get the job done."

She shrugged.

"If it's got two engines and a set of rotors, I can fly it."

She looked back.

"I need to go grab my gear, after that can you show me where is this transport at?"

Country smiled.

"You won't need to get your things, they'll travel with you."

Pelayo gave him a look.

"How?"

The man smiled.

"Like this-"

He snapped his fingers, and Captain Pelayo vanished.

Satisfied, the man when back to his desk, and started typing on his laptop again. The doors to his study opened, and Barnaby padded in.

"I trust everything is to your satisfaction, sir?"

Country paused in his typing.

"Yep, and our Tapestry has just gotten a little bit more interesting..."

(Meanwhile, back at the Oasis)

"...and the next thing I knew I was flying in that Sea Hawk, I had a hand-written note with some coordinates on them. I flew on that heading, and encountered your IFF beacon."

Bradley let out a low whistle.

"Well, I can't speak for the rest of the men, but the...entity that I encountered was much different from that person...For one thing it was a she..."

He looked over to the chopper.

"Although, your appearing here is quite the game-changer. That chopper can cover a lot more ground than our HUMVEEs."

Pelayo frowned.

"Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying, lieutenant?"

She gestured around.

"We're not in Dubai, or the Emirates, or even in Kansas anymore."

She set her hands on her hips and continued.

"I'd be happy to fly you to Al-Udeid, but I'm gonna tell you, it's not there."

The lieutenant paused.

"What do you mean, it's not there?"

The Marine sighed in exasperation.

"Oh, Army grunts are soooo thick...I mean, I flew to where Al-Udeid Air Force Base should be, and in its place was a small port city and a camel-breeding farm..."

All the 33rd soldiers took in the information, but it was Davis who finally spoke.

"If what our 'patron' was implying is true, then we're in a fairy tale, and have to help it along...is that true?"

But before the Marine could respond, Sgt. Torrez beat her to the punch.

"So what? We're supposed to help Romeo over there win over the heart of the princess and all that? Do you even hear that shit coming out of your mouth, and you realize just how batshit loco it sounds?"

Pelayo snorted.

"I'm going to answer Wannabe-Casanova over here, the private's right. Basically there's some element that was missing from this story and our mission is to set it right. Otherwise we wouldn't be here."

Connor shook his head.

"Man, I gotta go with Torrez on this one, this shit's nuts."

He looked over to Bradley.

"El-Tee, what say you? You really think we're in some sort of fairy tale?"

The lieutenant seemed to consider his words. After a long five minutes he finally spoke.

"Yeah, I'd say it's nuts. But, I have had some weird dreams..."

He heard a groan coming from the shelter by the oasis, and glanced over. The kid was coming back awake.

"...and I've gotten some information that seems to back up what the Captain has been saying."

He turned his attention back his fellow Exiles.

"But, before we go charging in to help out our hero win over the princess, there are some more urgent things that need to be taken care of."

He looked over to Connors.

"We need supplies. Right now we have water, but we're going to run out of rations within a couple of days."

Bradley looked up at the palm trees.

"And while there is a supply of food here at the oasis I have a feeling once the MRE's and protein bars run out we're gonna get sick of living off a diet of water and dates."

He unslung his rifle, and Pelayo spoke up.

"So, what are you proposing to do, lieutenant?"

Bradley nodded towards the large city that loomed in the distance.

"We're going into the city and pick up supplies; food, water, even lamp oil if they have it."

The Marine stopped him.

"Are you serious? And you think that nobody's gonna notice group of 21st century soldiers waltzing into the city?"

Bradley shrugged.

"This time we're not invaders."

"They don't know that."

He nodded over to the young teen, who had sat up and was holding his head.

"We've got a native guide..."

Pelayo shook her head.

"Then at least just make it one of you..."

She looked over to Bradley.

"...And not you, you're these grunt's CO, if anything happens to you the mission's in jeopardy."

Torrez chuckled.

"Wow, loot, not even five minutes on the ground and Lady Jarhead's already bossin' you around."

He stopped when Pelayo gave him a dirty look, but Bradley responded.

"The captain's right. One of us, in disguise, should be able to slip into the city and out again without being noticed."

He looked over to Torrez.

"Sergeant, I'm glad you volunteered."

"Say what? I didn't volunteer for shit!"

"Then consider yourself volun-told...and while we're at it, get dressed into mufti."

Torrez looked like he was about to say something, but thought better of it.

"Roger that, sir."

He turned to leave.

"'Scuse me whilst I go round up a clever disguise..."

Bradley turned to Connors.

"Sar'ent Connors, I'm going to need you to take inventory of all our supplies, and get a list together of things needed to survive in the desert. Fresh fruit, produce, hell if any of those guys are selling chickens buy a couple, just make sure you pay 'em to clean them first."

Connors saluted and left. The lieutenant looked over and saw the young man, escorted by PVT. Davis, approached him. He was still rubbing his temples.

"Ayah! What sort of devil's magic have you put into me, my head throbs!"

Davis chuckled.

"Probably that concussion, kid."

Aladdin turned to the medic.

"What speaks you of this...con-cushun?"

Davis shrugged.

"Basically, you took a nasty knock to the head and hey, waitaminnit!"

He glanced over to Bradley, who seemed equally astounded.

"You understand me?"

The boy nodded.

"But how?"

Before either the boy or Bradley could respond Captain Pelayo spoke up.

"Probably thanks to me. My arrival, in the words of our 'benefactor', was to help you along the way."

She turned her attention to the young teen.

"Apparently that also means breaking down the language barriers."

Pelayo paused.

"Although it sounds like lazy storytelling if you ask me."

The boy looked over to Pelayo.

"You are a woman?! But you dress like a man, and your manners of speech are mannish!"

That caused her to direct a withering glare at the boy, while both the 33rd soldiers snickered, with Davis replying.

"Well, she is a Marine..."

She turned her glare at the medic.

"One more crack out of you, private, and you're going to laughing out of a hole on the other side of your head!"

Bradley decided to defuse the situation by addressing the boy.

"Okay, ah, Aladdin. We are in need of supplies, and you are going to make good on your promise. I want you to be their guide and help them get in and out of the city unnoticed."

Aladdin's dark eyes lit up.

"Then you will help me get the treasure?"

Bradley shrugged.

"Sure, why not?"

Captain Pelayo had been watching the exchange, and at the mention of the treasure, spoke up.

"So, why is this treasure so damned important to you, kid?"

The boy looked up at Pelayo.

"Because, it will help me win the heart of the princess!"

Davis interjected.

"Say, ah, Aladdin, have you ever...you know actually met this girl?"

The boy seemed to catch on to Davis' patronizing tone, and glared at him.

"Of course we have! We met in the city...I thought she was just a commoner like me, but then she told me she was of royalty..."

He closed his eyes.

"And I was crushed, because a commoner like me could never wed a princess."

Davis was about to make another smart-ass remark, but his CO beat him to the punch.

"Look, kid, surely this princess isn't worth risking your neck in that Cave of Wonders, was she?"

"How dare you ask such a question, she is the most beautiful creature I have ever met..."

The boy's eyes shone, and he spoke as if reciting poetry.

"Her hair is like the nights of disunion and separation and her face like the days of union and delectation; She has a nose like the edge of the burnished blade and cheeks like purple wine or anemones blood-red: her lips as coral and carnelian shine and the water of her mouth is sweeter than old wine; its taste would quench Hell's fiery pain..."

Bradley glanced over to Davis, who shrugged his shoulders.

"Okay, we get it, she's hot..."

Pelayo was the only one not impressed.

"So what?"

She saw the kid was still in a daze and snapped her fingers in front of his face.

"Hello?! News flash kid, don't care how pretty she is, but a ton of riches aren't gonna make you a prince. You should just clean up and go to her and ask her...her old man could probably make an exception..."

The teen interrupted her.

"No! I have to be a prince!"

"Well, sorry to shit in your Rice Crispies, kid, but we're not genies. We can't magically conjure you up a prince outfit and an entourage..."

Aladdin folded his arms.

"If you will not make me a prince, then I will not help you."

Davis whispered over to Bradley.

"For the record, sir, I don't remember Aladdin being this much of a brat in the cartoon."

He paused.

"And speaking of which, didn't he have a pet monkey?"

Bradley brushed aside the private's comments and intervened into the escalating argument between Pelayo and Aladdin.

"Okay, okay kid. You win. We'll help you become a prince and win over the heart of the princess."

He ignored the dumbfounded look on the Marine's face and continued.

"But first you have to make good on your promise to help my man get in and out of the city with supplies, got it?"

The boy gave a low bow.

"I will do as you say, esteemed effendi!"

Their conversation was interrupted as SSG Connors approached with a list written up on a sheet of paper.

"Sir, here's the list. Supplies that will keep us watered and fed for at least two weeks, possibly longer if we ration it."

Bradley took the sheet of paper and scanned it. He looked up.

"You know that alcohol is forbidden in this land, right?"

Connors shrugged sheepishly.

"Wasn't my idea, sir, it was Torrez. And he said he's oversee production as long as he had the raw ingredients."

Bradley chuckled and handed the list back to Connors.

"Fine, but tell Torrez it's his ass. Speaking of which, get him over here."

"Roger that."

After Connors left, the lieutenant saw that Pelayo was still staring at him in disbelief.

"Problem, ma'am?"

The Marine finally snapped out of it.

"Oh, nothing, lieutenant, I'm just curious how in the actual fuck you're going to turn that street urchin into a prince."

Bradley shrugged.

"Eh, we'll figure that out after we get resupplied. You said so yourself, this is a fairy tale? So maybe something will come along that will help make it happen."

He saw Torrez approach, and didn't heard Pelayo mutter under her breath something to the effect of 'we're the ones that are supposed to make it happen.'

"Sir, I have that list of supplies that Connors has compiled."

Bradley looked Torrez up and down, then frowned. The sergeant's idea of mufti was wearing a long cloak and turban, but still wearing his ACU's and gear underneath.

"Um, sergeant, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind..."

Torrez grinned.

"Hey, c'mon I'm totally rocking out this Laurence of Arabia getup..."

"And your weapon, sergeant?"

Torrez held up his UMP-45.

"Sir, with all due respect, if you think for one moment that I'm going into Haji Central with just my bare ass and Romeo here as backup, you're fuckin' crazy."

Lt. Bradley sighed and decided to let it go. He handed Torrez the sheet of paper.

"Alright, Aladdin here is going to take you into town, here's a list of food to get. I don't want to know how you get them, just get them. And get your asses back here by sundown."

He paused for a moment.

"And if you're going to keep your gear, remember to keep your radio on. If anything comes up, keep us posted."

Torrez grinned.

"C'mon sir, what could possibly go wrong?"

(One hour later, the streets of Agabrah)

"Hey, buddy!"

The seller looked at one of his customers, a man with tanned skin and a short beard. He was dressed in the traditional burnous of the desert nomads, but his features indicated he was not a local. Probably a merchant trader picking up foodstuffs for his caravan. The man held up a large melon, and the seller gave a low bow.

"How may I be of service, esteemed effendi?"

Torrez glared down at the diminutive seller and spoke in a loud voice, loud enough to be heard over the din of crowded marketplace.

"This melon's infested with insects! You should be ashamed for trying to sell this shit to the unsuspecting buying public! Hell, these melons have so many multi-legged stowaways in them you should be selling ant farms instead of fruit!"

The seller sweated profusely, and frantically tried to shush the irate customer. Unbeknownst to the seller, a hand reached out was grabbing smaller melons, one by one, and stuffing them into a sack. Aladdin cinched the sack shut and gave the thumbs-up to Torrez. It was their final stop, after sneaking into the city via the aquaducts, Torrez and the young thief had 'procured' a cart and several empty sacks and had made their rounds through the marketplace. As they had no money to pay for their supplies, both Torrez and Aladdin had to resort to more imaginative methods, namely using the oldest confidence game in the book.

The seller turned the melon over in his hands, finding no evidence of insect infestation.

"A-are you sure, esteemed effendi?"

Torrez saw the 'all clear' signal from Aladdin, and gave a dismissive gesture.

"Perhaps it was a fruit fly...or a brown spot...in any case, I am not interested in your wares. Good day."

He ignored the seller's frantic pleas and turned round into one of the many narrow alleyways that dotted the wide main thoroughfare. There the sergeant found Aladdin, already trying to nosh on a juicy red apple.

"Hey! That's rations for later, kid!"

But he grinned as he took the apple and took a bite from it.

"Man, you and I would make a killing in my old neighborhood of the Bronx..."

The boy cinched up the sack and tossed it into the cart with the rest of the goods.

"Where do you hail from, effendi?"

"Hey, knock that fancy title shit off, name's Torrez, or Omar, if you'd rather."

"Alright, Effendi Omar, where do you hail from?"

The sergeant finished off his apple and tossed it.

"Imagine a big city, so big that Agabrah would be just a small section of it. A city with millions of people living in it..."

Torrez was still rambling on about his native town of New York City when he saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Out of instinct he started to reach under his cloak for his weapon, but stopped. It was a girl, about the same age as Aladdin, also wrapped in a cloak. She had obviously taken a wrong turn, because when her eyes fell on Torrez they grew wide with fright. Torrez was about to say something but the Aladdin beat him to the punch.

"It's you!"

She turned and her expression softened into a smile.

"I knew I would find thee here!"

She ran over and clasped her hands in the young thief's own.

"But what are you doing out here? What if you get caught again?"

The girl gave a huff.

"Then I'll have the head of the Guards flogged for sending his bloodhounds after me!"

A light went off in Torrez's head.

"Hey, you mean to say...this...this is the princess?"

The girl gave a start, but Aladdin gave her hands a reassuring squeeze.

"Not to worry, he is a friend."

She threw back her hood, revealing a beautiful girl in her late teens. Yep, Torrez thought, she looks just like she did in the cartoon. But the princess drew near, and her gaze fell on the soldiers' desert boots and the bottom hem of his ACU's. She looked up at him, scrutinizing his features.

"Where does thou hail from, friend of this boy?"

Torrez hastily covered his face.

"Um, er I come from a far off place!"

She raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow.

"Oh? And where might that be, stranger who wears boots instead of sandals?"

He found himself at a loss for words, but fortunately Aladdin came to his defense.

"He is a spice trader from Egypt, part of a caravan traveling to the Orient."

The sergeant gave a wave, his face still covered by a shemagh scarf.

"'Sup!"

Satisified, the princess turned her attention back to Aladdin, and as they conversed, Torrez started harnessing the cart to an old, lazy donkey that the boy had found, as he put it, 'when nobody was looking'. As he finished looping the bridle lead, the sergeant suddenly had a revelation.

"Hey, you both seem to be getting along...Why not make it official?"

The princess sighed.

"'Tis not that simple, Trader of the Nile. My father the Sultan, may Allah bless him with many more years, has decreed that I only may marry one of equal station to myself. Namely a prince."

Torrez shrugged as he took the lead and gave it a tug.

"Well, seems lame to me..."

He looked over.

"Look, Romeo, she can't come with us, so you'd best say your adios-I mean goodbyes and stuff."

The sergeant saw the sad looks on both their faces.

Shit, I'm getting waaaay too soft, Torrez thought.

"Okay, look, you can come with us as far as the aquaducts, but after that you gotta split, okay?"

That gave the desired effect, and the two continued to talk in hushed tones as Torrez led the mule and its cargo out of the alleyway and onto the street. The sergeant smiled to himself. The two really did seem made for each other, and at this rate it would be a cinch to ensure that the boy and the princess would have a happy ending.

He pushed aside the thoughts and started scanning the streets. It was still crowded with shoppers and sellers, but hardly anyone gave them a second look, but still Torrez felt uneasy. He was getting bad flashbacks to doing foot patrol on the streets of post-invasion Baghdad. Time slowed down, and every person, whether it was the old man hawking silks from China who paused to give Torrez a sidelong glance, or the young woman buying lamp oil from a vendor whose cursory glance lingered a bit too long, even the young urchin begging for coins in an arched doorway that stared at him was triggering all his soldiers' instincts.

It was all he could do to keep cool, so that when the cart came to a grinding halt, it was an almost welcome distraction to find out that their old-school cargo hauler had a wheel that was falling off. Torrez breathed a sigh of relief as time sped back up to normal. He stopped the donkey and checked the wheel. Sure enough, one of the hubs had come loose and fell off. Fortunately it was an easy fix, and the sergeant got to work.

As he struggled to get the wheel back onto the axle, it became clear that he required an extra pair of hands. Torrez looked up at Aladdin, who was chatting up the princess next to a street vendor who was selling apples.

"Hey, Romeo! You wanna quit flirtin' and give me a hand here?"

The boy immediately nodded.

"Of course, esteemed effendi!"

He left the princess by the stall and was at Torrez's side in a minute.

"A'ight, so I'm gonna lift this cart up, and when I do, I want you to slip this wheel back onto the axle, got it?"

Aladdin nodded, and the sergeant got to work. Sure enough, with the boy's help the wheel was secured in no time. Torrez stood up and dusted off his hands.

"Not too bad for a field repair..."

He looked over the cargo.

"I'm gonna check over the cargo, you keep an eye out..."

Aladdin nodded. Torrez was in the process of re-securing the sacks of food to the cart, when movement caught his eye. He tensed up, as it could have been a threat. Instead, it was three very attractive young ladies wearing very revealing harem outfits that sashayed past his vision.

(BGM: Worth It by 5th Harmony)

The sergeant was entranced, they must have been a mirage or something, nothing that pretty would be walking the streets in broad daylight.

"Hellloooo ladies!"

So distracted was Torrez that he didn't see the scene unfold behind him. The princess had just given an apple to the urchin who was clearly hungry, but having not payed for it. Aladdin and the apple seller were frantically gesturing to one another, with the princess in the middle, until the seller called for the city guards.

When they ran past Torrez, the song in his head came to a screeching halt.

"Wait, whathefuk?"

He looked over his shoulder and saw several guards approaching with their swords drawn.

"Oh crap..."

(Meanwhile, back at the Oasis)

All was quiet in the stillness of of the midday sun. All the 33rd soldiers had taken shelter in the shade under the camo netting by the HUMVEEs or under the palm trees of the oasis. Even Captain Pelayo had unzipped her flightsuit and tied off the sleeves around her waist. Clad in a coyote brown tank-top, she was up to her elbows in the Sea Hawk's starboard engine compartment, performing post flight maintenance.

Suddenly the stillness was broken as Mayfield's long range radio crackled to life.

"Ah, Misfit One Actual, this is Misfit Three, how copy?"

Mayfield rolled over off his cot and pulled the receiver off his radio.

"Misfit Three this is Misfit One Actual Romeo, solid copy. Stand by for Misfit One Actual..."

He looked up and saw Bradley dozing against the front tire. He nudged the lieutenant's boot, which caused the young officer to wake up with a start. As his eyes focused he saw Mayfield holding up the receiver.

"Sir, Torrez is on the horn..."

Bradley checked his watch.

"S'a little early for Torrez to be doing a radio check..."

He took the receiver.

"This is Misfit One Actual, go ahead."

"Ah...hold on-SHIT! Where the hell are you takin' me Romeo?!"

The lieutenant immediately tensed up and clicked the mic.

"Misfit Three, `port in, what's your sitch?"

"Ahh...sitch is bad, sir...long story, but Romeo ran afoul of some of the city guards, and we are currently exfil'ing to a secure location..."

Bradley cursed.

"Shit...Misfit Three, try to find that secure location, and activate your IFF beacon, we will home in on your poz and extract you."

"Lima Charlie, sir! Just hurry!"

The lieutenant stood up.

"Alright men, you heard the chatter! We got a hot extract, so gear up and get ready, we move out in five!"

Captain Pelayo must have overheard the radio conversation, as Bradley saw her approach.

"What's the malfunction, lieutenant?"

Bradley strapped on his helmet and grabbed his M4.

"Ah, Torrez got himself and Aladdin in a pickle, we got to scrub the mission and evacuate Torrez and the kid."

Pelayo wiped some of the grease off her hands with a rag and frowned.

"And how do you plan on doing that? By going in guns a' blazin'?"

Bradley shook his head.

"Negative ma'am, I don't think that will be necessary. Just a little Shock n' Awe and and while they're being shocked, we'll grab our guys and get the hell out."

The Marine shook her head.

"Yeah, `cos Shock and Awe worked so well the last time..."

But Bradley didn't hear her comment, as Connors approached him and saluted.

"Sir, the men are ready to roll."

The lieutenant returned the salute.

"Roger that."

He looked over to Pelayo.

"Ma'am, you might keep your radio on, in case we need an airborne evac."

The Marine snorted.

"Sure..why not? S'not like I have anything better to do..."

She watched as the 33rd soldiers climbed into one of the HUMVEEs. Bradley was the last to get in, on the front passenger side, and he slapped the roof as he climbed in.

"Go, Go, Go!"

Davis fired up the HUMVEE, and immediately loud rock music blared from the speakers courtesy of the truck's cassette deck.

(BGM: Big Gun by AC/DC)

Pelayo watched as the HUMVEE sped off towards the city, kicking up a cloud of dust as it accelerated through the desert. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Grunts..."

(AN: Okay, first things first and first round of handwaving (that hasn't already been lampshaded by the characters) I know that by this point Aladdin has already met the princess once at the marketplace, in the story that's what gets him captured and into the clutches of the evil vizir and to the Cave of Wonders, etc etc. In this AU story, he has already met the princess once on one of her excursions into the town, the implication is that this isn't the first time she's done this, and they part ways with her revealing her true identity to Aladdin, and him not getting busted by the town's guards. How he ended up in the vizir's clutches, well that will be explained later in a chapter from the vizir's perspective. I've tried to balance things and keep everything as realistic (or rather, as realistic as a Spec Ops: The Line/Disney crossover can be) and still stay within the general tone and atmosphere of both. I mean to have more action (hence the title) in this chapter, but it ended up ballooning up to be too big, so it will be in the next chapter, which should be up in about a week or two. Until then, fav/follow/review or message and let me know what you guys think!)