438 Word, this chapter. Setting up for Transfer 4

Chapter Ten, Conclusion, Transfer 3: Rio

"I thought Jess was coming to Britain," said Becker sitting on a plane. "I still don't get why you're sending me to Rio."

"Holiday?" asked Lester.

Becker frowned. "What are you up to, Lester?"

"Me? I am up to nothing, Captain."

"I don't believe you."

"Then why did you get on the plane?"

Becker's voice raised an octave. "You forced me! By EMD-point!"

Lester chuckled. "That was fun, wasn't it?"

"I swear, Lester, if you aren't sending me to Rio…"

"You'll what? You're in the plane and on your way. Try to remember that you are saving lives, Captain. Keep that in mind and don't kill me when you return…from Venice."

"Venice!"

"Yes, they're having a horrible infestation of water creatures and…"

Becker unloaded a wave of obscenities at Lester. "She almost died! I told her I loved her! You can't redeploy me now! You can't!"

"Captain Becker! You are my employee, and under the emergency statutes of this facility and your employment I can bloody well send you to the moon if I so choose!"

"I hate you."

"Now, now. I'll buy you a puppy when you come home," said Lester, quickly signing off. He smiled smugly, but soon realized all of Ops stared daggers at him.

"You can't do that," said Abby. "It's beyond cruel."

"It's done," said Lester. "Now…" He connected to another plane, this one heading out from Rio.

Jess sat happily humming, dreaming of snogging the heck out of Becker. Then her cell phone rang "Hello," she sang.

"Ah, Miss Parker. How are you?"

"Deliriously happy."

"Well, I'm afraid that is about to change. I've redirected your plane. I'm very sorry, but I need you to help out another ARC branch with their communications."

"That isn't funny."

"No, it is not."

"Please, please tell me you're attempting to pull a prank on me."

"No, Miss Parker. I am transferring you once more, temporarily, of course."

Jess' curses were even worse than Becker's. "…and technically I'm on medical leave!"

"Technically that medical leave was issued by the Rio Arc, not London. So you are fit for duty."

"Lester, you can't do this!"

"It's done, Miss Parker," he said. He saw that several people in Ops looked like they wanted to brawl with him.

Abby began to protest when he held up his hand. "I expect you to be of assistance to the ARC…in Venice. Goodbye." He then cut off communications with her.

"Venice," said Abby.

Lester broke into a broad smile. "Just call me a hopeless romantic."

"With a cruel streak," said Cherry. Connor and Abby nodded.

Lester smiled. "Indeed."

The End

Hang on for the next and probably last Transfer story, Transfer 4: Canals of Venice.