IMPORTANT: So I updated a little early this week. REally wanted to get this chapter out because it was such fun to write. I was originally planning on making this a separate story (like a spin off) but I decided to have it as a chapter here. This chapter is over-the-shoulder Orlando's point of view, like the rest of the story is with Khan. Enjoy!

Oh and please review. I really want to know what you guys think of this trio ;).

xx

SSC

"وأَقول لنفسِي: سَيطلعُ مِن عَتْمَتِي قَمَر"." - Nizar Qabbani

Mission: Infiltration

The barren desert seemed to stretch on endlessly, determined to meet the clear blue sky. The afternoon sun was harsh. Orlando was certain that rays were burning through the layers of insulation and onto his skin. It was quite the discomfort. He knew of the consequences of the mid morning blazing heat. Consequences they had prepared for.

The camel he was riding, moved in languid strides, its heavy body shifting from side to side making him sway. Joaquin was on his left and Zahara on his right. They were all wearing matching cream robes and head scarves.

The silence between them made him all the more aware of the scorching sun and dry air. He needed a distraction.

"It's amazing how these creatures can carry their weight and ours on such skinny legs." He mused amiably while twisting at the leather leash in his hands.

"Your enthusiasm annoys me." Zahara grumbled through gritted teeth. He looked to her; she was glaring grimly at the horizon. He liked that her golden eyes and tan skin seemed so much more radiant against the cream robes. It was quite the sight. He was quick to blame her irritable nature on the weather but it dawned on to him that she was uncomfortable on her means of transport.

"Come now Zahara." He smiled fondly "They are not all that bad."

"I don't understand why we couldn't just take a vehicle." She complained while shifting on the saddle.

"We are trying to be inconspicuous." Orlando noted diplomatically "The base is located in the middle of nowhere. We will leave the camels at a safe enough distance and try to infiltrate the Apello."

Zahara did not respond but continued to frown as the camels effortlessly climbed another dune ridge.

"How about we pass the time with a game?" The male suggested eagerly.

"What kind of game?" She inquired.

"I spy." He announced. Orlando missed the confusion that creased her forehead. His attention diverted to the large expanse of desert, trying to find a tree or a shrub. But he was fruitless in his search.

"I spy something beginning with the letter D."

"Your dignity?" She retorted, smiling cheekily. Joaquin smirked and Orlando blinked in surprise.

"You are a feisty little thing aren't you?" He murmured huskily watching her hungrily.

"Clearly Khan's wicked tongue has been rubbing off on you." He mused thoughtfully "Anything else of his? Something else beginning with the letter D?"

"Orlando you are being inappropriate, again." Joaquin chastised disapprovingly "Not to mention nosey."

"Inquisitive thank you very much." Orlando corrected haughtily before turning his attention back to the woman.

"Zahara doesn't mind do you?"

"I mind."

"Fine." The blonde male grumbled ignoring Joaquin's smug smile. "What would you like to talk about Zahara?"

"You." She answered after a moment.

"Me?" He flirted.

"Your kind." She corrected, Orlando pouted. She glanced at Joaquin.

"Are you both from the same place as Khan, India?"

"Actually no, I am from Sweden, hence the lovely blonde locks and devilish good looks." He emphasized his words with a flash of his pearly white teeth "Then I was transferred to the American Sector, spent a great deal of time there before I joined Khan."

Orlando gestured to the male behind him and added "Joaquin is a convict we rescued."

"Convict?" Zahara echoed in mystification.

"Murder and Assault. Khan found me in an Israeli prison where I was serving my time." The brooding male concluded.

"Don't be so modest." Orlando laughed lightly patting his friend's shoulder "He could have easily escaped of course. The architecture of the place was slapdash at best."

"Why didn't you?" Zahara asked.

"I enjoyed the solitary." Joaquin murmured softly. The woman nodded, satisfied by his answer.

"Not anymore obviously." The chatty male cut in surreptitiously

"Orlando." Joaquin warned, narrowing his gaze to slits.

"No need to hide your intentions, I know what you speak of." The Wahashi appended "You wish to mate with Suzette yes?"

"Mate? So vulgar. I love it." Orlando purred playfully while directing a wicked smile at the woman. Zahara shot him a flat look before averting her attention to Joaquin. The man was tense and the true example of his discomfort was his blushing cheeks.

"Am I so obvious?" He inquired in a trembling uncertainty.

"No, she is." She assured, Joaquin chuckled fondly at the thought of his love. Zahara looked to Orlando again.

"Tell me about Sweden."

"Beautiful, spacious, full of luscious trees and clean air, but it is not for me." He articulated with ease "I seek action, adventure and—"

"Women of all nationalities." Joaquin drummed in smiling mirthfully and nodded to Zahara "He has a list."

The Wahashi's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"I do not have a list, how demeaning." Orlando barked at Joaquin and then looked to the woman "I have a large memory you see, Augments do not need to write anything down to memorize it."

The dark haired male rolled his brown eyes as Orlando grinned smugly.

"All these women wish to be with you?"

The unmasked skepticism in her question forced Joaquin to laugh mockingly at his friend.

"Why do you not find me appealing?" The blonde pouted dejectedly "Is it because your heart is set on someone else? Someone tall, dark and boring compared to me?"

"Heart?" She echoed her nose crinkling in displeasure.

"A heart does not decide, the brain does." She stated factually with a self righteous upturn of her chin.

Orlando dead-panned and sent an exasperated look at Joaquin.

"Fine, has your brain chosen him?" He reworded his inquiry.

"For what? Mating?"

"Yes."

"I do not desire a mate." She hissed as if he had insulted her entire ancestry "I have matters far more important than to be distracted by something as tedious as procreating."

"Oh but it is so much fun."

"It doesn't look fun." She grumbled turning away.

"But the process of—Oh!" The realization was a heavy, startling impact on Orlando.

"I see..." He whispered in a soliloquy as his eyes narrowed slyly on her form. The ignorance and lack of understanding in her words was a delicious discovery to him.

"Orlando isn't there more you can tell Zahara about Sweden without staring so intensely?" Joaquin interrupted the man's train of thought in a way that Orlando couldn't help but find rude.

"What else would my lady like to know?" He asked.

"You both seem repulsed by your own nations." Zahara mused.

"Repulsed is a heavy word." Orlando insisted.

"It is accurate." Joaquin corrected.

"For you maybe." The blonde bit back "We just wanted more."

"More?" Zahara echoed in wonder "Power?"

"That's Khan's objective." Orlando joked, elbowing Joaquin who too shared his amusement.

"It's a matter of belonging." Orlando expressed with a casual lift of his shoulders.

"Belonging?" The female parroted dubiously.

"Yes." Joaquin nodded "Being in a place among people and knowing you are needed that you... matter."

Her forehead crinkled stressfully. Her gaze hard and her soft mouth twisted pensively.

"I don't understand." She mumbled.

"Yet." Orlando winked playfully. He watched her fall into a serious silence, contemplating their words with the utmost concentration.

Orlando rolled out the A3 size floor plan of the Apello on to the fairly flat area of sand. Joaquin worked efficiently in placing two large rocks on the corners of the page, to weigh the parchment down. Zahara squatted down between the two men and stared at the drawing.

Night had fallen shrouding them in darkness. They were hidden behind a tall dune that cast a wide shadow over them. On the other side, standing erect was the Apello. From above (according to the floor plan) the facility was in the shape of a pentagon.

Orlando remembered the hassle he had to go through in order to find the place. The camouflaging sandy colour of the building made it almost impossible to find. He had to scout the site a week before the mission. He familiarized himself with the building and use the satellites to construct floor plans. Such elaborate methods of espionage were only available to the Augment Alliance, methods their enemies will never learn of.

Joaquin used his slim pocket torch to illuminate the map. They all concentrated on the dark outlines of the structure.

Their tent acted as a wall, blocking the cold desert air from reaching their forms. The camels were reclining soundly a few feet in front of them, gnawing lazily at their gums and spitting occasionally.

"Alright now that we have familiarized ourselves the floor plan it is all a matter of execution." The blonde male said after a quick glance at the page.

"This wasn't necessary, I know the place." Zahara insisted grimly.

"Yes we know, but it's best to cover all our bases." Orlando responded "Now the plan is the infiltrate their archive. There are several cameras in these areas yes?"

He looked to Zahara for confirmation as he pointed to several red marked areas of the map.

"Yes." She nodded in affirmation.

"This is a vision neutralizer." Joaquin spoke up as he pulled out a small square shaped device from his pocket. It held it tightly between his forefinger and thumb, with his thumb rested on the protruded button on the surface of the device. Orlando instantly recognized the device from one of Joaquin's demonstrations. It temporarily disables AV outputted device, video cameras.

"As effective as it is we cannot attract suspicion so this device will buy is only a ten second window of invisibility from the cameras." The man noted sternly.

"It makes us invisible?" Zahara breathed out in disbelief. Orlando couldn't help but smile at the innocent wonder in her voice.

"It disables the cameras. Honestly Joaquin be specific." He playfully scolded his friend.

"Right." Joaquin grumbled, tucking away the object.

The leader's soft gaze immediately hardened in a sudden seriousness as he focused them on Zahara. The female looked up in attention.

"Remember the memory exercises we had practised, are you sure you can tell us where everything is placed?"

"Yes." She nodded confidently "I will be more certain once I enter its premises."

"Good enough. Masks on."

They all had their hair and the tops of their heads tucked under a sleek, silky smooth mask. At Orlando's command their brought down the material over their faces till it matched the rest of their suits at the collar. The material was made of a reflective surface that allowed them to blend easily into any background. It was an invention by Susan, when it came to attire she was the innovative one. The suits allowed them to melt into the night.

The only parts of them that were visible were their eyes and the tiny holes where their nostrils were.

"Alright Mission Infiltration is a go go." Orlando announced enthusiastically.

"Don't say go-go." Joaquin persisted flatly as he rolled up the map.

"But it's cute."

"No-no."

Orlando released a breath of air he had been holding in when they reached the long stretch of corridor. They had managed to elude the guards, cameras and alarms with light feet and keen eyes. The room was only a door away.

Zahara led the group carefully. He noticed the tense stillness her and chose not to comment despite wanting to. She was back in the prison she was released from. The entire space stank of bleach and despair. The white lights placed a blinding glow within the corridors. He felt dizzy from the intensity; a headache was beginning to form.

They reached the door. Zahara stepped to aside and pressed her back against the wall, allowing Orlando first surveillance. Joaquin stood closely behind him, making sure no one passed.

A camera was situated at the far end of the corridor right above a bend. They were far from its line of vision.

Orlando didn't hear any movements within the room and hastily ushered them in. Once they were hidden behind the four walls, he locked the door as Joaquin quickly turned to the large computer monitor.

It was a large piece of equipment was seven feet in height and width. There was a long wide desk in front of it with an inadequately small keyboard attached. Joaquin took the seat at the desk and began to furiously type. The urgent clacks of his fingers pressing into the keys, echoed within the space. Orlando stood beside his friend and watched as he worked.

Okay, so far so good. Orlando thought warily optimistic. We have eluded all the cameras and now it's only the small matter of downloading all the information without being detected.

He was suddenly reminded of the female they brought on their mission. He turned to find her missing. His eyes widened in panic but he did not voice out his alarm. Leaving his friend to his work Orlando slide out from between the door.

He found her slowly making her way down the passage with her back to him. The only terrifying revelation was her intentions. She was preying on a tall, broad shouldered man in black uniform. He was completely unaware of the female behind him.

Her claws were out and her arms were stretched out ready to kill the man. Orlando began to sweat in trepidation. She was too far to reach in time.

He could only watch in dread as his mind began to furiously find ways to subdue her.

Damn it Zahara. Don't do it. Don't do it.

She was inching closer and closer to the camera. He was suddenly extremely aware of the pulsing vein on his forehead. She was just a centimetre away when the soldier turned at the bend and she didn't follow him.

She suddenly took several steps back and pinned herself to the wall away from the camera. A large breath of relief escaped his lips.

Thank God.

He hastily disappeared back into the room before she saw him. Only a few seconds passed when she returned to the room and shut the door behind her. He subtly looked in her direction. She was glaring at the floor with a vindictive ferocity in her eyes.

"Done." Joaquin abruptly announced dismissing the screen's glow and shrouding them in darkness. Orlando saw the outline of a floppy disk that Joaquin tucked into the recess of his suit.

"There is no trace to us right?" The leader inquired. The Augment in question shot him a shark, irritated glance.

"Don't annoy me Orlando." He warned.

"Sorry." Orlando grinned toothily before averting his attention back to the door.

"Let's go, now."

"Operation was a worldly success, well done team." Orlando boomed heartily as they sat around in the camp fire. It was nearly four in the morning in the desert of Jebal Ali. They had travelled nearly half way with only another half a day's journey, left. They travelled quickly to put as much distance as they could between the Apello and them. He suggested they rest for an hour and dwell on their success.

"You see I have so much faith in us that I even brought a cause for celebration." He exclaimed.

"You can fit a woman in that bag?" Joaquin teased, laugh lines deepening around his mouth.

"Hilarious." Orlando responded flatly with his hand buried into his leather satchel. Zahara sat between the two men, wordlessly munching on a piece of dried meat.

"Ah ha!" Orlando abruptly pulled out a tall bottle with a wide round base and amber liquid sloshing within it. As he eagerly tried to remove the top of the bottle. Joaquin couldn't help but notice the look of disdain Zahara focused on the beverage.

"Why are you so repulsed?" He inquired.

"Wine is distasteful." She grumbled contemptuously

"How dare you." Orlando gasped melodramatically.

"Besides this isn't wine, it is bourbon. The finest." He insisted grandly. The scowl on her face immediately softened as she absorbed his words. As Orlando passed the drink over to Joaquin his attention was vaguely focused on the intense concentration she expressed

"Borh-bon" She repeated slowly.

"Ber-ben." He corrected.

"Berh-ben."

He smiled, despite her attempts the gruffness of her accent still lingered in her speech.

"So adorable." He couldn't help but murmur fondly.

"Cheers." Joaquin announced before taking a swing of the bottle. Satisfied with that one taste he passed the bottle to Zahara. She stared at the drink uncertainly before reluctantly accepting the bottle by its neck.

She mimicked Joaquin's methods and drank from the bottle only to lower it immediately as her face twisted in a grimace.

"It burns my throat." She coughed.

Orlando laughed and stole the bottle from her.

"It's supposed to do that." He reminded.

"I'll never understand you white skins." She muttered with a roll of her eyes.

"Do you have any milk with the date?" She suddenly asked, her eyes a light.

"Oh yes I do." Orlando chimed and began to frantically search his back. Joaquin retrieved the bottle once more and leaned back into the comfort of his rucksack.

They all eventually relaxed into the soft sand and fixated their gazes on to the bright half moon that hung in the still dark sky. Zahara was casually drinking from her short bottle of milk. Orlando was gnawing on a biscuit, crumbs littered his robes.

"Wa-akhool l-anfa-see, sayee-thalaa min ath-math-ee ka-mar" Joaquin recited like poetry, smooth, sound and full of emotion.

"Pretty words." Zahara remarked. Orlando could tell from the smile on her face that she was impressed. This surprised him; he didn't think much could faze the Wahashi. Joaquin smirked and nodded in thanks.

"I had the fortunate of hearing it spoken from the poet who wrote it. Nizar Qabbani, I met him on one of my travels to London." He said.

"Do you see truth in such words?" Zahara inquired.

"Of course, don't you?"

She had no retort and fell into a pensive silence. Joaquin didn't disturb her. Orlando on the other hand was highly perplexed.

"Excuse me I am not fluent in Arabic like you charming two. What does that sentence mean?" He questioned curiously.

"And I say to myself." She began to translate in a caressing tone "a moon will rise from my darkness."