1523 words, this chapter. It's long and petty jam-packed. Also in this chapter is maybe a slight change to the Sergeant's mood. I wanted to address that Yemen is still harsh on women, but strides are being made. I envisioned the Sergeant as a good-hearted man basically, so that's why he may seem to change slightly toward Jess.

Chapter Seven, Transfer 2: Feeling the Heat

Becker chuckled as he screwed the last part of the camera in, high atop the mud, grass, and wood dwelling. In his ear, Jess was humming.

"You know," he said, "patching into a frequency over thousands of kilometers, relayed by satellites and such…I'm not entirely sure that a One Direction song is appropriate."

Jess giggled. "Becker, how did you know the name of the band?"

"Huh? I don't."

"Oh my God! Becker, you listen to pop songs!"

"Jessica, I'm standing on a rickety, homemade ladder, please don't say ludicrous things that will make me fall off."

"How do you know the song Becker?"

"Hmm, I don't know. It's not like I know anyone young and silly enough to sing them all the time."

"Don't call me silly. It's rude."

"So is humming in my ear, Jessica."

She giggled again. "I'm sorry. I can't help it. I'm happy. I'm helping you again, like I should be."

Becker couldn't help grinning from ear to ear. "Yeah, it does feel good."

"Even with the background music?"

He laughed. "Yes, even with it."

Jess smiled. Becker jumped off the ladder and backed up to get a look. "OK, it's up."

"Let's get a picture," said Jess, hitting some buttons on the keyboard. After a while she got a fairly clear picture of a tall man, his face covered with glasses and a bandana. "That's terrible."

"It's not working?"

"No, it's a good picture. I can't see you though. Becker you look like a bank thief."

He chuckled and pulled the bandana down and the glasses off. "Better?"

She felt a rush through her body as he smiled at her. "Much." She blushed.

"Nah, it's still horrible," said Becker. "I can't see you."

She felt a warm glow. "Sorry, Captain. The camera's one way."

"Well, I'm getting the short end of the deal then."

She laughed. "Sorry."

Becker smiled, and then heard a soft murmur of unintelligible whispering. He turned to see a small crowd of villagers behind him.

They were talking in Arabic, whispering about the strange man and the strange devices he and the soldiers were putting up around the village. In the group were a few younger women, pointing at him and giggling.

"You have a fan club," Jess said.

"Jealous?"

"Of course not," she grumbled.

Becker laughed as the whispering continued. Then he heard a few shouts and the people dispersed as Sergeant Djhami and the professors came toward him.

"We've disrupted their morning routine," said Djhami.

"Better than something large and hungry disrupting it," said Becker. "How are the cameras coming along?"

Jess was the one who answered. "They're all up. Wow, I've got a very nice view of the area, from several vantage points. It looks good."

Sergeant Djhami raised his eyebrow. "You are receiving pictures already?"

"It's top of the line equipment," said Jess.

Becker chuckled. "She's efficient."

"I am. Oh, and Sergeant? Thank you for wearing the comm."

He grunted. "I agree with the Captain. You should not hum as we work. It is undignified," he said harshly.

Becker sighed. "I told you Djhami, don't speak to her like that."

"I was not finished," said Djhami. "If you must hum, at least choose something with substance, like the Stones."

Becker's eyebrow went up. "The stones? As in the Rolling Stones?"

Dhjami smiled. "Jagger is a god."

Jess giggled so loudly, that Abid took his comm out of his ear. He was laughing though.

"You are a surprising man, sergeant," said Professor Sabban.

Becker nodded, laughing. He sighed with relief. Maybe he wouldn't have to teach the sergeant some manners after all.

As they waited for the other soldiers to regroup with them, Becker noticed some of the village men still watching them from a distance. "Are they alright with the cameras?"

"They aren't used to such devices," said Abid. "However, I explained that we were trying to stop the creatures that have been terrorizing them and taking their animals. They are uneasy and curious, but they want the attacks stopped."

Sergeant Djhami laughed. "I don't think it's the cameras that have them uneasy. You are the oddity here, Captain."

"Oh, that's funny," said Jess, giggling. "They've seen dinosaurs and unbelievably large crocodiles, but you're the sight that's strange. He he he."

"I don't think it's that funny," said Becker.

Djhami laughed as Jess kept giggling in their ears. "Connor's going to love it."

"You don't have to tell him, you know."

"Oh yes I do," she said, giggling. "The stern, practical captain is the oddity. He he he."

Becker rolled his eyes. He caught the sergeant's amused look. "It isn't that funny."

Djhami smirked. "I am beginning to like your field coordinator, I think."

Jess slowed her giggles with some effort. "Ah. That's nice. Laughter brings people together."

"Not all people, Jessica."

"Don't be bitter, Becker," she said.

Becker shook his head. "If you two don't mind," he said, "how about we split the men up and canvas the village? Can you two comedians handle that?"

"Of course," said Jess. "I'm just sitting here. Canvassing doesn't bother me a bit."

Djhami laughed. "I am definitely warming to her."

Jess stifled more giggling. "I promise to be serious, Captain."

"Thank you," said Becker. They moved through the village toward some hills that formed the village edge. As they walked, they were suddenly cut off as goats scampered in front of them.

"Whoa!" cried Becker. He chuckled as about twenty goats ran toward the hills. "That's not something we have too much of in London."

"Thankfully," said Jess.

"You do not care for goats?" asked the sergeant.

"I don't know, actually. I've never seen one up close," said Jess.

"Ah, city life," said Djhami. Jess and Becker laughed.

As the men stood still, waiting for the goat stampede to pass, a young girl of about ten years of age ran after them.

"Is goat-chasing a major sport?" asked Becker.

Professor Abid laughed. "No. Actually, it is work. She is their shepherd."

"Shepherdess," corrected Jess.

"Of course," said Abid.

Becker watched the girl and goats disappear. He followed them to the bottom of the first hill. He then looked back to the village. "Jess, can you see us from any of the cameras?"

"I have you, just barely."

"How about the goats?"

"No, I lost them. I hadn't expected that, darn. I should have realized some activity would take place outside the village. It's my fault."

"You couldn't have anticipated it," said Becker. "As the sergeant pointed out, we're city folk."

"Still…I should have realized."

Djhami walked down to the side of the rocky hill. "Can cameras be mounted here somehow?" he asked.

"I doubt it," said Jess. "How do you attach something to rock?"

"I'll go talk with the villagers again," said Abid. "Maybe there is some structure up there we can use."

Becker nodded. "Let's follow the girl and the goats."

"Stick close to me," said the sergeant. "We do not wish to anger the villagers by a strange man following their young girls."

"Yeah, that would be creepy," said Jess.

Becker smirked. "Good to know, Jess. I guess I won't be following you soon then."

"Oh, you aren't a stranger to me, Becker, and I'm not a girl."

He smirked. "Ahem. No, you aren't," he said softly.

As they made their way along the hill path, the Sergeant said, "The more I observe, the less impressed I become."

"Really?" asked Becker. "With me or Miss Parker?"

"With both of you. I am insulted," he said, pausing, "with how much you two flirt." He then broke into a large toothy grin. He chuckled as Becker turned red.

"We do not…flirt," said Becker, clinching his teeth.

"No, we are professionals," said Jess, "colleagues…and…friends."

The sergeant laughed. "In some villages, you would be engaged by now."

Becker shot him a dirty look.

"The field coordinator is silent," Djhami said with a smile. "Interesting."

"I…have nothing to say, that's all."

They were interrupted by Abid. "The villagers tell me that there is a shack at the top of the hill," he said. "I'm going to attach a camera now." He jogged up the hill.

Becker and Djhami continued walking their slower pace.

"Becker stop for a second," said Jess. They stopped along a rocky, sandy ledge. They couldn't see the shack from where they stood, or the girl and the goats. "When the camera is up I want to see if the camera records you. Hold on."

A few moments later she said, "Yay! I can see the goats, the girl, and you Becker! Looking good!"

"Ahem," coughed the sergeant.

"I meant the camera…is looking good," said Jess.

The sergeant laughed. "I just wanted clarification."

"I'm not sure I like the relaxed sergeant," said Jess. "He's a bit cheeky."

"Cheeky?"

Professor Abid joined them. "She means that you like to tease."

"Oh," said the sergeant. "I do." He smiled.

Just then the ADD alarm went off in London. "Jess?"

"It's alright, Becker. We're fine but…"

"But what? Do you have to go?"

"No, it's the anomaly. It's near you, Becker, very near."

End of Chapter Seven