1029 Words, this chapter
Chapter Ten, Transfer 2, Feeling the Heat
Becker awoke after sleeping through the night. For the first time since he'd left London, he was actually rested. All it took was a pleasant dream of a certain petite, bubbly brunette. He smiled.
He found some of the men inside the HQ mumbling about how they missed Jess' food. Becker actually blushed at the sound of her name. Luckily he hid it.
The door opened, the early morning light not as harsh. "Captain, how are you?" asked Professor Sabban.
Becker smiled. "Much better, thank you. Did Connor confuse you too much?"
Sabban laughed. "No, but he humbles me. I thought I was intelligent. I'm an idiot next to that man."
"I'll only admit this because we're on different continents," said Becker, "but he is easily the smartest man I've ever met. Don't feel bad."
Sabban nodded. "He helped us narrow down areas we feel are most active with anomalies. He also told us that your research division has begun to catalog the creature sightings. We've gotten them narrowed to locations as well. The London ARC is coordinating with our branch, transferring files and updating our information."
Becker smiled. "That's good news. The sooner you guys get up to speed, the sooner I can leave."
Sabban smiled. "We're even deploying teams to areas near the capital," he said, as the door opened again. Sergeant Djhami arrived in time to hear, "We'll get you back to Miss Parker soon."
Becker blushed. "We're not…we're just friends."
"Do you truly believe that is fact?" asked Djhami.
Becker's eyes widened. He turned red. "Um, I have to…do stuff," he mumbled, trying to get past Djhami to flee outside.
Djhami caught his arm. "We are both military men," he said. "I know the burdens of this life, the risks."
Becker hung his head.
"I am older than you. Trust me, the loneliness does not end."
"Better to be lonely then…leave someone else alone."
"Perhaps. I have seen many soldiers lost. I've comforted their loved ones. No one has ever regretted knowing the one lost, or loving him."
Becker sighed.
"I know you have fears," said the sergeant. "Many good men have let fear trap them into long lives of regret. I do not wish that future for you."
Sabban now spoke. "Especially when you have someone who already loves you."
Becker stared at them and then moved toward the door.
Djhami shook his head. "The stubborn, it is they who always end up alone." He sighed. "Like me."
Becker turned back to him.
Djhami smiled sadly. "My only comfort will be that I never met anyone like Miss Jess Parker." Then his smile took on its characteristic teasing quality. "And the knowledge that there is one who is stupider than me."
Sabban laughed, looking cautiously at Becker.
Becker opened the door. "I'm going for breakfast," he mumbled and left.
Sabban sighed. "I was hoping that your words broke through."
Djhami shook his head. "He is too much like me. He shall break an angel's heart and be punished by a lonely life, I fear."
"Like you?"
Djhami looked at him. "I too have…stuff to do," he said, smirking.
Sabban laughed as the large man walked away.
Outside, Becker slowly walked around the rundown town of Zabid. He often went for strolls early in the morning. It was the only time that being outside in the heat was bearable.
He was not enjoying his walk today. He couldn't shake the conversation he'd just had. Or the truth of why he told himself that Jess was only a friend.
He didn't want to hurt her. It would be hard being in a relationship with him. He didn't want Jess to worry constantly about him. What if the worst should happen and he died? He couldn't bear to cause her grief.
And yet…
He sighed. He slumped against a patched cement wall. He closed his eyes as he finally faced the truth.
'I'm in love with Jess.'
What was he going to do? The idea of having that smile to look at for the rest of his life made his heart flutter. He actually blushed as he thought about lying in bed beside her. What would her kiss be like?
He faced another truth. He wanted to be with her. For the first time in his life, he realized there was something more important to him than even the military.
And her name was Jess Parker.
"Captain Becker!"
He turned. Kassim, the English-speaking soldier, ran toward him.
"Captain! We're picking up several creatures on camera!"
"Where? What village?"
Kassim caught his breath. "This one."
Becker's eyes widened. He and Kassim ran for the HQ.
Inside the mud-baked building, the professors looked anxiously at the laptop. The soldiers were gathering weapons and securing bandanas and sunglasses as Becker and Kassim burst in.
"What have we got?"
"I believe they're some type of scorpion relative," said Abid. "They have the characteristic stinger tail like a scorpion."
"They're over two feet long though."
All the soldiers looked at him. Kassim whistled. "That big?"
"This is bad," said Djhami.
"Yes, and it gets worse. They can move under the sand."
Becker moved over the laptop to get a visual of the cameras posted around Zabid. Every single camera showed at least one scorpion. Some had three or four. Becker summoned his strength and cool. "Okay. So…let's deal with them."
"Let's," said Djhami, walking toward the door with his normal gun.
Becker reached out and stopped him. "We use the EMDs."
The sergeant narrowed his eyes. "We are unfamiliar with them. We need guns we can rely on."
Becker nodded. "I know, but our orders include protecting the structures of this town."
Djhami cursed in Arabic. "To paraphrase Miss Jess Parker, hang the bloody structures!"
"Captain, the scorpions are approaching doors."
"We don't have time to argue," said Becker. He shoved an EMD at Djhami and smirked. "They aren't hard to use. Just point and shoot."
Djhami grunted angrily. He turned to his men and gave them orders. They all switched to the EMDs.
"If I get a stinger in my butt, you get to pull it out," muttered Djhami.
End of Chapter Ten