Chapter Eight
Two weeks
Rescue Club
My head whips toward Malcolm. “He decides what he’s doing, when he’s doing it and how he wants it done.”
Anchor laughs. “He’s more human than some humans we know, Brother. He doesn’t need us to make decisions for him. He wants a hut house and picked his colors, furniture and pictures.”
I nod. “He eats what you do with the healthy protocols portioned for partners and K-9s.”
“Isn’t he a K-9?” Malcolm asks showing why he’s asking stupid questions.
“He’s highly trained, tier one, Officer, chipped not injection enhanced.”
His look says he didn’t understand that. “Shadow, show him what training and chipped is. Sarge, do you need anything more here?” We came with him today to see his new place. He’s excited for the move.
He shows me the new K-9s he chose so I nod. “They start tomorrow. Zeus had Loki training them for basic service. You get the rest trained in them based on the need of the elder.”
He chuffs. “Katie is here to check them out and help with the elder K-9 assessment. She’s using the list you have.”
He chuffs again showing me, ‘protocols.’
I smile. “Katie doesn’t like the word. Whatever you call it she’ll help, but you may want to curb the protocol word until she’s used to it.”
He barks softly and Anchor laughs reminding me he’s here. “You chat Anchor, Drew, or Aurora for compound issues.” That’s the list Anchor gave me.
He shows ‘Aurora.’ I look at Anchor. “Aurora?” I don’t know her but have heard her name.
Anchor rolls his eyes. “She’s training her replacement for the next month. We’re waiting on who that is because she went with Mucimi to Princes.” So she’s something to Mucimi.
I nod. “You’ll meet her, probably tomorrow with Katie.”
Sarge moves on. With a ‘no question’ sign.
I bend and give him a cranial scratch. “This is going to be good for you. They said you need low impact activities but that doesn’t mean no activities.”
He barks softly showing me on the hike we did earlier.
“Just like that. You do what you can, push when you can and live your happy, Brother. If this isn’t it, we got other jobs for you to test out.” I hope he likes this one.
‘Elders’ shows in big red letters with ‘service’ smaller in yellow behind my eyes.
I laugh. “Then stay here. It’s your life, Sarge. Do all you can, be all you can but more importantly, live your life your way.”
Anchor agrees and Sarge shows me a thumbs up with Anchor’s ID. I nod for him. “He’s a good Brother. You connect when you need us, visit when you want and invite us for dinner when you remember. We got Ops running and need to switch out the teams on the ground so I can’t stay.”
He shakes his head stopping my hand mid pet and pushes his head into my chest. “We’ll miss you being close but you connect when you need it, Brother. We have the spirit party at night. It’s a good time to be connected with us.”
He chuffs and steps back. Shadow bounces over and I use his solid form to stand. “Thanks. He’s going to connect at the spirit party,” I tell Shadow, but I think it’s more for me. He’s really not that far from us.
Shadow pushes me over so he can do the zombie head chomp. Anchor and Malcolm laugh. I snag his collar and pull him away. “Enough. Cranial scratch isn’t by mouth, Brother. Bump paws next time.”
Sarge chuffs sounding happy as he shows the clown face.
Anchor follows us to the chopper. “He’ll be fine. Nike and Oliver love him.”
I nod. “I never held a connection from so far. I know it works because they go on jobs but he’s staying here now.”
He shakes his head. “It may be easier than you think. The chip means he can connect anytime from anywhere. I don’t have a chip, but from what Putam said, it’s like the ability Protectors, you’ll always feel him.”
“Yeah. Amal called me a worry wart. It’s new and this is a first. I’ll know more tomorrow and it will be easier.” I stop and turn at the chopper.
He smiles hitting my arm. “Adjust…”
“Improvise and adapt. I got this.” I finish the Marine tagline.
He laughs. “We all do.”
I bump his shoulder with mine knowing he’s right.
Shadow barks. I nod getting in the chopper. Everyone will protect my partner no matter where he is. I love the Badass world.
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