Chapter Ten
Maestro Club
I ride to Honor with the boys because they like going to the school as opposed to virtual from Maestro. I answered O’Rourke at breakfast but he’s not exactly observant to human interactions and his vocalized pride in homeschooling explains a lot. He grew up on a farm so his upbringing is filled with more animals than people. If I was a kid, I’d want to go with friends too, so the ride and conversation doesn’t bother me in the least. The partners have more work now so the ride gives me time alone with them that I wasn’t getting before. I like it.
Katie is with Wilson and Gonzo to meet Piper then onto Sentinel for a meet with Sarge and Anchor.It’s an Op day so I’m glad she’s got work to do too.
I love this job more than any other I’ve had. I smile at the line of bullshit, the only jobs I’ve had is military and the farm, military was good until they chipped us then it wasn’t. Our jobs were good but everything was a lie and we knew it. We performed the job well enough for continual positive recognition so it wasn’t all terrible, but it was tainted like a bad after taste left by sour milk.
I walk into the meeting room surprised with so many here. “Brothers.”
“Seamus, Mark loves the Leon Lessons.”
I give Kristos a nod. “He said he’s honored. I like that he says it with no embarrassment.”
“All the kids do. It’s part of Little Brothers. I’d invite you but Mase is getting scary with the territorial shit.”
I laugh. “He is funny about that territory but knows how to protect it in a way I’m never challenging.”
The boards light up so we sit but they’re all Ops rooms as if we’re looking in to other Clubs. Phoenix shows on the main board with the back of Cort until someone mumbles something softly to him.
Cort turns. “Get to your Ops rooms if you’re a Control. Brinks is with Stella, she’s having the twins. Aylen and Ben are with her. Zeke and Ops Protectors are on jobs. I need Ops Controls. The general woke up just to meltdown.”
I’m up and look at Kristos. He nods. “Get to Donna at aero. She’s got open stations.”
Donna is the Air Club in a Club building across the runway from here. I go. Seeing through the chip behind my eyes, Light has the team of partners on the move. Fuck. No one thought to tell me?I get on a golf cart with a frantically waving Asa. “Thanks. Light has the team moving.” It takes some effort on their part to exclude me from their movements but I did say I had a meet.
“VP Jack Control to VP Light, Maestro teams. Boss Shadow team work to VP MB.” The little VP possesses a mastery over the golf cart’s capabilities that I’m not sure I’ll ever attain. I don’t golf and this would not be a chosen mode of transportation for me. My partners seem to enjoy the carts but it’s just not my thing.I’ll be adding teams to that lineup so I’m glad someone like Jack is paying attention. The Brother doesn’t miss much.
I nod and hold on to this jacked up golf cart, not merely a normal one, Badass seems to enhance anything with a motor. I’m glad they stick to things and not living beings. We slam to a stop a foot away from a Jeep that just pulled up and Asa is running before my internal organs fall back into place. Christ Almighty.
“Pres, Myers sent me to run IT for you.”
I turn fast. “Thanks, Tony. I need a team ready with two handlers and Mil in Ops with Circuit.”
He runs like he knows the way so I follow him at a jog. This skeleton isn’t Op enhanced and doesn’t move like the full robotic does. Everything is upstairs but I follow Tony’s pointing finger and take the elevator.
The door opens to an Almost empty hallway.
“Boss!” A Brother I don’t know yells from the other side of the hall. “Flight engineer said to wait for you and show you to the Ops overflow stations. I’m Chaps from Phoenix. I’m on for Randall.” He doesn’t know me since he was waiting by the stairs.
I jog his way, noticing his skeleton and bowed back at shoulder height. He slowly walks my way. “Seamus, thanks for waiting. This skeleton isn’t like the Ops one but it gets me from place to place.” I introduce me with a heads-up to my odd gate and sometimes unusual movements.
He smiles not lifting his head as I get closer. “Brinks said that Ops one is heavier. I’m walking with no pain, but end of day, I’m dragging.”
“It’s heavier but it was chipped to my back and moved for me. I have to think about movement in this one. I’m not on Ops regularly and don’t mind putting in the work. This one is new to me so I’m still in adapt mode.”
He laughs pointing but the door opens.
I nod stepping through. “Asa must have hooked my tracking in. It opens doors when I’m close to the keypad.”
“I need that coded for me. It logs you in?” He hits the pad as he asks.
“Yeah. Are you IT for Maestro?” I look around and see Tony and Asa working from empty stations. With the bend for my glasses, I misstep. “Fuck.” Landing with knees bent in a weird crouch, holding me up by a hand on the floor, I’m glad I didn’t face plant. I smile getting me up and pull the glasses without trying to walk and talk at the same time.
“Sorry. I’d have made that worse. Your legs okay?” Chaps is a good Brother.
I’d have pulled him down with me so I nod letting him see I’m not offended. “I’m paralyzed so I don’t feel them. The skeleton I learned with is full robotic that moved my feet in different boots.” I basically said the same thing walking in.
He nods and sits. “Virtual from where, Asa?”
Asa looks over with his glasses on. This not-kid is cute as hell. “You to VP Marks, Rising.” Marks is FBI. I’m glad they’re involved again.
I go right to Tony and get my glasses on. “Jesus. This isn’t all Maestro.”
Tony doesn’t stop typing. “No, Pres, we’re virtual in Phoenix Ops or Ops on the ABSZ. Asa got us moved.”
I swipe but don’t see my teams. “Okay, where is my Ops room. Light was moving the surveillance team from there. Shadow is in a chopper.”
“Here, Pres Seamus.” Asa has my head turning and eyes closed. Holy shit.
I have to shake my head at the whizzing pictures. “Wait. I need just the hologram.”
“Roger, Boss. Akai say Boss Shadow chip show.” Chip show? The chip shows on the hologram board. He’s right but I don’t need both or all.
“No, they hooked us up so everyone on Ops is connected but we show on the hologram boards you all set up. I need just hologram on my glasses. Light is in here too. Add holograms and what I already see from the chip and I’m ready to dig the chip out myself and hand it to Alder. I already see the chip and every connection, Brother. Just hook me to the regular Lead view.”
I blink my eyes and smile at his embarrassed face with his lips in a perfect circle. “Oh. I fix.”
Tony hides his red smiling face. I bet it was the dig the chip out thing.
Closing my eyes, I watch the boards drop away so I have a normal amount and partner feeds listed on the side. “Thanks, Asa. I see my Club, normal BSC Control boards and teams.”
“You need more, I add to you side board.”
“This is perfect. I’ll ask if that changes.” I guess he’s IT for ABSZ but don’t ask.
My assumptions don’t end there. Since Shadow is on a chopper, I assume Ops is running.
Me: “Light, I’m on from the Air Club at Honor. Where are you and what do you need?”
Circuit: “Pres, he’s…” I hold my laugh in as Light gives Circuit a look and low growl I’ve only heard on engaged Ops.
Light: “Shadow is Lead for team Alpha. Prometheus is Team One.”
Me: I’m bent in half doing my best not to laugh at the Sean Connery voice that is speaking the words his text show.
MB: His chuckle registers as laugh by his name. “MB on, Seamus. I’m surprised and happy to hear the accented voice, but fear it may cause confusion. I’m Team One, headed to the full-service truck stop where drivers are surrounding a box theft in progress or hijacking attempt. I have no distinction from the Enforcer or Protector Teams so the accent was all I had. We’ll move to the warehouse before the other trucks pull in. I’m dispersing K-9 for recorded intel requested by FBI. Shadow is headed to the warehouse, surveillance is still monitoring. Enforcer One and Two are Bravo. Protector Team One is Phoenix. Asa just sent me a chat that he’s with you so he’ll get you the rest. I was told to get you up to speed when you came on.” He has me holding a laugh in.
Me: I throw chin to Asa. “Thanks, MB. I have a board with the objective and who is where up now. I don’t have Controls listed but have added MB to your One so I’m not confused.” He doesn’t answer but I hear the chuckle again.
Asa: “Tony, line up to board one, track low two, surveillance three. He see feed to chip you keep low to you board.” I nod, liking the setup. The Maestro room is the same but Tony is Flight Crew.
Tony: “Roger, Boss. Light just sent it. Are you IT Control for the Op or us?”
Asa: “IT Control to Operation King of Midwest Road.”
Me: I laugh hearing more laughs around me and in my ear. Asa doesn’t look amused so I stop. “Good name. Their shipments are after the chaos they try to create, is the box at the truck stop part of their chaos?” My chip has music and King of the Road is playing. Surprisingly, it’s a song that I heard growing up with my uncle.
Asa: “No show to plan. New.”
Me: “Got it, opportunistic addition. I asked because MB said FBI requested recorded intel. We’d have had it verified already and logged for who is getting it. Is all this FBI?”
Asa: “Prez Knight to Colorado, three Senator, NSA, Federal Security Service.”
Me: I interrupt before he says more. “What does the Federal Security Service do?” That’s a new one for me.
Tony: “I got it, Asa. My uncle and a cousin work for them. They provide internal and border security, counterterrorism, counter-intelligence, surveillance and investigation of other types of federal law violations and serious crimes. The sheer amount of ex-military puts this into serious crime and other type of federal law violations. Pres Bishop said they all can be held on a federal conspiracy to a coup charge that will probably change but it’s accurate and guaranteed to hold them all no matter how big or small their part is. The actual product they’re moving is reliant on the other agencies based on national security protocols but FSS slapping initial charges is enough to initiate investigations in multiple agencies at every level.”
Me: “So state and federal for each state that a truck traveled?”
Tony: He smiles with his eyes lit. “Not just state and federal. The medical has FCC and securities charges waiting because the hold or loss on certain medications are a market changer. The company manufacturing can up prices based off theft and black-market pricing. Environmental will apply to chemical at local, state and federal level. The theft of trucks is local, state and federal because of the cost. Civil suits will be pushed because the job loss and time replacing freight equipment should be compensated. Food has a ton of agencies, farmers, drivers, companies…whatever to add their complaints and charges. AND the lead here is a retired general…if every agency isn’t doing their part to safeguard the American people, what the fuck are our taxes paying for? He’s retired with a platoon of military still carrying out his orders.” Christ almighty. He does make a good point and I get the smile of pride he started with. If this isn’t stopped by everyone now, it will continue until ex-military are making money everywhere and civilians are paupers with no voice.
Me: I nod. “Thanks, Tony. Anything to add there, Asa?”
Asa: “Pres Cort send Pres Alder to Colorado Badass mansion. Badass area target, Prez Ben say it stop now. Every level, every office stand to say no. Military oath serve people, constitution, not steal, not hurt.” He punches his little fist into his other hand showing he means it.
Me: “I agree, Brother. Let’s get settled and set before anything else moves or changes. MB is landing.”
Asa: “Roger, Boss.” He doubles down with a focus on his hologram board and fingers flying over the picture of a keyboard.
Me: I send, ‘ETA’, to Light getting an 8 back. I watch boards. My teams are all positioned at the warehouse when they show. Alpha, E1, E2 and MB when he’s done with whatever he’s collecting intel for. We wait a good ten minutes watching the chopper land with Alpha then hop up onto an older flatbed trailer that is hooked to a pickup. I’d think it’s going for hay if I saw it on the narrow unpaved back road. I swipe and see they set down on private property. “Three letters a shadow corporation?”
Asa: “Badass Trust Land. No shadow. Incorporated, operate traditional regulatory framework. Next tract Champion ranch land.” He shows properties with yellow outlines sounding offended.
Me: “The three letters aren’t known to me. I meant no disrespect or offense, VP Asa.” I wait for his eyes and nod. “My only jobs were military and the farm.”
Asa: “You work military too long. Pres Justice say Brother need more good to bad. Badass good.”
Chaps: He laughs. “He does say that. Some Brothers show that openly. You know right off they’ve seen too much action and came back fighting to process it in a world that doesn’t see them or even the reason we were fighting. Seamus doesn’t strike me as one of those. He’s more like Jinx with a smile when he falls. He’s seen and done good.” The Brother is insightful.
Me:“Thanks, Chaps, we did do more good than bad. I have partners that connect to me so I haven’t had a second alone in years. They’d drag me in chains, kicking and screaming, if I even tried the poor me thing.”
Tony: “They would Pres.”
Jack: “Seamus I have team one being patched in to you.”
Me: “Roger, BSC Ops.”
MB: “Seamus, Prometheus says two of these are yours.” He sounds off.
Me: “Asa?” His hands move getting my board changed. “Fuck. That’s the box they’re trying to hijack?” This is not a simple addition.
MB: “I thought you’ve been on my Op. Sorry. Yeah, this isn’t even on the product lists. We’d have brought another team. This is crated K-9 but not all elite or Ops. The two Prometheus sent IT for ID were free and stopped the decibel level bark when we opened the box.”
Me: “Ramsey is the Shepherd. The sign he’s making on the floor is distress, handler MIA. Asa, get Light on something Ramsey and Martin can see. They need a connection.”
MB: “Prometheus showed system fail. I don’t understand but you can feel it here. The crated K-9 are whimpering softly like they’re feeling it too.” His view shows crates where the K-9s are pawing absentmindedly or have heads on their paws but eyes riveted on the partners.
Me: He turns back and I see Martin lower his head and tail. “Block the door!” Before they shift to a run, Prometheus’ hologram board’s sound comes on as the board grows bigger. Martin jumps to attention with Lights order. I see the light in the box shift as the door is closed. I breathe. “Thank you, Brother. Light will get them settled and you may have just saved their lives. They’d have done what they could to cease.”
MB: “It felt like whatever he was doing on the floor was a last-ditch effort, but it’s calm here. I mean for humans it’s calm. The dogs sounded frantic and louder than nine dogs could or should make. This is going to NeuroVision labs. That’s your chip study?” He still sounds off, anxious or something. I don’t know him well but he’s always calm and speaks slowly.
Me: Here in the US? I feel tired and we haven’t even started. Pulling a chair out I sit. “Yeah. Ramsey is giving Light the ID for the others. They’re not military but all are tactical for PD, Homeland and Border. They have them as stolen.” I stop when I see the Maestro Partners flash on Prometheus’ board. Martin physically relaxes then stands at full attention like he’s not just playing at it. I watch Ramsey. He chuffs with tears. K-9s rarely show that but this partner lost his host, has lived through hell since and is smart enough to see the hell they were all in for. “Light, order them to provide security to the K-9s until they all make it here. We’ll need Katie on testing them for any enhancements they got but they are Security until they set down at Maestro.”
Light: “Roger, Boss.” Sean Connery makes me smile.
Me. “You can open the door, MB. With the order and familiar partners, they’re settled.”
MB: “No system failure?” He doesn’t sound convinced.
Me: “No, Brother. They would have bolted, drawing fire, or run in the path of a truck but they’re settled. Prometheus will tell you.”
MB: I smile seeing it on the board but MB says it. “I feel it but he said they’re good or thumbs up.”
Me: I smile right out. “Is there transport for them right away?” I have Myers here.
Jack: “Ops are running everywhere so transport is being challenged. You have a chopper lifting without an engineer. They’ll use ABSZ for engineer position and get the K-9 home. I’m told if you don’t agree they can stay in that box and we’ll get a truck to pull it to Maestro.”
Me: My head turns fast as I stand. Asa and Tony nod. “The flight will calm us all, BSC Ops. I appreciate the option but even MB feels the need for red extract.”
Jack: “I don’t think your crew would have set down if you went the other way. Ranger is telling me I need to get them home before there’s interference spilling over. Right now, the driver thinks he’s been followed by Badass through a whole state. We’re taking him so that won’t change. Bishop is showing as a show to mark the Badass exit.” They’re smart. I’d want a definite guarantee Badass is gone before their shipments come in. This also gets everyone watching a rest stop and not seeing the movement of tactical units all through the trust land that abuts the property just off the ranch land. Champion Asa said. It can’t be the Club, it must be the family name.
Me: “Satellite still on covert?”
Asa: “View blur to outside BSC. Prez Knight have IT to Colorado partner to Delta.” The Badass camera on everything was a concern to me but they have protocols around every procedural scenario I came up with.
Me: I nod and we wait. “Thanks.”
***
Me: After three hours, we finally have more than a surprise K-9 rescue that popped up happening. I was released from Honor to meet the K-9s at the chopper on Maestro so I’m back in my own Ops room with Tony and Chaps. I don’t really need Tony now but he’s interested in the Ops and trained with the protocol, so practice while I have backup for him could come in handy. Phoenix, Colorado and Bishop at Veritable all worked for this Op but my teams got lunch, found prime positions and waited. MB never gave an order to his K-9s. I’m not sure he’s said a word in the last three hours beside ‘roger’.
Cort: “We’re a go, Maestro. ID drivers as trucks arrive in the back, cars and whatever from the front. The meet is on and confirmation from all the partners listed is verified. Ben said good fuckin’ job, Brothers.”
Me: Light turns my way. I bow my head to him. “I’ll pass that on, Boss. Maestro teams, Alpha, One, Enforcer and Protector all attendees identified are confirmed. Tag them as they show. Tag drivers and trucks so there are no surprises. We got recognition for stellar surveillance from the top, Brothers. Stay alert, send concerns and ask for what you need. Follow the plan. We’re a go.”
Light: Light logs everyone rogering, even my teams. We watch the first truck roll in. Their security, that’s trying not to look like security, does a sweep around the building. The front has no movement.
Me: We wait out their apprehensions with the next three trucks, one being a smaller box truck. Light has Shadow up and I see his ‘feel it’ sign. I ready MB. “Team One, Alpha has clear entry.” He doesn’t answer but I see his hand sign to Prometheus.
Light: He sends me a thumbs up as Shadow bounces from the ground onto the loading dock and walks in as if it’s his right to be there. I look for Shadows feed and smile. He’s trotting down an aisle of skid steers.
Me: I ask about the feed in the chip. Light sends ‘Phoenix looped.’ Swiping my boards, I see Web with Cort in Phoenix. I keep going and see Alder in Bravo with Jack and Falcon watching.
Dugan: “SUVs approaching.” The Enforcer Lead speaks softly.
Freedom: “Roger, Dugan. Ops, we borrowed Hunter from Shadow. He’s up in some landscaping with his feed showing the whole drop off area in front. He hears me but I didn't get a way to do dog talk.”
Light: His head is shaking exaggerated no out. I smile but let him handle this. “Team One Lead Protector, Hunter is on Maestro’s Alpha Team. He will be moved if ID is not clear.”
Freedom: “Thanks, VP Light. Shadow didn’t explain anything. He rogered then walked away. Hunter stood in front of me with his ID on the board. Get the voice thing for them or hook up the Leads.” She sounds relieved.
Me: I smile saying it, “Lead glasses show the Maestro partners.”
Freedom: “We could use that before we’re on an Op with the freaky K-9. They’re freakier than Zeus and his crew.”
Me: I laugh holding my mic. When I calm, I answer since no one else does. “Roger, Freedom. I’ll let the handlers know that all Clubs need our protocol or at the least a heads-up on where communication can be achieved.”
Freedom: “Fuckin’ hell. Sorry, Boss. I just got that your Club procedures is my training tomorrow. I’ll do this better on the next Op.”
Me: “You’re doing fine, Brother. I’m still giving the handlers a short list for inter species Ops because we may not see you for months.” She laughs without an answer. Tony laughs too. I shrug. We watch Shadow incapacitate and secure the Lieutenant and MB the general. The general canceled the meet and greet cocktails because of the security delay. The presentation will happen on time, then cocktails for those that can stay. This works better for us as no one expects to see any higher ups before the presentation. None of the general’s military force are invited to the presentation and even their inside security is lower tier. I advised using their reactions against them and Cort agreed with no questions. On the board, Ben said Putam agreed. He’s a seer so I feel good about this change. There are three more higher ups but they’re not tactical. One is money, one some union guy that’s freight, the other a go between for pharmaceutical.
Asa: The little VP waves at me. “Pres Seamus, IT have truck. Not surprise. Purpose to keep Badass away.”
Me: I bend and read from his board. “Eejits. They were wrong.” I point up to the main board where Prometheus and Shadow have the union and money guys down. “Light, get Shadow on anything NeuroVision. I didn’t see anything on it from the list.”
Asa: “Web have ABSZ on research. Boss Shadow get there?”
Me: I nod. “He’ll hook to their server.” He nods and goes back to his typing. It was on purpose. That company has to be the general or someone working with him to divert K-9s to the private lab. They weren’t military but they made sure two were chipped. “Fuck. The general knew. I turn to Light. “Did he see a partner?” They’ve been there for a full week.
Light: He sends me negative. I ask how. Understanding he doesn’t want to voice this or I feel that in there. ‘Judge Op.’ Shit, the Op that landedme back in the chair. I think back but he stops that. ‘PD, private militant force.’
Me: “Son of a bitch.” He sends it is shut down but the general was making plans. “Partners?” His all K-9 has me ripping. Burn it down works for me. He watches without an answer. “MB, …”
Cort: “Brother, he’s not hurting us, as a matter of fact, he’s drooling on the floor right now. That fire word means something more than many would understand but just about everyone that hears your voice will understand. Federal Marshals are waiting, no one going in that presentation will come out free and clear. Affiliation carries weight.”
Me: “Fuck!” I whisper it but want to challenge the right I know he is. Audio record isn’t where shit like that should be. “MB, we need the room bar service is held in confined.” I cannot challenge the POT of Badass West and pointing out his gaff, on record, is not an option.
Cort: He sends a saluting emoji to the chip.
MB: “Roger, Boss.” I see his hand signs and smile. He knows but isn’t talking about it.
Me: We watch Shadow’s Alpha Team incapacitate and drag hall stragglers behind doors. Asa is marking the rooms on a building schematic. Twenty-eight minutes and finally we get last call.
Asa: “Last to list, Pres Seamus. Security move to stand. All feed release to real time.”
Me: “Protector, Enforcer, Alpha and One move to next positions. Light, jam the building. Jack, stand by for the call.”
Freedom: “PT1, Go.” She doesn’t yell it but her team moves and moves fast. Security is down then gone in seconds. Freedom is running but I don’t see anyone in the hall.
Me: I look to the side and see she’s twenty away from the presentation. It’s a decked-out cafeteria set up with a stage but there are no Security inside. I flip and see the partners. Chaps and Tony laugh. I clear my throat seeing the last laser flash. “Hazmat, I’m gonna miss you if you leave. Good job, Brother.” The last of the Security get dragged inside and the partners walk out. Hazmat chuffs but doesn’t stop. I hold my mic. “Get that up for me, Tony” he does and I’m bent holding a laugh in. They took turns, one shoots the next drags but everyone got a turn and not one fuckin’ security guy paid attention to the blue lights flashing.
Chaps: “Why are they smiling going in?”
Light: He sends a flashing disco ball. We all laugh. They thought it was a party break for them.
Me: “Freedom?” Her feed shows the floor. Her hand waves in a move on motion so I do. “Jack, make the call.”
Jack: “Roger. Pres is calling. This is the quietest big Op I’ve been on. It ran like clockwork even with the surprise. Just sayin’, Brother, I’d have burnt it down.”
Cort: “Marshals pulling in. No one is burning anything.”
Me: “Roger, Boss. I think that’s his response to the fire talk of earlier.”
Jack, Asa and voices I don’t know sound off in my ear.
Light is doing the exaggerated head shake.
Cort: “I’m a Dickass.”
The quiet can only be from everyone set to mute. This room is laughing but I don’t hear it in my head. I watch Marshals enter with my jaw clamped shut.
***
My eyes roll hearing another chopper. Katie laughs. “The new partners need this. Are you sure we shouldn’t go to Alpha?”
“Brinks said Stella’s family are there. We can go tomorrow. I picked morning so the boys don’t miss the live class with Alexia.”
She nods looking let down. “I’m meeting with Copper for the results of blood tests.”
I stand seeing women coming this way. “See if she can meet you at Alpha. Everything is on hologram boards. She can explain it anywhere.”
“I will.” She pulls my shirt almost tipping me over.
I push off the table thinking a kiss to my lips was never a cause for embarrassment but that one could have been. My hand almost landed in a tray of that smelly cheese and avocado shit the partners like. It stinks to high heaven.
The Brothers claimed a table closer to the pool so I sit there glad there’s no avocado shit in sight.
“Seamus!”
I don’t sit long. I’m up and smiling at Vinny. “Yeah, Bud.”
“Benny is taking us all to the Vision. Can Gonzo and Fairy go?” The smile and yell has nothing to do with me.
“Yep. Shadow and Light are with the new partners.” He didn’t ask if he can go. It would be yes because Benny is the best dad fourth I could ask for. He’s got Shadow and Light to fight position for, but they’ve been with me longer than Benny was with the boys and Leon.
He nods knowing this already. “Only Gonzo and Fairy want to go. The rest are staying with the new guys or watching the hooch movie.” Hooch is moonshine. Partners and moonshine could be fun.
I just nod having no idea what he’s talking about. As soon as he’s down, he’s running the other way. I send Fairy an order getting a roger back.
Mark laughs walking with Izzy. “He’s a bobble. Kristos and Blackhawks kids are going so they have Security.”
I nod smiling. “Glad that’s your first thought and I have Fairy on him. The partners are going this weekend for fun.”
“We are too. Little Brothers set it up so every park will have us there. Can we go to Alpha.”
I laugh. “Tomorrow morning so you don’t miss Alexia’s live class.”
He nods and points behind me. I see it from Izzy. Cort, Falcon, Ranger and Jack. “Bosses.” I say as I turn getting a surprised look, then a laugh. Another fuckin’ party.
I breathe and sit back down.
“Do you send everything in the chip?” Ranger surprises me.
“No. I talk when I need to. MB, the Enforcer Lead and Freedom don’t need me to manage steps for them.”
He nods. “The chip isn’t recorded.”
I smile understanding where this is going. “Pretty cheeky for you to mention that when Cort is sitting right here.”
Jack and Falcon almost fall over laughing. I shrug at Cort while Ranger is hanging his head.
“That’s the second time I’ve heard you use multiple languages.” Falcon gets me looking back.
The protocols. “I use it to focus my partners. Always the same lineup,German, Brazilian, Bengali, Russian, Greek, French, Arabic is the language protocol. We didn’t use it for the Op today.”
“No, Cort was on with Ben. I didn’t recognize all of them.” Falcon nods when I point to my head. It’s the chip. I’ve told them how it works.
Cort is done with small talk. “So, the General’s plan was moving everything for money by controlling trade routes. It started with the intimidation on the bids but IT found small business protection payments. It wasn’t just trucks.”
I nod. “Control of many businesses means more money from big corporations. Military training always starts with who profits from it. Cut off the money and gain control of areas. In other countries we give that back to the people or we’re supposed to.”
His head is agreeing with me. “Huh. You knew it right from the beginning.”
“I did, Boss, but it’s been my job for years.”
He takes a deep breath. “I always think the military are crazy with the specialties but they have purposes I think I overlook. Brinks knew.”
I nod. “Protocols that are ingrained, like the chain of command, makes great soldiers but command not allowing free thinking can get them killed. It’s always the same. Greed kills more than the US military ever will. We just don’t keep track of those numbers.”
He looks at Jack then Ranger getting nods. Falcon smiles at him. “I remember saying the same thing at a getaway around a fire pit.”
Cort shakes his head. “I’m a dickass.”
“You’ve mentioned that before, Boss.” I point out, relieved when even Cort laughs at that.
It’s a good night that stays that way then rolls to the new day.