Chapter One #3
“Pres Alder here.” Asa isn’t asking for an answer but the dog makes a noise as he runs by. Leaning over him, I open the door so Asa doesn’t have to stop and stand aside letting my little package log in. I saw Alder and another Bit at the table so I relax against the wall.
My jump bag is on the chopper but I don’t know if I’ll have time to wash and change, so I leave it for later.
While Asa is in the meeting room, I stand with the K9 but remember the clothes.
“Keep watch while I send a chat for clothes at Bravo.” This is one of the Protector K9s.
I’ve seen them shoot a laser on Ops. They’re better than some of the military I worked with so I’m comfortable splitting my focus.
He makes the dog noise for ‘yeah’ so I pull up the Prospect app for Bravo. I order a room, a female night basket and laundry service to get my gear cleaned overnight. It’s confirmed and I stand at attention. “Thanks.”
The dog moves his prosthetic and a board pops up. He looks down the hall then moves his prosthetic so a schedule shows with my ID, then his.
“Honored, Brother. Yeah, I’m Sophia Michadeau.
Everyone calls me Sophie. Nice to meet you, Zeus.
I heard about you in the sandbox. Harky is the name that was linked to you.
Glad he made you family” He’s a Marine Commander or they are.
I didn’t have a dog in. I was an operator that worked alone or small team with specialized missions.
He makes his ‘yeah’ noise again and drops his board when another big K9 and Brother come our way. “Brothers, Keylan Stone and Nike, VP for Rescue. Alder in this one?”
Zeus answers and steps over so the VP can open the door. The second K9 stays with us. I watch him pull up a board and pick words. Since they’re not for me, I watch the hall at attention, repaying the favor I asked of Zeus.
§*§*§
Bravo Rising
Sophie
The kids here make this Club one of my favorites.
There is no way I’m having them, but I love kids.
The innocence, joy, open curiosity and wonder they show is bittersweet, because I don’t remember the feelings from my own childhood.
While I think it, I realize I’m finding ways to give them more of that joy and wonder.
Leya sits by me reaching for my harmonica. “You are what I call an inciter.”
I smile making sure I show as much teeth as possible. “Thank you. I take it as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t meant as one. Amell and Bryn play ‘The Ants Go Marching’ every time we’re walking anywhere.” Her sort of fake defeat is cute.
They’re pretty good too. “I taught them Springsteen today.”
She gives me a look. “Why the harmonica?”
I shrug. “Drums would get me shot.”
Leya laughs then runs for the bathroom hunched over. The woman leaves me smiling.
A deep laugh has me looking up and back. I don’t know this guy and scan for Asa. Turning back when I see he’s still racing Falcon, I throw chin to the new guy. “I’m Sophia Michadeau, Asa’s Protector.”
He nods and watches the pool while Tats tells him Asa is VP of the Alpha-Bits while pointing him out.
New guy nods watching Asa and Falcon. He doesn’t look back so I check the Bits at the table with Alta showing sheet music on his hologram board. Asa is still swimming.
“This is Hud Girard, he’s Alder’s new Protector Lead for BSC outside the Phoenix five circle,” Tats talks for the new guy, I guess. Alder will like that because he doesn’t do chit chat either.
“Thanks, Tats. Nice to meet you, Brother.” Without an answer, I move on. “I haven’t seen Janet. How is Tommy doing?” I ask Tats, but don’t look away from the pool as Asa is getting out. Straightening, I’m ready to stand.
“He’s fine. Janet has him doing Play Doh with Maddox. Mucimi is with them so he may be swimming tomorrow.”
I nod watching Asa move to the table with Juan and Alta. He sits like he’ll be a while, so I relax back. Mucimi was here earlier and disappeared a bruise from Asa’s arm. He said Asa won’t say when he’s hurt, so I’m glad he showed. It’s not my place to give Mucimi sightings, so I don’t.
“You’re not on the schedule,” Tats throws out.
“Seth sent me with Asa. Falcon said he’s covered here at the pool but I have orders. He’s my scheduled shift tomorrow.” I shrug. “It works.” I can’t drop orders on a package and he’d know that, he’s Alder’s Lead.
He touches my shoulder with a smile on. “You taught them a new song; I like it better than the ants.”
I smile back thinking Leya’s got no support for her fake outrage. “Me too, but the ants got them looking for more. They love anything new to them.”
“They do. Later, Sophie.”
I watch them walk toward Falcon wondering about the big guy with the robotic foot. Hud Girard never said a word. My package is still at the table of kids and Bits.
§*§*§
Bravo Rising
Hud
The little albino guys are happy, quiet and every one of them runs from one place to the next.
Climbing with them was good and showed I’ll stay in shape and have some fun while on shifts with them.
They have smaller boys here like the drone feeds I watched at Elan.
It’s odd to see tiny baby-sized kids working on computers and making stuff on printers.
Phoenix had a few Bits at the dinner I went to but their eyes told of their age, these are clearly much younger.
The giggles are the same as the little genius boys in Virginia too and they all know that annoying rap they sing about cool, a word I’ve learned not to say.
“Asa, you riding?” Falcon focuses me to Asa’s answer at the music table.
“I wait to Pres Alder,” the little VP’s mohawk is standing straight again.
He’s a cute kid that Tat’s tells me is in his twenties so the lion tattoo he’s wearing with the tail going down his arm isn’t as shocking.
The tattoo covers a line of stitches he got in a chopper accident but you can’t see anything but the ink.
I can tell age from the eyes if they’re close enough for me to see them.
They've been through some shit and it shows in their eyes like a soldier’s haunted thousand-yard stare.
“We’re riding up to ABSZ IT.” Falcon answers pulling a shirt on.
My eye catches the Charlie’s Angel pulling long pants on over her shorts as Asa slides off the bench and runs her way while he answers, “I in, Pres Falcon. Ten-minute. I stay to Bravo tonight.”
The Charlie’s Angel bends as she hands the little VP a stack of folded clothes from her bag. “I’m on you until you’re back on the Officer road here,” she tells him softly but I hear it.
He takes his clothes and runs to the bathroom. “I good to that, Boss Sophie!”
The Brothers are trying not to laugh.
“Why isn’t he sleeping at his house?” Tats asks.
She shrugs her jacket on. “Alder gets visitors all night.”
Tats pulls his phone then catches my eye. “We’re picking up Alder. Keylan and Firefly are on him to the IT building. He’ll probably fly himself over to the compound.”
This tells me he really does fly. I shake that off. Keylan I know is Commander Stone. “Firefly?”
He stops typing and looks up. “His ol’ lady. She was an MP in Korea so protect is in her too.”
I nod and look back at the hooks. There are small jackets hanging by mine and Tats, when I see the kids running out of the bathroom, I head that way to help the obvious younger boys. “They don’t live here?” I ask Tats.
“Mario and Oscar are staying on Alder’s compound this week with a few of their Ford brothers from Web’s.” Falcon says, helping a little one into his jacket. “Meet me at my house.”
The two little guys run with a, “Roger, Pres Falcon,” like they planned it.