Chapter Eight #2
Damn, I’m in a Hud daze and didn’t filter my words.
Wait a minute. He’s got the Alpha-Bit backstory.
“When CIA started their clone or petri dish to soldier experiments, they started with DNA that matched a simpler mind. Alexia was almost kidnapped by her uncle because her mom had that mind with Asperger’s and testing showed Alexia had DNA matching her mom’s.
Her uncle was CIA. His twin was CIA doing experiments for soldiers to be soldiers, modified body structure with an adjusted mind.
I don’t know the adjustments or how they did that. ”
“Garren and his twin had the DNA?” He catches that pretty quick Garren and Ford are older than Web and Michael.
“Garren has what’s called Fragile X. It’s similar to Alexia but has a different DNA strand that has a broken or missing chromosome.
It’s inherited from their mom. Commander Ford doesn’t have it and they’re twins.
Like Michael and Web. Michael was taken from an orphanage because of it but I don’t know if he was tested here, Web was left there until he aged out.
The testing was done at the FBI Ops Office in Providence.
Ford was a commander there and they found his brother for him. ”
“Two sets of twins?” He pays attention.
“Yeah, Garren said Graywolf’s grandfather said the DNA was right because different DNA was in all peaceful and happy members of the tribes. The fighters are warriors that take care of them.”
He stops before we get to the door. “The one without it protects the other?”
“I asked but Garren can shoot, can fight and protects his dog, Michael and his Telia. One of his Security said he steps up when he needs to and God help the idiot that messes with his nephews.”
“So, they’re all protectors when they’re needed?” Good question.
“You’d have to ask. At Guardian they have Parker who has brain damage. It’s a similar story to the Fords. The President, Slade Nova, protects his brother but the brother is younger.”
“Maybe the twins just aren’t found. Mine died; my mom gave me his name. Hud Emerson Girard is both of us. His name was Emerson Hudson Girard. I worked some overwatch for Nova’s team and he worked some cleanup for me.” He hasn’t given details or hardly any information about his time in.
“Like a satellite?” I ask him.
“Yeah, old DEVGRU.” That’s Black Ops.
I note that to look at later but nod. I’m not asking for what he can’t say. “Hamp and Garren Ford are like that, are you Indian?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Garren’s DNA is of the First People. I don’t know more than that’s a sacred thing to Indians.”
He moves us to a bench on the path to the building.
“Rakhi is the symbol.” He pulls his phone and shows me.
“Symbol of protection. Citiali has it. Sisters protect brothers is ancient then changed to brothers protect sisters. A pledge like our Officer oaths. A discipline, love in pure form, a vow.” His intensity strikes me.
Lost words like Alder and sometimes Asa.
Jolly Robbin’s. “The Badass pledge. Our hands out to those who need it but it’s everyone, the needy putting their hand out with what they have to offer.” I love being the little sister while I’m a protector for others.
He nods. “Mason is the same, protectors are hidden in the groups. Everyone helps.” It sounds similar to here and what Josephine’s brother, Jackie, said about Indians.
“Yeah, the Indians had everything taken but their belief in the ancestors and their stories of peace and unity. It’s funny how it’s lasted and we see it in everyday life here in the Badass world.”
“Or their magic is hidden and we never see it. They’re good at the disappear.” His smirky smile is cute.
I lean hands on his leg to push up enough to kiss it. “They are. I’m not sure I need to know more. The kids freak me out and I read Zeke suspends time, Citiali shields and Cuyler can kill you with a plant.”
“Protect me from Cuyler. I know the others are good people, what they have protects the rest of us.” Protectors with magic protect the ones who aren’t meant to. They’re good at it. At least the Security Brother said so and he’s from New England. Hud needs to see the kids.
“Yeah. Let’s go see the babies so we can get lunch and I can show you the medical lab here. I’ll tell you about the Guardian kids on the way.”
§*§*§
Alpha-Bit Security Zone
Hud
Web is good with the kids or the kids are free to do whatever they want here. The compound is like Alder’s but better or more houses are decorated. It’s bigger too. I’m surprised to see older kids in the school and some who are not Alpha-Bits.
“Boss Sophie and Hud!” I smile at Garren with a quick nod.
My Charlie’s Angel is all smiles. “Hey, Garren. Hud said Michael got his water for the plant walls.”
He points out the window. “It’s a screen, screen that takes water from air and and drips it into the pipe sloped for the plant walls. We’re doing experiments and the water is clean clean and good good.”
She laughs making me smile. The woman shows love through her eyes. I love that. A tiny Bit stands against me hugging my leg. He’s the size of the little Bailey’s at Bravo. I bend and lift him up so he can see everyone straight on. He bounces twice and leans against my chest. I guess he likes it.
While Garren tells her all about everything they did to make the watering screen I look around.
“He gets excited.”
I turn to the teen that isn’t an Alpha-Bit. “He does. I’m…”
“Hud Girard. Alder’s new Lead off the Phoenix five. I’m Dreng from Champion. We’re putting a newscast together for the kids in the danger zones. We sent turtles so this water system could be huge.”
Turtles would burrow softening soil; I get that one. Danger zones? “You target them?”
“Yeah, my dad showed me how they target ads for Badass Security. We use it for kids around the world. We got help from Adroit for kids in Africa to filter water for drinking and their new crops, but this pulls water from the air. We’ll put a challenge out for them to make something to water their new seeds. ” He’s proud and should be.
“Gives them a way to help. A solution they make with what’s available is a good idea. The turtle experiment worked. Sahara is growing trees now.” Maybe they can use magic and whatever to test it out.
He nods. “I asked Commander Bruce about it. The Masonic Lodge here is donating so we can get them in Africa and Uganda. The kids raised money to try it here first. It’s working at the Indian desert compounds.
Well, they got some greenery and are excited about new bugs they’re seeing on the red clay and shale.
I don’t think I’d be excited about bugs but they are. ”
“It’s a new ecosystem than what they normally see. Greenery will hold water so they’ll see more in time.” I explain.
“Yeah, we sent pictures to the kids in Uganda and they’re excited. It will be years before they see trees but they’re excited.”
My little guy bounces again. “What’s his name?”
“Indra.” He points. “That’s Geir, that’s Hali, Flynn and Etan are working on the computer. Mario is teaching them something about banking.”
Holy shit. “How old are they?”
“I don’t do months; these are past four years. We had cupcakes for them. A group of four went to the monastery. They don’t move. Alder said they’re like the other kids there but they’re younger than these.”
This is the first I’ve heard about more kids. “There are more?”
His eyebrows go high on his head. “Shit!” He stage whispers.
“Don’t mention that. They thought they had all but the ones who were just found are younger and more damaged than Alder’s seen.
He went on every rescue so he’d know. Those came from FBI raids that they thought was biological warfare chemicals.
Maybe it was, but the kids were grown there and not well.
Ben Knight said backroom lab experiment so I figure it was dirty, not professional or downright disgusting.
The monastery has the kids that don’t function well.
They need simple things in a place that won’t cause them stress.
No chaos my dad said. Badass is not that.
The Masons hid them there for safety and Zeke does Badass checks once or twice a year.
Masons in two countries do the other checks. ”
Jesus Christ. This is one of those times I wish I was still in. I’d like to blow the hell out of a lab like that. “When were they found?”
“The end of last year.”
I nod, glad they’re under protection and put the little bouncing boy down.
His little hand comes out and I bump it.
He looks too small for that but he’s four.
When I stand straight, I ask. “Do they talk? I haven’t heard the Bailey’s and it’s quiet in here.
” The daycare had loud kids being kids in it.
Dreng smiles. “Yeah, a word here or there. They’re learning all languages but they know English.
Alexia said they talk different languages at home.
She knows more languages than Web but he told them it’s better to speak so everyone is equal.
They sign a lot. Here they speak in English or whatever language Garren is teaching. ”
I nod and watch my girl lift a boy who has a light blue streak in his hair. “Hali?” I ask.
“Yeah. The blue on his wrist is a tattoo. They all have a chain of light color for ID. Web said they can cover it when they get older.”
The names come back to me. “They’re all one lot?” I don’t want to say experiment.
His head whips my way. “Yeah. They got names in alphabetical order instead of one letter. They weren’t given the yearly injection, Alder said that one kills more than most of the injections. Seven and nine were bad too.” His voice drops to monotone. He feels it.
“They may be different without the other injections.” I can’t believe I’m trying to comfort him with experiment maybes.
“Yeah. I need to check on what Runar and Peyton came up with. Peyton’s good at the easy directions and drawings. Runar knows marketing and writes a lot of my headlines.”