Chapter Nine #3
Ops Control: “Roger. Cooper is taking over Graywolf’s Op so it will be a minute.”
Me: “Roger.” I’ve got more than a minute here.
I wrap one hand around the rope and pull it closer.
Relief floods through me when the box comes with it easily.
Holding the rope with my teeth, I reach for my knife and cut the rope, then make my way back slowly so those tongs don’t drop my box.
There’s a spring to the tongs so it shouldn’t happen but life isn’t always so accommodating.
When I get to the edge, I let my line of protruding bricks go and cut through the current using my arms to pull to the fence.
Havoc meets me so I give him the rope. He’s faster than me and smart enough to stop when the box hits sand. Crab walking back I cut the rope again, this time just inches so I can carry the box back to our place in the tall grass.
Havoc waits for me to get my foot on and tools out of my jacket pocket.
Me: “Ops. I have the box, a pen cam and my foot back on so I can run.” Havoc chuffs. He likes my try for humor.
Ops Control: “Brekan on, Hud. You’ve done this before?”
Me: “I have, Colonel. I’m not sure what’s in it is for real. The current was strong and the box was against the next panel.”
OPs Control: “Just Brekan, Brother. I watched the retrieval while you were getting your foot on. We’ll treat it as real because it’s still signaling as high draw tech. You got the cam, watch for trip and let me know when you want a consult. Phoenix said he’s got your pen cam from Light.”
Me: I like the President. “Roger.” I lay out my possible tools and put the box on my jacket so it’s angled toward the light. “Havoc, open your board so I can see what shows on the cam.”
He chuffs and is ready. With a deep breath I flip the clasp. Pen cam shows the tiny sliver of light, then that light expands. A smaller box is wrapped with foam.
Me: “Boss, I’m closing it back up and getting away from the dam.”
Ops Control. “Roger. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”
I love no pressure, I’ve got a possible bomb so, no pressure feels good right about now. “We’re moving out, Havoc.”
His board goes away and I collect my tools, coat and bomb.
Ops: “He’s running with the bomb?”
I don’t know who that is but I’m not answering right now. I’m running.
Ops: “If one panel on that dam goes, the pressure to the rest will have it all falling like dominoes. He doesn’t have a choice, Boss.” That’s the colonel, or Brekan he said. There’s only three above him.
Ops: “Why isn’t Security higher on the dam? Isn’t this one almost as big as Hoover?”
OPs Control: “It is, Pres. Can you switch us over to the room so Hud and Havoc aren’t listening to all this?
They’re running with a bomb right now and we don’t know if it’s tracked.
” Brekan has me smiling. I don’t care but I don’t want to talk.
I need to get away from the dam and open the box.
It’s too small to do more than blow a hole in anything but some chemicals can use water or what’s in it to multiply.
They’re quiet so I settle in for a thirteen-minute run. “We make the little clearing we passed and see what we’re dealing with.”
Havoc chuffs running ahead of me.
“Hot dog.” I laugh when he looks over his shoulder at me pulling his tongue in for a chuff. He didn’t slow down; he’s a show off and knows it. I like him more for it.
§*§*§
Honor Rising
Sophie
The Club is on high alert. Ops is utter madness.
Cort, Brekan, Maverick, Brinks and Nova are coming here tonight.
Asa tells me more are coming but I didn’t get details.
Before I get out the door, Mase turns. “Hud is setting down at the Club pad. He needs his brace. Seamus is sending his chair to the pad.”
My heart stops. It feels like the next beat takes forever. “He’s okay?”
Kristos turns to watch Mase for that answer. “Yeah. The ankle joint broke on his foot. He sets down in six. Mucimi is getting another foot printed out. Stella said they’re using titanium. They never had broken parts before.”
I run. He isn’t in a chair. He wouldn’t take the chair from the hospital.
He said he was up and walking with crutches from the first day they let him out of bed.
He hates the spring prosthetic that looks like a quotation mark but he said he can run in it.
He swims daily so I don’t know why he was worried about running.
I fly to the house and back with his shower brace.
He’s sitting on the chopper deck with the flight crew and Kristos in front of him.
He’s filthy dirty and the scratches on his face show blood.
I push my way through and see Doc Statler on his knees cleaning Hud’s stump. I freeze and Pres moves to the side pointing my way. I see it without my eyes moving from Hud’s face. “You’re okay?”
He tries to stand and Pres catches his arm when he tips.
“Hey, settle down, Brother, she’s not leaving, she just got here.”
I move closer so he settles down. “So, you’re okay.”
He pulls my arm so I follow and sit by him. He takes his brace out of my hand. “I’m fine. Havoc is getting stitched. It’s superficial but the vet said it’s deep. Seamus’s ol lady is a vet out of Kumar, I think.”
I nod. “Yeah, Katie is good.”
He touches my face. “You’re okay?”
I feel my eyebrows rise. “You’re the one that looks like someone threw M-80s at you in a pit.”
Everyone laughs and I remember we’re not alone. I tear my eyes away from him and look at Doc Statler.
He takes the brace and smiles at me. “He’s fine. The scratches are scratches. I’ll look at them when he can walk to the medic room. He won’t sit in a chair.”
I nod. “It’s why I ran home.”
“Patients today aren’t easy. Havoc left with Katie, Asa is waiting for Alder and Hud won’t come to the medic room unless he’s walking.”
I smile but don’t tell him Hud gave more shit to the hospital over the no chair rule he’s got. I wasn’t there but I respect the discipline he puts into it. I feel his eyes boring into me and turn.
“They said you took out a chopper.”
With an epic eye roll, I correct that. “I shot for damage but it couldn’t go down in the river valley. Nash shot it down over land.”
Doc stands. “Let’s get to the medic room so I can clean and check what’s bleeding. You’ll be sore but live.” He turns to Kristos. “Give him a couple, Pres.”
“I’m on Alder when he gets here for Asa. I’m fine,” Hud tells them.
I walk beside him while they argue back and forth. He’s not limping and sounds fine. I’m good with it. I bet he puts the spring back on while his new robotic is being built.
§*§*§
Honor Rising
Utah Club
Sophie
The Brothers are loud tonight. I find my guy and smile seeing his eyes on me.
“You are so whipped.” Donna is so childish.
“Ball and chain, old man, soul mate, dear one, love of my life, sweetie…” I’m interrupted.
“Brothers, Hud claimed Sophie yesterday and today went head over heels.” I laugh watching Hud’s face.
Donna hits my arm. “Everyone knows. You’re both whipped.”
I push my drink at her.
“Sophie, how is it you’re both fearless and Badass?”
I tear my eyes away from Hud and look at Mase with his mic and nosy questions.
He’s a reader and didn’t ask that for nothing.
I look around and see Airmen and crews packed in.
This is for them. “Elite, hell all military are weapons the world doesn’t know what to do with anymore.
They don’t pay us, fix us, or employ us.
Badass knows what to do with us and you understand our oaths so we’re not forced to break them.
Brothers for life includes respect, honor and integrity.
You show it and we give it back.” Hud puts his arm around me and points to the boards of other Clubs.
“Hooyah!” Explodes on boards and here in person.
Mase hands the mic to Cort as he throws me chin.
The giant President is smiling. “That’s the best answer I’ve ever heard. Justice, ‘Elite military are weapons the world doesn’t know what to do with anymore…’”
… Justice finishes it, sort of. “‘Brothers for life includes respect, honor and integrity. You show it and we give it back.’ I’ll make sure Sophie Girard gets credit. It’s about as true as true can be, Boss.”
I’m not Girard yet but I smile up at Justice in the Bravo Club. He throws me chin. I give it back getting a couple of laughs.
Men are so weird.
An older Brother with a patch stands by an older Justice. Patch guy laughs. “Danny LaPonte, my son Jessie LaPonte-James.”
I laugh pointing to their side. “And Dakota Lightfoot, Justice’s dads and grandfather.” I look at the board and see Justice watching his family in the bar with us.
“You’re good at this. Jessie can marry you before anything else happens around here.” Danny LaPonte offers like this happens every day — these guys are Badass Legends.
Danny smiles at me.
I shake my head. “You’re all readers.”
Jessie laughs. “They are, I’m the normal one.”
Hud tightens his hold on me so I lean to see his face. “I’m in. Everything I have is already yours.”
“You really are a nut.” I lean so he can kiss my head.
Danny laughs again. “What do you want big?”
I look at Hud getting a shrug. “We just need the words and a license. Here, now is perfect.”
Danny looks at Hud. “Don’t fuck it up, she’s an old lady already.”
My turn to laugh and I do.