Chapter Fourteen #4
I throw him chin. “Members of BSC Clubs understand the lessons of our fathers. We understand that Badass is a belief in equality, honor, respect, truth and justice. We understand that nothing is guaranteed. We are in this together, we live together, work together and play together, like Prez Ben said. We work for all of us to make our happy with hands out so others learn those lessons. If one of us is a target, we all are. That equality is as much for me as it is for LP and his Ford Brothers, the men, women and kids at the tribal compounds, the D’Ability Brothers, K9’s, and any kids that are working or learning from us.
Badass protects us all and pledges to protect more when they show.
BSC needs to show what those lessons and pledges mean.
The shield we cast is huge and the Ford Brothers made it bigger with their butterflies and robots.
Every one of us are Leaders and we need to point out the reason for the robots and AI.
It isn’t about permanent vacations, it’s about assisting us humans so we get to see kids growing up, ball games,” I smile and point at Tyson, “musical recitals. Purpose is important and we all need it but more importantly need to teach it and anything else we can to make it to our HAPPY.” I lift my hands up for the little Ford Brothers.
The whole crowd yells, “HAPPY!” Right back.
I look back at Jinx and wave my arm with a bow for him to take the mic. “President Jinx Solaita.”
I go find Dreng getting hugged by Tyson. “That was awesome. Thank you.”
Dreng just about bowls me over. “You should see how that came out. We got the Officers serving the Brothers, it worked so perfect. I gotta go watch Jinx.” He runs back to the bank of monitors. Tyson laughs. I go find a seat that I can watch from.
Everyone gives a few lines about BSC, Badass and the importance of letting bots and AI help for the shit jobs so we still have jobs.
It’s over quicker than I thought it would be. Talking goes by faster than the page of bullet points I was handed looked like it would take.
Icy gray eyes sit in the chair Ginny just got up from. I smile. “I didn’t see you when I came to sit.”
“I brought the truck of drinks over. I watched you from the road. You did good. Ben Knight said you should do a podcast.”
I shake my head. “They’re making a service announcement for Badass and the kids they help in other countries.
Tell him to swipe it off of Dreng.” I lean in for a kiss and he bends like I trained him.
Maybe I did. I smile then think of my question.
“When do we hear about the threat to my bosses under four foot?”
“Ben said we have a meet tomorrow. Logan rolled his eyes so I figure they don’t have an answer yet. I bet on it being retired CIA.”
He could be right. I sit when he pulls my chair out. My job isn’t a detective after the crime, it’s protecting the real people here in Badass. At least it’s not oil or nukes. That reminds me, I haven’t seen Asa. I stand and pull my phone even though my shift is done.
“What’s wrong?”
“I realized I haven’t seen Asa.”
He comes to meet me as I’m walking.
I follow the tracking and open the zoom to see Logan and Asa, “What’s going on up on the hill?”
He turns like he’s scanning for someone. Marks laughs hitting his shoulder. “Brother, do whatever you do, just let them play out their crazy. Once they get their fill, they’ll move on to the next new Brother that impresses them with different.”
What? I replay his words. “Oh shit. Tent city?”
Ginny nods. “We’re out before we’re stuck here for a week. I’ll play the announcement in training. Thanks for your part here, Sophie.”
I watch them just about run to the Club lot and look at Hud. “You on Logan while I find Asa?”
He blows his breath out. “Yeah, my plan for the night just changed. Tent city means they’re all staying? What do I do for the food and shit?”
I shrug and walk with him to the house for the bike.
“The drones showed a whole camp ground, with a pool, drink and food places and roads that get rolled up and hauled away. They just call transport for the trucks to bring the tent city. It has pipes, a trencher and running water for bathrooms. It’s crazy. ”
He almost tips the bike when choppers fly overhead. A lot of choppers are flying overhead.
I watch his face as the wind blows his hair around.
Those gray eyes are icy-er than usual. “A week of this shit?”
I look up at the chinook. “Maybe more.” The huge chopper has BSC SOAR on it.
“Fuckin’ Brothers.”
I almost fall on my ass laughing. Everyone says the same thing.
Thanks for reading Hud and Sophie’s Protector story.
Between crazy (seems to be my life), threats of censorship and learning about AI and robots, this book took a while.
The threat against my books is paved in lunacy.
I know lunacy and kept at it because I still need to eat.