Whoa, I slow seeing Asa almost wipe out, then realize he’s posturing for the next jump and follow his lead. My knee is almost touching the ground when I make the hard turn, then speed up just like he did.
I finish my job experience, an adult lifetime of acronyms until now. Badass has been a world of everything I hoped the acronyms would be. Equality in Canada is better than out of the wire but my last CBRN support decided that we belonged together, as in together - together.
The anger that brings up fuels my lift and land out of the crazy fast low lying turns we just managed. I smile thinking of the end game ahead. I dropped the hoser with a degree in nuclear whatever and refused to sign for the next jobs with him. My report had me back at a real base training until my time was up.
“Wait, tire hit air you bring bike up high, hold tight.” Asa surprises me.
The voice focuses me. “Roger.”
He slides to the right and I lean to make it to the left. Together we punch it at the beginning of the ramp. The bikes rise, I brace, making sure my legs are holding tight to the frame and pull as my tire hits air.
“Yeah, Boss Sophie!” His little giggle has me chuckling.
We set down easier than I expected. I shake my head. That was a run and a half but it feels like the buildup didn’t pan out. I left my dream job on a sour note and ended up here at Badass. I’d think the jump… Seeing three feet in front of him, my breath stalls in my throat.
“Up!” Asa goes over a ledge.
“Asa… Jolly Robins!” I breathe, then yell, jumping right over him. “You’re a damn nut! I’m telling Stella she’s right.”
He giggles as he puts his foot down. The screen goes off and he’s still giggling. I don’t ask how he did it, it was done so it works. I’ll ask a trainer so I can use it with my team.
My foot goes down and I click the strap to get the helmet off before looking toward him in the next lane. “That was crazy. I was just thinking it felt too easy but you made it explosive. This is the test you’re going with for Prospects?” They’re going to pass out.
“Enforcer, Protector. You pass,” he says waving his hand as if it was my question.
I smile huge. “I passed in Phoenix, Brother.”
His eye roll with the fire colored mohawk looks cute. “You Lead to Alpha-Bit Officer Protector team.”
I breathe deep with the smile still in place. “Thank you.” I made it in record time. Ranger and Freedom said I would but damn. “Do I have to go to the suit training Club?”
He squints his eyes at me. “Anton say you pass at Delta. You have suit?” His little fists curl and I’m glad I’m not Anton.
“I do. I trained with him and Remo but he didn’t say I passed.”
He relaxes his hands as he nods. “Pres Kristos say you ride and shoot and pass track. I make this to all Protector Lead final test. Anton do Flight Guard to you.
They’re so good at training. “Aris said I’d get recognized at the Teach Club.”
His hand waves that away. “He wrong. You Protector Officer same to Boss Tats, Boss Ginny. You Lead to Officer Protector Team or High Officer, VIP visit team.”
Okay. “I’m your Lead?”
“Yeah. Pres Kristos explain, we go back to Honor tomorrow to four-hour shift, then Alpha meet.” He’s got this all figured out.
“I start as your Lead tomorrow?”
He shakes his mohawked fire-colored head at me. “You Lead Protector start you pass at Phoenix. Here you test to all Officer Lead. You pass. Pres Kristos, VP Teller give BSC Protector Officer cut. No nomad. You BSC Protector Officer.”
Okaaaay, that sounds all kinds of acronym-y. I’m a Protector Officer for the BSC which is Badass Security Council, Lead for Alpha-Bits, High Officers and/or VIP visitors. Asa looks frustrated or maybe that’s annoyed, so I don’t ask him to explain what rank I am, or what Officer means when I don’t have a rank. I’ll ask Tats, Mag or Pepsi if I see them at the pool later.
Asa’s eyes go big then settle. “More question?”
I lose the smile and feign innocence. “Nope. Thanks for testing me. I have no more questions.” I don’t add the ‘for you’ in there. I always have questions.
“You ride to ABSZ Alder compound to me. I stay night there send flight time to chat.”
“Whenever you’re ready. I’ll ride back here for the night.”
