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 quicknod.
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. TheMasonic 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.
