Alder freezes. “I tell him take off rail. Tommy okay?” He looks at Falcon for that answer.
Falcon’s face shows love for the concern he sees in LP. “Bones stitched him up and said he’ll be fine. I told Tats to take the day and get him in a toddler bed.”
Alder nods once. “I see why I have Zeus. I have meet Alpha, Delta, back to ABSZ IT late today.”
Cort knows. “I had Amal look up your schedule. You measured Hudson Girard and made him prosthetics?”
The Little President takes a second to find Girard in his memory. “He want flipper to swim.”
“Falcon needs a steady Protector on you when Tats is called away,” Cort explains.
Alder nods. “I like Boss Hud. He carry Gregor up cliff when Gregor foot slip.”
When was this? Franz had Gregor at Elan a week ago to ride a horse with his new leg. The Bits are everywhere, I need to pay closer attention to them.
“What cliff?” Cort asks so I don’t have to.
Alder looks at Justice not answering Cort, but waves a hand at his head for Justice to read it.
Justice relays for him. “Raid okayed a rock wall at the campground. The Bits wanted to try it out. Hud was shadowing a Bit shift and saw Gregor struggling in the brace. He caught him and flipped him on his back then showed him how to wedge his foot in toe holds while the others ate. He had the c-spring but explained about testing the hold with knees or something. Alder built Gregor a leg and foot with more reactor points than his old one.”
Cort’s head swings toward me swiftly. “You knew?”
I don’t smile at the quick connection he makes. “Not about Gregor’s new leg but he’d need it now. He didn’t have full nerve reaction with his backward leg.” He makes me smile with his move along hand roll. “Mucimi told me Hud was a Protector and to get him ready for a move. I didn’t know it was for Alder until yesterday. Justice showed and watched him at the pool with the Elan Bits.”
Justice laughs. Cort shakes his head.
Beacon puts a hand up getting attention. “I wanted him for VIP Security or a Protector at Champion.”
I smile. “He likes the daily change so Security would suit him better but Alder needs a Protector and he’s a military Brother. Defending him will be warranted. Alder isn’t predictable when he’s under threat.” I see him with Alder but don’t want to say that.
They all freeze.
‘Fuck, don’t answer whatever that brings up,’ Justice says in my head.
I nod, knowing every one of them are watching that nod.
Cort's eyes shift right to sharp and steely. “You’re not going to explain that?”
Beacon stands as I’m shaking my head no for Cort. “I’mout if I have no chance. I need to see Raid.”
Alder smiles up at him. “No chance, I keep him, Boss Beacon. Faber say Alpha-Bits work to Mason Fellowship level.”
Beacon smiles. “They made the older Little Brothers a book to get them used to the wording. The test and ceremony words always throw the Bits and kids.”
Alder nods. “I send my notes to help Dreng when he new here.”
Beacon’s face drops to blank. “You touch everything they do. I’m glad you’re ours, LP,” he says seriously, then throws chin and leaves quickly. A sense of melancholy follows him.
I watch the door seeing Mase lifting Beacon’s old lady with blood on her. My eyes close and I clear my head from those memories I’ve seen once before.
When I open, Justice is watching me. “They just got Dreng then.” His voice is soft and serious striking me as intense.
I nod and see a slideshow of happy moments of the Beacon’s from him. “Thanks.”
Cort and Falcon just watch. Alder is typing away on his hologram board without reacting to my word to Justice.
“When can Hud be scheduled?” Falcon asks, stopping questions from Cort.
