What did Katie and Mark say? They’re one mind? Oh shit. “The chip connection is that deep, fuckin’ hell. The CIA is crazy. I’ll read the rest from the sheet. Thanks for breaking it down for me.”
He nods once but isn’t moving so I wait down on one knee glad for the new robotic. “CIA experiment to men, grow kid, cyborg, clone, dog, dolphin, mind control, drug, behavior, too many to name all. Experiment okay subject agree. I experiment to dog is food, herb I use to stop chemical for bug bite, flea, tick, heartworm. Vaccine to Brothers, K9, all vitamin, herb, natural same to Indian. I give you cream to heal, no chemical. You agree, you know reason. I make chip to exoskeleton, prosthetic, implant to body, Brothers know. Pres Jinx know he have chip to eye. Tracking, jammer Brothers know. Tattoo to kid tracking, parent agree. All I do, all Badass do, we give choice. We no live you life. You decide. We agree. Maybe I agree to mind read, vaccine, behavior, drug, CIA no ask me permission. Grow me to slave labor, no ask me. Fill me with chemical, no ask me. President give money, no tax to us work, property, secure travel, live…no ask me. I want real citizenship. Senator Baxter fight to give Ford passports no birth certificate.” He shakes his head and takes a deep breath. “I give choice to all because no one give choice to me. CIA miss Badass lesson,” he says it all slow and doesn’t miss words.
“I’m so fuckin’ gladyoudidn’t, LP. You created a world of equality in Badass.”
He smiles blinking his tears away. “Badass teach to me all I know.”
“Alright, then you made it better by showing what that equal looks like. I’m honored, Brother. Let me be.”
He leans in trying to get his arms around me, so I hug the little guy. “You okay, Boss Hud, I honor you mine.” He lets me go and runs. “You better than robot.”
I laugh at the little President with a giant heart. “I love the LP,” I say softly.
Havoc chuffs and follows Alder.
I go back to find my ol’ lady. We’re heading to Delta for dinner with Finn from Virginia. I don’t remember him but Mase and Kateri are riding over with us.
§*§*§
Delta Rising
Sophie
Mase is not talking. Kateri has looked at him twice now and it’s thewhat’s going onlook I’ve seen when something is going on.
He looks at Kateri then me. “Try for the Rescue gate. Sentinel is handling it. Nash and Mucimi are on it.”
My head snaps to Hud who is looking at Mase. “Alder and the Bits?”
Mase nods. “Harky, Zeus, the whole rescue Club is on alert with the Alpha-Bits at the simulator pool. Stan is out on a fire rescue but the other teams are in and know the try is for Ford’s.”
I pull my phone and look for Asa. He’s at Bravo. I check the Honor Fords seeing them all together with Pres and Natalia.
Mase laughs drawing my eyes to him. “I was lookingfor them at each Club too. Justice sent the alert to every Club and got confirmation for every BSC territory. Alder put it in the chat so all Fords have it and will stay with Officers or in their houses. Pres Falcon sent it to the military at ABSZ, they’ll keep the gate closed until IDs get checked. Seamus has the chipped K9’s running perimeters at Honor and on Alpha-Bit alert at the rest of the Clubs. Last, Alpha-Bit IT has those little butterfly and ladybug drones everywhere and work robots running ID recognition at the Clubs they’re in. There isn’t a thing I can do to help so I did the tracking check.”
I smile. He’s right and Badass knows the drill. The little Fords have more eyes on them than… Mase is up then gone.
I stand and freeze.
Finn is reading his phone so I wait for why he’s standing but not walking. “Anton’s got Pax and Lance. Chang is following their Flight Suit tracking. I need to get to Ops. Adrian is hunting.” He holds the keys hanging against his hip and runs.
I ask Finn’s girl Chara, “Adrian is a Prince?”
“Original Mass Club. His twin Brother is the President of the Teach Club.” She’s not worried but she’s an engineer.
Hud relaxes and moves my chair against my legs, so I sit. “Space engineer or engineer that builds space shit among other things?” He asks.
It’s a good question and the Clubs know their shit so I try to relax. I’m not listening to the answer but watch every move made and Hud knows that try for relaxed is not working. I know this because after three minutes he’s rubbing my back in a slow as hell circle. I breathe deep and glance over trying to focus, Kateri laughs softly.
“I want to check on the Bits and kids. Our kids can take care of themselves but Kristos has the Fords, the Blackhawks and his two boys.” She knows exactly what’s going through my head.
I nod. “The K9’s and your wolves too.”
Chara smiles and points. Mase is walking our way from the front of the dining room.
I laugh when I see three Bits holding what looks like one of those retractable dog leashes connected to Mase’s cargos. “I like the gear.”
Mase laughs at everything. “I got it for moving groups on a freaky ride. Citiali said something about the rope when we were doing the Georgia rescue. It worked so I got this.”
