Anchor answers, “He did a check in on the chat. He can talk to everyone at one time. He did that and had the Bots ready to interrupt a kidnapping. He said the drones are coded to swarm if they need it.”
I look down and smile. The old man who is seven has some pretty interesting, but effective, security perspectives and tools. He doesn’t need his gun or even to expend more than typing energy. Ramsey is sitting by the pool doing regular scans. He’s safe. “That Nike in the pool with him?”
“Yeah. Harky had Zeus call in the Rescue K9’s for the night and had Alder call for a Security team from Piper. They’ll run perimeter and be hooked into the ABIT.” Racks tells me. Alpha-Bit IT is shortened here. I note it.
“That’s a good idea. Spano let me know he’s got an order for drones in to Justice. They’ll build the docking station, hook them to IT and they’ll run regular perimeter here. We won’t needso many dogs full-time.” Pres finally has something to say.
I nod and take the water from Keylan. “Sophie settled now.”
I nod and take the bottle. “Yeah, she's laid back.”
“She isn’t teaching my kid to play the trumpet.” Wolf has everyone laughing.
I smile. “Congrats, Brother. It was harmonica. They got Springsteen down like they’re on tour with him.”
Pres nods. “Oliver is in with Alder. He taught Raiden the ant song first. Springsteen is better.”
I nod. “It was teaching the music. They’ll explore more with the basics down. Jack got Tyson a guitar. He’s already playing.”
I stand. “Just checking LP and Fords. Got a meet in a few with Cort.”
“He say why?” Keylan walks pointing to the back gate.
I throw chin to LP so he knows I’m here and take the new way out. It’s closer to my house making me wonder why I’ve never come this way.
“No. Just that it’s virtual.”
He nods. “I got it too. We do virtual from the meeting room or Ops.”
I’m relieved he knows what to do. “I thought it would be a call on my phone but I don’t know how they make the phone do pop ups over it. Sophia knows their kind of IT.”
“Alder showed me. It’s through the chat or the server virtual thing. I use the Ops room if nothing is running or the meet room. The Bits or IT hook me up. We have surveillance running tonight because of the tries.”
“You’re a VP. What do you think this is for?”
He takes a minute. “I think the VP from SOAR is going to move to Pres of a Surveillance Club. My old crew just built the compound for a new Club in a Club on the southern border of theforest leading into Honor.”
“Nothing to do with me.” There’s no way I’m surveillance.
“I didn’t think so either. You’re more Zeke or Stan.”
My feet stop just before we get to my house. “Zeke is a magic. Stan is Pres.”
He nods and throws chin to my Charlie’s Angel. I watch her throw it back and turn to him. “I’m not a President. I don’t even know what to do.”
He smiles. “Let’s go see. Cort is crazy, he got Stan in the Officer training and had us open in weeks.”
My girl meets up with us and laughs. I don’t laugh. I’ve never been an Officer in Badass. I’ve never been a real member. I went military and took Associate just so I had someone somewhere I belonged to. Badass always treated me like family. Since mine died, it mattered. My aunt and uncles send a card every Christmas. They have their own kids and lives so I get it, but all alone in my late teens, I needed someone and Badass stepped up. Furloughs, Hemy always found me a room or I stayed with Sawbones.
I feel the squeeze on my hand and look down. Those pretty blue eyes shine under the walkway light. “You okay?”
I nod. “Yeah. I went military and stayed in Virginia for furloughs. Kane took care of the house and my parent’s stuff. I got the bank papers and cards right out of boot camp. I was relieved. My first furlough he helped me clear the truck out. They stored everything for me in a trailer. I need to give it back.”
They both stop. “Your folks died before you went in?” Keylan asks.
I nod. “I wrecked my car. Kane was in uniform, I thought he was PD. He drove me to the base and they sobered me up. It was jail or military. I took military. Every month I got lessons from Badass. Kane sent me everything from the house, all thepaperwork and a bank box key. I sent it back and he wrote that Hemy was holding it in the office when I was ready. I never asked for it. Hemy always found me a room but never said anything. When I got out, he told me about his girl in the west but I was needed. I got a small house close to the Club. I went to Church when I could and Sawbones wrote from here. They needed him and he showed. I need to do that.”
My girl has glazed eyes. I look at Keylan. I’m here for a reason, right?”
