He nods slowly. “That’s exactly what it sounds like. My whole team was recruited by Badass. No one knows who it was. They got me into Marines and handed me a signing bonus. I remade my mom’s kitchen before I was dragged to Army Corp of Engineers training. From there I went to Pendleton for Officer. I deployed as a commander. My team showed up piecemeal but I knew when I met them. Fuckin’ Anchor was too young to get a license. I taught him how to drive on base.”
My Charlie’s Angel swears better than a sailor. I smile. “We belong here like that. Sophia needed Badass too.” I look at her.
She gives a smile with her warm eyes shining. “I got help from a Badass SEAL Colonel. I wanted to get to the CJIRU quicker and the Brit is still in. The American gave me his book with his notes in it. When I got out. I was told to put an app in because Badass knew what to do with military and the jobs were in the US. The other help I got went to Adroit.”
Keylan starts walking again. “No doubt. You both belong here. Cort doesn’t do wait well.”
I check time and walk holding my girl’s hand for the one-minute walk. We belong. No doubt he said. I met my girl like that. Once we talked on the cruise, I had no doubt. I didn’t know for what but she got questions out and I knew like Stone knowing his team members.
Sophia opens the boards in the meeting room. Cort is on as soon as she sits. VP Stone stays standing. “Bosses.” The screens open right around the room. This is a meet.
The little President comes running in with Ramsey following. His hair is wet but he’s dressed. Ramsey stands at the wall by the door.
Cort looks around his boards, I guess because we can’t see them and nods. “Brothers. The try for the Bits has everyone on edge.”
“Nothing got close,” VP Pablo says.
Cort nods. “We need a Club that deals with this shit. Ari is getting us Protectors but they’re going all over the country. Harky and Piper are training dogs but they’re going everywhere too. Ben has the breeding moving but it’s not fast enough for a country. Seamus can run K9 Ops for the chipped dogs but he’s not a trainer.”
“We’re looking for another dog training Club?” Falcon asks looking confused.
“What do we need, Alder, Justice?” Cort goes the easy way.
Some of the Brothers are smiling on the boards. I look at Keylan as Alder is typing. “Are these all the Clubs?” I see SOAR and Alpha VPs, Pablo from Flight Guard, Bravo and Kristos. The twin to the Delta Solaita is up there with a light blue eye that shines like neon. Jinx he said.
Keylan leans while Justice is talking, “Planners and his circle. I’ve seen them all because I build at their Clubs. I’m new to this job too.”
Whoa. Okay. So, I pay attention for what’s next. Justice is looking at Alder so I do.
“VP Mase say small job too many to Protector. Pres Seamus schedule everyday still too much. One Club all small job. We need surveillance to new drone, robot, K9 Security. Alpha-Bit IT need help. Too much surveillance to IT building ABSZ.” LP makes good points but what’s small jobs?
“That’s two Clubs, we got apps coming out our ears of Officers I don’t want to lose.” I don’t know who that is but they sound familiar.
“I’m Teller Knight, VP of Protectors with Ability. That’s Mag from his phone. We started sending him the military elite two months ago, Boss. We can get them into a Club, have them on the small jobs and pull by need from there. A President and VP can rotate specialty training after Badass boot camp. These are Officers whose apps were held for one reason or another. Someone thought they needed a quicker path but we don’t have anyone to meet and assess by app. We’re all flat out and Protectors with ability are doing small jobs, healing and running Ops,” Teller says from a different screen.
Justice nods. “We need the Alpha-Bit threat cleared. We haven’t had time to even meet to get that done. There are more than enough military with the experience to deal but they’re not in place right now.”
I look at LP. “You took the dog to free me up?”
He smiles. “I see problem and find way to fix. Pres Justice fly more than home. He have boys, VP Teller have boys, Boss Mag, VP Jack, Tats. Too much work, no time to extra work.”
“Michaels from Guardian. That’s just from Bravo, Boss. We’re all feeling it. The robots are a help but we have no one to help get the Brothers trained for their next jobs, that’s the jobs that will help us. More in need means our Clubs are stretched thin. We got the know-how and tools but not enough hands working it.”
Cort looks down then back at his boards or whatever he sees around his room. “Is this me moving too fast?”
“Beacon from Champion. Not this time, Cort. Securityis scraping for time off. Everyone is busier because no one can find help anywhere else. We’re it. The world is going crazy and fighting everywhere. We’re holding down the fort but we got no help.”
Cort nods. “I have a Club built south of Honor but still in the mountain, tree and snow line. Keylan, how long on the Club in a Club?”
“It’s done but needs the power hookups, Security, drone and all the outbuildings. The build crew can print whatever is left if we’re not called in.”
Cort looks surprised. “The Club is done and the Club in a Club just need the out buildings?”
I smile seeing the reaction to his surprise.
Keylan nods. “Yeah, Boss. We built two printers and left them there. Training was there with the old crew and the A&R team took the overflow so they could get it done. Without knowing what it’s for; we did everything but out buildings. Do you want an IT building for surveillance? And do I need a K9 compound?”
Cort still looks confused or he’s sick. “You got the greenhouse, Power grids and battery…”
