I don’t think I did more than blink but bikes are here, men are here and Justice is sitting beside his dad who looks like an older version of himself. I’ve seen him before but together it’s just weird.
He tries to smile but it doesn’t reach his normal happy look. “GS was shot.”
Shit. I nod and get on the bike Picard points me toward. “How can we help?”
“Don’t miss.” Justice isn’t playing so I nod as it’s the only thing that feels true and constant under the weird glimmering with Brothers that just appear.
“Where’s Asa?” Picard asks.
I’m starting to wonder about my second.
“He didn’t see LB take him to Cort and Hud.” The patch guy, Justice’s Uncle Danny, says from behind me. Uncle Danny is not smiling. We need to find his partner, Knight.
I nod and get on the bike without shaking my head. More Princes, Mass Badass and BSC Brothers are here but I am not asking and may never shake my head again.
The bikes roar to life so I start mine and follow the men in front of me.
We get a plan through the ear piece and I follow Justice, while Mase on fire and Uncle Danny ride with Ben Knight off to the right. Cort will be joining them, apparently.
Justice calls names in groups of four. I turn from them when he tells me and ride through the orange dust cloud before I know what I’m riding toward. Picard almost slides to my right before I see the chopper that’s causing the red cloud. Men are dropping but they’re not our men.
Me: “Ops, chopper dropping men. Tracking is off but I have drones following me. This is Michadeau, I have a full team of four.”
Ops: “Your tracking is working. I’m sending a BSC chopper to your location. Work with the chopper, drop the pussies and keep your Brothers back. Logan will pick you up when the chopper shows. That’s in three.”
Me: “Roger, Ops. Listen Up! We’re Team Soma. Mow them down! When it’s manageable, we’ll switch to laser! Chopper is on its way to give us cover. For now, cover your Brothers. GO!” I yell at the top of my lungs, hoping they hear over the chopper and shots firing.
§*§*§
Canyon outside of the ABSZ
Hud
Web is giving us updates and directions that haven’t been easy in this dust bowl. This one is easy. We’re moving from the red dust to pale sand. It’s grittier than the dust but it’s not clogging our nose or throats.
Cuffing and dragging the infiltrators make spitting and blowing the red out easier than the Brothers who left these poor bastards out here to fry. I hope the Brothers get a minute to stop. I don’t know how they see far enough to have a shot, let alone shoot the numbers I’m seeing. This isn’t MERCs, this is a platoon. We had eight dead but the rest are battered and cuffed. The heavier sand isn’t flying as thick as the dust.
Ops: “Logan said Cort ordered the rubber bullets they had on a mule used against them. They have Knight in the medic room on ABSZ. Chenoa said he’s fine but pissed.”
Me: “Web?”
OPs: “Yeah, Brother. We got you and Sophie. Logan has them on ground with the chopper so I have you. I’m tech but can get what you need where you need it.”
Me: I breathe deep hearing those words. Everything settles for me. She’s safe or will be soon. “You’re doing that, Brother. Calm in the chaos is what wins the battles. Thanks for that.” I don’t say for clueing me in on my Charlie’s Angel but I feel it.
OPs: “Roger, Brother. You’re needed a good two miles up. I’ll give you the turn when you get closer to it. The truck following you is pulling in now.”
Me: I turn back seeing it. “Roger, Ops.” I sign we’re riding and the team following me gets on their bikes. The sandisn’t as hard packed but I’m not heavy enough to dig in. I swerve when a K9 comes from a side crevice, I’d guess it’s called. “Ops, you got me on tracking so you must see the K9.”
Ops: “That’s Valley Girl locating bodies for pickup. Seamus got pulled to a chopper to coordinate. Bravo has us working with drone feeds.”
Me: “Roger.” Okay. Where’s Havoc?
Ops: “Veer to the right. It brings you to the South Gate between Bravo and ABSZ. The tribe will get you up on the plateau. They have towels and hoses waiting. You're going to Ops at Bravo.”
Me: “Roger, my team?”
Ops. “Sorry, Brother. The Bravo Club has showers and food on the side. You’re needed in Ops.”
