“Nice to meet you, Meagan. I wear eyeliner and lip gloss.”
“Got you covered.” She has a whole makeup station ready and swings the chair around for me to sit. I sit and read my page again. It’s longer than I expected but basically the same information I sent to Hud.
Ben goes out and I’m out of the chair where I can watch the faces of the Brothers giving him their full attention. I can’t hear the din but complete silence from more than a hundred, I smile seeing the Surveillance Club running the trainer’s road to hear what this is all about. It’s well over two hundred now that the Vigil Club is crowding the street side. I’m glad they came down that side because the trainees from Liminal are crowded down the Officer side.
I want to go out front but it may send Dreng into a panic so I move to the side and watch from the stage.
“Brothers, welcome. When this is done, you can eat.” A cheer goes up letting everyone in the county know they’re happy about something. Those of us close know they’re just hungry.
“Settle down, Brothers. When have you been to a BSC meet and left hungry?”
“Never happened Prez and I’ve been to meets since you were in diapers.”
Ben looks at his feet for a good ten seconds. “There you have it from Danny LaPonte from Mass Badass. He’s my uncle so he’d know.”
The crowd is trying to find the patched Brother. I watch Ben. He’s a good President that doesn’t act as if he’s owed attention or respect. He gives it and everyone that has met him, from the weekly podcasts that has to be everyone, know he’s earned it. You can almost feel it from him, equal isn't a question but a given.
“I don’t want to keep you waiting on that food especially since I’ve eaten already. So, what i have is a quote.” He turnsback and smiles at Cort. “He threw me chin so I got permission.” Everyone laughs.
“Seriously, Badass has worked for so long because we take the time to see our Brothers. We eat together, drink together, ride together and hold our hands out together. It’s how we work so well around the world. I heard this and thought it fits us perfectly. Lachlan Brown said, ‘Psychology says the single biggest predictor of happiness isn’t income, relationships, or health – it’s the ability to be present in an ordinary moment without wishing it were something else.’” He looks back at Cort. The quote is from April of this year.” He laughs putting both arms straight out indicating the crowd. “Other than wishing for food, I believe in being present and with everything in me, I believe that’s why Badass works in this world of hand-held computers. You’re up, Cort.”
The Brothers clap for Ben and Cort waits for them to quiet down. I read my part again.
He grabs my attention when he talks about AI in the fifties and Walt Disney bringing military in to work with his imagineers. That’s how Musk was in movies? I didn’t know he was in movies. He explains about Walt Disney worrying about how it would cause people to forget how to use their own hands and imaginations to do basic things because they have machines for it. According to Walt, robots are meant to assist and once humans lose the ability to do the basics, robots become the boss. Wow. I got that part but it’s been known for years by Mr. Imagination himself. I just learned all this from Asa.
I read my part again. Cort calls Jordan up. “Let them loose, Alder.”
I smile at the swarm of butterflies that spread out and calmly land on whatever is around, most beingonthe Brothers. The service Bots come out and Jordan explains about the surveillance and service bots. The crowd is watching the bots without missing Jordan’s words. These Presidents hold the attention like Ben said, just being present, they all talk to Brothers after Church, in the Clubs, they really are present.
I read my part again and step out when Jordan calls for me.
“I’m Sophie Girard, VPs ol’ lady from this Club and Asa’s Protector at Honor or wherever he’s working or meeting Brothers. There are so many lessons that may apply but President Alder Ford or as most of you call him LP gave these to me.” I look around and see the Officers are bringing food out to the Brothers at the road and the little delivery bots have drinks.
“This fits this moment right now. Success isn’t about how many serve you, it’s about how many you serve.”
“I second that one!” Jessie says getting them laughing.
I keep going. “The American dream is changing or just plain lost. Kids are pushed to be this or that with dollar signs after the title. All kids should be asked collective questions, do you want to help build the world, help heal the broken? The questions pose a collective we, as inwe the people. Badass will never outsource civic responsibility. With the robots and AI, we will outsource dish and floor washing, vacuuming, the Prospects that are here love the potato peeling help. They didn’t lose a job.We don’t outsource putting our hands out. They now have a little more time, energy and even some new skills that will get them a higher pay. Maintenance for the robots is a must or they won’t be doing the shit jobs for you.”
I let them laugh and list the next point in my head so it comes out right. “In this time of chaos and uncertainty, people need a Leader. They’re watching and waiting for someone to step up. Badass is everywhere, but the BSC Clubs are a little different than straight Badass. The breakdown of law, civility and truth causes mistrust in so many communities outside our Clubs. Members of BSC Clubs understand the…” I look over at Jinx, “For me it’s oaths? What is your word?”
He smiles. “Lessons of our fathers.”
I throw him chin. “Members of BSC Clubs understand the lessons of our fathers. We understand that Badass is a belief in equality, honor, respect, truth and justice. We understand that nothing is guaranteed. We are in this together, we live together, work together and play together, like Prez Ben said. We work for all of us to make our happy with hands out so others learn those lessons. If one of us is a target, we all are. That equality is as much for me as it is for LP and his Ford Brothers, the men, women and kids at the tribal compounds, the D’Ability Brothers, K9’s, and any kids that are working or learning from us. Badass protects us all and pledges to protect more when they show. BSC needs to show what those lessons and pledges mean. The shield we cast is huge and the Ford Brothers made it bigger with their butterflies and robots. Every one of us are Leaders and we need to point out the reason for the robots and AI. It isn’tabout permanent vacations, it’s about assisting us humans so we get to see kids growing up, ball games,” I smile and point at Tyson, “musical recitals. Purpose is important and we all need it but more importantly need to teach it and anything else we can to make it to our HAPPY.” I lift my hands up for the little Ford Brothers.
The whole crowd yells, “HAPPY!” Right back.
I look back at Jinx and wave my arm with a bow for him to take the mic. “President Jinx Solaita.”
I go find Dreng getting hugged by Tyson. “That was awesome. Thank you.”
Dreng just about bowls me over. “You should see how that came out. We got the Officers serving the Brothers, it worked so perfect. I gotta go watch Jinx.” He runs back to the bank of monitors. Tyson laughs. I go find a seat that I can watch from.
Everyone gives a few lines about BSC, Badass and the importance of letting bots and AI help for the shit jobs so we still have jobs.
It’s over quicker than I thought it would be. Talking goes by faster than the page of bullet points I was handed looked like it would take.
Icy gray eyes sit in the chair Ginny just got up from. I smile. “I didn’t see you when I came to sit.”
