Prologue

Anchor

"Brother, you got some time for me?"

Racks surprises me but I don't take my eyes off the saw blade."Yeah, let me shut this down." I push the wood through and hit the switch. "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you with Pres and the Commander. Pres said his meeting room." Racks looks tense. This is bad.

"You're not leaving, are you?"

Even his smile is tense. "No, Brother. I've got nowhere to go and I believe in this job, Badass and my Brothers. It ranks right up there with the old team rescues."

I relax and walk toward the path with him. "I think so too. We're not far from your homestead camp thing. Do you want to go visit?"

"Never again, Brother. I'll explain when we get to Pres and the team." He was tense like this on the flight from California to Virginia when we got our walking papers from base.

I thought he was going to leave me there, but he stayed with me until I got into Badass training, then took off for two weeks. Racks talks about everything but never said what he did or who he saw. I didn't think he was coming back and didn't want to piss him off, so I only asked if he was okay. I knew he wasn't but he's the only one that was left with me from the team. Wolf's time was up after the Commander, then KC went home to St Louis and Hank to Maryland. Racks was all I had left and I was glad he didn't like the new demo jobs or the Marine Expeditionary Unit we were added to either, so re-signing wasn't an option. Wolf talked to us about Badass before he left and said the Commander would call for us and to be patient. He must have told Hank and KC because they joined Badass too.

Turning toward the Club building, I feel nothing but proud. I'll never forget the day Racks handed me the page with the Commander's picture on it. Wolf was right and the Commander called for us. This is our place, back together and working forourhome. I wish Jeff was here but he's a bigwig for some company now.

When we get to the stairs, I ask, "Why didn't you go to a company like Jeff? You're smarter than all of us."

He shakes his head. "I owed penance and served it. Now, I'm doing what I want with my life and there isn't anywhere I'd rather be. I'll explain with the Brothers."

Penance. I feel like that too, so I don't ask.

Racks doesn't knock, he walks in and I follow figuring they know we're coming."Pres, Commander, Brothers. Thanks for the time." Racks pulls two chairs out.

I sit by him and throw chin, hopingit'senough. Badass has a lot of rules that aren't written and they're crazy. Racks already acknowledged them and it must suck hearing it from everyone all the time. Neither Pres nor the Commander are into titles and aren't as crazy as the other Clubs. I used to like hearing the Commander tell us why he does things and now know how he got those lessons or ideas. He never said anything about the crazy part of Badass. Here, I don't see it as much as in Virginia and I wouldn't say it, but I like it here, with more of the team and not so much crazy.

Looking around, I can tell KC, Level and Pres don't know what's going on either. I can never tell with the Commander and Wolf because they're so even keeled, it's always hard to read them. I didn't like Hank changing his name but Level fits him here.

"So, now that we're all here?" Pres fills the pause Racks left open.

Racks nods looking more tense than when he came and got me. "Yeah. So, I grew up with preppers. They were harmless until I hit my teens, then they were militant. My mom died and dad went off the rails. I was supposed to study technology and military, then go back and run the Homestead. My aunt helped me get out before my father killed me for not following his plan. She paid for my first semester. I figured out how to get the rest paid but couldn't get my sister out. She grew up with the militant dad and never knew how different he was before my mom died. In that world, there's always someone to blame. My mom died from bad food and dad's refusal to bring her to the doctor because of whatever conspiracy he had in his head by whomever he could blame at the moment." His voice shakes.

I put my hand on his arm.

He nods to me but goes on. "Anyway, she died from fuckin' food poisoning as if we lived in a third world country. I set a fire in the supply bunker ensuring no one else died from outdated food. No one knew, but cameras went up on the Homestead right after that and dad started recruiting. My sister didn't know any other world."

Pres leans forward. "Arian nation?"

I'm shocked and look from Pres to Racks. There's no way Racks is into that shit, we'd all have seen it.

He shakes his head and I notice KC's body relax. "No, he's not affiliated with anyone but says he believes blonde hair blue eyed is the race God chose along with the Jewish messiah that was not reported to be blonde and blue eyed. I can't explain his doctrine because it's all over the place. He uses any soundbite that fits his mood and energy level of the moment but had men following so he had to stick to somethings. I think it got out of hand and he drank too much koolaid. His IQ is just below 90. He tried for disability and was denied. So the government is bad but only the part that you pay, the part that pays you is good unless it's paying someone you don't approve of. White are good, black are bad, Spanish descent are evil, Jewish scam everyone, Asians are killing us with food, everyone but a handful of people are immigrants, umm, there are more but I couldn't keep up. None of this is what I believe. You all know me. Badass should have had me nervous but the Commander never thought of men as anything but his team. We had some assholes, but they were assholes not nationalities. Equal is a world I can and do believe in. Myfather'signorance was known to me before my mom died. She told me to get rid of the food and keep my sister safe."

My hand squeezes his arm and he looks my way. "We got it, we know you, why are we here?" He's done nothing I've ever seen to be sitting here explaining his upbringing. He's one of the most honorable men I know and the men sitting right here are on that list, so they know it too.

His other hand goes over mine on his arm and he squeezes. "Because I didn't keep my sister safe. My aunt died and I think my dad did it. My sister got the land and house and right away gave the land to my father. The Homestead was mymom's. Something happened, Drew wasn't at the Homestead when I got out. The town is all preppers now and they aren't talking to me because, according to dad, I defected. Anyway, I got a call from Drew, she needs help. She's got twelve counts of financial elder abuse charges against her. At least nine of the charges are from people she's got statements from that they got their money back. The charges weren't dropped. Three were in nursing homes andwerebeing treated for breathing issues. One died. The house my aunt left us burned down and my sister, the nine with statements…"

"Your aunt left you the land and house?" KC asks.

Racks nods. "Before I was deployed, I sent a letter and power of attorney to Drew. I was never going back and thought she'd leave when she realized how wrong it all was. I met Commander Ross and he told me about Badass, but it was so foreign, it took me time in the real world to see life in a different way. I think divine intervention, or something, sent me to the MEU and the Commander. Drew didn't get that. I wrote her all the time but never got anything back. She was stuck there and almost locked into marriage to an ignorant bastard with the right look and the IQ of dirt. He made sure I knew she was his."

"He's not with her. You said her and elderly," Pres says what I was thinking.

Racks smiles. "No, she has a friend with her. One of the women that lost her house and savings died and her granddaughter latched onto Drew or Drew latched onto her. She said she knows everything Drew doesn't. To get to why I'm here with you all, I need time off. I can build a printer and need to get Drew and the people she's helping safe. I got her a lawyer and some media attention so the charges will be dropped but they need homes. They're all scared, the house was firebombed with them in it…"

"Fuck. I'll help." Comes out of my mouth automatically.

Pres shakes his head. "We're Rescue, we'll do our job. Where are they?"

I smile seeing Racks' shock. "She didn't say. I checked but it's a burner phone."

The Commander smiles. "Get me the number and we'll get the location, the Alpha-Bits have a program for it." They'd have to track every call. That's a scary program and I hope it isn't available to more than us.

"Alder is the man." Racks loves the little guy but is shaking his head. I agree and stay quiet.

Pres nods. "Glad you think so, he asked for a vacation and Cort sent him here. I need the number." He turns to the Commander. "We need a straight rescue plan that local PD can't fuck with. Level, I need two long-term plans, one on a compound, one off it in the town here. Talk to the moms. Racks, what does your sister do or know?"

Racks slides his phone to Pres. "She washome schooled, master in sociology, BS in military technology and applied science. I don't know her as an adult, Pres, she's twenty-four now. I'm still surprised she called me."

We all look at Wolf. "Societal impact with military technology and thinking could be dangerous in fanaticals. She was tentative?"

My head swings back to see Racks nod. "Yeah, I'm not sure she really trusts me. I haven't seen or heard from her in eight years."

Wolf waits but Racks doesn't add anything.

Wolf nods. "You wrote her every week while we were out. She has good reason or what she thinks is good reason and maybe an order not to respond. Why'd she call?" Wolf asks.

Racks looks at his hands. "She's afraid she's going to run out of money, or they'll all get picked up and the old people swindled again. I told her I'd get them safe. She isn't used to the world off the Homestead. She can keep herself safe, but she's got a group of old people with her."

The Commander stands. "She believes in you, the letters you sent or the truths you told her. Fear that it isn't real, like the lies she's lived her whole life, means she's trying but will be cautious."

Wolf laughs. "He's right. You told her what Ross told you, she's smart, looked it up and reached out." It's a logical guess.

Pres stands. "I agree. Cort sent Akai the number and said to get them here. He's got a lawyer looking into the charges and a sheriff into the house burning. Amal found it on the news for him."

I shake my head. Badass is so good at taking care of their own. I wish I had my own to show I'm learning that one. I look up at Racks and see he's swallowing hard.

"Tell me where to be and I'm there," Wolf says.

I nod. "Me too."

"You're both going with Racks on the pickup." Pres clears that up.

I turn in my seat, then turn right back. "Now?"

They laugh but Racks puts his hand on my shoulder. "Thanks, Brothers."

That means now, I'm up with the rest of them.

Pres is moving so I step back. "Get geared up, VP is your Lead. This is a family Op, Keylan, get the new family home." Pres doesn't wait for an answer.

I smile at the Commander. He's smiling too and I know it's for the just do it way Pres decides shit. "Go, get geared up for Ops and rescue and meet us at the chopper. Nike has Firefly stocking food and drinks. We have his team with us."

I turn fast. "Roger, Commander."

Racks catches up to me on the path.

"Tell me I wasn't your penance," I say, with the hope that I'm not a cause he took on.

He laughs. "Nope, I was in a year before you showed. You're my closest Brother, Anchor."

"You stayed the extra year for me?"

"That's a true statement. We're both orphans taken from a state of poverty and dropped in grandeur. I knew it the minute we met. You're like me and need to belong, without you, I had no one, no home, no direction."

"Your poverty was a state of ignorance," I tell him getting it.

He hits my back and turns toward his path. "Isn't all poverty rooted in ignorance?"He's got a point. I was born poor like Hank, but being black, sort of and a foster kid made it hard to break out of that poor. I did and made the best of school, the Marines, then Badass.

"Racks!"

He stops and turns.

"Love ya, Brother. Thanks." I run through the gate hearing him laugh. I don't mind him laughing at me, he knows I mean it and he's bringing more family.

I change fast thinking of Pres, Nike, Firefly, Bret, the moms and little Brothers. Our family is getting bigger fast. I gave up on mine showing so I'm glad the team is sharing theirs. Pres saidthey'reours, he thinks we're all family too. If I said it, they'd laugh, so I don't, but I agree with Pres.

***

The Commander is crazy but it's not a Badass or freaky crazy, he's a Marine, so I smile and roger him. "Bret, get two from the team and we have KC. They've got five to make the chopper readied."

"Roger, Boss." She moves and Wolf smiles at me.

"What?" I ask.

"She's your second."

I shrug. "She's qualified, experienced and staying."

He watches me but the Commander snags him. I know he was going to ask or say more but I got shit to do and no time for his questions or observations right now.

Pulling my phone, I call Marli. I met her with Bishop and know she's the Brother moving Mason or Badass Sheriffs into podunk counties.

She knew I'd call and gave me everything as if it was on a list. I call Firefly and get last seen on the PD following the group. The Brother is good too, she even has approximate location, which is ten miles away from the group, since they stopped for coffee and donuts like a perfect cop cliché. This will work out well.

The Commander hits my back. "Stop them from getting close to us. I don't care how, but you hold them until we're up."

"I will, Commander."

He's like Pres and doesn't wait for an answer but he's always been like that. If I didn't answer, he'd have stopped to see why.

When the Brothers show, we board the chopper and get to our PD detainment assignment. This ought to be good.

"What's the plan, Anchor?"

"Set down in the middle of the road and stop the cops."

He laughs. "I like it."

I nod, knowing he would. "We'll need a gun mounted and you on that gun. Don't shoot the cops. They're not in their jurisdiction so anything else is okay, but don't leave damage we'll get shit for."

He laughs with Bret and Larry, another good Brother and wiz on the printer. Jet shakes his head but he's smiling. I like him on Rescue since he held the firemen at gunpoint so I could steal their truck, back on our first job.

"You okay with Racks?" KC asks.

I turn from the window so I can see his eyes. "Yeah, we've known him for years."

He nods. "You know him better than me. The Commander was even surprised but shook it off."

"You can't pick your beginning, KC. You deal and move on. He did just like we did."

He smiles. "Yeah, I'm glad you're all too smart to get caught up in blaming everyone for those beginnings. You think his sister is like him?"

"She's got to be, or she wouldn't be helping old people she didn't know. My guess is she found out the Homestead thing took from them and she made it right. They were in the aunt's house before she ran with them."

His head bobs. "That's what I thought. Racks was always writing to her. I never noticed he didn't get anything back."

I shrug and stand, pulling my tablet out as we lower. My parents didn't ever write or show. It's just the way for some families.

Clicking my piece on, I let them know I'm readied. "Team two on the side, Ops. Thanks for the tracking, Oliver. KC, get the gun ready to mount."

Everything moves smoothly as we set down and I see the dots moving toward us from the south. "Ops, what's the blue dots?" The red will show in front of us in just a few minutes. The blue is behind us.

"Wyoming Sheriff Deputies. Two will drive the vehicles to Wyoming Badass for transport to us." Pres is running both teams, I guess.

"Roger, Boss."

Bret laughs. "They want to see what we're doing."

I nod. "Make it good, KC, Brothers."

"VP has the packages located and is setting down in approximately six, Anchor." Pres is changing my orders?

"Roger, Pres. My orders are to detain until the packages are in the air." I throw out so he has to answer clearly.

"I'm not changing that, Brother, just giving progress. You're setting down before VP is."

I nod to KC and he opens the door getting the flight crew to help with the mount. I smile at the Flight Lead. "You all have guns at the ready?" I know they do.

His smile grows. "We do, Boss."

"Standing readied to defend the chopper will make Badass happy."

He laughs at me. "Roger, Boss." He issues his orders and we jump out.

KC hits my back as I pass him and his mounted gun. He'd blow a PD car sky high with one shot so everything else here is for show.

Seeing the PD car and truck, I wonder where they planned on putting the old people.

"They came just for the girl?" Larry asks.

"Yeah, stand readied. Whatever they plan is shady as hell."

The car slows and four cops get out standing behind their doors with guns in their hands. The two in the truck stay in the vehicle. I shake my head. "They aren't here to retrieve anyone."

I walk closer putting my hand up in a hold sign while keeping my gun trained on the cop from the front passenger side. "We're Badass Rescue on a job to retrieve nine elderly and a family member."

"Badass? For who?"

"Porter McClane's sister Drew."

The cop steps away from the door and drops his gun in the holster. "You're wrong here. That girl extorted millions, kidnapped old folk and has a new murder charge on her."

I nod like I agree. "Badass has a lawyer and Sheriff dealing with the charges, woman's death after the firebombed house and…"

"This ain't nothing to do with Badass."

I can tell Pres is smiling when my earpiece clicks on. "It is now and what the hell was their plan with no room for passengers?"

I smile right out. "It is now. What was your plan here?"

"We're taking the girl back to Montana." He throws it like it's an order I don't have a choice but to follow.

I nod again. "In the back of the truck? Leaving the others behind or dead?" I shake my head and stop his answer by raising my gun. "Since you aren't in a position to change my orders, Wyoming Sheriff Deputies are transporting the vehicles to a Badass Wyoming Club. Drew McClane, nine elderly and a friend will be offered safety within the BSC Clubs. If you don't holster your weapons, the big gun on the chopper, that's trained on your car, will fire and you'll have four in the back of the truck instead of the woman you're trying to railroad into whatever charge you can think up next. KC?"

"On green, Boss." KC yells back sounding happy as hell. The lead cop doesn't look happy about that. My guess is a black as coal man pointing a big gun at him wasn't in his plans.

I nod seeing they understood his clear shot answer as the other three cops have weapons holstered and hands raised. "You're out of your jurisdiction, are outgunned and I'm sure you'll be more comfortable in the car than the back of the truck. Get back in the car and go home."

"Arrest them!" the older cop says, but no one moves.

I smile wide as I hear boots coming from behind me. "Theirhands are up. I think they understand that I can arrestyouat this point. We're not just Badass, we're BSC." BSC gets through, telling me he ignored the rest that I said.

Pres laughs in my ear as the guy turns a greyish color. "Now get." I point his way with my MP.

Bret laughs on the side of me as the three cops drop down and close their doors. The greyish older cop follows. "Can we really arrest them?" She asks.

I shrug. "We'd take them to holding. Bishop has the law Club. With all the charges the derelict cop spouted, I'm sure they'd find something on them. Bad cops like that aren't bad once."

"Packages are in the air, Anchor. Good job. Cort says you're right and he's getting Amal on it." Pres still has the smile in his voice.

"Roger, Pres. Thanks for the help, Flight Crew. We got a good job from Pres. Let's go home, Brothers. We got new family members that need some help and a place to sleep."

"Hooyah!"

I smile following them back, KC already has the gun in, the Brother is quick with anything chopper.

"The Marine EU all fly?"

I turn seeing it's the Flight Lead who asked. "Yeah, for our team. Our Commander knows all aircraft, but we did chopper. I didn't take it at Badass so I'm not a pilot here."

"Me either. Every chopper has Leads that fly. It's not needed." KC sits as the Lead closes the door.

"MEU didn't all learn?" Bret asks.

I shrug. "I was in basic, then Army engineering training with officers, they shipped me out as soon as I was finished with that one. Flight training was out of country when I was with the team. I had Officer rank when I landed but no one told me before."

KC laughs. "We were all like that but told it was classified."

I was happy with the rank and never questioned it. "No one told me. I just did the job."

Bret laughs. "I can see that. You don't question much."

I shrug. "Who would I ask? The team was there, the Marine base was in California, Army Engineer training was a different base and branch and we got orders from CENTCOM. Our jobs were classified Rescue and Build so no questions or comments was part of the job. They trained me for the job and paid me to do it. Here, it's the same job but I get to see where orders come from and there's a whole lot less shots fired at us."

KC puts his fist out, so I bump it. "True enough, Brother. Here it's less than the Club in St Louis too. Racks said Virginia was as bad as overseas."

I nod. They were freaky crazy too, but he must know if he talked to Racks.

"I hope we're building today. These trainees are good." Larry likes training apparently. It's weird because we train Security unless we're needed to cover for build.

"Level was getting a plan for the compound and one off it. We'll see when we land."

***

I get off the chopper thinking the flight crew could have handled the cops but didn't have the information I do. That's why the Commander sent me.

"Glad you didn't take the shot, Brother."

I turn fast seeing Pres bump KC's shoulder. "Good job, Anchor. VP said you'd give enough to get them to leave quick."

"Bet they're trying to figure out how to cover their asses now." KC is right so I nod.

"Amal is on it. They're locked out and he got clear shots of faces and badge numbers."

I shake my head and walk with Pres. "My team is on training; we can help build."

He stops and turns. "Alder is here, he's got the trainees working and four teams running. Go change, then get with Level for what he needs. Alder is on vacation but he's a President."

"Roger, Pres." All those Badass rules fly through my head. I run home for my utilities.

Dressed and ready, I pull up Level then just call him to see what the fuck he's doing in the middle of nowhere. It'd be me that tracks him down with a woman. Everyone thinks Racks is the player of the group but it's Hank, or Level now. He's level with everything but hookups. That's anytime and anywhere he's got free time.

"Level, where do you need me?"

"Come Lead your team so I can get on with my team at water filtering."

"I'm ten from your tracking." I swipe him off and jog toward my bike.

Bret and Larry are at the lot when I get there. "We're in the woods following tracking."

They don't care but nod. I hit my board on and follow the new road through the trees to the new circle with what looks like hobbit houses. Bret and Larry laugh as we park.

"Lord of the Rings?" Larry asks.

"I never saw this style. They have the new solar panel roofs." I'm impressed with how much they got done.

Level waves me over. "Alder is here so he's Lead. We got these building blocks that came in on a truck. You fit the pieces together, trainees are masons today, just filling in the building block pieces. They don't need it, but a nuclear blast wasn't tested."

I smile at that. "Who's on the steel supports?"

He waves it off. "The Commander's build team. I didn't know he still had a full team working."

I nod. "They followed him and he keeps them busy up here. So, my team is building block-toy-like hobbit houses. What's going on over there?" I point at what looks like a cement production station. The hoppers are being filled by trainees in a line.

"The next buildings. They have all the houses ready for build. Alder is on kitchen-living room. That drops the block pieces into a kiln to dry them."He points to a metal conveyor rolling blocks down behind a mound of white gravel.

"It's recycled material?"

"Yeah, he's got a wood composite on the other side. It bakes for four minutes instead of the seven these take. I need to get to the filtering area for the water or no one is moving in tomorrow."

I hit his back. "Go, I got block building." I spent hours on Legos as a kid.

He smiles. "I knew you'd love this one. The plans for each house are on the pallets and every piece is numbered."

"Seems like a cheat but I get the time crunch." I walk toward Bret at the almost finished house Level came out of. She looks like she's in shock.

"We're just setting the block pieces. Trainees will fill them in." I try to focus her, so we keep moving.

"Commander Keylan, VP, really built towns in days?"

I shrug knowing if he said it he did it. "I didn't get a timeline. We need to get this moving. We have three pallets waiting to be built."

"They're pouring cement for the foundations over there. It…"

I stop her pointing at the long tube going into the ground on the other side of the new road. "The steel beams go down, then cement around them. You can look at the process later. We need to get the houses built now. People are waiting for them."

She snaps out of it and acknowledges the order. "Roger, Boss."

"Miller, where is help needed?" He's originally from the Commander's team and knows all kinds of printing material. I'm glad the Commander put him on my team.

"Jones has the second going, the third needs two for the crew." He points to another builder from my team at the next little house, then just past it where Brothers are moving fast but have just the base of blocks down. Jet was with us on the chopper and is already over there.

"Bret, Larry, fill in that crew with Jet."

Rogers follow them. I bend and grab the next block on the pallet.

Miller smiles. "The roof is new. No one had the wiring for the power and transfer stations."

I smile because he knows me already. "I'm on it. Here's your next. Find me for problems." I drop the block and walk around the house looking for the transfer station. Mechanical and wiring were specialties for us. We weren't on base much, but when we were, our tent was always cool in the stifling heat, we had a kitchen, rainforest showers and bathrooms with high pressured running water. Everything was concealed behind heavy, waterproof tent fabric except the lights. We had them on dimmer switches that didn't hide the tent ceiling being brighter than the walls, thanks to KC and his light diffuser plastic between the actual ceiling and lights. Our ceiling was a foot lower than other tents, but no one ever mentioned it.

Seeing the small utility room, I go in and groan. A shit load of wires are already hanging. I take the first and start tracing where it goes, finding an electrician in the bathroom.

"Tag the wires and I'll hook you up to the box."

"Who are you?" He doesn't like the order.

"Anchor, Team Lead f…"

He nods stopping me. "I'll tag them. You're Keylan's. No offense, but I can't trust a Brother with basic skill."

I nod wanting to get back. "I'll get them in a panel and the transfer up for the solar and wind."

"LP has new batteries for it coming."

I nod, not turning back. "I'll have it wired so they can just connect them. He has the new on the Water Training Center and they connect the same."

"Thanks, Boss."

I get back and start assembling the electrical panel. When the electrician is back, he labels the wires. "I have them numbered."

I see it and move faster seeing his pattern in sharpie ink. "Got it. Thanks." I keep moving while he writes words on his coded wires and have four breakers wired and labelled before he moves on.

***

"Anchor!"

I drop my wire cutters and move out the door fast. "Here, Commander."

He comes around the corner looking impressive with Nike beside him. "The night crew is here, you need to sleep, Brother."

Nike chuffs on the side of him. I like the dog always agreeing with the Commander.

I nod. "I'm on the last building, Commander. I can't leave it."

He nods. "We'll help. Where are you?" He follows me back to the utility room.

"Hooking the batteries and testing. The panel is done." I bend for my wire cutters and stand when he comes in. I'm glad Nike stays outside, the room is small and the Commander is huge, so is Nike.

"I see why you're still here. Shut the panel down. I'll get this cut, taped and connected."

"Roger." I like that they had the power switches here when I started wiring. They were a must on jobs overseas. Not many places had power available when we got there.

While he makes the last connections, I go through the house and flip switches. Seeing the stove, fridge and micro lit, I go back to the utility room. The Commander is cleaning the wire bits on the floor and Nike holds the wire cutters up to me.

"Thanks, Brother. Everything is working," I say, switching the power on.

"You did good, Brother. They'll be happy they can move in tomorrow."

"There's no furniture, only appliances and since their last home was firebombed, they don't have clothes either."

"You missed dinner and the fire pit. They picked furniture and Drew had clothes for them. She got Macy's to ship to the hotel they stayed at."

I shake my head. "Macy's is expensive." I've never been in one but heard that.

"The friend, Aurora, explained why they needed it and got clearance price and discounts or some shit."

"That's good. So, they'll be able to move tomorrow. Did you see the building blocks?"

"I used them at the Mayan themed town, It's how we got it done so fast. They were smaller than these, but it was a quick assembly line build. These have different material. Alder had it tested so even choppers shooting isn't going through them. They can be ground down and reused when it's not needed anymore."

I nod. A little Brother named Allen took my team on a tour and showed us the testing area and how they manufacture the recycled material they're using. The ABSZ struck me as the perfect plan for our world in the future. Because they're into so much and the Clubs are into different businesses, working together, they have everything covered to take care of each other without it costing any one business a fortune. For our part, we're covering the cost of training with the paid jobs we're called out for. The Commander said we're ahead of the game because of the dam and the first two jobs paid for the Club build.

The Commander focuses me. "Did you eat?"

"Yeah, Alder brought food for me and the electrician, but the electrician had left." I smile. "He was on a horse with a few dogs following him."

He laughs. "He was in the training pool earlier. Wolf sent the trainees back to the simulator." Alder said he doesn't swim with pressure added at the Training Center pools so the trainees wouldn't get trained in anything there. I'd have brought them to the simulator too, we have so many jobs on it now, it's a never-ending program.

"Where were you working?"

"The pool and patio here. Cort showed and had trainees building a tiki hut area with him. It's nice with a rock waterfall spilling into the pool. Pres sent me to keep him in material and happy."

I nod. "I'm too tired to see anything tonight. I'm off tomorrow, I'll check it out and help moving or whatever they need."

He throws his leg over and waits for me. "I'm honored you're mine and glad you believe in your Brothers without hesitation."

That has me looking at him before I slide my helmet down. "Did anyone else hesitate?"

"Nope, and you know it. I mean because Racks has always been close to you. He waited at Pendleton for you to get discharged, was patched in as a nomad to Badass there and transferred to Virginia with you. He never told you about his life."

I nod seeing what he means. "I never told him about mine. He said we're orphans and need to belong so he's mine and I'm his."

He smiles. "Just about everyone in Badass is here for that reason, Brother. We're all orphans on some level." How they all get this shit so fast has me wondering why they keep me around.

"Yeah. Where did you all learn about people interaction, reaction, or whatever you call it?"

"Psychology?"

"No, I read all that but how people will react? I wasn't surprised and didn't doubt Racks for a second. None of you did either."

He nods, starting his bike. "You're always moving to the next thing. Stop and focus on the people. Watch and listen to how they talk. You know when someone is stressed and showed it today with Racks. You know what I mean but don't spend any time on people, you were moving for the door before Racks was settled."

I did know and didn't think much about it. We turn from the new road to the compound lot. We all leave our bikes under the solar panels out here. Officers and Rescue members are right in front so it's not a hassle. Nike waits on the grass showing me how tired I am, I didn't see him on the way back.

"I'll slow down and watch people more. I'll never be Wolf and don't want his job, but understanding people better will make me a better Brother."

He hooks my neck and walks with me to the Officers' gate. "You're already a good Brother. You hooked up fifteen electrical panels and transfer stations in a day, Brother. We are all different for a reason. Knowing people is good but you're worth everything for who you are and the crazy shit you know. Be you, know we've got your back and are honored you're ours." When he steps back, he's smiling. "I didn't get a little brother, so I picked you. You know the others I picked because they're here. When I say honored you're mine, I really mean I'm honored you stuck with me." He holds his fist on his chest. "Always, anything you need, I'm here and mom loves us the same." He smiles big. "She didn't want you starving so you must have enough food for three meals on your table."

I laugh and man-hug him. "Thanks, Commander. I'm honored too. I freeze what I like and give the rest to the trainees."

I look up when he holds my shoulder and see his smile. "Don't ever tell her or she'll be bothering our cook."

I can't help but smile back because he's right. "I didn't plan on it. I like him and our meals too."

"You know people, Anchor. Slow down and see them and for Christ's sake try out Keylan. We've been family for fuckin' ever now."

I laugh at him walking through the gate. "Love ya, Brother, but you're not winning that one. You're the Commander, next name in line is VP. Keylan was never a name I used and you can't shoot me for saying fuck what you think."

I hear him laugh as I go past Level's house. I'm tired but I have plants to water, clothes to separate and the team's training schedule to do before I can get into bed.

I smile climbing the two steps into the house. I love my life, new family and new house. I never had a house all my own before.