Chapter Two

Two days

Anchor

"Anchor, grab the line!" The Commander's yell is a definite order.

I don't ask, turn or do anything but drop the box and grab the line. When I look up, I kick out, pushing to the right, just getting missed by what looks like half the ledge they were on. Color has my head turning as I grab the anchor line. "Fuck! Larry, get to the anchor and veer right."

"I didn't make it over to you yet, Boss. I'm clear."

I breathe deep. Thank God, he's still hooked to the anchor line about twenty feet up and to my right. More wood and cement fly by and I unhook the biner.

"I'm not…"

"Jesus Christ. Anchor, it's all going. The water tower just fell." Level doesn't sound level right now.

"Larry, unhook, move right and climb! I'm not on the line, KC, let it go." They're all talking but I'm climbing fast looking for any holds I can find. My heart is pumping hard and fast.

When I make it up to Larry, he's breathing heavy. "Hold, Brother. I'm hooking you to me and need to get more anchors."

"We're not going to make it to the top. There's rock." He points but I'm clipping more biners and anchors to my harness.

Once I tie the figure 8 follow through knot, I look for the rock. There's a ledge and what looks like a hole from here. "I hope it's not a den but we're headed that way."

He laughs and the sound settles me.

"We're off the anchor line and tied in, Level. Up and fast, Larry." I order, then update the Commander. "Commander, there's a ledge and what looks like a cave about seventy feet northeast of me. We're headed there. Ops, get infrared to see if it's occupied. Making friends with bears isn't on the list for today."

I can hear Level's smile. "On it, Anchor. Pres is on with the Commander. The water tower is down and pushing everything right toward you. Keep moving, Brother."

I hadn't planned on stopping. We make the ledge but I feel vibration getting harder and steadier. "Larry, use me to go up and get anchors set. As many as you can, go horizontal."

"Roger."

I hold as he climbs right up my back, using my bent leg, harness, arm and shoulder. My rigid muscles are shaking by the time he's over the ledge. Closing my eyes, I breathe deep and relax into my holds.

"You got this, Anchor. Bret has the team with the Commander. Wolf is on a chopper line moving to that side. It looks like you're just off the path from the tower."

"Thanks, Level. I can feel it coming." Moving fast, I set bolts and a fixed hanger. I have one left and hope Larry has more.

The vibration is almost steady now and feels like a train is coming. I'm up, drop the bag and pull rope fast. "We need the two bundles. Weave them side to side. I've got the vertical. Get your coat weaved into it like a shield. Keep your helmet on."

He moves fast. "A web. Got it."

The open sections of our weave is too wide but we're out of rope. I add my coat and the bags into the weave and think it's better than nothing. The cave isn't a cave but looks like it could have been at some point. It's a depression at best, but it's still better than nothing.

"Wolf on, Anchor." Level announces like I didn't hear Wolf or the clicking.

"Find a hold, Anchor." Wolf thinks we're having coffee down here, I guess.

I shake my head. "Between the two of us, we had bundles and did what we could to shield. If we get swept, we're tied in and have an anchor below us, the shield will become a hammock and is in multipoint solid."

"Fixed hangers?" Wolf asks.

Level answers, telling him everything he saw from the cams, so I don't.

Shaking my head again, Larry smiles putting his arm straight out in front of him. Dirt is falling like rain. "Wolf, we've got dirt falling fast. Where are you coming from?"

"East of you. I just got dropped."

A flood opens up around us. "You're not making it, Wolf. Hold until it slows."

"Anchor…"

"We need a song." I interrupt him.

Level laughs. "Seeing the way you wound that, you're a Rock Star and deserve this one."

I laugh and sing Nickelback with Larry and Level.

Water is rushing under us. I hook us into our weave and smile at Larry. "And we'll hang out in the coolest crib-webs."

He's laughing as we lose gravity until the web cinches closed with us in it. "I wanna be a Rockstar!" He yells and I hear Level laugh through the roaring.

I breathe, hearing debris hit above us but we get nothing but water, dirt and smaller shit hitting us. I can't believe it fuckin' worked. The roar is deafening and the sway alarms me at times but we're not swinging wildly, drowning or falling.

"Anchor!" I barely hear.

"Here! Shielded! Safe!"

Larry nods. I point to where my ear would be. He wipes his visor and nods. What must be a good twenty minutes goes by and the roar doesn't sound so loud or I'm just use to it now.

"Anchor!" No, it's definitely not as loud.

"Here, Level. We're okay. Let me clean my glass and I'll tell you if we're stable. Give me a minute."

"A chopper has you up on my board. Cams are blocked. Do your thing, Brother. Good job with the hammock."

I'm trying to wipe away the dirt to see but it's still raining down on us. I take my gloves off and slide them just under the lip of the helmet that covers the visor. That little band that goes across has a good use today. Using my bare hand to clean the visor, I can see my glove curtains, progress. I smile thinking it's weird but effective.

"Hold on, Larry, I'm moving to check the anchors."

"How the fuck can you see anything?"

I laugh. "I have my gloves making curtains for the visor."

Now he's laughing, then he starts Rockstar again. I tune him out and climb trying for the horizontal lines so we're not crushed together as I climb.

"Level, first anchor is solid. Second is a bolt that doesn't look like it moved at all."

"Good job. How the fuck are you getting out of that little cocoon you made?"

Good question. "We need a line before we can even move. We're anchored to the top but I can't see it."

"You're just under what was that ledge. It looks like all but a piece above you held, Brother."

I'm glad it did. "I've got more to do today, so I'm glad. Is Wolf on his way with that line? The roar stopped and it's just raining now."

I can hear his smile again. "Yeah, Brother. The Commander got the road and edge stable. The owners are at the station. They weren't in the house."

Good news but I'm stuck to a fuckin' partial ledge because they were presumed to be in the house down in the damn ravine. "You could have held that part until we're not hanging from a mountain in a web that just got water bombed," I say it through gritted teeth as I back down to the bottom.

He laughs then stops fast. "The water tower was demo'd. Do you have reason to believe the house was?"

"I do, Pres, I grabbed and bagged shit from just before I reached the house. There's wire run too. If the water didn't wash it down, it's where I unhooked my line."

"Good job, Anchor. Wolf is about three away from you."

"Thanks, Pres." Looking up again, I realize the shape is more oblong than teardrop. The horizontal anchors held. "Larry, did I move you when I climbed up?"

"You climbed up?"

I smile. "At least you stopped singing. Clean your visor, we're going up, the anchors you put in held."

"Don't be so surprised, Boss. I do this for fun too."

I laugh and start singing Jump by Van Halen. He cracks up.

Wolf's arm shows over the ledge when he jumps in. I smile seeing the line he's playing out for us. "Jump and Free Falling should be banned," he says when I climb over the ledge.

I laugh and step back, taking a deep breath. "That was a new one." I look at the anchors that didn't hold and think we were lucky.

"I unclipped from the bolt, Larry, hook into the anchor line, you're solo right now."

He moves toward Wolf fast. He's good but that was more than I'd want to do again for today.

"The Comman…" Level doesn't finish.

"Put me through, now!"

"Here, Commander." I say quick. He's pissed and I can almost feel it through the earpiece.

"Jesus. Thank Christ. Did Wolf make it, Anchor?"

"He's right here and has a line for us. No injuries or casualties."

"Thank fuck! KC got the asshole but all we got was that you were hanging. Wolf took off through the river of shit."

I throw chin at Wolf and smile with him. The Commander will burn out in a second so I let him go on about what stopped him from coming for me. While he does, I unhook the anchor lines from the web.

"You're okay?" He asks like I'm hiding broken limbs from him.

I smile. "Perfect, Commander. I got some evidence for the PD but we need to release the web."

"Good job, Brother." I can hear his smile.

"Thanks, Boss. I'll pass it on and meet you at the top."

"I'm out." Comes out more normal than when he started.

"Thanks, Level. We need our gear then we're headed up." We're all pulling the web up.

"Roger, Anchor. Cort and Pres said good job."

"Thanks, Wolf heard. I'll tell Larry." I do and turn when Wolf laughs. I shrug. The gear won't let anything through. It's all we had and it worked."

He nods. "You hooked the whole thing to the one anchor."

"I wasn't sure if all the anchors and bolts would hold. We don't carry much with us but had enough and most held. I dropped the line from that one and we anchored for the web horizontally. The lateral lines held so I can do this now that it's up." I pull the initial anchor line and the web is just unconnected wavy lines on the ledge. He laughs.

I shrug.

Larry starts Rockstar again, but I've had enough of that and sing Eye of the Tiger by Survivor over him. Wolf joins in then Larry does.

***

Drew

"Aurora. I'm glad you came by. Is everything okay?" Why else would she come by?

"Yep. I was ordered by Mabel to come get you for lunch."

Oh no. I look at the computer and see it's one. "Is she waiting for me? She needs to eat on time." Something with sugar means she's eating at the same time, or she needs a shot. I didn't ask but hear them talking and we had trouble right at first getting her medicine. Aurora fixed that quickly. A couple of months of medicine would have cost more than our clothes and the vehicles.

She nods at me with a sad look on her face. "You got her enough, so we had time to fix it."

I shake my head at her. "Stop doing that. It's weird."

"Nash said I'm a freak. Weird is better, isn't it?" Her smile says she's messing with me.

"Whatever. I need to close this down."

"You already have work?"

"Yeah, Alder read a textbook and asked about personality types. It's not really important for everyday use, but I don't think he's looking for everyday boring stuff. He was specific about what he called takers. I gave him examples and he asked about reformed or better. It's sort of weird." I stand and she's got my hand. She's got a thing with holding my hand to move me faster. I move faster.

"Can't say I get that but I'm glad you have work. Did you do the tests the head honcho wants?"

"Yeah. It's similar to our perimeter office. You just watch and listen mostly but if something pops up you tell the crew."

"More boring. We made apple turnovers from scratch."

I shake my head going down the stairs. "I love food but don't know anything about how to make it. It would all be lost on me. Thanks for the turnovers and whatever work you did to make them."

"We have a chef that can help you learn how to cook." She goes on about the chef and learning so I'll be able to feed myself, but I eat at the kitchen or the Club dining room. We even went to a restaurant a few days ago.

She waits until we're moving on the golf cart before asking, "Have you talked to Racks?" I bet it's so I can't avoid it.

"Yeah, he brought me to the office and showed me how to get the sheet Alder uses for questions. The chat thing was easy and I can click it to open as a virtual meet. He asked me to look something up for him. I started it but got questions on the list from Alder, so I'll finish it later."

"Did you talk to him about the letters your aunt gave you and thank him for getting us here?"

"Not yet but he got called in for a job. He's on his old Commander's team is as far as he got." I was relieved. I owe him the biggest apology and have no idea how to say that. My dad had me thinking he was crazy, but my aunt showed me the letters and harassment report when she tried to get through the gate to take my mom to the doctor. She had food poisoning. No one killed her, there was no infiltration and my brother wasn't part of anything to do with a group trying to kill us all for the land. It was always his. My dad owns nothing but guns and food. I handed him a deed, but it wasn't the real one. The plat number is off. I changed numbers to my mom's date of birth at the end of it. It will show when I go to court. My dad had a cop witness it and put it in the safe. I hoped it would keep him off my back while I was going through classes, but he was on me for the military crap.

"He doesn't own the land?"

I jump. "Stop that! Holy mackerel. There's something wrong with reading my mind when I'm lost in thought. Everything I think isn't meant for people to know. How can I ever be free with crap like that happening all around me?"

She slows, going through the gate of our compound. "I never thought about it like that. I'll try not to read your thoughts. I can't see what everyone else does so I always look for examples of whatever they say, but here it's so easy and I'm not really thinking about it, it just happens."

"Put some thought into that so I'm free to live and think whatever the heck I want without you weirding me out."

She smiles pulling up to the kitchen-living room building. "I will. I feel like I work for you and got my first order."

"You're a little loony yourself. You work for the compound not me and the elders have more say than I do."

She shakes her head taking my hand as soon as I get around the cart. I move faster but don't let her hand go. "Racks didn't build this for us, he built it for you. Mabel had crackers and was fine waiting for you. They're all excited about the Bravo elders coming to visit and Malcolm got them on the virtual call thing you talked about. It turns out he's good on the computer. I think he's going to teach them all."

We walk in to clapping. I smile and sit quickly. "Sorry, I lost track of time." No one ever cared where I was or if I ate. I really like how they all look out for me.

"You…are part of us. I'll come get you if you get lost in work."

I smile at her red face and run through what she said. Aurora changed what she was going to say. I bow my head for her so she knows I appreciate her not saying what I thought.

"Did you take your tests, dear?" Lola asks.

"Yes. The man said I score on their board. I didn't ask what he meant, but I guess I did okay. He was smiling."

They chuckle and go on about me being one of their treasures. I fill my plate as food is passed around and listen but have no idea what to say.

They talk about the elders and how they help the Alpha-Bits. I'm amazed with the things they say because they're excited to add to the recipes, help with what they know about recycling and how to reuse the weirdest things. They're finding their place here and all are excited.

I don't talk much but do today. "I feel like that too. It's new for me. I spent so much time studying but it wasn't important to anyone but me. Today is the best I've had in a long time."

They all look at me and I want to take it back. "You saved us and got our money back. That was my best in a long time. It showed I was still worth something."

Mabel has me blinking back tears. "I needed to fix it." I get out and look at my food, breathing deep. I don't get how they think they owe me. It was the Homestead that stole from them, then harassed and intimidated them.

"Let's let that go for now. Drew needs to learn to cook and I was telling her about the chef." Aurora changes the subject.

Everyone jumps on the new topic while I calm myself. They're all too cute trying to come up with a simple meal I can cook. None of it will be simple but I'll try for them. With a plan for me to make dinner tomorrow, they all offer to take me back to work. Malcolm wins and we clear the table with them still talking about the chef. Old people are funny.

We walk out but don't get far. "Hi, Locke."

"I bring message you no at office. Pres Cort come to dinner. Ops make him late." That doesn't look like it was a good Op.

"Is everyone okay?"

"Boss Anchor stuck on mountain. Crazy man blow up house, water tower. Scary Op, everyone safe. Boss Anchor make shelter, to rope, gear, no injury to him and Brother." He shakes his head still looking serious.

"I'm glad they're okay and hope they caught the guy that did it."

He nods fast. "I take you to Club you done eat."

I nod and turn toward Malcolm. "Thanks, Malcolm but I can catch a ride with Locke. He's going that way."

"Damn. I was hoping for a ride for them to be over the chef. You don't get to our age not knowing how to feed yourself. The chef does nothing for me."

I smile at the man. "You can teach them computer and get them away from chef talk."

He smiles. "I'll do that right after I take a ride down by the lake."

Locke laughs. I nod. "I'm at dinner with Cort so I won't be here for dinner. Have fun, Malcolm. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Be safe, Drew. Call if you need me to come save you."

I giggle like a little girl. "I will." Boy does that feel good. Malcolm was one that was so angry with me and didn't believe that I'd get their money back to them. Now he's offering to save me from the head of Badass here in the west. He probably knows I won't need saving but it feels good.

Locke isn't very talkative on the ride, so I point out the good of the day. "It's good that no one was hurt on the Op." I'm really glad Racks and Anchor are okay. Racks felt funny to say because he's Porter but Oliver said road names are names given in honor. We respect Brothers by using their road names. Now I even think of him as Racks. I owe him so much and need to figure out how to apologize. I'll finish his work later, that's a start.

"No injury. Boss Keylan mad. Pres cut Boss Anchor com. Only loud noise, no talk. Water, tree, rock all fall to Boss Anchor hang rope net."

Holy mackerel. "It all fell on him while he was hanging in a net?"

"Boss Keylan mad. He work to fix no more fall. Boss Anchor no hear anyone call." He shrugs. "Boss Level get through to talk when water slow. Boss Keylan yell, scare to me he yell. He no yell he talk Boss Anchor. I happy he know Boss Anchor safe. Use rope, gear to shield. Pres say Boss Anchor family. I no scared, Boss Keylan yell. Alpha-Bit lose six hundred Brother. Pres Alder sad lose family. I lose "L" Brothers, we show honor live happy." Six hundred? That hurts me deep in my heart. Six hundred.

I'm not sure I get all that but he stops in front of the Club and turns to look at me. "Boss Racks you brother. You happy here?"

I smile and it's real. "I am, Locke. Today was the best I've had in a long time and you said no injuries on the Op, so it's better than when I left for lunch."

He gives a little laugh. "Best day, no injury no casualty. You no talk."

I get why he asked if I'm happy here. "I didn't have many people to talk to and never left the Homestead. While I studied about human interaction, I didn't have much experience in it."

He nods. "Same to Alpha-Bits. Work, learn, work. No family, no talk. Here we free. You free same. I help you need."

"Thanks, Locke. I have so many questions and Anchor said he'd answer them but he's a busy guy. We're supposed to go for a walk after dinner, but he's probably tired from his Op today."

He shakes his head fast. "Marine no quit, ever. Little sleep good to Marine Brothers. Alpha-Bits sleep little, injection make same to us. Marine Brothers crazy. No injection."

I laugh. "I'll remember that. Thanks for the lift, Locke. I need to finish something up for Alder."

He jumps off the golf cart and pulls me. "Pres Alder need work. You no say you work to him."

"It's okay, Locke. I answer questions on a list from him. It's nothing he needed right away."

He doesn't stop, so I jog up the stairs while he runs it. "I send training to you chat. No waste time answer to President, Lead."

I'm not winning this one so I nod and put my palm on the glass. "Thanks, Locke."

He closes the door determined for me not to waste more time. I really am loving my new home and job. The people are all supportive and kind. It's surprising, new and just plain awesome. And they like me. I sit hard. For now, they like me. If they knew what I believed they wouldn't.

Aurora said to give Anchor a chance. Everything I know was based on lies. Aurora and her grandmother were so nice to me and even when her grandmother died, Aurora didn't blame me.

Something about Anchor felt weird to me, it was a good weird, like I could trust him but it's weird because I didn't know him. You can't just trust people you just met, that's a dangerous practice and could get you scammed or killed.

I shake my head. This is not the Homestead.

Opening my list, I put the past in the past and move on. Alder needs answers to keep his brothers happy. I've come to realize I like living with happy people and, or, I just like being happy. Either way, I have a job to do and Racks needs information. I like that too, it may lead to the opening for me to apologize.

***

Anchor

They're watching the feed Level sent. I shake my head and look around surprised to see Drew's pretty blue-pink eyes on me. I throw her chin and she smiles. At least she didn't look away this time.

"Where did you learn that net?" Level asks, hitting me with his elbow.

I turn back and shrug. "I used the belay premise and added what Ralph from the Rescue Team showed us. All we had was four bundles and our gear. The rope is the new one the Bits made and our gear won't let anything through it. When we washed over the side, I was relieved it held." I smile. "The ledge held over the bolt I'm glad I took the time to hammer in."

He laughs with Racks. Pres, the Commander, KC and Wolf aren't laughing.

"That one bolt held you?" KC asks.

"Yeah, but I had the other anchors going horizontal and vertical. They didn't all hold, but together they held our weight, the water, dirt and debris. I still had the lower anchor if all else failed." I'm smiling again because it did work and we didn't get washed away. "Did the evidence make it to PD?" I'm all for not reliving every minute of the wasted trip down the mountain.

"Yeah. He confessed but the evidence will come in handy if he changes his plea," KC says not looking happy.

I don't ask what's up with him because Cort comes in with Caelan and their dogs. I take in Caelan's height and build noticing he's bigger than he was last month.

Cort comes right toward me, so I stand figuring I'm going to get a slap on the back or reamed out. The guy we went to save is a politician.

"Pa happy," Caelan says softly.

Cort looks from me to his boy then back and smiles. "I am, Brother. After hanging from a two-foot ledge you got them water."

I nod but correct that. "My team got the cisterns set up, but the Commander got the water into them, Boss."

He bends and hugs me. "You did good, Brother. I'll thank him and his team for their part, but you were hanging in a net from a mountain for fuckin' ever, Brother."

I smile. "I was, Boss. They were all working while I was. I had to do something besides sit around for the whole Op, so we set up the series of cisterns."

He hugs me again. "Good job. Anchor is a good name for you."

Since I've had it for years, I agree, "Yeah."

Caelan puts his fist out, so I bump it while Cort thanks the Commander and his team. We sit and get the reason we were even there. My old President, sort of, Aaron LaPonte-James, called Cort for Protectors to check on the Representative. Justice was flying but Teller said it was too late, the house was already down and more was happening.

I like getting the reason but wish we knew they weren't in the house. My head shake draws attention. Shit.

"It was a good call, Anchor." Pres thinks I'm not happy with the reason?

The Commander fixes it. "We didn't get anything but objectives. He's pissed he wasted time and wasn't helping."

I nod fast. "You lost Wolf, Larry and me from the Teams. I'm glad Bret stepped up, but it would have gone quicker with us all working."

Racks nods. "It was intense too. We're not used to shit like that anymore."

I can't imagine what I'd feel like if one of them weren't heard from for a long stretch of time while having to work at keeping civilians safe. All they knew was that I wasn't clipped to an anchor line and Ops couldn't get through or see anything on our cams.

I smile at Racks. "Larry was on Rockstar over and over. You didn't miss much. I was tempted to climb out of the net about ten minutes in."

They all laugh. Cort shakes his head. "So, you know why you were there. The Rep is pushing for forestry money for federal firemen or something. That dicktwat was trying to stop him from getting to a vote. He's working for another Rep trying for his job. Politicians are brutal. Stan, you said something about the government and fires. Do we need to set up for more fires?"

Pres looks at Racks. "You asked about building bunk houses for firemen, but we got caught up in the elderly rescue. What was that about?"

"Forestry employs and houses federal firefighters, but they make fifteen bucks an hour. A friend called asking if we have a job for him. He's in Arizona, getting food stamps to eat and living out of his car and tent because the building they were in has mold and an infestation. I told him to apply to the website but he's not alone. This morning, I asked Drew to look into it but we got called out. She's good at finding studies and statistical shit like that, but I don't know if she had time. She was excited about her new work from Alder and the hologram sheets."

Pres nods. "Ask her. I know there was concern about the number employed but not much else. I thought they just got a bonus or bump in pay from the President, so I assumed it was fixed."

Racks moves in a hurry. Cort isn't letting this go. "Why does forestry give them houses? Is that free?"

The Commander answers. "They work for the US Forestry Service and get lower rent from the Division of Land Management through federal grants or something. Racks told me but I didn't have much time to dig for more. The problem is they're in areas where rents are astronomical, so they don't have much choice in living arrangements. They don't make enough to pay for more than they have and some work for the family medical but can't afford for the family to live with them. It's unsanitary and dilapidated buildings in high dollar communities." He puts his hands out. "That's as far as I got. We were called out and I haven't been back to my office."

Cort nods but doesn't say anything. His eyes are alight, so something is swirling in there.

"Pa, I go to see my friend." Caelan gets him out of wherever he was.

"Yeah, Daniel and Dreng are here. If you swim, they or I know, yeah?"

"Always, Pa." The boy is cute.

"He's getting big fast. How old is he?" Wolf noticed too.

"Five. Doc says he'll be bigger than me. My dad was, so it's not unexpected." He turns back to Pres.

The Commander smiles at me with his head shaking. Another giant. I thought the Commander was big. Cort is huge. I look at his dog that's bigger than Nike and the Commander laughs. I shrug. When I was a kid, there was this old show called, Land of the Giants . I feel like that here sometimes. I'm glad there aren't dinosaurs running around.

Laughing has me jumping. "You're going to give me a heart attack someday. Hey, Justice."

"Anton made hologram dinosaurs; I thought Cort was going to kill us all that day. A huge dinosaur roared in his face."

I look from Justice to Cort. He nods and goes right back to Pres. Dinosaur holograms. I thought it was just sheets, the chef and people in the lobbies of the Clubs. I'm not asking. My head turns knowing Drew is right here.

"Slide down, Level." Racks wants to sit by me, I guess. Justice moves and Racks points for me to move down a seat, so I do. I'm surprised he puts Drew beside me. "She doesn't have enough for a report, but she's got what Cort is looking for."

I watch his eyes. She's nervous and he's trying to help. I nod for him and he sits waiting for Cort and Pres to finish.

"I'm glad you got something. Cort would have twenty Bits looking shit up in minutes," I say to break the ice.

She turns my way with a practiced smile I've seen her use with the elders.

"Relax, he asks millions of questions and it's usually to people with the answers. Alder does it with his harem. Cort has Clubs of Brothers to help."

She smiles for real and I watch her eyes. That little rim of pink shines in them. That is so odd and fascinating. The blue and pink are light like baby colors, put together, they're stunning. The thin line of pink rimming her pupils makes the blue stand out and looks dainty or something.

Racks gets my attention. "She found some debates, bills waiting for approval and statistics but isn't confident she has enough for a report, Boss. She's off the Homestead for the first time and read the websites but doesn't know how all this works."

Pres nods and Cort smiles. "I'll make it easy; we need facts to make decisions and you know people, so I'll ask what you think reactions will be. I'm not big on long names, views with no facts to back them, or long-drawn-out debates. So, what have you got on federal firemen?"

Drew nods. "I'm going to pull it up on my sheet, so I don't miss anything." She doesn't wait for an answer. Her tablet pops out the hologram and she starts talking. "A mass exodus is happening with USFS, I'll call it Forestry, specifically the federal firefighters. They have less than fifteen thousand going into this year's wildfire season. More than eighty percent are issued housing in dilapidated bunkhouses, old barracks, previous military condos and even old FEMA trailer communities. The system was failing ten years ago but last year the President gave a pay bump to ensure wages didn't go below fifteen dollars an hour. It's through an infrastructure act, so that money isn't lasting or long-term. The firemen are moving on. There are bills meant to help with this problem, but the money keeps getting diverted to other ongoing or emergency problems. Infrastructure covers a lot of areas. Meanwhile, firemen are sleeping in vehicles, tents and makeshift camps with outhouses because their living quarters are not habitable and they can't afford to rent for the time they're stationed. Reports of no water, no maintenance, mold, asbestos and rodent infestation for years on end is not an exaggeration, but I didn't have time to nail down how many years. Food stamps and Medicaid are staples to the firemen and their families. Very few of those families live together." She looks up. "Do you have questions you want answered? What I gave is basic facts of the matter."

Cort nods. "Don't live together because of divorce?"

"Money. Families don't have the income to live in Vale, Jackson Hole, Malibu and other high dollar tourist areas. Quite a few are divorced or single, but money is listed as another eighty percent number for the firemen."

"What are the other high percents?"

She turns to her hologram and scrolls down. "Inadequate housing units available, ninety-four percent said housing can't accommodate their families safely, eighty-three percent looking for other work, eighty-nine percent think the President's fix is a bandaid." She looks at Cort again. "Ninety-seven percent say that adequate housing would help stem the mass exodus. They have a need to serve, Sir, they would be happy with housing that's not killing them or their family, food and maybe a little more pay. Those plans have been dropped in congress and stopped from reaching a vote. The President's loophole help isn't lasting and these firemen know it."

"I'm never sir, Drew. I should have said that first. I'm Cort Masters and I'm called Cort, Boss or Pres by my Club Brothers. Here, I'd be Cort or Boss. Thank you, that was perfect and I know what you think will keep them working. So, should we open a Club of firemen?"

I'm shocked but not more so than Pres.

Drew laughs drawing my eyes to her. "This is Rescue. Why wouldn't they do fire? Here you have the equipment, ability to house them in a way they'd love to include their family and you own the land."

She makes good points. The Commander nods. "Pres has run Fire Rescue before. He's even done wildfire. I can handle the other Rescue Ops and training, but I'm not versed in fire for wildfires or even safe burns."

Cort looks from Pres to the Commander. Pres nods. "I did more flood and fire than anything else. I get pissed over bureaucratic bullshit, so flood and fire were favorite jobs for me. Keylan does his job and doesn't worry about who says what. He does the job the way it should be. I was yelling at the Rep to shut up about his house. Keylan shut his phone down and walked away."

Racks is nodding. I keep my mouth shut because I wasn't there but want to smile. The Commander is a Marine. He follows orders not caring who it pisses off.

Cort looks down the table. "If I open a town for firemen, training and deployment from here would mean crews here like a fire station. Would they come with a commitment and join the Club?"

"You did it with military. Firemen would hold the same Brotherhood mentality. Pick the good ones like you did with the others and they'd join just because they're home more and off food stamps." She delivers it seriously.

Cort smiles. "Justice?"

"I agree, Boss. It works well and the new town opens more up for Spano. Nash will handle it well."

Drew watches Justice. "You're LaPonte-James-Lightfoot?"

Justice smiles. "Everyone uses LJL. I am. Glad you're here and Zeke said that's for the long haul."

Cort's eyes zero in on Justice. "Is she Ops oriented?"

"She is but it's her ability to predict reactions you'll use, Boss." Justice stops and looks at his hand on the table.

Cort's head angles slightly but he doesn't ask more about Drew or her work. "Splitting Stan and Keylan feels wrong. I'll let them handle however it works and wait for the new book."

Justice looks up with a smile. "Good plan, Boss. It works well. Speaking of plans, Drew may be helpful at planning meets."

The Commander covers his mouth with his hand and looks away. I look down.

Racks laughs."Andrew did that too. I think it annoyed Pres Arron. Pres Hemy never cared."

Cort turns our way. "He can't say everything he sees so I pick my battles and listen carefully to what he does say. Drew, I'm offering you a job and BSC cut. You can do the Club requirements here but you're already high on the LS board and Alder said you fit."

I smile at Drew but she's not smiling. "I didn't give a full report. I have eight pages I pulled up but didn't have time to read it."

Cort waves that away. "You gave me what I need. Send the report when you're done. Justice and Zeke say you're staying but I need your answer. Do you want the BSC job?"

"Is it part-time? I already work for Alder."

"He got to you before I did. Him and the harem are killing me. I'll go part-time and will send everything on a board but I need you at the planning meets." Cort isn't giving her time to think or maybe back out.

She nods. "Does Club requirements mean I prospect?"

"No. It's ride time and basic Badass lessons you already scored on."

She doesn't let him finish. "I accept," she says quickly.

Cort doesn't get pissed, he just nods with his standard smile on. " 'Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on. ' Thurgood Marshall said that. It's common in Badass Brothers, Drew. If you see more, send it to me." He waits.

She takes a couple of seconds, then smiles. "I will, Cort."

Cort nods and turns to Pres. "Get the ride time in and Bible to her, Stan. I want her cut on her by the planning meet in three weeks."

"Roger, Boss. Who can get the Bible understanding to her quick?" Pres asks the Commander.

"Anchor," the Commander, Racks and Level say.

Cort looks right at me. "You're it, Brother. Make sure she knows the hierarchy, protocol and how to say, ‘Brother' and ‘Roger Boss.' Sentinel has ride lessons with Prospects if she needs it." It's a definite order.

I nod. "Roger, Boss."

They laugh. I shrug.

"She can ride and even build a bike. The Ducati would fit her better," Racks throws in.

"However she gets that time in is fine by me. Seren learned in weeks and had never ridden. She doesn't need to build a bike, Spano has a stockpile and mechanics that can build for her. Get her over to Sentinel for that. She's working two jobs and training, if I take her sleep time, Alder will be all over me." Cort has everyone laughing.

I lean over. "You got the bike? I'll do the time, but I ride whatever they give me." I don't know much about bikes other than how to ride.

Racks nods. "I'm off tomorrow and can help with the ride time."

"We'll all help, Anchor. Get the Bible in her. You can test while riding."

"Roger, Commander." I'm relieved and pull my phone. "Put your chat on my phone. I'll put a training schedule up and we can use the chat if we're busy."

She takes it and adds her chat. "Thanks. I don't understand everything people are saying. Aurora doesn't know Badass or the rules."

I nod, getting it, they have a million rules. "The Bible has examples, but I got help with it too. Oliver was in Virginia and used the chat to explain. I read it again here and it clicked for me. Marine to Badass took a minute but it's easier now."

She nods so I look around wondering why everyone is watching. "What?"

"You had trouble going from Marine to Badass?" The Commander asks.

"Yeah. I didn't get time to adjust before I was on a team and working. Training was after work and my down-time." Thank God, Oliver always answered me. Now, he's right here with me but I don't have questions for him.

Racks nods. "He was a Lead right off. They needed help and pulled him in. He can shoot and ride so they used him."

Cort shakes his head and looks at Justice. "You should have come to Phoenix."

"I don't know, Boss. Mass does Badass boot camps." Justice sounds like he's answering Cort.

"But you'll find out?" Cort isn't really asking.

"I will, Boss." Justice is gone.

Drew's hand grips the table by me. "It's freaky. He usually walks out but he must be finding out now," I say it softly while the Commander asks Wolf and KC about their Clubs.

All but Racks and me got through training before working. Cort isn't happy.

"Did you have Brothers that didn't make it?"

"Jeff," I say but the Commander shakes his head.

"He wasn't Badass and wouldn't have made it. We have some from the build team here and two from rescue are in Bravo. All but Jeff from the core team is here but I didn't push for him to go Badass."

I look at Wolf. "Why?"

"Jeff was about money and status. He gave you a hard time because you were the Commander's second. Some of the shit you built is on the market now. He wasn't a builder but used what you built."

KC nods. "He joked with you, but to us, he bitched about you being an Officer, showing off by working fast and how stupid some of the stuff you made was. He made money off it. Even the WD-40 and baking soda shit you did to keep us dry."

I shake my head and look at Racks. "Why didn't you say?"

"I didn't know until I saw the water repellent spray in a hotel in Montana. It was a late-night ad for it from his company. KC told me about him bitching about you. I didn't spend much time around him when we weren't working. He stuck to Wolf, Level and the Commander."

Level is shaking his head no. "He showed wherever we were. He was not invited by any of us. You two were always melting down and building shit for jobs, we were getting you shit to build with. He wasn't much of a help but the Commander always had him lugging our boxes to you."

The Commander nods. "Told you I chose my Brothers, Anchor. Wolf made sure you heard it from him and Racks said he was sticking with you."

"Fuck, we should have called you."

He smiles. "Maybe, but maybe it wasn't time."

He's probably right so I nod. Jeff wasn't invited. He always told me how close they all were. I was just happy to have material to get the parts we used made before we got called out again.

"He's not worth the time, Brother," Racks says it softly while the others are talking to Cort.

I smile at him. "I was just thinking I was happy to get the material on base and I didn't care how close he was to anyone."

He nods. "I never paid him much attention, they always had loads of goods for us. The build teams would show to help when they'd drop whatever they confiscated. I'm surprised the Commander got away with so much."

I laugh. "He'd bring us shit he took from maintenance, supply, the kitchen and even the office one time."

Drew laughs reminding me that we're talking around her.

Everyone looks our way and Racks tells Cort and Pres about our Commander Robin Hood as he was known on base.

Cort tells us about the Bits and Ross stealing from Bravo before he has to get Caelan to Seren at Sentinel. It's a good night but I'm glad it ends early.

***

Drew

The men are like the elders, they love each other and include me in their plans. I have ride times scheduled with every one of them for a week already in my chat. It's an hour but they all took a day. Racks wrote to me about all of them, but the Commander and Anchor are his closest friends. I'm glad he brought me over and I got to help with the information he asked me for.

It happened so fast; I just need to finish the report for Cort but they're going to get those firemen help right away. It's just like me. I called and Racks showed up with two helicopters, his friends and even a pack of dogs. After years of reading about his friends, it felt so good to see they were real and acted just like he said in his letters. He's still the big brother I grew up with.

Dad was so wrong; I knew for years he was, but lately I think something is wrong with him mentally. He had my aunt's house firebombed. I had heard whispers about bombing missions and driving people away, but never believed it was real. I never saw it and my dad said the men talk trash when I asked. Why I believed that after learning the truth from my aunt has to be me wanting something about my dad to be real. I stop walking and sit with the lake in front of me.

"This is as good a place as any." The gravelly voice says.

I jump with a hand flying to my chest to hold my heart. "Holy mackerel."

Anchor smiles and sits by me. "You were lost in thought." I love his gravelly voice.

"Yes. I held on to a hope that something about my dad was real and just realized nothing is. I'm too old to be wishing on fairytales and need to let that one go. Almost killing us in the house should have woken me up. Dragging me out of the truck and trying to tie me up, I fought two men I thought cared about me. None of them do and my father ordered them to get me back dead or alive. They told me and I still held out hope. I'm obviously as unstable as my dad."

He's quiet, probably too kind to agree. Aurora is right, I'm loony.

"Parent relationships are hard. My mom was ebony black, dad was an albino. It's an odd mix but they made it work. I came out like this. They gave me up to care the first time they were arrested. I don't remember, but I was almost a year old according to the paperwork. I remember at five when they came to a visitation. They won something in court and came to see me. Every time they showed up it was with plans to get me back, but they never showed up twice in a row. For years, I sat in an office waiting for the visitation time, then waiting for it to be over because they didn't show. I saw them maybe eight times in an office after a court battle. The funny thing is, they always had these plans that were well thought out and I always believed they'd come for me and take me to this new life with a great home that had knickknacks and the pictures they told me about. I dreamed of seeing those knickknacks and pictures of us on the wall. The excitement they had was catchy to a kid." He shakes his pale-yellow head. "They never showed. I was moved around so many times, I ended up at the children's ranch. No one was fighting for me not to get bullied for looking like I do so they put me in the unwanted pile. My parents still fought for me and I still waited at the visitation office. They'd show once in a while and I'd believe again. At thirteen, a caseworker told me they were drug addicts. They lived in an abandoned house by the water with other drug addicts. The worker at the desk was mad and told her that was mean and hurtful, but it was the day I realized they weren't coming for me. It was probably the first time I was told the truth by an adult. I understood that day and refused to go on any more visits. I never stopped hoping they'd get their shit together and come for me. Even here, I wonder if they got into rehab and started building a real life. I want to know if they like the Patriots or if they've got a picture of them together on their new walls. It's hard to let that go, Drew. A whole life of conditioning doesn't just end when you see the truth."

"I am sorry you know that from your own experiences, but happy that you shared it with me. I thought I was just loony."

He laughs, tipping to the side but he catches himself quickly. "People think I'm crazy for wanting long-term team members, but they didn't live like I did. They don't understand that I need to see the same people show up for work or at dinner. It keeps my world in order or something. I don't want to live wishing for shit, so I pick team members that I know are staying."

I understand that completely and oh my gosh that is so sad. "I guess I'm like that too. I need to help. I need to use whatever I learned to help. I know my dad is mental but I need to help fix what is so broken as if it will somehow help him. My head knows there is nothing in any of that helping him, but my heart wants to try."

"Then keep trying. It's not hurting anyone, you know that it isn't changing him and you recognize that he isn't touched by what you do. Do what makes you happy, Drew. The freaks say you're staying so you'll live a full and happy life here at Badass."

I giggle at that. "You probably shouldn't call them freaks. I'll do my thing and be happy. I already have two jobs that are all about helping. It's a good start."

He's watching my eyes intently, quietly, but finally blinks and asks. "It is. What were your questions?"

I have to think back to the good start statement. "I'll start with the hard. How do I help pay for the compound? Where does the crazy money they pay me go and what do I do at the grocery store so Aurora can order food for us?" I really don't want to go to another store but we need to eat.

He's looking at the lake but has a smile turning his lips up on this side. "The compound is paid for. You'd only have to fix anything that breaks or tell one of us and we'll fix it for you. We're all builders and engineers. Your pay goes to your Badass account. You'll get a card and statements from the Badass credit union. I got mine a few days after moving in. Aurora can use the app to get the food and supplies she needs. That would come out of the compound fund. Racks set that up with the check you gave him, so just add what you need to keep running monthly. My only bill in Virginia was my phone and they own the satellites, so it was cheap. Here I'm an Officer and was issued a phone. I don't know what the bill is but the Club that builds and launches the satellites is BSC Delta Rising in Colorado, so I'm saying it isn't much of a bill. Ask Flame or Firefly." They build satellites and Racks gave the check to the bank?

"I gave Racks the check for the rescue, he wouldn't tell me how much it was."

He shakes his head still looking at the lake. "Cort ordered us to find you and get you here. You never question a President but especially not Cort. He's the Territory President for the whole west. In Virginia, Hemy is the Territory President for the south and no one ever questioned him. Cort shoots the Brothers, Aaron did too, Hemy blasts them. It's a freaky thing and I never asked what blast means, but I don't want to be shot or blasted. Racks isn't an idiot, so he isn't asking Cort anything. Rescue does build jobs that pay for our Ops and help BSC pay for other Ops, so it's not a cost anyone is worried about."

Dear God, this place is amazing. I'm going to help people just by doing my two little jobs. "Thank you."

He takes my hand and stands pulling me up. "Let's walk and I can answer more. I haven't seen the new paths Alder put in for the Bits to get around."

That must be in the trees I always see him coming out of. "He's on vacation?"

"Yeah, but everyone keeps coming here to see him. I've seen more presidents here than when I was in Virginia and we're just a small Club in a Club. Sentinel is getting bigger now but Angel said it was small compared to the others."

"Explain that part. Sentinel is our mother chapter, but Phoenix is too." All their labels and words just don't work in my head. Racks told me about Virginia and that didn't make sense either.

He bends and draws in the sand. The man is cute.

An hour of gravelly voiced explanations does me in. The new path has turns we didn't take and leads right to the elder's compound. Anchor didn't need a map, showed me all the cameras on the light poles and pointed out the drone that followed us. I apparently have Security.

He leaves me at my door and promises to send the schedule later tonight. I have a report to do for Cort, so I get in and get to it. My mind keeps going back to Anchor. He's black but doesn't really look it. I read where any amount categorizes you as black. The Indians don't have it that easy, I wonder why black does. Is albino like that? I never looked for that one.

I shake it all off and get to my report. Cort didn't ask, but there are other issues that Forestry are going to have real soon. Fifteen thousand firemen for the entire country aren't going to cover the entire country. Funding for emergencies means other areas are losing it and the infrastructure is going to spend another year or however long waiting to be funded. Because the government will be paying private firms to put out fires, less money will be available to fund anything. It's a vicious cycle that doesn't seem to have an end or even plan in sight.

I wonder who is paying Rescue to build. I can ask tomorrow; Firefly is having lunch with me and Aurora.

***

Anchor

The need to kiss her when I heard that little giggle had me avoiding her eyes and lips at first. Seeing Racks come out of the Club fixed that. I take the path toward our compound smiling. She had some easy questions, then some good ones. I like training and can see when something new sinks in to the trainees. Drew is like an open book. She gets new easily but doesn't know the most basic things like laundry and banking. She's never been to a bank. She wrote a check to herself, effectively draining the Homestead account, because Aurora told her it was the easiest way to do it.

I laugh almost making it to my house before I'm noticed. "Anchor, come to the pit. I'm just heading over. VP is waiting and has an update on Drew's schedule."

"Roger, Pres." I need the update to make a reasonable schedule for her so I head through the gate and follow him to the pit.

"Commander, Brothers," I acknowledge sitting. "I'm glad Pres caught me; I was going in to make a schedule for Drew."

"Did she show you the ride schedule?" The Commander asks.

"Yeah, she sent me what you all sent her."

"She's not tentative with you?" Racks asks surprised.

"No, but we talked about banking and laundry. I explained Club in a Club, but she got it fast and jumped to laundry."

He shakes his head. "She's not really talking to me or asking me anything."

"You have a ride time and you're taking her to get a bike, she won't have a choice but to talk to you. So far, she's always been in the group. One-on-one will be easier. She doesn't seem to talk much when she's in the group."

The Commander puts his fist out, so I bump it. "You did learn that psychology you read about."

I smile. "It was classes. We didn't have a choice, Commander."

Pres laughs. "I think he's right, Racks. She's been busy with all the new here. Flame said she's making dinner tomorrow. She's never cooked so the chef and elders will help."

I guess it would be too much for her to invite me, but I'd love to see her first meal. Mine was a catastrophe but funny as hell. I put sugar in my chicken pot pie and salt in my cake. I never should have tried two recipes at once or at least not prepped them together. I thought I was saving time with my bowls all set out ahead of time. It would have been better if I had measured the ingredients before putting them in bowls, but I didn't do that either.

Racks asks if I got it and I look for the new that's been added. They didn't send it to her, Racks listed it for me to add so she only gets it once. I don't say it but she isn't an airhead and won't get confused by it coming in piecemeal. Since I know that and he doesn't, I stay and talk with my Brothers. I can get a schedule done in minutes because he did half of it and she needs to read the Bible I sent first anyway.

I settle in and pay attention instead of rushing off. It feels good to be here after missing a few days of this time. Our time.

I laugh at KC and his Alder encounter. The Little President is funny in his flying suit and scared the hell out of KC in front of the new trainees.