Chapter Eight

Three days

Anchor

Sliding to a stop, I grab the door frame. "Why are there rugs in the fuckin' hall?

Racks laughs. "Only at the doorways."

He won't see my eye roll so I don't bother. "Yeah." I scan in. "Brothers."

"The Commander is out and said to get you on with Pres. We've got four for you from Fire that have been vetted." Level is talking fast.

"Are they added to my team?"

"Yeah, but you can leave straight builders back."

"Where are we going?" All that's up on their board is close ups of fire.

"Zoom that out, Oliver. It's California. They're surrounded and need help. Coms are down."

My eyes go from the board to Level. "Brother, I read the procedures but never did wildfire."

"The Commander has some fire experience but he's in Texas. We need coms up, intel on what the fuck is happening and to let Pres know this section is moving in. I've got no way to tell him. The Commander said to get you in there."

"Roger. Gear?" The Commander is crazy. This is a huge fire. We did buildings and shit, clearing a way for us in and out of places, but nothing like this inferno.

"On the chopper in California. You're jetting over and Firefly will have more at the outpost." He points but it's too far to be helpful.

"Get extra tanks, water, EMT supplies, drop baskets, towels, masks and chutes on the chopper. That isn't helping us way the fuck out of range. Smaller drops close to him and at least he'll know help is coming."

He nods. "I'll get it loaded. She went to find Flame about rugs or something. Someone called to say they fell."

I nod and pull Racks out the door. Flame and Firefly are in the hall collecting rugs. I don't ask. With my phone in my hand, I chat orders to Bret and jog out. "Racks, get us boosters and two or three SAT phones in the cases. They'll connect better than mobiles."

He runs to supply while I get to the back chopper pad. Throwing chin, I jump in and head right to the back. "I need drones and small parts to make boosters."

The Lead is following me and pulls a box out. "We have ten drones on every chopper."

I look at the part cases. "Are they stored at flight or supply?"

"Flight."

"Get two more so you'll have one. I need them charged."

"Roger." He calls for drones while I scan through parts pulling what we'll need.

"Get an extra toolbox and two acetylene torches."

He nods ordering someone to get them.

"Boss?" Bret calls from the front.

"Here, Bret. Send Larry to the dining hall for a couple of empty cans, a metal bowl, ten forks, spoons and butter knives."

"Roger, Boss."

I pull what I need and stack it on the drone box while I build one of the pole boxes.

"I can get this packed for you." The Lead is back.

"Thanks. I need the drone boxes in first."

He looks at what I pulled. "With what you ordered, I can build two drop boxes and put the drones in one."

I nod. Racks is going to have more. "Yeah, do that. Thanks."

I go find my team. "Bret, are the fire Brothers here?"

"Getting gear boxes."

I nod and smile at Racks and the Prospect following him. "I love that you knew. I had Bret send Larry for silverware, cans and a bowl."

"I saw it running down an aisle. They have everything in that building." I take the heavy-duty metal pan off the SAT phone cases. It's got wire, extra spools for soldering, personal hygiene kits, a camping burner, rubber and heat gloves.

"Perfect. I was going to get Firefly on the oddball shit but we can make little boosters for the drones on the way."

"How much weight can they hold?"

I take the box the Prospect is carrying. "More than we need. I'm thinking less than a quarter pound for the boosters and mini dishes."

He laughs. "You're crazy. The dishes will get over the heat and smoke interference only if a satellite is open to them. That will take forever."

I smile. "Badass has satellites that can connect to anything close or they can move one over us. We have frequency for the drones, we'd just need the emergency frequency they're using."

He shakes his head. "Call someone for that. Who does that shit? Delta just builds them."

I smile again. "Alpha-Bits on the ABSZ."

I stop scrolling my phone to see what the commotion outside is.

Larry is smiling away. "Boss, I got everything but the bowl. They had this pan with a broken handle."

I nod. "Good job. Get it to the back. The Flight Lead has two drop boxes for us." I go back to my phone and hit Asa. He's VP, he'd know what and who I need.

"I got fire songs," Larry says like this is fun.

That stops me. "You're missing the point of the music. You don't pick fire songs for a fire. The music had a point, it always says something one of us needed, was uplifting when we were exhausted, or distracting when shit was intense."

He looks like I hit him. "Oh, I'll get different music."

I shake my head. "Songs everyone knows. It does nothing but annoy us to hear songs you don't know or don't like and can't change the station on."

"That's why it's rock, top forty, or older and used to be fun." Racks makes the point about the annoying lists and words no one has time to read. At least I don't.

"Roger." Larry looks like Racks let the air out of him.

I elbow Racks. "Show or tell him examples while I call Asa. If he's on music he needs it right."

Larry perks up and Racks smiles. Everyone happy works so I hit Asa and tell him what I need. He's got us covered but says I need to tell Cort. I call Ops and get Putam. He wasn't in a few minutes ago. I tell him what I need, what we're doing and how Asa can handle it with Cort's approval. He's got me covered too.

Looking out the door, I nod seeing gear boxes double timing it our way. "Good job, Brothers. We need to get up and out."

"I need engineers on this one," I tell Bret.

She gives me Bobby, Jet and Larry. I think she gave me Larry because he annoys her.

I nod and pull the fire gear in, then the drones and a toolbox. "We're set."

***

Drew

Sitting on the table, I watch the doctor wrap the cast. I can't believe it's a color and will come out like plastic. My dad wouldn't go to the hospital so one of the women always took care of anyone hurt. They made casts with pieces of cotton and plaster from a bag that got mixed with water. It didn't smell or look anything like this.

"Do you get good supplies because you're a doctor?"

He smiles. "You can buy this at Walmart but Badass orders supplies in bulk, so it's cheaper than ten bucks a pop for the resin kits. You shouldn't get it wet but it won't fall apart in water."

Damn, shower sex isn't an option for a while. I really liked that one too. "Two months?"

"We can X-ray in three weeks and switch you to a more breathable removable cast. It can go in the water but you'll need an extra pad for it. Make sure you tell the doc that takes this one off if I'm not here. He'll give you two and they're washable."

Holy mackerel. That's convenient, and considerate. "Thanks." That brings up Anchor's face and I smile. "I'll remember."

He laughs. "They'd probably ask. Is your husband an EMT?"

"Yes, but he's not really. He passed the tests for everything here but he's a Lead."

"Who?"

"Anchor."

He nods. "He's a smart Brother and good Lead. All those Marines on one team would have been a waste. They do work fast."

He smiles.

"What team are you on?"Firefly called someone to get the doc here.

"I'm the trainer for Lopez when he's out, which is just about every day he works. He's on Pres' team. I do only medical and EMT, he's a climber and out on fire now."

I shake my head. "I'm glad you're here. I heard choppers going up when Firefly showed me in here."

"They called Team One. I think that's Anchor."

I nod. They sent an email yesterday for the new line up. I'm not involved in it but someone sent it to me. "Pres, VP, then 1 is Anchor, 2 is Racks and 3. I don't know who is three."

"Level. He's ranked even with Racks in everything on the leaderboard. KC and Wolf are like that. They match each other with high in rope." He doesn't say anymore as he takes another roll of blue out of the package.

"Where does Anchor fit in there?" I should have asked why he's cutting little strips of the tape. I like the even look that's on me now. It looks cleaner than hodgepodge pieces stuck all over it.

He's surprised. "Turn your hand over. He ranks with VP on the boards. They have identical firearm stats and trade off a point here and there, but basically, they're the same for everything. Level said Anchor is smarter than all of them. Wolf said he is but doesn't bond well so it's not obvious. I've seen his team on the regular hike and climbs, they love the Brother." He wraps the smaller pieces around my hand but not all the way up to my finger knuckles.

I'll be able to use my fingers and thumb. "Thanks for keeping my fingers and thumb mobile."

"Don't try to lift, pull or push with them for a few days. You'll feel it all in your wrist. I'd give you a sling but no one wears them."

I smile at him and he laughs. "You wouldn't either. Got it. You got about ten minutes then I can let you loose. "Do you have a doctor I need to send the X-rays to?"

"You're the first doctor I've seen since before I was five. I lived on a Homestead. We were homeschooled and a woman treated injuries but I never had more than my brother could handle. I've never been to a doctor that I can remember. After the fire at my aunts, an EMT checked me but I was fine."

He looks surprised. "Have you been immunized?"

"My mother's papers say I was. She died when I was little. There's a bunch of letters like MM and DP shots listed on it. Some I had two times."

He nods but it's slow. "Can you get that to me?"

"Are you the doctor here?"

"I'm one of them. There are a bunch but I'm a trainer so I'm always here and see to the Brothers that are sick or injured. Did Alder do a physical?"

"No, he's one of my bosses. Cort is the other."

Now he's surprised. "I'm going to call Alder. While I do, can you get me your immunization records?" He types on his phone but this feels wrong.

This can't be good. "I can, but why are you looking like that?"

"I want to be sure you've had all the shots you need and to make sure if you need a shot, it isn't one that's fatal to the Alpha-Bits."

"Fatal. Holy mackerel. Can I go get it now? I live on the officers' compound and drove the golf cart in this morning." I stand ready to go.

He holds the cast. "It's not quite dry. I'll get a Prospect to bring you home. He doesn't go in your house but he can drive you to the door. Will you need help getting the record?"

"No, it's in a drawer with files. I can get it without hurting the cast. Everything is labeled in Anchor's desk. I'll just take the file."

He nods. "Anything medical would be a help."

"Anchor would keep that all together." I walk out a little freaked out. Fatal. They lost too many Alpha-Bits already.

"The Prospect will meet you in the front," he says from the door as I'm turning the corner. I don't answer.

In less than ten minutes I'm back with the file. It's more than just the one paper. Racks said he gave Anchor the paperwork on me from my aunt so there was obviously more.

The door is still open and I hear the doctor before I'm up to it. Alder is here in a Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts and sandals. I smile at my cute little boss. "I brought the file. Racks gave Anchor what my aunt had. She said he had copies of everything."

The doctor looks relieved.

Alder nods. "Boss Racks ask to me albinism common to have anemia. You anemic?"

That's not enough red or white blood cells, I think. "No. I don't think so."

He looks at the doctor. "Get blood. I see file."

I hand him the file and sit back on the table. I guess I'm giving blood.

While he flips pages and the doc takes my blood, Alder asks. "You mom twin?"

"Yes. My aunt was albino like me and Racks but she didn't have blue in her eyes at all."

He nods and keeps flipping pages. "No anemia. You have vitamin?"

"Until Racks ran away. I took them every morning."

His head turns. "Eat meat, vegetable same to healthy meal here?"

"Except when my mom first died. I didn't eat the canned meat after and Racks showed us how to can vegetables and fruit so my meals weren't the same as the men. When he left, my aunt got me the meals from a meal plan. It's how I got to see her. She always had a box of food trays for me. The guys use to rib me but they never wanted my food. It wasn't enough and always had veggies in it."

"She no give vitamin?"

"No, sunglasses and sunscreen but no vitamins."

Alder's glasses come out so I watch the doc. He bandaids my knee up with a smile. "If you've had the baby shots, all you need is teenage, Covid and tetanus."

I shake my head. "I had Covid. Aurora took me for it and something else about chickens and shingles. The paper is from CVS and shows what they gave me."

He opens the file and starts looking at the papers. "Good. We don't need it here and shingles are a nightmare for elderly. I'm glad she took you. Is that your aunt?"

My eyes burn. "No, my aunt died a few months ago. Aurora is my friend. She helped me get away from the Homestead."

He looks up fast. "Sorry. Aurora sounds like a good friend. Do you have vision problems?"

"No. I set my computer and phone to bigger print, but I can shoot and drive fine."

"I will check. Blood going to Alpha to chart and test. Boss Racks military medical no show anemia. Boss Racks little, he drink juice?"

I make a face. "He drank apple and beet juice mixed together, it was gross so I never drank it. He'd always buy me apple juice but I liked the one we made so he stopped. He had everything growing right there so we ate well and didn't have soda and other stuff that the guys did. They brewed beer but it stunk. I didn't drink that either."

The doc laughs.

Alder shakes his head. "Vitamin, healthy food, balance portion. Anemia no last not genetic problem. No anemia to military, he fix, make sure you eat healthy, no anemic imbalance. Vision common ailment to albinism. We check, get better glasses correct vision issue to you. Color plastic shade no help to stop UV. All Alpha-Bit have UV protection. I order glasses to you. One pair here today, no corrective lens, UV protect only."

I nod. "Thank you. Racks was anemic and stopped me from being anemic?" He was a kid.

"He make room to you clean air, clean water, food, vitamin, drink. I no ask to him, evidence point to he keep you healthy, safe."

I see it all and can't believe it. He kept me healthy, even when my dad moved him and I didn't see him for more than a minute here and there every couple of weeks. I need to thank him. He said my mom told him to keep me safe. He did without me ever knowing it. "Thanks, Alder. I'll thank him for that. Did he get the food service boxes?"

He watches my eyes. "I no ask question to Boss Racks. I see medical record he no anemia to Marine. Here I see he eat healthy, always. Locke say he give box to dinner away, eat only power bar, fruit. Brothers give fruit to him. I make better box menu to cook."

I nod. "Thanks for that too. I heard them talking about the food. They all like the new menu. So, I'll get new glasses that have UV protection and my blood is being tested at Alpha."

He nods. "Doc Chenoa come to do physical. She work to me tomorrow. Today she Indian doctor."

"What time tomorrow, I have a meeting at one and three-thirty."

"You ABSZ?"

"Phoenix."

"Eleven I have Allen meet chopper, do eye exam, Boss Chenoa after, I send lunch, stop at ABSZ we ride to Phoenix. You meet to three-thirty?"

"It's here. Pres is off and wanted me to look over the firemen bios with him and maybe Putam."

"We fly back you no late."

"Thanks, Boss. Will Chenoa need my papers?"

"I scan. Allen make chart to you, build virtual I see all. Doc Chenoa make schedule to shot you miss. All safe to Alpha-Bit."

My eyes close. "Thank you. I was terrified I'd hurt Alpha-Bits."

His head tilts. "You no cause to no medical care. You victim to no medical care. We fix, it done. Shot harm Alpha-Bit, we wear mask, keep away, understand consequence, take precaution. Baby everywhere, Alpha-Bit love baby, we…adjust."

I smile. "I will too. I'm glad I don't need to for this but I'll remember when I need it."

He nods once and looks at the doc. "Bone density show to X-ray."

The doc moves to the computer and it pops on with a mouse jiggle. "She's pale so I took a couple of angles just in case. It didn't look it to me but an MRI is a bit much for a broken wrist. It's two places but she's tiny and everything here is cement or hard wood."

"One, two X-ray, more too much to anyone body stressed. I no see low density. No MRI. You send to me you education, books? I no see you application."

The doc nods. "I was bored at the rescue company I landed in. I have my credentials and even got licensed here so I can treat the Brothers. I'm not on a team, I'm medical training while Lopez is out."

Alder's little eyes get wide. "You doctor no border?"

"Yeah, Liam Nichols. Back in the US, I was on a rescue team but hated it and saw the call for EMTs here. I was glad they had the trainer job open as a sub."

"I have you file. No picture."

The doc looks embarrassed. I wonder if I should be here.

"Back in the states I got sick. We were in and out of cheap hotels and little run-down camps. I'd recover just to get sick again. They got my pic here but I didn't have a good one from before."

Alder types and the doctor shows on an ID like mine from BSC Rescue. "You meet reader?"

"Judy and Terry Blackhawk at Phoenix and Nash from Sentinel helped me get the license here. He's a Blackhawk too but doesn't look like the others. I saw him in the lobby but didn't know before. He just said Nash but he's the VP over there."

Alder nods once and I giggle. "There are a lot of Blackhawks. Judy was a Callahan. Locke hooked me up with a whole Badass tree. I'll send it to you."

"Sent. I have you credential. Doctor to BSC Club hired by me. Pres Cort no say you treat here. I have Oliver look to apps. No picture he no look. Today, I hire you doctor to here, you see patient, get BSC pay benefit. You have EMT, you schedule them to you train time."

My new doctor looks stunned then ecstatic. "Thank you, Alder. I've followed some of your studies and used herbs I could get from Native. I'm not big on opioids. Can you send me preferred drugs, herbs and treatment plans? It's been busy here but I'd like to get material that's helpful to Brothers like Drew here. She had the Covid shot but not the others and I'm not sure she needs them."

Alder's hand goes up. "I see you excite, day off, you meet Chenoa Knight to ABSZ medical. Doc Chenoa work to me, use what I make. Native Remedy herbal medicine preferred, Boss Aiyana family, give all her research to Boss Chenoa. I on vacation. Help to you, Boss Drew, hire you to here. I go back to vacation."

I laugh, the doctor looks embarrassed again. "Sorry. Thank you and I'll send a chat to meet Doctor Chenoa Knight,"

Alder nods. "Meet to Allen, he train to you make virtual chart, he medical same day Doc Chenoa work to ABSZ Lab."

The doc nods. "I'll do that."

Alder nods once. "Boss Drew, later glasses to sun, tomorrow eleven portico to ABSZ. Later." He runs and I giggle.

The doctor shakes his head. "Do you know how much he's done?"

I hop off the table thinking my ten minutes is up. "Nope, I don't think anyone does. I learned yesterday that he made the first emoticons for chat and has say over what's available. He helped get some cancer medication out for the public. He's running a study for people that have narcissistic personalities to see if they can be rehabilitated. He's a second to Cort on top of being the President of Alpha-Bits.I really don't think anyone knows all he's done."

He smiles. "You're right and you work for him. I'm not an obstetrician but delivered babies everywhere. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that here unless it's an emergency. American men are a little high strung with that but I'd be happy to be your doctor if you have other issues."

I raise the cast up. "You're hired. I'd like to see Chenoa tomorrow so I know for sure I won't kill anyone. She works for Alder too and wouldn't let it happen. After that, I'm your first BSC patient and you're my first doctor."

He's a happy doctor. "I like the Doctor Chenoa check. I don't know what will hurt the little guys but heard some chemicals are dangerous for them too."

"I'm glad you'll talk to Chenoa. I need to get back to work so I keep my awesome jobs."

"Go, you're all set and I'll get you an appointment for the removable brace."

"Thanks, Doc." I jog out hearing him laugh. I have work to do and hopefully no more rugs to slide face first into walls to deal with. Poor Oliver was almost a pancake.

***

Anchor

The chopper flight wasn't long enough to build more than one mini dish so we moved our workstation onto the jet and kept going. The chopper Flight Lead was fine with it but our jet pilot wasn't. I called Ops and got an okay from Putam who I could tell was smiling when he told the pilot we had orders to Rescue the Rescue team and Pres however we can.

Racks found it all funny. I'm just glad we could melt and mold what we needed to get our shit built. The attachment will have to wait until we land but it's going to go fast because I got the torches in our pole box.

"Boss, Ops is on."

I drop the fork and screwdriver and raise the Lead cans from my neck to my ears. The engineer catches the crew cans. "Thanks, Anchor on, Ops." I stand, turning toward the cockpit.

"Get to a board. You're twelve out. The fire has Rescue almost completely surrounded and they have no fuckin' clue." Cort is pissed.

"Roger, Boss." Walking closer I see the board with fire everywhere. Holy shit. "Ops, where are the other teams?"

Cort talks right over Putam. "It looks like they just quit. That western section grew a good half mile in like fifteen minutes. No one knows what the fuck is going on out there."

Jesus. "Did the satellite get moved or is one close that we can get closer shots of terrain?"

"Yeah. You can't get thermal with the fire."

"I don't need it. I need the satellite on the radio frequency. If we can get who's on control, we can let them know the team has no coms. That frequency can be boosted above heat and smoke with the drones. This is miles of fire, a tower has to have been damaged for a huge section of no coms, Boss."

"That's why you're melting shit in the jet?"

Shit. "Yeah, Boss. I had the Flight Lead at Rescue get me two gearboxes of drones. We got SAT phones, boosters and made mini booster chips and satellite dishes to attach to the drones. The drones are set, they just need the wire and dish attached."

"Tell me it isn't longer than an hour. Ranger is telling me they'll have no way out in an hour."

I shake my head. "Fifteen minutes, but, Boss, you invaded the Homestead on a moment's notice. Badass is everywhere in California. Don't you have a friend or two that can drop some water so the team has a way out? That would be two teams because we're jumping into that fire with no way out in ten."

"Fuckin' Brother. Amal, get Clubs close dropping water. We don't know what condition they're in or what supplies they have."

Level answers for me. "Boss, he has small pole boxes set up to drop. Firefly is waiting on a go for them. Watching the fire move, we need that to be soon, Boss."

I don't let Cort answer. "Drop them now, Level. Right in the center of that closing circle, it's closer than the outpost and I'll be aiming for there. While you're on, I need the Control. He needs the coms down but we'll have drones up once we land. They're going to need to coordinate water, tanks and supplies they didn't know they needed. If you can get to him before all that hits, we may get control of the fire and our Brothers out and home tonight."

"Roger, Firefly has your small boxes dropping and Putam's got the contact on now. He nodded so he'll be ready. The satellite, you need that frequency?"

"No, Asa said he'd cover me. He needs the frequency and will get the satellite hooked to the mini dishes and boosters so he can control them. That will open coms up for teams that are radio silent now. I need to gear up if I'm landing in an inferno. We'll get the drones up and away as soon as we can. Asa will know. When I find Pres, I'll have him call on the SAT phone. We got blankets to cover us and I know Pres has the crate so we got shovels."

"Fuckin' hell, Anchor. Pres knows fire. You got the rest covered. Be safe, Anchor. Keep water with you in case you need that blanket. I'll get Asa up in here." Level doesn't have to say it. It's a shit job and plan but we got Brothers down there. Pres knows this kind of fire. Anyone else and I'd wait for water drops. I shake my head. No, I wouldn't.

"Racks, we're jumping in like six. What do you need?"

He looks around him. Everyone is working on the floor using the seats to get the chips in the drones. Racks is like a machine when he's in the building zone. He's always been like this.

"We need the dishes attached."

I shake my head. "On the ground. There's no time and we can't use the torches this high up."

He smiles. "It's fuckin' crazy to carry torches into a fire, Brother. I like the plan. Jet, how many you got waiting?"

"Three." He never looks up.

"I'm on it. Everyone not building, get geared up." I sit and get the chip Jet hands me soldered for the drone. I remember what Level said and give it to Racks. "Level said to keep water on us in case we need the blankets."

"That wasn't in the book. I'm glad he said something but we've been in fire before." He's not worried. "Last one."

I check my watch and pack it up. "Close it up, Brothers. We need to be in gear. Bret, do the tank checks and…"

"Done, Boss. Your tanks and gear are waiting."

Standing, I look around, they're waiting with fire gear and chutes ready to go on us. "Thanks, Bret. The boxes?"

"All but the drones and tools you were using is readied." She's good. She points. "They're packing them now."

"Thanks. Get as many supply boxes as you can to Pres. You take the SAT phones and boosters. Assess and keep me informed but get him on the phone with Ops and the team helping where they're needed."

"Roger, Boss. Will we have coms?" The back opens with our boxes on the tether ropes waiting to be clipped.

"We're over the drop and do now, so I'm saying yeah. We may drop off, but once the drones are up, we'll have them again."

"You're a good Brother to know." She turns and starts issuing orders for dropping with the boxes we have. I just notice they're labeled.

I had no idea what to say so I'm good with her moving on.

"Boss, does this go with you?" The Flight Lead asks.

"No. It's a booster I had Racks get for you. I don't know what their interference is or who the carrier is, but you need to keep it here so I can make contact with someone." I pull my collar up from my coat and show him the little motherboard hooked to my cam and earpiece. Hopefully my mini booster and that one will get me clear enough for them to hear me. "That circle is getting small, Brother." I point to the board.

His eyes wince but he throws chin. "We'll follow your coms, Brother. God's speed."

I turn for the ramp and breathe deep. We're going to need all the help we can get. Racks is waiting with the two boxes that will make or break us. "Let's do this, Brother."

"Hooyah!" He makes me smile.

I mask up and jump with my little netted box tethered to me. Racks is laughing like a nut just below me. He starts singing, "Jump." The Brother is fuckin' crazy but fun. I sing with him.

With chutes pulled, I make it close to Racks and Bret. She points. There's a team standing by a truck watching us but it isn't Rescue. I see the blue of our logo about a mile out working in a line, that's our team. I pull down with my left hand and move closer to the team. Bret and Racks follow. Closer to earth, I point Bret toward the team. I need to get the drones up. She looks to her side and nods. Her box is with her without drawing on her own chute wind. The woman is good at everything.

I hit the ground running and duck for the box that almost hit me running. I've never jumped with a box like this but I didn't see a choice. It would be my luck, I'd drop them and they'd land in the fire.

Pulling my chute off, I roll it up and kneel getting the net off the box.

"Anchor!"

"Here!" I stand and wave an arm then I'm back to my knees pulling the box open.

I turn for the truck engine and see Racks slow with his box to watch the truck. "Hey, give me a ride over there!"

I pull my mask off to laugh and hit the button to shut off the oxygen. The Brother is crazy but there's no sense in wasting what we've got. The air is thick but breathable right now.

The firemen are talking but I need to get these up. "Racks, I need a torch."

He hops off the bed and brings his box over.

"What the fuck?" Someone from the truck doesn't like it then the other guy starts bitching.

I shake my head setting up the drones with the dishes. "If you want to hear Command Control, you'll help or shut the fuck up."

Racks laughs handing me a torch. "I'll start from the end."

He sits and we get the dishes hooked onto the drones. "Badass Rescue jet, this is Anchor on Lead Team One, send a message to Rescue Ops, the drones are ready."

Not a minute goes by and the drones are rising. "Bret?"

I look at Racks nervous this isn't going to work.

"Not yet. Give them time to get higher. We need to get to…" Racks smiles.

"He fuckin' did it." Level is laughing in my ear. Thank fuck!

"I hear you, Ops. Bret, the drones are working."

"Roger, Boss. Pres heard something. He's smiling." She sounds like she is too.

"Anchor, I think you just saved our lives. We need help, water drops and a few more hands to get this little shit tamped down. Do we have a way to talk to fire command? We haven't gotten any trucks from them." Pres comes in with a lot of noise around him.

Racks loads his box onto the truck. "They'll give us a ride."

"Thanks. Pres, Putam was on with the contact. Did your small boxes get to you?"

"Yeah, about ten minutes ago, but we're almost out of water."

I look at Racks. "Wasn't there water close to here?" We could use it if we get in a tight spot.

"A brook or something, maybe a small watering hole."

"Water drops are going to hit in five, Pres. Cort said you got five then three. The five are on the board. Do your holograms work?" Putam answers so I don't have to.

"The mask Alder made shows everything for me. It's on now. Fuck, we're surrounded. The drop three from the right, move it over…"

I hit my mic off. "He's got this and Cort has water dropping. I can't run a team here. We'll join Pres'."

"Why can't you run a team?" He's pissed?

"You saw the fire, Racks. I've never even been to a forest fire."

He rolls his eyes and hops off the bed.

I grab my box and drop it by Kemper who is going through the new boxes we brought. "Where's Pres?" He points so I head that way masking up and hitting the air button. My glass shows fire everywhere. This is fuckin' nuts.

"Anchor, Cort is asking for you to coordinate. There's a team with no air and water isn't moving. Their control just walked."

What the fuck? Controls don't walk. Do they? There's a whole fuckin' state on fire. Or what looks like a state from what I saw. I'm from Rhode Island, it would fit in this fire.

"Anchor?" Level sounds concerned.

I hit my piece on. "Here, I haven't made it to Pres. The control walked in the middle of an Op?"

"He's not a Marine, Brother. Can you get their shit moving?" He's talking fast.

"I can but I've never been in a forest fire."

"Just get the supplies where they need to go."

I smile. "That I can do. I need to tell Pres."

"Go, Anchor. We need water and the team driving around needs tanks. We got a shit load of them and I can get them working with us. The truck will take you to the outpost." Pres sounds like he's working.

"Roger, Pres. Racks is here."

"I've got your team and experienced firemen. Take him with you. Keep our coms working and get supplies moving or we'll be here for a week." He wouldn't last the night with the fire closing in around us.

I can help with that and make sure we get home. My Dainty Drew gave me an order to be safe and come home. Safe is a little shaky right now but coordinating means I can control how it ends. "Roger, Boss."

I turn and jog back to Kemper. "Racks?"

He points. I run that way smiling. Kemper never said a word to me.

"Here, Anchor. Get in the truck. The guy said their coms are up and cops are driving the tankers in because they're just sitting there."

Jesus. What the hell are cops doing here?

***

Drew

The message I got said to go to the compound kitchen, so I point the golf cart that way with my wrist up and against my chest. I need some aspirin. This is throbbing more than it was while the doc put the cast on. The elderly compound kitchen has a first aid kit. Every building here does. I should have looked before I left but they'll have it in the kitchen.

Pulling up to the back, I smile at the golf carts here. One is from the elder compound. Almost tripping getting off the cart I slow down but carry my smile in. "Aurora, I've missed you."

She shakes her head at me but she's smiling. "I saw you last night."

I shrug. "I'm crazy, it feels like too long ago."

Firefly, Ma Gregory and Flame laugh at me.

"You're in pain?" Ma Stone doesn't miss much.

"It's throbbing more than when he put the cast on. That setting the bone made the cast feel like a breeze. I was going to find some aspirin here."

She's moving with Aurora following.

"Why is lunch here?" I ask Flame.

"Everyone but Team three is out. All that's in the dining hall is trainees."

I nod. "I like this. Did you find out about the rugs?" Why cutesy little rugs appeared where Alpha-Bits run everywhere is baffling.

Flame looks at Ma Gregory who takes the hint and answers. "The church made them. I told the man they need the backing but Flame said he used scotch tape around the edges."

"The church made them? How? No why? No wait." Too many questions hit at once.

They laugh. "Hooked rugs were big at some point in time. Not my time apparently but they were. Anyway, the church made them and they needed a home. The backing is a roll of nonslip material but the Prospect didn't know. Why colorful, cute and very girly rugs were in a Badass Club is a question for the ages. I was just explaining that the Brotherhood of Badass Bikers do not now or ever want their workplace decorated with cute girly rugs. Her son, as President, would be embarrassed if he saw them, or anyone saw them." Firefly knows everything.

I nod. "Can I have one? I need the back." I raise my wrist. "Obviously. But the one in front of my office was cute and had all my colors on it. How do you make rugs with pictures like that. Itwas soft and squishy too."

They laugh at me. I shake my head but know Aurora will tell me. She knows everything too.

" Native Remedies makes this. It's the same as Tylenol or aspirin without the stomach issues." Aurora has my eyes on hers.

Native Remedies . I just heard that. Alder and the doc. I nod. "Alder said it's preferred so it's safe." I take the pills and water.

"You're loony. You made me hunt for plain aspirin in the hotel."

I smile. "Thank you for doing that but the doc called Alder because I need shots. Some are fatal to the Alpha-Bits."

They all look at me. "You need shots?" Ma Stone sits.

"Yeah, I had baby shots but need others that he said aren't going to hurt them. Doc Chenoa will do a physical and get me what I need. He said they'd build a chart with my blood. I'll ask what it means when I see her." I make sure they know I have no answers about that.

She nods. "Good. Is there anything else you need?"

"A baby doctor. I'm going to ask Chenoa about birth control but the doc here doesn't do girl stuff. He said American men are high strung about that."

Flame laughs. Firefly touches my arm. "Did you tell Anchor?"

"I haven't seen him today. The doc said he was called to a job."

She nods. "I meant about the birth control."

I smile. "I was going to ask you all today. He had a list and birth control was on it. He said he doesn't care and it's not his decision. I need some time before I bring a baby into my crazy."

Now they laugh and I don't care. "Ask Chenoa tomorrow. She can get you started with a shot and the doc here can give it to you. It's every three months. I just got one so we can plan it together. The OBGYN is once a year and we get choppered there. Jeti said until one opens in town. The towns are growing so we may find one close but the women here and at the Squared Club use the same one as Delta."

My eyes go to Aurora. "Once a year means we could get appointments together?"

She smiles and takes my good hand. "I'll go with you. I'm surprised you saw the doc alone today."

"Firefly brought me to the medic room. I lifted my pant leg and he cast my wrist with this plastic stuff. The door was open and Alder came in." I tap my cool cast so she can hear its plastic.

"That's good. She didn't know you've never been to the doctor."

I smile. "I have now and did when I was little. Alder has glasses with UV protection coming for me and I'll get an eye exam tomorrow."

Flame nods. "It's common for albino to have vision problems. Oliver said they got an injection for it but Alder is watching the babies. They didn't get the two-year injections."

"I didn't know that. I don't know anything but to put sunscreen on all the time and wear sunglasses. I use coconut skin cream so the sunscreen isn't so noticeable."

Aurora laughs. "I got the coconut shampoo for you because I thought you liked coconut."

Ma Stone touches my cast hand. "What's your favorite fragrance?"

"Popcorn," Aurora, Firefly and Flame say together.

I nod. "It is. My office and house smell like popcorn now because of the candles Anchor made. I like melon and apple but I don't have lotion like that. It would clash with the sunscreen." I smile saying it and they laugh.

Prospects bring lunch in. "This is great. Thank you." I love this world. The plates are like the meals my aunt got for me. I have to ask if Racks ordered them. He made food for us when we were younger. He taught me about canning but I never saw him cook. I never cooked either. The boxes had trays that always came out for me hot. Two trays a day must have added up. I know the trays were washed and used for whoever missed mealtimes. Kenny got a meal at the perimeter office and it looked like slop in one tray and barely cooked meat in the other. I was happy to get my tray with the plastic on the top.

I shake my head and eat as they're talking about where to send the cups they made on some wheel. They make food like the trays. I won't be anemic here.

"Anemic? You're anemic?" Aurora and the reading me.

I roll my eyes. "No, Alder thinks Racks was and he made sure I ate right. The trays I was telling you about had good food."

"Wasn't he young?"

I nod. "To me he wasn't but my mother died when I was little. I don't really remember her. Racks always took care of me. He got the rooms with clean air and solar. Mine and the kitchen worked but my dad put him in the bunkhouse and his room never worked." I giggle. "When it rained, he couldn't use the electric. Water got in the hole he made for the wires. He was like a grizzly bear. One of the women put a box over the hole and it worked unless it rained hard."

They shake their heads. "Racks got rooms? Was it from the trust thing?" Aurora asks.

I nod. "The sharecroppers paid in to the land trust regularly. That account had a lot of money in it. I gave Racks a check for the rescue but he gave it to the elder's compound for whatever they need. Racks said he'll handle the paperwork to close the land trust down. I don't know what the other trust does but anything sold from the land goes to that one. Cort didn't want everything on it and Racks told someone to burn it. There was nothing in the vault when my dad opened it. Racks must have moved it long before he left." I remember dad hitting the walls and kicking the door like a madman. He was a mad man. I don't know what was there but it was something he wanted and thought he got with the fake deed. "I didn't even know there was a vault. He told me to wear this beaded bracelet and follow him. I did and the numbers on the beads opened the vault." I smile.

Racks always took care of me. He told me the bracelet goes with the land. Racks laughed when I told him about dad beating the walls in the empty vault. He said the other trust has everything stored and inventoried. I don't need all that. Figuring out how life works now is enough. Someday I may be ready to figure out how that life worked, but I'm crazy enough right now.

Aurora laughs and I look up. She's talking to Ma Stone. I relax and ask Flame. "How did they make rugs?"

"With pieces of yarn. They sort of weave it onto a mat. The hobby store has the supplies and even kits with the picture already on the mat."

"I want to go to the hobby store. That's where Anchor got the candle stuff."

Ma Stone looks excited. "I can drive us. Locke asked about it yesterday."

I nod. "We have to have Security but Pres said I can go to the towns here."

"I'm going." Aurora looks excited now.

I smile and she hits my arm.

"We're taking the elders to the psychic village. They're planning ways to stump the psychics. Most are frauds so it will be fun."

"I want to go to that. When?" I wonder if they have popcorn and cotton candy. Aurora made the candy with a little machine and it smelled sweet and tasted sweeter. I didn't eat it but Raiden liked it. Mabel said they had it at all the fairs and times.

"Saturday night. Well, dinner time. They don't want to be out too late. We have to be home by ten."

I laugh. I love the elders.

"I'm in." Firefly is into crashing the elder activity.

"Me too, are you going, moms?" Flame asks.

Ma Stone smiles. "We are now."

Firefly nods. "I'll get Security set up." This will be fun. The Commander isn't letting her go with just Security. He'll be there, so the whole team will.

Aurora nods, smiling at me.

I laugh. It's about time I'm the one laughing at them.

***

Anchor

Thirteen hours, Badass water-bombs, an apologetic governor and California National Guardsmen, who I sent right to Pres, has the fire out. I am glad Cort jumped in with the governor because I wasn't in the mood to play nice. He sent National Guard to help since the fire grew under his guy, then almost lost four full teams of Rescue workers besides us. I jumped out when Cort got the Senator on.

Teams were showing up and Racks was sending them to shore up in between the working teams. Once the National Guard showed, Pres was throwing me orders on where to send men.Water started dropping and didn't end until Pres told them to use choppers up to hit the trees and fields around the edges but the fire was out.

It was hectic, a fuckin' challenge and a half, but I got to see how to tackle the fire slowly, then head on. It's like a living thing. Pres said fire is alive and we needed to cut off its fuel, then we could tackle the beast. He was right and it worked. I'm so glad I didn't need the blanket but I kept water in my lower pocket just in case.

"Brothers, get the pole boxes loaded on the crate. We got the tanks and unused supplies in. We showed to rescue BSC Rescue and ended up working to put it out. You made it happen, proved your positions were earned and made Badass proud today. Cort, Pres and I, all give a great fuckin' job, Brothers."

"Hooyah!"

I get spun around and hugged. "You did it, Anchor. You earned your position and then some. Thank you and great job."

I lean back. "Pres?" The voice isn't one I know.

He laughs and pulls his mask off. "Yeah, Brother. It's been a long day but we're making it home thanks to drones with dishes. Bret told me about you and Racks on the jet. You're fuckin' crazy with the shit you come up with, but because of you two, were going home. I honestly didn't think we'd make it out when the coms came back on. The fire had grown to almost double the size in an hour and a half of no communication. I love the fuckin' Brotherhood."

"Hooyah!" Brothers yell making me laugh.

"Cort, Level, Putam and Asa had our backs', Pres. It was a Hail Mary and I'm glad it worked but I never want to do forest fires, Boss. That's some seriously scary shit."

Racks hits my back laughing. "It was, Brother. The crate is netted. I'm with Anchor, Pres. You can take the fires and call when you need a rescue. This shit is too much like work and I heard like three songs. That's just wrong."

I look at my feet until Pres laughs. "We're working on it. They're not Marines but we'll work on that too. Let's go home, Brothers!"

Another cheer goes up and I start it. " Gonna hitch a ride ." The Commander usually starts this one but I want out of this place and hitching a ride works.

The chopper jump to the airfield has us all on the jet together. Brothers are tired and thirsty but not very talkative.

The Flight Lead hits my back and hands me the booster. "Ten minutes and you had coms on, Boss. I'm glad it worked and we weren't needed but every Brother on the crew volunteered to help."

I throw him chin and hit my chest, knowing I won't get words out.

"The honor that comes from that one sentence is overwhelming, Brother, thanks. It felt like a kamikaze mission at first but he comes from a line of Marines that don't know how to quit. Thank God he does, I didn't think we'd make it an hour."

My eyes go right to Racks. He was pissed I was going to join Pres' team. I don't go back to my seat, I head to the back. Racks doesn't leave my side for much when so many Brothers are close so I know he'll show.

I pull the boxes with the drones, tools and oddball shit we used to make our little boosters. Getting a drone box out, I'm not sure if I should dismantle the dishes. I call Asa.

"Brother, thanks for getting us back up today. I don't want to imagine what would have happened if it didn't work."

His little giggle makes me smile. "I work ten minute. Small Alpha-Bit fly drones. Happy to them."

"Thank them for me, for us. They saved our asses."

"I will. I think you turn crazy as Badass. You smart, show me new way Alpha-Bit help. I never jump to fire. I work office let crazy Badass jump to fire, flood, tornado. Drones easy to me."

I laugh. "You're not the first to call me crazy today. I can't say I'd jump to another fire unless it's a Rescue. I like other jobs better. I wanted to thank you and ask if I should pull the dishes off the drones. I confiscated them from Flight at Rescue."

"No. I send more to Flight. Alpha-Bit want chip, dish. Pres Alder say we do more to new technology. I work, small Alpha-Bit time to imagine. No time to me see all. I make all happen." He's got me laughing again.

"Thank fuck you do, Brother. I'm honored you're you, Asa. You got us all flying home. Thank the little Brothers for us. No casualties. It's a good fuckin' day."

"Andro David Stone, I honor you be you. Smart Brother. Later."

I laugh when my phone goes black. The little shit is cute. He used my name. Everyone does now and I feel it every time I hear it, but Asa using it is special. He's a Brother that isn't seen much but gets more done than should be humanly possible. He's Alder's VP and I can't keep up with shit Alder is doing, I can't imagine making it all happen. I thought the Commander and three teams were tough at times, but Alder does more in a day than our three teams did in a week and that's just the shit I saw.

"You taking them apart?"

I smile up at Racks. "Nope. The Alpha-Bits will replace these for Flight. They want the chip and dish for new technology. I didn't ask what and don't know what they're thinking. Asa just said they want the drones."

He sits and pulls the shit we stuffed in the supply box out. "I don't want to do fire either."

I fold a box chute that was under the drone boxes. "What changed?"

He smiles but doesn't look at me. "I told Pres I don't want to Lead. I want to be your second. I've got more to learn, Brother. Drew is excited about being patched in this weekend. You still need me." He felt like that orphan again.

My eyes close. I knew he was struggling. "Always. She's got a whole new crazy to get used to. Where the fuck did batshit crazy come from?"

He laughs but doesn't look at me. "Blackhawks. We could have lived like royalty, Anchor. We lived like rats and she has no idea. Something about you drew her in too. What you did today, Brother, shows us how much more we have to learn. I need to keep learning, Anchor. We have no Homestead, Drew gave up her name. I need a connection with purpose and you always show handing it to me. Drew is here now and I've got that too, but I need at least one fuckin' Brother on the Team that knows what the songs mean."

I drop my head relieved. "You're batshit crazy too. I'm honored. Bret needs to Lead. She's more than ready and I'll need a second. Larry isn't going to work for me. He's good but the fuckin' music is too important to leave it all up to him. He needs training, Brother. I'm giving it to you."

He gets up fast. "You're a dick." His eyes are lit and smile is wide.

I smile. "I am but that's Boss to you."

He laughs and pulls me up. "Roger, Boss."

I hug him so relieved he said something and is taking the hand.

***

The choppers set down to a crowd. My girl is holding onto Aurora with her casted arm. I didn't get a message, chat or anyone telling me she was hurt.

"She's in a cast. No one said a word." I want to be pissed, but I must be tired or something. Scanning her body, I see no other signs of injury.

"When should they have told us? When we were jumping into the fire that was closing in with a wing and a prayer pinned on drones that may work, or when you were coordinating choppers, water, men, supplies, breaks and food to almost a thousand?" Racks has good points but she broke her arm.

"The ride back? When it happened? I don't know, but feel like I should have known or been told."

Pres pulls me back to see out the window and groans. "Another party. I need a shower, chair and fresh air. She looks happy and healthy. Did you tell her you were jumping to rescue us?"

What? "No. She'd flip the fuck out. She doesn't want to know what we do. She just wants us all to come home."

He nods. "She's happy you did and will tell you about her arm when she can see you. You don't need her every minute. You need her there for your time together. Happy you're home will outlast the Brother invasion."

Racks laughs. Whatever.

We get mobbed and I mean we. Both choppers, even the Flight crews get hugged and hit, then passed down. Cort is at the end of the line and holds on to me by the arm. "I was pissed and you reminded me to be fuckin' Badass, Brother. Raid will deal with the contacts. I'll be the Lead you need for the next one. Thanks, Anchor." He hugs me again and my girl is beside him.

Taking the step over, I kiss her. "No one told me you were hurt. What happened?"

Cort turns with Racks to hear that answer.

My girl hugs Racks with my hand still holding her blue cast. "I was jogging behind Oliver and slid on a rug. He hit the floor and I avoided falling on him the wrong way. Oliver is fine, I broke my wrist, got it fixed and the rugs are gone. Well, the one in front of my door is at home now. It was cute." I kiss her and the it's done, over and move along attitude.

Cort and Racks laugh.

"Go shower, you stink." My girl doesn't care about the laughing.

"Dinner?"

She turns. "You can't see it, but a band, grills and tables are set up behind all these people. It's Alder's last day of vacation."

I don't ask. "I'll find you."

She giggles and I kiss her until Racks pulls me away. Fuckin' Brother.

Jogging to the compound, he asks, sort of. "Pres wasn't behind us."

I nod. "He took off with half his team following him. I threw him chin and walked the line slow."

He laughs. "You're all right, Anchor. They were there longer than we were. Did he eat?"

"Yeah, Bret pulled him away with the medic check and handed him food, water and new gear. She sent the medics to the other teams to pull their Leads so everyone got time off the tanks and food in them."

He shakes his head and slows at Level's house. "I burnt shit down but never saw a fire like that. I hope I never see another."

I smile and turn, hugging him. "I'll take it to mean you're not only staying but it's for the long haul."

His eyes snap to mine. "Yeah. I wasn't sure about Lead, then regretted it. No way out sucked, but there's always a way. You keep pointing it out and it may stick someday."

"Always. Our lives weren't meant to be lived alone, Racks. We were meant to be here for a reason. We'll do that together, shedding the orphan status and joining the family one. Badass doesn't allow ignorance here."

He smiles. "They don't and alone is never happening here."

"Never."

We both turn fast at the voice. "Commander," we say together.

He shakes his head. "I need a shower too. I wanted to thank you for getting Pres home. I was across the fuckin' country and Cort sounded like he was unraveling. I told Level to send you two. You're the fastest brains we got and you made it happen. I knew you'd use boosters but had no time to think of how'd you'd do it."

Racks points to me and I shake my head. "I had the how but you're faster at getting shit done. I keep telling you but you don't see it."

The Commander laughs. "He will. He's not as quick as you with the plan but he's got you beat in the execution. With time, he'd come up with equally crazy shit that works but we're not in that job and he's too fuckin' good to waste as a Lead out there alone. Pres said the Brothers aren't getting the Marine that's in you. Together you can teach them how it's done and get us better teams."

"When did you see Pres?" Racks asks what I thought.

"He told me last night. Putam said it's a mistake separating you. Racks came up with the new Lead holograms for glasses and masks. You two together will impact all Clubs with the shit you come up with to get our jobs done."

I laugh. "Asa wanted the drones for the Bits. He knew?"

The Commander shrugs. "I haven't talked to anyone but Level and Cort today, we were out at five. On the way back I read my boards. Veritable stopped three trucks headed here. It's a suggestion but Drew's name changed. Changing yours will keep her unseen and protected."

Racks is shocked. "I thought about it but need to end the trusts. The lawyer was going to look at it but didn't like the name change."

"Fuck what he thinks. Do what you feel is right but I'm offering Stone. Ma did but it's yours if you want it. It comes with the monthly dinner she already invited you too but Stone means it's mandatory. McClane may have some legacy behind it but it's a target for Drew and you."

Racks nods looking down. "That legacy died with my mom and aunt. Drew isn't going down with it."

I put an arm on his shoulder. "Nope. So, Racks Stone, I want Lead holograms and I'm never calling you Porter."

He pushes me away. "I need a shower and to talk to Drew." He hugs the Commander and jogs to his house.

I smile up at Keylan. "You knew?"

"Wolf said he was off a few days ago so I was watching feeds. Putam told Pres to keep you two together. It worked, so I agreed and Cort told Pres, Justice said it's right because you make shit. I didn't ask what else you made and don't care. You're together, here and it was meant to be this way."

I laugh. "I just told him that."

"Great minds. I need a shower and food."

"Thanks, Keylan."

He stops but doesn't turn. "Love ya, Brother. You keep adding to my family."

I laugh and go in. I always think he adds to mine.

I'm showered and out, jogging to the Club while snapping cuffs on. Level stops me. "Anchor, that was unbelievable today. Good job, Brother. I watched Racks with the fuckin' chips. He's like a machine when he's in a time crunch."

I smile getting the name cuff Racks made me snapped. "He is. Make sure you tell him."

"I planned to. How'd you think up the dishes?"

I shrug. "We make boosters when we need them. It was a big area and drones are on every chopper. My list of options was pretty long because we were here with all the supplies we needed."

He shakes his head. "You two have always been crazy with that shit. I tried out the Lead glasses. He just made our lives easier, Brother."

I turn, ready to find my girl in this mob. "Tell him that too. I want the glasses or holograms or whatever he made."

He laughs but doesn't answer. I see white hair and head that way but it's Alder standing on a chair. Scanning, I catch Aurora then Drew with the women and elders. They're at a long table. Over to the side, Security is watching them. The trucks today. Shit. I'm pulled and slap the hand.

"They're showing the glasses. Level said they're good."

"Give me a minute, Racks." I walk to my girl and turn her face so I can kiss her lips.

"We were talking." Seren glares at me.

"I'll let you get back to that, but I've been out all day and my girl needs to know I'm home and here if she needs me."

Drew's blue-pink eyes are smiling. I kiss her head and meet up with Racks.

"I think you were just born Badass."

"I think you were born batshit crazy."

He laughs. "We're right."

I laugh at the nut. "What's with the glasses?"

"You did control training. These are like those glasses but focus on the team and objective."

My feet stop. "You reconfigured the whole hologram program?"

He smiles. "I told Alder what I wanted and he had those Alpha-Bits you keep telling me about do it. I asked for the code but he had it done in a day, Brother. He said to tell him what I want and he'll get it done. He's giving me a tour of the ABSZ on my next day off." He's going to flip when he sees the technology there.

I laugh and go look at our new glasses for Leads.