Prologue

Citiali

Getting off the chopper, I see Putam walking toward the Club and jog to catch up to him. “Putam!” Pulling my hair back, I make sure it’s flat and my collar is down before I’m in front of him. I’m usually in my Indian uniform of breeches and a traditional cotton shirt to travel, but I’m new here and avoiding identity questions has me in the new Club utility uniform of cargos and a polo.

Seeing the smile as he turns, relief hits me. “Brother, are you blocking me?”

“Yeah, I’m blocking everyone. The three and Zeke know I’m here.”

With a hug, he says, “You’re stronger here.”

I nod, stepping back. “I’ve been with the three for a week, then a day with Zeke and Mase. Justice is flying us to Virginia before the new Club opens.”

He winces. “Andrew?”

I don’t answer that question but follow him to the stairs. “We can’t change who our parents are.” It’s my go-to line when it comes to Andrew.

With his head shaking, he opens so I see his thoughts. A scene of him telling Andrew what would happen if he didn’t start using the Protectors in the right positions shows and I close my eyes at Andrew’s answer.

My parents are dead, one of my brothers is dead and my last name has been changed to my grandfather and uncle’s, but I’m still seen as dirty, a savage. Even Aiyana and Justice’s backing doesn’t change that, it’s the same for all of us from Liberty. Ginny and the Kana’ti twins were lucky they got out before that whole shit show.I realize I let that show when he nods.

“It doesn’t explain the Princes not being used for more than soldiers.” He left for that reason.

I get it but trust is funny. “Aaron started using them since you left.” I point out.

His head is shaking before I finish. “Aaron’s not as good of a reader as Andrew and you know it. Everyone tried talking to him after the chopper went down. Andrew’s not on Ops so much anymore but wants everyone covered, I understand, but we train Brothers for the job. We’re all trained for more. Using Ability Protectors as only soldiers is hurting them and no one is paying attention.”

Shaking my own head, I explain, “You’re wrong on that one, Brother. I’ve been here for a week. Prez Knight has been at the meets and is taking everyone’s counsel.”

His head snaps back enough that I see it. “It’s shielded?”

I shrug. “Since you don’t know, yeah. Zeke and Mucimi are covering me but they’re not close. Maybe they cover Prez Knight and the meets.” We swipe into his office, but he doesn’t sit at his desk or the table, he leans against the front of the desk, so I stand with my back against the door.

“He covers himself. Christian, Dakota, Aiyana and Dad Jay are like a bubble around him if they’re close. Justice is the same here, he’s freaky to the extreme.”

I smile at that. “I think it’s years of us all throwing them protection and now the ancestors dousing them in it. I can’t read anything from either Justice or Prez unless they open to it.”

He smiles. “You may be right. You’re not here for nothing.”

“No. I wanted to see where you landed, ask about Ari and have lunch before the flight to Virginia.”

He rolls his eyes. “I had plans. Fuck. Dad Jay is with Prez, so I’m never getting out of this.” The disgust in there is heard loud and clear.

“Yeah.” I smile seeing Alpha-Bits at a lagoon from his mind. It looks like fun, but we have a meet to get to, he can play with the little Brothers tomorrow. “We’ll be back before morning. Justice is flying us over.”

“Fuckin’ great. I’m happy here. I’m an Officer and part of Inner Circle.”

I jump in before his not reading shit makes him whine. “And that’s not changing. Input and presence is all that’s needed from you. Prez Knight will give us a plan on the plane.”

He hits my shoulder without moving, making my eyebrow go up in question. “Stop calling him Prez Knight. It’s just Prez.”

“With Hemy, Aaron, Prez Knight, Ricky, now Ari, there are too many to just say Pres. No one ever knows who the fuck we're talking about. Tell me about Ari, I’ve never met him.” I do have a vision from Mucimi and words from Justice that tell me this is where I belong, but I need more than the bio I read about my new President.

He sits at his desk, so I sit in front of it.

“Ari is a Protector from Mass. I don’t know him well but he’s like all the other new young Presidents. He’s fanatical with Protecting the kids and Bits like old Pres in Mass was. Mase and Luke Rayne worked with him and Adrian when he was young.”

It turns out that Putam knows quite a bit but doesn’t have much personal information. I’ll get that soon enough, I guess.

***

Virginia Badass - Hemy’s Club

This has been a long time in coming. I watch Prez Knight and Hemy while Justice lays the new law down to Andrew. Aaron and Kaleb aren’t saying a word. Everything depends on someone getting through to Andrew. I’d be smiling if it weren’t our lives and the vision on the line here. For years, we’ve been ignored, mistrusted and used by the big Club. Now that I’m older, it’s time to take a stand and my place in our collective purpose. Like a politician, I lobbied for all Liberty Indians to have their voices heard. Hemy and Yona set up meets for me and I showed up. Some were a waste of time, but Prez Knight and Justice heard me.

When I hear Atohi as a new Lead, my head snaps toward Andrew. “ Asgina ,” I growl out. “No. Put him in Ops Control, he’s a red-tail hawk, Atohi means warrior, learn the history of the Cherokee before you lose us all. The best planner you have here is Atohi.”

He’s pissed and everyone can read it. “You don’t know everyone here.” His attitude and glare do nothing for me.

Justice smiles. “Stand and take your shirt off, Citiali.”

I do, folding my shirt and placing it on the table, my cut gets hung on the back of my chair. Seeing why Justice wants this, I move my hair back, catching the feather that hangs on my ear, so below my ear and the back of my neck are visible.

Justice isn’t wearing his usual smile as he floats closer to me with a stoney faced Andrew beside him. “ Asgina is spirit with malevolent intent. Andrew doesn’t have malevolent intentions and you see it, Citiali. He doesn’t understand Cherokee and hasn’t learned the history. That can and will be fixed with Atohi by his side.”

Another order from Justice has me nodding once. It’s done. My brother won’t be a statistic. His purpose and path is written and someone besides me sees it.

Justice holds his hands up and my neck shows between them. “The signs Citiali is marked with,” he widens his hands and my neck shows bigger, “Prez, you’ve seen the double circle before at Honor. It’s the same as the ink on his forearm, but this is the birthmark that he was born with. This washer looking mark with the diamond in it is the sign of the Great Spirit, as Comanche, Cheyenne and Paleo-American history has shown us. The second is the washer sign and inside is the seven point star, Tsa-la-gi-hi , that’s phonetic. T-s-a-l-a-g-i is how it’s spelled so you can look it up. The star represents the seven points of Sequoyah, meaning Cherokee nation.” Justice looks over to Zeke getting a nod because he got it right.

‘The seven characters of Sequoyah, yes. His back has the mandala. The sign of a war shield. Citiali is equal to Nash as a warrior, meaning Mase’s second, with Putam’s ability and level head. He was marked a warrior to, and for, all people. With Aiyana bridging tribes, his place here was important. I say was because he’s now aligned with you and celebrated for who he is and what he represents. His path has changed and so has yours. We are all on that path with you and the Prophets see it clearer now that he’s moved. Citiali is a Warrior Protector meant to spread the message to many tribes. Putting him in the job meant to train those Brothers puts us all in the fast lane here. Don’t forget, he has been touched and marked by the ancestors of many tribes from birth, so his path, while changed, holds an importance the ancestors see that we don’t right now. Like with the kids and White Wave, Citiali and Atohi aren’t just touched by the ancestors, they have been chosen.’ Zeke told me at the reservation, so this is for Prez, Hemy and Aaron.

Justice nods. “He would have been Andrew’s planner and second.Atohi is a planner but he’s the warrior teacher here?” Justice doesn’t know long history but knows the ancestors and their penchant for bestowing abilities for reasons only they see.

I nod. “He is, Pres. Atohi has the sign of the mandala on his neck and red feathers on his back. Red-tailed hawk is his spirit guide and purpose.”

Prez Knight walks closer and turns me, so my back is to him. “I’ve never seen birthmarks like these. The shield looks like those burnt and colored tattoos. Jesus, the inside of the star is similar to a stained-glass pattern. Closer isn’t as defined but incredible because it’s actually colored skin.”

I smile. “It is, Prez. My grandfather told me the ancient stories and said I was an owl meant to bring truths to medicine men like him, who would understand and share it with their elders. Each color is a message needed for one tribe or another. My forearm has the shield, but the ink doesn’t hold the energy of my markings.” My grandfather’s words were of me being a keeper of sorts, but he said the same words to Atohi with different intention and stories. Justice had Zeke explain and I saw it much clearer.

Prez moves closer. “I’m touching.”

I brace and feel his light hand while energy courses from it. “I can shield,” I tell him not wanting to waste his energy.

He takes his hand away. “It’s incredible. It feels animated. I feel the star’s energy, but when I touch it, I see or feel the ancestral power in it. The color darkened.”

Putam agrees. “His grandfather told him that. He’s got the stories about all of us but doesn’t share unless your intent and aura shows good or something.”

I lift an eyebrow at him. “If you have no real interest, I have no need to share.”

Zeke laughs, but I feel Andrew’s anger.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Did Atsadi have the marks?” Andrew asks as if I walked away from him .

Bringing up my traitorous brother has me taking a calming breath before I answer. “No, he had no markings. If he did, he wouldn’t have been allowed at the reservation. My forearm shows my path and purpose. You don’t care to learn of our symbols and traditions. I asked for time with you but was ignored. Your thoughts were on my traitorous brother and parents. Here, I am not seen by you, the light in my purpose is not seen by you, Justice and Aiyana’s warnings to you are not heard.” I feel my anger and see when he feels it.

Justice is at my side again, holding my arm before I can even take a breath. “Focus, Citiali.” He turns toward Andrew but doesn’t let me go. “His anger shows in those little gold flecks in his blue eyes. He can blast you or kill you with that anger, Andrew. His light blue eyes with the cream flecks should have clued you in. Since it doesn’t, I think Atohi is needed here with a partner to get you up to speed on just how much ability is sitting in this Club. Atohi is young and has close to Citiali’s ability. He’s focused more on teaching but he’s a deadly warrior just the same. Use his insight and ability wisely. If you throw him on shift work, you’ll never be gifted more, Brother.” Justice’s eyes look fierce. I feel a blast of energy, then get hit with pictures of Atohi addressing Protectors with Aaron’s hand on his shoulder. “The vision being fucked with isn’t happening. Every one of us swore to defend it. That means from everyone.”

Andrew noticeably swallows hard. “I don’t know about the Indian traditions here. They’re different than Mohegan. How are Citiali and Atohi different than the rest of their family? It’s not like they were just neighbors.” The attitude filled reply loses him respect and that’s not only from me this time.

Taking a deep breath, my mind flashes through our treatment and isolation handed out directly from him. This was the reason for the first meet Yona set up for me. We were crushed that shameful day, but it brought insight to their limit of ability when the rest of us were gifted so much.

I shake my head at the fuckin’ ignorant bastard. Justice squeezes my arm a little tighter and his energy calms me quickly. Looking toward the energy I feel helping calm me from behind, I throw Putam chin. Since everyone is quiet, I turn my glare back on Andrew to make the point that I will not answer questions with cheap underhanded disrespect attached to them.

Hemy explains since I’m not going to. “Citiali and Atohi lived with his grandfather in Liberty, never with his parents and older brother on the reservation. Their mother said the birthmarks were evil. The tribe didn’t want them on the land but no one told me until Ginny said it at the reservation. I didn’t talk to the tribe much. Everything I knew, or was told, came from the couple of Indians that worked in the Club. They’re gone now. Once their grandfather died, they lived with their mother’s brother, Yona. He’s one of my older trainers and respected by everyone. He gave them his name when they moved in. Wohali, their grandfather, was the medicine man until the Chief found a younger version or something. The kids worked in the Club with the big Club kids and Wohali bussed them in for shifts until they were old enough to ride. Since he was so worried that they needed Indian guidance, I gave him the job of watching out for the kids in Liberty years ago. He told me about the boys, but I didn’t know what it all meant then. I told Andrew after I took back the reservation but Ginny said he doesn’t get Indian.” He sits, done saying his piece, but I see he’s not happy.

Prez Knight throws chin to him. “Good job. I get the feeling Wohali was meant to guide them all.”

Hemy nods. Even clueless about his Indian, he knew we needed elders we could trust.My eyes go to Putam thinking of the conversation we had on desegregation.

Zeke shakes his head. ‘Andrew wasn’t at Hemy’s Club. He worked with Ginny on IT but was separated from Hemy’s Club kids. This is only his third time here. The two Clubs here are still separated. Hemy has more ability kids, but they work IT shifts for Aaron, jump to bounty hunting or train. Putam, Axe and even I spent more time here at Hemy’s Club, learning about the tribe and our Brothers. We didn’t have much downtime, but we spent that here. They’d show at Aaron’s for occasional outings, but none ever stayed at the big Club.’

Putam nods. “Hemy gave me Anchor’s room when he left. I’m more comfortable here than at the big Club. None of the Liberty tribe have a room at the other Club.”

Prez looks at Justice with his eyes flashing green. “What else needs to happen here?”

I shake my shirt out with a snap and pull it back on, yanking my feathers and hair out of it. I’m bored with the meet now that Andrew gets it.

Justice smiles and waves a hand in front of me. “Yourhair was messed up.”

I’m glad he fixed that and get my cut on, noticing my shirt is tucked in too. I throw him chin and sit.

“Andrew needs Cherokee lessons and the chart of the ability kids here. We all feel the energy when we walk in. The Training Center is the same. While Hemy sees the benefits of training by the kids, he knows he’s got more coming up and will need to fit them in somewhere. Atohi will start on Monday as Andrew’s second. He is equal to Keesog without long vision. He does have medicine man in him but is more like Chenoa and a help with energy along with the plant background. Andrew, you need to give what Atohi says weight and use his vision and insight, or you’re not going to have ability Protectors. They are not their parents and carry that shame in their hearts daily because your distrust won’t let them forget it. No one has ever thrown your mom at you. Trust what you see and the counsel of your Brothers with the same respect you’ve always been given.”

The honest truth incinerates boredom that fast. Justice shows why he’s the West’s Prophet and Leader, the Protector President, because his insight comes with an ancestral feel, along with pictures so we all see how deep it runs in him.

I shake my head feeling like I was in a bit of a daze. Holy shit, the Brother is strong. Everyone looks at the table. I watch Andrew.

His shoulders drop and he looks up at Justice. “That fuckin’ hurt but you’re right. I’m just trying to keep the Brothers safe and use this Club to do it. I can’t lose Brothers, Justice. I feel like I’m barely keeping ahead of that.”

I’ve always seen it but we’ve been right here ready to work. If he’d stop ignoring us, he’d be more effective and his ability Protectors wouldn’t be finding new homes with appreciation for their ability.

“Tell him, Citiali,” Prez Knight says.

I nod, not really surprised he's reading what I shield. “We see that, Hemy sees it and respects you for it, but the Brothers are tired of being used. We have a purpose just like you. Let us in so we can do what we’re meant to do. Our paths are written and you keep fuckin’ with it. You’re going to lose Brothers if you don’t start using everyone that’s given to you. We’re the tools you need to make this work, so you need to stop walking away from us.” I wait a good minute, surprised no one says a word.

Andrew is obviously shaken as he thinks that through. I see when his mind lets go of the mistakes as he runs through a slideshow of Brothers who left. He shakes his head. “I have a lot to learn and used everyone sent here for everything, everything but their purpose. With my eyes open, I see I wouldn’t have needed everyone sent to me if I trusted the firsts that showed. Axe, Putam and Zeke are more than Leads. I should have seen it.”

Zeke stands. ‘Repeating history played out here. I have less Indian than almost everyone here. Take Atohi and Enoli and use them to learn how to integrate everyone into one Club with one purpose. Atohi is now your teacher, a young Christian or me. While our path is set, yours is not, Brother. Write that path with your Cherokee Brothers in their rightful positions beside you.’

I nod. “He’s right and probably the best Brother to spell it out for you. Hear those words, then live them, Brother. We need us all to do this right.” What’s coming at this Club will need Atohi’s insight to make it through.

Everyone agrees with chin or nods. Aaron is not happy, but Hemy is. He can keep to his training plans and keep the kids happily in work.

Prez Knight claps his hands together. “So, you get Atohi and Enoli. Jump with them nightly, work them into your life as partners. Indian wasn’t easy when I was learning it, but I did learn it. Zeke and Hemy did too, hell, even Cort and his Presidents are learning it. You’ll listen to your Brothers and push for more professionalism from the kids. Hemy, Aaron, you got this covered?” He just made it iron clad.

My eyes close and I breathe out relief seeing this work.

‘It does, Brother. Atohi does well here.’

My eyes snap to Jacob as I throw him chin. I saw the path change but he sees more than I ever will.

Aaron stands. “Yeah, Prez. I wasn’t told we had a problem here. I’ll get with Hemy more than once a month. Life was easier when we lived on the compound.”

Prez Knight nods. “Make the whole fuckin’ county yours and drop a compound in the middle of it. Hemy liked the compound too but needed to be closer to Liberty and the reservation. It’s gone now. He can be a Club in a Club while living on the compound. Cort’s doing it all over the fuckin’ west.”

Jacob laughs with Zeke and Putam. I smile because he’s right.

Zeke starts walking. ‘Alder is ready. Prez, Brothers. I need to…’

Prez Knight nods. “He’s safe here but go.”

I’ve always liked that Zeke doesn’t do the circus tricks and smile as he walks out the door.

Hemy snags my forearm for a quick squeeze. “How is the new Club?”

That makes me smile too. “I don’t know. I was on the Protector compound then a day at Honor and one at Flight Guard. I haven’t met my new President or seen the Club, but I’m headed there when we land back at Phoenix or ABSZ.”

He nods. “Come for dinner. Atohi’ll be pissed if you leave without seeing him.”

I smile and reach to the side of him opening the door. “He’s here, Pres. Everyone will be at dinner.” I smile knowing he sees it now.

“Fuckin’ know-it-all.”

Prez Knight laughs putting his arm over Hemy’s shoulder. “I’m starving. Even with Justice pushing, it was a long flight.” Everyone follows them talking about Justice getting us here in record time.

I pull Atohi in for a hug before he’s pushed back by Brothers excited about food.

“Yona and Kana’ti are outside with the younger kids waiting for Hemy. They’re pumped for this.” His excitement is probably felt by everyone close.

I’m glad my uncle is out there so I don’t have to hunt him down.I let Atohi go and step back. “So are you. I see your path, Atohi. It’s right and it’s starting.”I feel his doubt and sit while the last straggle out.

He talks in my head. ‘Shielding here. And if Andrew doesn’t agree or ignores my counsel?’ He’s stronger than I was at his age.

I smile. ‘Ping him.’ It’s what Ginny called a nooggie from the inside. We’d do it as kids.

He laughs, shaking his head no. ‘I’ll get shot for shit like that.’

Shaking my own head, I disagree. ‘No,you’re his teacher. Respect is earned so if you do that shit when it’s not warranted, your counsel won’t be heard or taken seriously. First time he walks away, ping him, drag him back, freeze him, but make sure he knows this isn’t a fuckin’ game. Lives depend on his understanding Indian heritage. He grows, Atohi. He’s going to be that leader we saw. Now it’s your job to get him there. Do that however the fuck you can, but you do it.’

He nods thinking about that. “How did you see you?” My brother sees entirely too much from me.

Pushing it away as irrelevant, I stand and pull him out the door. “Mucimi showed pieces of visions. Justice too. It’s weird as hell but I like knowing it’s right for us again. You could throw shit like that at Andrew too. Every once ina while, show the good or bad. Let him know his path is set and he’s making it, or however you define that kind of shit.”

“I will, Citiali. I saw what happens if he doesn’t make it. We’ve already lost too much, but Wohali feels closer than ever before, the great spirit must agree.” He’s cute.

We jog down the stairs. “I think so. We’re getting stronger. I like meeting at the reservation. Call when you need me but keep every night open so we have that.”

The crowd is under the portico that spans the length of the building on this side. I shake my head and take a step to the side as Enoli jumps on Atohi’s back.

“Atohi, Pres Hemy said I’m teaching Andrew with you! You’re his second now.” The Brother is fourteen but small for his age.

I throw a little ping and pull Enoli off Atohi.

Atohi gives his buddy a look. “Yeah. Elders are here. Chill or you’re not anywhere close to me.”

Enoli rubs his head as he looks around with wide eyes. “I thought this was like a Sunday dinner.”

Atohi smiles up at me. “You pinged him.”

“Yeah, you’re up, little brother, keep them in line.” I laugh at his surprise then the smile that replaces it as I walk toward Putam, Jacob and Alder. I love being a big brother to the kids here. I’m going to miss this, butAtohi is ready to take his place.

I feel energy and know it’s Zeke, but I don’t see him. “You are too, Brother. Justice and the Protectors are honored to add you to our crew.” He speaks words in Cherokee.

Shocked, I spin and give the Brother a quick hug. “Thanks, Zeke. I see it, but hearing you say it out loud in my native tongue will be a memory I use to remind me on those days of doubt.”

He holds my forearm at the Great Spirit sign and it feels like that touch is a direct line to my back, which feels as if the ancestral marks are in motion. The feeling doesn’t stop when he steps back or when I’m touched from the side.

“You won’t have many of those, Brother. Alder wants to talk to you. He has an Indian hologram board you need to be added to.” Jacob wants to keep everything moving. I note his words feeling relieved. The Protector of the Three was worried, but I feel none of that now.

Putam laughs and pulls me toward Alder but the honor of hearing Zeke’s words for me has me replaying them. I have a feeling it’s the first of many times I’ll replay them. I’ve never heard him talk before. I smile. I’ve never gotten a prediction from Jacob either.

This is right, I feel it right down to my bones and smile. We’re back on our path.