Chapter Eight

Teach Club

Three days

The feeling I’ve had since I woke up isn’t leaving. Walking out of breakfast, I pull my phone. “MB, can I get a team of dogs for the day? Nothing planned but I can’t shake this feeling I woke up with. Dogs are the first thing that came to me.” He agrees and says he’s sending Prometheus. Zeus is out with Harky. Shits happening in Mass. My eyes go right to Ari as I put my phone away. “It’s today, Boss. MB is sending a team over. We have five Bits here for a class.”

He nods. “I’ll check for where Alder and Asa will be and call Nova. The kids need Security transport.”

I nod. Axe will show. I don’t see it but feel it.

“What do I do? I feel it too.” My girl looks worried.

I squeeze her hand in reassurance. “Class until it changes. Stay alert and keep your guns close.” I shake my head. “I almost said your bow. I never did that one before.”

Her smile is real. “I’m going to keep my new bow by me. Since you thought it, I need it.”

I nod. “Whatever keeps you calm works for me. Let your class know of the warning. We use everyone that’s available.”

Ari nods. “I was going to announce it but do it in class. That feels right.”

I turn to Kent. “Get Mark on gear boxes of ammo and guns. I don’t know why but this feels like we’ll need that.”

He looks confused. “The trainees have guns, VP.”

I nod. “If they’re not in gear for class they won’t have guns. Make sure their gear isn’t far. The rest can be set as mules.”

“Got it.” He runs.

At the Club, Ari puts his phone away. “Cort will have medics from Phoenix for us if we need it. He wants a call as soon as we know the threat is close. He’s got Ops and said Protectors are every-fuckin-where but not here. Aylen will be closest. I think he meant for healing but I don’t know, she’s not on OPs out of the chopper anymore.”

I nod. “I need to jump.”

“Go, I’m in the Ops room until my class.”

I throw him chin, kiss my girl and get to my office. As soon as my ass hits the seat, I jump. The ancestors have nothing but they’re almost cliché responses. My fathers’ lessons don’t help much today. Atohi must be busy. I don’t have time to try for more right now. If Princes could, I’d have more information already. Something tells me this is connected to the Virginia war I saw. With the protections all over the fuckin’ place here, I don’t see how it’s possible but I saw Virginia battling in ways we didn’t think was possible. Atohi got them reinforced with some help from Hemy and the Liberty IT Brothers last week. I hope it was enough. They’re Ops room is calm. I look for Princes and see Brantley running Ops and Control. This can’t be good. They’re covered like here. I jump back and push to the Ops room. It’s small but we’re not expected to run Ops here. This is just to keep our Club secure. Ari is on with Luke Rayne.

“New England is being hit. Falcon has Bravo clear but they have massive cleanup going on. Protectors are everywhere. Justice must have given Cort a warning.” His eyes meet mine. “What do you know?” Luke Rayne has Ari turning.

He didn’t know I was here by the surprise I see.

I throw chin. “The war in New England has them all tied up. Atohi got IT reinforcement to add protections and alerts with some help from Hemy. It must be working because they look like they’re running regular Ops but I couldn’t get through to Atohi. We all saw the war coming to Virginia. With the force field broken up there, it would be possible. I don’t know how that would work here. Everything is covered right down to the drones for missiles. Brother, I feel like we’re headed for war and have no answers from anyone to say that’s wrong. This is not an optimal stage for a war. Cort has everything covered.”

He nods. “Yet it’s happening. Brekan has shit happening up there, Veritable just shut down what looked like a military convoy between him and Montana. Thank Christ Keylan and Anchor took Ops with Veritable. Their singing teams have pussies locked in crates swinging from a chopper.”

I shake my head. “What do you see for here?”

He puts his hand up. “I’m not a vision kid, Brother. I'm telling you what I see. FBI/Badass Training is helping us out but nothing is hitting together and Falcon got hit hard. Cort is holding Brothers for the close Clubs to Phoenix.”

Oh fuck. “The ABSZ?”

“Military can’t step inside the gate and won’t shoot civilians. Falcon is their local Lead but he’s got no coms right now. Joshua is sending help but he’s twenty away.”

Holy fuck. “Tell me they’re covered.”

“Sorry, yeah, right now they’re covered. When Falcon is back up…Jesus,” he types and points to the feed that shows beside him. “Falcon is riding to the ABSZ. He can get the military to help. That tag is President.” I see the gold above his helmet.

I breathe. ABSZ will be okay. Falcon left his mess to make sure the Bits and civilians will be covered. The Brothers got some balls.

“Send an alert if you see shit coming our way or a Club needs help.”

Luke Rayne looks at me. “I think your gut is right, Brother. I get the feeling that this is a fight coming to you. Your girl is marked and we have the list she was on. Zeke said she’s chosen like White Wave. Keep them safe, Brother. Something is off and the ancestors are with you for a reason. Use them.”

I nod. “I will, Brother. Get that to Nova. I’ll call Michaels.”

He throws chin and closes us down. I breathe and open to the ancestors. “If ever the fight for justice and peace was waged in your honor, the women and kids who lost so much deserve that to be now.” I ask for strength in Cherokee.

“What did you say, Brother. English is good.”

I repeat it for Ari.

“Let’s hope they hear it. Fuck the classes. Let’s get the Brothers readied and up to speed with what we know.”

I shake my head. “We can’t tell them about White Wave and Dyani. They’re shielded by all of us.”

“Right, chosen has our protection. I always think of the kids and Alpha-Bits.”

“Protectors, chosen, Alpha-Bits, shielded, slaves...fuck it, everyone in BSC area is guaranteed protection.”

He smiles pulling me out. “Technicalities fuck with my protect kid shit. Go get readied and tell Rocko and Dyani the new plan. I’ve got Kent and Marjorie. The dogs are here in,” he looks at his watch, “eight minutes. MB is their Control.”

I nod and jog down the stairs. Walking into the Flight closet, I push to the locker room and get geared up. My hair braids as I check my guns. Jogging out, I almost ram into Rocko.

“Brother.” His hands go to both my arms but he doesn’t connect. “The paint is dark on your face. What’s wrong?”

I step back in and lean over to see my face. “ Asgina . Putam showed me a picture but it didn’t look like that.” I look at him. “Are my eyes gold?”

He nods. “You didn’t see?”

“Just making sure I wasn’t hallucinating.”

He laughs. “It’s freaky. If I didn’t know you, I’d be scared. What’s wrong?”

“Clubs are being hit with a battle I saw in vision but it was in Virginia. Atohi got some geeks to beef up IT and their Ops looks normal. New England is at war. Bravo and MC got hit. Veritable just stopped a hit. Luke Rayne believes my gut was right and we’ll be hit with Guardian. No one sees anything and the Protectors are all quiet but working to cover Clubs.”

“Oh fuck. We got Protector trainees. We can send ten to Guardian, right?”

I nod. “Pres is talking to Marjorie. He was thinking the same thing.”

He nods. “She’s a good one. She’s got planning down to science. You want me to get my class readied?”

I don’t correct his grammar but nod. “I’m going to Dyani right now. She’ll send them back. Get them readied, get with Mark for where mules are and stand readied. I feel like we’re running out of time.”

He starts walking toward the lockers. “I’ll be readied. Who’s on Ops?”

I’m surprised by the question. We’re Training not Ops. “We don’t have a Control or even a Lead. I haven’t worn a piece at all here.” Funny that I didn’t notice that.

“Old school it is, VP.”

“If I need to, I’ll throw to you but the job is the job, follow training.”

“We got this, VP.” He’s not really listening to me so I go for my girl.

The chopper lowers as I’m jogging around to the gazebo, it’s an outside gym, the west has dolled up names for everything. I stop when the dogs jump from a good twenty feet off the ground. Even the dogs are fuckin’ crazy.

“Prometheus, glad you’re here, Brother. We’re gearing up for a battle. Clubs all over the east and west are being hit. I don’t know how, where or when but my gut says it’s here and soon. Stand readied, Protect. All our Brothers will be in Badass gear.”

He barks loud and the four behind him stand at attention. He chuffs and they march away.

“Okay then.” I follow them to the gazebo and watch as they keep going. I stop and put my hand up, then lower everyone down. “Dyani, Clubs in the east are in a war, in the west here, we’ve had battles at a number of Clubs.

She moves toward me. “We’re next. I feel it. We need to get the kids…”

“Wait.” I feel a cloud of darkness and turn. “Brothers, get geared up! You’re shielded. The dogs won’t shoot you if you’re in gear, Go!”

My hands go up as the back of the gym blows up.“Michael’s Clan, Alpha-Bits!” I pull and they float my way. “Arndt, get the kids back to Guardian.”

“Mom said she’s shielding. Keep Naaki, Cuyler and Atseelsoi. She’s got help.” Undine takes the girl’s hands then Arndt’s.

Ari comes running from around the building. “I’ll take the Bits. Flip to bullets, Brothers, and make them count.”

I’m stunned for a second, then realize they’ve all trained, or are training for Protector.

“Citiali, Pres sent me over. My Ops. Holy shit. Where’s it coming…duck!”

My hands raise, back feels like it’s running and Axe hits the mat making Cuyler and Naaki laugh.

“Axe, partner with Dyani. Find where the fuck this is coming from and stop it.”

Atseelsoi floats in front of me. “The trucks, trucks are coming but they’re not Badass.” He points to Alpha trucks. It’s the right logo but I feel the dark in them. It’s the cloud I felt but there’s no cloud.

“Ari, the trucks. Hit the tires before they pull in.” He turns and shoots going right down the line of tires on the two box trailers. They’re pretty far out so I’m impressed.

Bikes are coming around the trucks but they’re not ours. Ari stays with the Bits who shoot right with him.

I shield, rolling pain until I see the box truck back door open, dirt bikes come flying out. I shield my Brothers hoping whoever is in the fuckin’ chopper has ability. I’ll never last alone.

“Naaki, help with the shields!”

I feel the help and think Atseelsoi is fuckin’ awesome.

Trainees run my way. “Brothers, run teams, get to the bikes. Atseelsoi, Cuyler, hit the stragglers.” Rocko runs by putting a helmet on with trainees behind him. This will work.

I hold the shield and push to Ari and the Bits. “I’ll shield the Club. Shoot from the windows. Naaki, stay with the Bits, don’t let anyone in the Club.” I push and they’re gone.

Ari takes a shot and turns. “Let’s go. I can shield me.”

I nod and pull him to his bike. “Citiali! We got the second truck!”

The second chopper. My relief sparks a flood of anger. My brother should not be in this fight but he’s trained and readied. Three Brothers fly by me following Atohi.

“Go, Atohi!” Thank fuck!

“Take the first team and go, Axe. They’re headed for Guardian.” Ari turns back. “You need to do what you can with your freaky. I’ll be close but the trainees are covering the bikes.

I throw him chin and push that shield harder.

‘Got it. Cort is going fuckin’ ballistic in my ear. Turn your pieces on!’ Axe makes me smile in the middle of all this chaos.

“Yona, I’m so glad you showed, help with the shield.” Turning, I look for Ari. “Cort wants us to turn our pieces on.”

He rolls his eyes. “He said we weren’t doing Ops. We never got pieces. If I’m on kids or the Bits, we get pieces from the Clubs we’re at.”

I nod. Sounds reasonable. I throw to Cort. ‘We don’t have pieces, Boss. We have a shit load of bikes, dirt bikes and someone shooting grenades. Axe just took ten more to the Guardian Club to stop the fucks that are headed that way. Atohi and three Protectors are here helping. I’ve got Cuyler, Atseelsoi, Ari, Alpha-Bits, Naaki, Prometheus’ team and twenty trainees. Gotta go.’

He’s yelling but I tune him out and throw energy at the fuckin’ grenade launcher pointed at me. It explodes and the asshole holding it is screaming. I roll fire through him, then shake my head trying to clear the silence of the scream and what’s happening. Sound comes to me in layers. I focus on the sound and peel layers back until I hear the crunch of glass. Lifting my arm, I shoot to the side, hearing the twist of the glass getting ground in the pavement. My head turns as the body falls. I breathe.

An arrow cutting wind catches my attention. Cuyler is on the truck shooting arrows in a high arch. My eyes follow it hearing the click of a trigger and I shoot the dick that’s behind the one her arrow hit. “Shield, Cuyler!”

“I will, VP Citiali.” Another arrow flies.

I shake my head again and listen. A step and my arm swings toward the Club. Next step, I shoot. Turning, I see the body fall, landing on the walkway. “Push, Naaki!”

I feel it and turn fast. The dogs are every-fuckin-where. I catch the bark and my arm moves long past the dog closest to me. A dog has a dick climbing up the second truck. He gets kicked and I shoot. The flight suits come in handy even for the dogs.

“Citiali!” Ari’s yell has my arm up. “They’re on foot trying for the building.”

I shoot to the right while I’m looking for him. I throw chin and point my gun to the bushes at the corner of the Club and shoot. He ducks looking back then turns back to me. “Thanks.”

I throw him chin and feel layers of sound one by one. The Bits’ shooting slows. Dogs aren’t growling so much. Shots are coming few and far between. “Atohi!” The dark is so close to my lights.

“Here, Boss Citiali. He’s been shot.”

My breath stops. No. The suits stop that, he can’t be shot. ‘Naaki, Cuyler, Atseelsoi help Yona with the shield.’

I push and breathe. It’s a horizontal graze between his coat and pants. “First and last shot you take, Atohi.” I throw to Yona to get him gear the next size up.

He smiles up at me. “Yep. We brought your new Brothers. Yona said we can stay the night but your Club sucks. I hope you have good food.”

Smiling, I pull him up and throw energy. “We do. Brothers, help the shield so I can fix this.”

He nods and I see pain in his eyes. He isn’t going to complain. I kiss his head and put a hand on his side.

“You’re stronger. Ease up, Citiali. It feels like you’re crawling around in me.”

I shake my head and layers hit me again. “Hold the shield!” I hear the scream and push. Atohi ducks.

My body vibrates and I swear white light flashes through me.

“Citiali!”

‘Atohi, White Wave. Jane. Save them.’