Chapter Two

Rolling out of my cot, I smile at the sun shining against the mountain throwing light blocked behind the dark shadows. It's a majestic look always but dawn and dusk have a magical feel to them, one for the monochrome filtered look, the other for the color version dispelling any possibility of monochrome, that is until the new day starts.

Taking my coffee to the island, I sit on one of my new stools. There are two adult sized then two that have a hydraulic piston to rise with smaller seats and armrests. The idea came from a captain's chair I saw on a sailboat years ago. It fits with the wood of the cabin.

Tonight, I plan on putting together my bed. Locke, Highland and two trainees helped sand the wood while I was cutting and turning to carve sections last night. Bowser knew the machine and helped so I'm not carving for fuckin' ever.

Coming up with ideas I've seen around the world makes this fun and relaxing. For the first time, I have no plan before I build, whatever strikes me at the moment is how I start. Building for a mood is probably not smart but I figure I can rebuild if I get tired of whatever I make. The Brothers liked the stools and scrolled out panels I printed out for the top and edges of the bed frame. I'll give it to someone if I get sick of the look.

Nike comes in from his room and takes a drink from his island fountain. I like the drain and constant fresh water feature they put in.

"So, no coffee?"

His board comes up. ‘Juice, meal, dining room' pictures come up and I nod.

"I got spoiled. I've been home for a couple of years."

His board shows a question mark then a house. Shit.

"Home is where you come from. For me, home is here now. I was born in Ohio but don't live there anymore. My mom still lives there but doesn't like the weather. I'm trying to get her to move here but I was in Bravo and now I'm here. She doesn't want to live in a Bravo town while I'm not close. She doesn't understand that here, everything is close. Here your new home is here. You see your Brothers and visit regularly but your home is here with your job."

He shows me a base that had to come from service records. "That's your old home."

Kennels that I wouldn't leave a dog I don't like in shows.

I shake my head. "That's sick, Brother. That's not a home. You were stolen. Now you're free to live and work in a job you choose. Did you get a choice to come here?"

Zeus and Harky show. Then I show with the Marine logo.

I smile. "You agreed because I'm a Marine."

He chuffs and ‘Hooyah' shows making me laugh.

"You're quick with the boards. If you have questions, ask. I never had a K-9 Brother."

I guess we're doing this now. Pictures show and I do my best to guess his meanings. I do alright until Pres shows with army navy marine right after.

"Pres isn't that kind of military, he was National Guard Response. That's military but he worked Emergency Rescue deployment in the US. They have Army and Air but I can't say I know much about them. Hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, natural and man-made disasters is about all I know. There were National Guard in our training with the Army Corp of Engineers."

A Coast Guard insignia shows and I get it. "Like that but probably Army. His bio just said National Guard. I'll get Locke to send us what National Guard Response does and maybe some of their jobs so we both learn." I'd think it's the same as me without the Ops and demolition team.

He chuffs and his board goes down. I check time and stand. "I'll get dressed and we'll go for breakfast. We're in the simulator for a climb today. Pull your utility gear and we'll change it before the simulator."

He runs so I get a move on it.

Lifting Nike's gear out of his box, that's bigger than mine, I smile at the shit they make. "Bowser, get the K-9 flight suits with ours and separate the boxes so jump and scuba are together then Ops and utility are separated. He's got three Ops shields mashed in with all this shit. He's got two Ops and utilities at home too."

"Roger, VP. The new boxes should be here today. I hit Zeus about the smaller boxes and have an extra for the climbing, fire and safety harnesses."

I nod. "Good call. I need some for the house. You have the same gear so you're right with us in training. This morning is just with Nike, he'll train them and try the simulator with just us tomorrow. Us being you and me."

"Roger, VP. He ordered my gear. Matt showed me the charging station and told me this morning."

I smile at Nike. "Good job keeping us moving. We don't have a SAA and the supply clerk and coordinator aren't here yet." I think that's who does the ordering of gear. Maybe Flame does. Club in a Club has a book but we have different needs with planes, specialty gear, equipment and the STAT nature of the job.

I get the flight shield on Nike and move getting a bark.

"He needs his headgear, Boss."

"Not until we're in the simulator. Bring it if you're not sure but they were supposed to have your simulator goggles at the simulator like ours, Brother." I'm not sure his ops headgear will work in the simulator.

He runs out so I figure he's checking himself.

Bowser follows me to the lockers. "I could have called."

I shrug opening my locker and drop my holster on the hook. "He'd want to know before and he's got to wait for us anyway."

"We're not in a suit for the simulator?"

I drop my tablet and excess pocket shit then turn toward him. "We're climbing. We could pull Nike up but he's got a suit and he's huge. Wasting energy before the job doesn't work for me."

He smiles. "I like the plan." He doesn't have a choice but I keep it to myself.

I nod, closing the locker. Empty training utilities work well for the simulator. "I'm lazy, any advantage I have is a tool, like the K-9's. They're going to stop us from lugging crates of electronics, equipment and shit we won't be using because they can do that job. Their tools are smaller than ours too and they don't bitch."

He laughs following me through the door. "Loki does."

"Nah, he's Harky's Anton. He's smart as a whip but young. He's a good trainer." We turn into the training center where trainees are sitting on the mats.

"He is, Boss."

"What's up, Trainees?" Everyone stands tall.

"VP, we're just watching," a trainee from the Army says.

Fuckin' great. "It's Nike's first climb."

I keep going to the Brother manning the computer with a bank of shelves behind him. "VP."

He's already getting to his feet but I put a hand up. "Acknowledging as you're seated is good here. Did the harness come in for Nike?"

"It's with the lead, clips and new rope. Your glasses are in there too."

I nod and open the door. Nike is already here. "This harness won't fuck with your gear, Brother."

He chuffs and I strap him up, then the lead to me. "You're up behind Nike, Bowser. Get his goggles on."

"Roger, Boss."

I look at the wall before the scene is on it. They'll fill in holes after we make them but there are five start positions the scene will start at so it isn't going to be a daily issue. Most climbs will happen in the training room. We did one yesterday without Nike so I know Bowser is up for it.

I go to the board and pull the climb with wind starting light, then getting heavy. The building we're scaling is at the top of the deep ravine we start at. Shit is going to rain down but it's fake rocks and branches that are meant to distract.

"Stay focused. Ten feet apart. We all make it or none of us will."

I get a chuff and a ‘Roger' but move fast getting the belt on as I walk. The scene flashes on as soon as I touch the mat. "The holds are where you see them."

We climb with them waiting for me to anchor us in. Luckily, every bit of training carries me through. I have been climbing once since I got out and that was yesterday, so this really is the training.

A branch that looks the size of my leg careens down and I bat it away. "Debris." I move faster so I'm not fighting heavier wind than I need to. More shit falls but it's not slowing me down.

The bark has me looking down then bracing. "Push up, Nike. Bowser, go right and grab on." My hands set themselves for the pull. "Good, Nike. Get to where you can lock in and I'll pull him up." The wind starts whipping. Bowser swings and catches the wall just as Nike leans in and braces. "Good. Hit your clip to float, Nike." Clipping me to the anchor, I turn as much as I can, bend my knees and pull.

"I'm good, VP, Nike."Bowser has a good hold.

"Come up two feet. When he's clear, flip your clip, Nike." I unhook from the anchor and start up again.

We hit the building with wind whipping but a window is my way out. I reach it and pull. "Use the help, but don't let go."

When they're up, the scene stops and I pet my dog. He can climb. "Good job. The window was the top. Cool as shit."

Bowser looks at me. "You haven't done this one before?"

"No. It's the first time I've been in this simulator. The Bits just built me the program. I like the debris falling."

He looks at me like I'm nuts. "The wind could have killed me."

I laugh and look down. "It's like fifty foot and there's a mat at the bottom."

He looks pissed but it's true. "How do we get out of this?"

I shrug. "Rappel or look for a ladder."

Nike puts his paw on me so I turn toward him. He's got a picture of the rope up. "You're flying down?"

He chuffs so I pull his harness off while Bowser mumbles about wearing his suit in the simulator from now on.

I scratch Nike's head after taking the goggles off. "You did good, Brother."

He chuffs and takes a leap off the shelf we're on. I laugh and hook his shit on my arm. Bowser is gone but not over the front so I look at the side, then back and see he's on a ladder. I rappel down pulling my anchors as I go. I'm glad I put the pouch on.

I walk out with Nike and give the Brother our shit. "We'll need more rope the next climb. If Bowser fell lower, we'd all have gone lower with him. If it's fifty foot we need at least a hundred of rope."

He looks sick. "Sorry, VP. I'll make sure it's noted for everyone. I didn't…"

I stop that. "It's new. I'm telling you so you know. More Brothers in and you'll need more shit. I never climbed in a simulator and don't know the scenes. Ask when the Brothers come out and send me all comments, issues and ideas. Right now, no trainees in the simulators without a trainer."

"We don't have any trainers."

I smile at the screwball. "I am and Pres is. We have more coming on Friday. Training starts Monday."

"Oh, okay, I mean, roger, VP."

I shake my head and turn when the door opens. Bowser comes out with his glasses and harness. "You weren't military?"

Bowser is still pissed. "No. Why would it matter?"

I shrug. "Navy would have slid down the ladder."

I get a look and grunt. I shrug. "You did good, Brother. We need to get all the dogs in the simulator."

The Brother at the table pipes in. "I'll get the right amount of rope. With more dogs is it more rope too?"

"What? We didn't have enough rope?" Bowser growls at the Brother.

I put my hand up. "We were fine. It's a simulator not real life." I look at the Brother. "Get the rope for tomorrow's afternoon training. Every dog has his own gear. Make sure it's ready and I need extra clips for them."

"And me. I'm not in the simulator without the suit. It's real life to me."

I don't even look at Bowser and roll my eyes at the Brother getting a smile. "Get him a clip and bigger harness for his fuckin' suit."

"Roger, VP." His smile says it all.

"Nike, anything you need to train your K-9 Brothers?"

His board pops up and he hits f-e-e-d. Good idea. "Send Nike the feed in his chat. He'll get it where he needs it."

Nike barks once and moves around the table. "Fuck, you can't add his name to share the simulator feeds. He'll do it. I forgot clearance levels."

Nike chuffs. "I'll see you at lunch, Nike. I need to get to work."

He chuffs not caring while he hits shit on his board. The Brothers milling around have eyes bouncing from me to whatever is happening at the table.

"He has clearance?"

"He's sort of like Locke, my second so he's ranked a Commander. He's an armed Marine so don't fuck with him."

"He's armed?"

"Yeah. The dogs here are Ops dogs." I stop, figuring this is cutting into my work time but may lessen it next week.

"Like Zeus?"

"Yeah, Zeus is their Lead, top trainer and bred with the same breeder as all the king and deity or some shit names. They're all trained the same for Ops then the specialty like our dogs will get for rescue. If you're Badass, you took classes in IT you'd need and whatever else their boot camp teaches you. They get that too. Leads carry their boards and are trained for more."

"You were Badass before the military?"

I nod. "Badass sent me to military. I was an Enforcer, but now they're called Protectors without ability I think." That's what Nash said. "I was Little Pres's builder for the last two years so I never worked a Club job at Bravo."

The closest stare at me. "What?" I ask, getting annoyed and remembering my paperwork.

"You went through the simulator in eight minutes."

Shit. "We'll whittle it down as we use it more. I never saw a climb simulator and wanted to test it out with Nike."

They stare but I hear K-9 talk and know what I said is spreading. "I got a shit ton of paperwork to do. Is everyone all set here?"

As a commander, I gave orders not choices. I've been out a while, I'll work on a way to stop choices without the order.

"Yeah, VP." One Brother answers.

I smile. "Manuel, glad you took the job here, we're gonna need your build experience with the printers."

"Glad to be here, Boss." He starts walking and Brothers follow him.

He'll take all the questions I didn't. I may make it into a bed tonight.

I get my ass in gear and head for my pocket shit, then over to the Club that's really offices.

Lifting the scroll, I growl and drop it right back against the wall so I can answer the damn door, again.

I pull it open with a jerk and smile. "Brothers."

Every one of them hugs me then walks in. "Commander, even I got furniture."

I laugh stepping in behind Wolf. "I'm making it. It's the down-time project. Help me with the bed so I'm not on a cot again."

"If I knew you'd put us to work, we'd have stayed in Phoenix another night." Racks stops me with that.

"Why were you in Phoenix?"

Hank answers. "Party with the general. He's looking for information. He didn't get it from us but he got it. We met your old Pres. He's cool. The LP kid too. He loves you."

I smile at that. "I've been working the last two years for him. Don't call him a kid. The ABSZ is his compound."

"Teller gave us a tour. This is a big fucking outfit, Commander."

I shake my head. "No Commanders here. I'm VP at work, Keylan at home. They say Keylan with the short a instead of the soft o. I never correct them."

"Right, Commander. So, Teller said you don't run Ops. The job is rescue and build. We like no shots being fired at us and the team together again." Anchor is the youngest, Badass for the shortest amount of time and a damn good second. I figure I'm not taking Marine out of him so I'll let it play out.

"We may get shot at but we'll have Security at every job. We have the K-9 team too. They'll all be armed."

KC gets up on the ladder and screws the panel down. I get the other gun and Hank holds the section for the scroll that hangs just past the top frame on the right.

"The dogs like Zeus and the general's, what did he say? Thrasos?" Hank asks.

"Yeah. I have Nike. He's the Lead here and my second."

"I'm out of a job?" Anchor has me smiling at him.

"Maybe. You ready for a team? This is build and rescue."

He's surprised but I see excitement in there. "I get training first? They put me through their Badass shit and I ran Ops jobs in Virginia but this is build and rescue Badass style. They're fucking lunatics on bikes."

I smile remembering Locke's practical lunatic. They are. "You should see the choppers and jets in battles. Cort doesn't play. Luke Rayne runs FBI Ops from the ABSZ and he's calmer but just as crazy with his Ops."

"Fuck. I need training but how many times we shoot while building? Rescue has whiners but they never shot at us." The kid is cute.

"See it's already calmer." Wolf hits Anchor's shoulder taking the screw gun from KC.

"We're already in. I wouldn't mind taking a team. You call them Leads here?" Hank surprises me.

"Yep. You run Lead for Badass?"

"Yeah, and worked a room. I don't mind it but did split shifts so I didn't lose Ops." Hank has taken to Badass well.

I nod. "Here will be the same, you're responsible for your team and complete the objectives. For build, you have a planner to help and you start but Badass has a build Club with crews that will take over."

"So, we're not out for months?"

"Nope. Anyone else want to Lead. We need trainers. That's trainers that train here but work a team when needed. Hank, we may need you in the room if more than one team is out."

Hank throws chin with a smile.

Wolf goes first. "Train and rescue."

Then Racks, "trainand rescue."

KC pulls up the rear. "Trainand rescue."

"With down-time, won't we have enough time to train?" Anchor has no grass growing on him.

"Yep, your teams. Maintenance and conditioning, new shit to build, LEEDS certification."

He smiles. The team grumbles. "Aw come on, guys. This is good shit to know." Anchor is all about the training.

"Brothers. Everyone is a Brother. If you're leading a team, learn how to talk to the Brothers." Hank pops Anchor in the shoulder.

"I will. They got a lot of rules."

"The first was we're Brothers. You've been through training. You're no good if you don't follow it," KC tells him.

Anchor starts walking.

"Where you going, Anchor?" I ask.

"To the bunkhouse they put us in. I need to go over the training." His serious face has me holding a breath while I nod.

As soon as we hear the door close, we're laughing.

"Fucking kid came into Virginia and was on a team in days. He still calls them guys. I think Pres let him go because he called him and every Lead he rode with commander." Racks sounds amused.

I laugh, finishing the last of this side of scroll panels.

"He'll get it now that you pointed it out," Wolf tells him screwing in his final panel.

"They have a lot of readers in Virginia. They'd know he meant no harm and it was training taking over."

"Is that how Cort knew shit?" Wolf asks.

I nod. "Yeah, probably. Teller is a reader, all Princes of Prophecy and Mass Badass Brothers here are. Most are Indian but some don't look it. Nash, the VP of Sentinel is a reader."

"He was there last night. Teller was with us the day before. They're younger than you."

I nod. "Age doesn't play here. If you can do it, they don't give a shit about age, gender or race."

"Or gay. We met Banks and Troy."

I nod for KC. "Told you, it's not an issue for me and here, it's not an issue. Brothers are Brothers. I've got no interest or business with who's in your bed until you make them part of my life. To go one further, we have injured military working here. Harky has one in his Elite control room. They made him a robotic arm. We had a wheelchair bound Brother they got up and walking with a skeleton. Pres at Veritable, Jinx is in a skeleton. They can do the job, nothing else matters."

"Andrew wears one of those skeletons. They're cool as fuck." Racks is over KC's concerns.

I put the tools up and they help me get the mattress on it, then they fight over first to try it out. I walk out leaving them to it.

"Keylan sounds funny. I'm going with VP. You good with that, Boss?" It does when he says it with the short a.

I smile pulling open the fridge. "Yeah, Wolf. With Anchor on a team, I was hoping you'd take Specialty. I can get you training with K-9 right here. They're focused better than the build team was."

"You'd pick Anchor over me?"

"No, Brother, but he's green with a focus that would only work for Security Trainees. He wouldn't work specialty shit with trainees because he doesn't bond well. For you, I need rescue shit and I was hoping Security when Anchor is out. It's simulator and classroom type boot camp training. The next Brothers trained are going out to East and West Territories. Some maybe international."

He nods, taking the water. "I'm not going back to international."

"Good to know. I'm not either."

"That bed for your girl?"

Fuck. "No, she never called or showed."

"Sorry, Brother. New topic. Pres isn't military?"

I nod. "National Guard. He was on emergency response."

He nods. "He good? I was in New York."

I get it. "Been through some shit from Ohio and the latest Kentucky. I think something's holding him but he hasn't said. He's got an ol' lady and kid. Family close here and due in or in town on Friday. He grew up in the Club."

He nods. "Not sharing but you want me to talk to him?"

"No questions but yeah. I feel it." I point to the back that has Adirondack style chairs, a table and benches and walk that way.

"Good enough for me. I'll arrange time to bump into him."

"Thanks. I need a second on the team and for the training. You it?"

"Your dog gonna bite me. Those fucking things are huge."

I laugh. "No, he's not biting you unless you're a threat to me or Pres. Then he'd hold you by the throat until I order the kill. He's my K-9 second. I have an Alpha-Bit second for IT shit. I need a human second."

"The kids were grown like what they moved for that demo job."

"Yeah, but they were given different shit. Their brains run like little computers. Here they're learning how to live free, same as the dogs. They were growing them on some island. Solaita is here, Jinx's twin, he helped collect them with Harky and took the good. Harky is training whatever they find and stolen work dogs so they still get to work. He has retired dogs too."

"Jesus. You know Wecks is in Virginia on an Elite Club?"

"Yeah, Brolin is on Elite with Harky here."

"What's a biker Club need with so many military?" He's got valid questions.

I wait for Racks, Hank and KC to sit. "You were all in Clubs so you know what comes at them, especially if you were in the east. I was a member in Ohio but found out the Club was blown up so I came on an open call to Bravo. Some members from Ohio and Michigan were there. Turns out, the VP was a Warrior and Phoenix's SAA is Commander Ross. Their fathers were hit, they were the President, VP and SAA of Michigan."

KC whistles. "Who had two dads?"

"Two brothers. Ross' mom was a club chick that left him at the Club so the brothers took him in. No blood relation. Anyway, they were already Badass, Harky was sent to military like me, the Phoenix SAA and my old VP. It's what they do. With military fuckin' shit up, they're doing more. FBI has a training center with Badass in Nevada. President Luke Rayne from Mass Badass runs control for FBI Ops right from the ABSZ. From what I've seen, every time the government drops the ball, BSC picks it up and does it cheaper, faster and better than they did. We have the Brothers and exclude no one but assholes. Everyone is equal and military tend to like that shit."

"I did and I was never Badass." Wolf surprises me.

"So why didn't anyone of you call me?" I ask blanking my face.

"You had a girl to come home to," KC says looking at the house.

I hold that blank. "I didn't, she never came back. I left you my mom's number so she could give you mine when you got out."

"Fuck. We should have called. It's weird when you get out. Family ties are distant and you don't feel the bond like you think you remember. Everyone's different, the Club felt good," Racks says without looking at me.

My eyes go to Wolf and get a small shake so I let it go. "The Club was home for me. I get it," I say softly. No Firefly made Ohio impossible for me.

"So, we didn't call but we're here now." Hank is ever the mediator.

"Yeah." I smile and point. "Nike, new Brothers, Marines, my old team."

Nike sits beside my chair and hits his board, ‘Welcome, house, Brothers,' then their IDs show.

"Welcome home, Brothers and he knows you." I laugh at the surprise on my Brothers' faces.

Racks recovers first. "Fucking cool, Nike. I'm your favorite. KC is a goof, Hank a pushover…"

Nike's board flashes with Wolf and has a thumbs up over it. I laugh some more.

Wolf knocks Racks chair away. "I'm his favorite because you're always the fucking kiss up. He's a Brother so we're all equal here."

Nike's board shows ‘Hooyah' so they all say it of course.

I roll my eyes. "You come back for a reason, Brother?"

‘Food, Pres, Bits.' Shows so I'm up.

"Come help make dinner so we can meet Oliver. He was on the Alpha-Bit circuit but took second for Pres."

"They like swimming here? We had some that came to Virginia, they love to swim."

"Yeah, Racks. There's a pool at the end of the walkway."

"Suweet!" KC likes the pool idea. "Your new houses back up to it on the other side. Leads further out, closer to the bunkhouses but the four houses are inside our compound wall."

"Sensors and guns out there?" Racks asks.

"Yeah. You'll get all that tomorrow. Tonight, stay to walkways and roads."

"Someone should text Anchor," Hank says.

KC pushes him. "Go for it but I'd pick a house first."

I shake my head and open the kitchen door. "You don't knock?" Wolf sounds surprised until he walks into the huge kitchen room.

"Pres, Flame, Brothers. You must be Oliver." I bend for the new Bit. "I brought some trainers."

Every one of them makes me smile. "Pres," comes out in unison.

"VP Keylan, I give Pres heads-up they show to gate."

"Thanks, Locke. So, this is Oliver. My second, Locke, Raiden, Pres's ol' lady, Flame and Pres is Stan Gregory." I go from left to right.

"Anchor is rereading Badass training so he'll stop calling Brothers guys. From right to left is Wolf, Racks, Hank and KC."

Pres throws chin. "Welcome, Brothers. I'm glad you made it early. VP decided to make furniture and needs help. He won't let me help so maybe you can use lost time to give him a hand."

Flame laughs shaking her head. I roll my eyes.

Wolf laughs. "He's got a bed. We'll help with what we can. Good to be here, Pres, and thanks for dinner."

Pres shakes his head. "You're helping make it."

Wolf nods. "We had a whiteboard on the fridge with the menu."

We all look at the empty whiteboard on the fridge. Locke jumps up. "I write. I ABSZ. Bear cook."

"I wondered about that. I thought it was for a list of what we need. We ate at the kitchen thing or at the pool with Bishop." Flame throws our way.

"I ate ABSZ and Club dining rooms. Anyone that knows how this works, speak up."

Wolf nods, moving toward Locke. "The list goes up and Brothers pick from the list to make it. Everyone cooks so it's usually pretty quick. If it's a longer prep or cook time, it's started at the Club or I guess here it's your trainee kitchen."

"Wolf, right?" Pres asks.

"Yeah, Pres."

"Come to the grill, I have questions."

Wolf smiles at Racks. "I'm already his favorite too."

Racks shakes his head and flips him the bird. "I got the salad and burger veggies."

We all take a food and Flame tells them about her brother Bishop's Law Club at Veritable.

Nike brings me an onion and can of mushrooms making Raiden and Oliver laugh.

It's a good dinner and I'm glad when Flame takes Raiden and the Bits to swim. We clean up talking to Pres about their new jobs and he offers to show them the open houses. He has a trainer coming from a National Guard team. It's another doctor.

I follow listening and looking at the houses they choose then introduce Anchor who showed following a map someone must have sent him.

"Lead houses are that side. Hank took the bungalow." I point. There's a fence but it's chain link. "The fence is wired and there are sensors."

"Thanks, VP. I want the next one." He said VP not commander.

"Don't you want to see it?"

"Nah. I'll take it. It's two bedroom and a small kitchen?"

I nod. "Yeah, Brother. They're all the same but inside material and decor is different. When needed we'll make them bigger."

He doesn't care. "What's on for tomorrow?"

"We're all off. Saturday is assessment. Sunday Church here and family day. All trainees should be here for Church. You can hang and eat or ride, unpack, whatever, but our family day is at Sentinel. Spano's Club is predominantly military so it's an easy Club."

"Roger, VP. They have games?"

I look at Pres for that answer. "Yeah, they'll be up."

"I'm in on Family day." Anchor goes to check out Wolf's house. I shake my head at the screwball.

"He's younger than I expected. He was your second."Pres isn't asking.

"Yeah, he's not quick to bond but he's smart as hell. He's on Security for trainees if we don't get one right off. His team will work that bond with him."

He looks surprised.

I shrug. "We'll be picking them. I'll move team members so he's got longtime Badass mixed in."

He starts walking back. "Smart. You lost a member."

I shrug. "We have bunkhouses full of them. I'll find another."

He laughs. "I'm going to stay at the pool. You're off tomorrow. We have a no work order. I'm taking Raiden to the Vision."

"What time. I haven't seen it open."

He stops. "You built that too?"

"Quite a bit of it. Clubs were going up everywhere. I built for Alder but he had the road, walkways, pool, slides and stairs built by Alpha-Bits. Masons installed because I was busy at another Club. We printed the buildings and finished them but setup for occupancy was Masons."

He shakes his head. "I have questions about them. Oliver doesn't talk as much as the other little guys I've met."

"Give him time. He's new here, it's not like a Club he's been in and it's not a job he's seen. We're the first Badass Rescue Club."

"Yeah, maybe they want to go to the Vision."

"They need a team with them, Stan. So do you."

"I pick it up at Sentinel. Who do I call for the Bits?"

"Nash. He'd cover Security."

"I'll ask them then make the call."

"I'm going to make drawers for my clothes. I'm out, Brother."

He shakes his head. I've got a closet to build drawers in so I don't wait for him to tell me about cowboys and furniture again.

My Brothers show one at a time and I hear the saw cutting outside. They build a dresser and the frame of a chair while I'm in the closet. When I come out, I laugh.

"No one knows how to do the lattice work. Show us, Boss." Hank is into the dresser.

I show them how to print the scroll panels. Anchor is all over it so I show them the fabric and padding for the chair then how to put it together. It's not one I'd have made but it works and Wolf seems to like sitting in it. That could be because it's the only chair in the living room.

We make it to the fire pit at eleven and shoot the shit with Pres. He tells us of the well-trained job coordinator showing with his Brother tomorrow. His Brother was a domestic violence advocate in Ohio but decided to move here with his mom and other brother. We get a warning about our job coordinator knowing the job but living through some violence that had her reaching out for help from his Brother. It's weird how a Badass raised Brother is a domestic violence advocate. Wouldn't women be afraid of him? I don't ask but listen to the Vision plans tomorrow. It's a dinner activity so we're not cooking.

Nike comes in and shows me ‘Alpha-Bits' and a house.

I throw him chin.

"They stay up late and are between me and VP with sensors so we know when someone is close to them. It's good to keep watch, Nike, but they're tracked through surveillance and here from Sentinel. They're safe here. Trainees can't make it on this compound, they're tracked too so we'd know," Stan tells him and I think this is good for my push of a dog for Raiden. I send a chat to Locke about getting the sensor alerts to them and Nike and get a saluting emoticon back.

We laugh when ‘Roger, Pres', shows.

"You're all right, Nike," Wolf tells him getting a picture of him with a thumbs up on it.

Racks gets pissed. "I'm nice, Brother."

I shake my head and watch Pres smiling.

"Comic relief. It feels good, Brother."

I give him that. "You're right, Boss, but you should be warned, it's constant with them."

He laughs. "Not Raid and Cort level so I'm good."

Everyone laughs at that. A good day turns into a better night with Nike giving ideas for a bed that's more like a cot with mesh material. I can see it higher with his gear boxes on roll out shelves under it.

Racks throws in bones for the beams, but Nike shoots it down with a red circle and slash over Racks' picture, making us all laugh.

Nike wants logs and it fits with the walls, which is why I picked logs, so I agree. I can print the mesh with some give so he's more comfortable and air flows around him. The gear boxes can roll out on paw feet and steps can be on sensors. When I tell him, he hits his board on with a picture of my bed zoomed in on the twig like scroll.

"You want it over you?" KC asks him.

Nike Chuffs then shows the fan.

Wolf laughs. "The fan will look nice in there, Nike."

Nike chuffs and shows, ‘Nike home.'

We all take a minute for that one. I love my Brothers for getting it. "You're making it a good place to call home. I'm honored, Brother."

‘Hooyah' shows and everyone repeats it.