Chapter Seven

Bending, I look into those shining eyes. "I'm glad you like sharing the bathroom."

She laughs at me. "You're like the statue of Adonis where he's on one knee, all trim and muscley. I need to check on the supplies that came in. I have two pallets that need to be finished."

I laugh at her description. I think he's bald or something. "What has missing supplies?"

"One is water. I needed the K-9 gear for the team. All I had was Nike's. The other is more rope and hardware for snow, earthquake or mudslide issues. I don't think the K-9s were added in." How the hell?

I just ask. "How did you figure for them?"

She stops at the door. "The simulator. I've watched them all and added supplies based on what you'd need for each body. Or body and dog. We have the extra rope boxed on every plane but we'd be restocking it regularly and it would have to be secured to the crates for a drop. Emergency means we don't have time for that."

I just nod at her.

"I'll see you at breakfast." She walks and I'm shaking my head.

She watched the simulated programs. She's good.

I finish shaving and dress before Nike comes in. "I'll get your gear on."

He chuffs and walks right back out. I smile at his gear on his bed. "Utility today.Bowser will get your Ops gear on for training?"

He moves while I reach for the Velcro so I wait. ‘Flight' shows on his board. "You're moving fast with them."

A picture of Zeus shows then ‘train'. "He trained them for Ops but you've got them training for Rescue and you've already got them all through the climb simulator with the trainees. You're doing a good job, Nike."

‘Hooyah' shows so I say it back scrubbing his body. The Brother is cute. "Let's get breakfast."

He runs so I follow. The dining room is animated. The trainees are excited. They should be. They're all hitting markers we set and picking up the new quickly.

"VP, heads-up to BSC chopper set down ten." Locke looks up as I'm sitting.

Nike is swiping through something but I can't follow so I don't try. "Thanks, Locke. BSC West?"

"No say west. I ask Boss Ranger?"

"No, we'll find out soon enough. Why do you get a heads-up?"

"Flight plan to here."

I nod wondering why we're at a bigger table.

KC sits and I'm not wondering. Officer table. Now, I wonder if we'll have more Officers. Obviously, this will be a day of wonder.

Pres and Firefly come in with Midas following. I look around the table and see there's no bench for Midas. Nike sees it and jumps down running into the kitchen.

"Pres." I acknowledge then bend to kiss my girl. "Nike went for another bench. Midas can sit until he figures it out."

She giggles. "Midas, take Nike's seat."

"Did you get the supplies settled?"

Firefly nods but Stan answers. "You got me the new equipment but I didn't order enough for the three planes and didn't expect the crates to be readied for specific jobs. Firefly's way will save us a shit load of time and… who is landing here?"

"BSC is the heads-up Locke got," I tell him.

He nods and goes right back, "so her system saves time and the expense isn't as much as I expected."

"This is good. We'd get whatever was sent and had to make what we needed." I think out loud.

KC nods. "They should have had a list to follow. We'd be melting whatever metal, rubber or plastic they'd send as supplies. It wasn't easy on wet jobs."

Firefly's eyes are huge. "I'll get you what you need. You won't have time for making parts. Being one unit, we can control a lot more so you can tell me the needs and the next job will have them. The other thing is we have the ability to make more than one drop and we're in the US. If you're on a job and need something, I can get it to you. BSC is all over the country, we can tap a Club close for a drop if it's needed but I'll work so that's not a need we have."

"Good job and you're right, any BSC Club will have a hand out."

We all turn toward the kitchen side. Ben Knight and his dad are carrying a bench with Nike following. Pres and I stand throwing chin.

Ben shrugs. "He was pulling it to the side door when we pulled up."

I laugh and move a chair out for the bench. "Thanks, Brothers. This is Nike our K-9 trainer and that's Midas, Firefly's Protector." I turn to the table. "You know Ben Knight, his dad is Steve Knight."

Everyone acknowledges.

Ben sits across from Pres. "Cort had a meet at Sentinel but will be here. He likes the bigger meeting rooms."

I smile at Pres. "That's good to know."

Knight laughs. Ben shakes his head. Wolf, Anchor and Hank show. Knight watches Hank. "Knew Level, was a good Brother. You are too, good name to own."

I smile at the surprise on Hank's face.

"I told you the story was from a meet. I think it was a territory meet. Ben James was there," Pres says.

Knight nods watching Pres. "You were young. Helped with food."

Pres nods. "I did. We learned how to help the community from your Little Brothers trainer. It's why I went into the National Guard."

"Pres set up the Badass help for Flint. It's how I met him and Jack Decker. I was Ohio but he got Clubs from everywhere to help."

Ben nods. "We sent crews from the New England Clubs. Their issues weren't just the houses. That was a fuckin' mess and a half."

I nod but only worked on the houses.

We order and conversation flows around the new job and our training. Ben is interested in seeing how we train.

Knight catches my attention talking to Firefly about the protection she needs. "Justice said vision. You don't need vision."

She holds my leg under the table. "No, I don't get visions or even understand that but I freeze."

Wolf helps. "You see she's agitated. She doesn't look back so she's not dragged back. She freezes and gets stuck there. She'd need protection for that time."

Firefly nods. "What he said." Her voice is soft but Knight and Ben laugh.

"My dad says that a lot so he's not explaining shit. You'd need the training as if it's for visions. The dog would protect so you're never touched."

Firefly nods and relaxes. "I need that."

I squeeze her hand. "I'm glad that will work for you."

"You're a reader?" Ben asks.

"Like LP, MB. Feels. Feels her like Mase." Knight answers.

I just watch not knowing how Mase feels. Firefly looks at me. I shrug. "Got no clue."

She smiles with her eyes dancing. "It works, I don't need how either."

"Not stressed. Good you bounce back fast. I'm here for week. Will work so Midas isn't only help. Nike wants it. I'll train him."

He talks to Nike?

Firefly thinks like I do. "How did they learn how to read and write?"

"School feeds. Some don't have it. Longer with breeder has it."

Harky said he got Zeus young.

"Zeus learned young. He trains new to spell," Knight says and I look up seeing his eyes are on me.

Holy shit. "Okay."

He smiles.

A siren has us all alert and listening. I look at Pres. When did we get a siren? "Rescue, rockslide in Colorado has civilians pinned under the road that collapsed down a mountain." Someone says after a blast of siren.

Pres is up. "Your team is closest to full. Lopez and Kemper can man the open positions. I'll get you details on the plane. Firefly, come with me and find a drop point for the crate. The mudslide with basic build will work. Nike, get your K-9s readied with the flight option."

While they move, I put a hand up. "My team with Lopez and Kemper. Move!"

Brothers run. I turn to Hank. "You and Anchor are the trainers. Keep this moving however you can."

"Roger, Commander."

I'm out.