Page 122 of Ranger's Rise

Got it. “They’re little and call themselves Alpha-Bits or Web’s boys.”

Freedom and Seren show and we take the golf carts over to Web’s. Ford is amazed with the bikes and choppers. I don’t tell him Cort is crazy, I think it’s implied with the stockpile he has. I can’t believe Ford is here. Freedom tells him and Dakota about the boys and I think about the last time I saw him. I was a year in and he used to give me advice. It was good too. He jumped to Washington and I missed our talks.

At Web’s, the boys come running. They’re so fucking cute. Anton is excited. “Boss, Ls here.”

“I heard, Brother.”

Jacques races over and stops right in front of me. “Boss!”

I laugh and bend. “Jacques! I brought some friends. I told them how much you like to swim.” Marco and Maddox come over to see what’s going on.

His smile goes big. “Jacques nage pour toi?” he asks. The Ms smile swinging their heads.

Freedom and Anton laugh. He’s so fucking cute. “Not today, Jacques. What day?”

“Boss,nagerTuesday!”

The Brothers laugh.

“I’ll be here, Jacques.”

Amal takes Freedom and Seren to the Rs room and we walk in following Jacques.

“Little Dude here.”

I laugh and bend. Anton climbs on my back.

“Sorry, Little Dude. Those balloons distracted me,” Ford says.

“They’re lights,” I tell them.

Jessie is looking all around. “This is fucking huge.”

“Can you show us around, Cort?” Prez asks.

We go through to the Alpha-Bits building. Then back to the house and he shows them the boys’ rooms and their Ops room. Some kids are working but don’t do more than glance our way.

Cort explains that they don’t know anything at first so they spend a lot of time on the computers. Web comes in with Akai and tells them about the programs he made and how he figured out their languages and what level and focus they had. I’m surprised Akai talks, but not really. They’re getting better with that every day. Prez is interested, but Jessie and Ford follow me and Anton out. Taylor and Dakota stay with them.

We sit on one of the couches and Aris brings Pace over. “Where’s his chair?”

He points to where Seren and Freedom are and I see Gregor in the chair. “Fell, Boss. Bruised knee.”

Shit. He needs surgery but can’t get it yet. “Did Doc order another chair?”

His smile tells me he did. “Yeah, Boss. Later it’s here. New one for Pace.”

Anton puts his arms out and Aris gives him Pace. “It’s bigger for him, Boss. With a tray.” He kisses his head and I’m swallowing hard. I’ve never seen that before.

Anton smiles up at me. “Pace will like new chair. Soft and easy controls like Jacques.”

Doc sits. “The other Doctor has the Ls. Gregor’s not gaining weight. He lost four pounds so I have the genetic doctor looking again for possible reasons. They’ve all gained weight but Gregor. He was one of Falcon’s from the monastery.”

Anton’s head swings. “He’s Alpha-Bits’ now. We can help and fix. Alder is helping.”

Doc smiles. “That’s good. I have a feeling it will be the Alpha-Bits that find the answer.”

“Anton!” Web calls.