Page 127 of Ranger's Rise

“Fucking women,” Cort says. I nod but will never ask.

“Why didn’t you keep the batteries? Bet they’re still good.”

Cort gives him a look, so I don’t have to. “He doesn’t want any part of it. Let it go, Raid.” We sit and order. “I’m on Flight training today.”

Raid makes me laugh. “Oh, fuck.”

“Don’t even start. I have nothing to do with the shit that happens. I had a Flight training last week that was good.” He rethinks that and throws out, “We just did surveillance.” Like saying it with no tone makes it true.

I hold my laugh. Raid’s arms start going and I smile. “You took the fucking chopper to Colorado and had lunch at that restaurant we like.”

“I like that place and Ranger is new here. He doesn’t know where anything is. I was showing him where to take Freedom. The Crew didn’t care and we helped at that accident on the way back. The hospital was on our way. It was like twenty fucking minutes.” He’s fucking crazy.

I laugh nodding. “The Crew and As were happy and Amal saw the accident so surveillance was happening. It really was just twenty minutes.”

Raid looks at me. “Don’t help him. You were gone all fucking day. I had to cover the Enforcer shift with Mounty.”

I nod feeling bad for two seconds then I laugh. Cort does too, so I’m okay.

“He’s bored without Security trainees. I like him on Enforcer shifts.”

I move for my food and agree. “I have Flight Crew that want to train.”

“Who you thinking of?”

“Jester, Jurigen from Bullseye. He wants to get them ready and trained for every position.”

Cort nods and his eyes tell me he likes that. “You got a Lead that can step in?”

“Every one of them. Bullseye and Atlas are all Leads if we need them. You were doing the force field thing, but that’s how we trained the crews so fast. We used the two teams. Mounty and Shultz are good at getting them what they were missing. Amal ran the simulator since you had Anton.”

His head swings. “You did good manning the choppers and I saw the scores but didn’t know the Crews helped. I’ll mention it at Church. The kids are unbelievable on the computer. Jeremy didn’t talk but a word here and there, but they got it done.”

I nod. You can see the fields on the satellite images. “So, we’re covered in bubbles like our suits?” VP makes me laugh.

“Sort of. The offices can’t be hit by missiles. Drones will drop and choppers can’t fly over or through space the bubbles cover. I got the dealerships, warehouses and Compound covered here. We did Jordan from the kids’ computer room. Anton is scheduled at Falcon’s next week with Ranger. Major and Maverick have Akai and Web there now. The Ms do most of that programming, but Anton and Akai understand it.”

Raid doesn’t say anything, surprising me. “What’s up?” I ask.

“If I knew what they do, I wouldn’t mind going with Anton. I used to fight to see my office. Now I’m never out of it.”

Cort nods. “It’s been a crazy month. With the fields in place, it will go back to normal. Ben wanted someone with the kids when they were programming shit. If Web was working, I was there. Now they have the program, I’m not scheduled there daily. Come with us on training. It will get you out of the office and we’re on an Enforcer shift later. You can take that too. I bet Ranger will be happy.”

My head swings. “No fucking way. That puts me training with Mounty later. All my shifts keep me with Beacon.”

Raid nods. “We’ll all do Enforcer. I’m not switching to the office either.” Cort doesn’t like Mounty’s training either.

“How come you don’t like Mounty’s training? You’re military.”

I give Raid the look he deserves for asking a stupid question. “Because he’s fucking nuts. I served and was honorably discharged. I don’t need his BUDS-like training and I’m not out running marathons in my free time. I’m a biker riding my bike and taking in the viewsbecauseI was discharged. I was a Commander, so it’s not like I didn’t earn it. I don’t need more than training for what I’m doing. Since I’m an Enforcer, that’s the training I get. I got nothing against being fit, healthy and doing my job, but I’m not a newbie and I’m not training like I am.”

Cort smiles. “Did you almost pass out after training too?”

“What? No. I’m not in the military anymore. I don’t need that training to do my job. Falcon told me about Brinks so I trained with him, now Beacon. It’s still training, but for what I need. Enforcer Training is more than we need, but Mounty is fucking nuts. Falcon ran the extra in the morning, but not five fucking miles. That’s overkill.”

“That fuck! He called us pussies for whining on the floor when Mounty wanted us to run after training.” Cort thinks he should point that out?

I laugh. “Grown men whining about training would have me calling you out too. Commanders don’t listen to fucking women whine.” My head swings.