Page 13 of Vapor (BSC #32)
Three days
SOAR
Julius
The new team is not like the Law Club because they don’t know anyone but me.
The Law Club had Badass brought up Brothers and military that were in the Clubs for a while.
I was the new guy that was clueless…some even called me clueless.
They asked questions when I sat in Ops. I just wanted to hear Vapor, but she doesn’t talk much.
Alder asked her questions here and there about what she can fly, the training she took, the people she knows. Then he told her about Adroit Force
Marli and Bishop came to visit while delivering Badass duffle bags and stuffed animals for kids to pack with new clothes they’ll get before moving on to a Club.
Andy and Cyrus brought racks and bins for the new Lego-like building that went up in a day.
It’s got electric, air and heat, but no water.
The storage area is huge and Asa showed with a truck that filled almost a quarter of it with kid stuff the Alpha-Bits sell through Badass Innovations.
The glow rocks and wind collectors caused a stir with the SOAR members and kids moving today.
They have the whole compound and every bunkhouse walkway marked in different glowing colors.
The bigger light up walkways have nothing marking them.
The kids like it as a surprise for new kids taking steps on them to see it lit up.
They said it would be their first smile on the Badass journey.
Wind collectors range in every pinwheel-like shape that’s either colorful or fantastical metal illusions that keeps you watching.
“Julius!”
I turn with a smile in place. “Hey, Mase. You’re early.”
He nods. “The truck is right behind me. I’m on the list to help set up for unload. If Mucimi shows, we can have it done in minutes.”
I nod not asking. “I think I have enough time to get the shelves in place. The team got them together earlier.”
He walks with me to the big storage building. “It looks good. I like the blue and white. The farmhouse is white and barn red and white.”
I like it too. “Yeah, the compounds for support staff, trainees and kids are the same theme.”
“Kids separate?” It doesn’t sound like a question.
“Yeah. They have the big dorm-like building with kitchen and living room on one side like the training Clubs.”
“Club in a Club are all like that. I should have known. Honor is the only one that’s different. We have two Clubs in two states and the air base with Ops right off our runway.”
Whoa, two Clubs under one name, I heard of the two states. “You’re right near a forest too, right?” I’ve seen so many Clubs I can’t keep them straight.
“Yeah, but a bunch of us are. The land is cheap and the states keep giving up BLM land. The governor gave Cooper a shit ton for saving her.”
I heard that. I open the door to the supply barn and he whistles. “What’s on this truck?”
“Kid clothes in every size. Stay put.”
I do and watch the shelves slide as if they’re a train pulling around the east side of the shed in four lines.
“Two boy, two girl. We start with under, PJ, bath, swim, summer shirt, shorts, winter shirt, pant, sweats, socks, shoes, coats.”
I laugh watching signs hit the shelves in order. “Mucimi?”
He nods. “My mom fosters kids. This is how we did it in Mass. Badass always goes overboard but Little Ben would give us ways to keep it contained. Once the bins are full, we donate the rest and order as needed. The Brothers got to help, the kids in need got help and the Little Brothers would keep the bins filled learning about hands.”
I smile. “The hands lesson. I got that one too.”
He nods. “They’re good lessons. You never met Tito?”
My head shakes as I walk the racks. This is going to be a lot of damn clothes.
“My mom stole a Bible and some book that had lessons from Jack’s dad who was the SAA.
She left without telling anyone she was pregnant.
Since she stole the Bible, I think she knew but she didn’t write it, it’s just a guess. ”
“I don’t get vision like that or I’d tell you. We need to get to Ops.” It’s a little early but this is done.
“Kyler called to say he has help to unload the truck in an hour or so. They’ll just do it and leave.” He’s in Mass but someone is keeping him in the loop. I bet that someone is Aaron.
He nods but doesn’t say anything. I follow, wondering why his elbows to fingers have fire, but I don’t ask.
~*~*~
Libya Gharyan District
Vapor
Alder has been quite the little companion for me.
He stabilized the CEO and his girlfriend/assistant or ex-girl/worker.
In truth the jerk had a broken nose and split lip.
Alder wasn’t gentle and had the dipshit crying then whining the mile and a half back to the choppers.
His girl was clinging to Donovan until he stood her straight and swung his rifle to his front as if the insurgents were marching ten feet away.
She bounced to Eddie who ignored her as if English from London isn’t understood by him.
I ignored it all by linking a harness strap from the CEO’s belt loop to mine and laughing at Mader’s comments about me being a girl and him not being shown up by me.
He kept us at a fast pace with the lie of getting to clean water.
This kept the whining jerk walking almost fast enough to keep up with me.
Alder found the team funny because we all had water to spare for the two ninny’s that outed their indiscretion by acting foolish in another country.
Since the jerk had business in Libya, he should have followed their Purdah custom of secluding women but he decided his customs were more important and ignored the country traditions and beliefs.
Showing his assistant off with very little clothing in her newly purchased harem garb got him kidnapped by guerrillas and taken to what they call the trading camp.
It’s where they make the calls and videos to raise money for morons.
Telling the state department that he had rights and he wanted out, got him referred to private security which is us.
His wife emptied their accounts and moved him out of the house but his business partner needs the idiot for a little while longer and heard we got the renowned finance exec home in days so he paid.
I wouldn’t have. Moss was disgusted and set a price that was highway robbery, or just plain extortion.
Anyway, we got the dipshit and his concubine out, into the Blackhawk, then off to the airport in Greece where the company plane waited for the douchebag.
According to Sarah, it worked ‘mighty fine.’ The exec hit the UK this morning and we’re cleared to pick up kids in Gharyan.
“You have no question on new jet?”
I look over at my little copilot. “I do but I wanted to fly it before asking questions that get answered. I figured I could ask on the way back.”
“Pres Cort say, better to keep mouth shut you don’t remove doubt to stupid.”
I laugh. “I heard him quote people a couple of times, but that’s a good one for everyone to learn. Yes. It’s a Twain quote.”
“I cheat say it fast.”
I shrug. He talks quickly and with as few words as possible in keeping with the way he grew up in a lab.
When he slows down, I’ve noticed he uses more words but I understand him either way.
“It’s understood and I agree. We have a good twenty minutes, tell me about the jet and how we didn’t get tagged coming through Libyan airspace. ”
“Alpha-Bit use Boss Alexia FBI trick to mask. Same to stealth chopper PAVE system. Jet different…option. Use radar absorbing material, color change paint. Engine three-dimensional thrust react same to power plant to jet, air, Mach 2.25 full load weight 8,000KG, self-sufficient radar detect fighter 400 KM, better aerodynamic movement similar Russian jet. Badass classify to Lockheed build engine, part, use steel we specify. Fuel redirected part better reaction, less fuel to job. This 2-year-old. Test show military similar, we use all country best idea make better. Alpha-Bit, Lockheed, Delta Rise make best to world. Alpha-Bit make best classify technology jammer.” His normal humble must have got lost around Mach1 on the jet.
I lift my mask and smile at him. “You’re proud and were holding all that in?”
His little embarrassed smile and shrug makes me laugh. “That’s a lot of information. So, the jet has the capability of a chopper but with way more power being a lot lighter?”
His pause has me looking over in time to see him engage again.
He’s done that a couple of times now. “You quick, yeah. US military make F35 offer to other country, good not best. F22 Raptor better, old, heavy, now, more technology. China have J20 low observable, use jammer, have paint mask shadow, Mach 2 fighter.”
“You took all the best from each and made the Badass jet?”
“Some. Paint mask, Laser ability is Badass technology. Better classify jammer is Alpha-Bit technology. Delta Club use to satellite component, jets, choppers Badass fleet. Alpha-Bit manufacture Nevada same laser part to drone. Scan, enhance GPS, PAVE system, dual laser power fluctuate,” he waves his hand like he’s frustrated, “all system we make better, add more to. We send to all Badass Manufacture US.” He looks straight out the window but I saw annoyance on his face. Maybe the lack of words?
I don’t know what all he said means, but he’s excited and annoyed. I get enough to know they put some major work in to get what they wanted for the new Badass jets. “Wow, does Badass have a lot of manufacturing?”
“West have four. Badass north, south have more people to city, town work not Badass member.” The towns employ civilians. That’s a good way to build what they need in places that need industry.
“Like the innovation company Aaron told us about?”
“Yeah, all over country work to supply Alpha-Bit, Badass product. Boss Copper make help to small town, draw people, money, use old idea new product. Texas cattle, Nebraska corn, coast town fish…”