Page 34 of Vapor (BSC #32)

SOAR

Julius

My board says they’re moving again so I turn and watch. The wolf looks impressive by her side.

“Why is she going to the jail? Mase has them on Jones’ chopper.” Donovan points to the two young people and an older man talking to Mase.

“So they aren’t picked up again and they get the media package we put together to guarantee it,” Sarah says with a bit of a bite.

I smile over at Logan. She’s got the momma bear in her lately. He smiles, then turns back toward the virtual.

My Virginia Ross strides right up to the guards holding guns on her.

Vapor: “Every step I take is covered by the chopper, my body cam and the drones both close and far. The satellite is right above so I’m sure they’ll get good shots. Drop them so you get the information I have showing that I am the least of your worries.”

My smile is huge but I don’t give a shit. My woman just owns that legendary.

Logan laughs loud. I shake my head at him. We watch the guns lower.

Vapor: She hands them paper. “They’re Italian, their grandparents were born here.

You left her kids without supervision and they were trafficked, also rescued.

Their father is on a base in Japan and you kidnapped his wife and brother- in-law, sold his kids.

Every bit of this will come out if they’re fucked with again.

The grooming house his toddlers were picked up at in Libya will play well on the news.

” She hands a flash pen over. “The news segment is written. We will do the same for the other Americans you try to disappear. There are four others in different states we will be collecting from. This is a list of Americans and what concentration camps you have them at that we haven’t verified yet .

Let them out or we’ll come get them.” She turns and walks away with Honos right by her side.

“That’s the epitome of Badass. One woman facing down nine armed guards then walking away without a care in the world.” Logan is right.

“Hey, you’re Badass?” A guard yells.

Vapor: She turns. “Colonel Virginia Ross, 160th, Night Stalker, Scepter Commander, now President of BSC West SOAR Club. Pick one. Any job and title is well recorded and carries plenty of classified missions.”

She turns back and ignores their questions with a two-finger wave.

I laugh. “I love my ol’ lady.”

Sarah shakes her head. “We do too. The woman oozes cool.”

I agree.

~*~*~

Vapor

Mader opens a walkway for us. “Tents are back, Commander.”

I look around seeing white in the distance. At least they’re on the tent city roads and not here. “Did Sweet run yet?”

“No, Boss. They’re going tonight.” Moss pushes through on the side. “One on our list called into Phoenix and said they’re home. Justice said they will release the Americans that are still here in the US.”

I breathe a little easier. That could have backfired spectacularly. “Thanks. You guys did a great job with the media package.”

He shakes his head. “The kids and Alpha-Bits put the kid rescues together. We did the narration, they animated it.”

The guy is a pain in the ass. “They did a great job too. Make sure everyone gets that from us.”

“I will, Pres.” Moss has my feet stopping.

I almost trip but right me quick. “Pres?” I don’t know how to feel about Pres.

He shrugs. “When you’re in Rome.”

I roll my eyes at him. “When we were in Rome you fucked three women.” The whole team had to hear about that one.

Shep laughs, slapping Moss’ back. “I remember that one.”

Moss gets lost in the crowd. He’s shy with his sex life when he's not bragging about it right after. Unlike my smiling boy next door Julius the JAG.

“You did great, Vapor Ross.”

I kiss him quick and take steps before we’re steamrolled by the tactical team. “Thanks. All I did was fly and drop off the media shit.”

“You did it with a definite Badass flourish.”

I turn without stopping. “Thanks, Ranger. I didn’t see you.”

“Just got here.” He points to Freedom over to the side.

She throws chin so I throw it back.

“What’s with the tents and choppers?”

“Cort and his matchmaker antics,” Falcon says from behind us.

I look at Julius. He shrugs. He won’t ask Cort anything because he’s crazy. I go with his idea and keep walking.

“Did you get the twins on with their mom?”

Julius smiles. “Yeah, the uncle was a basket case but mom is excited and appreciative. Ben and Justice are bringing them home. They’ll be here later.”

We get to the big barn before I stop and turn toward the crowd that seems to have gotten bigger. “I’m not sure why you’re all here but I need to check in with Command and see if there are any issues waiting for my input.”

“We’re in the back. A pool and grill are out there.”

I don’t know who said it but I nod and turn. “Have fun.”

Julius laughs and takes my hand as we walk. “I saw a tanker but didn’t ask. It’s how pools get filled so it makes sense now.”

“I wouldn’t have asked either.”

“I never ask,” Falcon says.

I look back seeing Falcon and Ranger. “Brothers. So we are clear, I’m not asking anyone anything so you’ll have to tell me what I need to know.”

Ranger laughs. “I get it and will hold what you don’t need. I’m with you. I’m in your awesome Ops room while my flight deck gets new technology.”

That explains Ranger.

“The new one is open.”

I turn for Sarah. “We have a new Ops room?”

She laughs. “The other side is set up. It’s more surveillance, drone and engineer area. We have two full virtual stations with half of us moved to the other side.”

I nod without opening my mouth. It was brought up but we were waiting for the need. I guess we need but don’t ask.

Julius points to the glass wall where a couple of offices were. Again, I nod without a word.

“Welcome home, Pres. I’ve been helping out Flight. Ranger, Akai said you should be on.” Logan points to the other virtual station with the glass partition.

It’s different but similar to how Specter was setup. Ranger walks by us to the new Ops room putting on glasses. I don’t think he needs glasses but don’t point it out.

Logan sets a chopper down at Elan and Ranger shows in the air. He spins and smiles. “I love my job.”

Falcon laughs. “I’ll say it for Jack, you’re a wing nut.”

I nod at that, wholeheartedly agreeing.

Logan motions a circle with his hand. “I’ve got Squared landing, what do you need, Brother?”

“Set them down and I’ve got the flight deck for an hour and twenty, then, Jurigen is taking over for me.”

“Roger, Boss.” Logan goes back to his chopper by the ceiling and Ranger is just gone.

I smile at Julius. “How does he switch to this side?”

He looks back at Sarah. “It’s an Echo control. He can show anywhere now. The Alpha-Bit IT circuit did a class for us. The little one from Delta, Anton, sent virtual to you from Alexia the FBI intelligence profiler. I forwarded the link to your chat.”

I nod. FBI intelligence profiler is new but okay. “What do I need here for right now?”

She gives a five-minute overview on what was added, which is mostly Echo control and walks out. I look at Julius and Falcon and laugh. “So Echo commands that show right there.” I point to the wall above the three stations left in here.

Julius nods. “Got it. I don’t run Ops but answer other Clubs while I’m in here.”

Logan says something to Franklin in the navigator seat getting a nod back. He smiles when he turns. “I’m with Ranger, I love my job and this Ops room is easier than being in MC Ops. The tech chatter is gone. I look around, he’s right, it’s silent in here when the virtual shuts down.”

“Would this work in my Ops room?” Falcon reminds us he’s here.

Julius looks at Logan so he doesn’t know.

Logan nods. “I think it would if you had two stations partitioned off. You do BSC and Flight for Phoenix?”

Falcon nods. “Two for flight would work. Our councils do flight and ground, but we can toggle between with the glasses until flight takes the ground for a job.”

Falcon smiles while pulling his phone. “I’ll get Asa and Braan on it.” He walks out.

I look at Julius and smile. “What’s happening today, VP?”

“Danny and Knight read someone that you never publicly claimed Pres. They got with Cort and the ol’ ladies.” He looks sorry.

“What does that mean? He claimed me. I’m wearing the cut with his patch on it.”

Logan nods. “They planned the wedding.”

My eyebrows raise to the back of my head or somewhere close.

He laughs. “They’re on the top of your head but they are high, Pres.”

I whack his stomach and turn toward Julius. “You didn’t claim me publicly. Did you know?”

He nods. “I did but I was claiming you this weekend and asking if you wanted the wedding. Bishop said it’s your choice and you’re a President so it has to be your decision.” His eyes are going to roll out of his head if he doesn’t calm down.

I put my hand up. “Relax, my JAG. What do you want?”

“My name after yours and we agreed any kids are Ross. I don’t care about the rest.”

I nod. “Me either so let them have their thing. Maybe they’ll all go home and we can relax in between jobs.”

He laughs.

Logan puts a hand on each of our shoulders. “This is good. I’m on Sweet’s Op with Harky in twenty. I’ll be out before the wedding. Congrats, Pres and Julius.” He walks toward the new navigator, Engineer, whatever.

“What are we calling that side?”

“IT. I need to go home and get the rings. The jeweler made a ring for me. Seren picked it.” He’s strung tight and talking fast.

I laugh. “Go. Find me out back. Honos is out there.” Pointing to the wall for nothing because he doesn’t look. I turn to leave and smile. “Freedom. Is everyone crazy?”

“Yep. Glad you’re not pissed about the ring. Seren is good with them. His has law shit on it but Ranger gave Ranger pictures for it. Brekan started the ring with hidden pictures. Glare at him for it. His pictures are Green Beret, Julius will have Ranger.”

I don’t ask. “Okay. I’m hungry.”

“Me too. Aylen is out back making drinks. You may need one.”