Page 5 of Vapor (BSC #32)

“Badass has congressmen, governors and a few senators now. The President of the US gave them passports, land, no taxes and protection around the ABSZ that Alder doesn’t really use but we get some good apps from.

It’s not perfect but it works and Alder has his Brothers spreading their message through IT, waterparks, Masons, businesses and Badass Innovations. ” VP sounds proud.

“The video games too, VP,” a Badass guy beside Pres says.

“Yeah, the Alpha-Bits invent, code and bring to reality everything we never dreamed about, but use to get that message out there.” I can hear the smile in Pres’ voice.

“What’s the message?” Moss asks.

“Aaron, what’s the vision message?” Pres stops at the landing and moves aside while the little dark-haired boy runs our way.

“Badass say different is good and best us is anything we want to be. We show world Badass believe in your Brother and be HAPPY!” He jumps punching up like it’s a commercial or public service announcement.

Everyone around us yells, “Happy!”

The Night Stalkers, of course, laugh.

I really like Badass and what they’re promoting here.

Aaron and his little brothers look content.

Coming off base so recently brings the comparison up and I can’t say I saw the same clear objective there.

I love the little guy’s enthusiasm to get his message out too.

It’s a good message, a message worth fighting for, from a boy who is willing to do his part to help win that fight. This is what base is missing…a reason.

~*~*~

Law at Veritable Rising

Julius

The late call has me racing to Veritable. I’ve never been called by Cort or his second, Amal, who actually made the call for him. The man is giant and Ranger said don’t piss him off so I won’t. Andy took my class since Pres is out for Ops. She pointed out this has to be a law call.

I don’t waste time backing in and just shut it off and run toward, then into the Club. “Cort?” I ask barely glancing at the counter.

The Prospect points up. “Ops, Boss. I’ll let them know you’re here.”

I nod and run the stairs. This isn’t like Phoenix, Jinx has a hall connecting to Ops by the Officer floor meeting room. Pres said it’s so he’s not walking the whole Club to get to Ops. I take his shortcut and never hit the training center floor here.

Scanning in, I see more people here than I expect. I’m not usually in Ops here, or anywhere really, but I’ve seen our Ops room and all these people wouldn’t fit in there.

“Cort?” I ask the guy that turned and tried to move for me.

He points toward the wall with the boards up so I squeeze by, glad they move aside. “Vapor?” I know that honey blond braid that hits the center of her back.

She turns with a smile. “Hey, Julius. You’re not this Club, are you?”

“Sort of, Law is a Club in a Club, this is our mother Club. I’m glad you’re back but I got called in.”

She nods and waves for me to go by.

When I turn, Cort is watching. “Boss, what can I help with?”

He smiles. “Bishop is on a job and the app isn’t clear. The Phoenix lawyer doesn’t do criminal. Can you stay on with Teller to get this straight?”

“I can and will, Boss.”

He hands me a headset from Aaron and slaps my shoulder so hard my knees want to give way.

Aaron lets Teller know I’m on and nods when I answer the jurisdictional questions. This is what Alder asked Pres the first day I met him. To me it’s fairly simple but I went to school for this.

“He’s saying he’s got immunity but I think it’s a lie.” Teller is flying and the sheriff has the perp, so I guess he reads long distance.

I shake my head. “Let PD or the deputies take him in and verify that when they have a chance. It gives them time to sort the actual crime out. If immunity is real, they’ll apologize, until then, Pres said no benefit of the doubt in Badass towns.”

I get a roger and turn for the snickers I hear behind me. Cort is at the door watching the board and the crowd is smiling at me. I shrug. “I’m not usually on Ops.” I explain to them but don’t know that I should.

“You’d be good on Ops. Don’t take shit or excuses from anyone is a good policy. PD shouldn’t be so accommodating. Bishop trained you?” Cort has me relaxing.

I nod. “He explained the Bible lessons I didn’t understand. Asking forgiveness is a lesson and one we all should learn, he said. It keeps us humble. I threw that last bit in.”

He laughs. “You’re both right. You’ll stay with Teller until they’re straight?”

I nod again. “Anything you or they need, Boss.”

“Meet us at the pool for dinner.”

I throw him chin. “Roger, Boss.” I relax and watch the boards as they all file out.

The Op is done but Mase is still there talking with the Sheriff Deputies so I wait. “Do you do a lot of Ops?” I ask Aaron.

“Pres Jinx ask I run IT. Boss Debra have appointment. Pres Cort say stay with chopper. Boss Ranger pick up soon. He have BSC Op.”

I scan the boards and see Phoenix Ops room with Pres Bishop up in the air with Ethan following him around a building just off a busy road. There are bikes on the road but I can’t hear what’s happening. Ranger waves his hand and the board moves to another Club like he swiped a phone or something.

I smile seeing him swipe again to this Club then to Phoenix board with the name up on top. He must have a lot of boards.

“Veritable, Bravo took the BSC Op. I’m back on the aerial deck.”

“Roger, Boss Ranger. Veritable Ops, Law assist help, sign out.” My little Brother is cute signing us off and switching the feed back to this Club’s towns just as easily as Ranger did but Aaron is on his hologram keyboard then he’s not.

Shaking my head to clear the disappearing keyboard and Ops rooms out doesn’t really clear it out. Technology and magic just are here. No fanfare, no explanations, it just is.

“I change, help to pool,” Aaron says when we get to the door.

I squat for him. “Climb on, I can drop you at the Officer walkway before the lot.”

He jumps before I’m all the way down making me laugh. His little legs must get tired running everywhere. “Vapor is back, did you see her in here?”

“I meet to her with Op Control cost, pay job we need other country. Boss Jeti, get Boss Marli number to train control IT. Pres Jinx, VP Kyler explain work Op control, IT they need.”

That has me slowing down. “They need Op controls in another country? Are they working here?”

He wiggles at the walkway so I bend down for him. “Boss Jeti say Pres Justice say Night Stalker Club in Club. Prez Knight say military jail two Brother need rescue. Pres Harky, MB have job whole month.”

“Shit. I hope the Night Stalkers can help. That other classified team should be able to if they’re busy.”

He giggles at me. “Same team. Scepter only show to wrist. No paper, unit to base. Night Stalker cover to Scepter five year.”

“Brother, don’t spout all that so easy or out in the open. It could get someone hurt.” Killed but I can’t say that to him.

His eyes get huge. “No, I say to you. No repeat classified.”

I get it. “I appreciate the trust you have in me but no one should ever hear classified information. I was taught that anything that comes after the word classified is never spoken, written or acknowledged. I had clearance but only for the cases I worked on. The judge got redacted reports so I wasn’t thrown in the stockade for compromising our military.

” I don’t mention the judge held me in contempt until my boss showed with protocols for thehigher than usual Classified level.

His head starts shaking but I pull him closer and kiss his head. “It’s okay, just don’t say anything about stalkers or Scepter.”

“No. I keep it.”

I stand and nod for him. He looks scared. I hope that’s enough for him to remember not to out the classified status of the new Club.

“I change.” He runs but I think the last look was embarrassment and keep quiet.

The pool is the next walkway. I’ve never been on the Officer compound here so I can’t take that shortcut. The keypads would stop me but the threat of guns on sensors ensures I’d never try.

“You Pres Bishop lawyer, Boss Julius?” The kid voice has an edge to it.

This is not a voice I know so I turn toward it. “Yeah, Julius Ross. You’re Asa. I saw you on the feed with Pres the day Alder was here.” The multicolored mohawk and earring can’t be mistaken for any other Alpha-Bit.

“Yes. Aaron say you new and learn to be good Brother.”

I smile at the little guy. “I’m trying. I was a JAG with a lazy command out of DC.”

His eyes go huge. “Shooter base?”

I nod. “Before I got there, but, yeah. They say it lost its soul without ever explaining what that meant.” I was deployed after that and didn’t know more than what I’d seen.

He looks away as if lost in thought. Maybe he’s heard it before. “Boss Ford, Pres Brekan talk, say military change after base shooting.”

That’s the way I heard it. “I wasn’t there before the shooting so I’ll take their word for it.”

I slow my pace and walk beside him. “Both leave military go to FBI Op, now here.”

“I’ve met Commander Ford at Phoenix but not Brekan.”

“Good Brothers. Boss Ranger too. You both alone, both show here, both good Brother.”

“Thanks, Asa. I got the crash course in Bravo but the Law Club has Badass raised Brothers that teach me more every day.” Marli even helps me with Badass and she’s newer than me.

“Call me you need help. Little Brother best way to learn.” Does he mean the Alpha-Bits?

“The kid group or Alpha-Bits?”

“Kids, I send you old feed. Tyson will send new virtual meet, book.”

This will be good. “I’ll take it. If you think of more that will help, let me know. I didn’t know anything about Badass until my mom died. The letter told me where to look but everyone she named from Michigan was dead or moved away.”

He shakes his head and the mohawk moves like it’s waving. “Same to Mason, secret no help everyone dead.” He swipes in to the pool area and I follow.

“I thought the same thing. They did know where Ranger was so it wasn’t a complete waste of time.”