Page 19 of Citiali: Teach
Harley: “Tell me you just painted yourself.”
I close my eyes. I’m not normal anymore either.
Prez: “Mucimi is taking Zeke and the man to the plane so Alder can help. Aiyana is needed. How are you holding up, Citiali?”
Me: I’m happily surprised by the question. “With less healing going out, I’m doing okay. The building has dark in it but it’s not close and lightening little by little.”
Prez: “FBI is clearing it. They’re not as fast as your team, but they’re getting it done. If you feel yourself draining, let me know. I can help with energy from the reservation.” He doesn’t sound worried and I don’t feel it from him.
Me: “I will, Prez, but Harley asked about the paint so the ancestors are with us…” a soldier close with dark intent has me focused on the intersection of the corridor. He’s not there but fires something that shouldn’t be in a building, making Harley and MB duck as the wall in front of and to the side of us explodeslike we’re in a sci-fi movie. I don’t see the soldier through the fiery hole he made, but throw energy hard enough to stop him. White light flashes from my outstretched hand surprising me, because that’s never happened before. MB and Harley run so I follow suspending while remembering my interrupted conversation. “I'm good, Prez.”
Harley: “You are, Brother. What kind of gun is that?”
MB: “Looks homemade. Is everyone out?” He wants out of this hellhole too.
Prez: “FBI and Virginia are still clearing. We need you with Citiali to keep the building shielded so FBI gets out without starting a war.”
Me: I roll my eyes. “Roger, Prez. Let’s clear this.” Home sounds good right now.
MB: He smiles. “Prometheus, Protect, clear the building, Go.” The dog crew runs with Brothers following. “Hunting is better than standing here waiting. You in, Harley?”
Harley: “Fuckin’ A.”
Me: “Prez, let FBI know we’re clearing from this side.” I move, throwing back, “You’re shielded. Let’s finish this.”
Prez: He’s laughing in our pieces but doesn’t say anything.
***
BSC East Plane
Mag is flying so I’m not surprised when Justice sits beside me. The energy that surrounds him helps the tired I’m feeling. “Thanks.”
He smiles. “I’m not sending anything yet.”
“You don’t need to. I feel it with you so close. Ancestors work through Brothers who are open to them, you’re one of them.”
“Your markings make you another.”
I nod. “There’s one on the other plane that’s marked. She’s dressed as a man but I got called away. She went with the last from that side.”
“There are more than a dozen Indians, how do you know she’s marked?”
I notice everyone paying attention to us. “I felt it but she isn’t surprised by gifts and wasn’t intimidated by Badass. She was relieved.”
“She took men’s clothes. I know who you mean. Her hair is cut short.” Mucimi surprises Justice.
“She’s marked?”
Mucimi shrugs. “That or she’s got ability. She’s got a light like us. Citiali said she’s marked, he’d know better than me. I was going to find her when we stop. Teller has her going to West BSC. She didn’t ask for South or East.”
Bastille leans forward. “The UK inmates?”
“East BSC. Forty-one are West the others spread out between East and South. Not many have connections to the others in the jail.” This bothers Mucimi. I figure he sees more than he’s saying.
MB nods. “CIA kept Maiyun's group separated, I bet these were too. How’d they get so many? Their language is a mix that had to take years to form.” He’s a smart Brother.
“The Cherokee had Blue Clan words or shortcuts, the Russian could be area dialect. A few were Cree and Navajo mixed with what sounded like French but I didn’t get to French yet.”
