Page 22 of Citiali: Teach
The Alpha-Bits show, surprising me with their number. There has to be thirty waiting. Knowing how many more there are hits me hard, if you add the monastery kids, that number matches our tribe in Liberty. We have the chance to bring that number higher, whereas they face extinction. We also have Native Brothers and Cherokee all over the country, but the Alpha-Bit number will never grow. That hurts in a place deep in me. I need them to know and bend for hugs from them too. I give appreciation for all they do and Alder does his one nod before telling me they are honored. The tears in his ancient eyes tell me he feels it.
As I stand to get to my chopper, the rescued people are watching from the side. My eyes lock on the woman dressed as a man and I throw her chin. Not knowing what more to door say, I walk to the chopper. The rescued are being separated to different Clubs so we have a wait. Mag Bailey has some questions so it isn’t a bad wait.
I stop and turn toward the door when I feel ability close. Three are walking our way. An older man who limps badly, a late teen boy and the woman who is marked, board the plane.
“Do you speak English?” Mag asks, walking to the door.
“Yes, all.” The older man says.
I stand seeing the old man is nervous. “Sit, relax, the Club is not far.”
His eyes light with a smile my way. “Citiali Cherokee.”
I smile. “Citiali Nanyehi of the Liberty Cherokee tribe in Virginia. I am considered a messenger for all.”
“One of the warrior brothers, the messenger and the teacher.” The woman says in perfect English with an accent I can’t place in the short sentence. She’s heard our stories so she was raised in a tribe that hadn’t turned away from the ancestors.
One nod is what I give. “You’re marked and have ability.” My words have her on guard immediately, so I show her my mark. “I feel it but did not read you. I read only what’s open to me as a precedent, everyone has a right to freedom.”
Her brows go from suspicious to surprised. “I am a seer.” She’s not giving much up with that.
Mag gets them settled while telling of his grandmother the seer. I almost laugh at the simplistic label but leave it alone. The woman watches me but I keep my eyes on the older man. “I can heal so you’re comfortable.”
With his nod, I sit in front of him with my knee touching his leg and throw healing energy. Mag gets bored and tells us I can heal while he flies.
At Guardian, Mikey, Parker and Axe are waiting with a woman I don’t know. I introduce everyone getting a smile for having their names right. I was struck when I saw it on the listthe Flight Crew gave Mag. Dyani is a Cherokee name meaning deer. It’s not like I’d forget that one. Smith isn’t her last name, Jones and Brown aren’t the men’s last names either.
Mikey points. “This is Mary, she’s a PA and helps with integrating women back into society. PA is a doctor so she can help with the brace Alder said you need Miguel and the questions you’ll have Dyani. Andrey, Axe works with the kids and can help with your questions and introduce you around. I’m Mikey, this is Parker, our President is Nova, Parker’s twin but older by a couple of years. He’s on Ops tonight but he’ll have breakfast with you in the morning.”
I nod, ready to be home. “I’ll let you settle them in. Thanks, Brothers.”
Mikey stops smiling. “They’re going to your VIP. Ari has it supplied and said you have the two-bedroom open so Mary can stay with Dyani.” Ari purposely put in only one two-bedroom at VIP so the crazies wouldn’t park at our Club.
I should have looked. “Okay then. Do we have a ride?”
She points to the SUV pulling up to the portico. “They have clothes in the houses and the fridge is stocked. Maiyun will be here tomorrow.”
“I’ll get them settled and show them around. Thanks, Mikey. Is breakfast at the Protector Club or here?”
“Seven at yours and it’s Teach.”
Axe laughs knowing I don’t ever say the name. I wear it, that should be enough.
I roll my eyes and guide everyone to the SUV. “I call it Protectors but she’s a stickler for the names. We train Protectors for the families and Alpha-Bits. Our old Clubs called it high security. New takes some getting used to.”
“You are new here?” Andrey asks.
“I’m from Virginia and got here about two weeks ago. BSC Clubs are pretty much the same everywhere but the old namesstuck with us in the south. We’re protectors and we train, same as here. My old Club was named for our President Hemy. The big Club was Virginia Badass. Here it’s Guardian and Teach.”
“There are many BSC. They showed a map so we can choose a new home but we are free to move to another Club. Miguel is Badass so he explained some.” Andrey is cute with his child-like excitement.
“You are. There are plenty of jobs to go around and Clubs that specialize in different areas. All Clubs offer training for jobs with our procedures, but there are service jobs that are available like Guardian has greenhouses and fields for farming. They train too but not specialized in High Security. We have highly focused trainees that will go to other Clubs. The other specialized Clubs are Law, Rescue, Satellite, Flight Guard, Aerial and advocacy. Veritable trains police and sheriff, Cooper is mainly military Badass. Rising Squared is dogs and Ops, they do a lot of FBI Ops. I need the list to give you all their training. Axe would know, he’s been here longer than I have.”
“I am computer analyst.” He’s already excited for work tomorrow.
“Every Club has computer but if you have a specialty, I think ABSZ is the hub for IT. The Alpha-Bits are all computer genius Brothers.”
“No specialty. I analyze incoming data. Cyber security was my department.”
