Page 45 of Citiali: Teach
I shrug. “I’m Indian, our all in is a little different but basically the same. Tradition used to dictate the ceremony. Now it’s more like anything goes.”
He laughs.
I turn and raise my hand at the Brothers back from their break. “As you saw, you will need the flight suits. Get readied, Brothers.” Walking to the kids, I’m glad they’re calm and Cuyler didn’t take offense to them giving her shit. “First class, I want normal scenarios. You move and react as if it’s real.”
All the kids turn toward Atseelsoi. He nods, looking very serious. “They may be covering Brothers like Caelan or Anton. They have to see and be prepared for kids’ reactions.”
“Cuyler is going to be good for this. Cuyler, don’t move so fast they can’t keep up.” Arndt warns her.
Cuyler makes a face. “They have tracking. They’re supposed to use tracking if they can’t see us. How will they know if…”
Shay steps closer to Cuyler. “She’s right. Our part is being us. If she’s scared, she moves fast and they need to know how to cover us all the time or none of us are safe.”
I stop this. “They have tracking and were told to use it. This class, the first class, you react and move as you normally would. You’ll be challenged at different times, just react normally.”
They all nod. I smile because this is going to be fun. The Prospect pulls a dolly with a big box onto the mat. He throws chin and starts walking. “Stay, Mark. I’ll need you in on the rest of our trainings with the kids and Bits.”
“Thanks, VP.” He wants to stay here but is afraid to say it.
I don’t answer his thoughts but raise a hand. “Brothers, this is Cuyler, Shay, Undine, Arndt, Jude, Naaki and Atseelsoi. They don’t all have ability but they’re all in Protector training. That means they are all Enforcer level. Do not underestimate the kids. Be ready for anything and everything, use tracking when you need it. Your job is covering the kids. Go!”
My hand falls and the box is lifted. Three Alpha-Bits in full gear start shooting paint balls and four Brothers move toward them. The paint is coming out but no one can get close to the Bits.
Atseelsoi laughs. “They’re shielded. Go high!”
“No, look!” Cuyler is just gone.
I laugh at Cai and another Bit holding the net as if they’ll corral the kids in it. Pandemonium ensues. Ten Brothers, seven kids, five Alpha-Bits with my shields and a Prospect that finds this all funny have me smiling. Danny rises and I think this is getting better. More Brothers rise in their suits but Danny has Jude. The girl is smiling and yelling for help. I don’t shield Danny figuring he wants to play but I laugh when he’s pelted with paint.
Flying Bits catch Undine while she’s turned back for Jude. The Brothers are all pelted and Bits with Undine are falling fast. I slow that down and see Atseelsoi and Cuyler moving in. Holding the Bits up, I don’t shield them but watch the little ability shits shield Undine and pull her away. Atseelsoi never says a word out loud but he’s guiding them all. Cuyler laughs when paint hits the two Bits she uses as a shield for Arndt to get Jude.
“Where the hell did they go?” A Brother gets to the Bits about five feet above the mat but the kids are gone.
“Arndt has Jude.” I point and three Brothers float in front of them getting pelted but they stand at attention. Naaki and Shay have two Brothers floating in front of them covered in paint. Danny gives up and stands by the Bits still shooting. He’s covered in paint. Cuyler, Undine and Atseelsoi are covered by three, way up in the rafters.
“Stand down, Brothers.” The Bits drop their weapons down, Brothers lower to the mat. “Good job. Mark, how long was that?”
He stands tall. “From go to Stand down was three point four nine.”
I nod. “Brothers that were standing in front of the kids, move to the right.” They move and I blast them with a mist and wind, fast and hard. “Mark, get names for me. Brothers, be ready for anything isn’t always easy. Unpredictable, unexpectedand unknown packages was the point. You’re not always going to have the cushy job. I asked that no K-9s be added because they're a challenge you need training for. The kids and the Bits will react to a threat differently than you would. Keep it in mind and be ready.” I point at the first Brother I saw stand in front of Naaki. “Why didn’t you move Naaki and Shay down?”
He pulls his helmet off. “They don’t know me, Boss. It’s paint and all I needed to do was cover them. It wasn’t a life-or-death threat, they weren’t getting hurt by it and were happy to watch. Thanks for cleaning my suit.”
I nod. “Good job.” Looking around, I see the Brothers to the left get his words. “Your job is covering the package. Two Brothers flew around the shielded Bits causing a distraction.” I point the two Brothers out and blast them clean. “Ten Brothers covered the packages. This Club was built for us to train Protectors for high-risk packages all over the country. If this is not the job you want, leave now. Michaels’ Clan, step up. Put your helmets back on.” They do and I blast them.
Turning back to the Brothers I tell them, “This is Badasses future. Three are in flight gear. The rest don’t need it. There are more, there are Bits, there are extraordinary kids that think, act and live as if their minds are fifty. Do not underestimate the kids. Don’t underestimate the abilities. React by falling back to your training. The first rule?”
“Keep the package covered!” It comes out in unison.
I’m impressed and nod. “The second?”
“Keep your Brothers back!”
I nod again. “For those who forgot that, go shower, change and save time after dinner to clean your flight gear. If you need the gear before it’s clean, you wear it painted. Mark, get the supply Brother on that so they’ll be ready for tomorrow’s class. Michaels Clan, the rest of the Brothers, take a walk aroundthe lake, talk, learn about each other. I’ll clean the rest of this up while you do.”
I’m left with the Bits, Danny and paint every-fuckin-where.
Knight laughs. “Can help.”
