Page 46 of Citiali: Teach
I nod. “You got Danny. I can’t blast him if he’s not in gear.”
He laughs. I turn away to my two little Brothers. “Helmets on, stand in a line, I’ll hold you in place.”
They do and I blast them and the mat altogether. My shooting Bits laugh. “Gregor, is your leg okay?” I ask not knowing how long he can stand on it.
“I am good, VP. VP Asa make to me skeleton. Brace to swim, bed.” He’s proud and it shows.
“Your Brothers have your back. I’m glad they do. Thanks for helping today, Brothers. Next class is Bits in suits. I’ll need you all to be Anton.”
They laugh running, even Gregor.
“That was awesome, VP. It was so fast but showed a lot.” Mark is a smart Brother.
“It did. What’s your goal?”
He moves the box back onto the dolly. “I was shooting for Protector but I’m not sure now. I like how everyone has plans and trains here. You knew in minutes who is ready and who isn’t.”
“To be a trainer, you need to be a Protector. While you’re deciding, go as far as you can and don’t stop learning. Today I learned shit from the kids. Don’t ever stop learning, once you do, your views are limited.”
He stops stacking the little paintball guns and looks at me like he’s mulling something over. “You learn nothing when you know everything.”
I smile. “Exactly. Where did you come from?”
“Bravo. VP Teller sponsored me. He trains Prospects with the Brothers. The other trainers did specialty stuff but VP Teller mixed us in with his class.”
Teller is everywhere. “He’s a good trainer and he’s right. Bravo is big with perspective, Justice said Falcon pushes it to his Officers and trainers.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know about that but Pres Falcon talks to all of us. He takes our ride time regularly and is always telling us stuff we never thought about. I thought I’d have to be Security and was going to the Vision but he says we can make it as high as we’re willing to work for.”
That feels good. “He’s right. Don’t settle for what you can make it to, work for what you want. If that’s Protector trainer, you’ll make it to a Protector trainer.”
He shakes his head. “Not any trainer, Boss, I want to train for the Bits and kids. I was going to the Vision but they need more. VP Teller showed us what the Alpha-Bits had to learn and why. We need to keep them safe. They’re tiny and guys bigger than me come after them.” He looks away. “This is all they’ll ever have, Boss. We need to keep them safe.” His lowered tone has me swallowing.
The feelings we share hit hard. “We do. They’re a big part of the reason Cort started this Club. I see the need and will do my part to get that across to the new Protectors. You can be a part of that, your perspective matters here, Mark. We need every Brother coming through to see and feel what you do.”
His head whips around. “I can get VP Teller’s feeds.”
I smile. “Get them. You can help in the classroom tomorrow and tell them why this job is so important.”
“I will, Boss. Do you need anything?” He wants to run but holds himself still.
I smile. “No, I’ll clean the rest. Go get Teller’s feeds.”
He pushes the box to the center and runs with his dolly.
My head stops shaking when I catch sight of Teller walking my way. “He’s going to be a good Brother.”
I nod. “I’ll help with that. He’s exactly the kind of Protector we’re hoping to train.”
“He is, Brother. You need to be alert…” he bends holding his head. “Fuck!”
I walk away. He can’t say more, obviously. Stopping at my office, I lock the door and jump. Energy fills me but I get no words of wisdom here.
“Zeke, am I watching kids or Alpha-Bits?”
‘Stay alert.’ It sounds tinny. Shit, he isn’t giving me any help. In Virginia, I’d warn the Brothers vaguely. Since I don’t see what they obviously are, this has to be a me thing.
Jumping back, I take my laptop and head over to the gym. They call it training but it’s a gym.
