Page 1 of Citiali: Teach
Prologue
Citiali
Getting off the chopper, I see Putam walking toward the Club and jog to catch up to him. “Putam!” Pulling my hair back, I make sure it’s flat and my collar is down before I’m in front of him. I’m usually in my Indian uniform of breeches and a traditional cotton shirt to travel, but I’m new here and avoiding identity questions has me in the new Club utility uniform of cargos and a polo.
Seeing the smile as he turns, relief hits me. “Brother, are you blocking me?”
“Yeah, I’m blocking everyone. The three and Zeke know I’m here.”
With a hug, he says, “You’re stronger here.”
I nod, stepping back. “I’ve been with the three for a week, then a day with Zeke and Mase. Justice is flying us to Virginia before the new Club opens.”
He winces. “Andrew?”
I don’t answer that question but follow him to the stairs. “We can’t change who our parents are.” It’s my go-to line when it comes to Andrew.
With his head shaking, he opens so I see his thoughts. A scene of him telling Andrew what would happen if he didn’t start using the Protectors in the right positions shows and I close my eyes at Andrew’s answer.
My parents are dead, one of my brothers is dead and my last name has been changed to my grandfather and uncle’s, but I’m still seen as dirty, a savage. Even Aiyana and Justice’s backing doesn’t change that, it’s the same for all of us from Liberty. Ginny and the Kana’ti twins were lucky they got outbefore that whole shit show.I realize I let that show when he nods.
“It doesn’t explain the Princes not being used for more than soldiers.” He left for that reason.
I get it but trust is funny. “Aaron started using them since you left.” I point out.
His head is shaking before I finish. “Aaron’s not as good of a reader as Andrew and you know it. Everyone tried talking to him after the chopper went down. Andrew’s not on Ops so much anymore but wants everyone covered, I understand, but we train Brothers for the job. We’re all trained for more. Using Ability Protectors as only soldiers is hurting them and no one is paying attention.”
Shaking my own head, I explain, “You’re wrong on that one, Brother. I’ve been here for a week. Prez Knight has been at the meets and is taking everyone’s counsel.”
His head snaps back enough that I see it. “It’s shielded?”
I shrug. “Since you don’t know, yeah. Zeke and Mucimi are covering me but they’re not close. Maybe they cover Prez Knight and the meets.” We swipe into his office, but he doesn’t sit at his desk or the table, he leans against the front of the desk, so I stand with my back against the door.
“He covers himself. Christian, Dakota, Aiyana and Dad Jay are like a bubble around him if they’re close. Justice is the same here, he’s freaky to the extreme.”
I smile at that. “I think it’s years of us all throwing them protection and now the ancestors dousing them in it. I can’t read anything from either Justice or Prez unless they open to it.”
He smiles. “You may be right. You’re not here for nothing.”
“No. I wanted to see where you landed, ask about Ari and have lunch before the flight to Virginia.”
He rolls his eyes. “I had plans. Fuck. Dad Jay is with Prez, so I’m never getting out of this.” The disgust in there is heard loud and clear.
“Yeah.” I smile seeing Alpha-Bits at a lagoon from his mind. It looks like fun, but we have a meet to get to, he can play with the little Brothers tomorrow. “We’ll be back before morning. Justice is flying us over.”
“Fuckin’ great. I’m happy here. I’m an Officer and part of Inner Circle.”
I jump in before his not reading shit makes him whine. “And that’s not changing. Input and presence is all that’s needed from you. Prez Knight will give us a plan on the plane.”
He hits my shoulder without moving, making my eyebrow go up in question. “Stop calling him Prez Knight. It’s just Prez.”
“With Hemy, Aaron, Prez Knight, Ricky, now Ari, there are too many to just say Pres. No one ever knows who the fuck we're talking about. Tell me about Ari, I’ve never met him.” I do have a vision from Mucimi and words from Justice that tell me this is where I belong, but I need more than the bio I read about my new President.
He sits at his desk, so I sit in front of it.
“Ari is a Protector from Mass. I don’t know him well but he’s like all the other new young Presidents. He’s fanatical with Protecting the kids and Bits like old Pres in Mass was. Mase and Luke Rayne worked with him and Adrian when he was young.”
It turns out that Putam knows quite a bit but doesn’t have much personal information. I’ll get that soon enough, I guess.
