Page 10 of Seamus: Unconventional
“If command paid attention, they’d have ranked him higher than us, but they gave it to me, so he’s always riding us, just hoping it’s the day we grow up.” I laugh with my fist out for the new clown label showing for me.
Light bumps my fist with his paw and drops his board down.
I explain this part to my new crew so they aren’t totally clueless when we need their help. “Our chip shows behind our eyes or inside them or our brain or something like that. Light has all the data on that, I never cared and I’m still pissed they chipped us. It works and we use it so it has a purpose. A tech that was part of a bigger group tore through the main servers so bad the initial programs were lost. The guy was out of his mind but finally understood how bad the collective thought process could backfire. The whole team imploded as one and was supposed to end the study, but they must have remade something similar because my partners found two that were chipped. They connected into me within a week. We never get command intel but our connection never cut off. Light knew and gave a plan for us. It took months but I had an old Marine medic in Texas move the chips closer to our security chips. It kept us safe.” I pull my collar down to show the newly acquired scar on my neck. “They did look for it but didn’t have time to keep searching. My partners got me away and to the Texas Badass Club. With my chip, they’d have control of us all again.
The engineer has horror on his face when he looks back. “Why would you connect with them? The last big group imploded.”
That’s a good question to ask. I like this guy. “I’m not trying to gain world domination. I just want to live doing a job I enjoy with partners and bosses that are looking for the same.”
He nods watching my eyes. “That’s what we all want. You’re in a good place, Brother. While Mase was watching the meeting, Alder was running code for a program that would help with chipped K-9s. Teller and Justice are going to help him get other chipped dogs on a server so you’re not overloaded with them all. I didn’t understand why and it wasn’t a meet we were invited to so I couldn’t ask. I’m glad you explained. So, they use a similar program for the tracking system for elders and towns. They can open it for one or two at a time so everything doesn’t crash or draw too much on one Club but everyone is covered. Justice said they can code it so other team leads can work with chipped dogs on the new Lead glasses.” This is good news.
The lost Leads and K-9s haven’t left us and I’m not sure they should. Remembering the fallen means we won’t repeat those costly mistakes.
Alder showed me the glasses and Asa tested me on them. “Thanks. It will be better for all of us. I just finished the testing on those two days ago.”
The engineer smiles and Lead laughs. “Cort isn’t a patient Brother. He’ll do everything he can to make sure you have everything you need but it’s at Mach 5.”
I’ve seen that. “Yeah.”
Positions are taken with new orders given so I turn to my partners for the day. “You did perfect, thanks, Brothers.”
Light chuffs at me sending a Brother and thumbs up. I roll my eyes at him. “I’m working on Brother. It’s easier and came out by itself this time.”
Prometheus puts his paw up so I bump it. He’s like Shadow. “Did the chip and board work for you today?”
His watch pops a board up with a ‘yes’ showing. ‘Easy’ and a bolt of lightning shows making me laugh. “You’re like my partners, Light is fast with the boards too. I’m showing Shadow the bolt so he can annoy Light with it.”
Light moves fast licking up my face. “Bloody beast! Stand down. You callmecheeky.” I push his big head away getting a laugh from the Brother at the door.
I stand and move away from the unruly, childish, beast, making sure to show him all the words as I think them. Prometheus chuffs and stands with me. He really is like Shadow. I hope my other partner was okay with the kids today.
The Lead points at the Club. “It looks like we’ve got company. I thought some showed in the Honor meeting room.”
“Fuck me. Those are all different Clubs.” Why are they here? There are three different choppers down there.
He laughs. “Yeah, it’s normal here. Pres and VP try to show at other Clubs so parties aren’t always here. They’re both readers and VP said it’s too much to have everyone close for too long.”
I nod. “We can close down parts of the chip that we don’t need. Chris said the readers can’t do that.”
He gives me a funny look then it clears. “You’ll have to explain that but it can wait. Preses Falcon and Brekan from Bravo and the MC are here. That other chopper is Elite, part of the Squared Club so they may be here for Prometheus.”
I nod and make a note to get with the Flight Crew for regular interactions. They remind me of my old workers so I explain more than what’s normal for me. “I’m trained Green Beret-Delta and met Graywolf at the MC. I was in a coma at his medic room for two months. My partners love him.” I smile seeing Shadow standing tall and proud by the colonel he’s come to love.
As soon as the doors open, Shadow is charging. I shake my head, hop down and lean back against the deck so I’m not sprawled out on it. Shadow jumps but is gentle today. “It was good and Prometheus did great. How is Leon and the boys?”
I see a feed of Leon’s chart and close my eyes. The boys show on bikes riding a track. I smile when I see Shadow on a bike behind Seth. My eyes pop open when I see Vinny packing a bag. “You invited them?”
He barks at me. I push his face back. “Don’t bark in my face. It’s a question. You can invite them but they can’t sleep in your room, you’re a dog.”
He barks at me again showing ‘Brother’ and chains around me in a picture. The Alpha-Bits need to stop showing them AI shit.
“If it ever happens, I’m crating you. You’re a dog and no label changes it. It’s like me being paralyzed, nothing changes it. They can sleep in the back room, I don’t need an office at home, get beds in there for them.”
He pushes off me and runs the other way. Colonel Graywolf and Falcon laugh. “He’s been pacing, I think he thought you’d say no.” The colonel is good at reading my partners.
“It doesn’t look good with Leon?” I ask but saw the chart.
Falcon takes a deep breath so I watch him closely seeing guarded slide down his face. “Alder and the Alpha-Bits are working with Copper and Aiyana. They got the blocker from Copper that helped with the kid cancer and Aiyana has a way to isolate and treat tumors. Alder blocked time.” He shrugs, I guess, that means to work on it.
