Page 31 of Seamus: Unconventional
“Someone had me in the training on base and I enjoyed it so I stayed in the classes. It was before I was deployed. I did alright in there.” She must have tested high and got noticed.
At the dining room, I touch the arm of my chair and remember. “I don’t have my old chair. It got blown up the last time I did.” I smile but she isn’t. “Can you move over or open the door?”
“Oh, sorry. Your old chair got blown up? You really are paralyzed?”
I nod rolling over the threshold. Who would say they were if they weren’t? “Yeah, it’s how I ended up here. My partners got me to a Badass Club and were remembered from a base. My chair didn’t make it.”
“You were hurt overseas?”
I roll to the Officer table. “Yeah, but they didn’t kill us. We were gassed and dropped from a chopper. Waking up, I recognized the language and got us safe then help. We were in Pakistan so it wasn’t hard. Part of our job was making friendly connections.
“Networking. I heard about harvesting contacts but thought it was a joke. You were elite.” She isn’t asking.
“We wereand are trained elite tactical black operatives, so, yeah.” I hit the menu on my tablet and pull it up for her, ignoring the shock on her face.
A little shake of her head focuses her. She’s like us. “You all use technology that I haven’t seen used at home.” So she’s seen it on a base?
“We do. I learned some in, the rest here, everything is on hologram boards here. It’s a training that would come in handy if you’re staying.” I hope she stays here, we’ll have more teams if what Harky says is true.
Her eyes bounce from the menu to mine pretty quick. “You have vets here.”
I nod. “Nagíla is from Flight Guard at Elon. The other is from Colorado MC but I don’t know which Club. He’s on loan here. There are vets in Club towns but not in the Club. Since K-9 is huge here, you’re needed and it’s a job that falls right with your specialty. I haven’t seen a chihuahua since I left Texas.”
She laughs and Judge chuffs. Judge struck me as smart when we first met him. Other K-9s watched but you can tell when they don’t understand all words but react to known words here and there. Mostly it’s tone, energy and emotion.
“Pres, I didn’t get to see you earlier. I’m glad you’re up and moving. Myers said you were fine but…”
I put a hand up stopping the frantic ranting. “Relax, Circuit. I’m fine but in the chair again for a while.”
He nods and sits without words falling out of his mouth.
“I’m Katie, this is Sam but his name is debatable.” She’s cute.
Circuit nods. “I’m IT for Maestro. I got Sam as Judge but Light explained all that after the Op. I‘m glad you all made it today. That attack was fast and covert. Web had us all looking for how.”
I give him a look. “Classified here is the same as military?” Maybe the clue will shut him up.
He nods understanding. “It is, Pres. I submitted my findings but haven’t gotten anything back. I figured Asa or Light would update us.”
I nod. “Light has it so you’ll get it in the meet tomorrow. Katie is a civilian.” I try for another clue.
“Oh. Yeah. I’m just picking up dinner. Do you need anything, Pres?”
I shake my head watching him high-tail it into the kitchen.
Katie laughs. “Everyone here is so young.”
I nod. Being discharged at thirty-four, I was considered old. Some were surprised I’d made it that long. “One of the first things I learned about Badass is if you can do the job, Cort will give it to you. He believes in Badass equal wholeheartedly.”
She smirks at me. “Nagíla’s gloves told me.”
I laugh. “Zeke doesn’t talk out loud and Nagíla’s gloves talk for her. It’s got to be quiet in their house but they’re good people.” I stop for the Prospect. “Judge is new.”
The Prospect swipes on his tablet and puts it on the table in front of the K-9, then looks at Katie. “Ma’am?” I like that he gave Judge pictures to decide from.
“H4 with water.”
I don’t want Italian so I point at Judge.
