Page 9 of Vapor
“Roger, Boss Ranger. Veritable Ops, Law assist help, sign out.” My little Brother is cute signing us off and switching thefeed back to this Club’s towns just as easily as Ranger did but Aaron is on his hologram keyboard then he’s not.
Shaking my head to clear the disappearing keyboard and Ops rooms out doesn’t really clear it out. Technology and magic justarehere. No fanfare, no explanations, it just is.
“I change, help to pool,” Aaron says when we get to the door.
I squat for him. “Climb on, I can drop you at the Officer walkway before the lot.”
He jumps before I’m all the way down making me laugh. His little legs must get tired running everywhere. “Vapor is back, did you see her in here?”
“I meet to her with Op Control cost, pay job we need other country. Boss Jeti, get Boss Marli number to train control IT. Pres Jinx, VP Kyler explain work Op control, IT they need.”
That has me slowing down. “They need Op controls in another country? Are they working here?”
He wiggles at the walkway so I bend down for him. “Boss Jeti say Pres Justice say Night Stalker Club in Club. Prez Knight say military jail two Brother need rescue. Pres Harky, MB have job whole month.”
“Shit. I hope the Night Stalkers can help. That other classified team should be able to if they’re busy.”
He giggles at me. “Same team. Scepter only show to wrist. No paper, unit to base. Night Stalker cover to Scepter five year.”
“Brother, don’t spout all that so easy or out in the open. It could get someone hurt.” Killed but I can’t say that to him.
His eyes get huge. “No, I say to you. No repeat classified.”
I get it. “I appreciate the trust you have in me but no one should ever hear classified information. I was taught that anything that comes after the word classified is never spoken, written or acknowledged. I had clearance but only for the cases I worked on. The judge got redacted reports so I wasn’t thrown in the stockade for compromising our military.” I don’t mention the judge held me in contempt until my boss showed with protocols for thehigher than usual Classified level.
His head starts shaking but I pull him closer and kiss his head. “It’s okay, just don’t say anything about stalkers or Scepter.”
“No. I keep it.”
I stand and nod for him. He looks scared. I hope that’s enough for him to remember not to out the classified status of the new Club.
“I change.” He runs but I think the last look was embarrassment and keep quiet.
The pool is the next walkway. I’ve never been on the Officer compound here so I can’t take that shortcut. The keypads would stop me but the threat of guns on sensors ensures I’d never try.
“You Pres Bishop lawyer, Boss Julius?” The kid voice has an edge to it.
This is not a voice I know so I turn toward it. “Yeah, Julius Ross. You’re Asa. I saw you on the feed with Pres the day Alder was here.” The multicolored mohawk and earring can’t be mistaken for any other Alpha-Bit.
“Yes. Aaron say you new and learn to be good Brother.”
I smile at the little guy. “I’m trying. I was a JAG with a lazy command out of DC.”
His eyes go huge. “Shooter base?”
I nod. “Before I got there, but, yeah. They say it lost its soul without ever explaining what that meant.” I was deployed after that and didn’t know more than what I’d seen.
He looks away as if lost in thought. Maybe he’s heard it before. “Boss Ford, Pres Brekan talk, say military change after base shooting.”
That’s the way I heard it. “I wasn’t there before the shooting so I’ll take their word for it.”
I slow my pace and walk beside him. “Both leave military go to FBI Op, now here.”
“I’ve met Commander Ford at Phoenix but not Brekan.”
“Good Brothers. Boss Ranger too. You both alone, both show here, both good Brother.”
“Thanks, Asa. I got the crash course in Bravo but the Law Club has Badass raised Brothers that teach me more every day.” Marli even helps me with Badass and she’s newer than me.
