Page 42 of Vapor
I nod. “They’re like little air fresheners. I love the lotion or powder smell.”
“Until they need a change.” He laughs and bends for Greg to climb on his back.
He’s right so I give him that in the form of a quick kiss, then look up at Cort and the other Presidents. The fog is just gone. “Brothers, your entertainment started with the Alpha-Bits to loosen you up then the Little Brothers with Tyson and hiscrews finding a way to welcome the rescue kids into Badass. They all did a great job. Show them we mean it when we say we’ve got a hand for you.” Cort waits for the cheers to die down.
“I am impressed with our newest Club. They’ve run two rescues for adults and used the money to rescue kids trafficked to other countries by people taking advantage of no adult protection in their homes.” He shakes his head. “The new SOAR Club at Veritable Rising are Night Stalkers and what our newest President, Vapor, calls strays. They’re elite operatives that did the classified jobs all around the world. We seem to have quite a few of those. The reason I bring up Vapor is she said something that struck me. Julius Ross told her his mom stole an old Badass Bible and gave him lessons she overheard his dad, the president of Michigan, give in Church. I never met Tito but these words are ones I’d have stolen from him.” He pauses for the Brothers laughing.
“She repeated his words,‘Badass isn’t about the best shot, the fastest runner, strongest weightlifter or leader that makes no mistakes. Badass is about the Brother that teaches patience, practice and the wisdom they’ve learned while spotting, logging or timing your practices. It’s about owning your mistakes in a way that teaches you to remember them just as much as the battles you won. Badass is about ‘Being Legendary.’ I wish I had heard that before today. I would have gotten Jack and Rangers’ honor quicker; Ben Knights need to share his mistakes and Justices absolute belief that every life is worth as much as his. Be Legendary are words Julius has going down his leg in ink. He said it’s about being remembered for the right you choose over the millions of options out there in the world. Badass makes it easier for him to believe it. He never knew his dad. If you see him at the pool, you’ll see his ink is in the Badass script. He thought it was a comic book thing his momgave him. Alder looked it up and showed Vapor the grainy video of Michigan’s Church while they were on a rescue Op in the new jet. If I know Alder, Tito will be on a hologram board at Julius’ new Club so he’ll get the chance to know what kind of man his dad was.”
We all turn when Alder stands on his chair. “Roger, Pres Cort. Tape boxed to storage, ABSZ IT upload. One, two day they finish. Boss Natalia give me two day build hologram to SOAR.” Alder sits.
Cort shakes his head. “Julius, Ranger and Jack will like that, thank you, Brother.”
Alder stands again. “VP Jack, Boss Ranger have father to kid lessons same to Pres Crow, Boss Reed. Add Pres Tito make easy job to Boss Natalia.”
Cort nods looking at the Officers. Justice steps up. “VA Vapor and Officers, step on up, Brothers. President Vapor is now Vapor Ross and the new cut shows that name. Her original was Kwolek and yes, her mom invented Kevlar.”
Mucimi appears and takes the baby I’m holding. I’m surprised by how many people showed up while I was busy holding babies and watching the kids. I know they all didn’t just appear. I should have seen all this. Scanning faces, I see many that are familiar and relax.
“Parade form, double,” I tell the SOAR members softly. We make the stage center together and stop together.
Cort smiles but Justice is still the voice of Badass today. He does a whole ceremony that has Presidents putting cuts on us as he talks reminding me of the oaths and creeds we pledge, the ones Julius reminded me of. Badass deserves my fidelity and I’m touched by the confidence I hear in my Club as they repeat the Brothers pledge. They feel it too.
“Do you have words for the kids you’ve rescued.” Justice surprises me.
I nod and step out of formation. “My words are not just for kids but for any who may need them. I went from high school into the military. I’ve spent my adult life fighting for the idea of democracy for a nation built as an experiment. I came home to people who hate me for being a soldier, for being a woman. Neighbors who tried threats to get my property so they could have a shortcut they never asked for, but stole. Driving across the country, I saw so many angry unhappy people, it made me reevaluate what that fight was for. So many of my team and fellow enlisted Brothers are falling in wars because of corruption and greed. The same can be said for the communities we think we’re fighting and dying for. Too many here at home are losing their battle to be free in the land of the free. Apparently, it is free only if you are white, male and moneyed. I was reminded of our oaths and creeds today; we need those more than ever in this theater of America that has forgotten that politicians serve the people. Like here in Badass, the military serve the country, the community and our families. I have two groups of kids that may not believe it but those words are in our oaths and creeds. We have women and kids brought up in slavery, the constitution has an amendment abolishing that. Women got the right to autonomy and to own property because of Rowe V Wade but it has been repealed. I heard a man on the radio say the amendment giving me the right to vote should be repealed too. I looked him up. He never served a day in the military, never did more than get rich as a Senator. He forgot that his purpose is to serve the people of his state, this state. I will be sure to show up come Election Day. We fight for the constitution preserving freedom for all. We fight for the truth and justice being upheld by our courts and we fight for our country, community andfamilies to live free and equal. I did not fight for a man to take away my rights while I defend his. I did not fight so the majority of the civil servants we call congressmen and senators corrupt a system meant to protect the very people they’re stealing from. Today, SOAR wears their new uniforms proudly, pledging that our newest oath is the most important one we have ever given and we will defend it as if your lives depend on it. If you need us, we will show up. In the community, we will be present. In a battle, we will be ferocious. Because Badass, as with the military, reminds us that our Brothers always come before ourselves, we will be Legendary!”
The kids and Brothers get so loud, I don’t hear my Club get the order to salute. I see them at attention holding that salute when I turn to get back in formation. Back in position, I hear Jones order ease and stand at ease with my Club. They weren’t saluting me, they were saluting Badass, the kids and the slaves. Our new oath is righteous.
Cort stands in front of us. “I think the new SOAR Club understands Badass well. It is with honor that we celebrate their opening this weekend. I’m so fuckin’ proud of our new Club being Badass before they knew we were waiting for them.” Cort knew?
Keeping my head straight, my eyes flick over and stop on Julius. He nods and bends toward Teller, getting words I can’t read. Julius stands tall and nods for me holding a finger up. He’ll tell me when we’re done here. I give a long blink getting a smile from him. I love the boy next door hottie that understands looks without words.
Chapter Seven
Two days
SOAR
Julius
Riding back from Veritable, I pass tent city where it doesn't look like they’ll be taken down today. I pull into Law and hand the eight names to Endo.
They’ve got some good cops ready to move. I pulled two for Marli in the Deputy slot but one looks good for Sheriff. They’re both better than the derelict sitting in the seat now. Law doesn’t apply to him or his police force. The retired army major keeps the old Sheriff in place so he can staff his growing town with shady military. Vapor was right about the corruption leaking into our communities. Kyler said they’re bypassing the state and trying for federal money to equip them. Bowing down is going to get them turning on the very hand that helped equip them and they’ll eventually die, Putam said. Mucimi popped in to say we can fix it before civilians get hurt. Waiting isn’t an answer. Mucimi’s voice is weird when he gives orders like, ‘waiting isn’t an answer,’ so I did my part and got them a list of who has the legal knowledge, grasp of the app along with the training scores and personality to run the bad out and good incoming staff in position.
“What’s the two highlighted for Marli?”
“Marli asked for a replacement Sheriff. The first was MP at 0-6.”
He whistles. “Colonel, how old is he?”
I smile at him. “I retired 0-6.”
His shock shows. “Why didn’t you say?”
I smile. “To who and why would I? Rank doesn’t matter here.”
“No, but it explains confusion and questions of here and now. A lawyer from Air Force based in Virginia is what I got. Bishop told me you were in a special unit of IAS JAG. Yesterday, the Blackhawk kid from Rescue said you were deployed. Now I hear that you were a colonel. All that came before today would explain you not understanding the changes here at home. You questioned everything.”
