Page 59 of Vapor
He makes a disgusted dog noise.
I can relate. “They’re going to be pissed I’m not leaving. We have addresses and two have kids listed from the US. They were on a ship for three weeks before hitting the border here.” His noise is the same. Mase called it chuff. It sounds like a fur ball in his throat. We go down a level and into the meeting room.
“I need Jones in the room and Sarah, Julius, VP, Moss and Lerch from SOAR Club up on a board for me,” I tell the tablet on the wall.
“One moment, Commander. Alerts sent, Commander.” I don’t know who is behind the voice but they’re pleasant and very fast.
“Boss,” I turn seeing Jones and Mase.
I nod. “Glad you’re up, Mase. I think your advice is needed here. How are you feeling?”
He lifts his shirt and I step back. “You people and the magic. That’s unbelievable.”
He nods. “It is. I’m healed outside. They’ll keep working on muscles and shit inside but I’m cleared for work.”
“They’re working on inside but you’re cleared?”
He nods and pulls his phone. Alder is here. “LP if you’re not busy, we could use some medical jargon and maybe advice.” The Indian watches my eyes as if he’s waiting for approval.
I smile. “All advice and perspective is good.”
While Jones and Mase talk, I pull the pages from inside my gear. Mase stops mid-sentence. “There are more.” He stands fast. “Justice, Mucimi?”
The board on the side pops on with Justice in an office. “Brother.”
“There are more. The Commander has lists but they were here, on this carrier. I saw the beach with the wild horses.”
“Carova? The other was, what, Maryland?”
“Assateague Island. The bridge and dock.” I look at Mase. “The carrier was confiscated near Virginia or a waterway from Maryland?”
Boards light up with the people I asked for plus three. “Bosses, Brothers. We have two lists of kids from the US that Shep took from the office we just raided. The rest weren’t in English but he scanned them with his cam for SOAR to translate for me. Mase is doing magic so he can explain that. These babies and toddlers were in a grooming pen. The lists are older kids. I want to stay to get them home. I’m out of artillery and want the babies on a plane out of here. I need support and quick solutions.” I point at Mase to say his piece.
Mase looks serious and lethal. “The kids were on this carrier, I saw the island with wild horses.” He looks up at Justice.
He nods and agrees. “Assateague. We took a vacation there. The carrier hit a bridge in a waterway by the island. Mase got it right. There are kids that have been on that ship. One has some ability but I can’t see it, I felt it from Mase.”
I look at Mase but he’s watching Ben Knight and Cort, who I note are in the same room.
Ben nods. “Teller said they were kept in the cells below and Zeke wants to fly what you need to you so he can help on the Op.”
He turns toward Cort but he’s focused on the board to his right.
Ben’s finishing words land like a blow. “The girl is Cherokee.”
The man on the board turns pasty white. “Ahyoka? It’s been more than six months. I need Citiali, he said she’s alive. Everyone dismissed him.”
I’m lost.
“Get to Hemy’s meeting room with a doc,” Ben says to someone on his phone.
Cort talks as soon as Ben stops. “Get to a meeting room, Brother. Hook into Phoenix. Amal, add Citiali in.”
We hear a little, ‘Roger, Boss,’ in the background of the board.
My eyes find Jones. He’s watching me and moves closer. “Leave no one behind is right, Commander. I’m with you on this. We can’t leave kids when we’re right here and able to get them home.”
I breathe easier. “Thank you. I know everyone wanted to get home but the kids on those two lists want to get home too. They’re just kids.”
