Page 63 of Vapor
I lean back. “Kids are split into two compounds. We have Little Brothers and Sisters here tonight. Michaels is hosting so nothing is needed from you. Alder has been taking care of your paperwork for Cort or really Raid.”
She looks over. “He’s only been back two days.”
I shrug. Alpha-Bits, especially Alder, aren’t mere humans. They do everything faster than me. “He’s Alder. Back to the update, he had the Lego blocks going for a little kid bunkhouse. The Bits came up with cement that starts as a rolled carpet. One of them saw it on a video Anchor from the Rescue Club showed. We’re the first test for it and it worked great for going over the river rock that was the foundation. They used three-foot-wide rolls for walkways with the colors built into the rug. Soak it down, wait four hours and we have quicker walkways than the paving machine can produce with less of a footprint. The colors came out perfect. The kids love it and Bits finished before the little guys got here. It’s the quickest compound build Rescue has done this training, Stan said. Medics and Indian women from reservations showed to help with the little ones and more today for the older that should be here soon. That’s why we have tents again. Nash was taking the kids over the Colorado Vision and a water park. The plan is for the team to have some time to relax. Cort even planned for tomorrow to be party day.”
She laughs taking her last bite. “Perfect timing. I saw three new Chinook and Little Birds. Blackhawks are stock piled on every Club. Are we adding another crew?” She misses nothing,
“The quick job and the Badass soldiers paid big. One of your setup is going to the carrier so there will always be one on standby. One will go to the International Club with the armory minus the Chinook because they’ll be useful to the other teams that run as grim reapers or whatever they’re doing. The others are here. I think Cort is using the Chinook for moving larger groups of Brothers.” I stand when she does and take the plate and fork.
She pulls me down for a kiss that doesn’t last long enough. “It’s a good call, the Chinook is a workhorse. Next.”
“Log.” I remind her.
She turns back to her tablet and types quickly. I put a hand out when she hits the robotic arm up and the tablet hides behind a little door. They’re crazy good with the Badass.
I keep her moving. “Baby bunkhouse is next. Where is Honos?” I’m glad I get a minute with her before the wolf shows up. I’d think if he’s on the other chopper, he’d be in here already. He looks huge on Ops.
“With the kids.”
That surprises me. “They’re not afraid of him?”
She snorts as I put a hand out for her to jump down. “He’s their favorite nanny. It’s weird, the Brother is as deadly as Mase but they see puppy or something. The older kids were nervous until they saw the younger with him.” She’s calling him a Brother. She returns Sweet’s salute. The pilot for the new team is ready and can’t wait for his mission tomorrow. It’s in Alabama for a teacher, her brother and a convenience store owner.
“What’s the youngest coming in?” I ask some of my questions.
“Nine.”
This is a big group but we have the Clubs setting up to take groups of ten. “Hemy from BSC South is taking twenty and he’s got BSC Clubs that offered for the next rescues. They’re all willing when they hear it’s American kids with ABSZ actively hunting for the parents.”
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Vapor
My head is nodding. “They should. Corruption has hit a new high but people are finally seeing it. Too many Americans are being swept up and disappeared. Their kids weren’t even a mention. Cort is meeting with the Badass kids for their network of news going to other kids. They’ll get stories out, but right now, school is out. Ben thinks that’s why so many are being moved. They won’t be missed at school. When school starts again, everyone will think they moved, or are being homeschooled.”
“That’s sick but I can see how it’s a great cover. Isolation in the communities makes it easier.” He isn’t wrong.
Social media connects people on the surface. “Kids may be online but may be closest to someone across the country or in another country. Isolation is a definite security issue. Who would report them missing?”
He nods pointing to the little ones playing on a new playground. “Their parents are already picked up, so like Greg, the neighbors need to step up and in to save the kids.”
I shake my head. “From what I’ve seen, people are all about them and their lives. Community is only if you match their belief and opinion exactly. Everyone else is seen as an enemy. Debate should have been a class everyone is required to take. Right now, no one knows how to live in a world of differing opinions. Being equal means their oppositional opinion can be noted and we debate, understanding that our lives are extremely different from one location and socioeconomic background toanother. It makes more sense to listen and learn why they think like they do. Maybe it’s something you’d agree with for a reason you’ve never heard.”
He nods walking me into the colorful new bunk house. “I didn’t know why Alabama doesn’t ban the chemical dumps in-state. A podcast said the community doesn’t have the money to move. Their clinic is treating them with doctors from the company that’s dumping in their backyards. It turns out, after six calls and some Alpha-Bit research, the people keep voting for it but only because they don’t understand that they could stop and force a cleanup, or get money to move because it’s a documented hazardous waste offender.” He sounds like my Julius the JAG lawyer that sees everything through his law books.
I mull over people in different locations that I know or have met. “This is like a daycare?” I see classroom areas.
“Out here. Behind the fun house mirror is the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen section.”
I scan everything seeing different height tables and chairs. It’s for smaller kids with activities and I guess supplies age appropriate. The building isn’t huge but it’s strategically set up to maximize its space. “I want to help the Alabama people because they need it but I need to do this here. Kids need to be brought home. We may never find their parents but they deserve a real life in the country they know.” Taking care of our kids when their parents can’t is a fight I’m happy to take up. Our country should be showing us what’s important and stand to fight with us. My pride shifts a little more to the Badass shield I’m helping hold up.
He pulls me from the wall of drawers that’s actually built into the wall so I’m right against him. He doesn’t know it butthis is where I’d love to spend my life. “You need to keep doing the rescues. I made some calls, it may not help but I know a JAG from Alabama. He’s going to look at the reports.” He doesn’t sound like it will get help there.
“Is there a but?”
“He has family therebutthey don’t talk because he’s a black lawyer. They think he got the job because he’s black.”
What? “Aren’t they black?”
