Page 69 of Master's Rise
I turn back when they stop. They’re looking at me like I have three heads. “What? That’s what I feel.”
They all just keep looking at me. I raise my eyebrow waiting.
Raid is the only one to speak. “I feel something too, like in the air or something, but I think you’re right. We’re ready for it now.”
I’m glad to see someone move. The statue game is weird. Brinks nods.“You were meant to be President of Phoenix Rising, Brother. Your voice, vision and ability to carry it all out is showing here. Just like you feel Crow and your dad, we are feeling you, Cort.”
I look at them and see they all agree, even if they aren’t moving. “Huh. That’s got to be weird since I’m alive and standing right here. If I start spouting shit in your head at odd times, come check on me. Check for pulse and shit.”
I watch and wait, then laugh with them.
We go up to Ops and are even more amazed. The room is buzzing with scrolling boards and the screens lit of everywhere. A section to the side is on showing the Ops rooms from the city, Major’s in central Colorado and his second Club that’s southwest Colorado. The feel is sci-fi meets future biker.
“It’s like jumping into the future,” Paul says, making Web’s albino Brothers laugh.
I should learn their names. His is the only department that is always hidden. He calls them his albinos and they seem to like the anonymity. If they didn’t answer my questions, I wouldn’t know they could talk.
I hit Paul’s back and keep walking. “I thought the same thing, Brother. They’re fucking crazy with the shit they do. It looks a whole lot different lit up.”
I like the logo on the back wall here. Anyone clicking into our Ops will see it. I smile, Badass keeping our backs covered.
The offices are done and furniture is in. Prospects are running around moving shit from the old office. The rooms on the next floor look good too. A few from the construction crew are adding nameplates to the Brothers rooms. The door to the Prospects’ section is lit with our signature fire. I didn’t expect that but love it. The trainees’ section has our logo on the doors with honor and Brotherhood words. I like that too. The double-occupancy rooms are plenty big enough for everyone to be comfortable. The furniture makes it easier to see it.
Older Brothers names on the top floor’s rooms feels good. These are bigger and well deserved. Even the smaller rooms are bigger than the cells and they have bathrooms. I laugh seeing the black silhouettes of women on the pink doors for the women’s section.
We have to go down the elevator then across to get to Security. I like the separation and card-only access. A Prospect is manning the desk outside the door. He stands nervously.
“Acknowledge, Prospect,” Raid barks at him.
He stands and nods nervously. “Pres, I mean, Boss, Cort. Brothers.”
I laugh. “You only need to use one. Any of those is fine with me.”
I’m glad he relaxes. “Roger, Boss.”
“That was perfect.” I swipe my card and walk through. The alarm goes off and I look back. “Everyone has to log in, Amos. Just swipe in.”
He steps back and swipes in shutting the alarm down. When I turn, two Security Brothers are standing in front of me. “Good job.” I walk by checking out their offices and job screens. They have a shit load of jobs on a spreadsheet taking up one side of the room. I see Beacon at the old office from a screen. Nice.
“I’m completely impressed but want to see the meeting rooms. Church is here tomorrow and our first meeting is in my meeting room on Monday.”
My meeting room is closer so we stop there. I do mean stop. I’m stunned at the door. Our logo with Badass under it is on the wall. The table looks like a tree with fire running, like it split it in half and is still burning under a glass-like finish. How the hell did they do that? I skim my hand over it walking to my normal seat at the head. The mural is behind me. “This is amazing, Brothers. Thank you.”
Web goes right to the computer and my boards light up with the logo floating, then the Ops room, Security and the town. I laugh. I’ll be laughing a lot as I find all the little gifts they’ve added for me.
I feel the weight of it all and take a deep breath looking at my Brothers watching me. They believe I can do this. I look behind me seeing how far we’ve come. Never alone. I got this.
The downstairs meeting room is just as impressive because of its size. I’m glad they left the classroom-like seating. The chalkboard is gone and a huge screen takes up most of the front wall. The logo is floating there too. All the computers must be set the same. Church here will accommodate everyone. I wonder what Major does but not for long. Going down the stairs, I stand in the center and look around. Web does his computer thing again and I turn to watch the screen. I show big in the center and Brothers in need is on my right. Community needs are on my left. My Brothers amaze me.
Looking back at the auditorium-like room I shake my head.“I have no words, Brothers. The honor and Brotherhood I feel is about choking me.”
“You better find the words, Cort, we got Church tomorrow and the Brothers expect you to say something.”
Fucking Raid. I laugh. “So noted.”
~*~*~
Seren
