Page 4 of Ranger's Rise
VP was quiet but took everything in. I hoped his change in meeting time wasn’t because they were waffling on the training. I had just told Shultz they wereall in.It turned out to be because he had to pick up some kids for IT because Pres couldn’t fly after being shot. I didn’t ask about kids in IT. They’d have told me if I needed to know.
Setting my phone for the Sunday breakfast, I smile. I’m an Officer again, or I will be on Sunday. That’s fuckin’ sweet.
“Am I interrupting?”
I laugh looking at the door. “No. I was setting my watch for Sunday breakfast. Pres said we ride for breakfast at eight.”
Falcon puts his arm out and I take it holding his forearm. “Congratulations, Brother. They just told me. Pres is Cort or Boss to Officers. VP doesn’t care, but Cort is more comfortable with Officers calling him by name or Boss.”
That’s odd, but I nod. “I’ll remember.”
“You were SAA.”
I nod, waiting for why he’s bringing it up since he knows the answer.
“I’ll be taking some time off and need someone to step in. I’d like to have a name before I tell Cort.”
Holy fuck. “I’m new here, Brother. I’m not sure that’s going to fly. Officer is one thing, but SAA needs a track record.”
He waves it away like it’s not a problem, or won’t be. “Badass is Badass here. With the new job, can you do the SAA job? I don’t police the trainees, just the Brothers.”
“Isn’t there a Brother that’s been here longer that can do it? Brinks and Jinx come to mind.” I’m not saying a word about Hade. I don’t think he’s long for here.
He swings his head. “They just became Officers this year. They’re young and Brothers don’t see past that.”
I think he’s wrong there, but shrug. “If it flies, then I’d take it, but Cort doesn’t know me well.” He doesn’t strike me as a President that makes rash decisions when it comes to the Club. The Club is his life.
He smiles. “He knows you better than you think. He reads people better than anyone I’ve ever met. I became SAA within months of being in the Club.” Shit. He’s been with them for years.
He does more than the SAA job. “Do you need me to take the other shit you do?”
“No, Masons will step in for the older gang kids. They’re settled now they have a project. They like the Masons too.” He gets up and closes the door.
“I’ll tell Cort and VP that I told you this. We’re a shield for some people you'll see regularly. Because some are Brothers that we’re shielding, there are comments and questions. If you hear about the Cowboys or Web and his albino kids, shut it down. Deflect it however you can. If there is a problem with Brothers, deal or take it to VP and he’ll deal or they’ll lose their cut.”
I nod thinking it’s odd, but he brought other odd comments in with him. “So, Web is shielded? The Cowboys aren’t Brothers. The furniture guys are who you mean by Cowboys, right?” I got furniture from them. They dress like they’re in a rodeo every day. It’s another odd thing here, no one says shit about it. Beacon and Mounty said it’s where the Club would pay and every Officer gets furniture from them. I wasn’t an Officer when I first got here, but they paid and I got nice furniture. They even put up pictures and shit.
“They’re shielded by another group, but yeah, and they’re not Brothers. We are a shield if they’re ever in need. Here, that means they show or call and say they need a room and they have protection. We pick them up or take them in. There is a room for that on the fourth floor just outside of HR. Your card will access it once your Officer paperwork is entered. If you put someone in there, call Cort and let him know. He grants protection and I know there are others, but not who. They will all say the same thing.Need a room and I have protection.”
I nod waiting for him to answer about Web. He’s a Brother and lives in the building. He doesn’t make me wait. “Web and most of his albinos are Brothers. They were patched in by our old President.”
“Kids? They must have been toddlers.” I saw them walking across the grounds and riding on the track, but never up close.
He smiles. “Anton is the youngest of the IT Brothers that you’ll see regularly. He’s twenty and almost four foot. They were given shit that made them like they are. They’ve been working since they came in. I’m not sure they knew anything but work. They get paid and work shifts like any other Brother. You’ll see the older kids in Ops and Security. They’re fucking good. Most talk a few words and get their point across. Some work just IT and Web or Akai talk to them, we don’t. There are stations for them in the back of both Ops rooms. Web schedules and deals with all IT. They are considered part of Security, but he handles it. Beacon is Enforcer and McCabe regular Security for the Security Company, they handle that side. It won’t be anything more than overseeing that everyone is doing their jobs. Don’t ever yell at or reprimand the As. Tell Web and he’ll deal with it. I need to say this, I’ve never heard anyone complain about the job they do. Ever. They came in right after I did.”
That’s helpful. Okay, so As work and it sounds like that’s very well. What does that leave? “You said some of them. The others don’t work?”
“We don’t talk about or ask questions because a shield doesn’t need details. I’ll tell you what I’ve seen because you’ll hear Brothers talking and you need to shut that down, but it doesn’t get repeated.”
“I agree, but need something besides we’re a shield, since I can’t say that. It’s not up for discussion and what you say won’t be repeated.”
With a nod that looks like this isn’t a happy story, he goes on. “They came in when Crow was alive. He had them at the reservation at first. We only saw Web. When they moved to the Club, he had his own IT department that no one but Officers and Ops Leads saw. They ride with us on our runs, but don’t leave the building for much more than that or visiting Cort and Seren. Cort built them a building, but only Seren, Rex, Ant Irma and her kids are allowed in it. I don’t think Cort’s been in it since it was finished. The As were all we saw and I’ve seen a doctor over the past year. He takes care of only Web’s albinos. Well, most are albinos. Some are oriental, but small like the albinos. A few called in sick after one of his visits and Web was nervous but covered them.”
Fucking shit. “Are they okay?”
His head swings. “They were given something to make them all alike. Even the oriental kids are different, but it’s with a weird focus on the computer. They’re so fucking good with intel and Ops, Brothers can’t keep up with them. They don’t talk though. They don’t interact with many either. They’re nervous around all but a few Brothers, but they do seem to like working with the Officers. A few weeks ago, I saw four more kids, these are smaller, but all albinos. Akai said they were his brothers. He called them the Ms. Again, we don’t ask so that’s all I know of them. Last week three emaciated kids came in. They look real young, but it’s hard to tell with the As being so small. One was carried in by VP. I don’t think he could have walked it. His body was tiny, as in too skinny. They went to the medic room then up to Web’s wing. Patcher, the EMT, is a PA. He stayed with them and Doc has been to Web’s room daily, sometimes twice a day. I don’t know their letter, but they’re young from what I saw from Ops. They all had the white hair and no color to their skin.”
Holy fuck, that’s a lot to see with no questions asked. I helped transport from a base to a facility in Virginia, but they were adults and all sedated. I would have lost it with fucking kids. “Can I help?”
