Page 17 of Seamus: Unconventional
“They’re hurt.” Teller is watching Cort.
I explain why. “We all are. They gave up instead of fighting when they were so close to a better life. Giving up was their last free choice. The Theta group imploded. The IT tech wrecked the server intel because he saw what collective thinking could do. Phi had no free will. It was taken over by the chip controller. They were trained officers but turned to killers. They didn’t remember or believe they could do anything without their supreme handler ordering it. The override was sound pitches that were designed to activate training protocol above their own thoughts or emotions. The best of the best, trained elite K-9s that reach officer rank can’t make a decision to leave a baby alive or kill it? Save a victim or walk away? They chose to give up knowing it’s not a life they want to live. These partners are just like us, they make life and death decisions and we need that to be with compassion, empathy and respect for that life. Overriding what we train into them goes against everything we taught themandtheir basic nature. They aren’t born killers, the fucks trained them for that.”
“K-9s are trained to kill.” That has me turning toward Raid.
“So are you. They’re also trained for Ops like you, they’re trained to rescue, like you. MP K-9s are trained to keep the peace, diffuse anger, intimidate but stay calm, like any cop, violence isn’t the objective but it is taught right alongside keeping the peace, community service and protecting the masses. Like you.”
He looks confused. “They lost their own thoughts like the cyborgs you told us about?” Raid asks and I get why he’s confused.
“Yeah. The chip in my brain is controlled by me and my partners now. If the government reprogrammed and overrode the free will I have, I’d probably give up too. It’s no longer my life. It’s whoever controls the chip’s life.”
He nods getting it.
“You’re still pissed about the chip but you’re here now.” Cort doesn’t look like he’s committed to that so maybe he asks for the others.
“Getting away from the military isn’t easy for anyone. Special force, black op operatives, hell, even infantry are trained in jobs that have no civilian parallels. I made the decision to find a better purpose and started making plans for that long before I got out.Military is now a conglomerate of trained machinery designed primarily for destruction. For me, purpose renewed happened just before I was left in a chair. The chair didn’t change that purpose. The military connected my brain to two other brains so our lives will never be our own unless two die. My partners can’t go on without me, I can’t go on without them and we all need you and Badass to cover our next steps to complete our purpose. The military didn’t give a shit about what that meant when we weren’t military. Their plan was to cover it up by killing us because the job was over. Destruction is the point for them and our part in it was done. Here, we build, we better, we grow that good for more.I see why so many military end up in Badass. Here, we have a chance to make it, even when they chipped us, hunted, then left us for dead. We have a chance to do some good here.” I repeat the last softly, feeling it deep.
“You do, Brother, and we’re honored to have you, your partners and abilities. You can teach us how to use what you all have for good.”
My eyes whip to the giant. “We’re honored to do just that, Boss. We get that making it better isn’t always baking a cake, but we’re not all built for baking. Better for more needs engineers and operators, we know that job.”
His sharp eyes crinkle at the edges as he smiles. “Good. We have a good list building for you to show us how to use those skills without devastating countries, states, or communities.”
Light and Shadow are excited. ‘Making the impossible, possible’, I send to them. “We got that one down, Boss.” My partners both bark once.
“So, the Rubio guy is darker than you but your face is the same shape and hair is curly.” Cort has me reaching back for the Rubio actor guy.
It’s who I look like? “Okay.” I don’t know Rubio.
Everyone laughs. I pet the new Omega partners. They’re going to love their new job.
***
Pool area at Maestro Club
Sitting with the trainers, Circuit and Mase, I’m happy to watch the partners in the pool with Asa and Laran. Circuit and the trainers jump in to race Asa and the K-9s. I turn to Mase. He wouldn’t be here at this time for nothing.
He smiles but its got some sadness behind it. “Leon needs to be moved back to Honor.”
Fuck.
Shadow sends me a clock running fast. I send him a bicep muscle and hand. “The boys?”
“They’ll stay at Kristos and Natalia’s. She’s a wreck though.”
I breathe pushing hope and help through the chip, knowing my partners feel it. “Shadow wants to help.”
He nods. “Pres told me to ask. They’ll need him.”
I breathe again understanding that they know, there’s no maybe in there. Pancreatic cancer sucks. He’s older but didn’t get checked until Natalia forced it. Healers have been trying to help but they’re not a cure all for everything.
“We’re all here if we’re needed. I love having them here but they need to be close to their dad.”
He nods taking my arm in a fiery hand, then he’s gone. A deep breath pulls me together. Light leans against my leg when I stand. “I’m just taking a walk.”
A hand shows and I feel his hope and help. We walk the compound with heavy hearts. The boys will need us all. I send to add time for them into my schedule through the link and get a chuff.
“Make sure Shadow’s time has some balance with work, us and the new partners.”
