Page 9 of Seamus: Unconventional
The blast sounds loud, then the basement’s muted blast goes off, then the gas explosion that happens as the building implodes on itself. I send clear and a question mark through the chip, getting a roger back. This is good, the only casualty is the owner.
I send a ‘perfect’ to Light hearing the two of them chuff. “Chopper,” I say in German and see the order go to Prometheus. Light is so good at technology.
I’m happy to see Prometheus and Mase already on the chopper. I never saw or looked for Mase and wonder how long he’s been here. Climbing in, I stop the crewman from closing the door with a hand up. “Light is right behind me.”
The Lead steps over. “We’re officially your crew now, Captain. Our move was settled while we were out but dinner is at the new Club tonight with dogs, two handlers and Prospects. I have the Flight Crew bios for you but don’t have the others.” He hands me a flash.
I step aside for Light and hand him the drive when he hops on the deck. “Don’t call them dogs, my partners and the enhanced K-9s have had more training than we have and rank higher than most Brothers.” I don’t wait for his stunned to answer and turn to Light. “Bios for Flight. They’re not waiting for me to agree anymore. Get our SOP to the Flight Lead and theirs stored for us to read later.” He takes the flash in his mouth and tilts his head to drop it into the little pocket under his fur that connects to his collar. Looking at the Lead I say, “We got location and a ride. I don’t know how this works but if you need something from us, let me or Light know. I was told of a Club protocol book but haven’t seen one. Since they decided I’ll take the job, they’ll send it. We have job procedure and protocols, we used in, that will work for us here based on this job. Light will send those to you.”
He nods. “We get flight plans straight from Phoenix Ops for the Maestro Club. It’s the only procedure we got so far. Honor’s VP said you’d give yours.” He points, indicating Mase.
Light will send ours so that’s done butI feel my eyebrow go up at the name. “Maestro?”
His surprised look and shrug tell me he didn’t come up with the name so I look at Mase. “The Club is named Maestro?”
He rolls his eyes. “Cort came up with it when Alder said Master. You and your dogs run like artists or wizards. They all watched your Op and had shit to say.”
I see and can feel that he’s pissed but it can’t be at me. I smile. “They’re partners not just dogs and have trained more than I have. He said you can’t be our partner?”
He pegs a fiery finger connected to a blazing arm at me and the crew all turn away fast.
I smile right out, shaking my head at him. “We work alone and your fire would have had us all on fire or outed in seconds. You’re VP, run Ops for this huge Club that spans two states and are an Op Lead, part of a Three and have freaky lighting you up while not being your only ability. What is missing in your life that all I listed isn’t enough?”
His smile shows and eyes close, so the fire goes out. I like this Mase better. “You’re right. My girl and kids like seeing me regularly. Thanks.”
I blink, then blink again. Nope he’s not there, turning to the Lead, I ask, “He can make it home from here?”
He smiles. “VP can make it to Bravo in seconds so he’s already home.”
“Okay, so the Club is really called Maestro?”
He smiles looking friendly and open. I hope everyone at the new Club, that I didn’t agree to, is like him. “Yeah. VP had the engineer open the meet for him so we all saw it. Falcon, the President of Bravo, said you didn’t agree four times but no one listened. They’re all sending Brothers they trained or have in their VIP houses.” He smiles and the man at the door laughs. “They must have had everything ready for this but forgot to ask.”
I sit and look up at him. “He wasn’t going to ask. He knew I’d take it when Colonel Graywolf told him I was a classified operator. I saw his eyes light up and knew he’d find us a job that works for the Club. The job we just did was an easy one we have experience in.”
“That’s how it looked cookie cutter to you and the dogs.” He didn’t get theno dogreference. I’ll get Light to send it out to everyone so I’m not pointing it out every time they talk.
I smile at the engineer. “This is our first time working with Prometheus. Light is one of my partners so we’ve worked together for years with Shadow.”
The Lead nods. “He’s the Rottweiler mix.”
“They’re both Malinois X. Shadow is Belgian Malinois, King Shepherd, Rottie mix and Light the Belgian Malinois, King Shepherd, Malamute mix. The guy I bought them from loved the giant shepherds and Malinois mix then started mixing that with working dog breeds.” I don’t give the lineage just to keep it simple.
He nods. “The shepherd and rottie must tame down the energy of the Belgian Malinois.”
I smile. “Yeah, it does and gives them a killer base for the stealth training. Both are incredibly quiet and agile even when jumping and landing.”
“I was on a dog rescue and saw others that were big but weird mixes that in no way looked friendly. The chopper ride was so quiet, I don’t think the crew took a deep breath until we landed. The young Indian was on the flight too but not one member said a word about the dogs or the kid.” Dog again.
I leave it alone.“Were they enhanced or chipped? It’s odd but service dogs aren’t unruly animals. They’re trained to wait for orders.”
He shrugs. “I don’t know the difference.”
I guess I’m giving some lineage after all and point at Prometheus. “All war dogs tested high in sensory skills making them born to work at K-9 level. He’s enhanced with injections that changed something else in his DNA. Originally, he was bred to be a working military K-9 because of his impressive lineage, but someone fucked with them adding shit into them for years so his impressive lineage is more now. Light and Shadow are chipped to me. Our brains are connected through that chip They send and receive information to and from me, like their watch boards but we have tracking, physiological information, and whatever we send like orders and answers. The connection we have gives emotion and a sort of thought process that isn’t seen but was tracked. Their lineage is impressive and enhanced DNA was bred in like Prometheus, but not newly or repeatedly injected.” I nod when Light sends he’ll help. “Lately they send emojis. We didn’t have that before so it’s their new thing.”
The crew paying attention to us laugh. Light has his hologram board up showing our stats and tracking. I point. “The clown is Shadow. He probably labels me with the clown too but doesn’t show it when I’m close.”
They laugh again.
