Page 84 of Strays
“They started a couple weeks ago. Still first round. Celtics and Heat play tonight.”
“What time?” Shane asks.
Jay checks his phone. “Seven-thirty. TNT.”
That’s in ten minutes. We clear the table, then sprawl out on the couch. Jay finds the channel, and the pre-game show’s already running, with commentators in suits, breaking down matchups, slow-motion replays of dunks and buzzer-beaters.
It’s sharp. Fast. Aggressive. The kind of sport that doesn’t waste time.
I like it.
Shane leans forward. “Did you see that? That dude just teleported.”
We watch the whole game.
The routine builds itself. We take turns making breakfast. We shoot around in the hoop before heading to work. We order real food for lunch, grab takeout for dinner. We watch a game every night.
The week moves a little easier than the last.
On Thursday, we get a call from MAB. We’re expected in D.C. for our monthly evaluation next Monday. Saturday night, we head back to the court toplay with Fontes and the other guys again.
This time, we’re split. Fontes throws Shane onto his team, along with a couple regulars. Jay and I end up opposite him.
Shane plays like he’s got something to prove. Cuts hard. Sets brutal screens. Owns the space under the rim. He blocks one of my shots, grins as he jogs back, and I know it’s on. Jay’s in the zone, smooth, fast, always where he needs to be. He picks off a pass and drives it in like it’s nothing. We play hard. Against each other. Against everyone. No one backs off. No one holds back.
Fontes gives me a look mid-game, half-smile, half-disbelief.
But we’re not out here to impress anyone. We’re here to move. To sweat. Shane score on Jay. Jay answers the next play. It doesn’t stop. Doesn’t let up. When it’s over, no one remembers the score. Doesn’t matter.
Everyone’s breathing heavy, shirts clinging to skin, grinning like they just walked off a battlefield. I feel good. Better than I’ve felt in weeks.
Then my phone buzzes. It’s a text from Jo. My heart jumps harder than it did during the game. She never texts at night. Never texts first.
I open it.
I’m coming home.
PART THREE
GROWING
MEMORANDUM
TO:Commander Elias Eneas, Deputy Commander Julius Eneas, Deputy Commander Leon Eneas
FROM: Leadership Board, Military Aegis Board (MAB)
SUBJECT: Preliminary Directive — Larsen Pack Incident
DATE: May 23rd, 2025
The leadership assessment is that this incident presents significant political exposure, and Department of Defense stakeholders are expected to use it as leverage. Given the pack’s origin within the Artificial Packs Program, it is also necessary to consider the potential for covert human-aligned agendas embedded within such units.
Therefore, the Board has decided that regardless of whether the Larsen Pack attains Tier-Two classification under medical assessment, any operational placement or transfer to the Special Operations Garrison shall remain suspended until explicit reauthorization is issued.
Special Operations Command shall submit a detailed Risk Mitigation Plan (RMP) within fourteen (14) calendar days, outlining contingency protocols, monitoring measures, and counterintelligence considerations, with coordination authorized with MAB Legal Affairs and the Office of Internal Security.
A follow-up directive will be issued upon review and acceptance of the RMP.
