Ford's Rise - L. Ann Marie Page 0,53

He beat not malnourish hurt.”

Cort: “Fuck.” His voice is quiet. “Take them out, Ben, they fucking beat the kid.” Ben isn’t up in here so I have no idea what Ben said.

Alder: “We go, you live free with me. No beat, no cold. Clothes to you on plane. We teach you free.” He’s speaking Russian again. The kids look scared. Justice lifts the beaten boy up gently. We still hear his cry. I wipe my face without looking away from the screen.

Justice: “Mucimi, get Phoenix in here we need help.” Mucimi shows and takes the boy from Justice. Phoenix shows as soon as Mucimi is gone.

Phoenix: “Fuckin’ hell.”

Justice: “Take two. I’ll get the one with Alder. We need paperwork.”

Phoenix: He looks at the kids then Justice.

Alder: “Take them to chopper. Now!”

Phoenix: He jumps and nods. “Roger, Alder.” Lifting two he makes a face. Justice and Alder don’t wait, they’re moving to the file cabinet. They all have a filing cabinet. This one is as big as the labs from the last Op Alder did.

Justice: “This isn’t Alpha-Bits, Brother.” He shows a file.

Alder: He nods pulling files out. “Web ask what CIA do. This show what Alpha-Bits work. We take.”

Mase: He shows at the door. I shake my head at the magic shit. “We need to go, they have fuckin’ half men half machines here. One almost took Phoenix down. What am I carrying?”

Justice: “The whole fuckin’ cabinet is full of CIA shit. What do we need, Alder?” Alder closes a drawer and turns.

Mase: “I got it.”

Alder: Mase and the cabinet are gone. Alder smiles at Justice. “That.”

Cort and Raid laugh. I shake my head moving feeds so we see inside then out. The chopper crew is shooting from the sides. Justice shows on the deck and I breathe. I’m so glad Alder is with Justice.

Justice: “Mucimi!” We’re all looking at the monitors. Mucimi is on the ground. Mase and Justice lift him and move so we can’t see them. The doors close and I hear explosions. My eyes are on Mucimi. Alder is pulling gear off him fast. Mase helps. “Why were you on the fuckin’ chopper when your partner was laying on the ground!?”

Phoenix: His hands are in front of him. “He can’t get hurt in their gear. It’s fuckin’ heavy and covers everything including our dick. He’ll be okay.” He’s down, holding his head and yelling. Good.

Justice: “He’s your fuckin’ Brother! Prez, he needs lessons on fuckin’ Brotherhood. Leadership is pointless without it. He can stay when we get there. Aquyá is going to the FBI. Let him go. They need a reader. They aren’t on Ops with me ever. I want to roll pain through him and Christian is telling me I should.” He listens. Cort shakes his head. “I’m not dealing with either again, Prez. I didn’t want him here today. I took him for you. Mucimi was laying on the ground taking shots because he’s a fuckin’ coward. Mucimi saved his ass then was left out there. Do you remember Jinx? Yeah, I’m done.” He bends over Mucimi. I look at Cort.

Cort: He barely shakes his head at me. “I agree. You don’t leave a Brother when he falls. He’s in the same gear. He didn’t like the weight but he’s wearing it. Justice is my second on Ops. He’s out there while I’m here safely ensconced in my Ops room. He can choose who he wants on Ops. Ben, this is a dad talking. This isn’t any Ops Lead I’ve ever heard talking. Mucimi is your Brother too. No problem. Point that anger at Phoenix. I wanted to roll pain and don’t even know what it means.” He laughs. “Maybe take the pressure off him for not being you, Brother. It’s fucking with both of you.” He listens then smiles. “I’m out.” He shuts his mic down and breathes deep.

“He good with Justice?” Raid asks. I’d never question him.

“Yeah, he was just ranting. Justice is right, without Brotherhood, Lead isn’t possible. Phoenix is trying but he’s not Ben and never will be. Justice is and with more ability. There’s a reason for that. Ben will get it. He trained Justice so he knows. As a dad, it’s not easy to see. Phoenix is a good IT Ops Lead. I think there’s a reason for that too. Everything is computer now.”

I just look at him. He’s right and so fucking smart. The chopper setting down catches my attention. “Mucimi is up.”

Cort nods. “Get their mics