Raw Deal Read online

  "That was the easiest sale I ever made," said Tito. "It won't be ready for another week, and he hasn't even seen it yet."

  "When Bannon wants to do something, he does it."

  "I can see that," said Tito. "I've got to make some phone calls. There's a furniture liquidator that loves me. She'll get these soldiers hooked up. Thank heaven we've done this once, or I wouldn't have a clue." He stalked off, cola in one hand, cell phone in the other.

  "That went well," said David.

  "Make up the guest room," said Nantan. "Mike's moving in."

  "I'll drive him to get his stuff," said Gregory.

  Henry followed David into the house. "Why is Gregory leaving with a soldier, and why are you coming in?"

  "That soldier's name is Mike, and he's moving in. He's going to learn hydroponics from Nantan, because he sucks at making bikes."

  "Neither can I," said Henry.

  "He is missing considerable portions of his soul," said David, as he took sheets, pillowcases, towels, and a blanket into the guest room.

  "It's already made up," said Henry. "Leave it on that chair for him."

  "You know what I love about you?" asked David. "I say we're taking someone in, all while we hang people from the rafters because we don't have the room. We don't starve or have problems with power. That’s because we grow our own food, and generate our own electricity. I say let's add another, a badly mangled young man with parts of his soul missing, blown out in some desert, and you just... tell me where to put the sheets.” He kissed Henry. "I love you with all my heart."

  Henry kissed him back. "We'll have to have a sweat for the boy, you know."

  "I know," said David.

  "And feed him Vi's cooking. He's too thin."

  "I know," said David.

  "And give the man back his soul." David kissed Henry to shut him up.

  Service

  Gregory honked the horn. Danger and Reeves came out double-time, and started to unlash the smashed bike. Danger had brown hair and eyes, and a big smile. He kept moving his head around constantly, like a bird, looking for danger. Reeves had black hair, blue eyes, and a killer white-toothed smile. The ladies liked him... but he liked the oblivious Danger.

  "What's the story?" asked Danger. "I see blood."

  "Ugh," said Reeves. "Did someone die on this bike?"

  Gregory grimaced. "His name is Richard Wren. He begged his rich parents for a motorcycle after years of riding dirt bikes. He thought a motorcycle was a dirt bike, and wrecked it. He broke his leg in three places. His parents heard about us and donated it. He's also working with insurance companies and other organizations to get us more bikes for free or low-cost. He has to earn his own money to buy his own motorcycle when he turns eighteen, too."

  "Poor kid," said Reeves.

  "My heart bleeds," said Danger. "Safe is the only way to ride."

  "Says the guy named Danger," said Reeves.

  "Stow it," said Gregory.

  "Yes, Gunny," both men said.

  "Get this in the garage," he said. "Next in line gets it."

  "That's us," said Reeves. They bumped fists over the seat of the mangled bike.

  "Chop-chop," said Gregory.

  "Yes, Gunny," they both said. They put it on the rolling pallet, and moved it inside the garage.

  Gregory looked up. Tito was on the roof. "Hey, stranger," he said. "Thought Nico was here, like yesterday."

  "We're expanding all the garages," he said. "Put in a second story on the Nighthawks garage, and even an elevator for the bikes. Same here. Axeman loves the elevator. Had to have one of his own. The roof is fine; the measurements look good. My team is hopping. None of them have credit card bills left from over the holidays."

  "Great!" said Gregory. "You need any help?"

  "Nope," said Tito. "I've got all my measurements. I'll get a plan drawn, and work a checklist. We'll get this done in no time."

  "Want to get some lunch?" asked Gregory.

  "Man's gotta eat," said Tito. "Be down in a minute."

  "Let's get something for the men," said Gregory.

  "Once a gunny, always a gunny," said Tito, walking down the ladder. "I'll leave this here for when work starts."

  "Stow it," said Gregory.

  "Yes, Gunny," said Tito. He folded it up, and put it in the back of his truck. "Tacos?"

  "Try burritos and a lot of nachos. These guys eat like horses."

  "And lots of liters of soda," said Gregory. "Your truck or mine?"

  "Mine," said Tito. Gregory hopped in, and they headed to the tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant that both men loved. They ordered their food, then the huge order. "Love Esme's burritos," said Tito, piling on the salsa and sour cream.

  "Fresh guacamole," said Gregory. "So, what are you going to do after the garage?"

  "Pahrump," said Tito. "We've got a plan to expand Herja's garage, too. She's getting more of the Soldier Pack. I think she has a nefarious plan to add to the Valkyries there."

  "Some have joined there, but some have joined the Nighthawks," said Gregory. "Some of the male soldiers joined the Iron Knights, but some prefer us." Gregory bit into his chicken burrito, and sighed. "Mmmm! Amazing."

  "So, when's the next ride, and where? Weather's warming up, and we'll need some downtime. This pace is a little too much, you know?"

  "Yes," said Gregory. "I'm the guy with twins, a security job, and setting up a training program for the veterans who want security work. Part-time stuff, mostly, and keeping VIPs safe, driving them from the airport to their hotels to their gigs or speeches, and the cybersecurity unit to keep everyone safe, online. The GI Bill should pay for those that so desire. So, then they can go to school for security or cybersecurity."

  "What about refurbishing motorcycles?"

  "Damn useful skills you get, working on bikes," said Gregory. "Some will want to do it for a living. Some will want to do it on the side. Some may decide to do something else. You have to try it to see how it fits."

  "Like working on houses," said Tito. "Fits for me. My son Ray, he hates it. Wants to be a veterinarian. So, all this work is great, because medical school is expensive!"

  "We could always use another vet," said Gregory. "Wow. Great for him."

  "I'm going to have two in college at a time, then two more," said Tito. "Gotta do all the work I can do until then."

  "I hear you," said Gregory. "I've got Elena, then the twins. Now Katya wants another one. Not sure if she will do the surrogacy thing or another one for us."

  "Four," said Tito. "Busy, loud house, but fantastic life for me."

  Gregory laughed. "Two boys that wake each other up. All night!"

  "Loved those days," said Tito, sucking on his soda. "Was so psychotic with sleep deprivation I tried to go to work on the wrong job. We'd completed it the week before."

  Gregory laughed. "I haven't done that with a security job... yet."

  "Damn," said Tito, as his phone buzzed. "What's up?" he said. "Okay, let me finish up here. See you in thirty." He hung up. "Late supplier. Need that cement to do a pour. I've got to eat, drop you and the food off, and run."

  "I'm so hungry. Be done in a minute."

  Their timing was excellent. The soldiers' food arrived just as they finished. They paid the hefty bill, and brought the food to the soldiers; they descended on it like wolves. Tito went off to work on his cement pour, and Gregory headed back to set up a training program.

  Reeves and Danger got the mangled mess over to their station. They handed each other tools, and methodically tore the bike apart. "Scrap," said Reeves, throwing aside a mangled fender. "Half the front's gonna be like that. A mangled mess. Fucking gas tank's toast. Lucky this kid didn't spill gas all over himself and go boom." Reeves made a blowing-up motion with his hands.

  "So, we need a list and a trip to Chan's."

  Chan's had mangled motorcycles, and their parts. You could find a bike with the parts you needed and buy the entire bike, remove the parts yourself, or he would do it for
a sizable fee for idiots. But he would do a lower fee for them, because they weren't born yesterday.

  Thierry came in to help, munching a ham sandwich. "Dude, we're getting Mexican in like, forty-five minutes," said Danger. "Gunny always gets the best for us."

  "He's a good one," said Thierry, finishing his sandwich. "You need help?"

  "Go wash your hands," said Danger, disgusted. "Then, we'll dictate a Chan list for you."

  "Can I go with you?" Thierry asked, excitedly. Everyone loved going to Chan's and getting the parts themselves. All except Mike, but now he was making food grow in the desert. "You gonna join Mike on the food mission?"

  "Later," said Danger. "One skill set acquired at a time." He threw a part into the scrap pile. "Perfect one, then move on. Then do one, or both."

  "Or alternate," said Reeves.

  "Gonna have to," said Danger. "Have to deploy several things at once, the desalination or water treatment plant, 'cause water, it's necessary for both plants and people. Mostly the people, but the plants get what's left over. And then the plants. And hospitals, schools, roads. Bridges. And protection for all the above. Then rinse and repeat. Gonna need a side business. Electric motorcycles. That's the thing. The batteries are getting smaller. And bikes hooked up to generators until we get the solar panels and wind turbines. Both, I think. Multiple sources of power, that's the key."

  Both men stared at him. "That's...ambitious," said Thierry.

  "Didn't I tell you to wash your hands?" said Danger, loosening a nut.

  "On it," said Thierry.

  Reeves put a part on the “Save” table. "You serious about this complicated mission?"

  "As a love affair," said Danger. "But it's gonna take a long time to deploy." He grunted, and the part came off his hand. "Well, this one's toast," he said, and put it in the scrap pile. "Need mad skills."

  "I'm in," said Reeves.

  "You know, you don't have to do this because I'm doing it."

  Reeves decided to go for it. "So, you figured out I like you?"

  "Doesn't take a rocket scientist," said Danger.

  "Why didn't you say anything?" said Reeves.

  "Why didn't you?" said Danger, giving Reeves a level stare.

  "Because I'm an idiot," said Reeves.

  "That's true," said Danger, walking around the front wheel to access the brakes.

  "Harsh, but fair," said Reeves.

  "One thing I learned in the desert," said Danger. "Life can end in two seconds. If you want something, get it or not."

  "I want you," said Reeves. "You are the toughest, smartest man I know. Willing to learn anything, do anything. Willing to lead or follow, whatever you're supposed to do at the moment. Always ready with a go-bag. You eat and sleep when you can."

  "I also have only one leg," said Danger.

  Reeves held out his arm, and touched the bionic fingers to his thumb, one by one. "We determining who we date by a lack of body parts?"

  Danger laughed. "I don't date," he said. "I want marriage. And kids."

  "Don't you think we should see a movie together, first?" asked Reeves.

  Danger laughed again. "Maybe. Or we could just skip that part."

  "And go to what?" asked Reeves.

  Danger grabbed him, pulled him close, and kissed him. Neither man saw Thierry poke his head in, then back out.

  Nantan showed Mike how to check the nutrient mix. "So, tell me more about the mission," said Mike. "Danger is talking about water treatments, and roads, and schools, and bridges."

  Nantan stood up from peering at the gauge. "That can go together. The people that make the plant beds are talking to the desalinization people, but I don't know how it's going."

  "Well, get them to talk faster," said Mike. "We've got to get this going on." He took a breath. "Sorry. Danger keeps saying, 'Skills first.' So, give me the skills."

  Nantan laughed. "But not all in the same day. Now, let's talk about colors."

  "Colors?"

  "The LED lights. Every plant likes a different color. You have to listen."

  "Listen to the plants," said Mike.

  "Yes," said Nantan.

  "What the hell," added Mike. "Sounds like people. Some like blue, some pink, some army-green."

  "True," said Nantan. "So, let's learn how to listen to plants."

  "How do we do that?"

  Nantan pointed to the very happy spinach. "See how green and leafy the spinach is? It's happy. We've got to carefully check speed of growth, color, and nutrient mix. We've got to know if it's the LED color or the nutrient mix."

  "Change one thing at a time. Got it."

  "Now, let's learn which nutrient mix goes with which plant."

  Mike held up his tablet. "Lay it on me."

  Nantan smiled. "Open the spreadsheet cleverly hidden by the label 'Nutrient Mix.'"

  Mike snorted. "Got it. So, you mix it with the water sprayers and spray it on the roots?"

  "Got it in one," said Nantan.

  Mike scrolled down the file. "Spinach needs a lot of nutrients."

  Nantan smiled. "But if you get it right..."

  "You’ve got healthy spinach."

  "And kids who don't go blind because they have enough nutrients."

  "They go blind?" said Mike.

  "Mostly they get rickets."

  "Twisted legs," said Mike. "We've gotta stop that."

  "Let's check out the beets," said Nantan. "Makes good horse feed, as well as being great for kids."

  "Lead on," said Mike.

  Herja blasted the music louder than she'd ever blasted it. Xenia turned it down. "You won't be able to hear the choppers driving them up."

  Herja snorted. "Help me put that one on the horse," she said.

  Xenia put her hands on her hips. "They need to learn how to do things. If you do it all for them..."

  "They learn nothing," said Herja. "And this is why I invited you down here."

  Xenia reached back and turned down the music. "You can't turn that down!" said Herja. "It's a crime against rock ‘n’ roll."

  "I agree," said Xenia. "Can you hear that?"

  Herja tossed her braids. "They're here!" Her face lit up. The sounds of choppers were unmistakable.

  "And that's the only reason why I would turn down Quiet Riot," said Xenia, following her out the open garage door.

  There were Valkyries from all over the country streaming in. Hlokk came up with Staff Sergeant Reece Hyun from Idaho, a tiny woman with a dragon helmet bigger than she was. Goll came with Private First Class "Queenie" Quinn, from Chicago. Skeggold came from South Carolina with Sergeant Wren, Reginleif from Alabama with Corporal Lestra, Geiravror with Lieutenant "Spear" Spiera, and Olrun with Specialist Zinna. They parked their Harleys.

  "Welcome," said Herja, standing tall. She wiped her hands on her rag.

  "Get on your rides," said Goll. "We need sustenance. Hear you've got an excellent diner."

  "That we do," said Xenia. "I'm Xenia, and I'm the sheriff here. Herja here will run you ragged." Herja shut the garage door as Xenia strode over to her bike, popped out the helmet, and put it on.

  "First, we eat, then I will work you harder than you've ever been worked in your lives. Oh, and you'll be in sleeping bags until the apartment house is ready. You'll be splitting your time between here and there."

  "Fuckin' A," said Queenie. "I'm PFC Queenie, Ma’am, and we'll get the job done."

  "Damn right," said Spear. "I'm Lieutenant Spear, and we'll get these ladies shaped up, real-good."

  "Well then, food," said Herja. She strode to her bike, grabbed her helmet, and got on her Harley. "With your shield!" she said, holding her crimson helmet in the air.

  "Or on it!" roared the Valkyries.

  "Damn," said Queenie. "This is a fine group of women." Herja put on her helmet and led the way, Xenia at her side.

  They took up the entire middle section. The locals moved to the counter. They knew not to interfere with the Valkyries.

  Tallee came over with m
enus, and said, "Your water's on its way. Order what you like. The best for our veterans."

  "Ooh-rah," said Corporal Lestra.

  They introduced themselves. Queenie was a wide woman with rippling muscles, ebony skin, and a beautiful, wide smile. Spear was tall, with snapping eyes, narrow features, and caramel skin. Wren had brown hair, black eyes, a ski-jump nose, and wavy hair caught in three separate clips. Zinna was a quiet woman, with copper skin from the sun, wide blue eyes, and blonde hair in braids down one side of her head, like the Valkyries. Lestra was broad-shouldered, with large hands and feet. She had auburn hair and green eyes. Reece had tilted brown eyes, black straight hair, and golden skin. The Valkyries gave their names, and their septs, or main group of Valkyries --Eastern, Western, Central, Southern West, Southern East.

  "Thank you for answering the call," said Herja.

  "When I heard it was our sisters in combat, I had to do it," said Hlokk. "Besides, Michigan isn't that far from Idaho." Hlokk had her blue-black hair in braids with golden wire running through it. The gold and white feathers in her hair moved in the breeze from the overhead fans.

  "Good excuse for a ride," said Skeggold. "We Southern West girls stick together." Skeggold and Wren bumped fists. Skeggold's braids were tiny, with silver running through her bright red hair. Her golden freckles stood out on her skin.

  "We go where we are called," said Reginleif, her white-blonde hair and tilted eyes set off by the silver winding through her hair. "Menlo isn't that far from Birmingham. Besides, we're doing a rally after this. Raise money for Project Rubicon."

  "Can we join?" asked Queenie. "Cleanin' up after disasters sounds real-good."

  "Finish your own houses," said Xenia. "Then you can work on other people's houses."

  "Logical," said Spear. "Let's get some skills together, maybe work for Habitat for Humanity, too."

  "They're busy all over the state," said Herja. "We work with them too."

  "Well then," said Xenia. "That's settled. Now, who wants the fries loaded with cheddar, bacon and sour cream?"

  "Count me in," said Olrun, a woman with olive eyes the same color as her skin, and a flood of wiry hair over her head that was not caught up in braids.