The U.N.I.T.

“Let the kids go.” I heard Dave say begging.

“Don’t ya worry bout the kids, we’ll take good care of them.” The figure said.

I threw a shuriken and heard it strike home as the figure suddenly fell back crying “Shit!”

I threw another one as I got to my feet and heard the cry of pain as the figure said, “Son of a bitch, that’s my ass”

“Turn around and I’ll get the front too.” I said as I threw a third striking the girl, for her voice had definitely not been a man’s, in the leg as she cried.

As she fell crying “Fuck” I jumped up drawing my tanto from it’s sheath and leaping onto her writhing body as I brought it down on her throat.

All movement ceased as I calmly said, “Now whose time is it to die?”

“Yours” she said as I suddenly and very surprisingly went flying backwards through the air.

I rolled and came up just as she was getting to her feet, charging her with a flurry of kicks and jabs.  I had gotten my black belt almost a year and a half ago, and had sparred with many different people including a lot of adults, but I have never fought someone like this. 

This girl was hitting harder, and moving faster than anyone I had ever seen.  I felt several of my punches and kicks connect, but she never even slowed down.

All I knew was that I needed to protect everyone, and couldn't give up.  She was good, but I couldn't let her win.  I couldn't let her get to the rest of the kids. 

I re-doubled my efforts, and felt myself go with everything I had.  Punches and kicks were flying faster than most people could see.  It wasn't enough.

I felt several connect and then she decked me sending me sailing once again with an “Ooomph” as I crashed into the wall and lay stunned with tears running down my face and my head ringing.

Shit that hurt.

Dave was walking towards me and the figure started this way just as Dave got to me.

Dave knelt down and cradled me in his arms asking “Are you alright?” but before I could answer him the girl said “Get away from the kid”

Dave turned and got in front of me and said “Leave him alone, take what you want but don’t hurt the kids.”

At that moment Kenny ran into the room crying “Dad!”

“Shit!”  The girl said as Kenny ran up to his dad.

I had gotten to my feet and tackled the girl again when Kenny distracted her.

It didn’t take much, a few punches and she tossed me back again.  Only this time I didn’t think I could get up.  I looked up with tears of anger and pain running down my face.

“Let them go and you can do whatever you want with me.” Dave was saying to the girl as he knelt down by me.

“Oh I’m gonna do what I want with you anyway now move away from the kids.” the girl ordered Dad

“No” both Kenny and I said at the same time.

“Well I suppose I can make the shot from here.”  I watched in horror as his arm came up holding some type of gun in it

“NO!” I screamed as I struggled to my feet in front of Dave.

I was swaying and could barely stand not to mention Dave was whispering urgently “What are you doing get behind me,” as he tried to move me out of the way.

Suddenly the light came on to a voice asking.  “What the hell is going on in here?”

I was blinded as I heard the girl say.  “Trying to get these kids and take care of some trash.”

“Man you look like shit and you’re bleeding all over the place,” the new voice said as my eyes adjusted to a sight I couldn’t believe.

The girl was a little dark haired boy of about nine and the other voice was an older boy of twelve or thirteen, both wearing black outfits with weapons all over them.

“Yeah well this little fuck threw some stars at me when I wasn’t looking,” the younger boy said glaring at me now.

“I’m just sorry I aimed for non-lethal spots” I spat at him.

“Yeah you never should do that” the younger boy said grinning now which for some reason on him scared me even more.

“I’ll remember that” I said which earned me another smile.

“Well, neutralize the primary and let’s get outta here” the older boy said angrily as he turned away.

“Leave him alone you fuckers” I said through clenched teeth.

Shit it hurt, that kid can pack a punch.

The older boy turned back and looked at us and about that time another boy slightly younger came into the room asking “What’s going on?”  then saying “Shit that kids hurt and so is Juan”

“I’ll live” the girl, now boy called Juan answered never taking his eyes or gun off of us.

“I’m not so sure about the other kid” the third one said as he pressed something and said “Chang I need you in the third room on the left, two injured, one team member and one non-combatant”

Juan made a snorting noise as that was said and it was my turn to smile at least for a moment.

Shit it hurt.

Dave tried again “Look I don’t know who you are or what you want but please don’t hurt the kids, they haven’t done anything”

The third boy looked surprised for a moment but walked over and said “Hey no one is going to hurt the kids, we’re here to rescue them from you”

“Me?” Dave asked and I could hear the confusion in his voice as he said that.

About that time I felt my legs giving out and I began to fall but Dave caught me saying “Jer! Jeremy!”  worriedly as he gently lowered me to the ground in his lap.

“Hey they’re all out, we’re just waiting on you now, so can I blow it up now, can I, can I?”  Another kid came into the room asking before stopping and saying “What the hell happened to you Juan?”

“Nothing” Juan said

“It doesn’t look like nothing to me, so can I blow it up now?” the younger boy said.

I don’t think anyone else saw it but I gasped as Juan’s eyes turned yellow.  He turned quickly and told the younger boy “I said nothing happened!”

“Okay, okay already, nothing happened then,” the younger boy said smiling impudently giggling as Juan turned back to us with his eyes their normal color muttering “Little kids, jeesh”

“No you can’t blow it up yet” the second boy said into the silence

That was when a fifth boy walked into the room stopping and asking very formally after taking in the scene “What has been occurring in here?”

“If one more person asks that I’m gonna shoot em” Juan said.  The new boy raised an eyebrow before replying “That will not be necessary”

The boy walked over looking around and stopped and picked up one of the shuriken examining it briefly before saying “This is not one of ours”

“No it’s mine” I said as he walked up and began looking Juan over reaching down and pulling something from him that caused Juan to yell “Hey be careful back there would ya?”

“It could be worse, it could be the front” the boy replied.

I couldn’t help it as I started giggling at that and even Juan laughed remembering my suggestion although I soon found that laughing wasn’t the brightest of ideas right now.

The boy came over and knelt down just as Dave said “Don’t hurt him please?”

Very properly the boy said “I am Chang and I am a healer.  I will not harm the child. Please allow me to examine him”

Dave nodded his head and Chang began poking me here and there finally taking out a bandage and putting it on my head which had been bleeding I realized.

“How did you sustain these injuries may I ask?” he inquired.

I just nodded my head towards Juan.

Chang got a look of surprise on his face as he looked at me and then at Juan before he said “You fought against Juan?”

“Yeah, didn’t win though” I said bitterly.

“You never could although I am surprised at how well you did do by the sight of his injuries” Chang said.

“Yeah next time I’ll put the thing in his throat” I said

Chang actually smiled as he said “That would be most unfortunate to lose a brother in that manner but you will be alright. You have numerous bruises and a concussion but nothing serious.”  I could feel Dave relax slightly.

“Now can we go Logan, this op is running a bit long” the second boy said worriedly as he looked at his watch.

Logan looked at us and Dave before saying “Adam bring the grown-up with us”

“No Logan, he’s the on-site target, the last to be mopped up” Adam replied.

“Please don’t hurt my dad” Kenny said as tears ran down his face.

“He’s the only one who gives a damn about any of us and we love him” I said into the stunned silence.

The boy Adam walked over closer to us, staring at us all the while before stopping and asking “Has he ever hurt any of you?”

Both Kenny and I said “NO!” loudly as I added “Dave would never hurt us”

“We have a tape….” Adam started to say while looking at Dave but I interrupted him “That tape was made after they drugged him to keep him from getting help for us.

“And they said they’d kill me if he told” Kenny added.

Adam looked at us for a moment before saying “Take him back to base we’ll sort it out there later”

“Adam?” Juan said turning to look at him.

“Do it,” was all he said before walking out of the room.

Juan mumbled something but not anything I could understand, as he motioned for us to get up.

Logan came over and helped me up and said “I’m Logan and it’s going to be alright now, you guys are safe”

Juan, Logan and Chang led us out to a big military type truck and helped us into the back where all the other kids were and Ty was there right away asking if I was okay or not.

I told him I was and they all were asking what was going on from Dave who didn’t have any answers for them.

Ty told me he had been taking a piss when they grabbed him and couldn’t do anything and I told him it was okay.

Most of all the kids just wanted to be hugged and Dave did a lot of that before Juan made everyone sit down and then the truck started moving.

They took us in the truck for a while then we got another shock as we came to a stop and were led out of it and to a big helicopter that was sitting there waiting.

We took off and flew back to what had been the home and it was there that  we could hear that little kid asking “Can I? Can I?” again only this time Adam said “Yes”  with the boy replying “Finally” in a completely annoyed tone.  Then we were treated to the spectacular explosion of what had been essentially our prison, then we flew off into the night.

If we all weren’t so scared it would have been fun but we were and it wasn’t with some of the little kids crying and I think even some of the bigger ones.

We finally landed and were brought into a cave where people led us to a big room with a bunch of other rooms around it like spokes on a wheel and told us to sleep and they would talk to us in the morning. They all said everything would be okay now and we were safe but I don’t think anyone was willing to believe them.

They tried to take Dave away but all the kids started screaming “NO” and crying so they finally left him there with us.

In the end we went into the bedrooms and got mattresses, pillows and blankets and brought them all out to that central room and that is where we slept for the night, together and holding onto one another.

When we woke up the next morning we were all a bit confused about where we were and how we got here until it all came back to us and then we were just scared again.

The first problem is that several boys had been up for a while and really needed to go but none of them wanted to leave the comfort and safety of the others so they were about to burst.

Dave walked to the door and opened it only to be met with a kid holding a big gun who said we had to stay in the room.

“Look, the kids need to go to the bathroom” Dave said.

The boy got a surprised look on his face, then seeing the pile of blankets, pillows and kids on the floor said “Each room has a bathroom in it”

“Thank you” Dave said before shutting the door.

Everyone was already scrambling to said bathrooms before Dave could finish turning around.  When he saw that, he started laughing.

I had to admit it was funny to see.

Soon everyone was back and the next thing was “We’re hungry” from several kids.  That was echoed by most of the others.

Before anything else could be said though there was a knock on the door and everyone got real quiet and all stood behind Dave shuffling nervously as he said “Come in.”

A friendly looking woman came in then smiling at us before stopping and frowning “Those boys! They didn’t tell you anything did they?” she asked anger in her voice now.

We just shook our heads no.

“Well being boys I would imagine you’re all quite hungry so if you’ll come with me I’ll take you to breakfast and explain things to you.”  The woman said.

Not one of us moved, we all looked at Dave who was looking at the woman.

“You won’t harm the children?” he asked

She looked shocked for a moment before saying “I am going to kill those brats” and at our shocked looks added “Not yours.”

“May I sit down?” she asked

“It’s your place,” Dave replied warily.

She shook her head and took a seat before saying “Please sit and I’ll explain a little before breakfast... or better yet... Gage!”  She called out, and soon the door opened up and the boy who was standing outside popped his head in.  She didn't let him say anything, and as soon as head popped through the door, she said, “call down and have breakfast for eleven starving boys and two adults sent up please.”  He smiled at her affectionately and replied with a respectful, “Yes ma'am.”

I liked the interaction.  It showed that they cared for each other.  I could tell that Dave was thinking the same thing from the look on his face.

She then walked over to the phone, picked it up, and punched in a few buttons.  A tone sounded from all the speakers, then her voice could be heard coming through speakers in the ceiling.  “Adam Casey...”  she said in a not so nice tone of voice, “you and your brothers get your little butts down to pod C-17 right this second... and bring that scrawny boyfriend of yours too.”

A few moments later  that “little girl” who had whipped me showed up.  He was a bit grumpy when he came through the door.  “Mom.  I am ready to eat.  It's breakfast time.  What you buggin' us for?”  I couldn't help myself.  I chuckled a bit.  Juan gave me a stare that I was sure was supposed to intimidate me.  I just ignored it like my father had taught me.   The woman froze him with a look.

“Juan. Please wait right over there until all your brothers arrive.”

---

Juan knew something was wrong.  Maybe she was mad at him because he had fought with that boy.  It wasn't his fault. The kid had stabbed him in the butt for crying out loud.  How was that his fault.  He couldn't for the life of him figure out what he had done now.  He was beginning to panic a little.

---

I could tell that, that Juan kid was frightened.  It disturbed me.  What was she going to do to him?   What  could be so bad that it would frighten a kid like him?  She didn't look like she was the sort to do terrible things to a kid.

“Well now.  How about we start again...”  She looked at Dave expecting him to give his name.  He looked at her blankly for a moment then realized she was waiting for him to supply a name.

“Uh. Dave.  My name is Dave.”  I could tell that he was still uncertain about the place, but he seemed to be relaxing a bit. 

“Hi Dave.  My name is Janet.”  She was interrupted by another boy entering the room.

He was someone called she called Will.  He too was sent to stand in silence next to Juan.

---

Will reached out questioningly to Juan with their bond but only got the mental equivalent of a shrug.  So they waited.

---

When everyone settled down she continued talking to us. “This compound is a safe haven for children who are abused or have no place else to go”

Everyone was looking at each other but no one said anything as she continued

“I know for a fact that it will take you time to believe that you are safe here, but you are. No one will ever hurt you again that I promise you.”

She was interrupted by the arrival of someone named Chang.  He entered the room, said “Morning Mother,” and moved quickly to stand right next to his brothers without another word.  It was like someone had told him what was happening before he got there.  I didn't see how that was possible.

---

Chang had been informed through the bond that Mom was pissed and that he should just come in and stand with them.

---

Suddenly Dave's voice cut through the silence.  “What is this place and who were those kids who were playing soldier last night?”

“As I said, this is a safe haven for kids who need one, and they weren’t playing” she replied.

“But they’re kids,” Dave said.

Things were interrupted once again as three more boys came into the room.    They all silently joined the “little girl” Juan and the others at the wall by the door.  Again it was as if someone had told them what to do before they got to the room.  I know.  That's impossible, but it really seemed that they knew.

---

For their part the bond was working furiously as they tried to figure out why Janet was pissed.

---

I saw that the “little girl,” Juan, was getting upset.  I was concerned.  I wondered what a kid like him had to worry about.  That Janet person suddenly went over to him and smiled.  I was relieved by what she did.  Some part of me wanted him to get it, but the look of panic that had been creeping across his face made me feel for him.   She brushed his hair from his face, and lay a hand on his shoulder.  She gave a squeeze and she kissed his forehead.  Juan visibly relaxed and gave Janet a nervous smile.  I relaxed too.

“Yes Dave.  They are kids, but they’re more than that, much more. I’ll give you the details later but the Unit who rescued you last night was comprised of genetically engineered children who have been, let’s say, enhanced. The government wanted super soldiers you see, and they were created. Adam escaped and rescued his brothers and they have dedicated themselves to helping other kids who need it.  They found out about what was happening to you guys and set up a rescue mission to get you out.”  Janet finished this and settled back into her chair again.

Everyone was looking at one another with disbelief and wonder on their faces but then Kenny said, “They tried to kill Dad.”

You could have heard a mouse fart in the silence that followed his declaration.

“Dave is your father?” she asked

“Dave is Dad to all of us,” I said before Kenny could answer.

“You’ve been hurt, are you alright?” she asked sitting up now that she had gotten a good look at me.

“I’ll live, that little kid packs quite a punch” I said

She looked surprised before saying “You fought with one of the kids last night?”

“Yeah, the one they call Juan.”  I said

“Juan, is that how he got his bruises?” she asked

The “little girl” Juan just nodded his head which caused Janet to start shaking hers.

“You're a tough one aren't you?  I mean it.  You don’t know how lucky you are son.  Juan is one of those kids I was talking about.  You know.  The ones who are a lot stronger and faster than a normal person.  You could have been killed!” She said this with a lot of feeling.

“He was trying to hurt Dave,” I said in reply.

She looked at me for a moment but didn’t say anything.

“Look from what I understand they thought all the adults associated with that home were abusing you and selling you.  They did a reconnaissance earlier in the evening and found a….” she said, but then stopped as if unsure how to say what else she wanted to impart.

“A tape showing me having sex with two of the boys” Dave supplied for her.

“Yes” she said looking straight at Dave.

“The day they took that tape they had kidnapped Kenny and drugged me. I woke up the next day and didn’t know it had even happened. That afternoon they brought me, Kenny and all the other children into the living room and showed it to us all. They said it would be distributed to the police if I did anything to cause them problems. They also said Kenny would be killed” Dave told her before reaching into his pants and pulling out his wallet and removing a picture which he handed over to her without saying anything more.

I knew it was the picture of Kenny in the chair with a knife to his throat.

Mark spoke up at this point. “I saw Tom put something in Dave’s soda and Dave was so stoned when we did it, he didn’t even know what was going on.

“You guys have been through a lot, haven't you.  I am sorry that we didn't take the time to think about how this would be for you.  Most of the boys over there on that wall probably don't understand what I mean, but two of them have been my sons long enough that they should have know better.  They should understand that you can't just grab people and dump them in a room.”

A blond haired kid who looked a lot like Janet turned bright red.  The black haired kid standing next to him, with the gray eyes, reached over and took his hand and gave it a squeeze.  He was angry.  He leveled his gaze at her.  Janet looked a bit surprised at the look.  I was puzzled.  I could not figure out what was going on between them.  It looked as if she was saying that he was responsible for everything, and he was disagreeing with her criticism on how he had conducted things.  I had to be reading this wrong.  There was no way that a kid was in charge.  That just didn't happen... did it?

Janet looked away from the dark haired kid.  She then looked at the kids and Dave before she said “I’ll let everyone know what really happened.  You have my word on that.  It’ll be good to have more adults here.  You don’t have any specialized training in anything do you?”

“I’m a teacher, but what's that got to do with anything?” Dave replied.

“Mom.”  The dark haired kid said softly, although I thought he looked like he was about to blow a gasket.

“A teacher?” she asked as she ignored Adam like she hadn't heard him.

“Yes we moved there so I could take up a position that ended up not materializing. We were almost out of money so I took the job at the home and, well you know the rest” he said.

“Mom.  May I have a word with you in the hall?”  The kids voice was soft, but it carried authority.  He did sound like he was someone in charge.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

“Well you’ll be a wonderful addition to this place if you decide to stay that is” she told him, as once again she ignored Adam.

Suddenly breakfast arrived.  All conversation ended.

I was hungry.  We hadn't eaten since the night before, and we had been up for a while now.  The smell of the food was intoxicating.  Soon we dug into it.  The other boys had all seemed to come back from wherever they had been.  I thought it strange.  I had thought they would eat with us, but Janet made them  stay there while we ate.  It kinda upset me.  I remembered that the “little girl” Juan had said he was hungry.  I felt a bit guilty.  Dad had taught me to be good to people, even people I didn't know... or didn't like.  But I couldn't really say that I didn't like them.  They were kinda cool.  I mean they are kids, just like me.  I stopped mid bite and found myself staring at Juan's eyes.  I was wondering why they had turned yellow a while back, or had I just imagined it.  I thought I could almost see that there was a yellow tint in them now.

I raised my hand.  I couldn't think of what else to do.  I immediately became embarrassed at myself.  Janet turned to me and spoke.

“What is it sweety?  Go ahead and ask me.”

“Uhm.  Janet... sir... I mean Ma'am!”  This came out in an embarrassed squeak.  I couldn't believe what I has said.  I was coming across as a total dork.  “I mean. Can't they eat too?  I just can't stand eating like this in front of them when they are hungry.”

“Well if you really want them to join you, I can have some more food sent up.”

“Mom?”  The kid said again.  The voice was still soft, but now it carried a barely suppressed rage.

“It will have to wait until we have eaten Adam.”  Janet said this just as softly as he had.  Her voice was stone.  It expected no argument.

After a few moments Adam's control disappeared.  He literally screamed at Janet.  “Fine!  If you want to criticize my decision making ability you of course may.  I will never suggest that you can't. I won't deny that any soldier, no matter how skilled, cannot make mistakes, or have room for improvement.  However, let me tell you what I won't accept.”  Janet made to cut him off, but Adam didn't pay her any heed as he continued on his rant.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

“I will not have my orders questioned in a public setting.  I will not have my leadership disrespected in that way.”  The blond haired boy had gripped Adam's hand as hard as he could.  His face had turned white as chalk.  It suddenly came together for me.  I was sure that I would have put it together earlier, if the night before, had it not been so unsettling.  They were boyfriends, and they were also the sons that she had mentioned earlier.  It also seemed that he was in charge, at least of something.  He was the one who had given the rest orders.  He really was in charge.  I was floored.

“Let me tell you something else Mom.  I did what I do.  I am a soldier.  It is what I am and what I do.  I don't know anything about this stuff!”  Then he burst into tears.  As he left his foot took the door right off of the frame and slammed it into the wall across the hall when he kicked it.  He screamed “Fuck” at the top of his lungs.

The slamming of the door against the wall seemed to bring Janet back to the here and now.  “Adam Joseph Casey, get your butt back in here... right now!”  Janet's voice was a mix of stunned disbelief, and anger. 

The boy walked back in the room, glaring at Janet.  They stared at each other for a few moments, then Janet moved to sit down in a chair.  “Sit” was all she said, and Adam did, right across from her.

The staring contest went on for a few moments, but then Janet softened up.  “Adam, I was not questioning your leadership, or your orders.  All I am saying is that you can't just rescue someone and dump them in a room with out saying anything.  Don't you realize that?”

I knew that this was a family moment, and I'm sure everyone else did too.  No one said anything, but we all followed every word.

“No mom I don't.  We rescued them, that's what we do.  What did you want us to do?  Cuddle them the whole way back?”  Adam said totally exasperated.   

Janet sighed heavily, and took a few moments to get her thoughts together.  “You really don't get it do you?  You can't just dump them off.  You have to talk to them, you have to let them know what's going on.  You have to let them know that their okay!”

Adam just shook his head, I knew he was fighting hard to fight back tears.  I really couldn't believe that these kids didn't know things this basic.  But then I remembered that Janet had said they grew up in a lab.  It all made so much more sense now.  Janet and Adam's conversation turned into a whispered conversation, and soon Adam moved over and hugged Janet.  He had tears in his eyes, as he stood, looked to the other boys who were still standing there, and then left.

I turned my head and looked at the other boys.  They all looked just as upset as Adam had been moments before.  Their faces held a very similar look, but their eyes had a distant, unfocused look to them.  After a bit they seemed to regain their senses.  They all left without saying a word.

The blond haired boy locked eyes with his mother for a few seconds, then shook his head and turned to leave.  “Logan?”  She called to him, making him turn around. 

“Don't Mom, your were wrong on this one.”  With that he turned and left. 

They rest of the meal was rather subdued.  Everyone finished eating in silence.  It was shortly after this that Janet suggested that we tour the base.  She had a couple of kids come and take us around.  Who could've imagined that a half an hour could totally change your life, but that is just what happened.

It was awesome, they had so much stuff here.  When we got to the practice area we found the boy named Chang practicing.  I recognized the moves, “Caressing the Ball in Horse Stance, Cloud Hands, and Hit the Tree in Horse Stance.”  His movements were powerful and fluid.  I could tell from just these exercises alone he was very skilled.  Suddenly he took a deep breath and moved.  It was so fast that I could not follow him.  His swords flew in and out of their scabbards.  The motion was fluid and flawless.  Anyone who had stood in his way would have been shredded.  I was glad I had not faced him.  I didn't think I had ever seen anyone so skilled before.  I couldn’t wait to get to the practice area.  They had a bunch of martial arts stuff there.  It looked like a completely stocked dojo.  I had really missed practicing all this time.  We moved on after watching the incredible display for a few minutes.

It was during this tour that Dave suddenly stopped and said in a strangled voice “Bill!”  I watched as a boy in a wheelchair swung around and stared at Dave.  The look of question on his face turned to one of surprise, then shock followed by joy as he cried out.

“Dave!  Kenny!”  He wheeled himself over to Dave, who ran to him and picked him bodily right up out of the chair before hugging the boy to himself.

Kenny ran to join them and was soon hugging the boy as well.  We all stood around kind of shocked.  I noticed that the boys who had been with Bill were just as shocked as we were.  As Dave was seating Bill back in his chair they got over their shock and joined them.  In no time at all everyone was talking all over themselves.  Finally the boy named Will said, “So you know this man Bill?”

“Yeah Will, I do” he responded as he smiled up at Dave.

“When I was in the hospital you remember me telling you about the boy in the bed next to me and his father, the one I had wished I could have had for a dad?” Bill could not contain the emotion in his voice.

Will’s eyes got big as he said “This is that man?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how but this is Dave and that’s Kenny” Bill said.  Dave finally shook off the shock.

“Bill what are you doing here? How, I mean I thought…”  Dave was saying before tapering off into stunned silence.

“You guys aren’t the only ones who got rescued, me and Ronnie did too.” Bill said still grinning.

---

The next day found Adam and his brothers in town again, this time, hopefully, things would go much smoother than they did the last time.  Thankfully things had calmed down between him and Janet, and Adam had promised himself he would start to try and take other people's feelings and emotions into account when dealing with people he didn't know.

“It's just up there on the left.”  Jamie said to the assembled kids inside the SUV.  Jamie was in the SUV that had Janet driving, Adam sitting up front, Logan, Juan, and Chang in the backseats. 

Logan leaned up to whisper in Adam's ear after Jamie gave them the directions.  “If I don't miss my guess, this is the same warehouse we were coming to look at.”  Adam looked back at Logan in shock, then smiled, this almost seemed predestined. 

“Right over there,” Jamie said, pointing to a spot next to a rather well maintained Buick.  “Oh cool...Grandma and Grandpa are here!”  He said all excited, but then noticed the confused looks on everyone's face.  “Well...  they're not really my grandma and grandpa, they kinda adopted us, and take care of us as much as they can.”

Adam just shrugged and got out of the vehicle as soon as it came to a stop.  He looked around and noticed that this really wasn't a bad place, however, he could see many windows that were broken, and a few holes in the walls. 

The entire group assembled, and followed Jamie into the Warehouse.  They followed Jamie around a few turns, making sure to watch where they were walking, as the floor was littered with broken glass, and other debris.  Finally Jamie led them to a center room where there was a group of people.  Some of them were sitting on an old sofa that had definitely seen better days, while others were laying down on old mattresses. 

There was a love seat sitting there that was in pretty good condition, and in it were sitting a rather elderly couple.  They were sitting there talking to the other kids in the room.  Adam saw six other kids in the room, and of course the older black couple.

All conversation stopped as Jamie led the group into the room.  The older couple stood up, and turned to face them.  Jamie took off, and ran into the older woman's arms with a cry of “grandma!”

She bent down and enveloped Jamie in big hug while keeping an eye on Adam's group.  “Hello Jamie, honey, who are all these people?”

Jamie pulled back from the hug, and looked up at the older woman, “These are people I met today down by the mall.  They said they could help us.”

Every eye was now focused on Adam and his group, and he knew it was time to take over.  “Sir, my name's Adam.”  He said as he stepped forward and offered his hand to the older man.  He took the offered hand and Adam thought that the man had a very strong grip for someone who seemed to be around seventy years old.  “Please let me introduce everyone else.  Over there is Jackson Bryce, next to him is my adoptive mother Janet Hayes, then there are my adoptive brothers Chang, Juan, William, and Joris, he likes to be called Jory though.  Standing next to William is Bill, and his brother Ronnie, and then there is Tommy, next to Ronnie.”  Adam said, and everyone nodded when he said their names.  He turned back to the older man with an expectant look on his face.

“Sam's the name, this here be my wife Martha, over by the sofa you got Pedro Montoya and his brother Hector, and Phil Becker.  Over by the bed there Lynn Masters, and her son Lincoln, and you already seem to know Jamie Rorack.”  The man said, while pointing to everyone.  Adam was shocked when he saw that Lincoln was only about two or three years old.  It was kinda odd because the little guy was wearing a ratty shirt with no pants, but he had what looked to be a brand new diaper on.  Someone was obviously doing what they could to take care of this boy.  

“So what's this 'bout you helpin' the yougun's?”  Sam asked in a very deep southern accent.

“Well sir,”  Adam said remembering in his sociological training that southern men were primarily traditionalist, and as a boy, Adam would be expected to address the man as “sir” unless told otherwise.  “We are a part of a group that was set up to help kids in need...”  Adam started to say, but was quickly interrupted by Sam.

“Look here boy, I's been a cop on these streets for the last twenty years, and I never heard of no group like that.”  Adam heard the man say, at the same time the man shifted slightly, and Adam could tell that his hand now rested on the but of a gun.

“Not only that, but I wanna know why's all of you are packin'.”  The tension in the room just went through the roof.

Janet stepped forward, not really knowing how bad things were getting.  “Sir, I can assure you that none of these boys are armed...”

Sam cut her off with a look and a small grin, “I hate to call ya a liar, but I also spent twenty years in the Navy as Shore Patrol, I know when someone's wearing a gun and when their not.” 

Janet shot a glare at Adam, as she didn't really think that the boys would be wearing a guns just to come into town.  Adam was sure she was about to say something, but Juan interrupted.  “Oh yeah?”  he said to Sam, and Adam couldn't help but groan.

Juan stepped around Adam, and the older boy was glad to see that Juan had his hands out and away from his side.  “If you're really that good, then how many guns do I have on me?”  Juan asked, then did a slow spin, while keeping his arms out.

Sam looked him up and down, and when fully turned around and was looking at the man again, Sam said.  “Four... and two empty holsters.”  Sam said.  Juan's arms fell to his side, as he let out a disgusted sigh.

“FOUR?!?!”  Janet cried out, as she turned to Juan who was grinning now.

“Well... I woulda brought more, but Adam said I gotta be able to hide them all... and you can't really hide the Barrett Lite Fifty now can ya?”  Juan said still grinning in his very childlike way, that for most people would have looked completely innocent... on Juan it just made everyone sure he was up to something.

Janet's mouth was on the floor and the rest of the boys had to stifle a giggle.  Sam however, looked less than pleased.  “I don't think I even want to know why a boy his age would be even talking about such a gun, let alone be carrying one.” 

Juan spun around and was about to say something, when Jack stepped in.  “Sam, you said you've been a cop here for twenty years?”  To which Sam just nodded, still having his hand close to his side.  “Do you remember a case about a year and a half ago about a girl named Emily Larson?”

Sam thought for a second, then a look of recognition came over his face.  “Yeah, she was reported as being kidnapped, but when the officers looked into it, they found out that she was being prostituted out by her step father for the last few years, and the girl was only fifteen then.”

Jack just looked at Sam as the realization hit him.  “You mean... your the people that are takin' care of Emily?”  Jack just nodded, and Sam let his hand fall from where it was resting, and he moved over to shake Jack's hand.  “I heard a lot about you from Beth, she said you guys took in a lot of kids that she couldn't help.”

Jack smiled slightly, “we did what we could, but sometimes it wasn't enough.”

Sam nodded, “I know what you mean, it seems like it'll never be enough.”

Jack agreed with him then turned to Adam.  “You see Sam, my partner and I were doing what we could to help those we could, but it wasn't even enough, then Adam came along with his family, and things have really turned around.  All the kids there now actually have a future, and some place to call home.  It may not be what most people call normal, but I know the kids that were there before Adam got there, and they are all a lot happier, and better off now.”

Sam got a confused look on his face, and turned back to Jack.  “Jack, I don't mean to question ya like this, but I don't see how one young boy could make that big of a difference.” 

Jack laughed and said, “Now that, is a LONG story.  Lets leave it at the fact that these kids would be better off, and a lot safer with us than here, plus we have the means to provide them with just about anything they want.  Between everyone that lives with us, we have a lot of opportunities that you would find very hard to believe.”

Sam seemed to consider this for a few moments, then looked back at the other kids.  Most of them looked kinda anxious to see this new place, so he turned back to Adam and Jack.  “Okay, tell you what, if the kids wanna go, they can go, but I wanna come with, to look this place over... if you don't mind.”

Jack was smiling as Sam said this, and nodded.  “Of course, but I'll warn you about a few things first.  One, your gonna see some pretty strange things, but trust me, it's all on the up and up.  And secondly, if you do come to the place where we stay, you may end up not wanting to leave.  Of course, I like that idea, cause we could use a few more adults there to keep everyone sane.”  He said this last part laughingly, and it got a round of “heys!” from the the other kids.  Of course that just made everyone laugh harder.

“Give me a minute to talk to everyone would ya Jack?”  Sam asked.  He didn't wait for a response and the way he asked it had made it sound more a certainty than a question.  The kids and the old couple huddled together and talked for a quite a while.  Finally they came to a decision.  They would all go and try the place out for a while.  First Sam and Martha would have to approve the place, and everyone would give it a month.  Then if they didn't like it, they would would be free to go somewhere else.

When Sam told Jack of their decision and the requirements the group had he had instantly given his word.  Soon, all the kids that lived there were packing there few personal belongings, when Jamie went running off into the back on the warehouse.  “Rocky!!!! Come on Rocky, we gotta go!” 

Adam looked questioningly over at Sam, who just shook his head with a smile.  When Sam noticed Adam looking at him, he grinned even more.  “You don't mind pets do you?”

Adam smiled and came back with, “no, not at all... as a matter of fact, Tommy over there has a rather large cat that stays with him.  As long as Rocky isn't a dog, we should be okay.”

“Nope, Rocky's his cat.  Some stray he found about a year ago, Jamie's been stuck on the damned thing ever since.”  Sam replied chuckling lightly.

“Well, hopefully he'll get along with Fluffy.”  Adam said still having to laugh at the name Tommy gave to his cat.

About a minute later, Jamie came back holding a big black cat.  The cat was just purring away as Jamie was quietly cooing to him, and scratching behind his ears.  A few minutes later, everyone had all there things packed, and started to head outside.  It took a few minutes to get everything loaded into the back of the pick up truck, and then everyone situated into the vehicles, but finally they were pulling out, and heading to where they have the helicopter waiting.

Fifteen minutes later, they were out of town, heading to the rendezvous point, they had four different vehicles with them, and Adam knew they would have to go a little slow as Sam's vehicle couldn't handle the terrain as well as theirs could.  Adam had just got off the phone with the base, and they were already preparing rooms for the new group.  He was told that everyone would be waiting to see the new group.

Finally they made it the landing zone, and all the new kids were out and staring at the Chinook in awe.  “Are we actually gonna fly in that thing?”  Hector asked as he walked around it. 

“Yup,” Will said as he walked up to him.  Bill was already lowering the back ramp, and then was going to start to pre-flight from the inside.  “Tell you what... you like helicopters?”  Will asked, and the older Latino boy smiled and nodded.  “Yeah, dad used to have one before he died, he used to take Pedro and I up in it sometimes.  I always wanted to fly again.”  Will saw the familiar look in the boy's eyes, and knew that he might have another pilot here.

“Okay, how about this, why don't you help me do the pre-flight out here, then I'll let you take the co-pilot's seat for the flight back.”  Will watched the kid stop in mid stride and slowly turn to him with a look of utter disbelief written on his face.

“You mean it?  Wait, don't you gotta ask that Jack guy, I mean he's flying this ain't he?”  Hector asked while looking over to see Jack talking with Sam and Martha.  Will couldn't help but laugh.  “Well... not really.  You see Jack couldn't fly his way out of a paper bag.  Hold on a sec.  Jamie!”  Will shouted over to Jamie who had just came out of the back of the Chinook after stowing his stuff.

“Yeah Will?”  He asked when he jogged up.

“Quick Question for you... Who was flying the helicopter when we came in this time?”  Will asked him, and Hector looked expectantly at him.

“Well, you and Bill did.”  Jamie said with a smile as he saw Hector start to sputter as he looked back and forth between him and Will.

 Will for his part just smiled and and turned away.  “Come on Hector, I'll show you what to do.”

Meanwhile, Sam was talking to Jack.  “Well Jack, I'll say this for ya, I wouldn't have pegged you for a fly boy.” 

Jack got a small smile on his face, and turned to see Will taking on of the new kids.  “Well Sam, you know how I said that you'd have to be ready to expect some pretty weird things?”

Both Sam and Martha just nodded, and Jack was only slightly worried about how this would go.  “Well... you see... I really don't know how to fly...” 

Sam cut him off before he could go on.  “You don't?!?! Then who's gonna fly this bucket of bolts?”

“Well, Sam, you remember the boy in the wheelchair?”  Jack asked, and as if on cue, the rotors started to turn on the big helicopter.  “Well.. he's the one that's gonna fly us outta here?”

Jack watched with just a bit of amusement as Sam and Martha both stared slack jawed at him while the helicopter's rotors continued to turn faster.  “Come on, lets get inside and strapped down before the wind kicks up.” 

Jack started to head into the back of the Chinook, and after a second or two, Sam and Martha joined him in the back.  They waited as the kids went around and made sure that the new kids were all strapped in, then Will came up leading Hector.  He lead Hector up to the front, helped him get strapped in, then went to the back and strapped in himself. 

Lynn was very worried about her little boy, Lincoln was only three right now, and this was going to be a shock for the little guy.  She was hoping that this would work out, she didn't want Lincoln growing up on the streets.

When she found out she was pregnant, she had already run away from the foster home she was staying at.  She was only thirteen, and the bastard there made it clear the first night what she was expected to do for him.  She didn't have anywhere to go really, but she couldn't stand being raped every night, so she left.  Of course, she had tried to tell her social worker about it, but was flat out called a liar, so she left.

She met the other kids at the warehouse shortly after she left, and right before she found out she was pregnant, and they accepted her into their group easily.  Once Lincoln was born, she was able to find a job working in a local motel, under the table.  She made enough money to support herself working there, but not enough to support herself, and Lincoln. 

She made the only decision she could.  While she could get an apartment, she couldn't afford that and food, diapers, and everything else you need for a baby, so she stayed in the warehouse, dropping every cent she had into making sure Lincoln was as comfortable as possible.

The other kids were great with the baby, and took care of him while she was at work.  All the other kids took real good care of him, and it was almost like he was everyone's little boy.  He never lacked for love.

Lynn was brought back to the here and now when the helicopter landed, and everyone started to get up.  She reached over to the car seat that they had put in here out of Grandpa's car, and unbuckled Lincoln.  She had no idea how it happened, but Lincoln had fallen asleep on the ride in, but was waking up as she unbuckled him.

“Where are we mommy?”  He asked around a big yawn.

“I'm not really sure baby boy, why don't we go find out.”  She lifted him out of the seat, and followed everyone else out of the back of the helicopter.  She was shocked when she saw that there were a lot of other kids hanging around.  Must have been thirty of them waiting just outside a huge cave.

She followed everyone over to the side where Adam was waiting for them.  Once everyone was there, he started to introduce all the kids that were already here. 

“And last we have my youngest brother, Kent,  and his teddy bear.”  Adam said with a bit of a chuckle.

Kent shyly walked up to Lynn and Lincoln, “hi... ummm... I'm Kent, and this Joey.  Umm... well... Ronnie gave him to me when I first got here, so I wouldn't be lonely.  And... well... I'd like you to have him now.  That way he can make you not lonely too.”

Lynn let Lincoln down to the ground, and Kent offered the teddy bear to him.  Kent looked between the teddy bear and Lynn, and she nodded.  As soon as she did, ,he latched onto the big bear with a death grip.  Kent smiled, and stepped back. 

“Thank you Kent.”  Lynn said trying to choke back the tears.  Maybe this place wouldn't be too bad.

 

 

Several hours later found Adam, Sam, and Jack sitting in the dinning room of the base sipping on coffee.  Ronnie was taking the other kids around to show them what was where, as well as getting them settled into their pod.  Sam and Martha were assigned their own pod, as they would probably welcome the privacy of it, and Martha was currently working in there to get it ready. 

Sam had come to Adam and Jack after the tour and told them that he and Martha had decided to stay here if that was alright.  They were both getting bored in their little house, and they still wanted to do some good, so this was the perfect place for them to stay.  Of course, Jack and Adam agreed instantly, now, they were just taking a break.

“I still can't believe everything you told me about this place Jack.”  Sam said for the hundredth or so time.

“Well Sam, trust me on this one, it took me a long time to believe everything these kids can do.”  Jack said laughing as he got a far off look on his face.  “Hell I watched them one time find a kid in a foster home in Nevada.  All they had to go on was a name, and with in two hours, they knew everything there was to know about the kid.  Hell, Logan is so damned good at it, he was even able to tell me what the kid had for dinner that night.”

Sam choked on his coffee for a second, “You're joking... right?”

Jack shook his head.  “Not at all, from what he said, he hacked into the credit card records of the people who ran the foster home, and found out that the foster mother usually bought everything for dinner that day.  He then got into the stores computers, and figured out what she bought that day.”  Jack couldn't help but laugh again as he thought back to that day.

“I'll tell you this much Sam, I was in the Army, and saw lots of guys who thought they were king shit cause they were special forces.  I'd put this lot up against any of them any day.  What Adam and his brother's are doing here is simply amazing.”  Jack said now looking serious.

“Jaaaack!”  Adam whined, “we ain't doing all that much.”

“Adam, you still don't really get it do you?  Your doing so much more then just teaching these kids how to fight.  Most of the kids here had absolutely no self worth, and they weren't really going anywhere with their lives.  Most of them would have ended up back on the street cause they didn't know how to do anything other than hide from the bad guys.  Not to mention the abuse that almost all of them have been through.  Now, they have skills, they feel good about themselves, and they know that they are doing good for other kids.”  Jack stopped for a second, and took a sip of his coffee.  He could see that Adam still didn't believe that he was saying.

“Sam, when you were in the Navy, did you ever have a Commanding Officer that you would have followed into Hell if he asked?” 

Sam smiled reminiscently, “Oh yeah.  I would've followed him to the ends of the earth.  He was the best commanding officer I ever had.”

“Well Adam, every single one of these kids here would do that for you... Hell so would I!”  Jack said in total seriousness while holding Adam's eyes.

Adam didn't know what to think.  He didn't know what the hell he had done to deserve this, nor did he know if he really wanted that kind of responsibility.  He really wished Joe was here to talk to right now.

Sam could tell that Adam was more than a bit uncomfortable right now, so he changed the topic.  “I hate to break into this, but I do have one big question.”

“Okay?”  Adam said thankful for the change in topic.

“Well, I was just wondering HOW it is that you know enough to be in command, and teaching all these kids everything.  I mean, no offense. But your what...twelve or something?”  Sam asked hoping that he could finally start getting some answers to questions that have been bugging him since he met these kids.

Adam took a deep breath, set his coffee cup down and looked at Sam.  “Well Sir, now THAT'S long story.”  Over the next hour, Adam told Sam everything about the Unit and their creation.  Jack interrupted every once in a while with how things came to be at the cave, and Adam ended up with.  “And now, your here.”

“Riiiight.”  Was all Sam could think to reply with.  He wasn't really sure if he wanted to believe the story he was just told, but things made more sense now.  Suddenly he remembered something a friend of his talked to him about a few weeks ago.  “Adam... Jack said that your Logan can find anyone?”

Adam simply nodded, and Sam reached into his wallet and pulled out a picture, looked at it for a second, then handed it over to Adam.  “A friend of mine is looking for this kid.  He thinks the kid might be in some kind of trouble, and he can't seem to find him.  Think you could have your boy friend give it a shot?”

Adam's eyes snapped up when Sam said that.  He was sputtering trying to figure out what to say, and Sam just laughed.  “Come on now Adam, I see the way the two of you look at each other, and it's easy to tell your in love.  Remember, I was in Shore Patrol, I've seen some things that would have  curled your toes a bit.  Things like that are easy to spot, if you know what your looking for.  And don't worry so much, I knew before we even left the warehouse, and if I would have had a problem with it, I wouldn't be here now.”

---

So with that they began their new life.  All the kids found their new home and new family.  They learned very quickly that this place was one big family.  They also found out that  most of the kids already there, had come from a situation that was like theirs.  They could understand each other.  Hell, Jeremy even came to like the “little girl” too.