Chapter 102: Do these dots connect?

Traveling back to the Saturn Guild tower was a lot easier then Kellen or even Hill thought it would be. Traffic was up, but that was a good thing for the group. It meant that they blended into the everyday flow of the city.

Hill had worried that because he’d been revealed as a member of the press conference that this would be the time for him to get attacked. That wasn’t the case.

Kellen had a feeling that Rhys’ attack on the E.A.G. probably had something to do with that, but Kellen didn’t need to voice it. Hill was a smart woman, and Rhys’ Lieutenant. She knew the man well enough, but not too well. Kellen wouldn’t like it if she did.

Then again, what happened before Kellen was out of his control, but he could not like it. Kellen paused, realising as he sat in the backseat, next to Hill, that he was being ridiculous. He’d never considered her in this way before. It had maybe bothered him at one point before that Rhys had more experience than him, but Rhys had lived longer on the earth than him. There was no way to control that, so why was he getting upset about Hill all of a sudden?

Wasn’t it better that if they’d had a relationship in the past that they got along now? Hell, it was pretty unlikely since they called each other by their titles for the most part, and that Rhys had said that Hill was similar to him in the past. Seeing how Hill and Brent treated each other told Kellen that the likelihood that they had slept together was low. Kellen wanted to laugh at himself.

Why was his mind going there when he should be worrying about the condition of the Guides who were arriving at the Guild? He didn’t have time for feeling even minorly disturbed by something that didn’t even matter right now. He was the one with Rhys. He was the one who Rhys fell asleep next to at the end of the night. Nothing else mattered.

“Has the first van arrived?” Kellen asked, trying to distract himself from his mind spiraling for no damn reason. Hill, who was next to him in constant contact with the others, tsked.

“It seems so. Taylor sent a text ten minutes ago that she thought she heard the van pull up and I haven’t heard anything since. Pamela is busy keeping everything together while we’re on our way. She’s keeping an eye on what the Captain and Miro are up to. It seems that Miro is moving towards the Peach Guild at a rapid pace with the aid of someone else. A flying Esper.” Hill chuckled. “Apparently Rhys is on cleanup duty with another Esper from the Nemesis Guild. Everyone else is in charge of making sure everyone gets out safely.” Hill stared at her phone for a moment, pausing. “Hmm. Looks like the second van has run into some problems, same with the comms van. The Captain is already on it.” Hill said, sliding her gaze towards Kellen.

Kellen was not worried. Even if Casper was in the comms van, even if there were monsters all over the city. Kellen wasn’t worried because Rhys was there, the competent team he had selected was there, and Kellen would be at the Guild when he was done to comfort him.

“Good.” Kellen responded, and Hill gave him a slightly concerned look.

“Just…good? You don’t want to know anything more? More details or anything? Casper could be in danger.” Hill suggested and Kellen looked at her, meeting her gaze.

“I have faith in Rhys and the team he assembled. I don’t think anyone but E.A.G. members are going to die there today.” Kellen said with such confidence that Hill paled slightly.

“Did you…uh,” Hill cut off, glancing at the other members in the vehicle. The fact that Kellen could see things wasn’t widely known, even amongst their people. The only people who knew were those higher up and those who might come across Kellen when he was in the middle of a vision. This was for safety purposes, and trust reasons.

“Did I what?” Kellen asked, not picking up on what Hill was implying. He couldn’t see the dots that she was connecting, so Hill leaned in, whispering into Kellen’s ear.

“Did you see that only they would die?” She asked and Kellen felt his brows furrow as she pulled away, staring at him. That was ridiculous.

“No? How would I know that?” Kellen asked, practically laughing at her in disbelief. Hill just stared at him, quiet for a moment.

“Kellen, you said it with such authority I wanted to believe you. Plus, it’s not the first time you’ve said something ridiculous and it was true. You’ve done it plenty of times on the front lines. Granted, you usually had your hand in those situations as well, but it’s not unrealistic for me to question you.” Kellen sat back after hearing her words and had to think for a moment.

Huh. That was the case. He’d used his lucky feeling for so long that others would have that reaction to his words when Kellen knew that he didn’t have that feeling anymore. His stomach didn’t tingle anymore. Instead, he got visions that made him want to pass out.

He felt his eyes widen slightly.

Wait. Wait wait wait. Were those two things all that different? The feelings had been warnings that something could happen, while the visions were just that. Visions that warned that something could happen if Kellen did nothing about it. Instead of the feelings being vague, the visions were a little bit more direct.

It was a breakthrough thought, one that had Kellen tapping Hill’s arm urgently.

“I need to write something down.” Kellen told her urgently. Hill, sensing the change in Kellen, handed over her phone after she opened up a blank screen. Kellen found it frustrating that he could only type with one hand, but it still got the words down.

Hill, did I never tell you about how I was extra lucky? Did Taylor ever bring it up? Because I’m having a wild theory right now and I need to make sure that you understand where I’m coming from.

Hill stared at the words before taking the phone from him and typing her own response. It was a sign that she didn’t want to talk about this out loud, at all.

Of course you mentioned it, and Taylor once complained to me and Pamela about how you had a lack of care for yourself because you believed you had a lucky rabbit’s foot. She was worried that you were going to lose it or use it all up one day and then you’d be fucked.

Taylor hadn’t exactly been wrong. Kellen admitted as much when he took the phone from her and typed his response.

Taylor wasn’t wrong. I did end up using it all up. By going into the poison gate, I used it all up and that was why I was so confident that I would be okay and that I would be able to come out. Rhys trusted me, which was why he wasn’t as upset as he should have been about me going in alone.

Kellen swallowed thickly before he typed the next few lines.

Hill, that feeling was like a tingly feeling in my gut. It would usually tell me if something wasn’t quite right or something dangerous was going to happen soon. It often saved my life and others. I think I’m realising that the visions I see aren’t that different in feeling. Sure, I pass out sometimes and end up in the Medical Bay, but they aren’t that different in their mission statement. Both tell me when something bad is going to happen, but the visions are just more…accurate.

Kellen let her read it, and watched as her face lost its colour a bit and her gaze was running over the words again.

“What?” She said out loud, sounding confused, shocked. Kellen just shrugged.

“I don’t know. I just thought about it, and honestly, I don’t even know how to go about testing it. It’s not like the other ones exist anymore.” Kellen spoke quietly. “I’ve been in my head a lot since I’ve had to sit back and heal. It might not even be related. I could just be trying to connect nothing.” Kellen said, but something in his gut told him that he was true.

Even the look that Hill was giving him, the dawning horror of the situation washing over her, told him that she agreed with him.

“We’ll need to talk about it later, but honestly? It’s pretty fucking compelling, Kellen. I think the Captain will find it interesting too.” Hill meant her words and Kellen felt his lips curl up slightly.

“I hope he finds it interesting, and not concerning. He gets pretty worried when it comes to me.” Kellen said and Hill gave a laugh that went on a bit too long.

“You have…no idea.” She said, her gaze glancing at Kellen for a moment before she looked out the window. “I’m going to save this. Just to keep our words as they were, if you’re okay with that?” She asked and Kellen nodded.

“I’d rather you have it.” Kellen told her and she sighed, shaking her head.

“God, I need head.” Hill whispered and Kellen blinked, surprised by her words. The Espers in the front started laughing.

“You’re the one who cut off all of your little toys, Lieutenant Hill. I’m sure if you reach out, someone would be happy to help.” It wasn’t clear to Kellen if they weren’t offering but Hill seemed to know. She waved her hand, looking disgusted.

“I did it for a damn reason. No one would take me seriously if I still had a crazy long roster, and I’m getting lonely from those kinds of relationships. Watching Kellen and the Captain lock lips in secret has really got my brain going, you know? It’s time to retire my hoeing ways and maybe…pull on an apron? I’m sorry, that’s an insult to you and your dad. I can’t cook. I only wear aprons for foreplay reasons.” Hill sounded sincere in her sudden apology while the Espers in front started laughing.

“I…don’t really care, Hill.” Kellen told her honestly. “I’m sure Dad doesn’t care either.” The area around them changed and Kellen could feel the shift in the air.

“We’re going into the tower.” The driver called and Kellen nodded. The laughter faded, the humour faded.

Now, everyone was bracing for what they were about to walk into once they entered the tower. Kellen hoped that the cafeteria had been warned.

“Hill, did the cafeteria get warned about all of the Guides who were arriving?” He asked and Hill blinked, before she swore.

“No. Fuck. I’ll do that right now. They’re going to flay me alive for doing this so last minute.” Kellen had to agree. Cooking took time, and bodies. The team would probably have their hands full for a while. Kellen was just remembering the state that Charlie had been in and he shivered.

It sucked that he might look scary to them, but that was okay. His Dad would be there too. They just needed to know that they were safe now.

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