Chapter 49: Just some gals having a good time

Creaking the door open was like opening a door to a haunted house. Kellen had no idea what was going to be behind the door waiting for him. Hill, who had no idea what Kellen was so wary of, moved through the open door like nothing.

However, when Kellen stepped through the door, he could feel the sharp gaze of several scientists.

The loud, booming voice of Maeve filled the air and Kellen flinched. He didn’t like when she was mad at him. It was a rather scary and alarming experience.

“What are you doing here, Kellen? Was the first experience not enough?” It was like entering into a boss area. Hill, who had a smile on her face before she heard the voice, turned to glance at Kellen and then glance at where Maeve stood.

She had emerged from her office, filling the doorway, her eyes glowing orange. The rest of the scientists, even the regular, normal ones, were glaring at Kellen as well.

“What in the world is going on? Are you being bullied by the research team?” Hill asked, looking worried and ready to defend him if that was the case. Kellen gave a soft, nervous chuckle.

“Under the encouragement of Rhys, no doubt. They are my anti-working alarm team, however! I’m grabbing research materials for a friend. It’s not work, he needs it to understand himself better. I only have hard copies, so I need to go into my office to grab them. I’m going to photocopy them upstairs. Hill’s here to be my arms.” Kellen said, pointing to Hill. Maeve’s gaze cut through the room.

She scanned Kellen, scanned Hill, before she huffed.

“I’m going to message the Captain.” She muttered, spinning and heading into her office to confirm. Hill let out a whistle as she left.

“Holy shit, man. That’s crazy. How badly did you get the research team wrapped around your finger?” Hill asked as Kellen glanced around the room and noticed a fully stacked bowl, still on the pedestal and Kellen felt his lips curl up. He headed towards the bowl, grabbing a few snacks and handed one to Hill for her to open.

She didn’t even hesitate to do so. Taking care of Guides was a second nature to her, especially as he was in this injured state. Kellen was pretty sure if he had handed the snack to her even uninjured she would have opened it. Hill was truly, one of the good ones.

Kellen accepted the open snack with a smile, popping the sweet treat into his mouth. The tension in the room dimmed slightly.

“About as much as I normally do.” Kellen said with a wink towards Hill and she blinked, before a smile touched her lips and she rolled her eyes.

“Guides.” She exclaimed, shrugging, before they headed towards Kellen’s office. He felt like a herd of hissing, angry cats were behind him, ready to pounce if they got the signal from their pack leader that things weren’t okay.

However, Kellen was about a third of the way through searching through his books to collect the ones that Charlie needed before Maeve filled up the doorway to his office again.

“I got the all clear from the Captain’s office.” Maeve said, and Kellen smiled at his bookshelf before he turned to look at Maeve. Hill had taken this rare moment to sit down, more like lounge on the couch next to him while he placed the books she was going to have to carry on his practically empty desk.

Maeve had her arms crossed, her expression not as dark as it had been before. She looked tired, but at the same time, she was thriving. Her outfit was half official and half comfort. A soft sweater coated her upper body, wrapped in a plain, formless research jacket with the pockets full.

It was a little odd to not see her in her uniform in some way, but then again, Kellen had been banished from the research lab for a while. Maybe this was something she had decided to wear a while ago, but he just didn’t know. Her red hair had been pulled up in a loose bun on the top of her head. Practical, not pretty, but it did give her a rather whimsical feeling.

“I’m glad to hear it.” Kellen told her and felt Maeve scan him, looking over what he was taking, everything. It was clear that she was worried for Kellen, and the only thing she could do was prevent him from being in this little office.

“How are you doing, Kellen?” Maeve asked finally, a sigh leaving her mouth as she leaned against the doorframe. She towered over Hill on the couch and Hill didn’t seem all that bothered. They were both Physical Strength Espers, and women at that. They probably knew each other better than Kellen did.

Kellen halted in his book search and turned to face her fully. He examined her in the exact same way that she was examining him and Kellen shrugged slightly.

“I’m down an arm and an eye, my partner is kidnapped, my sister is alive, but in a coma and the E.A.G. won’t learn their goddamn place. I’m doing my very best not to go stir crazy right now.” Kellen said with a tight smile. Maeve nodded, giving a small grunt before she ran her hand over the top of her head until she reached her bun.

“Right. That’s a bit silly of me to ask.” She muttered. “We’ll find Brent, Kellen.” She told him, her jaw tight. Kellen nodded.

“I know. We know where he is now, it’s just a matter of dealing with all of the damn little bits first. No one is going to let me rescue him while I am incapable of rescuing myself.” Kellen said, raising his arm that was still useless and in a sling across his body. Maeve looked pained even seeing it.

“It’s so surreal seeing you injured like this. I’m a little alarmed by how much the eye patch suits you.” Maeve said and Kellen gave a soft laugh.

“Right? It’s alarming. He and the Captain make a good team.” Hill commented from her spot on the couch, her ankles crossed, arms on her chest and her eyes closed. Maeve gave a snort.

“A good team? I think if the E.A.G. saw one look of him, they would wet their pants. He looks more like a villain then they ever could. They would turn themselves in due to envy.” Maeve added and Hill gave a laughing snort.

“I would love that, honestly. What a nice and easy solution to such a shitty problem. Just get a Kellen plush with his current injuries and the marketing of that alone would strike fear in their hearts.” Hill chuckled. “I should talk to Pamela about it. A Captain and a Kellen plushie? Fuck, that would sell for kids so easily. With removable jackets that could be swapped.” Hill opened her eyes and glanced at the unamused expression of Kellen. She grinned, fumbling as she reached for her phone in her jacket. “I’m messaging her right now.”

The sigh that left Kellen’s body felt like it took some of his soul with it.

“Leave that poor woman alone. She’s got enough on her plate, she doesn’t need to be worrying about something like this.” Kellen told Hill and Hill gave a slightly hysterical laugh.

“Oh that is where you are wrong, Kellen. She loves things like this. Things that the Captain can’t say no to because they would be great ideas for public image for the Guild and diversifying our portfolio, or whatever the hell that means. We could have Miro work on the materials for it. It would be fucking wonderful PR. A great way to show that the powers Espers have don’t have to be fully used for just destruction, especially powers that are usually thought of that way.” Hill said and Kellen was reminded that she wasn’t a Lieutenant just because she liked to be on the front lines.

She was truly a rather smart person.

“I’ll get a few scientists that are used to working with Lieutenant Miro on that right now. He’d love it. Being able to experiment with his babies and cross breed his plants will make him quite happy. He’s already thrilled that many of his plant babies are helping those who are poisoned.” Maeve said.

When they were formulating a plan like this, Kellen felt bad for saying that he didn’t want them to do this, so he joined in.

“Make sure that the Kellen doll has a Field Guide outfit, and a Guild outfit.” Kellen told them and Hill gasped.

“Oh, that would be such a good idea! Different outfits for the dolls! We can even do a popularity poll and see who they would want next!” Hill began to rapidly type on the phone her message was sent out and it was barely a few seconds later that her phone began to buzz.

“Where did you get this idea?” Pamela’s voice asked over the phone, excitement in her tone. She didn’t even ask how Hill was doing. Hill chuckled.

“I’m with Kellen and Esper Lyons right now and we were just chatting and it came to us. Did you read the part about asking Miro for help for fabric and stuff?” Hill asked, sitting up as the conversation got serious.

“Yes! That would be such a good idea. Even better since the draft for the calendar came out and he’s pissed at the photos I took for Kellen.” Hill gave a low chuckle. She glanced at Kellen, her eyes smiling mischievously.

“I saw them. He is never going to let Kellen see it, ever. From Kellen’s expression right now, the Captain has already pouted about it.” Kellen’s smirk was a little telling and he nodded.

“I haven’t seen it yet.” Kellen confirmed.

“Why are you with him anyways?” Pamela asked Hill and Hill chuckled.

“I’m helping him carry stuff upstairs to photocopy. I’m hired muscle right now.” Hill said with a happy grin. Kellen rolled her eyes.

“That’s perfect then. Why don’t you stop by my office and I can show both of you the mock up for the calendar? Without the Captain knowing, and we can discuss these plushies in more detail.” Pamela suggested and Kellen glanced at Maeve and Hill.

“Is Pamela’s office near Rhys’?” He asked and Hill nodded.

“Yeah. Same floor, remember?” Hill suggested and Kellen flushed a little.

“That day is a little of a jumbled mess.” Kellen admitted and Hill winced.

“Understood. Alright. Well, Kellen still has a few more books to find, so don’t expect us for, oh, let’s say another 20 minutes?” Hill suggested, looking at a watch on her wrist. Pamela sighed heavily.

“I guess I can manage holding off on plotting against the Captain for another 20 minutes.” She said, before both women laughed. “It works out. I’m supposed to meet Casper for a few minutes here soon anyways. He’ll love to be included.” She said and Kellen grew a little excited. He hadn’t seen Casper in a while. It would be good to see the other man.

“Perfect. See you soon, Pamela.” Hill said, hanging up the phone with a grin. Maeve shook her head, smiling.

“I’ll get back to my work then. Holler if you need anything.” Maeve said, giving Kellen a pointed look before she left. Kellen let out a sigh. That wasn’t in his plans, but hey, it was harmless, right?

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