(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30: The research department

Kellen followed Casper and Gunther to the research department with a clear mind. He had pushed all the worries about the Saturn Guild having plans for him since he left the front lines to the back of his mind, and was planning to forget about it. It was in the past, like Kellen's time on the front lines.

Casper didn't hesitate at the door to the research department, knocking before he entered. This was the floor he had been nervous about Kellen asking questions, before he had a better understanding of Kellen's character. From the last time Kellen had been in here the tone had changed drastically. Before, the civilians and the Espers had been reserved, quiet and busy with their work. Now, when they saw the two Guides with their Esper shadow, they offered awkward smiles. Some even offered Kellen a handshake while one of them called towards an office that had been dark before, but now was lit up from the bright lights inside.

"Boss, the new Field Guide is here!" Lots of shuffling and loud noises could be heard from the inside the office before the door opened. The shadow filling the doorway was quite intimidating until they stepped into the light. She had to be around 6'5 with huge shoulders, huge thighs and long, vibrant red hair. She had deep blue eyes and a splattering of freckles across her cheeks. In any other context, Kellen would have assumed she was some kind of professional athlete. But she wore a cross between civilian clothing and Esper clothing, all of which was covered with a white lab coat.

"Ah, the Captain's little Guide. Kellen Woods, correct?" She offered her hand and Kellen took it, giving it a firm shake. Her eyes watched him intently, probing the Guide for his true intentions. He smiled. He liked researchers for this exact reason.

"You're Dr. Maeve Lyons, correct? I've read several of your papers on flora and fauna that grow around stabilized gates. Very interesting stuff." He told her with a smile and she blinked, her face a picture of shock.

"You...know my work?" She seemed surprised and Kellen nodded.

"Of course! Anyone worth their salt keeps up to date on all the new theories, especially if it can save lives. I've even put some of your theories into practice. In fact, your theory on the strangler vine and how its excreted fluid could be used in healing capacities has helped me when I was stranded on a scout mission and trying to extract venom from a wound." I told her, enthusiastic, until she didn't say anything for a moment. Kellen felt dread fill his guts. Had he overstepped? Was that the wrong thing to say? She blinked again, before a smile broke across her face.

"How much did you need to use before you countered the venom?" She asked and relief flooded Kellen's body. He took a moment to think back to the moment.

"I think it was about a tablespoon, but I can't remember clearly. The venom impaired me, of course, but it did prove to be useful. I meant to send in my findings, but then I was accepted into Guiding Center B and it must have slipped my mind. I would love to look into whether it's just an antivenom of it it has other healing properties to it the way you suggested." Kellen froze, realising that he was speaking quite fast and the room had grown quiet. He glanced behind him to see Gunther's shoulders shaking as he turned his face away to cover his laughter, and Casper was also fighting a smile. Dr. Lyons was still staring at Kellen before she pulled him in for a hug.

"Most of the team calls me Boss, but you can call me Maeve, Kellen. I worried you were going to be some floozy, but I am so excited that someone like minded has joined the team. Let me know if you need anything, or if you want a sneak peak at anything we're working on. I won't tell Captain Thatcher." She pulled away and winked, her blue eyes sparkling and Kellen grinned at her in return.

"Thank you. It's an honour to work with you Maeve." He glanced around the room at the other scientists and researchers. "And the rest of you as well, of course." That brought a couple of awkward laughs from the team.

"We're a blended team here, Kellen. Lots of the scientists are civilians, while a few Espers are kicking around here and there. You don't have to be stiff around us, since the normal rules don't apply down here." She gestured to her body. "As I'm sure you noticed, my powers are related to the manipulation of cells at a microscopic level." She joked, and Kellen nodded. He had a feeling her powers were similar to Hill's. More like cousins than immediate family.

"A healthy mind and a healthy body are one in the same." He said, pulling up his own shirt to show off his body since the Guide uniform covered most of it. She gave a wicked grin.

"I'm glad you understand." She glanced around the room at the members who were here. "Most of the civilians have only interacted with the fluffy Guides in the Guild, so they are going to be unsure in how to treat a Guide like you, no offense Lieutenant Casper." Casper inclined his head at her call out, a small smile on his lips.

"None taken. Some of the Guides are, indeed, fluffy." He responded seriously and she laughed. She turned back to Kellen. Now that she had confirmed they had a kind of bond, her hand was gripping onto Kellen's forearm. It wasn't a tight grip, and was well intentioned.

"Yeah, so you might get some strange looks, but everyone's nice here. I hear you'll be running the field training for the Guides? Let me know if you have any questions since the last couple of teachers ended up getting hurt." She slid a look towards Gunther who swung his head away, not making eye contact. Kellen coughed, embarrassed now that Gunther had told him the truth about the situation.

"I should be fine. If I end up more injured here then on the front line, that's a bad reflection on me." Maeve gave him a curious look.

"How long were you on the front lines? And were you with a guild?" She made a face. "Sorry, I should keep up with the latest news, but we kinda isolate ourselves here. Plus, I don't watch t.v., and the gossip we have here isn't about people per se." She seemed embarrassed at her words while that alone made Kellen laugh.

"It's no worry. I don't mind talking about it. I was a freelance Field Guide and no, I wasn't affiliated with a single Guild. I was for hire. I did do a lot of work for the Saturn Guild, but I took anything I could get. Nemesis, Peach, F.D.R. I even did a couple of jobs for the D.E.C. I was there up until seven months ago, and I was there for seven years." Her eyes widened and she glanced at the two who came with him. When they confirmed, she gasped, clearly surprised.

"Seven years? And you aren't missing a limb?" She demanded and Kellen laughed again. Her eyes looked over him, and began to glow the faint orange colour of her powers which only made Kellen laugh harder.