(BL) Hunting The Field Guide - Chapter 335

Chapter 335: The new Captain of the Guild Chapter 335: The new Captain of the Guild Kellen thought he was doing a good job so far.  The hand off for Casper, and making sure that he had the support he needed at this moment went smoothly.

Pamela and Rene arrived not too long after he’d finished his phone call with Brent.  Pamela had her game face on, clearly trying to hide her embarrassment that Kellen had called her when she had been alone with Rene.

Rene, however, didn’t look like a hair on her head was out of place.

Her skirt and shirt were even, organised, and the only thing that gave away that they might have been up to something was a slight smudge of her lipstick near the bottom of her lip.

That, and Pamela’s lips were a darker shade then they normally were, maybe the colour of Rene’s lipstick.  If someone hadn’t caught them, they probably would never notice.

Pamela seemed more embarrassed that it was Kellen who caught them, while Rene warmly greeted him, giving him a hug.  Honestly, out of all the people who could have been a fly on the wall for this situation, Kellen was glad it was Rene.

She had gone through an awful divorce and had come out on the other side.

Her husband had tried to ruin her, but she had instead fought against his words and actions, hired the best lawyer she could, and threw him all over the ground instead of letting him get away with it.

It had been hard, and Kellen remembered the times when she’d sobbed in his family home’s living room, but she was a strong person.  While Casper’s situation wasn’t similar, Rene was probably a good person for him to have around.

If Gunther had done anything, which Kellen didn’t think that he’d done anything physical given how Casper had reacted when he’d hit him, there was a chance he’d done something else, potentially without being aware of it.  Rene’s ex-husband had been notoriously manipulative and conniving, so that was something she could probably help with.

Pamela did ask if Kellen needed his help upstairs, but Kellen shot her down.  Did he know what Rhys and Hill had been up to upstairs?

Not really, but he could figure it out.

He’d already messaged his Mom asking if she could help out while Rhys and Hill had to step out to deal with a Guild related issue, and she was already on her way with her laptop.

So was his Dad.  He was sure their support would be enough, since Casper needed her now.

The Guild, for her, could wait.

Casper could not.  So, Kellen took five minutes to speak to Casper before he grabbed his things remaining in his office and headed on his way.

Kellen told them to use his home if they wanted to, just stop by the conference room if they were planning to go up.

Pamela nodded, before saying that they might remain in this office for a little bit longer.

It wouldn’t do Casper any good to move him right now, nor would it be good for everyone to see him crumbling like this in the Guiding Division.  Kellen agreed, and told them to use it for however long they needed, just keep Kellen in the loop.  Pamela and Rene nodded, both of their expressions complex.  “How…How is Gunther?” Pamela asked softly and Kellen let out a deep sigh.  “I don’t know.

He’s…rightfully upset, I think, since it was the worst way that could have gone.

He didn’t think he did anything wrong.” Rene snorted.  “They always think like that.” Kellen hesitated.

Rene didn’t know the full story, and under normal circumstances, Kellen probably would have agreed with her.

But Gunther…he had a lot of trauma.

If Rhys was right with his trauma equals higher level powers, Gunther should have had really strong powers because he was in the same accident where Rhys himself awakened as an Esper.

Kellen didn’t know why he hadn’t, nor did Rhys, but it just… The man had a hard life, and after a long time of not dealing with a wound he had, Rhys, Kellen, Hill and Casper had just shoved a hot cattle prod into his wound.

Anyone would have reacted poorly to that.

The fact that he hadn’t hurt anyone, or raged, was a testament to his own personal control.  Damn it.

This was hard.

This was so damn hard.  “Normally, I’d agree with you Rene but…” Kellen trailed off, before sighing.

“I have to head up.

I’ll speak to you guys after.” Kellen told them and Pamela sent him off.

Kellen cast one last look back at Casper, hunched in on himself on the couch, his knees pulled up to his chest as he sobbed.

He looked so small, so weak that Kellen’s heart ached.  He hoped for everyone’s sake that Casper and Gunther came out of this if not whole, mostly intact.  ~  Thankfully, when Kellen got upstairs and explained the situation to a few of the Espers that Kellen knew helped run the conference room, he found out now was the perfect time for him to pick up the mantle.  There were no urgent meetings as far as they were aware, and it was just going over some files, being there to answer questions if they popped up, being the face here if anyone needed anything.

That was something Kellen could do, and he had the clearance to do it.  They actually looked relieved to see someone in the upper levels of the management of the Guild there, since Hill and Rhys had disappeared so quickly without explaining themselves.

Kellen was glad that he could bring them some form of comfort, since he certainly didn’t feel it himself.

He felt a little out of place, and bulky, as if he was trying to shove himself where he didn’t belong.

Kellen’s parents had arrived before him.

They hadn’t been up to anything interesting besides getting more settled into their new apartment before Kellen had asked for help, so they were able to get here quickly.

He was thankful for his Mom, as she was someone who had already worked with the team here so they were comfortable with her.

His Dad also helped soothe the atmosphere as well.

It was shortly after Kellen had begun to get settled into the spot that Rhys normally sat that Brent and a few other Guides showed up.

Brent gave a big wave with his one hand, while the Guides looked considerably more nervous.  Kellen greeted them with a smile, and had them come settle near him as Brent took over Hill’s position at the table.

Kellen then started to hear their issues, comments and concerns while he worked away.  They were not quite serious concerns, at least, not to him, but Kellen answered them to the best of his ability and tried to soothe their worries.

Most of them stemmed from their own personal abilities and the way that they were advancing through the program.  They were doing it at an average pace, and Kellen saw nothing wrong with that, but the Guides talked to each other.

Of course they knew that they were behind the other class slightly, and that made most of them worried.  Kellen assured them that they were doing everything at the right pace, and if they weren’t, he would have made sure that they were.

Hearing that Kellen was so confident, and calm about their current advancements, they had relaxed.

They had a few other questions, but their issues were easily soothed.  It was about half an hour after they had left that Kellen had to pull on his big boy hat.  An emergency meeting had been called.  Kellen was sure he’d gone a little white as the warning had blared on his laptop screen, and Brent had paused what he was doing too.

The Esper who helped out the most in the conference room talked Kellen through launching the meeting, helping him do so since he never had, and the Esper admitted that they normally did this for the Captain as well.  That had relaxed Kellen slightly, but that only made him more worried for other aspects.

What were they calling an emergency meeting for?

Who was calling it?

He assumed the Captains were, but for what reason?

Had something happened on the front lines?

Kellen’s Mom came over, giving him a squeeze on the shoulder.  “You’ll do fine.” She murmured.

“Rhys left this to you because he trusts you.

Trust him.” She told him, before Kellen swallowed and adjusted his uniform so he looked perfect, and answered the call.  To say that the others were surprised when Kellen’s face filled the last spot on the meeting’s screen was an understatement.

Sakura and Sergei’s expressions were the ones that moved the least, but Uncle Tom and Lieutenant Fisher were quite surprised, along with other officials who Kellen had seen, but never officially spoken to like this.  “Kellen?

What happened to Captain Thatcher?” Sakura asked, concern making her voice higher.

Kellen swallowed.  “He’s dealing with a Guild related issue, so I am temporarily stepping in as his representative.

I assume that everyone should be okay with that?” There were a few faces that didn’t actually seem to find that okay, but Captain Sergei and Sakura looked around at the faces, giving them all looks.  Uncle Tom cleared his throat.  “No, of course not, Kellen.

Captain Thatcher would never put someone incompetent in his place while he dealt with personal issues, so you will hear no complaints from the D.

E.

C.” He gave a warm smile, but Kellen’s Mom snorted.

Kellen watched as Uncle Tom froze, and Kellen’s Mom shoved her face into frame.  “I would hope so, Tom, since I know Kellen is far more than just competent.

Not to brag, but my son has a long, illustrious career as a Field Guide before this.

Stressful situations are his forte.” She met Uncle Tom’s gaze, and Kellen was surprised to see how angry she was.

So was Uncle Tom.  “Ha ha, well, yes.

Of course.

Kellen has done quite well for himself.

Which is why I have confidence in him to step in and replace Captain Thatcher at this moment.” Uncle Tom responded nervously.

Kellen glanced towards his Mom, and seeming to get the message, she moved away.  “I’ll be over there.

You let me know if you need anything.” It was a warning, as much as a statement of support.

Kellen felt his lips twitch, finding it funny that his Mom was practically threatening Uncle Tom, and maybe a few other people in the call.  Kellen turned back to the task at hand.  “Who called the emergency meeting?” Kellen asked, becoming professional.

Everyone else shifted, and Lieutenant Fisher spoke up.  “I did.

We have…some news in regards to the A.

E.

G.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS CalyB Kellen’s Mom stepping in to warn Uncle Tom…perfect.

That man isn’t coming back to town any time soon for his own safety.