(BL) Hunting The Field Guide

Gwen and the others still hadn't woken up. Not even Bree. The decision came, on the 5th day since Kellen had awoken, and the sixth day since they had left the gate, to transport them back to the city.

The decision was twofold. One, they had better facilities in the city and two, the city had been too long without S Classes keeping an eye on things. Lieutenant Fisher was keeping everything in check, but that didn't mean that was going to last forever.

Especially with the E.A.G. still at large. While they hadn't been active for a while, that didn't mean that they weren't going to become active soon. Without Sakura or Rhys there to act as a deterrent, there was no way to predict what could happen.

Lieutenant Fisher was using the success of touching the core and the rescue mission as a victory lap against them, but that could only hold for so long. Kellen knew that, as did everyone else. Which was when they decided that the unconscious members of the Saturn Guild would go back to the city and on what date, that they would have a serious escort.

There was no need to hide what they were carrying, or how precious it was. They were going to have Sakura, Rhys, and several other powerful members of the Guilds escorting the group.

That, and Carlos was going to be with the group, along with Taylor. Carlos was ready to poison anyone who got in their way, or entered without express permission. He wasn't going to use one of his poisons that didn't have an antidote, but that didn't mean it wasn't going to be a problem.

The duo that had been spotted were taking their damn time making their way towards the front lines. Several watches had caught sight of them dipping in and out of the forest. Hill had been getting notice after notice, and she wanted to strangle them at this point. She had complained to Kellen that they were basically teasing her with these sightings since they knew that it was mostly Hill on the front lines.

They might not know everything that was going on in the city or the Guild since they were away from human contact when they were on these missions, but some things just stayed consistent. Like Hill being on the front lines, Rhys always using his powers, and…that was pretty much all Kellen could think of that was consistent right now.

Either way, the front lines were abuzz for several reasons. Taylor was busy with her team to make sure that the people who were unconscious were okay, especially during transit. Kellen didn't need to be hooked up while in transit. This was mainly due to the fact that Carlos had developed a shot that Kellen could take that would last the length of the trip, and a bit longer so that he was one less person that they needed to worry about.

It also helped him since Kellen needed to do something important while everyone else was fussing about the travel arrangements.

Kellen needed to speak to Sergei, and let him know the news about Brent. While the Nemesis Guild had been understanding, especially given the situation, he knew and could tell that they were antsy. They wanted their Captain back, they needed him back, and Kellen didn't fault them from being a little insistent on the topic.

Kellen knew that they were checking in on him, sending him little messages, getting updates on his condition so that they could accurately ask for his help without Kellen risking himself. They were considerate people, and Kellen had worked with most of them a lot.

As Kellen knew, it was the Saturn Guild and the Nemesis Guild who he had personally worked with the most. Brent had barely worked with the Nemesis Guild, or brokered the contracts with them. That had all been Kellen because by the time that Brent joined his team Kellen had more of a reputation.

Brent had been the bright eyed and bushy tailed new Guide that needed to be broken in and earn his stripes. It was almost funny how things had changed. Kellen had only wondered, briefly, if things would have been different if Brent and Sergei had met when Brent had first joined Kellen's group.

Kellen had immediately dismissed that. Brent had been messed up when he had first come to the front lines. While Sergei had always, in Kellen's eyes, been calm and collected. Sure, he liked to tease a bit, but he wasn't the kind of man who would have taken well to who Brent was when he first met him.

Brent was, simply put, a whore when Kellen had first met him. That wasn't a criticism. Brent had been working through his own problems, and he liked the pleasure he got from sex. He had used getting down and dirty with others as a way to suppress his feelings until he got good at being a Guide.

After Kellen had knocked a little bit of sense into him Brent had changed for the better, but he had needed the time to do so. And probably the time away from Kellen's side to figure out a bit more about himself after. Kellen wasn't going to take full credit for the change that he'd seen in Brent over the years, but he wasn't going to deny the role he'd played.

Kellen was fairly certain that if Sergei and Brent had met when he was younger, and more foolish, Sergei would have taken one look at the pretty, smiling Guide and would have turned away once he heard the rumours about him. Not out of maliciousness, or anything like that, but just because he was more trouble than he was worth.

Brent? He would have run immediately.

Kellen knew his type, and while Sergei wasn't as upfront as Gwen was, nor as extraverted as his normal types, Sergei was a giver, and was considerate. His contract details alone told Kellen the truth about that. There was no doubt in his mind that Sergei was exactly the kind of person that would terrify Brent the most, especially when he was younger and wilder.

So it was a good thing that they were getting close now. Even if it had caused this kind of situation.

~

Kellen, with Rhys at his side, was welcomed into the Nemesis Guild's camp with open arms. Lieutenant Howard was the one holding down the fort while Sergei was unconscious. They had begun the waking up process as soon as Kellen let them know that he could make it that day.

Relief was etched into every line of their face, along with worry. That was always the case when waking up an Esper, especially one of Sergei's Class. Sometimes, Espers didn't wake up quite right. A little out of sorts, couldn't remember who they were, or they just got violent. The good news was that you could put them back under with very little harm to them.

Usually when you woke them up the second time they were in a better condition. Kellen just hoped that wasn't the case for Captain Sergei. While it wasn't exactly the last day before Kellen had to leave the front lines, it was the day before.

Rhys had wanted to wait until the last day, but Kellen wanted to give some room for a margin of error, and it also meant that Carlos could test out his shot in a semi controlled environment. Two birds, one stone.

Kellen was, after all, guinea pig number 1.

Very few pleasantries were exchanged between them. Kellen and Rhys were ushered to a room just off of where Sergei was asleep. Lieutenant Howard was the one who was going to speak to him first, make sure he was sane, before he grabbed Kellen and Rhys.

Lieutenant Howard hadn't even considered separating Kellen and Rhys, hadn't even assumed that Kellen was going to speak to Sergei alone.

The fact that Kellen was still wearing an eyepatch, and that his hand was covered in a thick, black glove only solidified that Kellen was alive, but he wasn't doing his best. That, and Lieutenant Howard was an Esper. Kellen had watched as their eyes had flickered slightly at the sight of the injured Guide, before they had schooled their reaction.

Kellen had still smiled to himself. Espers had a hard time in stressful situations from fighting their protective instincts. That was displayed by the fact that the Nemesis Guild members, while Kellen and Rhys were waiting for Lieutenant Howard to give them the green light, were offering Kellen drinks, snacks, and places to sit and rest.

It was cute to Kellen, while Rhys was barely controlling himself, his own instincts on high alert.

Then, Lieutenant Howard pushed the tent flap to the side, their expression tight, but also relieved, and Kellen knew it was his time to shine.

He entered the small room, Sergei looking about half the size that he normally was. He had lost weight, probably due to stress, and his expression looked rough. Kellen was sure that was how Rhys had looked only a few days ago and it broke Kellen's heart that a man like Sergei was in this condition.

Sergei, for his part, looked haggard, but also overjoyed to see Kellen. It faltered slightly as he really looked him over.

"What happened while I was unconscious?" He asked, half joking and Kellen didn't pull any punches.

"I went into the gate. Probably found half, if not more, of the people who got sucked into the gate, found two deceased. Got my sister out, and Sergei?" Kellen met the man's gaze. "Brent wasn't sucked into the gate or swallowed by a monster. I found out the truth after I got out of the gate." Kellen said and Sergei's eyes widened.

"Wait, you've already gone into the gate, and you've come out? Did you touch the core?" It said something to who Sergei was that while he knew that he could get the answer about Brent first, he asked about the condition of the gate, the thing that had threatened the city for so long, first.

"I didn't, but the core was touched. We have access to the gate. We're just doing more checks to see if anyone else survived with machines right now, but the toxicity of the air is corroding them too fast. The Peach Guild is working on it, but the living members out of the gate are more important." Sergei nodded.

"Of course." He agreed, his gaze darting from Kellen to Rhys. "The eye?" He asked softly and Kellen shifted.

"Potentially fine. Not saying anything for now. They're working on it." Kellen told him and Sergei nodded, before he sighed. He closed his eyes, a shudder running through his body.

"Okay. Tell me." He asked, opening his gaze and Kellen stared into the grey gaze of another S Class Esper. Kellen sighed.

"He's alive, but kidnapped. HIs grandfather passed, the person he'd been looking for contact from on the front lines while he was training the Field Guides. His grandfather was a big deal overseas and he left the company in Brent's hands." Sergei froze. Kellen almost worried he wasn't breathing, but didn't freak out because Rhys was there. Rhys was keeping everyone level at this moment.

Sergei then folded in half, his arms slamming down on his knees as he shuddered, a relieved sound so potent leaving his body that Kellen almost went to the near surging Esper. Rhys stopped him, gently shaking his head.

"Thank everything holy." It was a raw prayer, and made Kellen's chest ache. It wasn't long after that Sergei sent them away, looking as if Kellen and Rhys had given him the best news he'd ever heard. Kellen made the Esper promise he wouldn't do anything to get him back without Kellen's help. Sergei reluctantly agreed.