Chapter 380: Made in our image
Kellen waited anxiously at the receiving area. Kellen had no idea until about half an hour prior to this that there even was an area to receive members of the Guild when they were coming back from the front lines.
It wasn’t something he had been shown when he had taken his original tour, but Kellen understood once he actually got there.
It was in a section of the underground parking lot that was very nondescript, and for good reason. If someone wanted to attack the Saturn Guild, returning, exhausted members of the Guild was a good target to go after. So Kellen learned that they usually arrived in two cars that had been enchanted so that they looked like normal cars but were actually vans. Then they would slip into the garage and do the drop off here. There was a secret hallway that connected to a flight of stairs that took them up to the lobby so that they got there safely.
The receiving room was usually where their leaders waited. So Rhys, Hill, Gunther. Those were the normal people who met them.
This time, it was Kellen, Rhys and Taylor. Taylor had insisted on being here so that she could check on the Guides. It was funny. Guides were known for making sure that others were helped, taken care of, all of that, but were notorious for putting others first. Taylor had this look in her eyes when Kellen had asked her why she was here. She had told him, point blank, he couldn’t chase her away to have a romantic moment with Rhys.
That had shut Kellen up.
Kellen slid his gaze to Rhys, who was busy typing away on his phone, but standing close enough to him that they were touching. Kellen knew that even if he was mandated to be here, he was also here to support Kellen. Knowing that made Kellen’s throat feel a little tight.
Taylor was sitting down on some of the seating in the room. Compared to the dark, dingy feeling of the rest of the garage, the receiving room felt like a hospital waiting room in comparison. It was white, clean, with several of the same chairs pressed against the walls. A few benches were also on the floor, taking up space, but also providing a place for people to put things down on them.
A few vending machines were tucked into the corner, but Kellen could tell that no one needed to give money, they just needed to press the buttons. It was stocked with shakes, pop, water, and a few snacks. Anything that someone could want after being on the front lines.