Learning?

Heading back to the base after a fight was always a little more quiet than usual. The group was typically much calmer, seeing as how even though they had done this dozens, and some of them hundreds of times, they would always grow anxious knowing they were heading into a beast fight and afterwards would need time to reflect on how things went during the battle.

Pulling in to the squads headquarters the captain reminded everyone to inspect their gear and to be ready to head out at a moments notice in case of another call. It would only be 1 more day until they were on their off cycle and given another 1 week reprieve while the secondary team would take their shift.

Both sets of teams live at the squad base, along with any family each member may have. Capable of housing well beyond 100 individuals, the building had grounds keepers and even full time chefs. The members enjoyed significant comfort here. Though they sometimes felt over pampered and guilty for having so much, even if they did put their own lives on the line regularly. The chefs weren't even really necessary since the need for typical food for survival had long since passed. Nicely and gourmet prepared food was now for recreational enjoyment rather than to live since the advent of advanced synthesis technology. Now people would just eat a tube of what is commonly referred to as synth-tubes. Though the flavor is fantastic to most, it just doesn't replace the enjoyment a full, real meal can bring.

As the team stepped out of the vehicle, Flare wandered up to the front of the building and just looked at it, feeling a hint of sadness as he observed the security measures built in to every aspect. "Imagine... being so numb to the way things are in this world, that we don't even bat an eyelash at even our homes being weaponized.", The muscles in Flares jaw went to work tensing and releasing as he inspected the view in front of him.

Overall the outside of the building looked more like a giant mansion, with great pillars along the front, reminiscent of the old US seat of power. Similar to the design of all other squad bases. Though this building hid several key security features that made them different from normal buildings, such as 3 inch thick steel walls that would slide over each window, electrified ground pins that would shoot up through the lawn and walkways, and guns mounted to the building that spray acid. All in anticipation of a potential assault from the Ashen. The inside looked far more grand however, and hid the security features better for a slightly more comfortable feel.

Marble walls and pillars throughout with wrought iron railings and banisters. Along with the same steel partition walls and bulkheads that one would find on the outside designed to seal off every single room individually. Along with explosives and corrosive liquids that would drop down from the ceilings on whatever beast was trapped. Just to ensure it died and couldn't escape if one ever appeared within the compound. Though the squads and their family members know the truth of why such extreme measures are taken in squad compounds.

Now that everyone was inside and settled in their own area, visiting with their family since they currently had a little down time, Captain Marcos called Flare into a meeting with himself and the squad captain of the other team.

Starting off the meeting, Flare addressed Captain Sarah first with his typically jovial attitude, "Hey Sarah! Its really been a while since we last were able to sit down and chat and hasn't it?" Captain Sarah being one of the only female squad leaders in the entire Midwest territory was certainly a head turner. She was short, standing at a mere 5' 2" with a model-esque petit frame, her soft chestnut brown eyes and hair to match was perfectly styled into a clean and professional A cut hairstyle with eyebrow length bangs. She looked almost like a photoshopped, human proportion business doll, one would certainly never imagine her to be an Ashen slaying captain, or that she would be impressively good at it either. Underestimating her based on her looks was very ill advised.

Sarah gave Flare her typical cheery smile in response and enthusiastically replied "It really has been! Talk about a shame, we will have to catch up sometime with a sparring session again! I've gotta see how much you've improved lately." Hearing that invitation to spar sent a slight chill down both Flares AND Marcos spines. Sarah may be small compared to them, but she was mighty and everyone in the compound knew it. "I'll be sure to take you up on that sometime, but for right now I guess we should see what Captain Marcos has to talk with us about."

Giving Captain Marcos the floor, Marcos leaned forward and first explained the general fight the squad had with the bear-like Ashen to Sarah, he then nodded toward Flare, "Now, before I go anywhere with this, I'd like to ask your opinion on the portion of the fight you watched, up until the moment you decided to intervene, How did you feel about what you observed?"

Flare was anticipating this conversation already, knowing full well that something was very wrong in that last bout they had and explained his general feel of Claire and Caim's initial team work in the fight. Along with Caims preparedness for his initial attack and Claires perception of not only when to leap in to hamper the beast, but the knowledge and skill she displayed in her dodge of the attack that nearly claimed Caim's life. "At first I didn't think it would be anything out of the ordinary, but based on the position and wind-up of the Ashens body before it even turned to swing at Claire, I could tell it was getting ready for a much more significant rotation... It wouldn't need that kind of wind-up to attack just behind it. Then it swung and I leapt in when I saw Caim going for a kill strike on the beasts neck. Under normal circumstances, he made the right choice. I told him that he made a mistake before but that was just so I didn't upset the team at the time. That beast definitely baited him... It created a false opening for Caim to strike at, and turned it into its own opening to strike him instead. I've never seen anything like it from a tier-3 Ashen. They always fight so straightforwardly, even if they're fighting together. What makes it stranger is that this was a newly turned beast, I guess I could maybe see it learning if it was one that flew under our radar for years and had time to grow, but even those don't show that level of cunning in fights, frankly the idea of a learning curve showing up in these beasts is terrifying."

Marcos and Sarah both looked at each other, then Marcos exhaled audibly, visibly unhappy. "I knew that's what I saw as well, I just needed to make sure to confirm it with you before saying anything else about it, I wanted to make sure I wasn't just imagining things, though truth be told... I wish I were. Sarah, I'll have you help me file a report to central, something like this needs to be watched and training needs to be adjusted so we don't start losing people left and right out there in the field."

Sarah simply nodded her head, her face grim with concern, without another word both Sarah and Marcos left the room to go and file their report, leaving Flare to his own devices. Taking this opportunity he left the room to go find his own family. It didn't take long until he happened upon them in a craft room.

He stood there at the entryway, silently watching his 8 year old daughter painting on a canvas. the light coming in through large floor to ceiling greenhouse-like windows at an angle, caught her light brown hair and made it glow with a warm aura. His wife stood just behind her and watched her paint as well. After enjoying the sight for a couple of minutes he cleared his throat to announce his presence. His daughter looks over at him and as she recognizes who's there, her bright blue eyes light up as she screams "Papa!" and she runs over to him to jump into his arms for a hug. His wife comes over to join them in their embrace. "Hey Anja" he says to his daughter, and then to Jess his wife. "I've missed you guys today. What are you painting?" Anja then leads Flare over to the canvas to show him her masterpiece. It's of herself playing with her dog who is a mixed husky breed named Vivi. "Wow! You're getting really good you know?" Flare states to his little girl. She simply shrugs and says that it is still a work in progress. Flare can't help but smile at his child's playful modesty. Flare then gets to he point of why he sought them out, other than wanting to see them, "How would you guys like to hang out with me and the rest of the squad for a bar-b-que?" Now both of the girls eyes light up, bbq is their favorite.

Before heading outside to the patio area to relax and eat, Flare gets out of his gear, sets it in the speed wash and cleans up. By the time he's ready to head down, his gear is fresh and ready to wear at a moments notice. Packing the gear into his duffle he heads downstairs to meet up with everyone else, each of his team mates have an identical bag next to them, since they have to be ready to run and get ready with no spare time to hunt their equipment down if an alarm sounds.

Wait all of his main crew is already seated, along with the majority of each of their families. Moments like this are what help them feel normal and relaxed to help them unwind from the stresses of their lifestyle. Marcos steps in, taking in the sight and nodding like a proud father and says "Wonderful! Now that everyone on the team is here, I can make my announcement. We have a new 7th member for team Aegis! I'd like everyone to welcome Kai Takao. He has recently graduated from the slayers recruitment academy and is looking forward to meeting with all of you. Please make him feel at home."