The nature of some abilities makes them highly dangerous - both to others and the users. As it is Haven's responsibility to handle ability holders and general matters concerning EX particles, the news of an EX-human awakening their ability meant a team had to be sent to find them.
These teams typically consist of three members: two capable agents who can handle any potential backlash from the new Ability Holder and a member of the research team capable of analyzing the ability to quickly deduce any immediate information about it. This arrangement is meant to be the most efficient and least threatening as too many members might seem intimidating.
A team is to operate under the base assumption that their goal is to meet a new Ability Holder to provide them any assistance needed in learning to control their power and the opportunity to use it for the betterment of their society. If the ability is dangerous and needs to be contained, the two agents are equipped with the skills to handle it. The research member does their best to provide any information to accelerate this process, and once handled try to provide any immediate options to help in controlling it to the holder.
Once the situation is under control, the team is to attempt to convince the Ability Holder to join Haven. They can be assured to escape the discrimination and prejudice EX-humans face and continue their education or employment free of such problems. Haven would also provide them with any necessary training to understand and control their ability as well as how they can put it to use to help others.
As part of the team for the most recently identified awakening, Mark arrived at the garage within ten minutes. He was now dressed in a green, long-sleeve shirt under a black vest; blue pants with black accents; and black boots with green laces. In white, his name was stitched into the vest over his left breast and across his back was the word 'HAVEN' in capital letters. A white armband on his left arm had a black symbol stitched into it resembling a blocky, downward arrow with a white star in it.
Upon Mark's arrival, the other two members of the team were already present and sitting in their transport. It was a large, brown vehicle resembling a jeep with a large truck bed. In black, bold letters across either side was the word 'HAVEN'
Ciera was sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. She wore a similar uniform to Mark but had optioned to have white laces instead of green, and her armband held a different symbol. It was still stitched in black and resembled a blocky arrow, but hers pointed upward and was divided by a white line to look like it was one stacked on top of another.
The other member of their team was situated in the truck bed. He was an older, pale skinned man with long, black hair reaching past his shoulders that had begun to gray. He held green eyes that - despite his seemingly lazy posture and gentle expression - still looked sharp and dangerous. The uniform he was wearing was similar to Mark and Ciera's but his differed in that his shirt, pants, and laces were black. As a member of the research devision, his uniform did not have an armband, but this man was different; the band on his arm had a single black, bold line run around it.
Mark turned his attention away from the man and focused on Ciera. Saluting, he declared, "Mark Kolton, reporting for duty Corporal June!"
Ciera did not turn to look at Mark and kept her attention straight ahead as she replied, "Get in Specialist Kolton."
Mark immediately made his way around the vehicle and got into the passenger side. Then, without further delay, they set off.
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On the drive, a voice came over the vehicle's radio, "Is there anything Della could tell us about this new Ability Holder?"
The voice belonged to the man sitting in the truck bed with his hair whipping in the wind using an earpiece to access the radio.
Somewhat unhappily, Ciera pressed a button to respond, "She's not a miracle worker Van. You should know that with how much you've worked with her."
The man known as Caezar Van chuckled before responding, "Actually, I don't. She never liked me and I never had much opportunity to interact with her so the full extent of her powers escapes me. Though I have suggested a theory she can more accurately determine an EX-human's ability and not just it's activation if she received proper training or an adequate support."
Ciera did not make her thoughts known and curtly replied, "All we have is a location."
There was a noticeable click of Caezar disconnecting from the radio.
Ciera visibly relaxed and quietly said, "I hope nothing's happened."
Mark nodded, "There shouldn't be an issue. As it is a newly awakened ability, it should pose no threat to the two of us."
Ciera shot Mark a slightly chastising look. "That's not what I mean. The parking garage we're heading to should be fairly abandoned at the time of day the awakening was detected so no one should have gotten hurt, but depending on the ability, there can be collateral damage. Plus, even if nothing bad happened at the time, we never know where the Anti-EX members are lurking. One suspicion and who knows what they'll do."
Mark's serious expression softened some. "If the ability were dangerous or causing any damage, we would have heard about it and been called in before Headquarters did. So, everything should be fine there. As for Anti-EX…" His expression turned kind as he turned to Ciera. "All we can do is hope for the best and do everything we can to help them."
"Yeah, I know. I just wish we could do more or at least have a better way of dealing with those guys."
Mark sighed. "Unfortunately, they aren't like the gangs and other groups. They have no unifying characteristics, and as far as we know, they handle everything face-to-face or have limited digital contact with one another. Even those who do communicate digitally are only in contact with one or two other members. Additionally, since they're made up of ordinary humans, they are outside our jurisdiction and have to be left to the regular authorities."
"All we can do is try our best to not justify their propaganda and help those in need."
"Right," Ciera agreed.
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Arriving at their destination - a parking garage -, Ciera parked their vehicle at ground level. The three then exited their transport.
Caezar hopped over the side of the truck bed and then stood straight while stretching his back. He then looked to the other two before asking, "Shall we get looking then?"
Ciera had a strict expression on her face as she responded, "We need our equipment first." She then turned to walk to the back of the vehicle.
"How could I forget? How silly of me," Caezar said. His tone may have been teasing but the man gave off an air that caused it to come off as mockingly.
In the truck bed were two boxes. One was a square kit and the other was significantly larger.
Mark had already managed to hop into the truck bed and pick up the kit - handing it over the side to Caezar. "Here you go Professor Van," he said.
"Thank you Mark my boy," Caezar replied as he accepted the kit. Again, his tone seemed friendly but the impression he left said anything but.
However, Mark had known Caezar for a long time and was unfazed by the unnerving impression he gave. He simply retreated and turned around to undo the latches on the other box while Ciera waited at the end of the bed - opening it.
"I'm done Sargent," Mark said before standing in salute.
Ciera nodded before instructing, "Thank you Specialist; now please step aside." She watched as Mark got out of the truck bed before looking back to the large box. "Okay, Jake, time to get up."
The air seemed to become charged and a rumbling was heard in the case before it began to open. From inside, a large hand pushed open the case and something began to sit up. They then got to their feet, stepped out of the box, and proceeded to leave the truck bed.
This was Ciera June's ability Guardian Revenant - nickname Jake. An an internal-hunter-type ability, her ability functioned by injecting EX particles from herself into a vessel. Due to the nature of her ability, that vessel needed to be a deceased human being. Her EX particles then react with those naturally within the body to not only control it but augment. Becoming faster, stronger, more durable, etc., she gains an undead super soldier tailored to pursue and combat other Ability Holders.
Jake was very large and was about seven-feet of muscle and super dense bone. His body was originally dark toned, but had gained a purple hue and under the effect of Ciera's ability appeared to have striations running up his limbs, back, and head and around his chest. To cover his appearance, he was outfitted in a Haven uniform similar to Ciera's with no armband. Although it differed in the inclusion of black gloves to cover his hands, a hood and face mask to further cover his bald head, and a pair of goggles to conceal his cloudy, white eyes. The name stitched into the left breast of his vest read 'SUPPORT: CIERA JUNE'.
"Okay Jake, sniff him out," Ciera ordered.
Jake jolted slightly at the command before looking around. He eventually turned and looked to the top of the parking garage. Turning back to Ciera, he raised an arm and pointed toward the top of the structure.
"Looks like we have some walking to do," Ciera declared before walking toward the garage - Jake and Mark following close behind.
"Couldn't we just take the car," Caezar asked.
"The ability may have been awakened on the roof, but their could be evidence to explained what triggered it on the way there," Ciera said curtly. "That information could be in important in identifying any characteristics of the ability. Wouldn't it?"
Caezar moved his shoulders around exaggeratedly as he complained, "You sure are working these old bones." He then began walking himself.
Mark looked away awkwardly as Ciera griped under her breath ahead of him. He got along well with both his teammates individually, but the two did not get along well at all.
More specifically, Caezar liked trying to get a reaction out of Ciera. Not out of any genuine malice or dislike but due to a lack of respect. Normally research members did not adhere to the ranking system of agents, but Caezar is an exception due to his high position and preference for 'field work'. Doubling as a field agent, he holds the rank of fifth class chief warrant officer. The highest ranking person present, Ciera could not actually do anything to him and had to remain respectful despite officially being in charge of the mission and him being a 'purely advisory' role. Caezar knew that.
The three - or four - man team reached the roof without noticing anything.
"I guess we could have taken the car," Caezar commented.
"As I said," Ciera began as she stepped forward - looking around -, "we couldn't be sure what happened here and it might have been impor-" She did not continue as she and Mark discovered the body of Xavier Trails.
"Kolton, stay back with Van," Ciera ordered seriously. "Jake, follow me."
Mark stood ready and loose while Caezar watched on with disinterest as the other two approached the body.
Upon reaching the body, Ciera looked at the stain of dried blood before stepping forward while Jake observed the area. She placed her hand on Xavier's neck to confirm and felt no pulse. She waved for the others to come over.
While they approached, Ciera proceeded to check the body and found the large face wound. Her eyes hardened.
Once close enough, Mark asked flatly, "What do you think?"
Caezar placed his kit down and spoke while opening it, "No damage to the surrounding structures, no abnormal formations or other evidence, and no evidence of this man being an EX-human. Suffice to say this isn't our Ability Holder."
Ciera nodded, "That's right. This man has injuries too abnormal to be from an ordinary person and their too consistent to suggest he died one way and then something happened to affect the damaged area."
"Possibility of an EX-beast?"
"There's too little damage and an EX-beast is too aggressive for us not to have heard about it."
Placing a pair of goggles on his head, rolling up his sleeves, putting on rubber gloves, and pulling out a rectangular case, Caezar added, "Della would have informed us if there had been another ability present at this sight and there's no evidence of a third party here." He then stood up and began approaching Xavier's body. "Suffice to say, this is the handy work of our target."
Mark's expression turned cold and his eyes piercing. "They must be stopped."