[h2][center][color=aba000]KRISS MAUSER[/color][/center][/h2]
[center][i]LOCATION: SCVRS[/i][/center]
[center][i]TIME: WEDNESDAY, 9:15 AM - 12 PM[/i][/center]

[color=aba000]"'26. They're swatted' First letter is G. Gnats."[/color]

Reluctantly, Kriss etched the word into the paper and glanced down the hall. He hadn't properly answered a clue all day but it did little to improve his mood. He had set this day aside entirely for training when he could have been doing...well, anything, really. He wasn't exactly a social individual and likely wouldn't have spent the day, say, shopping at the mall, but still. This was his time and it was being actively wasted. He tossed the puzzle and pen onto the table a bit more forcefully as if to emphasize his irritation, even though he was the only one in the room. 

To her credit, Allison got up, showered, and dressed in a surprisingly short time. She arrived at the lounge area in less than fifteen minutes, shirt straight and bootlaces tied, though her hair was still damp and her cheeks were a bit red. She didn't know Kriss particularly well, but she knew he wouldn't be interested in excuses, so she saved them both time and kept her mouth shut. She straightened her back and lifted her chin to present herself for inspection. Kriss didn't bother. He was already standing and, without a word, moved briskly to the main garage. Ally followed him, her embarrassment rapidly being replaced by curiosity. The building was split into two large sections: housing/offices and bays. While the ambulances shared a bay (i.e. a wide open garage with a smooth concrete floor and two roll-up doors), the boat was separated by a cinderblock wall with set of double doors, minus the doors, which had never been installed. The boat was resting on a steel trailer connected to a two-door 4x4 emergency rescue truck. The walls of the bay were lines with toolboxes, hoses, and an ice box in case anyone wanted to fill up a cooler with ice.

Kriss slapped a panel on the wall as he entered the bay, lifting the front door and letting the sunlight in. He crossed his arms as Ally popped in beside him, cocking her head to the side and raising an eyebrow. She was facing a [url=https://www.naiad.co.nz/Boat+Range/Rescue+Boats/10.2+Twin+Jet.html]10m Naiad Rescue Vessel[/url]. It featured twin diesel jet engines, a hardtop cabin that seated four, beam lights, search lights, infrared cameras, Radar, and GPS/AIS tracking. The cabin held room for four, including two nav/com stations equipped with VHF radio, UHF radio, and long-range cellphone capabilities. Unloaded, it weighed nearly 5,000 kgs (11,000 lbs). Both boat and truck were painted in the standard SCVRS colors: white and blue, with silver text and a large Star of Life stamped on the truck doors. The sunlight slid into the room, glinting off the [RESCUE BOAT] reflective text emblazoned on the sides of the cabin. It was an impressive sight, even in a garage. She trotted over to it and placed a hand on the hull, grinning widely and letting out a quiet giggle.

"WOW! Look at this thing!"

[color=aba000]"That is what I am doing,"[/color] Kriss replied, his voice giving off just a hint of irritation. He hadn't completely calmed down from having to yell at her to get her out of bed. Ally toned down immediately, stepping back a few feet and reducing her grin, though she couldn't resist bouncing up and down on her toes. She looked a bit like a dog staring at an unguarded cheeseburger. It was a habit, to the point that she wasn't even aware she was doing it. Kriss was painfully aware that telling her to stop would accomplish nothing, so he forced himself to ignore it as best he could and focus on the lesson.

He hadn't been exaggerating when he said it would be a 12-hour training session. The first four occurred in the building, with the boat still on the trailer. It mainly covered memorizing what was on the boat, where it was located, and what it was used for. He drilled her on victim scenarios (breathing, not breathing, warm, cold, shaking, etc.) and what protocols could and could not be followed on the water. She had received no formal training on open-water rescue. He had her remove all of the equipment, identify it, then put it back in the correct place. He even made her step out of the boat while he went in and moved various items around, then had her climb back in and figure out what had been misplaced (and return it to its place). It was monotonous, but Ally was a quick learner. They were done with the basics by noon.

"So now do we take it out on the water??" she asked as she climbed out of the boat for the last time.

[color=aba000]"As soon as Snap gets here,"[/color] Kriss said. He didn't sound at all impressed by Ally's performance, because he wasn't. She did well, but she was expected to. As far as he was concerned, there wasn't anything particularly impressive about knowing how to do the job you've been hired to do (or volunteered for). 

"Good timing," a voice said as a figure appeared inn the open bay door. The two turned to see Snap, wearing her formal blue-grey uniform and pink-and-black sneakers. They didn't match, but she didn't care. Kelly Snapdragon was a tidy, organized woman, but she could not care less about shoes. She owned one nice pair of low heels for fancy occasions and sneakers for everything else. She tied her hair into a short ponytail and nodded in their direction. "You kids having fun?"

"Yup!" Ally replied crisply, bouncing on her toes again. 

"Kriss, you being nice?"

[color=aba000]"Yes."[/color]

Snap glanced back at Ally and winked. "Is he being nice?"

She nodded quickly. "Yeah! Kriss is a great teacher. You wanna come with us?"

"Nope," Snap replied, brushing past the duo and heading for the offices through the ambulance bay. "I've got paperwork to deal with. Keep your life jackets on. If you need anything, my phone number is 9-1-1."

Ally watched her leave, then turned back to Kriss.

"So now do we take it out on the water??"

[color=aba000]"Yes. We will launch at the marina. There is a designated boat ramp. I will drive."[/color]

Ally let out another quiet giggle as she hopped into the passenger seat of the truck. She was entirely too excited about all of this, but then again she had never been in a boat. She was a good enough swimmer, but boating was all new territory. Kriss climbed in and the duo, in unison, slammed their doors closed. The beefy V8 engine roared to life and the two set out for the harbor. He glanced at her as they pulled onto the highway. She had retrieved her phone from a pocket and was typing away. He briefly considered saying something about it, but he refrained. It was none of his darn business.