[u][center][h2]Kaitiaki HQ, New Zealand[/h2][/center][/u]

[hr]
[color=8dc73f]Chuck[/color] was grateful to be back on base. While he had enjoyed the mass destruction assignment that was the last op, the travel time to and from the base was killer. Duke was not very fond of helicopters, they were very loud. Chuck didn’t like leaving anyone behind. It grated on his sense of honor to let Jaguar find his own way home. He knew that Raven Squad had its own playbook and that it was different from what he was used to. It didn’t feel right to him. He felt he should have helped haul Jaguar off the island. He would have questioned the decision more if Tahlia had not been so supportive of Jaguar taking off on his own. Chuck’s armor had come through the operation like a champ. It had needed some minor repairs. His armor was already back in the armory waiting for its latest overhaul. 

Chuck was feeling antsy. He and Duke had taken it easy when they had gotten back late yesterday. He was ready to get outside after being cooped up on a boat with Tiny Nord. He pulled on some jogging shorts, a tank top, and sneakers. He whistled for Duke who was watching him from the middle of the made bed. Duke came bounding over to him. Chuck laughed as he could tell Duke was excited sensing they were going for a run. He rubbed behind his ears playfully as he asked him [color=8dc73f]“Do you want to go for a run?”[/color] Duke barked and wiggled his whole body,  turning in a circle with his excitement. Chuck laughed and patted him on the head. [color=8dc73f]“Alright buddy, let’s go for a run!”[/color] Chuck was feeling the need to push his body. He stretched out his legs and warmed up his muscles. He then opened the door and let Duke out. He then took off at a jog. He jogged until he had left the last guard check in behind. 

He then began to slowly push his speed up. Duke kept pace with him as they took a track recommended by Skye. They ran the perimeter of the island. It was a long route but then Chuck had very long legs. He needed a good cardio workout and Duke always enjoyed a good run. One of things he loved about this new job was the scenery. He loved being outside. The island was beautiful and quiet since the only people on it were Raven Squad. He kept to a moderate pace as his long legs ate up the miles quickly. Chuck soaked up the serenity of being out in nature alone with his dog. Moments like this were where he found peace in life. He found the beauty in nature on his run, soaking it in like a sponge. He had worked up a good sweat by the time he had gotten back to base. 

He jogged until he reached the main base building. He then slowed to a walk. He made his way into the heavy gym. He pulled a bowl for Duke out of his locker. He gave his canine partner some water before chugging some for himself. Then he refilled his water bottle before putting Duke’s bowl away. He had heard the heavy gym was equipped to handle him. He was hoping that was true. The gym at his last posting worked for the regular troops but he had broken the floor and bent bars trying to get a good workout. He had to get creative to keep his muscle tone. He entered the heavy gym. He gave Duke an at ease hand sign. Duke sprawled out on a gym mat nearby and watched Chuck as he approached the first weight station. 

He grinned as he saw the heavy duty shock absorption flooring under the heavy lift station. He noticed the heavier reinforced bar for deadlifting with extra long end caps so he could load extra weight and grinned. He also noticed a hard welded bar cage connected to a steel cable with a pulley with hand grips contraption where you could just pile in rock or the weight rings. He decided to test the bar first by putting one hundred pounds on each end. He used the bar to do arm curls. He was pleased to note the bar didn’t bend or flex under the initial weight. Chuck began to slowly increase the weight as he worked different arm and shoulder groupings. Chuck was sweating profusely once more. He pulled off his tank top and used it as a towel to wipe off the sweat. His abs glistened and rippled as he moved from one heavy piece of equipment to the next. 

Someone had rigged a simple teeter totter type of leg press. There was a chair welded into a heavy steel bracket with counter balance weights on it and bolted to the floor. There was a place for him to put his feet to push with rubber grips. When he pushed the pedals forward it lifted the bar with a foot long solid peg on it with a threaded bolt end cap that held the standard gym weights on. The difference was this machine was reinforced and counter balanced to handle much heavier weights than standard gym equipment. Chuck had never been in a gym that catered to someone of his strength and size before. He was finding that he was able to push his body and learn limits that he hadn't been able to do before. Chuck was wrapping  up his leg routine. He wandered over to the large open area covered in gym mats. He began a kata. He could use a good sparring partner. [i][color=8dc73f]Where was that Nord when he wanted someone to pit his skills against?[/color][/i] 

[hr] 

[center][h2]The Reunion Party[/h2][/center]

Chuck had showered and changed after his workout earlier. He had given Duke a bath and a good brushing. He had needed some extra grooming after their run earlier. Duke enjoyed the extra attention he had received and was relaxed as he padded along at Chuck’s side. He had fed Duke before they left the room. Chuck had pulled on jeans, a t-shirt with a beer logo, and his combat boots. He normally would wear a hat but he was indoors and his momma had beat basic manners into him. His hair was cut short and his beard and mustache were trimmed neatly along his jawline and lip. His light blue eyes stood out in his tanned face. He had made his way to the recreation room where he was told that the team was meeting. Duke was a constant warm presence at his side. 

Chuck stepped into the room and noted the sitting arrangements. He took a seat at the table with Duke sitting next to him at attention. Duke’s eyes seemed to drift from person to person as something they did drew his attention. He lazily scratched Duke’s ears as he waited for the meeting to start. Chuck listened to Skye’s report with a slight frown. He would catch her alone later and get caught up on the latest op information. He had joined the team last minute and was not privy to their previous ops so he didn’t understand the significance of what Skye was telling the team. He accepted the whiskey and tapped Skye's glass with a hearty [color=8dc73f]"Cheers"[/color]. He casually threw it back saluting Skye as he did so.[i][color=8dc73f] Damn that was good whiskey![/color][/i] He wanted a beer and a steak  though. That would round out his day nicely. Chuck understood that Skye was hiding a lot under that facade. Chuck had led his own team until recently and he understood that Skye was hiding some things to show what her team expected to see. He would corner her later and see if she would talk to him. He knew what it was like to have that responsibility and not want your team to see your weaknesses. Sometimes even the leader needed someone to talk to. His eyes glanced around the room to check out other members he had met but didn’t really know very well yet.