"Tell me Mr. Morost, how confident are you in your lieutenant's ability?"
In a wide conference room, surrounded by wooden totems of various beasts coating it in an atmosphere of mystery. The office of Safir, the Director of Evolver affairs who sat with a calm expression, his long white hair slowly hugging the sides of his immaculate face, as his crimson jewel-like eyes gazed upon two of his men currently in front of him.
"It's fine Dernek, no need to be on edge. If Fjoroft is confident in his subordinate, then we have nothing to worry about."
" Yes, Lt. Pax is number one in our division when it comes to information gathering." Succinctly and with no change in expression did Fjoroft give his answer. Dernek's obvious doubt and provocation not even remotely affecting his demeanour.
" Are perhaps his Evolver powers the reason for this?" Asked Safir with the light of curiosity faintly glowing in his eyes.
Safir had to admit to himself that this third division of his was extremely interesting to him. First of all a reason was their captain himself. The eleven division captains were an extremely strong and stubborn bunch who could separate each other into two main camps: The pleased- with- Safir camp and the displeased- but- pretend- otherwise camp, Safir would often chuckle at the names he gave those two groups. Fjoroft, as opposed to the other captains, did not belong to either group as his complete neutrality and indifference were evident in both his actions and demeanour.
A second reason would also be closely tied to Fjoroft himself, and that would be his subordinates. The 3rd division was by far the smallest personnel wise, but thanks to a size like that their cohesion and ability to react to unforeseen circumstances was far and beyond the best out of all the other divisions. Hence, to this relatively new director Safir, their leader's neutrality and his team's versatility made them his favorite division. Casting a side glance at Dernek, his right-hand man who was also the defacto leader of the pleased- with- Safir camp.
' It's truly interesting and funny, looking at how annoyed he gets anytime he is in the presence of Fjoroft. He doesn't act this badly even when he talks to the members of the other camp.
"Yes Mr. Director-
"Please call me Mr. Safir."
"- Mr. Safir, it is as you said, his Evolver powers make him a perfect fit for the job."
"Divine control huh... what a terrifying ability. To think that subtle manipulation at such a high level could be achieved by simply talking, amazing."
*hmph*
Hearing Dernek's act of displeasure made him remind himself should a need for a meeting with Fjoroft arise next time, he would have to find a reason to have it alone without Dernek. His loyalty pleased him, but acting on it in such a way was not positive either.
...
As the conversation between these distinctly different personalities was flowing in its unique way. The man in question, Pax was walking quickly toward the main hall that led to the conference room while deep in thought.
'Dimension... candidate... what could that mean? Is he a part of the Eye of the Sky? But he doesn't know exactly what happened to him, just some fragments. My confidence in Divine control is not unfounded, still I can't be too sure, he might have a failsafe put in him by someone... Is he may be a part of the Seething Maw? Those lunatics love talking about chosen ones and similar rituals, so they might have done something to him... but why was he dead when we found him? That plant as well, for such a high-level Evolver to just spontaneously evolve without us knowing ahead of time is equally as weird...hmm.'
While pondering, his eyes met the exquisitely carved wooden doors as he quickly reigned in his bubbling thoughts.
'I wonder what the captain and director are going to say when I tell them this, no use in fretting over this right now.'
...
" So Mr. Fjoroft, why was that Evolver so strong, and could you not have arrived there faster?"
" I apologize Mr. Dernek, I did not think how it might've been hard for you to fathom how divisions work, since you are an office clerk at the end of the day. In respect of your position, I am more than glad to hold a lesson at a later date since I think we have a more pressing issue in front of us."
"What... did you say... Mr. Morost?"
While Fjoroft was usually calm and stoic, it did not mean he was spineless. Even he couldn't tolerate the constant disrespect, it did not matter that it was from a superior. As this conversation that, at the start seemed like an official meeting, threatened to boil over.
*knock* *knock*
" Enter." Safir focused his gaze at the blond man, the second seat of the 3rd division and the saviour of this conversation, with a serene smile.
" Take a seat Lt. Pax, we've been eagerly awaiting the results of your work."
"Thank you, director."
Before Pax took a seat, he saluted his captain first then Safir and Dernek before taking a seat.
' The 3rd division's loyalty to their captain is as evident as ever.' Thought to himself Safir, before shooting a glance at Dernek in a subtle attempt to stop him from reacting to the actions of the Lieutenant.
" I was able gather info from him." Started Pax with a serious, grim expression."
" As expected from the second seat, Divine Control." Praised Safir.
" Thank you, director, now the most important thing to take into consideration was the fact that there was a dog in the mix, the suspect called him Sigmund, the fact that we weren't able to either capture him or at least retrieve the body is an extremely serious problem. He might be on the loose and pose a threat to the civilians if he evolved like that plant."
" That is a problem indeed. Dernek."
"Yes, Mr. Safir, I will immediately dispatch Loc and his team to search for it."
" Good, do that immediately after we finish this discussion. Please continue Lt."
" Yes, the next thing of note is that he doesn't remember anything but knows that something happened which might point to a foreign influence."
" If even after he fell under your Divine Control, he still doesn't remember, means that he is truly innocent himself."
" Sir, we cannot rule out the fact that maybe the lieutenant is not strog enough to break through the machinations of other beings."
" I agree" " I concur."
Both the captain and lieutenant agreed to Dernek's words.
" Does it change anything in the end? He is dangerous to us whether he be innocent or guilty himself. To us that is but a slight difference." Said Safir oozing with calm.
" Now Lt., is there anything else?"
" No sir, this is all I was able to gleam."
" This is even more peculiar now. Well, all that is left for us is to wait for Krell to arrive to see how this situation develops." As he threw a small cursory glance over the faces of his subordinates, he dismissed them until further notice.
...
The corridor sprawled in front of the captain and lieutenant duo. Fjoroft noticed the absent- minded expression on Pax's face.
"What's wrong Pax?"
"Huh?... nothing, nothing, I'm just going over what happened today in my head."
" Don't overexert yourself, until Mr. Emell arrives, we won't make any progress. You should go rest.
"Yes captain"
...
Now walking alone, having said goodbye to his captain, Pax could help but think.
'Did I forget to mention something?'
Suddenly he stopped, looked around himself, tried jog his memory a few times while recalling the interrogation. Yet in the end, the only thing he did was confuse himself even more.
' No, I didn't forget anything, I said everything I had to say in the conference room.'
Now, the only thing left in the corridor was the sound of the lieutenant's slowly disappearing footsteps, as he left the building with a feeling of unease.