"Is there still no word from Linus?" asks Benedict who is down at the control floor, discussing the unit formation for the void meteorite retrieval.
"Agent Francis is still in his previously requested vacation leave, Sir."
"It's been a month now, hasn't it?"
"Y-yes, Sir. But he insisted on an extension."
"Extension? I didn't approve any extension," his eyebrows are furled, visibly annoyed.
"He still proceeded with it, Sir. He said it would only be a week."
"Argh! No one follows anything in this place!"
His phone rings, irritatingly answers it.
"What's up," it's Joe.
"You have a unit for the retrieval already?" he asks.
"Still forming one. Why?"
"I wanna get on it," Joe answers.
"Really?" Benedict asks, confused.
"Don't you have other things to attend to?" he adds.
"I mean, there's several other agents I can put on this, you don't have t—"
"Oh, come on, kid. It's alright," Joe assures him.
"Plus, this void matter is pretty heavy," he adds,
"Half your agents probably don't even know what this thing is, let alone how important it is. I got it."
"Alright," Benedict obliges him.
"Oh, and bring my boy," Joe follows up.
"Matter of fact, just use him. We can handle it on our own."
"Agent Isaac is unavailable for S-ranks in the meantime. He's still getting his weapons repaired," Benedict declines.
"It's just weapons, just get him another one."
"I will, but we both know he won't use anything else because he's a stubborn, immature, six-year old."
"Argh, fine," says the defeated Joe.
"I'm on my way there to HQ," he hangs up.
Benedict puts his phone back in his pocket. Now, less irritated than before.
"Show me the vacant Second and Firsts," he orders.
He looks at the screen of agents for a few seconds, making a decision on who to send in.
"Get Agents Vanderwood, Xu, and Ghost. We need speed on this."
Joe is on his way to the elevator. The doors were already closing when he sees Laurence from the distance who notices him and the already closing lift. The man signals at him to hold it, sprinting.
Despite having an obvious dislike for the guy, he still holds the doors open for him. Not without a deep sigh before.
Laurence finally makes it after a few seconds, catching his breath.
"Whew, you saved me there, General," he says, both hands on his hip, pacing his breathing.
"And I regret it already," he lets go of the doors.
A couple of seconds more of Laurence catching his breath and leaning on the elevator handles. Joe is trying his best to maintain composure and professionalism, being alone in an elevator with a person he utterly dislikes.
"So," Laurence attempts to start a conversation.
"How's life, General?"
"Can you just shut the fuck up and ride the damn elevator in peace?" Joe lashes at him, albeit controlled.
"Oohh, wow. Sheesh. Grumpy much?" Laurence comments.
"You know what, General," the man is obviously non-receptive to his suggestion.
"I've always sensed some weird hostility from you."
"Oh, trust me. It's not weird at all," Joe interjects.
"Is that so?"
"Do you mind explaining why?" Laurence digs in further.
Joe turns to him, cold expression, and backs him into the elevator wall.
"Because you reek of a fucking snake and I don't trust you a single bit," he says to Laurence, looking down on him with wrathful eyes.
"You were that sewer-dweller's assistant," he says, referring to Crowe.
"Who's to say you're not anymore. Huh?!"
"Oh, well, that's just a completely unfair judgement," Laurence replies, completely unfazed.
"I DID work under the man, but that doesn't mean I'm still in cahoots with him now. The same way YOU were best buddies with our little underwater prisoner," he continues.
"But I don't run around accusing you of being another traitorous murderer. Don't I, Joe?"
This angers Joe even more.
"YOU LITTLE—"
The elevator door opens. They are now at their destination — Eden HQ's ground floor.
"Whoo. Finally," Laurence steps outside like nothing happened.
"So, where you headed, General?" despite stepping outside first, Laurence waits for Joe to walk with him.
Despite his animosity for Laurence, Joe still maintained composure and prioritized professionalism. And after all, Laurence is still his boss.
The two are already outside and on the sidewalk and Joe still hasn't answered Laurence's question.
Joe heads straight to the backseat of a black sedan already waiting for him. Laurence is still right behind him, gesturing the driver to lower the front seat window which the driver promptly does.
"Oh, you gotta be shitting me," Joe sighs out loud seeing Laurence peek inside to question his driver.
"Hey, buddy," Laurence tells the driver in his classic, joyful voice.
"Can you tell me where this thing right here is headed?" he asks, slapping the car's roof.
"T-to Circle HQ, Sir," the driver recognizes him.
"Oh, great! That's where I'M headed!" he exclaims.
Joe is just scratching his forehead out of frustration in the backseat.
Laurence opens the front seat door and goes inside to join Joe's commute.
"Oh, hello there, General!" Laurence exclaims in a bright, sarcastic voice, looking back at him.
Laurence faces forward again after teasing the other passenger.
"Now, let's go. Step on that thang," he tells the driver.
"No, we're not going anywhere," Joe blocks the command.
"Laurence, take another car. I'm guessing you already have one waiting for you anyway."
"Step, on, that, thang," says Laurence, paying no heed to Joe and practically singing his command.
The driver didn't know what to do. He looks at both men in suits, stuttering.
"Bu— I, I do—"
"You work for ME. I OWN YOU. When I tell you to step on the gas, you step on the fucking gas," Laurence tells him, no cheerfulness in his voice this time.
The driver flips the key and turns on the engine immediately, hurriedly.
"You like music, General?" he asks while fiddling the car's radio, his usual tone back.