Company Space

He huddled in the corner, holding his phone just inches from his face.  He was deeply enthralled in a video about immigration and really didn't feel like moving.

He briefly considered the possibility that what he was doing was wrong somehow, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized there was absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.  He had already signed out, locked up, and set the alarm.  What did it matter if he was still in the building?  No one was there to care and the only thing he was "stealing" was company space that would have otherwise been occupied by air.

Hopefully the air wouldn't file a complaint.

Then, as he looked around the office, he realized just how ridiculous he was being.  Everyone else had gone home over an hour ago.

He kicked his shoes off.

There was no reason not to be barefoot.

Suddenly, the video stopped for no apparent reason.  He tapped on the screen of his phone to bring up details of the video's progress to find that for whatever reason, the video hadn't just stopped playing, but stopped loading.  He let his head fall back against the wall behind him in frustration.

And he closed his eyes.

He slowly lifted his head out of his hands and looked across the desk.  "So how have we responded?"  Haze's voice was haggard, tired, and full of the darkest of emotions.

Qualm looked almost as tired as Haze felt.  His eyes were focused intently on the paper sitting in front of him on his desk.  "We can't take any chances right now.  We've already taken Sam, Diri, and Nujalik into custody, but they're only a tiny fraction of the crawlers we know of.  That doesn't even begin to cover the unauthorized ones still lose in the world."

"Qualm," Haze said sternly.  The new director finally raised his head to look at the nexter.  "I know you better than that.  You wouldn't have called me in here for a personal meeting just to debrief and give me a status update.  What's the mission?"

"Look, Haze, I know you said your days with the League were behind you, but-"

"But that didn't stop you from coming to my home and drag me to Lexington did it?"

"Haze, I'm sorry.  None of that was supposed to-"

"Save it.  Just give me the mission.  Lord knows I need it right now."

Qualm hesitated, then handed over the papers on his desk.  "I've managed to compile a list of suspected crawlers.  I need you to-"

"Really?"  Haze was bitter and spiteful.  "You've got me doing interviews?"

"No," said a female voice behind him.  He instinctively dematerialized just enough to turn, stand, and face the intruder.  She stepped out of the shadows of the corner until Haze could see a familiar face.  "There's no time for interviews."  Sharpshot stood just over five feet tall, but had one of the most intimidating presences of any nexter Haze had ever met.  Her long, blonde hair fell over one of her eyes and an oversized rifle rested on her hip.  Several more weapons in various shapes and sizes awaited her commands in the pockets of her cargo pants, each pocket designed specifically for the weapon it held.

Haze turned back to Qualm.  "Are you saying-?"

"I want the two of you to eliminate the crawler threat at any cost."

Haze's eyes were burning with a flood of emotions.  He wasn't sure if he was excited about the opportunity for such swift action, thirsting for the blood of vengeance, or concerned by Qualm's willingness to potentially kill civilians.

"Don't tell me you don't want in on this," Sharpshot said teasingly.

"Haze, listen," said Qualm compassionately.  "I understand if you don't want to do this.  We can always-"

"I'm in."

Qualm was taken aback.  Sharpshot smirked.

Haze nodded at his new partner, then at his new boss, grasped the papers in his hand even tighter, and dematerialized.  He let his voice echo into the room from all around them.  "I'll see you enzone."  He let himself fade out, but waited in the corners of the room to listen in.

"That went well," Sharpshot said smoothly.  "You played your part like a pro."

Qualm dropped heavily into his chair and ran his fingers through his hair.  "I wasn't sure he would buy it.  He normally picks up on those kinds of plays."

Haze smiled to himself.  He had seen through the play, but it wouldn't have mattered either way.  He didn't need to be tricked into this assignment.  He would have done it just for the chance at some vengeance.  The fact that it was government-sanctioned and that he was getting paid was just icing on an already delicious cake.

As he passed through the walls of the room, a sudden male voice caught him off guard.

He opened his eyes.

Relief filled him as he realized the video had started up again.  Then, just as quickly as it had begun, it stopped again.  His head thudded against the wall again.  Begrudgingly, he reached over, grabbed his shoes, and slowly began to put them back on.

Apparently, the wifi of home beckoned louder than his desperate desire for something new.

Stupid metal building.