RE: RE: Corporate Team Building Retreat [ end]

The hooded figure comes back to the door once the hour is up and motions for everyone to come back into the room. "Erm," they mutter under their breath. "I... think I'm ready now, so you can all come in?"

Instead of John Smith, as is the norm in P. P. P. Co., a young man with a bowtie appears at the doorway.

"Mr. Smith is busy, but... can I help you?" the employee says, standing up straight and flashing a smile. The hooded figure blinks. This employee seems very familiar. Too familiar. As if they had met at some point, back during simpler times and before the fight and before all of this.

"Um... that's nice, but I'd really like to talk to John Smith first." The hooded figure fumbles with their fingers again. They seem nervous. They're always nervous when talking about John Smith.

"He is busy talking with one of our external contractors in the hallway," the employee says, rattling off words like some sort of pre-meditated speech. "But I certainly can speak with you if you'd like. I can relay our chat with John Smith."

To the sound of the hooded figure’s protests, the employee adjusts their bowtie and steps into the room. Without warning, the light fixtures in the room all fall off the ceiling and smash unpleasantly against the tables and the ground, one mere inches from the employee.

Where John Smith would have stood, had he walked into the room first.

The employee looks shocked, as does the hooded figure under the hood.

"You didn't intend to... " the employee says, letting his tone speak for itself. The figure shakes their head furiously.

"No, no, I didn't -- I don't know how that happened--"

"... We've already had one-- no, two cases of sabotage during this retreat," the employee says coolly. "Is this some sort of plot? Are all of you trying to murder John Smith? During his... teamwork retreat, of all times? For shame."

"No, no, I swear, this was an accident!" the hooded figure cries out, but two security guards have already arrived on cue. Fidgeting turns to utter panic as the hooded figure wheels back and forth from the employee to the security guards, sweat beading down their chin.

It is too late.

The figure charges into the hallway and rips off his cloak, revealing a meek young adult with horn-rimmed glasses wearing a suit. Several employees watching the scene gasp a little, while one approves of the matching pinstripes the man is wearing. This is the true form of the Divine Seer of the Mystery Orb.

But there's more.

"Dad! It's me, Taylor!" the man sputters, words flying out at breakneck speed. "I... I know this is a lot to take in”—he gestures to his cloak—“and I can explain, I know I moved to Maryland and we haven't spoken since then but I swear that there's something really important I have to let--"

"Mr. Smith isn't listening to you," the employee replies as they adjust their bowtie. "And who says Mr. Smith has a son? I've been to his office countless times, and have never seen evidence of him having family. Listen, if you're going to be uncooperative, I will call the police."

"What...?" Taylor gasps. Instead of looking crestfallen, it's as if the words have re-energized him. He ignores the bowtie-wearing employee and begins screaming at John Smith in the hallway, praying for once he will listen. Praying for once, John Smith will notice that boy in the old photographs that he keeps under his bed.

John Smith does not. But he tries anyways.

"I know there are two people here who want to get rid of you! You don't know what they're capable of! I've seen them and I know that they're out to get you! They're waiting for everyone in the company to be eliminated so they can overthrow you! And the key to defeating them, I’ve seen it, it’s real, it’s for everyone to--"

Hands emerge around him as the security guards restrain him and escort him out of the building. There is an awkward silence before the employee escorts everyone into the room, apologizing for this turn of events. The employee then calls the police.

One employee asks John Smith if he has a son, before relaying what had just happened to him. John Smith looks surprised, a wave of emotion that can't be described rolling over his face. John Smith then replies.

"I don't have a son."