Has Something Happened?

Subject: Has Something Happened? Sat Jun 20, 2009 12:37 am

It had been roughly a week since I could remember seeing Psyre around the office and me being the natural worrier that I am, I was starting to become seriously concerned. I could understand being out of the office for a few days to take care of off site business, especially when you take into consideration that the entire operations of the office's second half seem to be shrouded in secrecy of some kind. I hadn't, up until this point, voiced my concerns, questions, or suspicions to anyone except Saito that night he just happened to show up outside the building as I was finishing up my work for the day, but with the boss being gone this long I was going to have to ask someone soon or my poor little mind would just implode from sheer worry.

With the decision to voice my concerns made I still had to come up with the right person to ask. The obvious choice would be Carmina... but... well... to tell the truth, the woman scared the holy hell right out of me. She was nice enough on the outside, very polite and hospitable when the situation calls for it, but I knew (not that I knew how I knew) that somewhere deep down, or maybe not even so deep, there was a very strong woman who wouldn't think twice about putting me in my very low place in the blink of an eye. The longer I thought about going to her, the more my stomach twisted in fear. Could I really muster the courage to walk up to her and actually ask if Psyre is alright? Hell no. Time for a new plan.

In a perfect world I wouldn't even have time to think about all of this, there wouldn't be a free moment for me to worry about the safety of my employer. But we do not live in a perfect world. Whichever person came up with that list of weekly tasks for me to see to on top of my usual mundane things to be done daily was grossly underestimating my skills. Either that or they were expecting me to actually take the breaks we are allowed and gossip with the other drama hounds around the break room table, which doesn't happen because I would probably end up setting fire to one or all of them by the end of the conversation. So far this week... which we are only halfway through by the way... I have completed every daily task on top of completing everything in this week's emailed list as well as gone through ALL of the records to check and make sure everything in hard copy matches the computer copy verbatim. This is what happens when I worry, I overwork to try and ignore the worry and end up finding myself completely out of work by early afternoon on Wednesday.

Now I could sit here in my office twiddling my thumbs and letting my mind wander for the remaining two and a half days of this week, and risk the chance of going completely insane by Friday afternoon, or I could finally swallow my pride and my fears to march my little hiney to Carmina's office and just put an end to my suffering by either asking for more work or asking about Mr. Prince (depending on her mood at the moment of course).

That would be the highlights of the process that has brought me here, to Carmina's office door. My eyes fall on the yellow hue of the panel and a frown plays at my lips. I could easily walk away at this point and no one would be the wiser. I don't want to interrupt her if she is busy, but I can't go back to my office and stew over this any longer. Taking a deep, very deep, breath; I lift my hand and tentatively knock at the door.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sat Jun 20, 2009 3:08 pm

With my disappearance, Carmina was also worried, but she has Crystal, the Seer girl who taught me to use my sight, in the office with her trying to find me. Crystal has confirmed that I am alive, but also confirmed that she can't find me anywhere within the city. Carmina has been handling all of my normal duties for both sides. She has been relying heavily on the executive members at the company from the coven to aid her. Suddenly, Crystal looks at her and Carmina nods. Crystal cuts her eyes and Carmina shakes her head, "They are not involved and it is of no concern to us what the Prince does with his free time." Crystal begins to protest, "But you are the one..." Carmina looks at her and Crystal falls silent instantly. "Keep trying, Crystal. We need to find him before..." Crystal walks over and gives Carmina a hug before she heads for the door.

The door opens as Alexis is about to knock on it. Carmina's facial expression goes back to all-business once it opens as she looks, "Come in, Ms. Andrews. What can I do for you?" Carmina is warm enough to the young lady. With me gone and her worked up about everything, she is forcing her more and more to be as diplomatic and warm as possible, but she normally deals with the Strategic Operations Corps, so she doesn't have to be.

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sat Jun 20, 2009 6:37 pm

Just as my hand rises into the air to knock at Carmina's door, the panel slides open causing me to flinch and take a half step back so that the female I am not familiar with can exit. My first thought is to tuck tail and run before Carmina spots me outside her office, but when the voice of she who is second in command breaks the silence and reaches my ears... not to mention calls me by name and asks what she can do for me... I know that turning around and pretending I was never here is no longer an option.

Another calming breath is taken, mainly because from the instant that door began to slide open until at least three heartbeats after Carmina spoke I had forgotten to inhale at all so I was pretty much on the verge of passing out from lack of oxygen, then I was ready to step inside and allow the door to close behind me.

"I don't mean to interrupt so I will try to keep this as brief as possible. I guess the most important thing is that I have run out of work to busy myself with. I was wondering if it would be possible to get some of next week's list to work on for the rest of this week. I tend to immerse myself in work when there is an issue I am worrying about, and with the week plus absence of a certain someone around here, I'm having trouble keeping my mind from dredging up possibilities without work to focus on. No matter how foolish it is to worry about him, I mean, I know he is a strong man and can take care of himself, but an idle mind seems to conveniently forget those facts."

Alright, so much for keeping it short and sweet. God, I must look like such a pitiful little dork in her eyes. Yet another breath is taken before I finally wrap it up. "I guess what I am asking for is either more work to keep my mind off of things or some form of assurances that our fearless leader is alright."

I know that I don't have any right to ask for the reassurances, being the low woman on the totem pole and all, but I would never know the boundaries unless I test them. How else am I to feel my way around this dog eat dog world? I was still afraid that Carmina would be offended by my visit or my questions; but a tiny bit of the apprehension had worn off since I had actually stepped through the door and into her office. I hoped it wouldn't return once she opened her mouth to respond.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:19 am

Carmina stands about 5'7 - 5'8 and is wearing a black business suit though the jacket is currently hanging up. Her hair is tied back into a ponytail right now. She looks at the young assistant manager when she actually asks for more work. Half of the employees here act as most employees normally act which is when they have little to no work, they just make sure to look busy. Carmina sits down at her desk and silently looks at Alexis after she finishes speaking. A few long moments pass by before Carmina nods to Alexis. "Yes, you can definitely have more work. In fact, until Psyre returns, you'll be in charge of this side of the office. It's time you learned what the other side does. PsiCoven does Corporate Strategy as you know which is this side. Come with me." Carmina "appears" next to the door and tell Alexis to follow her. When the receptionist sees the two ladies walking together, she looks at Carmina not sure if she should question Carmina's decision and decides that the smartest decisions is to say nothing. She punches in the code and the wall begins to open up. If Alexis was to look back, she would notice that from this side while the door is opening, the passage to the corporate strategy side looks like a wall with the PsiCoven logo on it. Waiting for the door to the Strategic Operations Corps side, Carmina tells Alexis that if Alexis ever speaks of what she's about to see with anyone that does not work on the SOC side, then Carmina will kill her with no questions asked.

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 21, 2009 6:53 am

Why didn't I go with the tuck tail and run option when I had the chance? That is definitely looking like the smarter choice right about now. What in the name of all that is holy made me decide to grow a spine and come see Carmina today? Oh yeah, being worried about Psyre... a man who is stronger than I am by tenfold and is probably rolling around in the sand of some secluded beach with the hawaiian tropic swimsuit team girls right about now. If that's the case then I will have to kill him for this when he gets back. Seriously, if the man walks back in to this office with some much as a hint of a tan... oh shit, Carmina is talking, time to pay attention to see if I will live through the day.

Did she just say... no, she couldn't have... in charge of... this side... has the woman lost her ever loving mind? Psyre's absence must really be taking it's toll on her for her to think I am capable of running this whole side of the office until he returns, unless we're just talking about the last couple days of this week, that I could possibly understand. Or not. Wait... there really is another side? So I'm not crazy? Don't answer that. I'm at least not crazy about those suspicions. Now I just have to follow her and I will get to see the elusive other... where did she go?

Turning my head to the side I see the woman 'appear' at the door beside me. Now how did she do... nevermind I seriously do not want to know. I have a sneaky feeling that this 'other side' business will be all the revelations I can take in one day.

Falling into step right behind the second in command, I try to ignore the look on the receptionist's face as we pass by, the last thing I need is to let her expression get me all worked up so I risk freaking out by whatever I am about to see. Since I am curious by nature I can't resist the urge to glance back over my shoulder to see if the receptionist is still looking. That's when I happen to see a wall where I had just been. The technology in this office gives me a headache sometimes, there is not enough excedrin in the world to make me wonder just how that little trick works. I already went through three bottles thinking on my office door alone.

I was so caught up in *not* thinking about the camouflage wall thingy that I almost missed the threat to my life if I ever speak a word about what lies on this side of the office to anyone who doesn't work over here... oh damn. I knew there was a reason I was afraid of this woman... and now I have even more reason. Nodding my head slightly, I force myself to utter a quiet 'I understand' to make sure she knows that I got her message loud and clear. Crap, this means that I can't tell Saito I was right all along. Grrr. Oh well, maybe he will guess and I can play coy to let him know. After glancing at Carmina's back once more I decide against that plan too. Better to not risk her finding out and deciding that playing coy violates the gag order as well.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:04 pm

Carmina knows that I would not be in approval of this but with things increasing with the coming opening of the PsiCoven Information Center and the company receiving more contracts lately, she normally only has to really focus on overseeing things, but now she is having to conduct meetings herself and with us missing a primary coordinator, it makes more work for her. It also doesn't help that she had to inform Mr. Coremanti that PsiCoven is without its Boss, so she has been pinned up against a wall by my disappearance. When the other door opens and they pass thru, Carmina waits until the door closes to begin speaking to Alexis. "Welcome to PsiCoven Strategic Operations Corps, Ms. Andrews. This is where we make a difference in this city. Corporate side is generating the bulk of the revenue right now, but the split is decreasing rapidly. PsiCoven SOC is soon to be its own private security firm under the umbrella of PsiCoven Strategic Solutions. That was the last thing that Psyre finished was getting the paperwork for that submitted." Carmina leads her into an office that from the outside look to have blacked out windows. Inside there is a room of surveillance equipment and the girl from the other office is kneeling on a small dais in the back center of the room. Carmina looks at Alexis shows her that the company is actively looking for me, but they have been unable to locate me. Carmina would give her a moment to ask any questions before they moved on. Crystal does not allow Carmina's decision to bring Alexis here to distract her.

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 21, 2009 10:04 pm

Once the other door opens and I follow Carmina through I can't help but take a curious glance around. Visual inspection is cut short by the woman's voice as she begins to explain the purpose of this side of the office. It didn't sound so bad the way she put it. Strategic Operations Corps didn't sound like anything that would need to be hidden from the other side of the office... which of course leads me to believe that the name doesn't tell the whole story. The tail end of the introduction speech is what really catches my attention.

To say that getting the paperwork submitted was the last thing Psyre finished makes it sound like he is never coming back. This idea makes my heart freeze. He can't be gone for good, not someone like him. If he can be taken away, then what chance does someone like me have in this world? Shaking my head, more to dislodge the morbid thoughts than anything, I try to refocus my attention on Carmina and what she has to show me. By the time I notice her again, she has begun to move toward an office that seems to have the windows blacked out. More secrecy I guessed.

Inside the room was some of the most technologically advanced equipment I had ever come across. There would be no trying to figure out what all the machines can do and certainly no trying to wrap my brain about how they all worked, I couldn't even imagine the headache that little endeavor would cause. The only information I needed to gain from this room was the fact that all of these machines and all of this technology was being utilized to try and find Psyre wherever he may be.

While I was relieved to hear he wasn't dead or in a hospital somewhere, the fact that not even Carmina knew where he was worried me more than not knowing anything had before I opened my mouth and started asking questions. I was under the impression that she would always know where he was and how to get in contact with him. To find out that she isn't and she doesn't now has allowed a fresh wave of terror into the mix. Carmina falls silent to allow me to ask any questions I have and so far I can only think of one. "How long has Mr. Prince been off grid?" I think that is the correct terminology for situations like this one. By my calculations it had been just over a week since I last saw him, but that isn't necessarily the same time when he disappeared.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:44 am

One of the Gatherers entrusted with this duty looks at Carmina when the question is posed and Carmina looks at Alexis with a cold glare for a moment. Carmina didn't like going against my wishes at all and she had already done that, but what she had to decide on now would be a whole other level of disobedience. Solemnly, she speaks, "Play it." Carmina had reviewed this footage over and over again trying to find something that would shed light on where I could be. The video plays (the Response to Message RP basically) and as it starts, the Gatherer gives Alexis the rundown from when I returned to my condo with my date from the evening and bodyguard. Once things heat up, they skip ahead to afterward when the attack commenced. It plays thru the attack and escape. The parking garage footage is switched to and it ends with my wounded body being carried off. Carmina takes over, "They disappear after that. We retrieved the footage and erased any record of it and made it look like a burglary. There has been no official report because we are trying to find him." Carmina looks over at Crystal before leading Alexis to the door. Before the door opens, Crystal opens her eyes and tells Carmina, "His vitality is growing but something else is changing. His essence is in pain and his mind is deeply conflicted. He is in the midst of some sort of internal battle with darkness. I will keep searching." Carmina nods to her and they head out.

The room is positioned away from any offices to ensure that no one learns of the situation. Carmina looks at Alexis and tells her that she is not allowed to return this room without Psyre's permission. Carmina explains, "PsiCoven SOC is the security consulting aspect of the company. Private security firms that specialize in anti-demonic operations seek us out to help them with their operations both internally and field operations. Psyre was attacked and kidnapped because he wouldn't let us move him into a more secure residence where he is safe and the former chief of his security detail, was one of the men in that video that he killed with the Vortex (Cyclone Cutter) power. His attackers are members of a demon gang that didn't appreciate Psyre coordinating a series of raids that cost them a great deal of money and product as well as some of their territorial control in the Lower Commons. Speaking of which, one of the things he wanted for you was to move you out of Lower Commons where you will be safer. He didn't want to move without your permission and wanted to wait until you were more comfortable with everything here, but given his circumstances, I think you can see the merit in his concern." Carmina looks around the room and Alexis would notice that the people on this side openly used their powers to get things done like telekinetically moving stacks of discs or small pieces of equipment around. There is far more freedom on this side, but there is also much more danger as is apparent by my disappearance.

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:25 am

Alright, by now it has been firmly established that I am a wimp so I won't even bother mentioning how badly I withered under the ice cold glare Carmina sent my way after I foolishly accepted her invitation to ask questions. I guessed I was supposed to ask about the equipment or some other mundane bullshit. I'll have to remember that in the future. By some small miracle I am not punished for asking the question, instead Carmina gives an order for someone to play something. Directing my attention to a monitor, I watch the events of Psyre's disappearance play out on the screen.

The footage was disturbing to watch. It felt like I was watching a bad movie that I already knew the ending to. I was enthralled by the beginning, the images of Psyre healthy and enjoying the second phase of his date. Once the tone of the surveillance footage changed and the attack began I wanted nothing more than to look away, to save myself from having to watch the events unfold. I didn't allow myself to even blink. I forced myself to watch what had happened to the man who took a chance on me after sharing one brief evening in my presence.

Watching the attack in the apartment and then later the events that take place in the garage, I try to remain in control of my reactions. Through most of it I am able to stay calm and avoid making any sort of noise but when it reaches the point where Psyre's backup car explodes I am powerless to prevent the noticeable flinch of my body or the pained gasp that rises in my throat. What comes next makes my stomach burn sympathetically. I have known pain on many different levels, so many that I thought I had experienced all possible forms, that is until I watched a man I had come to care about fall at the hands of his attackers and be carried away as if he meant nothing. By the time the footage stops and Carmina speaks a pair of silent tears have escaped and fallen down my cheeks.

Reaching up to wipe them away, I nod in response to the information she offers. They were clearly well trained and capable which eased off a good deal of the worry. After leaving that room, Carmina continued talking so I was free to listen closely without having to offer anything in turn. Somewhere in the middle of what she was telling me about the company and about our employer, she hit on the subject of me moving out of the Lower Commons. I had a sneaky suspicion that this issue would come up at some point, though truthfully I expected it to come soon after I agreed to take the leased vehicle home with me. I figured that would be Psyre's way to bring up the subject. You know, 'now that you drive this expensive car shouldn't you find a new place to live where you won't have to worry constantly that it will be stolen?' It would have made a strong argument, one that I probably wouldn't be able to fight against. Having it come now, with Psyre missing, with him taken from a much better part of the city; it didn't hold as much weight.

"I do see the merit in his concern, but at the same time I can't help but think that if they could get to him where he lived it doesn't really matter where I live. I know first hand that if demons really want you, they can find you no matter where you hide, but I will look in to moving to a better area." Since I wouldn't be the only person moving, I would have to talk it over with Lance and see how he felt about it.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Tue Jun 23, 2009 3:42 am

Being the Chief Operating Officer of the Strategic Operations Corps, Carmina keeps detailed security files on all of the employees and operatives under the PsiCoven umbrella. She then in turn reports to me regarding everything that she finds, but in Alexis' case, she has been omitting a certain fact that she has been aware of for quite some time. She has tried to have Lance, a mass murderer, serial rapist, and real psychopath wolyf spiritkin that is wanted by the company on a termination order, lured into traps with enemy gangs for the two to eliminate each other, but none have resulted in his death. She has kept this from me due to the fact that I have a fondness for Alexis as she is so innocent and adorable to me, so knowing that she is living with a psychopath would anger me greatly. Had she known about the case files, things might be different and my anger rational, but Carmina knows full well that my temper can easily overpower my rationale. When Alexis gives her response, Carmina actually smiles at the younger woman and shakes her head. "Security is being increased and top executives are being moved to Northern Heights or the new PsiCoven Condo Complex, so demons can want you all they please but inside that new complex, everyone will be safe as the security details will be personally screened, selected, and trained by me and my team. I will not allow harm to come to this company again." Carmina stops to give Alexis a moment to process everything. "There is something else, Ms. Andrews. The Prince is soft on you and because of this, I have done my best to protect you from his ire. Your roommate cannot move with you if you accept this offer. This is extended to you and you alone. He is not held in high regard with this side of the company especially, so I would keep your relationship with him a secret. Psyre doesn't even know. Do you understand?"

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Tue Jun 23, 2009 4:37 am

Hearing about the beefed up security hand chosen by Carmina and her team was almost enough to give me hope. The kind of hope that I haven't ever really known. Hope that maybe a place does exist where my demon won't be able to find me. Somewhere in my heart I knew this was impossible, that he could find me no matter where I go or who protects me, but for this one shining moment I wasn't going to let that knowledge win. I had always planned to get out of Lower Commons as soon as the opportunity presented itself. I had privately begun to wonder if this job was that exact opportunity but so far I hadn't brought up the subject with Lance.

When Carmina fell silent for a moment to allow me to process what had been said so far I was almost ready to jump at the offer. To look straight at her, forgetting every ounce of fear she had ever instilled in me, and tell her to sign me up this very second. But then she spoke again and I could almost feel the world crumble around me.

She knew. Dear god she knew. I couldn't imagine for how long but I had a sick feeling that she had known for quite some time. The room was spinning faster with every beat of my heart. I could see the floor rushing up to meet me as my body began to pitch dangerously. I would have toppled over within seconds had my knees not turned to jelly at that exact moment. So instead of falling over I simply melted to the floor.

I couldn't speak, hell I could barely breathe after finding out that Carmina knew at least one of my secrets. I didn't want to fall apart here, not in front of Carmina, not in a place of business; but I couldn't stop the world from crashing in on me. Not until part of what she said replayed itself in my mind. "Your roommate cannot move with you." That's it. My way out. Carmina, the woman I had feared since my first day here, had just opened the doors for me to be free of Lance without hurting his feelings or enraging him. Here I was under the impression that Psyre was my hero, now it was looking more like that honor goes to Carmina.

Getting back onto my feet, praying that my breakdown had gone unnoticed by the majority of the people on this side of the office, I wipe the tears I hadn't even noticed away from my cheeks before looking to the woman with eyes wide in thanks. "I didn't know who to tell, or how to tell anyone without him finding out and hurting me. He's dangerous and so strong, I didn't know what to do. If moving in at the condo complex means getting away from him, please sign me up today. I can have the bulk of my stuff packed in four hours."
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:03 am

At seeing the wave of emotions, Carmina overlooks it as understandable given all the info that she's been hit with thus far. They take a tour of the Strategic Operations Corps side of the office. When they start walking, Carmina snickers telling Alexis that the units are still being finished so she won't be able to move in until I return to finalize the rental agreements. Carmina does not have power of attorney rights to conduct that sort of business in PsiCoven's name at this point as I retain sole ownership of the company. Carmina informs Alexis that they are getting closer and closer to finding me, so it should not be long. Alexis would notice that SOC offices even look very different from Corporate side in their setup and the equipment inside the room. Most rooms for Handlers have Realm 2.0 stations inside of them for easy, safe access to meeting rooms and archives. There are very few Neutralizers that actually operate out of the office. The few that do primarily have teams working under them that take most of the jobs and pay them a cut while the big jobs garner their attention. The offices of the Coordinators are the most lavish and also the most meticulously arranged. Coordinators set up their offices in distinct ways that Carmina remarks to Alexis that I once explained the primary strategic styles of each of the Coordinators based on how their offices were set up. All of them have an expensive, ornately designed chess board in their room and a copy of an ancient strategist treatise that I required everyone to read as it gives great insight regarding strategy. Alexis would also notice that some of the Coordinators are the "specialists" that would be called in to Corporate side to set up strategic business plans for clients over there. Carmina falls silent for a while as they are heading back towards the the Corporate Strategy side. The door starts to slide open and Carmina addresses Alexis by her first name and tells her that she will do well in her new role and it will free up Carmina to focus on running the company in my absence. The door opens and Carmina smiles at Alexis. "You are going to be very busy now."

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:52 pm

Relief flooded my senses when Carmina didn't seem upset by my initial emotional reaction to her knowledge of Lance being my roommate. I felt like a crushing weight had been lifted off of me now that someone besides me knew the truth. I had been able to speak with Saito about the situation to a certain extent but any time Lance came up in our conversations, the other man seemed to get agitated or annoyed so I kept the discussions to a minimum. When I had gone to him to ask for a place to stay during the full moon, I had to tell him enough of the story to convince him that I didn't just want to spend one night a month at his place, but I hadn't ever admitted to having full and first hand knowledge of what Lance had done and would continue to do during those full moon nights.

Now that someone else, someone in a position of considerably more power than Saito, knew the truth and did not seem to hold it against me; I felt like I could finally take a full breath for the first time in months. Having this other person be Carmina, a woman I have felt intimidated by and scared of since meeting her for the first time, adds an entirely different spin on the release of suffocating feelings. While I still recognized that she is a very strong woman and understand that there will always be a certain amount of fear of her in me; I can now work through that fear and push it aside to make sure that I do my job to the best of my abilities to help take the pressure of the mundane off of her.

When the woman snickers at my eagerness to move away from my current home and informs me that it will still be some time before the arrangements could be made I felt a little foolish but I was still glad that the possibility would be there and would save me from the situation I had gotten myself into. The next thing she mentioned was that she believed they were getting closer and closer to finding Psyre and that it shouldn't be long before he returns. That eased my worries, as did the rest of the information and the efforts I had seen and heard in the first room we visited.

The rest of the tour was mainly me nodding in response to the comments she was making about this side of the office and looking around to take in the scenery. This side was set up differently than the side I work on. The decor was similar but the equipment housed within each office was more advanced on this side, I assumed that was because the operatives working here had more important things to worry about and needed the easy access to information. On the Corporate side, where I work... or now am in charge of for the time being... we all have personal computer work stations but don't have any need for technology beyond that. Upon noticing the chess boards and the ancient strategic manuscript a smile plays at my lips. It would only make sense for an office of strategists to come complete with chess boards and war strategy guides.

As we continue on our way through this side of the office, I recognize a few faces here or there. The specialists who had been called to my side of the office on special occasions when the client's file calls for a little more, strategy wise, than our consultants generally provide. I had wondered where we found those specialists when I'd seen them come into the office, even to the point of wondering if we kept a pool of guys like them handy for those certain situations. I guess that was closer to the truth than I had ever thought.

As the tour comes to an end, Carmina leads me back to the wall/door separating the two sides of the office. As the dividing partition begins to slide open so I could return to my side of this contained universe, the woman calls me by my first name and assures me that not only would I do well in my new role but that it would be helping free her up to focus on everything Psyre's absence has left for her to handle. I am happy to be helping share the load, even though I know my part of it is miniscule compared to what she is juggling, but I know every little bit counts and anything I can handle is one less thing to crowd her already stressed mind. Her parting words about me being very busy now bring a genuine smile to my face. I had come to her office to ask for more work so my mind wouldn't dwell on Psyre's absence and she granted that request in a much larger way than I had ever imagined. "Thank you, Carmina. I will do my best and see to it that the work gets done. I will look forward to Mr. Prince's return in the very near future."

If there is nothing else from the woman, I would cross the threshold between worlds and return to my beautiful office to dive head first into my new responsibilities.
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 28, 2009 7:10 pm

Carmina would spend the hour or two depending on how quickly Alexis picked up on the information to show her what all of her new responsibilities are. Alexis would also be given the access codes to get into the office and systems if Carmina is gone. There is a great deal of trust that Carmina is bestowing upon this girl in my absence. I can't say that I'm upset about any of it, but I just didn't want to overwhelm the fragile girl. I couldn't quite tell what it was that alarmed me about Alexis, but something is amiss with her and I want to protect her from it, but the powers of my mind does not extend to telepathy of any applicable sort. Carmina would call a meeting of the Corporate Strategy managers to make the announcement of Alexis' promotion. They would now know that she is their point of contact for matters pertaining to operations. Carmina tells everyone that if there is something that Alexis cannot handle that SHE will bring it to Carmina. Everyone seems fine with that as the fear effect that Carmina has on Alexis is echoed to varying degrees within all of them. Next, a team is assigned to Alexis. Carmina tells her, "They are here to help you. You will have decisions to make and meetings to hold now. They crunch numbers, send e-mails, and write letters for you. They can make backup, but they will be electronic backups b/c paper is archaic, bad for the forests, and creates too much clutter, not to mention that paper archives is far less cost effective. Everything is backed up onto a very secure, Corporate Server, so you don't need to worry, plus keeping archives of holodiscs is much easier." Carmina's attention shifts to the team that is assigned to helping her, "All of you have been selected to help her out, so do so. All of you have been working directly under me, so you'll be able to provide her with answers and yes, all of you are getting pay raises. Don't fail me in this assignment. The penalty has not changed. Understood?" They all nod together, "Yes, Mistress." Carmina looks at them and nods, "Good." Carmina walks out leaving Alexis to get acquainted with her new team and back to work.

- EXIT RP -

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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:17 pm

Had someone asked me what I had in imagined the next hour or two after returning to the 'normal' side of the office would be like I wouldn't have had an honest answer, but I can guarantee that nothing I could have come up with would have been anywhere close to what really happened.

For some reason I had figured the transition would be a quiet one. Given the circumstances surrounding our missing employer I thought making an announcement would only add more fuel to the speculative fire surrounding our fellow employees. Evidently Carmina did not feel the same way, or at the very least she knew better than I did that it was necessary. Whatever the reasons behind it, whether they be to make sure those now working under me would fall into step obediently or to curtail the whispers and speculation before they could get out of hand, Carmina made the announcement after going over my new responsibilities and giving me the access codes that I would need to perform my new duties.

It was a lot of information to take in all at once, but I knew that every minute she had to spend with me was one less that she could be using to handle the rest of the work load. I made sure to retain everything the first time it was said to avoid wasting more of her precious time asking her to repeat anything. Even though I had never worked at this new level before, I had observed and studied the work that went with it long enough to understand the basics already. I suppose that made the actual run down of duties a bit easier for me to swallow in one big gulp.

While she called everyone to gather for the announcement I scanned the faces of those I had been working closely with for some time now. I could see that quite a few of them were genuinely happy to hear of my advancement within the company, while others were barely able to contain their scornful reactions. Even though I could easily pick out which ones would like nothing more than to see me fail, I could also clearly see the respect and fear they all held for Carmina. This would mean that they would follow her order to report to me out of the fear for what would happen if they didn't.

What came next was probably the worst part for me personally. The team assigned to me. I've never been one of those leadership oriented people, following directions and reporting to others could pretty much be called my comfort zone. Being part of a team is right up my alley but leading one is as foreign to me as walking on the moon. As Carmina gave the team their orders I could feel the beginnings of a panic attack coming on. How could I even hope to delegate responsibilities that I felt so comfortable with to people I barely knew? Taking a deep breath, I calm my nerves and remind myself that I had been asked to take on this new position to help Carmina avoid being overloaded while she runs the other side of the office and tries to track down Psyre. Both of those duties are far more important than anything having to do with me and so I would focus all of my energy on doing what has been asked of me in this time of need. I would willingly step outside of the comfort zones that I had created for myself if it meant that in some tiny way, I was helping those gifted individuals find the man who made this entire stage of my life possible. This would all be for him.

Carmina's words shift a bit and begin to address file backups and the archaic use of hard paper copy. Being a lowly file clerk at heart, this cause a few skipped beats but my mind knew the woman was right. As comfortable I felt with being able to hold a file folder filled with paper copies of what the computer files showed, I had to agree that it was environmentally damaging and an outdated practice. Nodding to her, I communicate that for the sake of time, money, and the environment; the days of paper files were officially over for me. I would put my trust in the holodiscs, secure servers, and extra secure backup servers just as I have put my trust in Psyre and Carmina.

Once my team was assembled and Carmina had made sure they knew their new assignments, she looks to them with a nod and turns to leave us alone. Now that the truly commanding presence has abandoned me, left me to the mercy of the wolves, it was time for me to officially open my mouth and embrace my role as leader... talk about your big gulp.

Looking at the faces gathered around me I fought back the instinct to allow my features to return to their default position of meek and mousy. Instead I make eye contact with each and every one of them while offering a confident smile. Even though I was terrified inside, my face would not betray me in front of them. As far as they would see, I was ready and willing to jump head first into this job and would emerge victorious.

After locking eyes with everyone, I nod my head sharply and speak for the first time since Carmina walked away. "Alright people, there are plenty of hours left in this afternoon and more than enough work to fill them. Let's get busy."
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Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:00 am

Updated Psyre

Subject: Re: Has Something Happened? Sun Jul 05, 2009 6:52 am

Updated Alexis.