There Is No Threat. (¿)

Erin gathered her things and left her office with Jess leading the way.

Erin was walking at a slower pace since she'd had no sleep recently. This resulted in Jess reaching for her hand and holding on firmly as for Erin to not fall behind. The action caused a few gasps from onlookers and a few disapproving glances.

Not so soft whispers could be heard from the staff in their desks or ones passing by the two. Erin felt like hiding in a shell and going to sleep for a hundred years.

Jess walked by them as if they were air, but was well aware of what Erin felt at the moment, she could tell by her body language.

"Don't mind them, every company needs a couple to gossip about." Jess said to Erin with a wink.

Erin said nothing. She peered over at Jess and watched her for a time, but said nothing. She didn't want to comment on what had been said.

They reached the parking lot.

"Question..." Jess asked as they stood next to Erin's car. "What's so special about this car, you've had it for forever." she gestured to the shiny black 1967 Chevrolet Impala in front of her.

"It was my grandfather who bought it, he gave it to my mom before she had me. I guess you could call it a family heirloom..."

"..I remember pretending to drive it when it was parked in the garage, mom caught me and said she'd teach me to drive it one day..." She paused before her gaze turned distant.

"But that never happened, it's one of the only things left of her's... besides it's a cool car ain't it?" She laughed without humor and got in the driver's seat.

"Get in, or am I taking myself out for lunch?"

Jess quickly slipped into the car and told Erin the destination.

-------

"Are you sure?" A man with dark blue hair asked.

"Yes sir, it's her." A voice on his phone answered.

The tall rather skinny man pocketed his phone with a look of malice on his face. He wore a white suit that fit his build perfectly, he had a body the size of a teenager but his age was far from it.

The blue haired man fixed his black tie and cleared his throat, gaining composure.

"Let's begin." His voice came out cold and detached, as if he wasn't a living being.

A man with white hair to his left nodded and proceeded to a wall. He took four steps sideways, he placed his hand to the wall and he pushed against it.

A machine hum was heard and the wall opened a door sized space. The man in the white suit went through and the 'door' closed behind him.

The white haired man took his hand off the wall and walked into a different part of the building.

"He's ready, you're starting soon." The white haired man said when he entered a large room which one would say looked mismatched.

The walls had been painted with mesmerizing landscapes all over, the ceiling had a grand chandelier illuminating the room.

Odd shaped furniture filled the room. A teal green couch on one end of the room, Purple curtains hung on the sides of French windows. Odd colourful things all over the room.

The wooden floor was covered with complex looking rugs. Bookshelves in the shape of all seven continents filled with books from ancient times to present times.

A large dining table with twenty chairs in total stood with all kinds of papers spread on the table.

The other side of the room was a grey wall which looked very much like concrete. Against it was at least eight screens close together all of them were off, a single chair positioned infront of them, the space around these screens looked very bland.

The room itself consisted of many things that didn't belong together. A girl also with blue hair -except hers was long and reached her shoulders- stood looking out the window with her back to the man who just spoke.

"Great, let's have tea first Jay Jay, I'm parched as hell!" The woman spoke with a high pitched voice full of energy, much like the lively room she was in.

"Yes Ma'am." The man she called Jay Jay -who's actual name was James- left and came back with two cups and a tea pot on a tray.

The woman cleared some space on the dining table and took her cup filling it with tea and placing one sugar cube in, she watched it dissolve before stirring. James said nothing and waited for her to say something.

"This is good, you know just what I need Jay Jay!" She exclaimed after having a sip.

"Thank you Ma'am, we need to leave in a bit. I suggest getting changed." James drank his own tea.

-------

Meanwhile Erin and Jess were bickering over what to eat.

"Uh, Jalapeno Burger?" Jess asked.

"Absolutely not, you'll ruin your appetite." Erin spoke not even looking at Jess.

"Come on, just this once." Jess pleaded with Erin.

"No, last time you had that you went on a stupid hunger strike afterwards and I had to eat by myself for a week. Choose something else." Erin was adamant on her decision.

Jess frowned and scanned the menu for the third time. She couldn't decide on anything and when she did she always ended up on something she didn't like.

A waiter came to their table and asked if they were ready for their orders yet. Erin gave hers and waited for Jess to order.

"Uhh...umm.... I will have..... whatever she's having." Jess finally said to the waiter who thankfully was patient but Erin wasn't and was losing her last nerve, she was relieved when Jess chose.

"Remind me to never bring you to a restaurant." Erin said with a tired sigh.

"Oh come on I just wanted to do something nice for you I know this is your favourite place to eat but it's not my fault they have nothing I like here.'' Jess said in a small voice and a slight pout.

Erin fought off a smile but it failed.

"You're a child." She said as she shook her head and chuckled.

"I am not, I'm very mature." Jess said with pride.

Erin laughed at Jess's seriousness. Jess smiled and watched Erin laugh, she was happy to see her enjoying herself even if at her expense, it was worth it.

They engaged in conversation which had a few more laughs and was enjoyed by both parties.

Just as their orders came so did new customers in the table next to theirs.

A blue haired girl and a white haired man. They turned everyone's heads due to their rather different hair colours.

The girl was cheerful and all smiles, she waved to everyone who met her eyes. The man with white hair acted more reserved and paid no attention to the girls antics.

They sat and started chatting with each other.

Jess's mood from just minutes ago changed completely. Erin noticed this and put up her guard.

Jess ate slowly, occasionally taking glances to the pair sitting not far from her and Erin. Erin suddenly had a very bad feeling, she tapped her wrist watch twice then once and twice again it flashed blue and she heard a familiar voice in her ear.

"- WHAT IS THE SITUATION? -". Max spoke only for Erin to hear.

She looked Jess in the eye and said; "Scan the two to my right please.''

Jess raised an eyebrow in question but then realised what Erin meant, she did nothing but nod then excused herself to go to the restroom.

"- NO SIGN OF ELEVATED HEART RATES. STRESS LEVELS LOW. EYE DILATION ONLY DUE TO LIGHT SENSITIVITY.-"

The two sitting next to Erin acted no different, they continued to talk to each other while the blue haired girl ate to her hearts desire.

"Are you sure? Nothing suspicious?" Erin asked softly.

"- POSITIVE. THERE IS NO THREAT. -"

Meanwhile in the restroom Jess was checking her weapons. She didn't always arm herself but when Erin was with her she felt it necessary at all times no matter what the situation was, she couldn't fail to protect Erin again.

She came back to the table and sat down. Giving a questioning look to Erin, she shook her head meaning Max found nothing suspicious about the girl and man. They weren't armed, their heart rates were normal, their movements weren't rushed and postures were relaxed.

''Ready to go back?" Jess asked Erin.

She nodded and they left the restaurant heading back to Shaw Industries.

"You think they noticed?'' The blue haired girl asked James after swallowing another mouthful of food.

"Yes, it's all going as planned." James spoke calmly to the girl who was basically going to fly from her seat in excitement.

"Can we follow them Jay Jay?" She grinned at him, James wasn't amused and shook his head saying no.

"We have specific orders, so no we cannot follow them."

The girl was visibly disappointed, she hung her head and continued to eat her food which seemed to never end no matter how much she ate.

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End Chapter Seventeen