Bureau of Collections || ONC2021

The Meeting

"You're late." 404 huffed. Less than a minute is one thing, but ten?

"Sorry. Had to deal with some trouble for our friend, the unaccounted." 221 apologised.

She shifted uncomfortably, shuffling over so he could sit beside her on the bench outside Death Supreme's office. "You could have at least changed into your formal uniform. You look unbecoming"

He ignored her as he leant back, arm reaching behind her along the chair as he made himself comfortable. At least he had changed into corporate attire for this.

404 scowled at the invasion of her space. She resented him enough for putting her in this situation, but she would do as he asked even if he acted like a pig. She could see through the bravado and knew the incident still troubled him or he would not make efforts to keep the unknown soul protected. It was more than she could say for anyone else in her department. She was curious to know what had happened, but it would have to wait.

"Operator 404, Collector 221? Death Supreme will see you now." a thin tinny voice announced over the intercom before the door before them slid open, beckoning them to enter.

She rose quickly, flustering a little as she stepped forward, suddenly remembering her notes on the table beside her and rushing back to get them, almost running into 221.

"Oop, sorry." she cringed as she awkwardly avoided him and messily gathered up her notes, scowling as she dropped one and ducked down to scoop it up, missing twice before finally gaining purchase on the wretched thing and snapping back up. She gave him an awkward smile as he looked on, bemused.

"Come on, Lifer, it's just a Supreme. There's one on every floor. They think they are top shit, but they aren't. Play it straight, ignore the weird eyes, and you'll be fine."

"For you maybe, it's the teeth that get me, I don't know why he chooses that form-" she sighed as she stepped ahead of him and entered their Death Supreme's office without hesitation. Idiot. This was not her first time coming here.

The room was sparse with high ceilings, long windows extending the long rectangular wall on one side, nothing but white light shining through frosted glass. At the end of the length of the room, a desk rose like a wave from the polished concrete floor. Behind it a figure stood with arms folded at his back at an authoritative stance of attention. He was thin and unnaturally tall, with a head that seemed oversized for his shoulders and dressed in a black business suit.

Death Supreme's lips parted as they both walked down, unphased by the grandeur, 404 was often summoned here for special tasks. She suppressed a shudder as gleaming and impossibly straight teeth exposed in a grin three times the size of any human. If his intent was to strike intimidation, it certainly worked, though time and repetition had dulled the effect.

She forced a smile. "Good Morning, sir."

"Ah, 404. I see you actually have something mildly interesting for me this morning." he announced, his voice sharp and enunciated.

Long pale fingers ran through his perfectly manicured beard as his many hard black eyes shifted up from the multiple video feeds discreetly displayed on the pristine white surface in front of him. "And, 221, I see your reputation has followed and brought disruption to my office. I trust this is a one-off incident?"

404 glanced over to 221, who stood stoically beside her, appearing unperturbed by the jab. "Depends on how you deal with this one." he responded coolly. She cringed. No one spoke to the Supreme that way.

Death Supreme's smile evaporated in an instant, pressing into a thin line as he crossed his arms and stepped out from behind the desk, confronting him. "Your insolence may have passed with past Supreme's but not here." he hissed.