"Hi, this is Gary Wilds with a great offer for you, am I speaking to the head of the house?"
A series of cuss words followed by the sound of a phone slamming down are heard over the line. The young man sighed and took off his head-set. This was, by far, the worst job he'd ever had. Why did he major in Communications in college? Looking back on it, he realized that it really meant nothing.
"Hey, Gary," Said his unusually friendly co-worker, "I have a question about call logs."
Gary Wilds was a completely regular guy; like sports, hated taxes. He thought most politicians were bad, but not the ones he voted for. The only child of two diseased parents, Wilds was a regular, regular guy. Bizarre normal really.
Usually.
"Remember; we work in a sequence; you should rely more on computer information. The manual override is just there in case the network experiences any issues."
His companion gave him a smile, "Great!"
Gary shook his head. Turning back to his computer, he realized it was frozen. Letting out a mild cuss, the telemarketer rolled back and headed towards his boss' office. He knocked on the door and waited, knowing his boss was doing nothing but sitting in there experiencing a power trip.
"...enter."
Gary entered, "I need you to unlock my computer."
His boss, James, sighed loudly, "Gary... we need to talk about... efficiency."
The manager gestured to a seat. His employee almost had an aneurysm trying to suppress a sigh. Not this talk again.
"Now, Gary, do you understand why we are so concerned with efficiency?"
"...yes?"
"...really, Gary, really?"
There was just something about his tone that got under Wild's skin. It was like having nails got driven in sideways across his body- slooooowly.
"Because I'm looking at your report, and it's not saying a lot to me, Gary. It's not saying a whole lot."
Even though he'd only worked for the company for a few months, Wild knew this speech by heart. He knew he had to stay silent. The conversation would keep going and going and going... Wild wished his mind would wander, could wander.
But it never did.
He was always tense, hyper-aware. He could smell, taste, feel more than he ever wanted to.
"Do you have anything to say about why you aren't making more sales, Gary?"
Gary Wilds glared at the contemptuous man. He felt his blood boiling. Frustration crept in. He hated being controlled. Hated being stuck in an office that kept him from the mission. He needed to be out there- making a difference!
Gary shook his head. Inside that head, Grant Ward seethed, "Just that I need to get back."
He made the mistake of rising and going to go out the door. Immediately, James was right behind him, grabbing his shoulder. Grant Ward immediately reacted, filling Gary's head with violence and anger. The millisecond that hand closed on his shoulder, Wild felt his world explode; pain, and anger mixed with fear and excitement. The sound of breaking bones, and the dull roar of blood filled his ears.
...Gary let out a breath, '...yes?"
"I haven't dismissed you yet," Snapped James. Gary waited, "Okay, you're dismissed."
Grant immediately relaxed as the hand disappeared, but the rush of adrenaline stayed. The second he reached his cubicle, Gary Wild held his head in his hands...
What was that about?!
Okay... so some things about him were bizarre. He occasionally had these... breakdowns. But it was nothing a little workout and core-breathing couldn't solve.
Gary Wilds had several serious anxieties, most of which he ought to see a doctor for; fear of drowning, small spaces, of being attacked on the street. A fear of losing someone close to him. A fear of people getting to know him. Many, many, many fears. All of them were irrational. Right?
Right?
...right?
...
...
...
"Right," Said Agent Phil Coulson into the phone, "I need him outside- now Jerry."
The man on the other end of the phone complained. Phil sighed, "Yeah, I know. But we need to prompt him into finding the rest of Hydra. And then we make our move, okay?"
"Okay," Agreed Jerry, "But I cannot guarantee you that Grant Ward is still in there."
"He is," Said Coulson worriedly, "Believe me; he is."