Chapter Three: Sloth and Diligence

"Our first assignment?" Silas cried, "Are we going to be paid for this?"

Lita shook her head, her irritation on her face and obvious. "If that's all you care about, then you should leave."

"The Luna company is about saving lives and making them better," Amy added.

"But," Serena started, shocking all especially Endymion, "we're here to improve our lives. This takes funds. If you want to improve lives, then shouldn't you start with ones right in front of you?"

Both women wore strange looks on their faces as if they were trying to fight what they felt off their faces. Endymion was worried they would boot Serena any second now. He was no stranger to the means companies would take for free labor. Offering a job that didn't exist only to interview people, asking them to 'show' what they're capable of? Endymion no longer fell for that trick, so he waited with the others until one of the women caved. Endymion wasn't surprised when it was the Doctor.

"Of course, we're going to pay you for your time. That should go without saying. The point we were making was that we want someone hungry in the position. That…at Luna, it's not all about the status quo." Easy for them to say, they weren't close to starving in the streets. Endymion held tight to Serena as they all entered the massive room full of lush green life. Ay continued to explain. "For example, this is our Greenroom. Here, we're trying to create plants that are cheap to seed and grow a lot more fruit. Everything in this room is edible."

Looking around, Endymion saw they weren't kidding. Save for the dirt they walked on and the occasional plant prop or pot, there wasn't a plant in the room that wasn't safe to eat. Of course, they may not be tasty; the roses Serena was leaning towards delicious to smell but not as tasty to eat were an example. But the large rows of corn along the back wall would taste good once cooked.

"What is it you want us to do here?" Almas asked.

Lita smirked, "take a look around. Taste a few things. And see if you have any ideas for further development."

They wanted them to give them ideas? Endymion could see it now, his grand idea causing Luna's stock to go up exponentially while his family rotted to dust. Any thoughts he had, he would be keeping to himself until the job was his.

It was a good thing he didn't have many with Serena on his arm, leading her around like they were courting. It was something he would have done with Beryl if he'd ever had the time. Gently walking the girl he liked through a garden on a warm and sunny day? Endymion felt like he'd been waiting his whole life for a chance to be a gentleman. And Beryl had him waiting still while Serena had no problems with him taking her around in his thin suit.

She pulled from him, spying some ruby red tomatoes the size of a grape. Serena didn't hesitate, pulling a couple off and popping them into her mouth. She moaned, then gasped, turning to him with eyes wide and full of curiosity. It made Endymion's heart flutter in his chest. "They're so sweet! You must try one!"

Crouching at her side, Endymion took the offered fruit and popped it in similarly to Serena. The sweet and tangy juice flooded his mouth and teased his tongue. "Amazing."

All the tomatoes Endymion had were overripe and lacked good flavor. Unfortunately, they were eaten for their nutrients, not their taste, and the overripe ones came at a discount. Nevertheless, it was better than lacking in vitamin C, and they were far cheaper than oranges and lemons.

Serena left him to eat a few purple grapes while he took in the general spender. If they opened this place to the public, it would solve a lot of the hunger in town. "What do you think?"

Endymion spun, finding Lita behind him and watching him and Serena. He glanced back, making sure Serena was still near and safe before giving Lita his attention again. "I think Luna is a bunch of hoarders."

This was not what he should be saying, not at all. But the more time he spent in utopia, the more he thought about the elders he'd left at home. What would they eat today? Did they even remember what a good tomato tasted like? It only served to make his stomach twist until he was unable to eat. Something only he suffered, Almas crunching on an apple while Silas a pear. Serena was nibbling on grapes, so it was just him that had problems eating food while others starved. It was sure to ruin his chances, but Endymion found it impossible to lie. Not while angry like this.

"Care to explain?" Lita asked.

Endymion shook his head, but it did nothing to dispel the growing anger in himself. "You are all sitting on a gold mine here. When you could be feeding the masses."

"You want them to sell the food?" Serena asked, suddenly at his side again.

Her question had him burning. "I want them to do something. I want them to help the town they sit in the middle of, doing nothing while it falls apart."

"Is the town suffering? I hadn't noticed," Lita chuckled glibly.

Endymion had never wanted to strike a woman till then, so it was good Serena stepped between them. "Just because you do not see the suffering, it doesn't make it go away."

"I suppose you would know," Lita said, her smile turning sad, "what with your experience outside the walls."

Serena shook her head, "experienced or not, you have a man here telling you the truth, and you're laughing at him?"

Lita had the decency to look ashamed. Serena had softly spoken to the woman, but Lita still acted like a fully scolded child, lifting her eyes to Endymion with an apology on her lips. But he didn't want to hear it; he'd heard enough. He took Serena with him as they went deeper into the garden. This would be the last chance he and Serena had in paradise since they were both indeed cut from the running.

"I'm sorry, Serena." He began, and when she questioned with her eyes, big and bright, he caved all the more to his failings. "I should have kept my mouth shut and talked honeyed words to these people. That's what you do in a job interview, isn't it?" He knew it was true; he'd been on plenty. And he could hear the sugary words Silas and Almas gave as their answers. Only Endymion and Serena had screwed up. "I most certainly shouldn't have gotten you involved."

Serena pulled him deeper, coming to an herb garden that was overwhelming with scents. She paused before they both went on to discover. "I'm not about to stand by and allow good people to fight alone. And you're a good person, Endy. If Luna can't see that, then…I don't want to work for them anyway."

"I thought you needed the job for your family?"

"I do."

She answered simply and pulled away, bending down to touch the broad basil leaves. "Your mother is sick? She might benefit from the medicines that Luna creates…."

"Those won't help."

Then Endymion supposed it wasn't so bad if they didn't get the job? He would be where he was this morning, penniless and empty-handed. Beryl was waiting for him, and perhaps she would wait a little longer? He had to hope since Luna was never going to hire him.

It was a nice distraction, watching Serena's golden curls bounce as she walked, bent over to touch, and giggled at the slightest of things. Even with all that pressed on her, Serena was carefree and bright…and he envied that a little bit.

The light hit the liquid metal pools of Serena's strands just right, making them look pure, and distracted him further. So much, he found himself slapping the bud out of her hand before Serena so much as sniffed it. Her eyes watered in confusion and shock and hurt, but Endymion only had a little guilt. "Don't touch that!"

"He's right," a voice came from behind, Amy now watching them, "that one isn't for eating or smelling."

"Why is it in this garden then?" Serena squeaked, still recovering, and Endymion gently brushed the hand he struck.

"Because, little rabbit, the Nigrum Luna has many beneficial aspects. But unless processed correctly, it is dangerous."

"He's right."

With Dr. Amy backing him, Serena looked appeased, standing and stepping away from the plant. Endymion made sure to glare openly at the woman behind them. "You said everything in this garden was edible. What if I hadn't been here…."

"I was here. The whole time. No worries, Endymion, we will weed the garden of those unworthy."

Amy spoke as if a riddle, and he was too busy reeling over the close call and the Doctor knowing his name to figure it out. Had they listened to them in the lobby when they told their names? They had to have or listened to him and Serena as they walked around the garden. Amy did say she was watching, but Endymion was sure Serena had only called him Endy this whole time. It had to be when they were in the lobby; that was the only thing that made sense.

"Alright, everyone," Lita called from somewhere unseen, "time's up!"

They followed Amy back to the others. More doors, not the ones they entered through, were just behind the two women. Endymion expected them to lead back outside the building since both Lita and Amy gestured for Endymion and Serena to step closer. He didn't hesitate to grab Serena's hand in his. Although inappropriate, Endymion found it a great comfort. As if he could face anything with Serena by his side.

The other two men stepped up as well, all four of them heading on through the next set of doors. It would seem they all failed.

But then the doors cracked open to reveal utter darkness. Lita stayed behind while Amy led the way. Serena's hand cinched tighter on Endymion's as they passed the threshold into darkness. Finally, the door behind them shut, locking them into the gloom. It was why Serena screeched, the obscurity getting ripped away so fast; it was painful.

Amy was opening shutters harshly as she quickly spun around the room. It was empty but looked ready for others to work. Tables made of polished silver stretched on end while glasses of varying sizes littered them. Some held colored liquid while others were empty. It looked like they had interrupted work instead of coming in before it started.

"This is where we experiment with the herbs grown next door!" Amy breathed, out of breath from running around and excitement, "Lita and I work together to create life for plants and humans."

"Medicine. This is where you make Luna's medicine?" Almas asked as if bored.

Seeing as he was here to meet a person yet to show themselves, Endymion figured the man was very bored indeed. While Silas suddenly seemed very interested. Amy wore a forced smile, "yes, this is where we produce Luna's wide variety of medicines. But it's also where we genetically engineer our plants to produce better fruits…."

"Are the tomatoes from here?" Endymion asked.

Amy's smile turned real, "They are. Did you like them?"

"They were the best I've ever had. But that's not saying much, I'm afraid." The Doctor's smile fell, and her eyes danced to Serena, who still held tight to Endymion's hand. "And you, miss? What did you think of the food you sampled?"

Serena's smile brightened the dim room, "I liked all of it!"

It was contagious, everyone smiling now, even in the otherwise sterile room. It was a stark contrast to where they'd been, metals and tile instead of greens and dirt. Amy seemed to love both rooms along with Serena. Silas danced around the tables -without permission- and leered over tubes of colors. "What's all this? Making anything we've heard of?"

Amy went rigid and stared for the doors to their left, different from the ones they entered through. "We are working on something new. This one will be a life-changer."

The anger that swelled in Endymion was getting lesser and more manageable. He accounted it to becoming numb to the inequality around him even though he should have been used to it years ago. "Life-changing for who? Luna? Those who can afford the drug?"

Serena squeezed his hand again, and he stopped. Not that there was any point. He still wasn't sure why he was still there, allowed to continue in the interview, but no one was stopping him. Or Serena and Endymion found he was ecstatic about that. He may not be a good fit here, but he would be dammed if he allowed Serena to suffer thanks to him.

It was similar to Lita's earlier reaction, the blue-haired woman turning and looking back at him with a sad look on her face. But she wasn't looking at him; she was looking at Serena. "We haven't decided what to do with it yet."

"You should give it out for free," Serena suddenly added.

Endymion didn't think the golden woman was listening, but a look at Serena's face told him she was very passionate about the subject. Serena said nothing at Luna would save her mother, but maybe she meant nothing they currently had out? If this drug was a life-changer, perhaps it could change Serena's and her mother's lives?

Amy said nothing more on the subject, looking over all of them instead of just Serena. "Alright, that's enough for today. On to the next challenge."

Endymion didn't understand; not only was he allowed to continue, but he had completed the challenge? When had he? Not a single idea came from his mouth, and even if he'd had one, he wasn't going to share it. All he'd done was insult the company to those that worked there. With no one else greeting them, Endymion had to wonder who these women were exactly? They couldn't be heads of the departments shown; they wouldn't conduct interviews. Were they being led around by women as a waste of time?

Silas strolled by, hands in his pockets and a smirk on his face. It had Endymion wondering, but Serena tugged on him to break him out of it. Then, the doors before them opened, and Endymion expected more of the same. Something he would never do again while in the Luna company—because this door opened and revealed a tall and lean, dark-haired beauty.

"Hello everyone, I'm Raye," she said with a smile that only grew the longer they stared at her, "welcome to hell, your next assignment."