Yaggo cool boss

"Boss?"

"What's up Howard."

"Is that a tin-foil hat?"

It was a bright and early morning in SouthTown Central. The birds were chirping at each other from the dusty power lines. The roads were full of angry people, late to work. Rock Howard walked into the gutted storefront with bags under his eyes, unkempt hair, and with the expectation he might get kidnapped again… or something equally traumatic.

Luckily, the only thing greeting him this morning was his traumatized employer - who was sitting on the floor surrounded with four rolls of aluminum foil and busying himself folding hats. He was wearing three - one stacked upon the other. Rock walked over, tossed his bag on a nearby couch and slouched into it. He observed Iori tiredly and raised an uninterested one word inquiry.

"Why?"

Iori responded with enthusiasm.

"Science has failed me. The Doctors have no idea what happened to me yesterday…so I'm pretty sure I got abducted by aliens, and that's why I can't remember shit." Iori pointed to his hats. "I read online that these things will prevent their signals from interfering with your brainwaves...Want me to make you one?"

"No thanks. I'm good."

"Suit yourself" Iori turned to look at him. "Wow… you look like shit. You get your ass kicked?"

"Nah. Have exam today. All-nighter."

"Nice. Call Fed-ex and make sure my overseas shipment is on track. Also write a cheque to the producer for fifteen hundred. Send it overnight...and..."

...

...

"HOWARD?!"

Oh god!

Rock nearly jumped out of his skin as he was awakened by the human equivalent of a bullhorn blasting over him. He made a mad scramble and instinctively curled up into a ball, shielding his face with his arms. He peeked out from between his fingers at his unhappy employer - who had stood to his feet to glare down at him. The red-haired man looked more suspicious than angry. He reached up, plucked off his top-most tin-foil hat, and proffered it to his employee.

"It's the aliens, isn't it. Put this on. It'll protect your brain-waves."

Rock stared at the horribly constructed hat and decided it was easier to wear it than argue about it. He placed it on top of his head and mustered an unconvincing thumbs up. Iori deadpanned at him.

"Call Fed-Ex. I'm going to the bank."

"Yes, Sir."

As Iori stomped away with his double stack of tin-foil hats, Rock sighed and took a moment to compose himself. Iori was behaving surprisingly agreeably today - probably because he was only now beginning to realize he was completely and utterly bonkers. Maybe it was for the better, but in the end it didn't make a difference. Rock still needed to do his job… Hopefully Iori would get distracted by something on the way to the bank, and get lost for an hour or two… Then I can get some shut-eye.

Rock suppressed a yawn as he pulled his cellphone out of his jeans pocket and googled the shipping company's phone number. On the split screen, he noted that Adam - bastard - still hasn't texted him back.

The only reason Rock was so tired today, was he had expected to study with the class physics whiz last night - and not on his own. Their study sessions were primarily just Adam teaching him how to do stuff (Rock repaid him by paying for lunch every day), but his best friend had gone radio silent since yesterday morning. Last night, Rock had waited in the library for him for hours, only to find his study-partner wasn't going to show.

So starting at 8:00PM that night to 8:00 AM the next day, Rock read two hundred pages in his Fluid Mechanics textbook, did all the practice questions, and took a half-hour nap before stumbling into work this morning. Right now, he wanted nothing more than to spend the next five hours sleeping before heading into class to take his midterm this afternoon.

To say he was pissed was an understatement. He had called that guy nearly twenty times yesterday, to no answer. Normally his best friend was pretty good about picking up the phone… maybe he had lost it? Rock had no idea… Once he saw that bastard, he was going to give him an earful.

Adaammm… man, you better not have ditched me for that girl you just met… ugh… I hopes she dumps you. Who the hell takes somebody to PortTown on a date anyways!

Rock sighed and stared at the long list of increasingly angry texts he'd sent last night. He'd been so wrapped up in studying - he had never considered that… maybe something happened to Adam…?

I mean… he's got a test too… why the hell didn't he study with me? He alright?

After a moment of reflection, Rock shook his head and called Adam. When he didn't pick up, Rock called Iori - who always picked up. Two rings max.

*Brrr-*

*What now? They lost my Package, didn't they? Those fuckers! Call them and tell them I'm pulling all my business from their shitty company, and-*

Iori really had a way of assuming things. Rock ignored his rant and continued onwards with what he wanted to say. It was the only way to get your point across with this guy.

"Hey Boss. What do you do if you're looking for a missing person?"

*...What?*

"My friend won't text me back. He's been gone since yesterday and I'm kinda worried. I mean… he's pretty good about picking up the phone and stuff, and we were supposed to meet yesterday. He didn't show."

There was shuffling across the line.

*Fifteen hundred. Send it overnight and make them sign for it. These bastards lose all my cheques… your friend? Pigtails?*

"I said 'He'."

*Adam?*

"Yeah."

*Huh… well normally I either call Kagura or the CIA. We've got two insiders in that organization. I know Chiz scares you - but the CIA guys are cool. Want me to hook you up?*

Rock blinked. The CIA? Seriously? Well… Honestly that was blowing it a bit out of proportion, wasn't it.

*I think I'm gonna ask them about the aliens thing… if aliens actually abducted me, those guys would be the first to know - right?... Hey, lady! My receipt! Gi-*

*Beep*

Don't worry rocky, just put some essential oils on your forehead and you'll remember everything. Guarentee to work.

Lmao, I bet Whip takes Rock to Afganistan for their dates.