The corridors of the offices echoed dull thuds from Blinx, Skye, and the four guard sweepers that brought them in from the ice caves. The two were walking in file, Blinx in front, and Skye about fifteen paces behind. Both sweepers had guards on their immediate flanks, Blinx being unrestrained whilst Skye wore handcuffs that chained to her ankles. Her guards locking elbows with her. The odd staff member that was dotted around the corridor stopped in their tracks and stared at the two yet-to-be disciplined sweepers as they approached the CEO's office. One sweeper watching the guards march to the office was Roland. His back leant against the opposite wall, and his arms were crossed. He and Blinx locked eyes. Blinx looked in a blank, yet annoyed stare; and Roland returned Blinx's gaze with a warm smirk, and a slow, closed eye nod; before standing up properly, stretching his shoulders, and walking out of sight.

The guards surrounding Blinx broke formation, with the guard closest to the wall moving ahead, stopping at the office door, and knocking in a loud yet formal manner. The CEO opened the door himself, looked at the group of sweepers, and let everyone in. The guard who knocked on the door handed the CEO a file before entering himself.

Inside the office, Blinx spotted Skitch already stood on the right side, facing away from the door and towards the window. Blinx was ushered by his guard to stand on the left, and the two guards wrangling the as yet unphased Skye pushed her to the centre of the room, and between the other two team members. Blinx's guard asked if the CEO required their presence, and after a short time flicking between the pages, the CEO reassured that he would be okay without assistance. The guards left the office, free from the gaze of either the CEO or the sweepers. The CEO kept reading the file handed to him, hearing the door to his office click shut. He finished the page, and slammed the file on the desk. Ringing out a sound akin to a cracked whip.

'How dare you!' The CEO roared at the top of his lungs, 'All three of you have disobeyed a direct order, been linked to the theft of mission critical equipment, and unauthorised access to a world' The CEO approached Blinx, lowering his voice once he got close, 'What have you to say?' He asked, in an almost threatening inflection.

Blinx's eyes widened, his ears dropped behind him, and he lifted his hands up to chest level, he started to reason, 'Kevin was in my grasp, but was snatched by a rogue sweeper-'

'I've heard enough of your fantasies! Your team have been spitefully insubordinate and I will stand for it no longer!' The CEO shouted in response, walking behind his desk and pointing at Blinx.

'Kevin is alive, he's captive, he needs our help' Blinx pleaded.

'Wait for it...' Skye cynically primed, waiting for the CEO to respond to Blinx.

'And you have been told before, we cannot do anything for him' the CEO said, without pause.

'There we go' Skye quietly remarked, looking towards Blinx with an emotionally drained expression.

'Don't think of yourself as a victim, Mrs. Justice. You've proven yourself a threat to other sweepers' safety on multiple occasions. You are lucky not to be in a cell as we speak.' The CEO chimed, in a cold bout of intimidation. Skye pulled her gaze to him, and snarled. Huffing in place of words. The CEO recentered himself, regained his composure, and started to address the three as a whole:

'You have all shown yourselves incapable of performing your duties as employees at the Time Factory.' Blinx gasped, and Skitch's eyes grew wide. Personally defenseless against the CEO's verdict. 'Henceforth, and with immediate effect, the employment of the three of you will be-'

Without warning, the office door clunks and swings open. Roland charged into the office with his right hand behind his back. Behind him was two guards who, after chasing him inside, sheepishly kept an on and off gaze at the CEO. The CEO growled at Roland with gnashed teeth and ordered him to leave his office. His body bending forward a little, he arms pulling out a small but noticeable amount. 'As you wish, sir.' Roland responded, he twisted himself, about to turn around. 'Although, I bet your wife would be happy to have some of these flowers today, hmm?' Roland pulled his hand out from behind his back to reveal a bouquet of roses. The CEO stopped for a second, straightened himself up, and cleared his throat before mumbling Roland an apology.

Roland walked past the three sweepers and towards the desk, his arm outstretched, and his wrist bent slightly forward. The CEO gently took the flowers from Roland and looked at them with a content smile. 'I had a suspicion you may have forgotten, so I decided to help you out, sir.' His voice seemed too clean and disciplined for his wordings to not be of a sarcastic nature. The CEO didn't pick up on the sarcasm. 'So, these three are in your office again' Roland started to speak normally again, 'I guess you'll have to split them up if they're too much trouble together. They're all skilled sweepers, so maybe keeping them apart could help.'

Blinx looked at Roland confusedly, tilting his head. Roland looked back at Blinx and raised his eyebrows with a smirk. The CEO stuttered as he started his reply. Seeing Roland's answer as a tempting offer. 'Very well. Do you know of any teams in need of members?' The CEO asked.

Roland chuckled, 'Actually, that's something I need to talk to you about.' Roland reached into his pocket, pulling two pieces of folded paper out. He unfolded them and handed them to the CEO. 'These are notices of transferral. Chesh Lintern and his brother, Hunter, both wish to transfer out of the sweeper corps. and into the technician's guild.'

The CEO's eyes flicked through the paperwork, emotionless. 'That leaves a space for both yours and NecoJi's teams.' He affirmed. Roland nodded in response. The CEO gently placed the forms on his desk. 'I'll have them signed off and sent by the evening. In the meantime, you have to choose who to replace Chesh with.' Roland turned around to look at the three sweepers.

'An older authority figure giving me a choice between earth, fire, and water. Almost feels like fanfiction for another franchise.' Roland's quip was matched with a splitsecond smirk before eyeing Skitch, Skye, and Blinx head to toe. 'I'm going to be taking Skitch'. Both Skitch and Blinx were shocked to hear this, with the two of them expressing so. Roland strolled calmly over to Blinx. 'As much as I'd love my dear kitten to join me, I know he'd be both jealous and flustered in the presence of a certain master sweeper' Roland explained, moving his hand out to Blinx's collar, and running his finger up the side of Blinx's neck. 'It's almost a shame.' He whispered. Blinx shook in place for a second before slowly moving Roland's arm away.

The CEO cleared his throat before delivering his final verdict. 'So, with immediate effect, Skitch is to be transferred into the Rollers team. Blinx is to be transferred to team NecoJi, and Skye will be transferred out of the sweeper corps.' Skitch and Blinx looked over to Skye to see her shoulders slump forward. Becoming dejected at the finality of the decision.

'Where will Skye be going?' Blinx asked.

'She will be sent to the bootcamp for our heavy assault units.' The CEO replied. 'Enrollments up until this point have been voluntary. But given our circumstances, its heavy assault or termination of employment. She is free to choose.' The CEO folded his arms, waiting for Skye's response.

'I'm not leaving the factory out of my own choice.' Skye insisted, in a mix between a mumble and a growl.

'Then let's make sure this change of paths benefits everyone. You're all dismissed. Please leave my office.' The CEO wobbled the fingers in one of his hands at the sweepers to usher them out.

Outside the office, Blinx, Skitch, and Roland all let out a sigh of relief. Blinx and Skitch both felt a higher sense of ease, missing the loss of their jobs by a hair. After a few minutes, Skye left the office. Blinx turned around and walked over to her. Looking her in the eyes, 'This isn't the end, Skye.'

'Isn't it?' Skye questioned, 'I've lost my love, my job, and my home. I have nothing left. When does it end?' She added. Tears started to form in her eyes and her voice grew in quiet anger. She turned around, facing away from Blinx, and started to quickly march down the office corridor, her escort of guard sweepers needing to jog to keep up.

'Even if you can't find him anymore,' Blinx started to reply, 'I will. And that's a promise.' Skye stopped on the spot, looking over her shoulder and left Blinx with one last sentence before she continued her walk.

'This will take more than a promise to fix, remember that.'