Chương 126: Chapter 125 – Packages and Plots

Elios continued stacking the packages on the pushcart outside Hardscrabble's door. He made sure several co-workers saw him. He found it hard to contain his joviality when coworkers asked what he was doing. He needed everyone to believe that he was put off by having to do such a menial task. If he seemed the slightest bit happy about it, he could blow the whole thing. Inside he was about ready to burst with the potential ramifications once Mordak found out Hardscrabble's misstep.

Wentworth suddenly stopped and did a double take at Elios as he headed to the office.

"Elios, what the hell are you doing?" He asked, completely confused.

"Shouldn't one of the interns or something be doing grunt work?

"Ask my new boss," he sighed, placing another package on the cart.

"What do you mean, your new boss?" Wentworth said, peering into the office.

"Are you kidding me, that guy is back?" he said, shaking his head.

"Didn't you fire him?" he asked looking back at Elios.

"Yup," Elios replied, placing another package on the cart.

"Blackwood feels his interests would be better served with new management."

"Wow, I hadn't heard, I'm sorry Elios," Wentworth said, shaking his head, seemingly surprised by this turn of events.

"If it's any consolation… I think he made a mistake."

"Thanks," Elios said, softly.

"Did you need something?"

"Well, I thought I was meeting with you to discuss the merchandise we were preparing for delivery to the other realm, but I guess I am meeting with that schmuck," Wentworth said, shaking his head.

"Just what I need… another incompetent, who doesn't know his proverbial ass from his elbow," Wentworth sighed.

"Shit, this means, I'm going to have to listen to him all night at Blackwood's dinner party."

"Sorry," Elios said.

"I didn't get the invite, so I…"

"He must be announcing the so-called organizational changes, all the top dogs are required to be there," Wentworth interrupted.

"Like I don't have anything better to do, then sit in a room filled with hot air."

"Is there something you need help with? I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. You just need to clear it with Hardscrabble first," Elios said eagerly.

"Well, I can tell you this much, I would much rather have you on my team than that idiot Trula," Wentworth said, rolling his eyes.

"He has his head in the clouds more often than not. He needs to focus on his work." Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Elios said.

"Well, like I said, I'm willing to offer my assistance in any way I can."

"Thanks," Wentworth said, placing a hand on Elios' shoulder.

"Once again, I think Mordak has made a huge mistake putting..." He paused looking over his shoulder, "him in charge. Hopefully he comes to his senses soon. It was nice talking to you Elios," he said turning to the office.

"Nice talking to you too." Elios said smiling, while thinking, you sick psycho, you think I don't know how much enjoyment you get inflicting pain on things. You and Mordak were cut from the same cloth. You think I don't remember those stupid bloody pills you and Mordak forced me to take? He seethed. He repositioned the pushcart in such a way he could hear the conversation in the office.

He did not want to appear to be blatantly eavesdropping, so he made himself look busy; checking the packages and stacking them neatly on the cart.

"Wentworth," Hardscrabble signed.

"Did you need something?" Wentworth eyed Hardscrabble with contemptuous confusion.

"I believe we had a meeting scheduled to talk about the delivery of the merchandise to the Elven Realm. Elven Realm? Elios asked himself. I knew about the fairies but there are Elves too?" He shifted over closer to the door, completely intrigued. What could they be sending there?

"Well, the leftover toys from the Everybody Needs a Friend promotion that Mordak had orchestrated a decade or so ago are there waiting for your upgrades. They are kind of useless without modifications. We are waiting on the modifications from your department." Hardscrabble said curtly.

"So, your office is ready to go the minute the new nanobots are ready for insertion into the toys?" Wentworth asked. Those sons of bitches hijacked my design? New nanobot tech? This was my project damnit! He seethed. They didn't even consult me. He flinched as he put a package down just a little too hard on the pushcart. He looked over his shoulder quickly to see if either man had become alerted to his presence.

"Shit," he muttered softly as Hardscrabble made his way to the door and closed it firmly. Elios continued to work putting packages on the pushcart and then rearranging them, straining his ears to try to gain more information about this Elven Realm. Regardless of where he stood he could not overhear a syllable through the closed door. He resigned himself to the fact that his reaction with the package had now cost him an opportunity to gain some real intel on what Mordak was planning to do.

Maybe it was time to go visit Trula in the lab. He always liked Trula, nice guy, easy to talk to. Elios began pushing the cart to the storeroom. Yeah, I will pay my old buddy a visit, maybe bring him a cup of emberbrew, see how he's doing in this madhouse. Elios knew that once he got Trula talking it normally took forever to get him to shut up again. If anyone had actionable intel it would be him. He began putting the last of the packages into the storeroom. He saved the special one for last.

The one that everyone was waiting for, but no one but him knew had arrived. The one that was holding up the teleport, Mordak's plans. He grinned as he dropped it on the floor, "oopsie." He picked it up and dropped it again.

"What's wrong with me today? I must have butterfingers," He muttered, grinning.