2008-01-19: The Life Of A Mushroom

Starring:

Benjamin_icon2.gif Bob_icon.gif

Summary: Some days you like your job, other days… well.. Just keep me in the dark and feed me …

Date It Happened: January 19th, 2008

Log Title The Life of a Mushroom


Yamagoto Industries

With a good percentage of staff dedicating their time to finding Peter Petrelli, Benjamin not excluded, he's taking initiative today. There's still someone else that needs finding per Angela's orders. He has his case files carried under his arm, and he hesitates once before knocking at Bob's door. This meeting is bound to be uncomfortable given the initiative the man's taking.

Bob Bishop is squarely squared away in his square office. Deep-set lines furrow his brow, his eyes are quietly stormy, his hair is slightly askew (what's left of it); all the indications of the enormous headache he's currently sporting. However, the show must go on. His work has not suffered. The metaphorical gears of the Company around him turn, well-oiled. He straightens a hefty stack of files while standing at one corner of his desk and then tucks them under his arm, walking briskly to the door only to have it knock at him first. Well, how about that. He opens it and looks mildly surprised to see the man standing on the other side. "Mr. Winters, I wasn't expecting you. What can I do you for? I was just on my way to the surveillance room."

"Mr. Bishop, I didn't mean to interrupt. I just.. would like a moment to talk to you and I understand this is going to be uncomfortable for you." Benjamin's trying to put himself in Bob's shoes.. and it might not be too difficult. At least, the part about being a father is where he can relate. Somewhat. "I know Mrs. Petrelli wants all resources on locating her son, and I am working on that. However.. We're also supposed to bring in Elle. I have a few assignments to handle in regards to Peter Petrelli, but I would like the opportunity to try and find your daughter."

One of Bob's eyebrows raise just about the time Benjamin brings up this being "uncomfortable" for him, and his expression sticks that way. "So would I," he replies, "Do you have something new to bring to the table where Elle is concerned, Mr. Winters? Please, follow me." The man shuffles past the agent into the hallway, expecting Benjamin to tag along.

Benjamin follows after Bob on his instruction. "Unfortunately, no. Abigail and I questioned Dr. Forrest, but when she thought she was rooming with Elle, that was during the period when we thought she was dead." He's not getting any more comfortable about this, knowing Bob probably treasures Elle greatly and is disappointed at the same time. "I wanted on board in looking for her. I'm not as trained as some of the others, and with Peter Petrelli having multiple abilities, I think I'll be more useful in going after Elle. You know I won't hurt her unless she gives me no choice. If you give your consent on this, I just need a few ideas as to where she might be hiding."

"Your initiative is appreciated," Bob comments in praise as he walks along at a brisk clip just ahead of Benjamin." It's always best when no one has to get hurt during the course of capture. Your methods are particularly special to us for that very reason." He turns a corner, pausing to face Benjamin after he does so. "Unfortunately, it's quite likely that Elle was already injured. She had an encounter with Mr. Church. I'd normally suggest checking hospitals, but Elle is a tough girl. If she collapses, she'll do it where she's not likely to be found. Besides which, we've already checked."

"Is there anyone in her past history that she might trust and hide with?" Benjamin withdraws a pen from his pocket, and opens up Elle's file that he has in hand. Ready to take notes he looks at Bob and nods a little. Checking hospitals is the first thing. Right. "If she was willing to shoot Meryl, and attack Church, she's desperate and I won't pry into her reasons for wanting to leave.. we.." Should probably leave her alone and nobody else gets hurt comes to mind, but goes unsaid. "We should still talk to her, see what we can do for her. She's hurt some people, maybe she should be allowed to go her own way. Obviously that's not my call. Yet, you, Mrs. Petrelli, and others in higher positions want her brought in, so that's what I'll do."

Bob continues on down the new corridor, making a beeline for the elevator. There's no wait; he steps right on when the doors slide open. Inside, he adjusts the heavy stack of files under his arm. "Elle will be handled," is all he has to say on that matter. "But that can't happen unless we find her. Her co-conspirators in this mess are Peter Petrelli and Sylar. If anyone knows where she is, it's one of them. With any luck, our initiatives with those two will provide some answers." He watches Benjamin, holding the elevator door open for him with a thumb to a button. "There are some other potential avenues, hideouts, but … you should understand, Mr. Winters: Elle has no friends."

Benjamin nods his head in understanding as he steps onto the elevator with Bob. "That's understood. Dr. Forrest had nothing useful for us. Later today I will make an attempt to talk to Elena Gomez." And here is where he falters a little. His personal life and work are colliding, and he doesn't like it. The Gomez's have been good friends to him in the past year. "I'm not sure what we can do about Sylar, Mrs. Petrelli's instructions were clear on that point. We could still attempt to speak with him, but even that contact could get messy." Moving away from the doors inside the elevator, he looks back at his boss, "Yes sir. Given what I've read about her life.. I can see the difficulty of her having actual friends. Is there /anyone/, past or present Company employees, acquaintances, anyone that she might be comfortable hiding with? At least for a brief period of time?"

"She knows all members of the Company have their orders; she wouldn't be stupid. She may have put some stock in Cass Aldric after the virus incident," Bob replies, tone flat. The elevator carries them down, down. "The safest route for Elle, if I were in her shoes, would be to stay alone. Failing that, look for allies who have something against this Company," he says as the elevator doors open. The corridor it opens too is dimmer, more obviously below ground. He steps out, still addressing Benjamin. "We've been surveilling her last known locations," he explains. The door to the surveillance room isn't far from the elevator, and with the swipe of a keycard, it's this room he enters — every wall is full of screens and monitoring equipment. A technician sits in the midst of them all. He nods at the two men, keeping to his own business.

Benjamin continues following Bob off the elevator and into the surveillance room. "No. Not stupid, just more desperate than we probably realize. Could I get a list of people who may have something against the Company? I don't need the reasons why if it's classified information." And it's better the man not see their reasons. He's better off like a mushroom when it comes to working for the Company. A glance is made at the screens in the room, and his gaze is back onto his files as he makes some notes. "The best thing I'm thinking, is to look for people she has something in common with. Someone disillusioned, who wants to be left alone too. At least, that's what I'd do in her shoes."

Bob relieves himself of the weight of the files, setting them down on a small desk covered in computer equipment. The whole room is dark, lit by screens that show only shades of black, white, grey and night-vision green, giving everyone's flesh a strange glow. "Most certainly. I'll have a list of likely suspects sent to your desk." The man is distracted by eying one monitor in particular, even though it shows nothing but an empty apartment. "We're short-handed this week, and I know you're busy with current assignments," he says without looking at Benjamin at first; a moment more of eying the monitors and he pegs the agent with a stern but sincere look. "But if you can handle the extra workload, it would be appreciated. Update me the moment you find any news."

"I appreciate that sir, and again you have my word, I'll do what I can to keep from having to hurt her." Meaning, Benjamin will have to be able to drop Elle before he's seen. "It's just.. again.. I know the more experienced employees will be focusing on Peter. I'm still having a difficult time believing he murdered Mr. Nakamura. He always seemed to be .. not the type. I suppose anyone can kill however, when they feel cornered enough."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Mr. Winters. Don't underestimate my Elle, either." Bob nods, however, sour-faced. "An unfortunate reality. Humans are animals. We lash out when we're threatened, we go on the hunt when we don't have what we think we need to survive."

"I'll keep that in mind sir," Benjamin says in response. Unfortunately, he tends to underestimate himself. Constantly. Low self confidence will do that for you. "I'll keep you up to date on what I find. Thank you." His own files in hand, Benjamin turns to exit the surveillance room.

Bob offers Benjamin one last curt nod, watching him go without another word. As the door to the surveillance room swings shut and clicks with its automatic lock securing into place, he turns around to the nearest wall of monitors. Alone with the technician, who dutifully pays him no mind until he's addressed (which he's not), Bob leans into the desk's edge, shoulders hunching as he stares into the empty, abandoned apartment that used to be Elle's for a short time. "Where are you, Elle. I'm going to bring you back to where you belong. You can't hide forever."

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