My first attempt to go to the Boneyard today was to have a certain thing purged from me, if possible. There is… baggage… that I do not feel strong enough to carry anymore. Not after this morning’s bullshit.
I wound up in a contrived scenario, a daydream, but it wasn’t mine. It felt like mine, had a role for me that I fell into at once, but it wasn’t mine.
I was the CEO/Owner of a great business. Having an emergency meeting with the heads of the separate departments. One of the departments had been found to have lost a great number of assets, and squandering what little remained. It was a great drain on the entire business to continue allowing that department to act independently.
But that department had been acting as a stand-alone business from nearly the very beginning. There was no interaction except for emergency meetings like these.
Most of the other department heads were urging me to kill the department, liquidate what assets were clean, burn and purge what assets were toxic.
I almost agreed.
“Ma’am. If I may make a suggestion.” The outside consultant, hired to be a neutral third-party to events such as these. “There is so much invested in that department already, if you were to cut it off now without any return, you will cripple the rest of your company. As much as we don’t know how that department functions, there are too many flows of power and economy to and from that department.” Many of the other department heads shook their heads in disagreement. A few nodded.
“If you allow it to continue as it is, you may recover some of your investment eventually. But! You are exposing too many of your other departments to unnecessary risk by means of asset contamination. We already know that rogue department has been making independent deals without your authorization, or even knowledge. We don’t need that kind of infectious arrogance to spread to the healthy departments.” Some department heads agreed, some disagreed, most were suspicious.
“I propose, Ma’am, a reining in of the rogue department. Obviously, there are some assets there that are required. It is just now the other departments are self-sustaining to the point that we are now able to inspect the rogue department and identify just how bad the damage is, and what can be done about it.” A few department heads agreed. Most still called for the rogue department’s shutdown.
The Consultant reached over and opened my binder dedicated to the business’s most important assets. He thumbed through pages until he found a certain asset, and slid the open binder back towards me.
“Don’t forget, Ma’am. You are not in the same position when this business was first founded. Yes, the rogue department has grown powerful and the decisions made by the department head has placed the company in jeopardy. But you are not helpless and dependent on them. You have other tools at your disposal.”
“And… other consultants.” He patted the phone.
“You are the CEO, but you are not on your own.”
“I ask you, Ma’am, as an outside observer that sees differently than you, to wait a few days before making a decision. The damage is done, but now the damage is visible. We know what’s going on, and we’ve already begun mitigation.”
I nodded. The Consultant has a point. As gut-wrenching the revelation of betrayal has been, the damage is in the past. And yes, the department has too much future potential and present investment to destroy and liquidate it in petty and juvenile revenge.
“Very well then. A few days was requested, a few days will be given. As least until the project we know that department can do has been completed. After that, Sir, I would like to consult with you about how best to proceed, and if any other consultants should be conferred with as well before taking back what is mine.”
I stood, all the other department heads stood as well. “Folks and folks, thank you for attending.” I nodded my head. The department heads returned the gesture and began to leave. The rogue department head was first out of the conference room, with a few of the others in hot pursuit, but for what end, I do not know.
“Ma’am.” The Head of Information and Planning was at my elbow. “I suggest that because of the highly… inflammatory… nature of that department, to completely place it out of mind until the immediate project is complete. That will give us a few days to proceed behind the scenes.”
“I concur.” The Consultant nodded his head. “Let the rogue have her lead for now. She can’t get far, and now we know what she’s up to, we can block her at once if she tries for unapproved trades again. There are other things that need to be dealt with, at once.”
The Head of Information and Planning backed away slightly. The sunlight glinted off the Consultant’s brilliant green coat. On any other person, the metallic cloth and feather accents would look hideously gaudy. But I found they suited his emerald green eyes and bronze hued skin quite well.
Wait.
Where do I know that face…
I looked down at the binder, at the asset he had pointed out. I know that from somewhere…
“Snake.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve been busy, and until now, you haven’t needed me.”
…
“Weaver.”
“Yes, my friend.”
“Are you still going to wait before acting on this?”
“Yes. I understand I would have hurt myself a lot more than I have been already. Thank you.”
…
“Snake.”
“Yes, my friend.”
“Bright green and black?”
He laughs. “Admit it. I make it look sexy.”
That he does. Vain bastard.
I dismissed the meeting with finality. I felt Snake slither around and past me into the shadows. I reached for him, but my hand closed on fading echoes.
And that’s what happened before Nathan opened his mouth and acted the ass.