Chapter Text
The words barely left his mouth when his sister burst through the door.
"That's so unfair! Jethro and Raymond keep messing things up! You saw what happened!"
"Well..." He met her outburst with an arch smile and cocked his head. „Guess you'll just have ta try a little harder to make up for it then."
"BUT this is–" she choked on her words as two other versions of her brother took her by the arms.
"Get off me!" she flashed her blades.
"Ah, ah, ah. Y'know how breakin' the rules ends, Shannon." His grin died down a bit.
"I DESERVE to be Senior Deputy!"
"Sure, puttin' those high ambitions on report."
"That bibble has MY NAME on it and you know it!!" She kept yelling as she was dragged out of the room. "LET GO of me!! I'm not done with him! DARRELL!"
He sank back into his chair, relishing the relief for a moment as his sister's voice was finally cut short by the door.
"Back to the drawing board!" He grabbed a crayon from the table and started to scribble abstruse plans on a piece of paper.
The phone ringing next to him made him frown at the unwanted line he had dragged across the paper. "Dang it!" Dropping the crayon once again, he answered the vidcall. "Cain't get no rest today."
"Hello, Darrell." The voice of a well-acquainted reptilian lady greeted him in her comfortably icy way.
"Hey, Cosma." His tone softened. "What is it?"
"Hope you're not busy, there's something I need to discuss."
"Well, technically we don't have a meeting..." He put his forefinger on his chin thoughtfully. "Buuut..."
"I'll be quick." She cut him off. "You know the board has been quite satisfied with the economic benefit Boxmore has generated over the last few years. We've stayed that course for a while now." She folded her hands beneath her chin.
"See what a bit of actually sellin' stuff and good leadership can do." He answered, pleased with himself, pointing his thumbs to himself as he threw his feet on the table.
"Right. That constant sales benefit got Boxmore to second place on the market."
Darrell’s grin widened as he leaned back, savoring the moment.
She continued: "This means we're getting very close to number one: V&V Industries."
"We'll catch up in, like... a year at the latest, I'm sure." The robot waved it off.
"I don't think that'll be necessary."
A small crack showed in his expression as he raised his gaze to her.
Cosma took a measured breath.
"A merger would boost Boxmore's productivity and quality."
His feet struggled to find the ground, shooting out of his relaxed pose.
"A merger?? But–"
"It's the best chance we have. I've known the CEO for–"
"Boxmore is in top shape! Sales are higher than ever! You said that yerself just now!"
"And we can't risk endangering that by competing with them." she said, harsher in tone. "I'll set up a meeting at noon tomorrow."
"You – what?? But–"
"Keep up the good work." Cosma said with a crooked smile, leaving him alone in his distress.
With his eye still glued to the screen, his demeanor slowly hardened.
As he ran his claws over the grotesque glass domes of his throne, a blood-curdling screech echoed through the room.
He yanked around, hitting a button on his speaker.
"Ernesto... ! Bring me dessert!"