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Robert watches from afar as the team surrounds Invisigal, cheering on her for her successful mission. For once they actually feel like a true team. However, it's bittersweet, as everyone knows very well what is about to happen. He sighs, and with a heavy heart he follows Blazer into her office.
Walking in the dimly lit room, the air is tense. She's taking a seat at her desk, and she seems... calm. Releaved even. She must be used to fire people, he assumes.
Silently closing the door behind, he catches a glimpse of something odd: Blazer has two files laying on her desk, not one.
But before he could ask about that, she preceeds him and jumps straight to the main topic:
So, it's between Sonar and Coop.
Wait... huh?
What? That's not- No, Invisigal's still at the bottom of the board.
He counters right away, still feeling confused. While it didn't feel great to throw Invisigal under the bus after her achievement, it wouldn't be fair to the others if she gets a pass anyway.
Blazer catches on the misunderstanding, and jumps in with an explanation.
Oh, the one in the bullpen? That thing updates every hour. Invisigal moved up. Catching Lightningstruck really gave her a huge boost.
That didn't make, any sense... how could catching a minor thief grant her so many points?
Bangle boy? Really?
He retorts, making his disbelief very plain. Blazer has an explanation for that too.
The donut shop escape, slipping past Malevola, now the jewelry store... really bumped up the wanted levels.
Robert can't help it but to chuckle at the absurd situation. Messing up so much actually ended up saving her.
That's like missing the free throw on purpose to get the put back.
He mutters to himself, relating the absurdity in familiar basketball terms.
Yeah, exactly... I don't watch football but I get it.
Robert simply smiles faintly seeing Blazer awkwardly trying to relate to his analogy, only to end up showing just how unfamiliar she is to sports. But he decides it's not worth it to point it out, and just lets her keep talking.
Look, I know I'm not supposed to play favourites here, but, even if she was on the bottom, I'm not sure I would have let you cut her.
He pauses at that. Again... it doesn't seem fair. He can also see that Invisigal has potential. Tonight's event show it, but so does everyone else. Why don't they get a second chance?
Blazer, unaware of his growing doubts, continues with her speech.
So, these two are now tied for last place. Who do we cut? Sonar or Coop? It's your call. I support it all the way.
Robert remains in silence, staring at the papers in front of him, glancing at the two stoic faces, staring back at him in their orange uniforms. A snapshot of the day where everything changed for them. At the time, they probably saw it merely as a huge failure, but in reality, it was their shot at redemption. And, to be frank... they both squandered it up until now. They all did, so who is he to decide which one gets a second shot at it, and who doesn't? He met them only three days ago. Hell, who is Blazer to decide that?
He looks back up at Blazer, eyes filled with determination.
No, hold on. Why do we even have to cut someone? How would I even choose? I barely know these people.
Now that catches Blazer off guard. She quickly stutters out an answer
I-I well... you know... they have all been in the Program for a while... and... at a certain point, I've got to cut someone...
Robert is hardly convinced so he keeps pressing
Blazer, let's not kid ourselves, it's bullshit. The points are bullshit, the elimination is bullshit, it's all bullshit. You said it yourself, if Invisigal didn't make it, you wouldn't have cut her anyway. So why are we even having this discussion when you're obviously playing favourites?!
His reply becomes more of a rant, suddenly letting out all the stress, anger and frustration bottled up in him. He doesn't realise that he's raising his voice too. Blazer simply stares back at him blankly, so he keeps going uninterrupted
You want my honest opinion?! They all are the most selfish, arrogant, immature, petty, stubborn, annoying group of misfits I've met in my entire life! And yet, they're not bad people...
He finally takes a deep breath, and lets it all out with a sigh. Now feeling calmer, he resumes
You said it's my call. So my call is they both stay. Either that, or sack everyone me included, I don't care...
With that, he was well and truly done. Without another word, he simply turns around and leaves, accidentally slamming the door too forcefully on his way out. He leans on the door, sighing again, trying to get himself in check after that disaster. He loses himself in his thoughts, until an awkward cough snaps him back to reality. Looking up he finds more than twenty pair of eyes silently stare at him, including the entirety of the Z-Team, Chase, Royd, all other dispatchers, and even that water kid they hired as a janitor.
Shit...