Back in Corny Complex...

Meanwhile Slone paces around her office, patiently waiting for Midas to show up. It had already been an hour and forty five minutes since she sent Jones' email to him, informing the guy where his friend was. She sighs, grabbing her cup of coffee and walking out and down to a few guards outside a cell.

"How is our traitorous agent?"

"Uh, he's not going to be waking up anytime soon ma'am." One guard responses.

"Mhm. The effect of that dart gun you used on him haven't worn off yet."

"Well for the next 24 hours he'll stay that way."

Slone turns to look at the unconscious Jones. He was lying on the cold floor, dressed in his old work attire for when he used to work at I.O, curled up in a ball slightly.

"Truthfully I'd take maddening silence over hearing his voice jabber on every 2 minutes any day." She groans. "By the way, have we detected the mole in our organisation yet?"

"Not yet ma'am. But we feel like we're getting close." The other guard replies. "We just need more time and information until we have a definite answer."

"You better hurry it up then. My plan for the Kymeras is almost ready to be planted." Slone tells them, turning her back to them. "And you of all people should know the Imagined Order has no room whatsoever for moles and traitors... like him."

"Of course ma'am."

An explosion from up above alerts the guards, Slone still looking like she couldn't give two shits.

"Would you like us to deal with the intruder boss?"

"No. Just let him come down here. I know nothing's gonna stop him from getting his friend back."

The guards nod, although they both go up to the surface to get in on the action anyway.

----

Midas quickly ducks behind a trailer as gunshots blast past him, a furious expression on his face. Wiping away what little sweat was dripping down his forehead, he stands up and fires his drumgun back at the I.O guards.

"You and your boss will regret taking Jones away from me! He means too much to me!!"

Out of his own rage Midas' body turns to gold, giving him the power boost he needs to take out the remaining guards. A few are knocked down or outright killed, some are turned to gold with a touch of Midas' hand.

"His power is too strong! Fallback!" One guard yells, probably the captain considering the badges on his armour, knowing they were no match for him.

The guards begin to flee from the scene. Midas hums deeply, taking a dagger from his pocket and throwing it. It lands on the captain's side, piercing through his armour and skin. He grunts, taking it out and turning around, only to be met with Midas directly in front of him and grabbing him by the neck.

"Tell me where you're holding Jones captive. NOW." He instructs the captain, staring into his soul with that one glowing gold eye.

"I... I'll never tell! Why should I listen to you?!"

"You would do well to obey my order... unless you'd like me to end your with a touch of my hand."

Midas tightens his grip on the captain's throat as he begins to choke him. He gasps for air, desperately trying to break free from his strong hold.

"Alright, alright! I.. I'll tell you!" He strains, struggling to breathe.

Midas hums, letting go and grabbing the dagger off him.

"Fucking hell..." He groans, coughing up blood and standing up.

"Well? Where is he?"

"He's under the barn. We...we have a base of operations below it. Doctor Slone should be down there to meet you."

"Hmph. Good."

Midas goes to leave, not batting an eye at the captain.

------

Treading carefully down to the bottom of the base Midas points his revolvers in front of him, looking around for any guards, or Slone, that could come and sneak attack him from behind or in front. When he was sure it was clear of guards, he clears his throat.

"Jones? Can you hear me down here?" He calls out, hoping his boyfriend was able to call back. "It's me, Midas!"

No response comes through, making Midas' worries only grow. He turns a corner to find a room with many prison cells. And in a cell at the end of the corridor lied Jones' unconscious body.

"Jones!!"

He rushes to the cell, sliding onto his knees as he reaches it. His hand was close to the bars, so Midas stretches his own hand through the bars and take Jones' cold one. His may not be the warmest, but they were warm enough to tell him that Jones' were ice cold.

"Don't worry. I'll get you out of this filthy cell." He mutters, rubbing his ringed finger with his thumb. "Just need to figure out how to open this door."

Getting back onto his feet, Midas inspects the door looking for some kind of opening mechanism. Spying a lock he takes ahold of it and rips it straight off its hinges, the door creaking open. He then goes to pick Jones up in his arms, his warm body temperature clashing with the blond's cold one.

"We'll have to figure out another way to keep you hidden." He mutters, holding him close. "But that can wait. For now, you need somewhere warm to rest. You're fucking freezing."

Heading back the way he came, Midas pauses. He begins reflecting on what situation he's in an how it's been... surprisingly easy...

"Hmm... something feels off about this. It's too simple and easy."

Footsteps approach him from behind and he's quick to dodge the sniper bullet aimed at his head. Placing Jones down gently he takes out his drumgun from his back and points it at the shooter.

"Ah, Doctor Slone I presume."

"Hello Midas. How nice to meet you after all this time."

Doctor Slone lowers the sniper, giving Midas an emotionless expression that puts his to shame. Midas lowers his weapon as well, though still being cautious.

"I wish I could say the same to you." He replies. "But after hearing you put Jones through all that torture and lying to him on multiple occasions..."

He pauses.

"I just don't know what to say. What gave you the right to treat him like this? Leaving him to die on the island, sitting back and watching the island and reality end."

"I do what I have to Midas. My work is more important than he'll ever be." Slone tells him. "You should know that. You do it too after all."

"... I'm not the same man I was a few years ago." Midas sighs. "So, you going to throw the two of us behind bars or are you going to let us leave in peace."

Slone hums, then sighs, putting the sniper down.

"If I ever see that little shit near here, and wearing the stupidest disguise possible again... I'll have my guards either kill him or drag his ass back outside the Loop." Slone threatens him. "That way he'll never be able to see you freaks again."

Midas is obviously worried about that. Jones had already lost his job at I.O, and if he returned where he came from, they'd never be together again. Jones would be banished from setting foot in his old workplace, and Midas was forever stuck on the island.

"Fine. I'll keep him away from this place."

"Good. Now get the fuck out of my sight before I change my mind."

He puts the drumgun back behind him before picking Jones back up in his arms again. He then hums slightly, giving Orelia the signal to take them home. Slone sighs, fixing her glasses before going upstairs into her office. She notices an old polaroid photo featuring her and Jones in it with the title 'First Day at Work!' printed on it sitting under another empty coffee cup.

"Ugh. Why do I even still have that."

She grabs it, scrunching it into a ball and stuffing it into her pocket.

"I don't understand how a piece of code is so determined to keep Jones alive. Why would he throw his pointless life away for that bumbling fool?"

Slone sits down in her chair and grabs a nearby file, taking a pen out.

"It doesn't matter. That freak of nature's feelings for Jones are going to get him abducted. And that idiot will only get himself killed out there, one way or another."

---------

A few hours later...

"Found out why he's not waking up yet?"

"Yeah, actually."

Jules slips Jones right arm out the blazer sleeve, exposing a mark on it. It looked bruised, stained with a small amount of blood.

"Looks like he was shot with a dart gun. A tranquilizer dart gun to be precise." She explains. "It puts the victim into a deep sleep for 24 hours, rendering them helpless."

"No wonder he never responded to my voice." Midas hums, brushing his hand across Jones' cheek. "How long do think until he wakes up?"

"I don't know. 5 hours? Maybe 10?"

Jules puts Jones' arm back into the sleeve of his blazer, checking the time. Midas picks him up and heads to the staircase.

"I'm putting him in bed, then I'm going to bed myself."

"Alright then."

------