Gui

"Welcome," Gui motioned for them to come further into the room. 

"Chancellor Gui." Fort bowed slightly as he shook the man's outstretched hand. "This is my wife, Professor Noble. Before anything gets said I would like to take full responsibility for any trouble Noble may have caused."

"Fort," Noble tugged gently on her husband's arm. 

"No," the Deputy Director continued. "As the one who assigned Bee Two for the Academy's use, the guilt from any misconduct falls squarely on my shoulders." 

"Oh? That is very interesting. Your wife does not seem to agree." Gui allowed one eyebrow to raise in question as he looked at the blue-eyed woman. "Assuming you still feel the way you did while in the elevator, Professor Noble." 

"I do, Chancellor." Noble smiled genuinely at him and dipped her head. 

Gui's expression softened slightly. "It feels very strange hearing that title come from your mouth." 

"You calling me Professor sounds equally bizarre," Noble retorted. Beside her, she could feel Fort's frustration and confusion coming to a head.

"Wait, how would the Chancellor know how you felt back in the elevator?" The man's eyes widened slightly. 

"I messaged him, of course." Noble smiled shyly at him. 

The Deputy Director's mouth dropped open. "Is that what you were doing on your communicator? You messaged my boss's boss without telling me?" 

"Only to let him know that everything is all my fault. I knew you would play the valiant hero." Noble brought out her small screen and held it so her husband could see what she wrote.

But Fort was unable to focus on the words. "How do you even have his contact information?"

"That was a stroke of luck," Noble admitted. She looked at the Chancellor. "I am glad you haven't changed it in all these years."

"That's my personal line. I would never dream of changing it. Now, getting a hold of me professionally? That is another matter entirely." Gui motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk for the couple to sit. "Please join me." 

Fort reluctantly took a seat, wondering if this was all some strange sort of nightmare.

Not the kind that would turn him into an Awakened, but the kind that would cause him to wake up in a cold sweat as soon as one or both of the people before him turned into unicorns. Somehow he felt like that development would be less strange than the scene he was in.

"How do you know the Chancellor?" Fort struggled to remain coherent in spite of his cloud of confusion.

"Gui is an old friend of the family." Noble seemed surprised by her husband's question.

"I worked very closely with Director Lance. He saw potential in me," Gui added, folding his hands on his desk. "His death was a great loss to the world."

"That is very kind of you to say. I passed his statue. Looks uncannily like him. Thank you." The professor blinked away a tear threatening to come down her cheek. "But I do not think you called us here to reminisce." 

Gui's face returned to a neutral expression. "Indeed, I did not. We have a rather problematic situation on our hands. I got the report that a rogue android got a hold of some sensitive information." 

Noble straightened her back, fighting the urge to let her eyes swirl. "While it was an accident, Bee Two only did as I directed. Whatever the consequences are for the problem I caused this morning, I will bear them." 

Fort furrowed his brow and raised a finger in objection. "It is I to whom the android is linked. All misconduct by Two Bee is my responsibility." 

Gui tapped lightly on the desk, silencing the couple from their incoming quarrel. "You both are so quick to take responsibility, but honestly, I hold both of you guiltless in the matter. If anything, the blame lies with me." 

Now both Noble and Fort were in a state of confusion. Not only had the Chancellor not called them into his office to punish them. He was..apologizing? 

Gui sighed and rubbed his forehead. "You may know I visited Lena a few weeks ago."

Noble thought for a second before nodding. "Mother said you came over for a meal on very short notice." 

"Well, I hadn't meant to stay for dinner, but the opportunity was too good to miss. I do like a well-made tteokbokki." Gui seemed for a moment to be back at the table. 

"If you are bringing it up, then I gather it wasn't a simple social call?" Noble narrowed her gaze slightly as she examined the man behind the desk. 

"You're smart, like your father. I was in search of something very specific that I hoped still existed. Your father's notes." The Chancellor paused to let the professor process his words. 

"But Mother doesn't have the notes. I do." Noble felt both men's emotions spike at her statement. Noble frowned. "I mean…I did," she continued, studying them carefully. A sinking feeling came over her. "...I don't have the notes anymore, do I?"

Neither man answered immediately, causing Noble to continue her line of thought.

"I went looking for them this morning," the professor gasped lightly and looked accusingly at her husband, "but you called me before I got to them!" 

The Deputy Director furrowed his brow. "You didn't mention that you were looking for them this morning! I just assumed you had stowed them away like your shoes from last year never to be used again."

Noble struggled to remain calm. "Then they are gone, aren't they? How did you even know where to find them?"

"You think I wouldn't notice a dozen boxes suddenly appearing in the top of our closet? No matter how well they were tucked away, they took up a large amount of space." Fort tilted down his chin in disbelief. He was oblivious sometimes, but not completely blind! 

"Where are the notes now?" Noble's voice was strained. She found herself unconsciously balling her skirt in her hands.

The Chancellor cleared his throat. "They are here. As I said, I was in search of Director Lance's notes when I visited Lena. She told me that she had given them to you, Noble. That put me in a difficult place. In the end, I sent an official government requisition for them to Fort. Your husband did as he was ordered."

"Why not just ask me?" The lovely Awakened was struggling to comprehend why both men had seen fit to keep her out of the situation. 

Noble felt awash with hurt, confusion, and betrayal. Were they worried she might not turn over the notes? The professor shot a glare at her husband, letting him know this would be a discussion for a later time. 

Fort radiated guilt. Whatever his motive had been, Noble could tell that it had at least not been malicious. 

"I asked Lena directly because I knew she would not inquire why I needed the notes. You would have certainly asked questions. At the time, those were not questions I thought were prudent to answer." Gui chose his words carefully.

Whether or not Noble believed it, both men did have her best interest at heart. 

"And now?" The professor noticed that the man had spoken in the past tense. 

"Now, things have changed. After this morning, I realize that you have been making your own path to the same goal without the Government's input. You are dangerously close to figuring out what we have already discovered. So theoretically, I should stonewall you, keep the notes without permission, and force you to sign a document to keep anything you do know to yourself with the threat of legal consequences. Obviously, this option is easier, cleaner, and far less paperwork…" The chancellor eyed her evenly.

"You said I am like my father, did you not? He wouldn't stop doing what he thinks is right. Neither will I." Noble could sense Fort's anxiety spike. 

"I see." Gui pulled at his beard contemplatively. "Good."

"What my wife meant to say was…wait, did you say 'Good'?!" Fort nearly fell out of his seat. 

The Chancellor gave a small nod. "Yes, it is good. Because I much prefer option two…"

Gui looked between the two people across his desk before settling his eyes on the eager Awakened. 

"Noble, we could really use your help."