[center][h1]Barlour City Surface: Gilgamesh Incorporated Headquarters[/h1][/center]

The lobby of Gilgamesh Inc.'s main building was, as always, both beautiful and completely ruined by the local weather. The lobby's gorgeous glass windows, originally intended to allow the sun to shine in on anyone waiting to get in, nevertheless completely failed to let any light in whatsoever. Still, the security checkpoint near the entrance was as bright and cheerful as it ever was. Gene eyed the cheerful little Gilgamesh-sponsored motivational poster saying "Work will set you free!" stuck over the checkpoint's side.
 [i]Officer Otis always liked those damn things,[/i] Gene mused to himself.

"Looks like you're late again, Mister Smith", said Otis. "HR's gonna have your ass if you don't shape up."
"[color=goldenrod]Whatever,[/color]" said Gene, sliding his ID across the first security gate's console. "[color=goldenrod]Not like those counter monkeys need my help anyways. Mind if I go in through your office again?[/color]"
"Sorry, Gene, today we're on high security. Something about a meeting with another organization. You're gonna have to go through the scanners like everyone else."
"[color=goldenrod]C'mon, man! You know the scanners make my fake act up![/color]"
"Not my problem. Besides, the new scanners they installed today're supposed to solve that issue. They pick up on "extra-normal" contraband too, whatever that means. You can deal with it. Go on through, sir."

"Extra-normal". That didn't sound good. Hopefully it was just expospeak for "drugs and bombs". As Gene passed beyond the bank of elevators up to the offices, he steeled himself for the security terminal leading to the manufacturing sector. The goons there were [i]never[/i] as friendly as Otis was, and they always gave Gene the stink-eye for some reason. The terminal was rather sparsely occupied, though Gene noted that the guards there were [i]even more[/i] heavily-armored than usual. Helmets with LEDs, full body armor, and even [i]guns[/i] rounded out their unusually excessive loadouts. Something important [i]must[/i] have been going on.

Gene worked up a convincing fake smile as he worked his way up to the very first scanner. It was certainly more ornate than the airport-standard scanners that were here previously, and it hummed with an energy that hurt Gene's ears. 

As soon as Gene passed through the scanner, it erupted into furious beeping. The guards immediately unholstered their guns and pointed them directly at Gene. 
"[color=goldenrod][i]Shit.[/i][/color]" said Gene.
"Supernatural infiltrator spotted, sir," said one of the guards into their headset. "Orders?"

The fact that each of the guards clicked their safeties off mere seconds later gave Gene all the context he needed. This probably wasn't a good way to start the day. He probably wasn't even going to get any severance pay for this, either.