Ilias remained silent, as the snakes continued to hiss and snap, before the man himself sighed deeply.

"....very well." he said.

"I'll get moving." he told them.

He then set the serum down on a table that was near him, and left... with the individual shouting curses and taunts at him.

He left the department, and continued to walk... and as he did, he felt himself growing more and more unnerved. To the point where he was in a cold sweat when he got back to the R&D lab.

"......" Ilias was silent as he saw this, and looked at the equation on the board.

"....uh..." he stammered.

"....Kiah?" he addressed her.

"I made the delivery." he said.

He then looked at the equation again.

"Also, um..." he stammered further.

"If you switch those two values, it should work."

Ilias flinched a little when she looked at him, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

"Yeah." he said.

"Yeah, no problem." he told her.

"Glad I could help." he went on, heaving a heavy sigh.

"Also, don't go to the interrogation department." he warned.

"Shit's nuts there." he said, then relaying what he had walked into.

"So... yeah, steer clear." he reiterated.

"I... I think so." Ilias replied.

"It... what happened there shook me a bit." he said.

"And Robin was accosted." he continued.

"I think I got angry back there, and looking back, it scared me. Everything there did." he went on.

"It's... nuts. It's like a violent madhouse there."

"Maybe, yeah." Ilias replied.

"And I don't think Robin did." he told her. "Her and Erica are trying to just calm everyone down, and this seems like a very recent event. I don't think they've had time to tell Hal." he reasoned.

"But... I don't know if I'm okay." he admitted.

"Something about that situation just... scared me." he told her.

"Looking back on it, I think I was almost terrified."

Ilias was silent for a moment, before he hugged her in return, holding her close.

"Yeah." he said.

"Yeah, thanks Kiah." he said further.

"I'm glad I have you to rely on. To count on." he told her.

He then let go, and sighed.

"And yeah, you really DO need to go and tell Hal." he agreed.

"Before someone legit loses their life."

"Yeah, see ya." Ilias responded before she left.

He then sighed quietly, and shook his head.

"...why did I freak out like that?" he mumbled.

"That's.... I mean... whatever." he muttered further, before standing up and looking around.

-Some time later-

When Hollie arrived at the restaurant, she looked around and saw Hal waiting for her at one of the tables.

But he looked a bit... distracted. A little stressed.

So much so, he didn't even seem to notice her enter the place, or even be looking out for her.

Hal seemed to return to the real world, and looked at her.

"Oh! Yes, yes, Lunet's just fine." he told her.

"...last I checked, anyway." he mumbled.

"It's just that... well, it seems my interrogation department is falling apart." he said further, proceeding to tell her what Kiah had told him.

"Just... it's concerning." he said further.

"Makes me wonder what the hell's happening."

"......hm. True." Hal mumbled.

"I DO have options." he agreed.

"I just need to take a moment, and find out the best way to deal with this situation." he said.

"Just can't believe it came to this." he growled.

"Stupid..." he continued to snarl, before forcing himself to take a breath, and relax.

"Sorry." he apologised.

"Let's just try and focus on having a nice meal together, eh?" he suggested with a small smile.

Hal was silent for a moment, before smirking in response.

"Granted." he said with a snap of his fingers.

At that moment, she watched all the concerns and worries melt away from his face, and he let out another sigh, but this one was of relief.

"Ahhh, better." he said.

"No more talk of work." he continued.

"It's all about US right now." he finished, looking into her eyes.