"Ah, gentlemen, our other guests have arrived," the man behind the oval meeting table turned as two women where lead into the room. His use of the term guests was clearly a loose translation as both females glared at the men in front and behind them. "Shall we begin?"

No one responded as the newcome women took in the three men already occupying the room. The man behind the desk was wearing an impeccable suit and the graying at his temples gave him a distinguished look without really displaying his age. The other two stood across from him near a large window that betrayed an endless cityscape. Both had hair that was slicked back into place with gel the younger one in a dark brown, the other blond. They were dressed in suits though neither looked anymore pleased to be present than the two woman opposite.

"I suppose I should start with introductions. Gillian Cross, Lucille Grigg, I believe you've heard of Dominic Cobb and his associate, Arthur—" His tone was more than perceivably condescending.

"We run in a very small circle, so yes we all know the rumors. Care explaining who you are or are we here to play at shoptalk?" the shorter of the females interrupted the man, who turned to her shocked.

He tsked his tongue sharply as one would a child. "It is quite rude to interrupt."

"Well, you called me Gillian." She cocked her head to one side. "Eye for an eye."

"Makes the whole world blind," Arthur added. The English brunette narrowed her eyes, but made no further comment. "We're listening. Why are we here?"

The man in the suit pulled on each of his suit coat sleeves then shook out his arms and spoke. "All four of you have had the misfortune to make the mistake of failing the corporation of Cobol Engineering. I am afraid that these mistakes that you have achieved are not to be easily forgiven. However, the corporation is willing to allow you one last chance. I suppose you are probably interesting just what they are looking for, but since you are the failures I will tell you first that the only reason why we are relying on you is because we expect you not to discover the answers we are looking for and would rather not be forced to burn another extraction team."

The taller woman rolled her eyes. "Is there a point to this?" she questioned in a soft Irish accent.

"Yes, he's getting to hear himself speak." The other responded her accent strengthening with her annoyance. "Oh and using long redundant words to mask hidden threats." Grigg laughed quietly at her coworker's joke.

"You have a low form of wit," he looked down on Gill. "The point is simple. We need information and there are three people possess this knowledge. You may get it from anyone you want. The first team to procure is removed from the black list. The other is…" he shrugged.

Gill raised her hand. "What if we chose not to play? Does the other team get automatically reinstated?"

"Why would you not wish to attempt to achieve this goal?" He looked down at the short woman.

She smiled softly and calmly aimed a gun at him. "Because you're so bleeding pretentious and it's difficult to best me in that sense."

The guards began to move. Lucy glanced at Gill. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Gill pulled the trigger and the world shook. The guards reached the two women. Gill shot the first one in the head before the second knocked the weapon from her hand. "That's a neat trick."

As Gill defended herself from a trained man with a hundred pounds on her, Lucy scrambled for the gun against the now less polished businessman. Charm won over brains and the suit aimed the weapon at Lucy.

Spending a roundhouse kick to the guards midsection gave Gill a moment to address her partner. "Lucy, dream."

"Think it's his?" Lucy held up a hand to show her finger holding the clip of a grenade.

The guard pushed himself to his knees to get back up and Gill snapped his neck. "More are coming," the suit spoke but the hand holding the gun shook. And he was facing the two interrupting females, so the brunette man easily grabbed his arm from behind him. Disarming him, Arthur forced him to his knees.

"How did he get us all in the same dream?" Arthur spoke to the blonde behind him, Cobb.

Glancing over at him then at the door, Lucy laughed, "That's your most present concern."

"Lucy, the grenade," Gill interjected as the door shook. "And perhaps a maze."

The tall brunette threw the projectile at the furthest window and everyone dove underneath the large wooden table. The door burst open just before the grenade exploded. Gill used the distraction to slip out from under the table to the door. The first man through the door lost his gun and received an elbow to his nose for his trouble

Once the explosion cleared, Lucy moved the far side of the table and grabbed the files there. She tossed the other to nearest male, the blonde. His look was conflicted. Opening hers Lucy memorized the pages.

The suit made a move to struggle for the gun and Arthur shot him. The world shifted. The dreamers were prepared for it; the projections weren't. Gill let herself fall with the reversed gravity and met the disoriented guards with an upper hand and unexpected help. Arthur and Gill took out the projections. "Not shocking the suit's projections are pathetic," Gill commented as she glanced down the now empty hallway.

"I put up a maze," Lucy responded setting aside her folder.

Gill rolled her eyes, "Cheater."

"It's not cheating," Lucy protested with a smirk. "I took the time to memorize those mazes."

Walking passed her friend to the nonexistent window, Gill returned the smile. "Yes, the whole five seconds that takes."

The world started to crumble around and Lucy ran past Gill to jump out the window like a skydiver. Gill turned around spread her arms and feel backwards like performing a trust fall. Her face almost peaceful. And the world went black.