With a flash of light, Jones lands back in the Bridge of the Imagined Order. He had made sure the coordinates were directed to his old office, seeing as it was probably devoid of people.

The place was a mess.

Broken pictures everywhere, file cabinets knocked over, files open and scattered throughout the room. It was terrible.

Looking out the office window Jones could see yellow and black tape with the words 'Do not enter!' all over the entrance. The other offices seemed empty too. Perhaps a meeting was going on and that's why it was quiet in the office?

"Okay. I'm in. Now to-"

Before he can finish his sentence the door lock begins wiggling as someone tries unlocking it. Jones quickly dives behind the door, stands on a bench and holds his breath.

"Man why did me of all people get sent to clean out this office?"

A woman wearing blue clothing and dragging in a bunch of cleaning materials in a trolley enters Jones' office. Taking out a broom she begins sweeping aside the broken photos.

"Great. How do I get out now? I can't clamber over the door, she'll hear that for sure."

Jones takes out the other device, purple spirals circling inside. As much as he didn't want to, he had no choice at this point.

"Sorry about this."

Pointing the device and aiming it at the worker he pulls the trigger. The purple spirals circle around her, covering her mouth as a flash of light blinds their view.

When the light clears, only a white glowing fragment of reality remains. Jones sighs in relief sadly. He didn't want to do that, but he didn't have any other options. Sliding past the fragment he slips out of the office and heads towards the Bridge.

"If my memory serves me right, quickest way to Weapons lab was through the Bridge and turning left from there..."

As Jones peeks into the Bridge he finds it chock full of guards and agents in the mist of an emergency meeting. They were talking about him and saying they should watch their step.

He couldn't turn and get there via past the office and through the factory and maintenance either as wet floor sighs were littered around.

"But it looks like that's not an option this time. So the other way I can get in is going through battle bus repairs and past the sleeping quarters." He whispers.

He sneaks past the entrance to the Bridge, unaware the meeting was ending, and wanders through battle bus repairs. As he runs past the science bay a few shadows casted in island control alert him, forcing him to retreat into the nearby sleeping quarters and closing the door with the press of a button.

"Holy shit that was close." He mutters, shivering slightly.

The last thing he needed was to be caught and arrested.

Taking in his surroundings he realises something;

He's wandered into HIS sleeping quarters. Everything seemed untouched and the same except the arcade cabinet and TV were switched off and seemingly collecting dust. Especially the old trophies in his glass cabinet.

However when he looks over at the couch, his eyes widen in shock with tears brimming in them.

A light brown puppy wearing a green scarf was lying there, asleep with a chew toy in its mouth. When it wakes up and sees Jones it immediately begins getting excited.

"Bonesy?"

Jones puts his fieldpack down and slides on his knees towards the dog. It wags its tail, happy to see its owner again after so many months.

"C'mere boy!" He chuckles, beckoning the dog to come over.

Unable to contain its excitement Bonesy leaps on to him, knocking him on to the floor, slobbering all over the blond and licking his face.

"Has someone been a good boy while Jonesy was gone?! Who's a good boy?" He asks playfully, a huge grin on his face.

Thankfully for him, he had soundproof walls in his quarters, so no noise from inside could get out. He laughs to himself, feeling more happy than he has been in a while, and giving the playful puppy tummy scratches.

"Ooh you like them tummy scratches don't you? Don't you?" He coos softly. "Man I bet Midas would absolutely adore you... and your cute lil face."

The dog rolls around on the floor, panting in exhaustion, his tongue sticking out. Jones smiles happily, until he realises why Bonesy was this excited to see him again.

He practically abandoned the puppy when dealing with the Zero Point. And yet, despite it not knowing the prospect that he probably wouldn't be coming home, it continued to patiently wait for him to come back.

"Aw Bonesy... I'm so sorry for abandoning you like that. I was so caught up in my mission that I didn't even stop to think about..."

He stops as the little dog barks at him, licking his chin.

"Ah, who am I kidding? Of course you'd forgive me. You aren't called man's best friend for nothing..."

Jones pauses, scratching the dog behind the ears and making his tail wag faster.

"But... who's been looking after you this whole time..?"

The door behind him suddenly opens up to the sound of a familiar voice.

"Bonesy? Time for dinner boy!"

They freeze in their tracks, as does Jones, when they see the blond sat on the floor with the puppy.

"Shit!! Busted!!"

The person turns out to be a female with brownish black hair tied up in a ponytail and wearing formal attire. Jones immediately recognised her, getting up.

"Wait a second... Ramirez?"

"Jonesy?!"

She reaches a hand towards the emergency meeting button on the wall near the door, but is hesitant to press it.

Despite everything that happened, Ramirez still really cared about Jones as a friend. They went way back and, aside from Janice, was really the only other agent that paid him any mind.

She didn't get to see him very often though as she mainly worked on another project Slone activated years ago called 'FN.STW'. Nowadays the project is forgotten about, but Ramirez was one of the only ones passionate enough about it to keep it going.

But seeing how the whole of I.O were too focused on the island as of late, it was possible that the project would be shut down soon...

"Wait Ramirez! Just...hear me out..."

"Jones the sooner I call this the quicker you can go catch up with Janice on vacation."

Jones looks confused.

"What?"

"Yeah. When you left as reality was falling apart, Slone said that Janice had left to go on vacation."

The blond chuckles lightly, a broken smile on his face.

"Oh Ramirez... you don't have the full picture do you?"

"What are you on about?"

"Slone's lying to you Ramirez. Janice has been dead for months. She killed her..."

Her eyes widen in horror.

"W-What?"

---------------------------

After explaining everything...

"And now I've gotta rescue Midas before the aliens kill him trying to 'extract' his powers."

"I see..."

Ramirez hums, taking everything Jones told her in.

While they were talking Ramirez gave Bonesy his dinner and was now fast asleep in Jones' lap.

"Well...I must say you're a lot different than the last time I saw you." She admits. "More confident, courageous and strong."

She pauses.

"And... you really fell for him of all people?"

"I couldn't help it. Truthfully I think he fell for me first. I just only realised I liked him after we spent so much time together." Jones sighs happily. "He's saved me multiple times... it's only fair I return the favour this one time."

He turns to Ramirez.

"So were you the one looking after Bonesy?"

"Mhm. I couldn't leave him in your sleeping quarters alone, so I took him under my care."

Jonesy and Ramirez sit in silence for a moment. She eventually sighs sadly.

"Jones. I know you're up here for a reason. Not just to visit me and Bonesy." She says. "What do you need?"

"I need to get to the weapons lab and 'borrow' some that can't be found on the island. Could you give me a hand?"

"Well...I suppose so. On one condition however."

Jones hears her out.

"I know you're probably not coming back after this. So, in return for helping you, I'd like full custody over Bonesy so he has a proper owner again."

He sighs sadly, petting the dog softly.

"Why? Do you plan on leaving the I.O soon?"

"Hopefully. This place without you and Jan in it is like a living hell."

"Then in that case, yes. He deserves a proper home after all." Jones agrees with a smile. "Better than what I gave him."

"Don't put yourself down man. You did what you could for him." She nudges his shoulder. "Besides. It's sounds like you got the life you've always wanted on the island."

Jones smiles happily, knowing she was right about that.

-------

It took a while but eventually, with a little sabotaging as a distraction, Jones' fieldpack was loaded up with what he wanted to take;

A few C4 explosives

A better shotgun

A harpoon gun, plus some rope he found lying around

Dual wielded pistols

Plus extra ammo

He even snagged a few sentimental things from his sleeping quarters such as a few framed photos and his trophies.

"Right Bonesy. Be a good well behaved boy for Ramirez alright?"

The excitable puppy pants, wagging his tail vigorously. Ramirez laughs at him and the dog, loving the little bond they shared. The blond chuckles softly as Bonesy licks his face.

"Well, I suppose this is it."

"Yep. I suppose so. ...Oh! By the way..."

Jones quickly passes her the spiral device as he begins activating the rift one.

"Do me a favour and destroy that on your way out. It could really hurt someone if left out."

She nods.

"Alright. Stay safe and be careful out there Jones." She tells him. "And more importantly... good luck."

He smiles, waving goodbye as he rifts out of the Bridge. Ramirez sighs sadly, holding the dog in her arms.

"C'mon Bonesy. Let's get outta here..."