File No. 2491

Interview between Major Katherine Lebedev, Head of Science Division, Earth Defense Corps, and CW2 Eva Reyes, United States Army.

Location: Earth Defense Corps Headquarters, New York, New York

—Eva! It’s so good to see you! It’s been… How long has it been?

—You mean since you tried to have me killed? I don’t know, Katherine. How long?

—Have you k— Eva, I’m shocked. I would never—

—You know, when they told me you’d gotten this job, I honestly thought it was a joke. I thought: they can’t possibly be that dumb. I didn’t believe it then, and I’m having a real hard time believing you’re still here two years later. What do you want, Katherine?

—Wha- Can I tell you something, Eva? I was kind of nervous about meeting you today. I had prepared a little speech. I memorized it. This morning I even practiced in front of the mirror. It felt silly doing it, but I did. Now I realize I’d gotten ahead of myself. You and I, we— how do I put this?— we have baggage. I’m not sure how we… How about a do-over? Can we do that? Hi, I’m Katherine.

—It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?

—I hope not, because this is a little tense. I see you’re wearing a US Army uniform so there’s hope for us after all.

—What’s that got to do with anything?

—These people stuck a bomb inside your brain! I mean, I know we weren’t exactly best friends, but I never put a bomb in your brain. That should count for something. I think. Oh, come on! That was a joke.

—You kidnapped me, locked me inside a glass room and stuck needles inside me all day. You killed my friend, then you tried to kill me. I fucking drowned. But you’re right, we weren’t exactly best friends.

—I— Yesss. Our relationship kind of started on the wrong foot. But I never killed anyone. No, really! You can blame me for everything that went wrong in your life if you want but deep down you know I have nothing to do with Ekim’s death. He died because you brought him here. I’m sorry about that. Honestly, Eva, I am sorry. And, I never put anything in your brain.

I thought that might be funnier the second time. I guess not. I’m trying, Eva. I’m really trying. Things were… complicated back then. Now, well now we can be… something. How’s your dad?

—Seriously?

—What? Yes! I like your dad! He—

—He hates you.

—That’s not true. OK. Maybe he does, a little. I miss him, though.

—He’s in Montreal.

—Is he still running that toy shop? I never understood why he didn’t stay here. After everything he did, I can’t imagine—

—He likes toys. Now can we cut to the chase?

—Sure. We’d like you to come back.

—What?

—We’re offering you a job, Eva. We’d like you to work here, in New York, for the EDC. There are still plenty of people you know. You saw Jamie coming in. There’s—

—You offered me a job two years ago.

—Not me. I was kind of… not entirely for it? Besides, you said no. Anyway, that was then.

—And now?

—Now we’re offering you a job. Again.

—Who is we?

—We is me, and the people who said I have to offer you a job.

—I’m touched, Katherine, but I have one already.

—Well, this is a different job. One that you don’t have. So… yay?

—…

—What did you expect, Eva? No, you weren’t my first choice. You hate me. Everyone here hates me because I worked for the other side. But you! You, I actually hurt, personally. That’s a whole different breed of hatred. Not something I was super eager to surround myself with.

—What’s changed? You didn’t have a choice this time?

—Would they have taken no for an answer? Maybe. I guess we’ll never know.

—Does that mean you—

—It wasn’t the most enthusiastic yes, just so you know. I probably made a face.

—Why?

—Good question. I guess I thought you were the right woman for the job.

—What would I do?

—Pilot a helicopter… What do you mean what would you do?! That’s the one thing you’re qualified for. I don’t—

—I’m a helicopter pilot now, Katherine. I do that every day.

—Not like this you don’t.

—I see. And what’s so special about your helicopter?

—Oh, I don’t know. Wait, I do know. We’ve got smart rotor blades that change shape as you go. Compound design, five times the speed of anything you’ve ever flown. Oh, and half the noise. Helicopters are so noisy, don’t you think? I wear ear plugs every time I go near one. But then you can’t hear people talking because of the ear plugs. I—

—Sorry, Katherine. Please thank whoever for me, but I’m not interested.

—Of course you are! I’m not even a pilot and I’m interested. That helicopter is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s blue!

—Why me? There are plenty of pilots who aren’t fresh out of school.

—Because we like you? That and— You did sign an NDA before you walked in here, right?

—Yeah, I didn’t—

—I know you didn’t read it. No one in their right mind would sign that thing if they’d read it. Anywho. Where was I? Oh yes. It’s not so much the helicopter they really want you for, it’s what’s inside.

—…

—Really? You’re not gonna ask? Your dad kept doing that. It must run in the family. Do you remember the alien robot that was destroyed?

—Lapetus? Yeah, I remember. I was in it.

—Not that one. I said destroyed, not disabled. The one your mom and dad sliced in half.

—Kronos.

—Maybe.

—Maybe? What’s that supposed to mean?

—It means I’m terrible with names. The one that was sliced in half. The one that wiped a chunk of London off the map with that big, super scary light beam.

—Don’t tell me you fixed it!

—No! Of course not. I’m not that crazy. Noooo. We didn’t fix the robot. Just the big, powerful, super scary light beam.

—For fuck sakes, Katherine! And you were dumb enough to put it on a helicopter?

—I— Yes. I mean… It seemed like a good idea at the time. Do you see a problem with that?

—What I see are giant robots popping up everywhere. A hundred million dead. The world surrendering to an alien race. We’ll be watching, they said. We’ll come back if you don’t stop doing stupid shit. You remember that speech. The whole reason we gave up Themis and Lapetus was so the technology couldn’t be used to wage war, ever again.

—And it won’t!

—You’re insane, Katherine. You’ve completely lost your mind.

—Is that a yes? I’m terrible at reading people.

—Who else knows about this? I bet you didn’t tell Rose.

—Well, no. Not exactly. I think that NDA mentions her by name, by the way.

—You’re dangerous, Katherine. You’re crazy and you’re dangerous. They should lock you up before you get us all killed.

—So… that was a yes? Oh, don’t leave!... Hey! Don’t forget about that NDA!

[Should I have security stop her, Ms. Lebedev?]

It’s OK, Jamie. She’ll come back. Tomorrow. Two days tops.

[Are you sure?]

Yeah. I’m sure. She’s watched her parents die. Twice, really. She’s been in two of those robots. She fought a friggin alien invasion, almost died a bunch of times. That girl is damaged, Jamie. Acute Stress Disorder. Regular life won’t cut it for her. Trust me on this. She’ll give anything to feel that rush again. To feel… anything, really. I can’t give her a two-hundred-foot-tall robot but she knows this is as close to one as she’ll ever get.

[We all went through a lot.]

We did. And look where we ended up. We’re all messed up, Jamie. All of us. She’ll be back.

…

[Mrs. Lebedev, there’s a man here to see you.]

Not now. Tell him I’m—

[Wait! Sir! You can’t just go in there!]

It’s OK, Jamie. Let him in.

Hi! I’m Katherine. I don’t think we’ve— Oh. Sure. By all means, take a… Euh. That’s my chair.

Sir? Seriously, that’s my chair.

Have we met? Am I supposed to know you?

—I do not believe I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance.

1. File No. 2491