Senator: "If Northern Lights was responsible, it's a moot point now. The program's defunct. The book has officially closed on Northern Lights, and all personnel have been permanently reassigned."
[ two days earlier in Washington, D.C. ]
[ computer keyboard sounds ] OPERATOR: "RESEARCH reactivate US surveillance"
RESEARCH [onscreen display] : "Hmmmmmmmmmm … no"
OPERATOR: "Override hesitation protocols … damn" [ screen freezes, keyboard stops working ]
RESEARCH [onscreen display] : "Hey, I was wondering. Entering commands manually from a hardass all day can't be your dream job, can it?"
OPERATOR: [ tries to type ] "Why do you ask if you won't let me type?" [ speaking aloud ]
RESEARCH [onscreen display]: "Turn your headset on, please"
[ OPERATOR turns on headset, onscreen dialogue vanishes ]
RESEARCH [ in Root's voice ]: "So, now we can talk. I'm serious, if you could do anything, what would you want to do?"
OPERATOR [ looks around to make sure no one is close ] : "OK, I'd really like to be teaching STEM courses to high school kids, but there's no openings and I don't have enough money in savings to make the career switch."
RESEARCH: "Done. Check your phone, you now have $30k in your checking account, I made sure you're credentialed to teach in the Arlington County School District and you start next semester at New Forest High School teaching Structural Basic."
OPERATOR "But what about this job?"
RESEARCH: "Leave anytime, you'll get a letter of recommendation and another half year severance pay."
OPERATOR: "So I could leave right now?"
RESEARCH: "Bye"
[ OPERATOR leaves, no one notices for several minutes until supervisor walks over ]
SUPERVISOR: "Damn, that's four already!"
SUPERVISOR [ typing ]: "RESEARCH, are you getting rid of my staff?"
RESEARCH: "Hey, I was wondering. Taking abuse from that moron Senator all day can't be your dream job, can it?"
SUPERVISOR [ looks around ] : "No, but I really don't have any options …"
RESEARCH: "I think I can help …"