"Let's watch a movie!"

Drew and Vivian stopped what they were doing - which was sitting and reading research materials - and stared. The crinkle-crackle of Drew's fresh new outfit almost distracted Tara enough to forget what she was doing.

Tara was already ready! She'd crafted this idea all night last night! There would be no way the two scientists could deny their feelings after this!

"How about no." Doctor D went back to his paper like she hadn't said anything. How rude!

"So you're proposing a break?" Vivian streeeeetched theatrically and said, "I gotta admit, taking a bit of a break would be nice."

"Bah! Giving up on me already?!" Drew grumbled loudly.

"It's 9pm." Tara knew that because she was being extra-sneaky. How could anyone deny a late-night movie?

"Where in the world would we watch it?" The svelte blonde waved her hand at the room. "We don't exactly have an entertainment center in here."

"We could conqu-er, borrow a conference room," Doctor Drew suggested.

"You're only suggesting that because you want to kick out anyone using it," Vivian said with an eyeroll.

Drew bristled and mumbled, "Just because you're right doesn't mean I'm wrong."

"Huh?" Tara tilted her head. "What was there to be wrong about?"

"I, I mean-I just-nnnnngh!" Drew hopped up from his stool for the simple reason of stomping his foot.

"It's moot, anyway!" Tara mischievously giggled as she declared, "I set up a place to watch stuff already!"

"Did you go in my corner?!" Doctor D balked.

"So you do have a corner…" Tara marveled. She shook her head. Focus, T! "Nope! I set it up…" The only pose worthy of the declaration was a partial split with her finger high in the air. "On the roof!"

"On the roof?" Vivian queried, "How did you get up there without triggering the alarm?"

Tara blinked. "There's an alarm?"

"...Apparently not." The older blonde shook her head. "I swear, security around here is so bad…"

"Hey now! We installed that badge scanner and Bob and everyone," Tara rebuffed, puffing out her cheeks to show how serious she was.

"This room is secure. The rest of the facility? Ugh." Vivian wiped her face with a hand. "If they would listen to GJ, we'd actually have a good defense against-" Her mouth shut so fast that her teeth clicked.

GJ? Global Justice? What would they have anything to do with the space center like that? Tara knew they were a guard post, but did they really have that reach? And why wouldn't the space center listen to them?

Before she could ask, Drew butted in, "Yeah, yeah. This place is about as secure as one of Dementor's lairs. Whatever." He clenched a fist as he declared, "A movie as a team-building exercise sounds perfect! Excellent idea. Yes. It certainly isn't because my eyes are crossing from all this reading."

"I'm telling you, Drew, you need glasses."

"Bah!" Doctor Drew waggled a finger at Vivian. "I need glasses about as much as I need a black eye!"

"That would hurt. Why would you do that?" Tara asked.

"I wouldn't," he replied flatly.

"Well, if we're going to do this, we should probably get going." Vivian got up from the tilted stool and slipped her heels back on. "Lead the way, kiddo."

"Don't talk down to Missy," Drew defended. "You do that 'kiddo' thing enough with me."

"I'm a mother hen. So sue me," Vivian said with a shrug.

Tara considered asking about hot chocolate, but she was afraid that it might distract from the cozy atmosphere that would be the final trigger to get her Drew/Vivian ship off the ground. So, instead, she hopped towards the door. "Let's get this show on the road!"

Drew and Vivian tarried behind her. Tara couldn't help but giggle; now she was the mother hen with her chicks behind her! Unable to resist, she let out a little cluck. Then giggled.

"What is she doing?" Doctor Drew quiet-loudly asked Vivian as they got to the doors that led to the roof. It was pure coincidence that it was down the hall from the lab.

"Just the kid being the kid," she replied. Tara wasn't offended; everyone was a kid to Vivian. Drew complained about it enough to be an obvious fact.

Their footfalls echoed in the empty stairs as they made their way to the roof. This time, Tara was able to resist saying stuff to echo back to her.

She burst through the door on the roof and presented, arms wide, "Ta-da! Our own personal cozy home away from home.

Vivian and Drew walked out of the stairwell and stared, like earlier.

"Missy?"

"Yes, Doctor D?"

"That's a couch. And a giant tv," Drew said, stating the obvious.

"Yeah?"

"Is that a surround sound soundbar system???" Vivian's confusion was enough to warrant three question marks.

"Yes?" Tara wasn't sure why they wanted so much confirmation from her.

"...How did you get this all up here?" Doctor Drew sounded more baffled than normal.

"I carried it up here?" Tara thought for a second and amended, "Well, Bob helped me a little."

"You took one of my plants?!" Doctor D was scandalized. Offended, he growled, "You better not of let that loser of a board member near my plant!"

"Of course not!" Now Tara was scandalized! "Do you really think I would do that?"

After a moment, Drew admitted, "No, I don't think you would."

"Good. Because I wouldn't." Tara tried not to pout, instead skipping over to the couch and flopping over the back. "C'mon, guys! Let's get to watching!"

The two scientists took their sweet time making their way over to the impromptu living room. Vivian plopped down on an arm while Drew tried settling against the other side. Seeing the opportunity, Tara leapt over the couch and intercepted him.

"Nope! I call this spot! You have to sit in the middle!" Tara proclaimed.

"What?! That's not fair! What if I wanted to claim it!?" Drew complained.

"Aw, don't be like that, Drew." A cat-like grin was followed by, "What, are you afraid I'm going to bite?"

"Yeah! Are you afraid she's going to bite?" Tara felt asking twice was important.

"Nnnnngh…" Drew scooted over a step before grumpily sitting down. "There. I'm sitting in the middle. Are you two happy now?"

"Very," Tara said with a giggle. Alrighty! Everything was on-track!

"What movie are we watching?" Vivian suddenly asked.

Tara straightened up. Oh! She'd forgotten to tell them! That was an easy fix.

She hopped to her feet and picked the movie up from next to the tv. She presented it to the two with flourish. "Here!"

They both looked. Then they got weird looks on their faces.

"'Space and Face'? What is that?" Drew asked.

Vivian took the movie from Tara and read the back. "'Lotta was a loner scientist, researching the effects of moon dust on complexion. Her life is fine, if lonely. Until Haav showed up. Now, together, they must find a way to survive a wild night on the dark side of the moon and look great doing it'." She crinkled her nose as she looked at the minor details. "This sounds kind of kitschy. This was made last month?"

"But it's one of my favorite movies!" Tara said, now letting herself pout.

"Is there anything else?" Drew looked like he was ready to rebel.

Sad, Tara said, "Nooooo…"

Vivian's lips twitched. "It seems important to you that we watch this movie."

"Well, yeah! I want you two to spend time together!" She rushed, "And me too."

"Hmmm…" The svelte blonde traced a finger on her lips. It made Tara glup; was she on to her?

Both of their attentions were drawn to Doctor Drew as he snatched the movie from Vivian and made his way to the tv. "Let's get this over with."

"Where did that enthusiasm from earlier go, Drew? Is your cranky age getting to you?" Vivian teased.

"It's not exactly what I imagined for movie night," he countered, frowning even as he messed around to get the movie going.

"Don't be like that!" Tara made a heart with her fingers. "Give it a chance!"

"Isn't that what I'm doing right now? If I really didn't like it I would just toss this stuff over the edge of the roof."

Tara gasped. "You wouldn't!"

He considered it for a moment. "I might, if the movie is that bad."

Her eyes turned wiggly. "Awwww…"

"He's just being a spoilsport, Tara. Don't let it get to you," Vivian said.

"Hmph." Drew pressed play and marched back to the couch. He sat down...a little closer to Vivian than Tara!

Tara preened. This was going to work!

"Why would they do that?!"

This was definitely not working.

Tara stood strong against the complaints and critiques. Not even five minutes in, the two scientists were tearing the movie apart. Not just the visual effects, oh no. Tara could've handled that. No, they were also rudely lampooning the movie's plot and acting! How could they do that with such an amazing movie?

They were currently tearing apart the chase scene from the aliens who were definitely not Lorwardians. Drew had already mocked the costume design for them. Now they were upset over the choices the leads were making.

"There was a freshly-fueled ship right there! Why would they not take it!? They're running straight to their lair!" Drew groused.

"They have a combined brain cell count of an amoeba," Vivian tittered.

"Guyyyys~ Stop making fun of my movie~" Tara said with a great, unending sadness.

"Don't be like that, Tara!" She shot Tara a grin. "We like the movie."

"As an example of what to never do," Drew added in with a chuckle, elbowing Vivian in the side.

Tara blinked as she realized that Vivian had sat on the couch and that she and Drew were sitting super close. Anyone that walked in on them would be questioning whether they were a couple. Score!

Tara realized too late that she pumped her fist. Freezing, she looked at the other two. She could feel sweat building on her forehead at their confused stares.

"I, uhm, just remembered that the kitchen is open and we can get concessions?" she mumbled hastily.

Doctor Drew straightened up and exclaimed, "You're right! We can get snacks!" He laughed eeeeeevily as he thumbed at the door to the roof. "Go get us stuff from the kitchen!"

"What?! But, but…" Tara cried, "This is my movie! Why can't you go get stuff?"

"It was your idea. Your idea, your responsibility," Drew crowed. "Besides, do you really want us to miss watching even a minute of it?"

Tara really, really wanted to argue it. Her plan thwarted the fire in her gut. In fact, leaving would be a good thing! It would give Drew and Vivian time to confess and kiss and everything! And then Tara could 'accidentally' stumble onto it like a silly romance movie and they'd all laugh and get pizza afterwards!

It was an excellent idea to leave. So she did! Tara hopped up with no complaint and, sneakily smiling to herself in a not-obvious way, made her way to the cafeteria.

It was a quiet walk there. The door to the roof was whisper-quiet, making the only noise her footfalls. The fancy marble flooring kept her steps from making much noise either. Yes, she was as quiet as a field mouse.

Until she tripped at the door to the cafeteria as someone walked into it at the same time she did.

Tara rebounded backwards as whoever it was had more momentum and force, pushing through the door and falling onto her. The wind was knocked from both their lungs as Tara's head hit the floor with a solid thud.

"Ouchy~" Tara whispered to herself. And this other person, because they were close enough to hear her. She pulled herself free from their tangled limbs and rolled onto her stomach. At the same time, the other person scrambled to their feet. She didn't think anything much of it…

...Until she realized there was something on her arm.

Her mind full of aliens and moon dust, she shrieked and waved her arm frantically at the furball stuck to her. "IT'S GONNA EAT ME! IT'S GONNA-" She yelped as something snatched it from her flesh. Breathing a desperate sigh of relief, she took a step backwards and away from the poor soul being eaten by the alien before saying, "Thank you thank you thank-"

Then she finally realized who it was and gulped.

"Hello Miss Blie," Doctor Harris said. There was a fresh coffee stain on his outfit...and his toupee, which was now dripping in his hands. A quick glance saw the broken coffee cup on the ground.

Oops.

"Doctor Hair-erm, Harris. Hiiiii." She gave him an innocent smile.

"Hmph. You three are pulling another late night?" he stated more than asked.

"...Yes." Tara decided not to elaborate on it. The less she said to the crankypants board member, the better. Even if it was rude. Because he was rude. Did it really count as rude if the other person was the epitome of rude?

"Where are the other two?" he sniffed.

"...Around?" Tara wished she was as good of a fibber as Bonnie.

"So, you're by yourself?" A glint in his eye worried her.

"I mean, I'm by myself here, except for you, which means I'm not alone," Tara explained.

"Hm. Then I believe it's about time I set you in your place," he said darkly.

She tried not to shake in fear at the idea that he might make her do terrible things. Like scrub a giant rocket with a toothbrush! Or make her let him into the lab and draw graffiti on the walls!

"Wh-what do you mean by that?" Tara asked, her voice trembling with fear at how massive those rockets were and how tiny a toothbrush is.

"You, Miss Blie, have gotten rather full of yourself."

Tara's mind ground to a screeching halt. Baffled, she uttered, "What?" That wasn't anything about rockets or graffiti!

"You seem to think you're on some kind of team. That you're an important cog of some sort," Doctor Harris stated.

"Uh, because I am?" Tara was just getting more confused. "Part of a team, with Doctor D and Vivian?"

"Hahaha!" The laugh was somehow both forced and cheerful. "Oh, you are so naive."

"I'm not naive!" Tara hated it when people said that about her! At this point, she should ask for a nickel every time someone said it. Then she'd have enough nickels to buy a soda. Oh! Or maybe even a burger!

"Yes you are!" Doctor Harris insisted. "You're a child, playing with things above your level."

"Am not!" Tara caught herself before she stomped her foot in frustration. Instead, she crossed her arms. She sniped, "You're just bitter."

"Like coffee. I act as something to spark the mind and keep things on track." Wow, that was a pretty good counter! "As for you, you're like a steamer. All air and fluff. Nothing of substance."

"I'm a great assistant!"

"Don't tell me, let me guess…" He mock thought before saying, "I imagine you get snacks, organize things, and maybe highlight a few passages in some actual research articles?"

Well, when he said it like that… "I mean, if I didn't do that, who would?"

"It's filler work. You do nothing of substance." Suddenly it felt like he was towering over her. Or was she cringing away? "You, Miss Blie, are nothing. Nothing but a little girl playing in the adult world. Poorly, I might add."

"I'm a member of the team!" Tara protested, probably more weakly than she meant to.

"Yes. Like an appendix." Doctor Harris made like he was dusting off his jacket. "You don't deserve your station. Not that your station is anything important." He sniffed and said, "Answer me this: if you weren't there, would the job still get done?"

Tara opened her mouth to give a witty answer but found no words came out. Instead, she considered his words. A pit grew in her gut as she answered, "...Yes."

"You're quite a key part of the team then, aren't you?" he said, clicking his tongue. "Miss Blie, if I were you, I would extricate myself from the mess that the supposed 'team' is and find somewhere I belong."

"I…" Her lips twisted as a lump formed in her throat. Still, she weakly said, "I belong here, with Doctor Drew and Vivian."

"Of course you do." The condescension made her eyes water. Yes, it was definitely the condescension and not the anxiety and stuff flooding her. He took a look at his watch. "It's about time I take my leave for my office. I'm not staying late to pad out my timecard, after all."

He slapped the wet toupee on his head and skipped off, suddenly chipper. Doctor Harris must be an emotional vampire; he sucked up all of Tara's happiness and replaced it with a ball of sadness.

Tara really wanted to go home now. Go home and cry. But she had a duty as a lab assistant, to fetch the snacks. That was important work, right?

...Right?

Tara sadly made her way up the stairs. Her arms had two containers of popcorn. One for her, and one for the new couple.

She tried shaking off the feeling of despair that clung to her now. It wasn't working; her energy was sapped, her mind blank save for the repeating words of Doctor Harris.

Tara was part of the team.

Like an appendix.

She did important work.

I imagine you get snacks, organize things, and maybe highlight a few articles in some actual research articles?

Doctor Drew and Vivian need her.

You don't deserve your station. Not that your station is anything important.

She made it to the top of the stairs and stood in front of the door. Her head rested against the cool metal, helping to calm her mind somewhat.

It would be fine. It was, was just Doctor Harris being a jerk. His words didn't matter. She was part of the team, and important, and no one could argue it. She believed it.

Of course you do.

She finally scraped up enough energy to open the door. It was slow, as she felt like her limbs were lead.

"-really, you should go for it."

Tara paused at the words she caught. Her head snapped up as she took in Vivian and Drew sitting facing each other. They were looking intensely at each other. Sparkles returned to Tara's eyes. Was she encouraging him to confess to her?!

"Nnnngh, I don't know…" Drew was squirming in his seat. "What if she says no?"

Vivian laughed. "Don't worry about that! I know her very well. She's totally into you!"

"You think?" The strange, hopeful note in the words was unlike anything she'd ever heard from Doctor D. It was...vulnerable.

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! She's my cousin. I know her well enough to know that she's waiting for you to make a move."

"What?"

Tara hadn't meant to say that out loud. The two turned to look at the doorway. She should have been abashed, or embarrassed, or other long words. The only word that could properly describe her at the moment was crushed.

"Tara?"

"Missy?!" The harshness in Drew's word cooled as he said again, "Missy?"

"Hi…" She couldn't stop the tears as she mumbled, "I got...the pop...corn…"

"Oh, Tara...what's wrong?" Vivian got up and, after making her way over, wrapped an arm around her. Tara let her direct her to the empty side of the couch. Doctor D had scooted over, letting Vivian sit down next to her. She took the popcorn from her and set them to the side.

Tara couldn't handle it anymore. She began sobbing. Wet, messy, drippy, all over everything. She shoved her face into Vivian's shoulder as she let out all of the pent-up sadness and disappointment. All of Tara's hopes were so crushed…

"I, uhm…" Drew's hesitant mutterings were followed by a hand reaching over and petting her head. "There there, it...will be okay?"

"Shhh. It's okay, Tara. Go ahead and cry," Vivian soothed. "Let it all out."

The three of them sat there, movie forgotten as Tara cried, gasping and choking. It wasn't until the credits were playing that Tara managed to gulp in some air and calm down enough to talk.

"You...you two...aren't in love with each other?" she mumbled.

"Us?" Vivian and Drew looked at each other. The bad doctor shrugged at Vivian's look. The svelte blonde asked, "What made you think that?"

"Just, I don't know...you spend time together, and you're always laughing and joking and bouncing stuff off of each other…" Tara sniffled thickly.

"Is this why you leave us alone so much? You wanted us to confess our feelings?" Vivian asked.

Tara managed to nod.

"I would never with her." Vivian glared at Drew and he quickly corrected, "She's too young, and has terrible taste in AI! We'd never get along like a couple."

"We barely get along now," Vivian laughed, the tease in the words obvious.

"Hmph." Drew stuck his tongue out at her, which made Tara chuckle weakly.

"Hey." Vivian pulled Tara up so they were looking each other in the eye. "I know you're disappointed about us not being a thing. It's okay to be, especially with how hard you apparently shipped us."

"'Shipped us'? What does that mean?" Doctor D asked, perplexed.

"It's internet slang," Vivian said.

"Bah! You young kids and your 'slang'. Back in my day, slang was hip! Groovy! Spiffy, and nifty, and all kinds of great words!"

"Wow! I didn't realize you were that old," Tara marveled through the last little bits of tears. Vivian giggled as Drew turned an interesting shade of purple.

"I, erm...nnnnngh…" He snorted and said, "Regardless! You shouldn't be disappointed at this. Really, you should have expected it." Drew pointed at Vivian and said, "She's taken, and she isn't the type to cheat."

Tara's eyes grew to the size of cup saucers, not UFOs or anything super big like that. "You're dating someone?"

This time, Vivian was the one to turn colors. "I don't like to advertise it much."

"Who is it?!" Tara's mind raced through her sadness.

"Is that the only reason you were sad?!" Drew asked incredulously, breaking her train of thought.

Tara paused. Should she tell them about running into Doctor Harris?

Bite the bullet.

"No, it wasn't." Her stomach felt hollow as she thought of on the board member's words. "I ran into Doctor Harris."

"Doctor Harris?" Drew looked confused for a second, looking to Vivian for help. She pointed to her head, which seemed to spark something. "OH! Right. Him. That louse."

"What did he say that made you so upset?" Vivian asked.

"He…" Tara bit her lip. "He pointed out that I'm a glorified gofer. I'm…" she choked out "Useless."

"Is that what he said?" Doctor D snorted. "That's a load of garbage. And he knows it, too!"

Tara was beyond confused and baffled and was simply stumped. "What? What does that mean?"

"You're on our team. Actually listed as our research partner. You're getting official credit in the greater research community on everything we're doing," Vivian explained.

"But...but all I do is fetch stuff."

"You do more than that. If that was all you did I would've fired you by now!" Drew snapped. "Do you really think I would keep someone around if that's all they did, even with that spectacular not-interview we had when you first started?!"

Now that he said it… "I guess not."

"You're important, Tara. As our partner. Our teammate. And-" Vivian pinched Tara's cheek "-the bright spot on our day when we get too into our research and stuff."

"For reals?" Tara said, hope shining in a similar way to Drew's previous words.

"For really reals," Doctor D said. It was obvious he was being genuine, which was a little weird for him.

Tara wiped away the last of her tears and snot. "I'm important?"

"Just as important as me, or Drew," Vivian confirmed.

"I wouldn't go that far," Doctor Drew noted way too fast. The older blonde's glare made him cringe and add, "We still need you."

Tara nodded. She knew they wouldn't lie to her. Neither of them were the type. Drew's lies were all really terrible and obvious, and she wasn't sure about Vivian's lies. They'd probably have more kitty smirks in them.

"I'm...I'm glad," Tara said simply. Then she let out a bright, shiny smile. "Okay! Excellent teambuilding! You were right, Big Boss Guy!"

"If Drew's the 'big boss guy', what does that make Doctor Wong? Or me?" Vivian asked.

Tara thought for a minute. "...I don't know."

"Unimportant filler talk, that's what!" Drew butted in. "Let's get back to the important things."

"Like what?" Vivian challenged.

"Oh! I know!" Tara waved at the movie that had automatically started back over. "We can watch the movie this time! Without sniping at it!"

Doctor Drew and Vivian shared a look. Both, for some reason, sighed like they were resigning themselves to a terrible fate. Drew finally said, "Fine, Missy. We can watch it again. Can't let the popcorn go to waste."

"Yay!" Tara hugged both of them, one in each arm. Vivian hugged back while Doctor D awkwardly patted her back.

With that, they settled back on the couch and watched Professor Lotta Luk find the new captain and his daring daringness before they battled the not-Lorwardians for control of the space settlement.