Many of the characters within this story, and the universe they inhabit, are the intellectual property of Jason Katims Productions.
Roswell: Re-Imagined
Written by Horatio Jaxx
Chapter 3: Do It Again
First Lieutenant Ryan Kawecki spent three days researching the life of Jill Hytner and composing it into a concise legible report. That was more than twice the length of time he had spent compiling his other essays. He found the life of this lowly nurse to be a knot of contradictions and that, to his surprise, intrigued him. All his past reports were about things that smacked of military secrecy. Ryan found the subject matter of these reports interesting, but he found the work associated with formulating a composition about them straightforward and banal. Everything he needed to put into the report was right there in the packet. Jill Hytner was a mystery that he could not make sense of and the challenge in that had him fascinated. Subsequently, he turned in his report on her two days past the deadline he gave to himself and with the enigmas of her life highlighted for all to read.
Jill Hytner puzzled Ryan for several reasons. In the pictures of her he saw an attractive woman with numerous prospects for her future. Personal anecdotes about her told him that she had more than her fair share of suitors. Tall, erect and slender with an attractive face, Ryan could not stop from being infatuated with her himself. All her records indicated that she was academically motivated, and that she had ambitions of acquiring a Medical Degree after her tour in the Air Force. What Ryan could not find in the packet was an explanation for why she chose to abandon her home, her closes relations, her ambitions and a chance for a family of her own. That question haunted him for the three days he spent rummaging through the paper trail of her life.
Once the assignment was completed, Ryan went on to new projects and put the life of Jill Hytner behind him. After two weeks' time he had all but forgotten about the retired Air Force nurse whose life he had once summed up in seven pages. After completing his seventh report, post Jill Hytner, Ryan waited on his next assignment with no thought of ever seeing or hearing anything regarding Jill Hytner again.
"Here," Major Berg asserted as he jutted a packet towards Ryan. "This is for you."
Major Berg was seated behind his desk. The paperwork lying on the desk held more of his attention than Ryan did.
"What's this?" Ryan questioned with a confused inflection as he took the packet.
Ryan had entered Major Berg's office half expecting to be commended for the speed at which he was completing his tasks. This was not a common practice of Major Berg, and Ryan was not greatly ahead of the expected average of three packets per week. But he was having a hard time imagining why the Major had summoned him. The Major was not known for being sociable with the staff or even communicative. He, like everyone else there, saw this job as simple, dull and unimportant. Major Berg saw his function there as the person who delegates the packets to meet the various expertise of the staff and for keeping everyone on pace. The only person that he regularly called into his office was his secretary.
"They sent it back," Major Berg advised with an absence of enthusiasm. "They want you to redo it."
Ryan quickly opened the large envelope and examined the title page. He had a suspicion that it might be his report on Jill Hytner. The impression was being motivated by the imprecision of the report he did on her.
"What's wrong with it?" Ryan challenged more than questioned.
Major Berg sat back in his chair as he looked up at the Lieutenant facing him. He gave Ryan his full attention for the first time during this meeting. He was not put out by the question, nor was he surprised by it. His only thinking was that this was one of the few situations that warranted some effort of thought on his part. Reports were sent back to him in rare instances, and they always came back with instructions. He knew that these instructions were included in the packet, but Major Berg felt obliged to explain what was happening so that his subordinate might learn from his mistake.
"You asked new questions, but you provided no answers," Major Berg gruffly answered. "The people who read these reports don't like unanswered questions."
"Someone actually read these reports?" Ryan questioned with an astonished tone.
It was Ryan's suspicion, along with everyone one else in the unit, that the reports they wrote were simply filed away. No one thought that this information had any immediate application. Their primary reason for this thinking was the low-level status of the unit. It was obvious to everyone that they were not part of any real time operations. They all saw themselves as a step above a librarian.
"I believe in most cases it's just filed away for future reference." Major Berg responded with a ponderous inflection. "But apparently somebody upstairs has an interest in Lieutenant Hytner."
Ryan was encouraged by the signs that Major Berg was inclined to answer his questions. He quickly queried again to see what more he could learn about what happens to these reports.
"So, does this happen often, sir," Ryan gently pried.
Ryan feared he was pushing his luck by asking multiple questions of his commanding officer. He halfway expected Major Berg to give him a stern rebuke ahead of an order to get out of his office. But to his surprise, Major Berg did not appear put-out by the question and promptly tendered an answer for it.
"It's rare. However, periodically, a report will come back with a request for more information."
Embolden by his response, Ryan decided to press for more information regarding the significance of this report.
"Sir, this report doesn't seem to be about anything of importance."
"Ours is not the reason why, Lieutenant," Major Berg responded with a hint of a smile. "Just find the answers and resubmit it."
"With respect, sir, to get answers for these questions I would need to go into the field." Ryan quickly countered.
"That's why they're giving you a week to rewrite it and a travel allowance."
Ryan was shocked to hear the phrase travel allowance, and he clearly conveyed that on his face.
"It's in the packet," Major Berg tossed out nonchalantly.
Major Berg was slightly surprised himself by this turn of events. He had seen this happen only once before. It was not uncommon for a rewrite to be accompanied with an additional allotment of time, but a travel allowance was unusual. Major Berg was keen to see the reaction on Ryan's face when he learned of that. To his surprise, it was not the look he was expecting.
"Couldn't we staff this out?" Ryan asked after a moment of shock.
Ryan had no desire to be away from his wife and children for any period of time. His chosen profession for himself was that of Intelligence Analyst. He felt perfectly skilled for that task, and he wanted to do nothing more than that. Ryan's ambition was to rise to the rank of General and command his own Intelligence Analysis operation. What he never hoped or planned to do was work in the field.
"No, we can't," Major Berg sharply retorted. "This is Defense Intelligence, Lieutenant. We don't staff work out. We do it in house."
Joshua Berg was a little surprised by Ryan's response. He knew that any other member of his staff would be thrilled to get out of the office and into the field. He knew less about Ryan than the other members of his staff. But his reaction coupled with the precision of his work gave him the impression that Lieutenant Ryan Kawecki was a fastidious little man who probably should not be in the Air Force at all.
Dejected by Major Berg's stern response, Ryan gave his commanding officer a somber, "yes sir," and then turned about for the door.
"Next time, Lieutenant, keep it simple and don't leave any unanswered questions," Major Berg lectured on Ryan's way out of his office.
Ryan went home and explained to his wife that he would be out of town for a week. Julie was far more impressed by this event than he. She saw it as evidence that her husband was doing something of importance. He suspected she would feel differently if she knew that he was merely chronicling the life of a nurse. But that was information that he could not communicate to her. So, he allowed his wife to think the better of the coming trip and quietly concealed his annoyance for same.