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 19: The Assessment
"This is an interesting story that you've written here, Lieutenant," General William Pittman coolly stated from behind his desk in his office.
Lieutenant Ryan Kawecki was called up to General Pittman's office shortly after he arrived for work. He knew, with almost no doubt whatsoever, why he was being summoned by the senior Air Force Officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Major General William Pittman administrated over the Military Integration Office and as the assistant to the DIA director. There were several divisions under his command. The division that Ryan worked in was insignificant by comparison to the others, and that is why he knew this summon had to be about Lieutenant Jill Hytner.
Ryan had submitted his report on Lieutenant Jill Hytner two days earlier. And he knew that the content of it had made her appear even more paradoxical. But he could not help this. The enigma of Jill Hytner's life had become an obsession in his mind. He was not prepared to neatly explain it away with some clever writing simply to move on to new business. He wanted to know the answers at least as much as anyone else, if not more.
Ryan was standing at ease in front of General Pittman's desk when he asked that question. He had been waiting there for three minutes as the General studied the report. He had already read it twice the day before, but the General had his reason for wanting to make the Lieutenant sweat a little.
"Yes sir," Ryan responded in good military fashion.
General Pittman gave Ryan a stern study for a dozen seconds before turning his attention back to the report in his hands. After another minute of study, he looked up at Ryan with a scowl.
"Are you trying to be funny, Lieutenant?"
"No sir," Ryan responded without hesitation.
"Then what is this about orphaned children?" General Pittman inquired with a stern expression.
"Sir, I believe these children are important in some way," Ryan countered quickly.
"Important to whom…?" General Pittman inquired with a look of shock.
"Sir, those children seemed to be the only thing that Lieutenant Hytner attached any value to," Ryan explained. "Once she left the Air Force, she led her life almost like a nun. All the things that she wanted and spent her life working towards, up until then, were abandoned. Those children seemed to be the only thing that I could find that meant anything to her."
"The trouble is, Lieutenant, you didn't find these kids," General Pittman tossed the report on his desk. "From what I'm reading here, I can't tell if these kids are real or just a figment of someone's imagination."
"Sir, the children are real," Ryan insisted in anxious tone of voice. "I've verified their existence with three people who were there at the time."
"You're not getting my point," General Pittman spoke up quickly. "Why should the United States Air Force give a damn about fourteen, two-year-old, orphans?"
Ryan hesitated to respond to this. After a moment of thought he gave the only answer that seemed to fit the question.
"I don't know, sir."
General sat back in his chair and gave Ryan another study. After a few seconds he continued with his interview.
"Lieutenant, are you unhappy with your job?"
Ryan was thrown off balance by the question. His first thought was to wonder what this question had to do with his report. His second thought was that he was about to be transferred out. After a couple of seconds of thought, he fumbled out the answer he thought appropriate.
"I don't have any problems with my job, General Pittman."
"The reason I ask," General Pittman pressed on, "is because most young officers who come to Investigative Analysis for the first time tend to have grand ideas about what the job entails. And then once they get here, they become disappointed by the reality. Are you disappointed, Lieutenant Kawecki?"
Ryan considered the question for a second and then answered it with reluctant honesty.
"I confess that I was expecting something a little more challenging."
"And I suspect now that you've been here for a while, you're entertaining ideas about transferring into another department within the Defense Intelligence Agency."
"Sir, I have no plans for submitting a request for a transfer for at least two years," Ryan responded defensively.
"And between now and then you want to make a good impression," General Pittman suggested back suddenly.
"I don't understand, sir," Ryan spoke back with a hint of confusion.
"I'm talking about turning little assignments into big deals," General Pittman asserted back.
Ryan was offended by the suggestion that he would puff up a report to make himself look good. His stance became a little more erect when he realized what he was suggesting. This was a practice that Ryan knew he was incapable of. He was always conscientious about any task given to him. And he was never satisfied with a final product until he thought it was exemplary.
"Sir, the report is accurate, and it reflects my analysis that there is an unknown event in Lieutenant Hytner's life that caused her to deviate from the plans she had for herself."
Ryan spoke that assertion with an almost fierce determination.
General Pittman paused to give Ryan a brief, sober, study. This new defiant posture gave him cause to reconsider his thinking.
"So, Lieutenant Kawecki," General Pittman began calmly. "You think it is worth the Air Force's time and expense to dig up the life of an ex-nurse and find out what made her tick?"
"Sir, with all due respect," Ryan began staunchly. "I don't know why the Air Force is interested in an ex-Air Force nurse at all. I was given an assignment and I fulfilled it to the best of my abilities. If the Air Force doesn't want to waste any more time examining Lieutenant Jill Hytner's life, that's okay with me. I have no problem with moving on to a new assignment."
General Pittman had heard enough and came to a conclusion. He leaned forward onto his desk and looked gravely at Ryan for a few seconds. At the end of that time, he annunciated his thinking.
"Okay, Lieutenant, let's get it done," General Pittman decreed in an off the cuff manner.
Ryan was baffled by this remark. He had no idea what General Pittman was saying to him or how to react about it.
"I don't understand, sir," Ryan responded with a questioning stare.
General Pittman showed no reaction to the remark as he pulled open the center drawer of his desk. He removed a thin white envelope from the drawer and extended it to Ryan.
"Here are your orders, Lieutenant," General Pittman announced frankly. "Tomorrow, you have a nine-a.m. appointment with Special Agent Ford. We have arranged for the FBI to help you find out everything there is to know about these fourteen kids. When you collect that information, report back to me."
"I thought this was a waste of time," Ryan questioned as he took the envelope.
"It probably is," General Pittman responded as he began reorganizing his desk for new business. "But now I know you're not wasting my time."
As the General pulled a thin file out of the inbox on his desk and opened it, he gave his last instruction to Ryan. "You're dismissed, Lieutenant."
Ryan left General Pittman's office more curious than ever about Lieutenant Jill Hytner and these fourteen children that she considered so important.