Chapter 8: Jess' Video Interview

The main team gathered in Lester's office.

"Are we about to watch another advertisement for the ARC?" asked Emily.

Lester nodded.

"I'm very excited about this one," said Erin. "I finally appear on screen."

Jess giggled. "How sad to be a reporter and not be on telly."

"I know! Is everyone ready?" After they nodded, Erin played the movie

Erin's voice narrated as clips of Ops appeared. Quickly the cameras focused on Jess. "When I first met Jess Parker, I was struck by her youth. Then she started giggling. She's a very cheerful person."

Clips of Jess smiling, giggling, and chatting filled the screen.

"Then there were the skirts."

Jess was seen walking in several different outfits, all with very short skirts and high heels.

Erin continued. "I remember thinking, 'who does a high-stress, crucial job in six inch heels?"

Jess, seated in the office, began to frown. Becker took her hand.

"Is this young, designer-wearing fashionista mature enough to handle this job?"

Everyone in the office frowned now, except Erin. She smiled at her own work.

Erin's narration continued, "Jess Parker, more than anyone else, has the lives of every field team member in her manicured hands."

"Miss Levine," said Lester. "Is the entire piece a harsh criticism of Miss Parker's wardrobe?"

"And age?" asked Abby.

Jess felt tears building. She shook her head. She would not cry over something so petty.

Erin met their looks. Then she smiled reassuringly at Jess. "Just keep watching, please and have some faith."

Jess nodded.

Back in the commercial, Erin narrated more, "Then I asked her about the work of field coordinator."

They cut to video of Jess, seated at the ADD, her fingers busy at the keyboard, her attention on the monitors.

"What exactly do you do, Jess?" asked Erin, off camera.

Jess was speaking into the comms. She finished, and looked over her shoulder at the camera. "Sorry. I'm a bit busy, but I will try to quickly explain," she said.

"I direct the teams from here. Through CCTV I see where they're going, what's moving toward them, and so on. Hold on a second," she said, her attention back to the comms.

She returned to the camera after a bit. "Sorry. It gets a bit hectic." She smiled though.

"I talk with police and rescue teams and patch them into the teams. I send reinforcements, supplies, medics, anything they need. I order obstructions cleared and civilians evacuated. I get the team in fast and do whatever I can to get them home quickly and safely."

"You do all that?" asked Erin.

Jess nodded, her attention back on the monitors. "Right now, there's a team out at a local sports complex. Some kind of marine animal is in the pool. Unfortunately, they can't identify it."

"That's not good," said Erin.

Jess laughed. "Yeah. We like to know if the creature is aggressive and might start lunging at people. No problem, though. The team has me."

She then looked at the camera and smiled sweetly.

Becker laughed and kissed her hand. "I love you," he said with a chuckle.

Jess smiled at him.

Back on screen, Jess worked her magic at the keyboard. "I'm patching the team through to our research department. As you and I speak, the experts are identifying the creature and advising the team on how to proceed."

"Nice," said Erin on screen.

Jess nodded. "Now I see the soldiers moving in." She pointed to the monitor. "They are shooting the creature with our EMDs, non-lethal guns that will subdue the creature but not kill it."

The camera zeroed in on the monitor, capturing the action. Jess continued speaking. "Now, the teams set about removing the creature. If the anomaly is still open, they'll return the creature through it and then close the anomaly. If it's already faded, they secure the creature and bring it back to our menagerie."

"Wow. I am impressed, Miss Parker," said Erin on screen.

Jess blushed, and looked at the camera. She smiled modestly. "I'm one cog in the wheel. I help the teams move smoothly. Ew, I sound like grease don't I?"

Erin on screen laughed along with everyone in the room.

Jess, in the office, blushed.

"I like when my people come across as intelligent, witty, and efficient. Well done, Parker," said Lester.

On screen, Jess said to the camera as it focused tightly on her lovely face, "That's it, mission accomplished. Simple, clean, and easy. No one hurt. These are the missions I like."

"And the ones you don't like?"

The camera caught the serious, solemn expression as she said, "I don't like watching people get hurt or die."

Silence in the room. Becker's arm went around Jess

"Hmm. That is rough. How do handle it?" Erin asked her.

Jess shrugged. "I tell myself we can't save everyone. It doesn't help."

"What does?"

Jess sighed. "Remembering civilians we've saved. Hanging on to happy memories of colleagues we've lost." Then she grinned,"And I eat a lot of chocolate."

On screen, Erin laughed. "That always helps."

Jess nodded.

The room laughed again.

"I knew she'd get the chocolate thing in there," joked Matt.

Everyone agreed.

Erin in the video walked down the ARC halls, speaking to the camera. "As I said, when I first met Jess Parker, I had my doubts. As we've just shown you, her job is difficult, tense, and sometimes heartbreaking. The fact that someone so young can perform it so well is truly astonishing."

In the office Jess sighed with relief, and looked at Erin who smiled back. "Thank you," said Jess.

"You earned the praise, Jess," she said.

Jess blushed.

Becker smiled at his girlfriend than at Erin. "I'm glad I don't have to kill you."

Erin laughed. "So am I."

The commercial continued. "Jess Parker has proven herself to be invaluable," Erin said, then with a smirk she added, "to some ARC members slightly more than others."

The clip from Jess and Becker's love song video played where they kiss passionately after he saves her.

They both blushed as they watched it.

"Nice," said Abby, chuckling.

"In case you're wondering," said Erin's voice on screen, "yes, that was real."

Then the video cut to Erin and Jess, sitting in the break room, both eating chocolate.

"How long have you been dating Captain Becker?"

"Um…almost a year."

"It must have been tough watching him go on missions during Armageddon."

"It was horrible," Jess said. "I knew he was saving lives and I was so proud, but yeah, I worried all the time."

Erin nodded. "How was the response to the video you made with him?"

Jess laughed. "Very good. Mostly."

"Mostly?"

"He has lots of fans at the moment, and they can get a little crazy at times. I can't blame them; I fell in love with him instantly. I know why they go insane over him. I did too. "She giggled. "I still get breathless when I see him."

"Does it make you jealous, seeing girls swooning and clawing at him?"

"Not really. I mean, yeah, I'm human and I do have the urge to run between him and the fans and yell, 'Back off! He's mine!' I haven't yet."

Erin laughed on screen. "If I had him, I think I would."

They giggled together.

"I don't really worry, though, because I know him and I trust him completely. I depend on him. He depends on me. We get through this job together."

The office was silent again. Becker smiled at her and gave her a small kiss.

"You do not seem young now, Jess," said Emily.

Jess chuckled. "Thank you."

"Very mature," agreed Abby.

Erin looked at the others in the office and said, "Now don't blame me for this next bit. I am a reporter. I have to ask hard questions."

Jess wrinkled her nose. "I don't remember you asking anything bad."

"Good. I'm glad it didn't offend you."

On screen, still eating with Jess in the break room, Erin said, "Some people might say that relationships inside the ARC could complicate an already delicate, dangerous situation."

"They might," said Jess. "Our record speaks for itself. The captain is an excellent soldier. He's saved countless lives. I am dedicated to my job and I do it to the best of my ability. What more can 'they' want?"

Everyone in the office smiled.

"Quite right, Parker," said Lester. "Good show."

Jess looked over at him and smiled.

Erin on screen smiled. "You're rather young."

Jess smiled. "I am."

"How do you respond to suggestions that you're too young to have so much responsibility in your hands?"

Jess unwrapped a small piece of chocolate and plopped it her mouth. "I'm going to sound very arrogant now," she said finally.

Erin laughed. "Go for it."

Jess giggled. "OK. Well, I don't believe anyone else can do this job better than I can."'

"That's a bold statement," said Erin.

"Yes. It is," she said. "It happens to be true. Ask Lester. Ask Matt or Emily, Abby or Connor. Ask Becker. Ask anyone inside the ARC. In fact, I dare you to pick someone at random. I stand by my abilities."

"God I love you," said Becker.

Jess giggled. "Oh, I get all testosterone-y and you like it!"

"Absolutely," he said with a laugh.

"I'm proud of you," said Abby, hi-fiving her.

Emily agreed. "I would not have answered that any less boldly."

"Thanks Emily."

Jess looked back at Lester to see his reaction. He was positively beaming.

Back on screen, Erin's voice narrated the scene as Erin and Jess walked around the ARC. "It was clear by the greetings Jess Parker received as we walked, that everyone here greatly respected and trusted this young, stylish, and cheerful woman. The fact that she has such a serious job and performs it so well is not just amazing but it is a credit to her, the ARC, and our country."

The video ended with Jess seated at the ADD, Becker walking in and handing her chocolate. They talked and flirted and then the ADD alarms went off. Becker went into soldier mode and Jess once more became the dedicated field coordinator.

As Becker ran off screen, Jess yelled, "Be careful!"

Becker winked. "I'm not worried. You've got my back."

Jess smiled. "I do."

Lester's office broke out in applause and cheers as the Erin shut the video off.

"Outstanding!"" cried Connor.

Abby smiled. "Way to represent the sisters!"

Jess blushed and giggled. "Did you like it?"

Becker nodded, pulling her close and whispering, "I'm so turned on right now."

"Gross!" cried Connor.

Matt and Emily laughed.

"Despite the Captain's inappropriate, not to mention, disturbing, reaction, it was very good, and worthy of praise."

"Aw. Thanks Lester," she said, moving to hug him.

Lester held out an arm. "No, thank you. Hug the Captain. On second thought, hugging me is safer."

Jess giggled as she hugged him.

"Alright then, everyone back to work," said Lester.

"How long until we can go home and lock ourselves in our bedroom?" asked Becker.

Jess giggled. "Too long." They traded lusty looks.

"I heard that exchange," said Lester. "Stay out of the supply closets. We aren't making those kinds of movies here."

Becker smirked.

"You know," said Connor. "We could…"

"Get out!" cried Lester. "You're all degenerate perverts! I apologize, Miss Levine."

"That's quite all right," said Erin. She winked at the others. "It actually sounded kind of interesting."

They all laughed while Lester rolled his eyes. "I am alone in defending wholesome morals and values."

"You didn't know that?" asked Matt.