Crows perched on the bare branches of trees lining the road to Kennedy Space Center cawed loudly, their cries carried by the sea breeze.
Ina and Sana listened to that cacophony as they sat together in the back of a black car of the Federal Government. They passed by and saw that the path to the sandy nook where the two of them first met was blocked off now with extra layers of fencing and barbed wires.
"Ame- I mean, Director Watson's really locking down Cape Kennedy, huh?" Ina remarked, trying to see how far the barbed wire stretched.
"Can't be helped." Zeta chimed in, answering from the driver's seat, "The little stunt you and Miss E.T. pulled off with Kaela's help gave Director Watson - and the rest of the Federal Government - a hell of a red scare. We're not gonna be taking our chances with this space program - not with the commies reaching for the stars and breathing down our necks."
When Zeta said this, the convoy started slowing down. They came to a halt right outside the main gate.
A small army of guards started knocking on the windows, shining flashlights into the cabs and checking credentials. Zeta and Kaela were cleared quickly. Ina and Sana, on the other hand, received more scrutiny.
Ina recognized the gate guard that checked on them. He was the same guard that stamped her ID 'VOID' when she last left the premises. That guard regarded Ina with a frown and called his colleague.
"She's back, mack. Get the stamp." The guard sighed, adjusting his security cap with a frown, "To think that I'd see the day…"
The guard gestured sternly at Ina, showing his hand. That was Ina's cue to hand over her voided ID card. Afterwards, when the guard's colleague returned with a stamp pad, the guard stamped over the 'VOID' marker.
'REINSTATED', read the new marker.
But then, the guard faced Sana. He shone his flashlight at her from head to toe inside the car and scoffed. He called his colleague over to get a good look at Sana too.
"She looks like a human being." The colleague remarked, "We really are living in some damn Hollywood flick, huh?"
The guard snickered. But then, Sana shifted in her seat and the rattle of pills reached the guards' ears.
"What was that just now?" The guard demanded.
Sana furrowed her brow, but she complied. She showed the canister of radiant pills to the guard. Its contents shimmered under the beam of the flashlight.
"This some sort of contraband?" The guard snorted, "Didn't know space aliens liked to get hopped up like the hippies."
"They're Federal Government property, mack . The pills and the E.T.!" Zeta intervened sharply. She rolled down her windows and pointed at the guard, "Delay us any longer and you're gonna find yourself filing forms for Unemployment Insurance before the morning comes."
The guard and his colleague grumbled. Then, they stepped aside and raised the gate barriers, allowing the government convoy inside Kennedy Space Center. From there, the convoy drove to NASA's head office within the complex - towards the office of the station's Director Amelia H. Watson.
The cawing of crows continued the whole way through.
…
Ina, Sana, Kaela and Zeta marched through the NASA head office.
Walking through those hallowed halls of science and progress, filled with portraits of important scientists and influential directors and administrators, flanked by American flags, once made Ina hold her head high with pride. The NASA ID that she wore on a lanyard bound her to that cadre of trailblazers and made her feel like she was standing on the shoulders of giants - joining the noble struggle of mankind's journey for the stars.
Nowadays, the stern looks of stodgy men and women on the portraits gave Ina the impression of prison wardens.
Ina's past enthusiasm weighed heavily in her heart, dragging her down like ball-and-chain shackles of some maximum security prison chain gang. The fact that armed security from both the CIA and Kennedy Space Center flanked and shadowed them brought that image home in her head.
They rode an elevator up to the top floor and entered the Executive Administration wing, a place that a lowly, overworked Junior Technician wouldn't have ever dreamed of entering.
High walls, wooden panels and decorative marble-like concrete pillars greeted Ina when the elevator doors opened. Posh red carpet runners spanned the hallways, brightening the otherwise dull hardwood floors. Expensive paintings from popular contemporary artists lined the walls, bright open windows taller than Ina herself flooded the halls with moonlight and exotic tropical plants in pots stood in attention. It looked more like an exhibit of the Museum of Natural History than a NASA headquarters building.
NASA maintenance personnel were carting more of those potted tropical plants into the hall, but they stepped aside to let Ina, Sana, Kaela and their armed escorts to pass through.
"Those plants are new arrivals." Kaela explained, watching a miniature palm tree sway indoors in the moonlight, "The Director sourced them through me. The South Pacific's her latest fascination."
"Ame… I mean… Director Watson always did like rare plants…" Ina hummed. She looked down to the NASA symbol embroidered on the carpet and mused, "That, and the Gemini 14 capsule landed in the Philippine Sea. Safe and sound."
"Yeah. Our last successful mission." Kaela concurred longingly, "Seems so long ago now."
Their conversation trailed off into awkward silence.
As they traversed through the ornate, almost-forested halls of the elite wing, the security personnel started fanning out one by one. When they reached a large double door at the heart of the wing, only Ina, Sana, Kaela and Zeta remained.
The brass plate sign on the door read: ' NASA Director of Kennedy Space Station - Dr. Amelia H. Watson. 1967-... '
The rest of the brass plate was blank.
Ina and Kaela turned to each other, almost as if to ask who was going to open those doors. However, before either of them could reach a consensus, Zeta marched forward and opened the doors without hesitation. Ina and Kaela tried to protest, but Zeta smirked.
"What? You're gonna apply the Scientific Method first and write a peer-reviewed academic paper first before you act or some egghead crap?" Zeta challenged, "C'mon. The Director's been itching for this meeting for a while now. Best not to keep her waiting!"
Neither Ina nor Kaela could answer the challenge. Sana, on the other hand, just happily waltzed into the office of the fourth most powerful figure of NASA without a second thought.
"See?" Zeta snickered, "Miss E.T. agrees with me~ let's go!"
Dumbfounded, Ina and Kaela followed their companions into Director Watson's office.
…
Under the moonlight pouring in from the tall windows of the director's office, Director Amelia Watson sat behind her desk and cast an ominously long shadow. She sat on her large swivel chair, flanked by the flags of the United States and the flag of NASA, held a lit, unsmoked cigarette in her hand and glared at her guests with her tired, blue eyes.
"Have a seat." Ame commanded with a harsh, authoritative timbre. She gestured to the leather armchairs gathered across her desk.
Ina and Kaela hurried over to their seats while Sana and Zeta took their time - for different reasons. Ame took that time to glance at Sana from head to toe, observing her with the same scrutiny a detective would give to a crime scene. The canister of stellar pills that Sana carried around didn't escape Ame's eyes either.
How could she forget, after all? NASA facilities and funding was used to develop those.
Facilities and funds under Ame's jurisdiction.
' Judging by the fact that the E.T. is here - and that we haven't had a catastrophic gravity incident yet… Zeta's meds worked. ' Ame assessed, thinking quietly.
Zeta flashed her a knowing smile and gave a thumbs up. Ame denied the cheeky CIA agent any reaction whatsoever and turned away.
Her eyes then turned to Ina'nis Ninomae. The ex-NASA junior technician shriveled up under Ame's gaze, sinking into the leather armchair sheepishly.
In short, seated before her was the same, sheepish and timid Ina that Ame knew from the past.
' Was she really the one who broke cover to make the deal with Zeta? ' Ame wondered, ' I can hardly believe it. '
Curious as Ame was, she called these people here for a reason.
"Let's skip the pleasantries and get down to business. I don't have time for idle chit chat and catching up." Ame spoke commandingly. She didn't wait for Ina or anyone else to respond and declared, "When the extra-terrestrial, Sana Tsukumo, first arrived, NASA and the CIA had a 'Plan A' for extracting information to win the space race."
"We overheard that 'Plan A'." Sana answered with a frown, "NASA and the CIA were going to cut me up and study me in an autopsy."
"Indeed." Ame didn't flinch, "That 'Plan A' hasn't ever left the table, Miss Tsukumo. But I think that you and In… Miss Ninomae will prefer our alternative proposals. Proposals that your friend, Miss Kovalskia, negotiated on your behalf." Ame gestured to Kaela almost dismissively, "Care to explain?"
Kaela nodded tensely. Then, she faced Ina and Sana and cleared her throat.
"Okay, so here's the deal." Kaela explained to them, "NASA and the Federal Government have agreed to waive any crimes that you two are alleged of doing when you escaped that night. However, you two will be confined here in Kennedy Space Station until the end of the 'contract'."
"Contract?" Ina raised her brow.
"Your new employment contract with NASA, Ina." Kaela explained, paused and faced Ina directly, "Officially, you've been reinstated as a junior technician. But you and Sana are going to be part of a special research and development team as part of my Workshop." She folded her arms and added, "The goal would be for the two of you to jumpstart NASA's stalled Apollo program and to supercharge the US Space Program as a whole."
"Apollo program…" Ina trembled in her seat, "You're talking… uhm… you're talking about Apollo 2, aren't you?"
Kaela nodded.
"We were already gearing up for the Apollo 2 test flights when…" Kaela recounted, but she stopped herself halfway, "When…"
Director Watson's gaze shot knives at Kaela, warning her to tread lightly. Kaela took a deep breath and complied.
"Prepwork for Apollo 2 has already begun." Kaela changed the subject, "The stellar remedy that Zeta helped me prepare was a part of it - learning the unique physical properties of extraterrestrials like Sana and applying them into our designs." She turned to Sana next and continued, "Working with that bit of your scraped flesh and blood was our default move, but it wasn't enough. My 'Plan B' is speaking with you directly, Sana and getting your inputs about spaceflight. Maybe we could even put you through our Astronaut Training Program and get your insights."
Sana turned away from Kaela.
"The Nebulous One, the main host of my Multitude, is the one who possesses intimate knowledge about these sorts of things. That - and I've just been a follower for as long as I can remember." Sana admitted. Then, she clenched her fist and nodded, "I don't know if someone like me can help, but I'll do what I can - for Ina's sake."
"Sana…" Ina's eyes brightened.
Sana then turned towards Ame and spoke firmly, "I only have two requests, Director Watson."
"If they are within reason, I will consider them." Ame answered sternly.
"First - I wish to board one of your rockets and go into space." Sana started.
"Because of this 'gravitic imbalance' phenomenon, yes?" Ame confirmed, pinching the bridge of her nose, "I'm aware of this request. I just spoke with the President of the United States. He called your situation a matter of national security and classified it as Top Secret."
"The stern looking man in the photos?" Sana mused, remembering the portrait of President Johnson in Calli's home office.
"That's right. It seems the CIA has already briefed him on the matter." Ame continued, "I, and the main Administrator of NASA have been ordered to ensure your removal from the Earth. The Apollo 2 mission will be your vehicle to achieve this, but it's up to you to make the necessary modifications. We're already behind the Soviets in spaceflight as it is."
"Of course." Sana nodded.
"What's your second request?" Ame asked.
Ame regarded Sana's face, preparing herself for some kind of scientific discussion on the logistics of their planned space flight. However, what Sana ultimately asked her blindsided her completely.
"Please don't hate Ina." Sana spoke suddenly, looking into Ame's eyes."I don't know what happened between the two of you, but… the enmity hanging in this room is so thick."
Ame's stern frown turned bitter. A subtle crack formed in her professional facade, before turning into an outright fracture. The flaming ember on Ame's cigarette on the ashtray glowed menacingly red too, burning tobacco with rising fury.
"Enmity?" Ame repeated, utterly displeased. She lashed back at Sana, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Enmity. That stuff floating around you." Sana rambled on, trying to explain what she could sense, "Whenever you look at Ina - or even mention her name, I can see it. I can hear it."
"That doesn't answer my question!" Ame slammed her fist on her desk.
"Sana's an empath, Director Watson." Kaela rushed to explain, "She has an incredibly sharp eye for emotions and the like."
"Is that so?" Ame stood up from her seat and glared at Sana. Her blue eyes burned with furious flame, "Then, can you tell me why I hate - loathe - DESPISE Ina'nis Ninomae, Miss Tsukumo?"
Sana fell silent.
The smoke from Ame's cigarette on the ashtray swirled ominously, briefly taking the shape of a girl floating under the moonlight.
"Of course you can't. And even if you could, it's none of your goddamn business!" Ame lashed at her, bristling like an Atlantic hurricane, "Ask that bitch what she did - and see if she's brave enough to own up to it."
Ina shuddered in her seat. Ame's shadow loomed heavily over her.
"Don't waste my time with all this sentimental shit." Ame continued her assault, raising her voice until it strained, "I just want results. RESULTS! Anything else, throw it away and light it on fucking FIRE!"
"Director Watson…!" Kaela rose up from her chair too and tried to intervene.
Ame raised up her hand and cut Kaela off.
"Two months, Kaela." Ame glared at the tall blonde, her veneer of professional calm all but gone now, "You and your team have two months to do what you need to do to get Apollo 2 up and running. Two months and not a fucking second more. Fail in this endeavor and I'll have Ina'nis Ninomae locked up like the criminal that she is - and I'll have the extra-terrestrial sent off with Zeta to the CIA at Langley!" She pointed to her door and stomped her foot, "Now, get out of my office!"
"But…!" Sana rose up from her seat, eager to argue her case.
However, Ina reached for Sana's hand.
"Sana…" Ina urged softly, avoiding Ame's burning gaze, "You heard Director Watson. Let's go."
Sana glanced once more at the fuming Director Watson, unfazed by her flaming gaze. Defeated, the space alien held her tongue and left the room with her companions, followed by a lonely specter of cigarette smoke.
…
Ina and Sana were promptly whisked away from the NASA headquarters building and were brought to Kaela's workshop. How much time passed and how long they traveled - those things didn't even register on Ina's mind. Her ears still rang with Ame's fuming voice. The image of Ame's furious rage and anguish were burned into her eyes too.
Returning to her old stomping grounds at the Workshop did little to raise Ina's spirits. Neither Kaela nor Sana could figure out how to reach out to her. Zeta, meanwhile, busied herself managing the security detail and distanced herself from the deafening silence.
On that quiet note, Kaela showed Ina and Sana their lodgings in the Workshop - a modestly-sized staff break room converted into living quarters.
"It's the best I could manage in such a short time." Kaela apologized. Then she muttered beneath her breath, " Director Watson intentionally cut the budget for your lodgings to a skeleton too. That stubborn girl… "
"It's alright." Ina answered, still speaking with a deflated heart, "You've done a lot for us already, Kaela. Now it's time for me and Sana to do our parts."
"Mm…" Sana nodded weakly.
Kaela nodded back and, after dragging Zeta away too, left her new wards alone in their new home.
Ina plopped down on the cheap, well-worn sofa, a sorry excuse of a bed. Sana sat down beside her and stayed quiet, letting Ina stew in her own thoughts while she pondered on her own.
After a while, thunder crackled in the heavens over Kennedy Space Center. Rain started to fall, battering the windows with a rapidly intensifying downpour.
That was Sana's cue to finally speak her mind.
"Back there… in Director Watson's office…" Sana started, watching the rain-swept windows, "I heard the cacophony again. I didn't know for sure, but now that I got to listen to her directly - to see her face to face - I know that she's one of the voices in the cacophony." She frowned and lowered her head, "Her voice was one of the heaviest… carrying grief. Oh so much grief."
"I'm not surprised…" Ina shook her head and sighed, "I was there when that grief broke her. I saw it change Amelia H. Watson forever."
"Ina…" Sana laid a consoling hand on her shoulder.
"Everything that Ame said was true." Ina finally admitted, turning to Sana, "She has more than enough reason to hate me. I don't deserve every bit of punishment that she gives me, but my hands are far from clean."
"Would you tell me about it?" Sana gently coaxed, "About that incident? About your 'crime'?"
Ina paused. She looked out the window this time and sighed.
"Alright, Sana. You, of all people, deserve to know." Ina sat upright on the sofa, "Let me tell you about the Apollo 1 incident. The true story." She closed her eyes and laid her hand over her heart, "The story of how Astronaut Gawr Gura died."
…
Close Encounters
Wingless Gemini
…
To Be Continued