Office for Alien Affairs – Chapter 1
Jo headed up the concrete stairs to the metal and glass front doors ahead of her with a single minded focus. If she allowed herself to think too much about this appointment, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to go through with it. The large double door on the right hissed open as she pulled the handle, bringing with it a shocking blast of air conditioning that made her shiver. Summer time in downtown, Boise, Idaho was currently blazing in a heatwave so the cold was welcomed.
It took her a few moments of uncertain steps and a lot of eye blinking until she'd adjusted enough to the indoor LED lighting for the main floors check in counter lobby. There was already a good sized queue in front of the four windows, but Jo veered off to the left to the robotic ticket agent.
Tucked into a shallow alcove and bracketed by two large potted plants, the dull gray machine was online and functional for once. Jo fished her ID card from her wallet before shoving it into the slot and awaiting instructions to verify her 8am appointment time with Mrs. Khalid with a fingerprint scan and the press of a button. The machine beeped intermittently before spitting out her ticket.
Jo tried to remember as she headed towards the stairwell door, how many times she'd been here. It had been almost a year since she'd started this process, but she'd never thought to actually keep track before. The stairwell was dim, the main light coming through the large single window on each floors landing as she carefully climbed to level three and exited into a new lobby.
It was different up here. There was utility carpeting for one, in a bland gray with more plants, both real and artificial. Soothing landscape paintings adorned the white walls and some kind of tinkling music was filtered in through hidden speakers along the crown molding of the ceiling. The whole atmosphere almost made Jo snort. Yeah, keep the applicants calm. She gave a quick glance to the waiting room on her right before turning left to the sign in counter. There was a stationary scanner which she passed her ticket under with a beep of confirmation.
The young blond behind the counter briefly glanced up with a smile before Jo turned quickly and headed for a seat next to a window and a small end table. The seat immediately let out a rattling whoosh of air and Jo closed her eyes as she settled in. She always forgot about that and sure enough when she dared a glance around, a couple of the people waiting had heard it.
Clearing her throat, Jo pulled her heavy messenger bag around to her lap before trying to relax. If she didn't get a handle on her nerves soon, she'd start to sweat. That wouldn't be a problem for her body, but it made her face itch something fierce under the heavy makeup she wore and fighting the urge to scratch or rub was almost like torture. Jo knew her make up kit was tucked inside her bag. It's the main reason the poor thing bulged and looked tortured, but she doubted she'd have adequate time to steal into the restroom to fix any damage. Thankfully this seat was under an A/C vent.
This was always the worst part for Jo, sitting in this waiting room. Sometimes the people, as a group, looked innocent enough. Other times it could be quite colorful, like now. There were a couple of men of various ages in military fatigues either looking at magazines, the TV in the corner or just staring off into the distance. A trio of young men were snickering and shifting around in their chairs, looming over a phone one of them held, dressed casually.
The young woman across from Jo caught her attention especially, because of how she was dressed. The mini skirt, halter top and sex kitten heels nearly made Jo's eyes bug out. The woman must have sensed her attention, because she looked up from her phone with a grin that quickly turned into a grimace as she caught sight of Joe's make up. Yeah, Jo hated waiting rooms. The TV caught her attention.
"I don't know Ted, it's been years and what's been the benefit? They're not sharing anything! Not their technology, not their medical advancements, nothing! They're like giant ugly babysitters that demand and take and give nothing back. They're the enemy and we're doing nothing!" The older talking head was turning red in the face, making his head look like it might explode above his tight collar and tie.
"Of course they're not sharing anything, Miles, we've been hell bent on our own destruction for ages! I happen to agree with the babysitting, or do you just not remember recent history? Three countries deployed nuclear weapons, millions died! Two more-" The opposing head with a heavy gray beard was scowling at his counterpart on the right side of the screen before he was cut off.
"The two others detected the nukes and intercepted-"
"They intercepted and blew up the nukes over their own air spaces, which meant destruction and fall out for their own people! They were sick of being in the middle and at the same time, invaded! They were turning their own nuclear defenses against-"
"It's still none of the Uglies business! They're aliens, Ted! What business is it of theirs if we wage war on ourselves? Our diplomats would've-"
"Diplomats? Come on, Miles, once nukes start flying the diplomats have already failed. A three country nuclear war, with an additional four large scale ground wars between them over resources, food and water would've turned into a FIVE scale nuclear war, with the two getting-"
"You don't KNOW that!" Red faced Miles was almost puce colored by this point, his eyes bulging as he stabbed a pudgy finger into the camera lens on screen.
"Ms. Thomas? Ms. Thomas, Mrs. Khalid will see you now."
Jo blinked a few times, looking away from the TV screen to see a secretary standing at the opening of a hallway across the room, just beyond the waiting room. She lifted a hand in acknowledgment before getting up and following down the hallway to a door third from the right.
The secretary, a pleasantly plump older woman with dark skin and hair, smiled at Jo before knocking on the door and swinging it open, ushering Jo inside. She smelled like jasmine.
"Mrs. Khalid, Ms. Thomas is here to see you."
"Thank you, Mari. Please hold all of my calls, will you?" Mrs. Khalid said, rising from her chair behind her large desk and smoothing down the front of her green jacket.
"Of course, Mrs. Khalid. Go on in honey, have a seat." The secretary, Mari, instructed Jo with that same kind smile before backing out and closing the door behind her.
This office was even more familiar to Jo than the building or the waiting rooms. Dark, matte red walls offset gold framed landscapes and religious figures set on shelves as Jo gave a nervous smile and crossed the short distance to one of the black lacquered chairs in front of Mrs. Khalid's desk to have a seat. Quietly, this time, thank god. Jo gave a sigh and thumped her bag on her lap again, glancing out the two big sunny windows behind the desk until Mrs. Khalid passed in shadow and resumed her own seat, scooting forward to shuffle through some files she'd grabbed from a side table.
Jo glanced at the golden framed certificates of education, achievement, merit and commendation behind Mrs. Khalid that ran the length of the short wall between the two windows behind her. Whatever happened today, Jo was sure, she was in good hands.
"It's good to see you again, Ms. Thomas. I don't think it'll be a shock to tell you, that most applicants don't even get this far and the ones that do, rarely leave here with a signed contract." Mrs. Khalid said in an even voice, leaning forward to clasp her hands on top of her files. Under the emerald green jacket, Jo saw a pristine white blouse with a golden necklace before clearing her throat.
"Yeah, I can believe that. So, is this really the last interview?" Jo hedged.
"That depends, but honestly, if you're still willing at this point, then yes. I have all of the documents that I need. They've been filed, independently reviewed and approved." Mrs. Khalid smiled, her red lipstick bright before she leaned back to flip open a particular folder. "I have your full medical records from the time of your birth until application. Other than the few endemic infections, which you had mild reactions to, thanks to your vaccinations and self protection habits, you're in excellent health in that regard."
Jo straightened her spine and gripped her bag harder, nodding as the older woman spoke.
"Ms. Thomas," Mrs. Khalid said in an almost hesitant voice, running a manicured red finger down a page before looking up. "Joanne. Might I call you, Joanne?"
"Yes," Jo bit out. This wasn't good, and unfortunately, she knew what was next. Her face felt tight and itchy under her makeup, her limbs restless, yet she shifted only a little and watched the other woman.
"Joanne," Mrs. Khalid smiled kindly, tilting her head. With her thick, black hair coiled into a bun, only the smaller strands framing her face moved with the motion. "According to your records, when you were attacked six years ago, of course your medical evaluation changed. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I know that. I was there, I lived it." Jo gave a tight, bitter smile. She let the silence continue.
"I understand," Mrs. Khalid said, softening her smile as she glanced back down to the file to read. "Despite the physical shape you were in, which was dire, you responded well to treatment including multiple surgeries. You completed physical therapy and mental health therapy. According to this, you continue on with exercise recommendations and so forth. For a total of six years."
"Yes," Jo replied, still stiff.
Mrs. Khalid seemed to be hoping for something, or waiting for something. Jo wasn't sure which. The older woman held her gaze a moment, before letting her dark eyes wander. Jo knew what she was seeing. The heavily caked on make up that was mediocre at best, including blending down onto her neck. The straight posture and stiffness of her body, in her black slacks and simple white blouse. Jo wasn't a stranger to scrutiny, and while she didn't like it, she held still and waited.
Mrs. Khalid smiled a little more, before looking back down at her file, her fingertips sliding.
"You've successfully completed the six month mental health review, twice a week for an hour each, for a total of the six months. You've completed the demonstrated skill set, personality tests and physical stress tests. You've undergone a full, medically comprehensive health exam for this point in time. This includes gynecological visits. Your long term IUD implant and shots have been successful." At this point, Mrs. Khalid looked up from the file with a pointed stare.
Jo just sat frozen, her muscles starting to seriously cramp and complain but she wouldn't move. The things Mrs. Khalid had mentioned so far were just the tip of the iceberg when it came to the hoops she'd had to jump through just to get to this point. She'd never been a fan of doctors, and thanks to her ordeal 6 years ago her opinion of them had only gotten worse. Yes, they'd saved her life and done all they could, but that entire experience was mired under constant pain, medications and trauma.
She hadn't asked for any of it, but what she'd agreed to go through this past year was entirely her decision. Sometimes she wondered if going through it all with a clear head was even worse. When the silence had gone on too long, Jo decided to speed the meeting along.
"Yes," Jo rasped before clearing her throat. "Yes, that's all accurate. At our last appointment, you said I passed the bio-compatibility testing and I signed the liability waiver. We filled out my official profile then too. So today, I need to officially sign off on the profile."
Mrs. Khalid let out a quiet sigh and her expression softened before she looked back down at her files. "That's correct. You also need to record your self-interview video and attach any additional-"
"I have my footage," Jo was quick to cut in. "It's here, in my bag with everything else. You can review it first if you need to." Her hands were surprisingly shaky as she unzipped her bag and started to dig through the contents. Thankfully the other woman spoke, stilling Jo's agitated search.
"That won't be necessary," Mrs. Khalid said, lifting a hand. "We have our own copy. Ms. Thomas.."
Jo just hummed her inquiry as she sat motionless, staring down into her bag. She didn't want to look up and see the expression on the other woman's face.
"Ms. Thomas, Joanne," Mrs. Khalid said quietly. "We're reaching the point of no return, and I'll be honest, I have my doubts about you going through with this."
Jo's head shot up, along with her anger. "I won't let you talk me out of this. I've done absolutely everything that you said to do. I've passed all the tests. I haul this bag around-"
"Joanne, the contents of that bag are not your life." Mrs. Khalid's matter of fact statement didn't match the new hardness in her dark eyes. "They're pieces of paper, and while they all might check out, my concerns are valid and I think you know that. Until 6 years ago, you were a bright, vivacious young woman with her entire life ahead of her. Your career was on the fast track. You had a close, loving family and a devoted fiance. You wanted to eventually get hired-"
"I wanted to work on the Moon or Mars base, yes." Jo spat, her hands white knuckling her bag. "I would've been there already but I missed the recruitment cut off by 4 points. That's why I had a fiance, because I was stuck here on Earth after graduating. I needed work experience to be reconsidered and Brady was thrilled because he never had any intention of following me off planet. The only reason he proposed was because he thought he'd won. I thought he loved me. He thought after we were married I'd give up on my dreams and blindly follow him instead."
Mrs. Khalid looked shocked by Jo's outburst, before she finally sighed again into the silence. "You're a very hard woman to read, which is part of my concern. I can't quite reconcile your psych reports with the woman usually sitting in front of me. You barely talk and you always appear tense and uncomfortable. It's like there's a wall up between you and the rest of the world. Have you even told your family about this?"
"It's complicated," Jo muttered, looking back down at her bag. Her hands were so clenched they ached as she slowly relaxed them, wiping off her sweaty palms on the canvas. "I plan on telling them after everything's official and it's a done deal. I don't want them, or you, trying to talk me out of this."
"What you're getting yourself into is far more complicated than either of us can imagine. This is serious, Joanne, life and death. Once we sign off on this, that's it. There's no take backs, no changing your mind. Your life is forever altered. The liability waiver you signed last time means that we can't help you, going forward. You'll be at the complete mercy of an alien species and while they have provided some basics in terms of universal understanding in the way of rights granted to applicants, so much detail remains unknown because it depends entirely on who you match up with."
"I'm well aware," Jo sighed. "I'm taking this seriously. I have ever since I decided to apply. It's all I've been able to think about and I've talked about it extensively in therapy these last few months. Despite what you, and probably my family, seem to think of me, Mrs. Khalid, I'm not stupid."
"I don't think you're stupid. I think you're running. I think there's a big disconnect between you and the people in your life now. What you went through essentially threw you off course and rather than try and get back on track, you're looking for a way out."
"A way out?" Jo snapped, leaning forward over the bag in her lap as her hands gripped it tight all over again. "There is no going back!"
"Talk to your family, Joanne." Mrs. Khalid implored, leaning her forearms on her desk with wide eyes. "I won't argue about Brady, but I need you to think clearly now. You're 31 years old! In a few years you'll probably qualify to go off planet if you hire on with the right company. Your college transcripts look good and being an independent contractor so far has padded out your resume. You could apply to the big corporations. You could meet someone, marry, have a family. You don't have to-"
"I don't have to, what?" Jo said, her eyes narrowing into slits as she practically hissed. "Throw away some hypothetical, future life? This is the chance of a lifetime! After what I've been through-"
"You'll be leaving human civilization!"
"I already have!" Jo shouted. The silence in the room was deafening. Mrs. Khalid looked stricken behind her desk, having leaned back in her chair. She stared at Jo in a way that Jo couldn't quite figure out. It made a sudden flash of prickly heat run down her spine, but Jo didn't break her stare.
"Fine," Mrs. Khalid said, breaking the eye contact first as she leaned to jab a button on her desk console. "I don't agree with this, but I have no legal grounds to prevent it."