[center]Collab w/ [@SandyGunfox][/center]

Clarity cut through the self-induced haze in Lott’s head like a lighthouse beacon after dark the moment she shut her mouth. An “ex”-APEX employee insisting an ex-APEX lobbyist weren’t in cohorts with APEX wouldn’t play. She sensed Gatch growing tense beside her as she realized she had just overstepped her position. Gatch would never give Lott the signal because there never had been a signal; he would never seek her for a bailout. She had just undercut him. She had made him look weak. The candidates were kids in a rock fight, and Lott had just rushed out like a concerned mother to protect her baby boy because he’d been beaned across the forehead. He’d be the constant target of playground bullying now. 

Lott glanced over at the Mayor; was thinking of him in terms of being a school boy a side effect of the chemicals fighting it out in her system? He certainly dressed like one. It was strange that nobody said anything. Obviously, it wasn’t strange that nobody said anything to her, why would they bother speaking with her when they could tell that she was a nobody? What Lott thought strange was that the big players were probing rumors when they could’ve buried Gatch on his fashion alone. Perhaps she could speak on it with him later. As his mother, she was responsible for—Lott blinked at the intrusive thought. She needed to go. Clearly too loopy to stay in the loop. Why hadn’t anybody said anything? Had she even said anything? 

[b]“Ms. Ramana, are you even listening?”[/b]

Lott turned her head. She couldn’t tell if it had been her that was moved or everything else. The candidates were no longer in their little spitting circle, and the cronies had all posted themselves up at different angles. Lott herself was now standing by a table of pamphlets advertising wonderful tourist destinations not in the Reclaim Zone. She was faced with Octavia Alvas, one of Gatch’s campaign coordinators. Octavia was a squat woman who seemed to be perpetually happy towards everyone in the world with the exception of one Lott Ramana. It was probably because Octavia could tell a fraud when she saw one or, at least, that’s what Lott thought. Lott nodded. She hadn’t been. She didn’t even know how she got over here which, admittedly, should have concerned her more than it did. The anxiety meds must’ve beaten out the uppers in the end. 

[b]“Then I’ll leave you two to it.”[/b]

Two? Lott watched as Octavia left to go join Gatch by his side. She had been hoodwinked, it seemed. Somehow that woman had pulled Lott out from underneath the shadow of the major players only to place her on the sidelines with the nobodies. Lott told herself that it was fine, even as the elevated number on her watch’s heart monitor told her that she felt otherwise. She adjusted her watch, and another dose of Dr. Howland’s miraculous tonic began to filter itself into her bloodstream. The number would go down soon enough. Lott rolled her neck, and as it popped she locked eyes with a young woman in a dark-teal dress. Two. Lott was one, so this girl was two, excluding the moment Lott’s vision swam and the girl split to become three and four before solidifying back into one so she could once again be two. Okay, cool.

Lott had no clue what was going on, which meant she was just about as qualified to handle this as she was for anything on the campaign trail.

[b][color=lightgray]“Lott Ramana, Mayor Gatch’s publicist. A pleasure,”[/color][/b] she said and offered her hand. Hopefully they hadn’t already done this part; it was always tricky to hold a conversation and scan back through her implant’s recording at the same time. She did it anyway. [b][color=lightgray]“So, why are you here?” [/color][/b]

It was one of those interview questions that aimed to draw forth answers of lofty visions, only Lott meant it in total earnesty. She did not know why the younger woman was here. With one dead eye she stared at the newcomer while the other secretly played out her past from the last thing she remembered. 

[b][color=00BB77]”Ah - I’m Theresa.”[/color] [/b]Theresa shook the woman’s hand, smiling and stalling for time as her mind raced. [i]How exactly am I supposed to go about this? ‘I’m here because my father decided I needed a civics lesson’?[/i] [b][color=00BB77]”I’m studying to join the Space Force, and I thought this summer would be a good experience of the political process.”[/color][/b] [i]Quick, Theresa, what do people my age who come here willingly look for?[/i]

Right. Jobs are important, right?[b] [color=00BB77]”I’m looking for a, um, summer internship.”[/color] [/b]She nodded her head affirmatively, with confidence she didn’t really feel. [b][color=00BB77]”For the experience.”[/color] [/b]Being paid would be nice, too…

Lott should’ve been confused as to why she was even speaking with a potential intern. However, the rewound recap had just played back Samsara’s hand signs. The action only Samsara Washington could make look cool (and she believed it to be really, really cool—ultra cool, maximum chill, absolute freaking zero on the Kelvin scale) made Lott grin at Theresa. She looked more like a wolf hungry to see fresh intern meat than the happy clam she currently was to even be recognized by her idol. 

[b][color=lightgray]”You’re welcome,”[/color] [/b]said Lott, both in the past to Samsara and accidentally in the present to Theresa. Lott momentarily paused the playback and continued speaking as if that hadn’t been the end of her thought process. [b][color=lightgray]“To ask me anything that crosses your mind. I was in your shoes, once. Sometimes I still feel like I’m an intern.”[/color][/b] Not her best recovery but it’d suffice. She resumed playback. Lott had to know if Samsara had said more to her. She knitted her brow as the past lens shifted to Petrukov. 

[b][color=lightgray]”But the experience? Normally someone joins the Space Force to bolster their future political career, not the other way around...or is this a new kind of requirement?”[/color] [/b]asked Lott. She was more curious than anything. She was curious, too, to see how Petrukov would react to knowing that the only reason she was even able to run for office was because APEX goons had meddled in her affairs, but past Lott had let the remark slide unchecked. Lott could be an influencer, too. She could influence this young woman right here to not waste her future on becoming an intern and instead spend the best years of her life being zooted on Limbo Dust. Why bother with all of the training to become a spaceman when you could take a little something to feel like you were in space, man?

Theresa shook her head, unconsciously tugging at the fringe of her dress under Lott’s lupine gaze. This woman had a fierce look in her expression, and eyes that seemed preoccupied thinking of a thousand other things at once. To stop to offer advice to what was undoubtedly just another twenty-something was probably a unique opportunity for her. She was determined not to waste it![b] [color=00BB77]”I’ve just always wanted to be an astronaut,”[/color][/b] Theresa said, straightening her posture.[b] [color=00BB77]”And I’ve always wanted to serve my country, too. I know that sounds a little, I dunno, old-fashioned, but…”[/color][/b] Theresa trailed off. 

This woman clearly had other more important things on her mind, from the occasionally-distant look in her eyes - Theresa wasn’t going to cinch any kind of job yammering on about herself! She’d invited her to ask a question - asking something intelligent was the best way to stand out and get back on track. Theresa’s thoughts raced. [b][color=00BB77]”But, anyway, um, I could just seek an internship with some corporation or a summer job of some kind - but this is, you know, democracy, it’s...important? After finals I really won’t have too many requirements for school all summer, so I’ll be certainly very flexible, I’m a hard worker and I have a good work ethic…”[/color][/b]

This wasn’t good - Theresa was rambling. Here this woman was probably one of the most important people in the Twin Cities government, in charge of Mayor Gatch’s public image and statements - and Theresa couldn’t spit a sentence out without rambling nervously. Why did this woman make her so nervous? She didn’t so much as flinch when an ROTC instructor bellowed orders two hours into PT. She had walked into an advanced astrophysics final on no sleep after cramming all night and still held confidence. Maybe it was the way she kept looking away - as though her work was much too important to spare more than partial attention for yet another twenty-something assisting a political campaign office. She decided to try a little boldness - that had to be better than yammering on, right? So she stopped, and took a breath. [b][color=00BB77]”So if you’re looking for an assistant for your office, ma’am, well, here I am!”[/color][/b]

Lott was in the past. Her body bristled, seemingly in reaction to Theresa’s nervous prattling, as her past self watched as Johnny Lawyer refused to even call her by the correct name, let alone give her the respect she deserved for helping his cause out previously. Faren slipped in front of her view before she even had a chance to retort. [b] [color=lightgray]”Of course, Mr. Faren, I will see to it that we find a way for your people to touch base with those of Apex Industries at a later time,”[/color][/b] she heard herself say noncommittally before she excused herself. She followed behind Gatch like an obedient puppy, using the departure of her boss from the group to avoid being caught in what would certainly be a buzz-killing conversation with the Neo-Luddite poster boy. The past connected with the present as Octavia sidled up next to Lott after Gatch gave her his orders, and Lott killed the recording just as Theresa moved in for the kill.

[b][color=lightgray]“I see…”[/color][/b] muttered Lott. She relaxed her posture ever so slightly as the residual feelings from the past dissipated, and turned her full attention to Theresa. Well, as much attention as Lott was capable of giving anyone at the current moment. [b][color=lightgray]“Unfortunately, given the current climate I do not believe that the Mayor would be interested in acquiring any new assets at the moment, despite your impressive background.”[/color][/b]

Lott didn’t intend to make that statement sound cruel or dismissive, but it certainly came out as such. APEX, thus in a way the Mayor, had entrusted Lott to vet the hopeful candidate’s team of any possible turncoats—adding yet another unknown factor to their already messy situation would not be in line with the company’s plan. However, Lott knew that the company would also dislike the negative attention they would receive if word got out that they had been requested to give private information to a bunch of technophobes. She could just ignore Faren’s request for that contact information. That would make the bosses happy, but what kind of look would that give her in the eyes of the Neo-Luddites? Lott knew she shouldn’t care what they thought of her, but she did. She couldn’t disappoint them by going back on her word. However, if there was another person to blame for the mixup…

[b][color=lightgray]“However, it’d be a waste to let someone like you go. I can find room for you as an intern on my PR team,”[/color][/b] said Lott. The PR team, with the exception of a few speech writers and a couple of social media specialists, was almost entirely her. [b][color=lightgray]“It might not be the exact experience you’re looking for, but it’d get your foot in the door. And, depending on how well you perform, I can see to it that we move you to a more desirable branch of the campaign team post-debate.”[/color][/b]

Theresa’s shoulders sank not two syllables into [i]unfortunately…[/i], and she opened her mouth to thank Lott for her time. Stupid. She’d blown it with simple nerves. This was the PR staff of a political campaign. They were surely a staff of highly-qualified professionals. They couldn’t hire someone who could barely stumble through an interview! What was wrong with her? She’d done this before, and with more imposing people than Ms. Ramana. Maybe she was nervous because of her father’s expectations, or...

She stopped, though, and brightened as Lott continued. An internship would be great, wouldn’t it? It’d get her dad off her back, might lead to a decent summer job...and the PR team of a mayoral candidate? Who knows? That could even be fun! She could even end up on TV. She nodded her head firmly, and tried to give a polite, professional smile. [b][color=00BB77]”Gladly, Ms. Ramana!”[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightgray]“Then welcome to the team, Ms. Theresa,”[/color] [/b]said Lott. She opened her tablet and clacked at it furiously, then extended it toward the younger woman. [b][color=lightgray]”Please enter in your relevant information and I’ll have someone send you the necessary legal mumbo jumbo to begin the onboarding process. I do hope you enjoy paperwork. This conversation has been recorded, naturally, and will serve as a temporary contract until we can conduct a proper screening and background check. You will be considered to be on a probationary status until then, and following the period you will receive a living stipend. It's a normal procedure, so don’t worry yourself with the details. Just consider this a test run, of sorts.”[/color][/b]

Lott felt lightheaded. For a moment, she lost focus and stared out across the room. When her concentration returned she was worried she had experienced another time slip, but the newly hired intern was still in front of her. Lott continued, unsure of how long it had been since she had closed her mouth.

[b][color=lightgray]“Now, Mr. Faren has expressed interest in speaking with a representative of APEX Industries.”[/color] [/b]Lott pulled out a blank, eggshell business card and withdrew her tablet.  After a moment of searching she tapped the card against her device and black ink bled out onto the card, filling it with information for some publicly available and ultimately useless APEX hotline. Technically, it would reach an APEX representative, but just one who could answer questions about their products and not expunge any information that could be considered crucial. She handed the card to Theresa.[b][color=lightgray] “See to it that one of his followers receives this.”[/color][/b]

Theresa took the card delicately, as though it were an item of some worth.[b] [color=00BB77]”Yes, ma’am!”[/color][/b] She turned away, belatedly worrying that she had no idea who Mr. Faren was. But if he was named without introduction, it probably wouldn’t look good to have to ask… 

That had happened fast. There was no formal process, or interview, or anything, just, here, here’s a job to do? Well, best get to it, then...

Lott watched as the teal dress disappeared into the swathe of political slime and felt a pang of regret, because Lott knew she'd just missed a fantastic opportunity to have someone fetch her a drink. With a sigh, she scanned the room. The boss was gone and so was his whip. Well, if there was nobody around to demand her to perform anymore duties that she was grossly unprepared for, then perhaps it would be fine if she slipped away to grab a drink. One vodka tonic wouldn't hurt. Except she wasn't supposed to drink on her meds, so if she was going to break the doctor's orders then she might as well make it three.