To: (Katherine Summers) ten.pics|32sremmusk#ten.pics|32sremmusk
From: (Edward Irkiv, Site-225 Director) ten.pics|vikrie#ten.pics|vikrie
Date: 03/23/2025
Subject: Meeting
Dr. Summers,
This is a reminder of your meeting tomorrow with Director Jimmy Day at 8 am. I'm still not sure why he requested you specifically, but I've heard from other Site Directors that he's been on a big tour meeting with staff. So… expect anything and good luck!
Dr. Edward Irkiv
Director, Site-225
KNOCK KNOCK
Katherine groaned, turning off her hairdryer. It was half past 5 am in Site-225; nobody should be knocking on her door at that time. Unless she woke someone up…
She came out of her bathroom and walked over to her door, opening it. "Hello?"
Before her stood a nondescript man, clad in a dark suit, his hands neatly folded behind him. "Dr. Katherine Summers?"
"Um, yeah."
"Are you ready for your meeting with Director Day?"
Katherine blinked. She stood there in the doorway in her pajamas, her curly hair still soaked. "I thought that wasn't for another 3 hours?"
The man offered an apologetic smile. "Director Day had a hiccup in his schedule and needed to move the meeting up. Is it alright with you?"
Katherine sighed and nodded. "Give me 10 minutes."
Dr. Summers patted down her pantsuit as she sped-walked to the meeting room. She stopped in front of the door. Meeting Room 22A. She took a deep breath, then entered the room.
Jimmy Days was seated at the far side of the conference table. He turned to face her and smiled. "Dr. Summers! Sorry to wake you so early," he stood up from his chair and walked across the table, offering his hand. "A pleasure to meet you."
Dr. Summers hesitantly took his hand, surprised by the vigor with which he shook her hand. "Likewise, Director—"
"Please, just call me Jimmy. Edward is your Director."
They both sat down. "Right, Jimmy. Why did you want to meet with me?"
"Right to the point. Alright, well. What do you know about the Department of Anomalous Weapons Development?"
Katherine winced. She had heard… a lot about the department. Some of it was good. But most of it was bad. Very, very bad. Jimmy laughed, seeing the look on her face.
"I know the stories. Catastrophes, money burns, and half the department locked up in hearings with Ethics. But here's the thing: the department was never the issue; it was the people. Half of the bad things you've heard about were probably because of the last Director. Even then, most of the stuff AWD put out is still in use. Those new weapons MTFs are rolling out with? AWD did that. Every modern Site built is using security systems based on AWD projects.
"What AWD was doing was valuable, and the Foundation recognized that. They decided it was too good to let rot."
Katherine crossed her arms, raising a brow. "What are you trying to sell me on here?"
Jimmy smiled. "The Foundation is restarting AWD," he explained. "With me as the Director. And I want to bring in some new faces, shake up the department with new talent. New talent like you."
Katherine thought for a moment about the idea of her being in AWD and shuddered. She specialized in Parabiology, and she didn't want to think about how that could be weaponized. "I don't know… I don't think I want my name attached to AWD."
"I get it," he admitted. "But I want to move away from that reputation AWD built up. And your hesitation is what makes you a perfect fit for the department. It needs people like you and me to make sure it doesn't go too far, that we don't end up with another Ezra Everest."
Jimmy reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. “Take some time to think about it,” he said, tapping the envelope. “Inside are your clearance and travel orders. Whatever AWD becomes this time around, it’ll be because of the people who said yes.”
Summers stared at the envelope as Jimmy got up and left.
"Well," Edward Irkiv asked. "What did he want?"
Katherine rolled her eyes as she reached into her bag and grabbed the takeout for Edward. "He wants me to join AWD. Move down to wherever their HQ is."
Edward took the box and set it down on his desk, opening it and letting the smell of teriyaki fill his office. "That would explain why the other Site Directors seemed upset with him. He's going around poaching our talent!"
Katherine nodded, already eating her food.
"Are you gonna say yes?" Edward wondered.
Katherine winced, mid-bite. She quickly swallowed her food. "I don't think so. I'd rather not have anything to do with… all that."
"Hmm. Did you ever have the… 'pleasure' of meeting the last Director, Ezra Everest?"
Katherine shook her head.
"Well…" he paused, looking for the right words. "He was very… intense, to put it lightly. He was thrust into the role after his father died, and he went in with the wrong mindset. He was reckless, not a care for the lives he was supposed to protect, wasted billions of dollars, got into trouble with the Ethics Committee basically every year he was there, and violated almost every guideline there was. I didn't meet him much, but I liked his father a whole lot better. Way more level-headed.
"Point is, Everest drove the department into the ground. Grabbed its reputation and stuck so far into the mud that it'd never be clean again. Everyone thought AWD was wraps after him. But the Foundation must have a good reason to bring it back. And, hopefully, they found someone good to run it."
"Mm," Katherine shook her head. "I don't trust that Jimmy guy one bit." She gestured vaguely at her face. "The whole time, he kept this big grin plastered on his face. Like he rehearsed it in the mirror until it hurt."
Edward smiled, not quite as wide as Jimmy did. "If you don't trust him, that's all the more reason to go. Do you trust the other people he's recruited?"
"I don't know," she responded. "I haven't met them yet."
"So let's assume you don't trust them, either. Wouldn't you like to have someone you can trust in AWD, to — hopefully — try and steer it in the right direction?"
Katherine bit her lips, rolling Edward's words in her mind. She probably trusted herself more than she did random strangers from other Sites, and definitely more than she trusted Jimmy. "Fine. I'll go and see what's up. But that's it; I'm not signing up for anything — yet."
The helicopter skimmed over endless rainforest, mist rising from the canopy like steam from boiling water. Braulio Carrillo National Park stretched in every direction, a vast green ocean broken only by jagged ridgelines and tall waterfalls. Katherine sat in the back of the helicopter, fanning herself as she looked out at the untouched land. She was accustomed to the dry heat of Site-225 in Nevada, but the humid warmth in Costa Rica would be her undoing.
The helicopter flew towards a clearing near what seemed to be a ranger station. It descended towards a slightly overgrown landing pad. As the rotors slowed, Katherine stepped out, bombarded by the scent of wet earth and orchids. The roar of cicadas and distant monkeys bled in from the jungle.
Her escort, the same man who had awoken her a week ago, waited for her at the edge of the pad. She wondered how he was able to wear that dark suit in this weather. He guided her into the station, smiling at the ranger at the desk as they walked into the backroom and down a set of stairs.
The stairwell was narrow, lit by old bulbs strung along the concrete walls. The sounds of the rainforest dulled above her with each step until they were gone entirely, replaced by the low hum of ventilation fans.
"Apologies for the appearance," her escort said. "The entrance is low on our renovations list."
They reached a reinforced door at the bottom. The man keyed in a code, pressed his hand to a scanner, and glanced back at her with a polite smile as the locks disengaged.
Katherine's breath caught.
The ranger station above might have tricked hikers and tourists, but this was unmistakably Foundation: thick blast doors, security cameras in every corner, hazard placards in English and Spanish. As they walked, she caught glimpses through glass panes of rooms mid-renovation — crews in hard hats rewiring panels, contractors hauling in new storage units, and technicians touching up old AWD logos.
They stopped before another set of doors. Her escort straightened his tie before turning to her.
"Welcome to Area-34, Dr. Summers," he said. "Headquarters of the Department of Anomalous Weapons Development."
The doors slid open with a hiss.
Katherine stepped through and blinked. She'd expected more sterile halls and humming fluorescent lights, but instead, she found herself in a bright atrium. The walls were freshly painted, the floor polished, the air filled with the faint scent of cleaning solvent. The AWD insignia gleamed high above on the wall, the paint still drying.
Clusters of people filled the space, talking in low voices or checking tablets. She recognized some of them from past Foundation summits or conference calls with overseas Sites. Their badges all bore the same stamp: DEPARTMENT OF ANOMALOUS WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT (INTERIM). Some looked excited. Others looked like they weren't sure why they were there.
Katherine moved through the crowd, searching for somewhere to stand without being noticed. She recognized the occasional face, but made sure to steer clear of them. As she wove through the crowd, she felt a hand grab her shoulder.
"Kitty, hey! Long time no see!"
She turned. Dr. Vivian Shing — still with her hair in a neat ponytail, two strands framing her face the same way as always. Katherine caught herself smiling before she realized it.
"Hey, Viv. Been a minute. How you been?"
Vivian grinned. "Busy. Site-37's been crawling with new research since we expanded the containment outposts in Xishuangbanna. What about you? Still up to your neck in paperwork?"
"Pretty much," Katherine sighed. "Mostly field analysis now, though. More running away from things that bite."
Vivian laughed. "I'm surprised they let you out!"
Something passed between them. Brief, almost nothing, but enough to remind Katherine of those late nights in 225's labs, Viv leaning against her desk, the quiet talks that never led anywhere.
Vivian rolled her eyes. "Lucky you, though. I'm stuck writing reports about little beetles that turn off gravity around them. Not exactly a conversation starter."
Katherine chuckled softly. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed talking with Vivian. For a moment, it felt normal, like they were two colleagues catching up between assignments instead of waiting in the middle of a half-built weapons facility.
Vivian cleared her throat. "So, uh… You know what this is about?"
Katherine shook her head. "Not a clue. I guess this Day guy is trying to restart the department?"
"That's what I thought too." Vivian crossed her arms. "Guess he thinks he can do it better."
"Or at least quieter," Katherine muttered.
Vivian snorted. "Good luck with that. Half the people here are Ethics hearings waiting to happen."
Before Katherine could reply, the atrium's speakers crackled to life. A crisp voice came in over the intercom:
"Attention, all attendees. Director Day will be joining you shortly. We thank you for your patience."
Vivian exhaled. "Here we go."
Katherine followed her gaze upward. The mezzanine doors opened, and Jimmy Day stepped out, flanked by two assistants. His expression was the same as she remembered it — way too smiley.
"Good morning, everyone!" he called, his voice carrying with ease in the packed atrium. "Welcome to the future of the Foundation's most misunderstood department."
Out of the corner of her eye, Katherine could see Vivian raise an eyebrow. Jimmy clasped his hands behind his back and took a deep breath before continuing.
"Now, I know what most of you are thinking. Why me? Or maybe even, why this? After all, the Department of Anomalous Weapons Development isn't exactly known for its spotless reputation."
A ripple of quiet laughter moved through the crowd. Vivian leaned closer to Katherine and whispered, "Understatement of the century."
Jimmy went on. "But, as I'm sure I've told many of you, AWD was never a bad idea. It just… lost its way. Innovation without oversight. Ambition without temperance. You all know how that story goes." He spreads his arms as if to embrace the room. "And that's why we're here. To do it right this time."
"Our goal," Jimmy said, "isn't to build weapons to threaten the world. It's to build ones to protect it. We'll be working closely with other Departments — Applied Forces, Paratech, even the Ethics Committee — to ensure that everything we make is responsible, ethical, and effective."
Viv murmured, "Sure. And I'm the Tooth Fairy."
Katherine bit back a smile.
Jimmy paused. "I won't lie to you, this will be difficult work. The Foundation's eyes are on us. Every mistake we make will be magnified, every success minimized. We have the backing of an Overseer, but everyone else will be against us. But, if we work hard…" He smiled again, softer this time. "Then maybe, just maybe, the name AWD will stand for something we can be proud of."
The room remained quiet. A few people nodded or cheered. Most just watched.
Jimmy looked over the crowd, his gaze lingering on familiar faces. "We'll begin orientation in about an hour. Until then, you're welcome to explore the facility. Get to know your future colleagues. Or back out, hop out on the next plane to whatever Site you came from."
He gave a slight bow and stepped back. "Welcome to AWD."
As Jimmy disappeared behind the closing doors, people started cheering. It started hesitant but grew louder. After a bit, they quieted down, replaced by the low hum of conversation.
Vivian turned toward Katherine, crossing her arms. "Well," she said, "that was… something?"
Katherine huffed a laugh. "You mean the part where he promised to reinvent the concept of moral weaponry?"
"Mhm," Viv gave a little grin. "And with a smile like he's selling used cars."
The pair drifted toward one of the refreshment tables, watching the clusters of recruits reform. They also saw a few people quietly leave.
Vivian leaned on the table's edge. "You think he actually believes all that 'protect the world' crap?"
"I think he wants to," Katherine said, fiddling with her badge. "Or he wants us to. Which might be worse?"
Viv laughed softly. "Still. Costa Rica beats Nevada."
Katherine shrugged. "Barely. I feel like I'm drowning in sweat."
For a few minutes, they stood in a rare pocket of silence, listening to the hum of voices and the distant echoes of work being done deeper in the facility. It almost felt peaceful, until the atrium doors opened again.
Jimmy Day stepped back in, minus his assistants. His smile was smaller now, but still there. He moved through the dispersing recruits, stopping here and there to shake hands or offer reassuring pats on the back. Eventually, his gaze found Katherine and Vivian.
"Dr. Summers, Dr. Shing!" He approached, his hands clasped behind his back. "Glad to see you both made it in one piece."
Viv gave a polite nod. "Barely. We were just talking about the humidity."
Jimmy chuckled. "You get used to it. You even start to miss it." His eyes flicked between the two of them. "So, I have to ask. Are you both planning to stay?"
Viv glanced at Katherine, waiting for her to speak first.
Katherine hesitated. She thought of Site-225, of Irkiv's pep talk, of the envelope sitting heavy in her bag. She looked at Viv, her faint smirk and steady eyes, then back at Jimmy.
"I think, " she said slowly, "that this could be worth seeing through."
Jimmy's smile widened. He extended a hand. "Is that a yes?"
Katherine took a deep breath and reached out. As she did, her eyes caught a tattoo on the back of his hand: a simple, bold 'C.'
She hesitated for half a heartbeat, then took his hand.
"Yes, Director."
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