(no subject)

[bring_a_sponge]

MiB Headquarters,
Post-Black Oil Infestation Recovery Operation: Day Twenty-Two,
Office of Agent Zed

Zed passes his hand over a small sphere set into the surface of his desk. The curved glass window around his office darkens and goes opaque. Indirect lighting keeps the light at a steady level, but the room doesn't feel quite so exposed now.

"You really think she needs that?" K asks. "The kid's tough, Boss."

"I know," Zed replies, not looking up.

K looks at him for a bit, then goes back to moving one of the chairs to the front of Zed's desk. That done, he walks over to the glass door that leads out to the catwalk and the rest of MiB Headquarters. Hand on the entry panel, he waits.

Zed finishes putting his papers and neuralyzer in order. Then with a sigh, he nods.

K taps against the glass door. Even he can't help feeling a touch of vertigo as the glass door swings open to show, not the catwalk, but Milliways just beyond.

Sure enough, she's standing there, waiting.

K smiles. "C'mon in, Steph. We're all set here."

The smile's a lie. K is just as worried as Zed about what may be about to happen. But showing it would probably just make things harder.

Comments

[bring_a_sponge]

"Tell it.... Tell them....,"

--and here the voice shifts and, for a moment, sounds almost human--

"....Your resistance this day will bring you nothing. Merely a pointless delay of your inevitable destiny."

And now there seems to be something poking at Steph's head. But whatever it is, it can't quite make it through her Black Suit.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"I'm not—" Steph starts to protest, but she's a little off balance. Maybe the yawn that's cracking her jaw has something to do with that.

It's been a long day, suddenly.

"—uh, were you saying something?"

But she looks up, and there's nobody in front of her any more.




"— I don't ... know what happened."

[bring_a_sponge]

"That's good, Steph. That's real good," K says quietly.

Meanwhile, Zed is glowering, though, fortunately, not at Steph.

"The 'Krell', huh? And what the fuck is a Morbius?"

"Sounds like it might be a 'who,' Chief," K suggests.

Zed grunts.

[alwaysroomforhope]

"That's so not cool," Steph says, frowning and rubbing her temples uncomfortably. "It was in my head! Man. What does all that even mean?"

[bring_a_sponge]

"I'd say for now, Steph, you know as much about it as we do," K replies. "We know the Krell have something to do with the planet Altair IV. We know that much."

Zed nods. "Which confirms that last part of B's briefing, at least. Not that that does us much good."

Zed sighs and turns to Steph. "Anyway. That's our problem for now. We're sorry we had to put you through that, Stephanie, but you've just given us the best lead we have on this. Something else we have to thank you for."

"How's your head feel now? Got a headache? Anything?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

"Actually ... I feel better." She uncurls herself and stands up, still prodding at her temples. "Like ... clearer, sorta.

"Hey, if you guys need to attack this thing, you'll call me, right?"

[bring_a_sponge]

The Men in Black smile, and with one of his more friendly growls, Zed rumbles, "Count on it. Hell, you're the only one who can control Goldy."

"K?" Zed adds, and K gets up. He walks over to the door to Zed's office and opens it slightly. Instead of the rest of MiB Headquarters, it's the sounds of Miliways just beyond that fill the small office.

Zed nods. "Thanks again. And let us know if you remember anything more, ok?"

[alwaysroomforhope]

Steph laughs at that first. "Shyeah. Yeah, I'll definitely tell you. That was way creepy, that guy.

"No problems. See you round!"