Stacy cleared her throat as the floor director for the broadcast crew counted the interviewer down until they went live on air.She straightened in her chair and let a gentle smile settle on her lips.
Blythe Nelson, her pixie features disarmingly innocent, beamed at the vid recorder as the floor director stepped back, indicating they were transmitting the feed.“Hello, everyone.I’m Blythe Nelson speaking to Governor Stacy Nichols, coming to you live from Alpha Space Station, orbiting Earth Two.”Exhibiting an ease that brought Stacy a pang of jealousy, Blythe smoothly turned to her.“First and foremost, Governor, how are you almost two weeks after the vaccination against the virus devastating humans, popularly known as Dark Death?”
As a reporter, Blythe had been a thorn in Stacy’s side more times than she wanted to remember.It wasn’t because the lovely blonde was particularly aggressive, but she gave no quarter when she smelled a story.Though she was currently wearing a friendly and encouraging expression, Stacy was on her guard.
“I’m doing quite well, thanks.I’ve been posting a live diary each day to show my constituents how the vaccine’s been treating me.”
“Yes.You had a couple of rough days following the injections.How intense were the side effects?”
“I won’t pretend it was fun and games,” Stacy chuckled.“A slight fever, severe fatigue, and a bit of a runny nose, which is why you might hear me cough on occasion.Fortunately, the doctors and researchers have given me the all-clear.I’m excited to return to Earth very soon.”
Blythe addressed the vid recorder again.“I’d like to note despite broadcasting from the Kalquorian station orbiting Earth, it’s an all-Earther crew working for me.We had to prove we were free of infection and Dark influence through a very strenuous boarding procedure.We’ll be repeating a similar check before we’re allowed back on Earth.”She glanced at Stacy.
“As is proper, given the current state of things.”
“Despite these safeguards, you specifically asked for us and not the Kalquorian vid crew to do the interview.Why?”
“I want to promote how comfortable I am to return to Earth and be among my fellow humans again.I’m ready to be released from quarantine.”Stacy chose to grin at Blythe.“Anyone who’s seen me field your questions in the past knows you cut me no slack, Ms.Nelson.I couldn’t think of a better reporter to challenge the validity of the new vaccine for the benefit of those who have voiced doubts.”
Blythe laughed.“We have had our moments, Governor.As a subject of the trial, you’ve actually been exposed to Dark Death to see how effective the vaccine is.How did it go?”
“I came up positive for it a day after I was exposed.The consequences were the same as those of the vaccine’s side effects: slight fever, fatigue, and coughing.But the symptoms were significantly less.Two days later and ever since, I’ve tested negative.The vaccine works.”
“I’m glad to hear it.Are you aware of how your fellow test subjects did?”
“For this round, it was much the same.A few had symptoms worse than me, and some had no symptoms at all.No one was ill enough to require hospitalization.At the extreme end, three people spent a couple days in bed.”
“How soon can we hope to see the vaccines available to everyone on Earth?”
“Final testing and production are being fast-tracked to protect our people.Our hope is to begin inoculating the public at large in a couple of weeks, a month at the latest.”
“You seem excited about it.”
“I’m thrilled for us to get better and return to our lives.The researchers who made this happen are heroes.”She turned down the voltage of her smile to acknowledge the sober aspects of the situation.“I only wish more could have been saved.We can celebrate the end of Dark Death’s fatal run, but there is a lot of mourning to be done in the coming weeks and months.”
Blythe nodded.“The tragedy won’t be forgotten any time soon.You’ll be returning to Earth tomorrow, you said.It will be your first day as elected governor, at least on the planet.I want to ask you...”
The reporter’s voice faded to the background as Stacy noted over Blythe’s shoulder that Kuran, who was present as always as her bodyguard, was moving from his post.His expression was intent, which on his handsome but feral features, left him looking ferocious.He slid noiselessly behind the three vid production techs manning their console, where they adjusted vid and audio levels as needed.
“Governor?”
Stacy ignored Blythe’s prompt for her to answer the question she’d missed.Something had raised Kuran’s hackles.She lifted a hand to quiet the reporter.
Perhaps her attention on the tech on the right, the young man Kuran had zeroed in on, made him realize he’d been caught.His gaze lifted to Stacy’s as he reached beneath the production console.
“Blaster!”Kuran shouted at the same instant he moved.
Stacy dove for Blythe.“Get down!”
She knocked the reporter to the floor and hit the ground herself as shouts rang out.There was a scream of pain.The women looked up from where they’d landed to see Kuran slamming the tech to the ground.A member of station security, who’d been near the door, grabbed a small human-sized blaster a few feet from them.Kuran must have knocked it out of the would-be assailant’s hand when he’d grabbed him.
Blythe glanced at Stacy as she allowed her up.The damned woman appeared excited rather than terrified.
“I realize you probably won’t continue the interview, but do you have a comment on what just happened?”the reporter invited.
“Lady, he could have shot you trying to get at me.”
“Yeah, thanks for getting me out of the way, Governor.Definitely a heroic moment, and we got it on camera.I owe you, especially since he was on my crew.New guy, so I can’t tell you much about him.So...comment?”Blythe practically wiggled from eagerness.
