"Fortunately for you, both Nera and her vehicle are unprecedented assets that the U.S.
Government would like to...hold on to. The people that think you should be kept indefinitely-
just in case- are currently being checked by the fact that Nera will cease to cooperate if you are
kept here, injured, or killed. It will be easier for everyone involved if she cooperates. They are
aware that her cooperation hinges on your cooperation. "
"All of this adds up to both you and me being placed in a very stressful situation. The
way that we both get out of this stressful situation is by you telling me everything you know
about Nera and that saucer of hers." O'Flannery watched Ulysses, waiting for his words to sink
in. The agent's phone vibrated in his pocket. He ignored the buzzing until it stopped, and kept his
attention on the young man across the table.
"What if I don't talk? What then? Nera will know if something happens to me, then your
whole situation comes crashing down on you."
O'Flannery laughed. "Not just on me. Having this whole situation blow up on me is tiny
compared to what could happen, and you know it. Yeah, I've got skin in this game, but so does
potentially every man, woman, and child in the country." The agent paused for dramatic effect.
"In the world, for that matter. "
"So are you going to answer my questions? Or are you going to throw a temper tantrum
because you can't see your girlfriend?"
Ulysses rolled his eyes and crossed his arms and stared at the table some more.
O'Flannery's phone buzzed again, and he impatiently declined the call without looking. Time was
not a luxury they had.
"Fine," Ulysses said. "Ask your questions. Then I want to see Nera."
"I'll see what I can arrange," said the agent. He looked down at his legal pad. "Okay, let's
begin. When did you meet Nera?"
"A few weeks ago, at Burning Man."
"Do you remember the exact date?"
Ulysses sighed. "I'd have to look it up. It was a Wednesday."
O'Flannery added to his notes. "And she was alone? There was no one else with her?"
"No," said Ulysses. "No one else was with her."
"Can you describe the circumstances of your first meeting? What was the context?"
"Let's see," he said, "Giles noticed Nera and pointed her out. She was staring at an art
installation. Giles tried to talk to her." Ulysses grimaced at him. "I don't know what she said to
him. Giles just said she didn't want to talk."
"And that was when you first met her too?"
"No. I didn't really meet her until later that night. I was eating some food I'd scrounged.
She came over, looking at me strangely. I thought she was hungry, so I offered her some of my
food."
"Were the two of you able to communicate when you met her?"