Work Text:
Exclusive interview with Assistant Director Yuri Cosmos (working title)
By: Lotta Hart
Today I managed to get a scoop that's out of this world, and I'm hoping all of our readers will enjoy! This is an exclusive interview with the Assistant Director of the Cosmos Space Center.
I: It's so nice of you to accept this interview, Mr. Cosmos!
Q1: Why were you demoted from the Director position? Was it because of the HAT-1 incident?
Q2: Speaking of the HAT-1 incident, how do you feel about losing one of your employees?
Q3: Does the release of Simon Blackquill and the subsequent incarceration of Aura Blackquill make you worry about the future of the Space Center?
Q4: Enough talk of the past, what are you hoping to accomplish after the HAT-3 launch?
Q5: Do you ever plan on becoming the Head Director again?
I: Once again thank you so much for this opportunity!
Now, my dear readers, keep your eyes peeled for my next exclusive scoop! Lotta Hart, over and out!
Lotta stared at the script on her computer, frowning. It seems like a decent amount of questions, but something felt missing. Biting the end of her pen, she looked over the questions one more time.
It was missing pizazz, secrets, and intrigue! She hadn’t known much about this place before she’d gotten a whiff of a good scoop, so trying to come up with any really juicy questions was a bit of a challenge.
She shook her head and grinned. Who is she kidding, she's Lotta Hart! She can get anything if she digs her nose into it enough. Pumping herself up, she got back to tweaking the script.
March 13, 2028
Cosmos Space Center
Lotta waved her reporter's badge at the security guards before waltzing into the space center. Today was the day she would get her next big scoop, and nothing was going to stop her! Walking toward the office where the security guards had directed her, she did what any good investigative journalist would do and kept her ears peeled for any sort of juicy gossip.
As she was rounding the corner, she heard people talking in hushed voices. Grinning, she pulls out a notepad and ducks back around the corner to listen in.
“I can't believe you're still talking about that!”
“Well, it's still crazy that she did all of that! I mean, taking the whole place hostage just to set him free? That's some dedication to her brother, but did she really have to go that far?”
Hostage situation?! Well, slap my head and call me silly! That's some amazing information!
Taking out her lucky red pen Lotta quickly scribbled down the information in her notebook, being sure to not only underline the words “hostage situation” but also circle it several times. She was about to move on until she heard something else that caught her attention.
“At least, for her sacrifice, we finally figured out who killed Dr. Cykes. I can't believe they managed to keep that Phantom business under wraps for so long.” There was a loud shushing sound.
“I know you're new here, but we don't talk about that! Especially not when we're open and there are people around!” The conversation trailed off as the two employees walked away. Lotta was grinning ear to ear. This was probably the one bit of intrigue she needed to make this interview stand out from the rest!
After jotting down the rest of what she’d overheard, she made her way to the Assistant Director's office and knocked three times. The door opened automatically to reveal Yuri Cosmos sitting at his desk with a neutral expression. “Come in, Ms. Hart. I see you're a bit early for this interview.”
“Ya know what they say, boss! Early bird catches the best scoop!” Yuri chuckled and motioned to one of the seats in front of him.
“Well, we might as well get this over with.” Yuri says with a sigh. She sits down and readies her digital recorder, notepad, and makes sure there is film in her camera before she looks up at him expectantly.
“Alrighty! Just have a few questions fer ya and ya can answer them with as much or as little detail as you'd like. However, I would appreciate it if you responded with as much detail as possible.”
He cleared his throat and adjusted his suit and hair. “Okay, what would be your first question?”
“First off, I'd like to start by sayin’ how nice of ya to accept this interview! Heard not a whole lotta people get this opportunity.”
“Well, a lot of tabloids have been trying to get an interview, but all they want is gossip and not an actual interview! Bah! Can't stand them!”
Lotta laughed, albeit a little nervously; what he described wasn't too far off from what she wanted, but the difference between her and the rest of them is that she doesn't do this for money. It's all about uncovering information. Of course only if she manages to get something out of it that's useful.
“Well, I'm different! My first question is, why were ya demoted from the head director position? Was it ‘cause of the HAT-1 disaster?”
Yuri frowned and put his steepled hands at his chin. “Yes, it was because of that incident. I was deemed unfit for the position, and then the current head took my place.” He slammed his fist onto his desk and it made Lotta jump. “It wasn't my fault that that bastard was—”
He cut himself off. Clearing his throat again, he composed himself. “I'd like to move on to the next question.”
“Oookay. Speaking of the HAT-1 incident, how'd ya feel ‘bout losin’ one of your employees?”
“Ah yes, Dr. Metis Cykes… Losing her really was an unfortunate accident and I feel terrible for young Athena and what she had to go through after that. We lost an incredibly important member of this facility that day, and I do not rest well at night knowing that it was due in part to my negligence. Or so the board said…” He mumbled the last bit under his breath, but Lotta heard it all the same.
Clearly sensing he wanting to move on, she asked her next question with a small grin.”D'ya ever plan on bein’ the director again?”
“I would love to be the director again, but I doubt the Space Center Board would have me again. I have some wonderful ideas to improve the space center and new missions we could accomplish!” He begins to fiddle with his mustache as Lotta writes some notes down.
Ambitious and incredibly upset about losing his position.
Her gaze falls to the notes she had taken earlier about the rumors she overheard. She couldn't believe she had almost forgotten about those! Holding back a grin, she put her pencil down and turned her attention back to the director.
Time fer a little off script questionin’.
“Got just a few more questions for ya. Do ya have any statements regardin’ Aura Blackquill's hostage situation? Or the connection between her and The Phantom?” He seemed to freeze in place and she couldn't help herself. “Heard this Phantom guy was the one who killed Dr. Cykes and—”
“Get out.” She paused, startled, and realized Yuri looked incredibly angry.
“But y—” She didn't get to finish her sentence before he shot up from his chair and grabbed her arm.
“I said get out! I should've known better! You're no different from all those other tabloids, trying to pry gossip out of me!” She quickly grabbed her recorder before he could completely haul her out of the room.
“SECURITY!” He practically shoved her into the arms of the security guard that appeared in the doorway at his call. “Escort Ms. Hart off of the premises, and be sure to blacklist her from the center. We don't need any reporters snooping around here anymore!”
Lotta pouted before she resigned herself to following the security guard out of the building. As the gates closed behind her, she checked all of her equipment to make sure it was all unharmed. Satisfied, she stopped the recorder and grinned.
“He gave me a lot more info than he expected!” With a great pep in her step, she made her way home to begin writing the article that would boost her career.
March 30 2028
Yuri Cosmos’ Office
Yuri ground his teeth as he skimmed over the tabloid article that that Hart lady had published. He should've known better than to bring her in. Now he may well be facing another demotion for releasing company secrets—even if not directly.
Deflating, he closed his computer and turned to stare out his window. It's going to take him a long time to get over this and climb the ranks again. At least people don't pay attention to no-name tabloid blogs.
The Most Anticipated Article Since State V. Cykes:
Exclusive interview with Assistant Director Yuri Cosmos
By: Lotta Hart
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