scene description: [The voice of Mirali Lamoré is heard over a blank screen.]
Mirali Lamoré (MP):
In this interview, I sat down with Effie Tabir on July 16, 2017, to review her recollections of the events four months prior.
[The video begins with the image of Mirali Lamoré, dark hair uncharacterisically slicked back, wearing a checked suit in the colors of salmon and tan, seated across from an elegant, older woman of Middle Eastern descent, wearing a long black and silver caftan, her hair caught up in a complicated braid pulled over her right shoulder.]
ML:
Thank you for taking the time to sit down with me, Effie. It's been some time since we've spoken.
Effie Tabir (ET):
It's always a pleasure to be interviewed by you, Mirali.
ML:
Let's start with what you remember about the day you met Alexandra Hanlon.
ET:
I conducted her interview, actually, along with Gerold Philby.
ML:
Could you share your impressions of her?
ET:
The results from our analysis were impressive for what had become an impossible-to-fill position. Once I met her, I was struck by her quiet and reserve, but I glimpsed a resolve in her hinting at an intangible requirement we were looking for.
ML:
What about her physical appearance?
ET:
What of it? You don't seriously expect me to comment on a person's physical appearance, do you? Especially in my position as a member of the Foundation Board.
[Effie pauses and takes a few deep breaths before continuing.]
In my assessment, initially and continuing, her outward appearance was and continues to be irrelevant.
ML:
Did you meet her earlier in the day before she gave the Estimate?
ET:
No, Richard Forester and I planned to take Alexandra to lunch before escorting her to our next meeting. We came in just as her earlier meeting was wrapping up.
ML:
What happened when you walked in?
ET:
Alexandra was speaking, and shortly after we arrived, she ended the meeting.
ML:
Did she notice you?
ET:
I don't believe so. She was seated with her back toward us.
ML:
What happened next?
ET:
Once the meeting ended, Mika and Alexandra noticed us and walked over. Gerold, who had also attended the meeting, began to leave, saw us, and instead joined our group. I was curious; I asked questions.
ML:
I want to play the beginning of the video for you.
scene description: [The image of Effie Tabir and Mirali Lamoré stills, then fades into a screen filled with four equal-sized images arranged in a square. The top left reveals a middle-aged woman of average height, neither stocky nor thin, with her brown hair pulled behind her head. She wears a purple tunic and pant set, matched in their design. A chyron on the screen identifies her as Alexandra Hanlon (she/her).
The image to the right of the first shows an overhead view of the room, a group of three people standing in front of Alexandra as one more walks toward them. Beyond the four is a circle of eight chairs; except for the five people, the room is empty.
The images on the bottom expose the four individuals in front of Alexandra. The left image displays a slim, tall, dark-skinned woman along with a chyron identification of Mika Phillips, she/her, standing next to a taller, lighter-skinned man with broad shoulders and textured, dark brown hair, worn in thin braids that cascade down his neck. He is identified as Richard Forester, he/him.
The final image on the right shows Alexandra standing across from the last two people. On one side, an older woman is holding a mobile interface. Her dark hair is arranged in a high bun at the crown of her head, tapering into a tail clasped tightly at regular intervals with silver rings. She is identified as Effie Tabir, she/her. Walking to stand next to her is a stocky, pale-skinned man of roughly the same age, whose bald head is surrounded by short gray hair. He is identified as Gerold Philby, he/him.]
Effie Tabir:
Alexandra, I'm curious. Why did you ask about a pandemic plan?
Alexandra Hanlon:
In our meeting earlier, Tessa mentioned how the habitats are about halfway to the optimal starting population to survive a generational lockdown. I began wondering how a pandemic would affect recruitment and relocation, especially if the world situation continues to escalate.
[Alexandra pauses, and the room is silent]
Alexandra Hanlon:
Actually, there's something more to it than my simply wondering.
scene description: [The top left image zooms in on Alexandra's face as she appears to look directly at the viewer.]
Effie, when I met you and Gerold the first time, you mentioned that one of the reasons I qualified for this job was my empathy, my ability to accurately assess the people around me, and my excellent instincts. While I'm not empathetic in the sense of actually feeling the same emotions as another person, I am highly empathic, which means I'm aware of the feelings of those around me. I also possess a strong intuitive sense.
They're separate abilities, but sometimes they work together in a way I can't really put into words. When it happens, I end up with realizations for which I have no other explanation. In this case, I'm not sure whether "feelings" or "experiences" is the better term, so forgive me if I use both interchangeably.
I experienced something that caused me to ask about the pandemic. What I felt seemed to reflect something terrible happening everywhere. It was different from the feelings I tend to associate with wars, and the only other highly improbable events coming to mind were an alien invasion or a pandemic. I focused on what we could control and wondered how to keep everyone down here safe and continue to meet population goals if something like a pandemic becomes part of our reality.
scene description: [Gerold Philby's reaction is captured in one of the bottom images. Initially startled, he quickly assumes a look of contempt. The other three stand silently and respectfully.]
Gerold Philby:
[speaking in a scornful tone]
So you're telling us you can see into the future?
[The video pauses, then dissolves back to the interview between Mirali Lamoré and Effie Tabir]
ML:
I'm probably going to ask you this every time, but could you describe what you were thinking when this happened?
ET:
I had my mobile in my hand already and set it to record. Given my position as a public official, I consistently record anything even remotely considered part of my duties.
Whatever I thought about her answer was irrelevant. The recording shows what happened.
ML:
Let's keep watching.
[The video begins again, with the bottom right view showing Alexandra turning her attention to Gerold; she remains calm and collected as she answers.]
Alexandra Hanlon:
I'm not a seer or a prognosticator, and I can't tell you exactly what will happen in the future.
[She pauses, and the room is still.]
But maybe I can give us a general idea of when, even if we don't know the actual what.
scene description: [The overhead view shows Alexandra Hanlon taking a few steps back as the bottom images adjust to keep everyone in range.]
action happening: [Alexandra faces the group, standing easily, with her arms loose and hands open at her sides, her palms facing the people standing opposite her. She closes her eyes and stands silently, her chest rising and falling as she takes deep breaths. Her eyes open, and her face relaxes; her mouth is slightly parted. Everyone stands still, eyes focused on her, waiting.]
Alexandra Hanlon:
2017
[She pauses, and everyone waits.]
2018
[She counts slowly, pausing significantly between each year. Gerold Philby seems about to speak but is silenced by a look from Effie Tabir. ]
2019
[Her mouth closes as her lips tighten and her fingers move toward her palms. The room is silent except for the sound of Alexandra's breath.]
2020
[Her hands tighten into fists, her breathing is audible, and her face tightens as the muscles in her neck begin to jump. Richard Forester seems to stiffen slightly but otherwise makes no move.]
2021
[Her legs and arms begin to tremble and shake; her fists are now tightly clenched, and her elbows bend as her arms rise toward her shoulders. Her breathing is labored and heavy. The images show the others in the room shifting slightly, moving in discomfort.]
2022
[Alexandra doubles over, and her entire body trembles visibly. Mika Phillips tenses; Effie looks concerned.]
2023
[She struggles to rise, her nails digging into the palms of her hands.]
2024
action happening: [Alexandra continues to rise and almost manages to stand completely upright. Suddenly screaming in anguish, she begins vomiting as she collapses onto the floor. Richard rushes to her, pulling her onto a clean section before allowing her to rest on the floor. He positions her so that she lies on her side, with her leg straight under her and the other leg bent, allowing her hips to be rotated and her knee to support the rest. He makes sure her lower arm is set straight from her shoulder and curves her other arm over it, with her hand close to her cheek and her head tilted back.]
scene description: [The overhead image captures Mika Phillips and Gerold Philby leaving the room before returning to the interview between Mirali Lamoré and Effie Tabir.]
ET:
She was obviously experiencing far more than can be seen in the video. It was quite shocking when she became unwell and fainted. I was relieved that Richard reached her before her head hit the floor.
ML:
And what did you do?
ET:
Once Richard caught Alexandra, Mika and Gerold ran out of the room. They returned with supplies around the same time Alexandra regained consciousness. I continued recording. I hoped there would be more information. I wanted her to help make sense of what had just happened and tell us whatever she could.
ML:
Let's continue the video.
[The image dissolves and is replaced by the video, with Alexandra still on the floor. The overhead image captures Mika and Gerold returning with towels and water as Alexandra begins to regain consciousness.]
Richard Forester:
[in evident relief]
She's coming around.
action happening: [Alexandra begins to sit up with Richard's help. She takes the offered glass of water from Gerold and sips it slowly. She hands the empty glass back to Gerold and accepts a towel from Mika after looking down at her vomit-riddled clothing. She carefully wipes her face and hands with the towel, then, still holding it, looks up at the four standing over her, all with looks of concern on their faces.]
Effie Tabir:
Alexandra, are you all right?
Mika Phillips:
How could she be all right? If Richard hadn't gotten there in time, she would have cracked her head on the floor! Alex, can you stand? I'm going to call Medical.
action happening: [Alexandra, with Richard's assistance, slowly rises and then stands on her own.]
Alexandra Hanlon:
I'm fine, Mika, just a bit shaky, and all I really want is to go home and shower. I don't need to go to Medical, and if anything develops later, Kevin is a member of our floor's medical triage; he'll take care of me.
scene description: [The top left image zooms in until only Alexandra's flushed and serious face shows, hiding her bedraggled figure.]
But before anything else, I need to share what I felt. From what I can tell, 2020 and 2021 reflected the same experiences I had earlier when I asked how a pandemic might affect us. While the experience could begin in late 2019, I'm certain it will be there in early 2020.
[Alexandra's head and shoulders shudder as she sighs]
As I was counting, I felt a push urging me to go further, so I continued. As I spoke of 2022, those earlier experiences persisted but were muted by an overlay of feelings I associate with war. Everything continued throughout 2023 and into the last year, 2024, and the feelings corresponding to war kept escalating.
[She trembles again and takes a moment to breathe.]
I can't describe what happened to me in that moment other than I experienced the worst pain in my entire life. I felt as if I was being turned inside out and then torn into shreds. It's like nothing I've ever gone through, and I hope never to feel anything like it ever again.
[Alexandra pauses and visibly shudders.]
I'm not saying anything will happen. As I said earlier, I can't predict the future; no one can. I can only tell you what I experienced and my interpretations, vague as they are. Having said that, if I were inclined to bet on timing and outcomes, which I am not, I'd put money on the possibility of something happening sometime around the last quarter of 2024.
[Her face stills and then fades back to the interview between Effie Tabir and Mirali Lamoré.]
ML:
What happened after that?
ET:
Mika and Gerold took Alexandra back to her house. Richard and I briefly discussed what had happened and agreed to postpone the afternoon meeting.
ML:
What did you think of her interpretation?
ET:
Whatever I thought at that moment had no bearing on my official actions and, as such, is irrelevant to this interview.
ML:
Did you discuss what happened with anyone else?
ET:
I updated the Foundation Board. They needed to know.
ML:
And dare I ask how the Foundation Board reacted?
ET:
[smiling]
After viewing the video and taking some time to get over its collective shock, the Foundation Board responded by considering the needs of all the Habitats and those living within. We agreed to begin working closely with every Habitat Administration and the Liaisons to speed up recruitment and integration as well as the receipt of outside materials.
ML:
My final question pertains to Alexandra's keynote speech. Why do you think she brought the Estimate up?
ET:
She is the Director of Habitat Liaisons; she gave the Estimate. Wouldn't you say it was her prerogative?
ML:
It wasn't in the speech prompter.
ET:
I had no advance knowledge of her address or what was or wasn't in the speech prompter.
ML:
[sighing]
Thank you, Effie; I have no more questions for you.
ET:
Thank you, Mirali; it was always a pleasure speaking with you.
[Video Ends]