Sol 40, Pt. I
It was hot in Houston. At least, it was hot compared to New York. Even in the middle of December, with Christmas lights on every house, Darcy was doing her best not to sweat through her blouse.
Or maybe that was just nerves.
She pulled her rental car into the entrance of the Johnson Space Center, stopping at the checkpoint and rolling down her window.
“Hi, I'm Darcy Lewis,” she said, smiling at the security guard, who seemed completely content with the unseasonable heat. “I'm here for a meeting?”
The guard flipped open his tablet - not Stark-issue, Darcy noted - and hit a few keys. “Lewis?”
“Yep.” Darcy grinned.
Security Guard Guy nodded. “All present and correct, ma’am. Go on through - Visitor Parking-“
“I know where it is, thanks,” Darcy interrupted politely. “I’ve been here before.”
“In that case,” the man said, “Welcome to JSC.”
“Thanks,” Darcy said, voice far less cheerful now the man was out of earshot, returning to the presumably air conditioned hut to raise the gate for her.
She put the car in drive once more and put her foot on the gas.
Five minutes later and she was walking into the lobby of Johnson Space Center and towards Bert and Caroline.
“Hey, kiddo,” Bert said, slinging an arm around her after she’d disengaged from Caroline’s embrace. “How was the flight?”
“Starkjet,” Darcy said with a small smile. “Tony insisted.”
Caroline chuckled. “Nice boss you have there.”
“He makes up for it by never signing a piece of paper and saying the most inappropriate things after a mission,” Darcy said, although she was grinning as well. “Oh, and going on random 30-hour engineering benders right before Pepper needs him to do something. What about you two?” she asked. “Get in from Chicago okay?”
“Oh fine,” Caroline brushed off her cardigan, looking around the still-vacant lobby. “Got into the hotel last night, no trouble.”
Two men and a woman walked out of a corridor and looked around briefly before coming towards them.
“Do you know who these people are?” Caroline asked. “I only recognise two of them.”
“The guy in the middle’s Teddy Sanders - he’s the director of NASA - he’s the one that called you about Mark. And he came to the funeral.” Darcy caught Sander’s eyes, and he nodded at her. “The guy on the right’s Venkat Kapoor - Director of Mars Missions - he was at the funeral too, but I’m not sure if he said hello to you two.”
“He did,” Bert put in. “Very nice guy.”
“Friend from grad school,” Darcy said, nodding. “Venk’s good people, for the most part. The lady’s Annie Montrose - she’s Media Relations for NASA.”
“Weren’t you…” Caroline began, but then the trio were close enough to be able to hear, and she stopped. Darcy shot Caroline a look, one that said I’ll tell you later, then stepped slightly in front of the Watney’s, extending her hand to Sanders.
“Mr. Sanders. It’s good to see you again, sir.”
“Likewise, Ms. Lewis,” the man said, taking her hand and giving it the regulation politician handshake, a bit too firm for comfort, but nothing that anyone could point to as being overtly aggressive. “I believe you know Director Kapoor and Ms. Montrose?” He made it a question.
“I do,” Darcy nodded. “Hi Venk, nice to meet you in person, Ms. Montrose.” Annie made a noise of polite agreement, and Darcy went on, “but I don’t think the Watneys have been properly introduced.”
Venk stepped forward. “Mr. And Mrs. Watney, thank you for coming.”
“We’re glad to be included at all,” Caroline said, beaming at Venk in her most charming, midwest way. The one Darcy knew contained at least some measure of sarcasm. “Bert, you remember Director Kapoor,”
“Venkat, please,” Venk said, bowing under the force of the Watney’s niceness, as Darcy knew he would.
“In that case,” Caroline said, continuing her quest to have the Director of Mars Missions wrapped around her little finger, “I’m Caroline, and this is Bert. None of that Mr. and Mrs. Watney business.”
“What’s on the schedule for today?” Darcy asked Sanders, as Annie joined Venk in talking to the Watneys. Darcy knew she was being ignored, but she’d expected something of the sort. Awkward enough when you knew you were someone’s second choice for a position. More awkward still when you were forced to interact with that someone and, for all intents and purposes, collaborate with them. Add any hint of ambition or pettiness, and you had a potential minefield. So Darcy was content to simply coexist with Annie Montrose until the time came to do otherwise.
“We’ll convene with Mitch Henderson - he’s the Flight Director for Ares III, and so he wants some input,” Darcy nodded, “And go over the broad strokes for the public memorial service.” Sanders sighed. “We’ll try and be as accommodating as we can, but”
“You need it as much for NASA publicity as much as for actually honoring Mark.” Darcy nodded sourly. “I know the deal.” Darcy shook her head. “Mr. Saunders, as far as I'm concerned, Mark’s funeral was the one we held in Chicago a few weeks ago.” Her mind flashed back to the packed cathedral, the pew reserved for herself, Caroline and Bert. Rob had flown in from Houston and sat behind her, looking slightly awed to be squashed next to Natasha, Clint, and the rest of Avengers who’d been able to come.
It had been… good. Good to remember Mark. Good to remember the good times, the memories of college brought up by their professors in attendance, their mutual friends from back then. Horrible, but nonetheless good.
Even with the paparazzi scattered outside the church before, after, and during.
And she’d had a say in what was going on. She’d help pick the people who spoke, spoken herself - how she had managed that without completely breaking down, she still had no idea.
Darcy didn't like the idea of a media circus. Even though she was the ringmaster for one on a regular basis, it wasn't exactly her idea of a good time. But… she understood. Sanders wanting to secure NASA funding. Even if he did plan on using her dead fiancé to do it.
Sanders was looking at her, waiting for her to continue, and Darcy realised she'd paused a little too long.
She smiled in apology, and continued. “I still reserve the right to have my hands firmly in the process, but as far as I'm concerned, this is just publicity.”
“That's remarkably understanding,” Sanders replied.
“You do remember what I do for a living, right?” Darcy’s smile was more real now. She glanced over at Bert and Caroline, who were still busy charming Venk and Annie.
It's those two you really have to worry about, she thought. Not that I'm telling you that.
Sanders’ gaze joined hers, then he cleared his throat. “Mr and Mrs. Watney, perhaps you'd like to continue this discussion with a cup of coffee? Or perhaps seated?”
“Oh, of course,” Caroline said. “Venkat was just telling us about about the new plans for the next batch of Mars missions.” Her eyes were a bit brighter than usual, and Darcy was pretty certain she wasn't imagining the way Caroline’s voice rose just slightly as she spoke. Not when Bert put a hand on her elbow as well.
“Let's get you a cup of coffee, then,” Sanders said, extending a hand to gesture Caroline and Bert to precede him up the steps.
Caroline smiled and started to chat with Sanders.
“So.”
Venkat fell into step with Darcy, Annie gesturing to her phone, then picking it up and speaking into it, letting the quartet leave her behind.
“How've you been? We haven't exactly talked since you left NASA.”