Ch.2Return! (2)

#002

Around seven in the morning, Dexter’s eyes opened on their own.

“I quit my job ages ago, yet I’m still waking up at this hour.”

As Dexter scratched his head and got out of bed looking disheveled, his eyes went to the desk beside the TV. There were neatly folded new clothes and underwear, similar to his usual style and size.

“…This is a bit creepy.”

Dexter shivered slightly and looked around, but of course, there was no one there.

After a quick shower and shave, Dexter put on the new clothes and was about to lie down on the bed to turn on the TV when the phone rang.

“Yes.”

-Mr. Hughes? This is OSA. Are you awake?

It was the voice of the senior agent who had sat next to Dexter last night.

“About 20 minutes ago.”

-Good. There’s an interview scheduled for 10 o’clock sharp. Would you like to have a quick breakfast together before that?

“Breakfast. Sure.”

-Yes, then I’ll see you at the hotel front desk at 9.

“Yes, see you then.”

After hanging up, Dexter immediately frowned.

“Wait, is this normal?”

Dexter was essentially an illegal immigrant.

Isn’t the treatment of illegal immigrants obvious?

Being locked up in a cramped holding cell that smells of urine, then being interrogated in a dark room by an agent with an intimidating attitude, answering in a trembling voice amid a frightening atmosphere—that’s practically the national rule.

The situation was unfolding very differently from what Dexter had expected.

There was nothing particularly suspicious about it; rather, it felt so comfortable that he wondered if this was how things were supposed to be.

“What can I do about it?”

Though not exactly scared, Dexter felt a corner of uneasiness in his mind and headed straight to the hotel front desk as soon as it was time to leave.

When he went down to the first floor, he saw the two agents he had met yesterday.

After a brief greeting, Dexter and the agents got into the same black sedan as the day before and headed to a nearby restaurant.

Lenny’s, a restaurant chain across the United States.

It’s not an incredibly delicious restaurant, but it’s good for a simple breakfast. The three of them sat down and ordered three cups of strong black coffee and whatever meal each of them preferred.

“This must be your first meal on Earth. I hope it’s alright.”

“It’s fine. Lenny’s is excellent. When I was in space, I once lived on protein cubes for a month.”

Dexter grinned as he spoke, and the agents smiled too.

Soon breakfast arrived in front of each of them, and as the three began to eat while making small talk, Agent Jake said:

“You’re quite resourceful.”

“Pardon? Well, I just became this way trying to make a living.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. You bought a spaceship to return to Earth, right?”

“That’s right.”

“The cost of spaceships and launch vehicles developed by NASA or Universe X is enormous. I’m curious how an individual managed to secure the funds for purchase.”

“Oh, that’s nothing special.”

Dexter scratched the back of his neck as he spoke.

“I just gathered all the money I’d saved so far for the down payment, maxed out my loans, and bought it.”

“Wait, what about the principal and interest?”

“I didn’t pay them back. I bought that spaceship less than a week ago.”

“…”

The two agents were speechless for a while at Dexter’s brazen response.

“Uh, uh…”

Leaving Agent Jake repeating the same sound like a broken computer, the senior agent cleared his throat and said:

“Ahem. We’ll have OSA counsel you on that matter later. For now, the most urgent issue is employment.”

For Dexter’s complete reintegration, he obviously needs a job that can provide stable income.

‘That’s right. Now that I’m on Earth, what should I do?’

Until his current age of thirty, Dexter had done various jobs to make a living in space.

Before coming to Earth, he had worked full-time for several years at a transport company specializing in interplanetary deliveries. He had also occasionally caught minor space pirates or criminals as a side job.

‘But these experiences won’t count for much in Earth companies.’

If he were to say straightforwardly, “Yes, I was an interstellar delivery driver who beat up bad guys,” the response would likely be, “Haha, did you take drugs before the interview?”

The senior agent, who had been watching the speechless Dexter, stroked his chin and said:

“How long do you plan to stay on Earth? Even if you’re uncertain, it would be helpful if you could give us a timeframe.”

“Probably at least a few years…”

To this uncertain answer, the senior agent continued:

“Agent Jake asked inappropriately, but he hit the nail on the head. You don’t plan to live penniless on Earth for the next few years, do you?”

“I can’t just loaf around.”

The senior agent nodded.

“After your interview with OSA, I think it would be good for you to get some career counseling.”

“You do career counseling too?”

Dexter was puzzled, but the senior agent answered naturally, as it was something he had dealt with before.

“It’s one of the programs we run for aliens seeking asylum on Earth or VIPs who need cover. Among things you might be familiar with, the witness protection program would be similar.”

“As you’ve often seen in movies, it’s like the government helping you create a new identity.”

Agent Jake had a talent for saying the same thing in a cheaper way.

“Because on Earth, the existence of aliens must not be discovered.”

“What? Must not be discovered? Oh, dear.”

At Agent Jake’s words, Dexter accidentally dropped a piece of meat he was about to eat.

“…Didn’t I explain this to you yesterday?”

“Not at all.”

“You didn’t happen to tell any hotel staff that you returned from space or anything like that, did you?”

Dexter was puzzled by the two agents’ expressions, their pupils trembling wildly, as he replied:

“You two were the only ones I met yesterday.”

The two agents sighed in relief at Dexter’s answer.

“You must never mention it. Not just in the United States, but globally, revealing the existence of aliens is prohibited.”

“Really? Is there really a need for that?”

For Dexter, who had lived in space for 15 years, this was completely incomprehensible.

“Couldn’t you just make it public? Is Earth’s peace at risk or something?”

“Earth is not yet ready to be opened. Until it is ready, OSA is controlling it as much as possible.”

“We haven’t actually seen it ourselves, but OSA believes that other planets and organizations might use the opening to invade under the guise of establishing diplomatic relations. Earth has had several such cases.”

Dexter wore an expression of incomprehension at the agents’ words.

Seeing this expression, Agent Jake said:

“To use a crude analogy, it’s like when an ordinary person wins the Super Bowl, they give the prize money in the form of an annuity to prevent them from spending it recklessly.”

After pondering Agent Jake’s analogy for a moment while stroking his chin, Dexter neatly summarized his understanding:

“So you’re intentionally limiting technology and information to prepare for a gradual opening, is that it?”

Now he understood the intentions of OSA and the federal government.

One characteristic Dexter had observed while traveling to various planets was that there were planets like Earth that maintained their own way of life, and others that were subordinate to different planets, serving as colonies.

Some planets had become colonies through simple invasive wars, but more had become cultural colonies.

If the government was deliberately controlling to prevent such occurrences in advance, Dexter could fully understand.

“Your spaceship will also remain at Nellis Air Force Base for the time being. After our discussion with headquarters, we’ll decide what to do with it.”

After some light conversation, the three finished their meals, gulped down their cold coffee like water, and promptly left.

After about a 30-minute drive, they arrived at North Las Vegas City Hall, located north of the Strip.

Since it was rush hour, employees could be seen entering the city hall, each holding a takeout coffee cup.

“This way.”

Dexter, with his hands in his pockets, followed the two agents to what appeared to be a broken elevator with an “Under Repair” sign.

Agent Jake pressed the up and down buttons alternately several times, and the elevator doors opened.

“Oh, just like in the movies.”

The senior agent grinned at Dexter’s childlike reaction.

“Shall we?”

The elevator carrying the three descended rapidly to the basement, making Dexter momentarily dizzy.

Dexter was reminded of a sci-fi movie he had seen as a child.

A large screen covering an entire wall showing CCTV footage from across the United States, chrome-finished cutting-edge devices everywhere, operators reading the current situation in unison in front of control panels covered with flashing buttons.

But as soon as the elevator doors opened, that expectation was shattered.

“This is OSA headquarters.”

It was the bleak, gray-filled scene of a typical American office.

Except for the partitions dividing the workspaces and colorful posters on the walls, everything was dominated by gray.

‘At this rate, the city hall office we just saw would be better.’

Shouldn’t there be a large screen on the wall showing agents monitoring alien activities worldwide or communicating in real-time?

Unlike its sophisticated name, the Space Security Agency was the epitome of plainness and old-fashioned design.

The two agents, clearly seeing Dexter’s disappointed expression, smiled awkwardly and pointed to a door on the wall:

“The interview room is this way.”

Dexter entered the interview room, while the two agents headed elsewhere.

The inside of the interview room was also stark, but it had a relatively bright atmosphere rather than being dark and gloomy.

However, there was a large mirror attached to the wall, much like those seen in movies and TV shows, along with a metal desk and two office chairs.

Seated, Dexter looked around and muttered to himself:

“Usually in places like this, two people come in with a good cop, bad cop routine, threatening and persuading.”

“It’s an old-fashioned method, but it works well.”

Turning his head toward the sudden voice, Dexter saw an intellectual-looking beauty with black hair in an updo, leaning against the doorframe of the interview room, holding a folder.

“Jeez, you startled me.”

“Did I scare you? I’m sorry.”

Wearing a tight-fitting suit, she was looking at Dexter with a slight smile.

“I’m Ximena from the Residence Management Department.”

Agent Ximena extended her slightly tanned hand.

“Ah, yes. Nice to meet you.”

Dexter shook her hand lightly.

“Before the interview, I’d like to ask about your personal information. Of course, you’ve probably told other agents already, but I want to make sure.”

Dexter nodded at Agent Ximena’s words.

“Where did you live when you were on Earth?”

“Boston. The Back Bay area.”

“Yes, when the missing person report was filed 15 years ago, the reporter’s name wasn’t your parents’…”

“It was a foster home. They were good people.”

Dexter spoke as if it were nothing, but Agent Ximena’s eyes wavered slightly.

“Ah. So, about when you moved to the space freighter.”

Agent Ximena, trying her best to hide her flustered appearance, asked various questions, and Dexter answered as sincerely as possible.

“Still, your situation is much better than other long-term alien residents. At least you completed your education until age 14, so you don’t seem to need a separate re-education process.”

“Re-education process?”

“It’s where you stay at the OSA Education Center for a month, learning about Earth’s culture, habits, and things to be cautious about. Non-Earth beings naturally don’t know our culture.”

“You don’t force people to keep their heads fixed and eyes open while watching videos all night, do you?”

“Oh my, did you think that, Mr. Hughes?”

Agent Ximena covered her mouth and laughed.

“That was something they did in the 70s.”

“…”

“These days, we just learn through normal education.”

Dexter felt a chill for a moment at Agent Ximena’s casual response.

“Ah, the resocialization process. I forgot to mention that.”

Dexter thought to himself that OSA agents seemed to like adding “re-” to the beginning of words.

Of course, he had no intention of sharing such thoughts with Agent Ximena, who was staring at him intently, so he just nodded.

“The resocialization process is a project conducted for OSA agents who wish to retire and aliens who want long-term residence.”

Agent Ximena explained that while it might seem similar to the re-education process, it helps people integrate into society as working professionals.

She said it helps people work at companies associated with OSA, or companies that have received OSA’s help or have been compromised by OSA, without the management knowing.

“This includes federal government departments too.”

“What? So you’re saying I could work at the FBI or CIA?”

“If you wish. You could even become a senior agent at OSA.”

Agent Ximena said with a wink.

“Of course, I’m telling you this because Mr. Hughes’s experience aligns with the type of talent OSA is looking for.”

“Me? I’ve only transported goods and caught a few criminals.”

Dexter scratched his head dismissively, but Agent Ximena shook her head and said:

“I can’t go into detail because it’s internal information, but fewer than 50 OSA agents have been to space.”

“How many agents are there?”

“About 2,000 field agents. The office staff is about ten times that, so around 20,000?”

Dexter’s eyes widened, not expecting so many civil servants to be part of a secret department.

Agent Ximena is an OSA agent, a field civil servant.

About 2,000 agents are dispatched throughout the United States and worldwide for rapid field response.

OSA’s office civil servants essentially handle everything for the Space Security Agency.

They study the cultures and ecosystems of various planets, interact with aliens in the United States to advance technology, and coordinate alien-related information to investigate incidents and keep them from surfacing.

“But they don’t have ‘practical experience in space.'”

“So because OSA has little practical experience, I should work as an agent, is that it?”

“You catch on quickly.”

Afterward, Agent Ximena listed reasons why Dexter should become an OSA agent, talking about health insurance, welfare, quarterly subsidies, and more.

Listening to all this, it seemed to Dexter that becoming an OSA agent was almost a must-do job.

‘This is too good.’

Excessively good.

What had kept Dexter alive for 15 years was his intuition.

“I have one question.”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“OSA agents are secret agents, right? Keeping secrets even from parents and spouses.”

“Of course. Our identities must be very, very well hidden.”

Her attitude suggested this was obvious.

Seeing Agent Ximena’s demeanor, Dexter’s stance was simple:

‘I’ve lived a busy life for 15 years. Becoming an agent won’t make me a millionaire. And I don’t want to live secretively every day as a secret agent.’

He was tired of living such a complicated life every day.

Looking at Agent Ximena’s sparkling eyes full of expectation, Dexter made his decision.

“I’ve decided.”

“Really?”

At Dexter’s decision, Agent Ximena leaned her face uncomfortably close to Dexter’s and said:

“J-just a moment. Let me get the confidentiality agreement and…”

Watching Agent Ximena rummaging through her folder with a beaming smile, Dexter cut her off:

“I’ll look for another job.”

“Another job is fine… Wait, what?”

“I’m not becoming an agent.”

Agent Ximena’s face froze as she closed her folder and said:

“You son of a bitch.”