The team Melisa was traveling with dropped her off at her house, along with Creg and Ian. The three of them got out of the helicopter, but not before bidding farewell to the professor and his companion. They made their way into Melisa's apartment. She opened the door and said,
"Well, guys, feel free to take whatever you want from the kitchen. I'm going to take a shower after being in all that dust. If you'd like, there's also a guest bathroom downstairs, and I think there's some of the clothes you left last time, Creg. Ian, you can use the clothes my brother doesn't wear anymore; they're about the same size as yours. It's down that hallway."
Melisa went upstairs to shower, while the other two, driven by the hunger left by their adventure, began to eat, though Creg ate more than Ian. Afterward, they took turns showering and changing.
Meanwhile, Melisa had finished showering and was drying her hair with the blow-dryer. She looked in her closet and began searching for her special outfit: a black dress with red details for her trip to the news station. She didn't believe what that woman had told her, and she certainly didn't think the news was already on everyone's lips. She changed, did her makeup, touched her lipstick and eyebrows.
She then went downstairs and told the guys:
"We need to go to the channel. I can't contact them because I don't have a phone at home; I only have one cell. On the way to the channel, I'll need to buy another one."
"Well, we all need to go," Ian said, now dressed in the black clothes he had found in Melisa's brother's closet, while packing his dirty clothes in a bag.
Creg, on the other hand, was wearing a pink Hawaiian shirt with orange flowers. They all went out and took a taxi. Melisa instructed the driver to first take them to the store and then to the news channel, giving him the address written down on a piece of paper. The taxi driver entered the data into his taxi's computer and started the engine after everyone got in the back seat, with her and the guys.
They passed by a mall, and Melisa told the driver to stop and wait for them. She left the meter running and said,
"We'll be back quickly."
The taxi parked, and the three of them got out. In the store that sold cell phones, some people whispered while looking at her.
"Is that her from the news?" one person said. "She looks like her," others remarked.
Melisa had dressed in such a way that she didn't look like the same person who appeared on the screen, but her acquaintances still knew who she was, even with the makeup she wore. The sales clerk approached and asked what they were looking for. Melisa told Creg:
"I'll leave this to you. Ian's phone, I'll pay for it," she added, knowing that Ian didn't earn much as a driver.
Creg looked for the phones they thought were suitable, and after choosing the ones they wanted, they went to the checkout to pay. There were about ten people in line. Melisa, impatient, couldn't live without technology and needed to contact her boss. People kept talking behind her, wondering if she was the one from the news. Melisa started to suspect, as everyone was staring at her, but Creg told her not to pay attention to it.
When they reached the checkout, the cashier began talking about the features of the phones they were buying. Melisa, impatient, responded:
"You know what? Just give me the phones." She pulled out her credit card to pay.
They quickly got back into the taxi while the cashier followed them to hand them their receipt.
The taxi driver started the engine, and on the way, they began setting up their phones, especially Creg, who knew about these things. Melisa, on the other hand, couldn't stop biting her nails, nervous and frustrated because she couldn't contact the channel. She didn't want to ask the driver for his phone; he was a stranger.
They arrived at the studio, and Melisa was somewhat annoyed by the fare on the meter. She argued a little with the driver, but in the end, she decided there was nothing more to do and paid. As they entered the studio, heading towards her boss's office, everyone they passed made comments like, "Great news!" "You crushed it, girl!" "The boss must be so happy with the results!" "You nailed the ratings!" and "Great show!" She felt admired but at the same time surprised because no one asked if she was already taking any action regarding the situation.
A delivery guy who looked like an intern walked by and asked:
"Miss Melisa, when will the tickets be available?"
"Tickets?" she replied, surprised.
But before she could ask the guy about the tickets, the office door opened, and her boss called:
"Come in, Melisa."
She entered the office alone, as Creg and Ian stood outside to wait. The boss had said, "Melisa, come in," and they weren't invited.
"It's okay, guys, wait for me here," she told them before stepping inside.
"Congratulations on your work, girl. I'll give you the special for the eight o'clock news, the most-watched segment. The way you delivered the story was amazing. Your days out on the field are over; now you'll be on the small screen," her boss said.
"But boss, I like going after the news, not being its face. I want to go out and see it with my own eyes, investigate it like a real reporter, not sit down and warm the seat," Melisa responded.
"Ha, ha," her boss laughed. "But that's not what you wanted in the first place. What changed? Also, I wanted to ask you something."
"Well, I don't know, boss. I guess this news changed me. What do you want to ask?"
"Ah, yes. Since your story was a success, you must've requested tickets for your boss."
Melisa still didn't understand the whole tickets situation.
"Tickets?" she said, confused.
"Yes, Melisa, the tickets for the play that's opening soon, the one about a special battle between a monster and a dog."
Melisa realized everything Marie had told her was true: they had covered up the real news, replacing the story with something that sounded like a theatrical performance or something along those lines. Well, I'll just go along with the boss, she thought, somewhat annoyed.
"Ah! Yes, boss, I'm sorry, but they still haven't decided where it's going to take place. That's why there are no tickets. But when I have them, I'll make sure to get them to you," she told him.
Her boss, happy, responded:
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Melisa told him she was leaving and that she had some things to do before deciding and looking into other news.
"Alright, girl, just think about it. I'll give you a couple of days to consider it. You'll be the face of the news on the big night broadcast."
"Yes, boss, believe me, I will. See you," Melisa replied as she left the office and closed the door behind her.
Outside, Creg and Ian were waiting for her.
"I think you need to see this," they both said, concerned.
They showed her the video everyone had been talking about, playing it on Creg's phone.
"I can't believe it. That woman was right. They're covering everything up, and they've used something to make me say those things... some sort of artificial intelligence?" Melisa commented, furious.
Creg explained:
"That wasn't artificial intelligence. It still has a long way to go before it can do that kind of thing. It looks like very advanced technology."
"It doesn't matter," she replied, still angry and frustrated. "The world needs to know the truth."
She grabbed both of them by the hand and said with determination in her eyes:
"We need to investigate. Creg, you go get a new equipment set, and Ian, you go get a new company van. We'll meet outside in twenty minutes. We need to find the truth and not cover it up like that agency does. Zeus must fall, and I'll take care of that. I'll expose the bad guys and these mysterious agencies."
And if you're wondering why the video no longer had an effect on them, it was because the mind control time embedded in the video had expired.