“Hello everyone. This is Jae Park with Tech Vow and with me is a woman who needs no introduction, Dr. Gloria Vain.” She paused for a bit, assuming the editors would add applause and such in post. It was her first real job at Tech Vow and she was rather impressed with the studio. Six cameras at various positions, lights that were bright without being significantly hot, and excellent acoustics. Not fidgeting with her skirt or mandarin collared jacket was a challenge but one she at least felt prepared to deal with. Unlike her current Ordeal. She still wondered why she was given such a prestigious interview as a newcomer to Tech Vow but resolved herself to do her best.

“With Gen 4 VG units finally reaching their stride according to experts, what could possibly be next?” She said with what in her opinion was a winning PR smile. Doctor Vain’s response however, almost had that smile slip.

“Hi hi! Best girl Glory here.” The woman seated to Jae’s left almost vibrated with enthusiasm as she waved both hands at the camera. Her lab coat seemed a few sizes too large, and the glasses hanging from her face made her brown eyes look enormous. It was hard to believe that someone like this had ushered in a new era of human history.

“So, Dr Vain-”

“Oh, you are just a treat! First interview with Tee Vee? Please call me Glory, kay?” Jae took a moment to compose herself, no one had given her the slightest inkling about what Dr Vai...Glory was like and she mentally chastised herself for not taking the time to look up other interviews. The last minute nature of the assignment being no excuse in her mind. Still, eccentric or not she felt that the show must go on.

“So, Glory.”

“Yeeeees?”

“What do you think are some of the highlights of the 4th generation of Vain Glory units?” Jae asked, internally holding back a sigh.

“That sure is a question! Tell you what Jay Pee let’s spice this up a bit yeah?” Glory turned to fully face Jae and in that moment Jae felt like a mouse facing down a particularly large and hungry cat.

“I love Tech Vow and in the spirit of that love I really need to issue a correction!”

Oh. That’s why I’m here Jae thought. No one wants to deal with her and if I offend the Mother of Innovation they can just fire me with no issues to appease her… Lovely. She hoped that she had enough professionalism to hide the realization from her face and continue the interview.

“Corrections?” Jae asked.

“Corrections.” Glory stated with an enthusiastic nod that bobbed her glasses to and fro. “First and foremost! We are nowhere near the so called stride of Gen 4.” She stood up at this declaration, waving her arms wildly. The too long sleeves of her lab coat flapping past her hands. “In fact the only machine not produced by My company that are even halfway competent would be the GM line by Crux, under Bobby Becks!” She placed her hands on her hips and smiled with what could only be described as a smug aura.

“Really?” Jae asked, clearly confused by the statement. “The Great Machine is definitely solid work but most pilots and analysts agree that it can’t hold a candle to anything on offer by your company or Motion Intelligence.”

“And what exactly are those so called analysts criteria?” before Jae could respond Glory continued. “It doesn’t matter because I respect none of them. If they were worth anything at all they’d be working with me. Here’s a better question for you!” Gloria abruptly sat back down and took both of Jae’s hands in hers. “Hmmmm. You have a high pilot affinity, I can tell. What model do you personally own?”

“I’m currently piloting a Proximo by MI.”

“Ah bup bup, not what I asked.” Silence greeted Glory for a beat before Jae responded.

“I own a GM…”

“Exactly! What Crux was able to produce and release to the public is nothing short of fantastic. Great even!” she said.

“But the Proximo, Zephyr, and upcoming Judgment Blossom are all faster, more maneuverable and capable of supporting more devastating load outs.” Jae argued. “Your companies’ Tengu and Oni units vastly outperform the GM as well.”

“Jae Jae Jae…” Glory tsk’d. “Of course our mass produced designs are a cut above the competition. That’s just to be expected, but as I’m sure you know we don’t specialize in mass produced units. In fact The Tengu and Oni units represent less than 10 percent of our sales income.” She began to interlock her fingers with Jae’s as her explanation continued. “Do you know how much MI’s Judgment Blossom costs? Or the current run of the Oni or Tengu for that matter?”

“Can I assume that prices for your companies’ mechs are unchanged from the last quarter?” Jae asked, trying and failing to slip her hands away from the woman in front of her.

“That would be correct.” Glory answered ignoring the tugging of Jae’s hands.

“Tech Vow or anyone else for that matter hasn’t been given a final price regarding the Judgment Blossom just yet but one can only assume that the price tag will be a hefty one.” Jae said, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Quite hefty in fact! Unless GiGi has suddenly changed her mind I can confidently tell you that unequipped and unmodded the bog standard Judgment Blossom unit will be triple the price of the standard Tengu, equipment included! In fact the current test type model has been seen using missiles, MISSILES! How decadent could you even be?” Glory said as she released her hold on Jae to fish a tablet from her inner lab coat pocket. She fiddled with the screen until she found the figures she was looking for. “Ah, here we go. Jeez Bobby have some self respect, those prices are way too low… Right, for the same price as a Judgment Blossom you could outfit a security team with 10 GM’s with a wide variety of load outs to cover most any scenario.”

“If I didn’t know any better I’d think you worked for Crux what with that glowing endorsement.” Jae stated, taking the opportunity to lean back and cross her arms in front of her.

“Well… Maybe not Crux but, ohhh Indira will be so steamed!” Gloria began to sway left and right in her seat, hands clasped in front of her chest. “Too bad so sad, Let’s just say a certain busy bee just acquired a company specializing in more conventional weapons. I personally am very excited.”

“That’s incredible news indeed, any chance we could get you to drop that companies name?”

“No no no no no Jae! That would ruin the intrigue, the romance, the surprise!” At that moment a heavy buzzing came from one of Glory’s many pockets. “Oh gosh! That’s just plain unprofessional. Sorry Jay pee, I gotta check this.”

The news was apparently good Jae thought as she looked at the large smile blossom on Gloria’s face. A second later she confirmed it herself as the phone was abruptly shoved in her face to reveal the simple message “Go Ahead” from a contact marked BB.

“You see it right? That’s the most important bit of all, consent.” Glory said. “Since I now have permission I have an announcement to make. As some of you are aware, there have been unknown Vain Glory units sighted in South America. They aren’t Cult of Echidna units as some people have speculated but Top Secret designs used in anti cartel operations! Drugs are bad m’kay?”

“Wait, Glory. Are you implying that those secret -”

“Top Secret.”

“Top secret designs are produced by your company?”

“I imply nothing Jae!” She said pointing both index fingers in Jae’s direction. “I am stating outright that our new units Llorona and Bestia are ready for mass production.”

“That’s amazing! People have been wondering for a long time if the Tengu and Oni were going to remain your only mass produced offers.” Jae exclaimed.

“That’s not even the best part. The best part is that while our company has certainly designed the units we have licensed out their production to Crux!”She once more stood, turned her back to the camera, planted a foot firmly on her chair and pointed straight to the sky. “Thank you Tech Vow. Interview over, cameras off!”

Jae watched in shock as each of the cameras did indeed blink off one by one. Was she wrong? Was Gloria Vain going to have her killed rather than fired!? Was this because she wouldn’t hold her hands? After what felt like a tense moment of quiet the living catastrophe that was Doctor Vain turned to Jae, embraced her, then ran out the studio doors. Jae could only sit there numbly in silence thinking about how she got so carried away by Gloria’s pace. Eventually she heard a gentle cough behind her.

“Sorry, my wife tends to get carried away.”

Standing behind her was quite possibly the second most famous person on the planet. Her medium length black hair was parted to one side, white blouse buttoned to the neck with a three quarter sleeve. The myth, the monster, multiple Olympic champion and first generation pilot, Yukiko Arai.

“She liked you, I could tell. Respected you enough to not grope you even once.” She said with a smirk. She produced a business card with a flourish and handed it to Jae. “She was serious about your compatibility rating by the way, if Tech Vow doesn’t work out we’d be honored to have you as a colleague.”

She left the room with a shallow bow and Jae could only remain frozen in place, business card clutched tightly in her hand.

A few hours later she found herself in her bosses office, she had expected a chewing out but the subject matter had caught her off guard.

“I’m not happy Ms Park. Not. Happy.” Her boss did his best too loom over her with his presence despite his small stature. It was fitting jae thought, that such a small minded man would retain such a small stature as well.

“I’m s-”

“No Ms Park, this is where you ask me why I’m unhappy.”

“Why are you unhappy?” She asked, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

“Because our sponsors are unhappy. Motion Intelligence pays quite a bit of money and donates a rather absurd amount of materials to ensure that we here at Tech Vow portray their company in a favorable light.”

“I’m sorry sir but I don’t see how comments made by Doctor Gloria Vain would be anywhere near my or the companies responsibility.”

“They are not, but praising your ownership of a GM? Implying that Crux has released a superior product compared to our sponsors? Unacceptable.”

“I see. That’s fine, I see now how this is going. I made a point to praise the Zephyr, Proximo, and Judgment Blossom despite their frankly appalling safety flaws but clearly that effort wasn’t enough.”

“Clearly it was not. I’m glad you’re so quick on the uptake. Now let’s talk about how you’re going to fix this.”

“Let’s not.”

“What did you say?”

“I said I’d rather not. I just spent an entire interview wondering if you were going to fire me or if Gloria Vain would have me murdered for offending her. Whatever effect you’re going for here frankly is falling flat. Thank you for the experience but I’ve been made a much better offer.”

The bug eyed look on the man’s face as she placed the summoning necklace for the loaned Proximo on his desk and flashed the personal business card of Yukiko Arai was the most satisfying thing she had seen in a long while. It only took fifteen minutes for her to exit the building, enter a cab, and give the number on the card a call.