Chapter Text
Lho La Ice Falls in Nepal
Even with her well insulated gloves Lex was starting to feel the biting cold in her fingertips. But she was a mere 15 feet from the top, and this climb was many years in the making. Her father had promised to take her here after their expedition up Mt. Rainier, but when that had become impossible she always promised herself she’d make the climb for the both of them.
Lex sunk her left axe deep into the ice before sliding her hand out of her glove. She gave a few experimental tugs and touches on her gear to ensure she was safe for the moment. With the one hand free she was able to turn slightly and take in more of the view over her shoulder.
Her father had been right on the money when he had described this place,
“I know there are plenty of other places out there but this one always held the number one spot in my book. Just the feeling of raw power right beneath your fingertips while you hang from a frozen waterfall. The vast white calm that surrounds you - breathtaking - you’ll see! It’ll be our next climb together.” Her dad smiled pulling the champagne bottle back to his lips. He takes a few guzzles before offering it back to Lex “To Lho La Ice Falls. The Wickedly Awesome Woods’ next adventure”
Lex laughs as she takes the bottle “To Lho La Ice Falls”, she agrees.
“To Lho La Ice Falls dad” Lex whispered as she glanced back up toward the top. Slipping her hand back into the strap of her ice axe she steadied herself with a deep breath.
Absorb this moment for all its worth, channel dads lessons, and finish this Lex thought to herself.
Her body had started to burn in protest and she couldn’t help but grunt with every exertion she gave. This was always her favorite part of a climb though. When true battle of will took place. The cold finally starting to seep through clothing, muscles starting to quiver, and the ice starting to become more brittle with the beginning signs of the peak.
She yanked her left axe back out of the wall and went to swing it back in a little higher when a shrill ring suddenly echoed throughout the mountains. Lex’s muscles tensed too quickly. The jerk of her leg too hard upon the ice. Shock and fear flooded her as the ice broke under her right foot. Built in reflex was the only thing that saved her. Her left axe planted securely into the ice before her right axe was forced to take all of her weight.
Lex clenched her teeth to cut herself off mid scream, screaming would only worsen her situation. Her stomach still felt like it had made a home with her lungs and heart from sliding a few inches. A few inches but they feel like miles. Lex quickly tightened her grip on the axes as she readjusted her feet. She took a moment to reign in her breathing, pressing her body tight against the ice wall. Her hands were clenching so tightly to the axes Lex didn't know if she’d ever be able to let go.
It would be far from the first time she slipped on the ice nor been hurt, but this climb had already been so emotionally draining for her that she couldn't help but take longer than normal to compose herself.
Once she was sure she wasn't going to die Lex slipped her hand out of her glove to answer the call. “Hello?”
“Ms. Woods, pleasure to make your acquaintance” A deep haughty voice answered and Lex already knew this wouldn't be a pleasant conversation.
“Who is this?” she puffed out in annoyance as she resumed her climb.
“My name is Maxwell Stafford I represent Weyland Industries”
Lex let out a chuckle at the name of that company “Let me guess, he’s suing us again”
“You misunderstand. Mr Weland has offered to fund the foundation, with which you are associated, for a full year - if you meet with him”
Lex could not help the curiosity that filled her. To have the man that had sued them, more than five times, pay for a years worth of environmental work was a very lucrative offer “When?”
“Tomorrow” Mr. Stafford replied in a way that hinted at no room for negotiation
Lex let out a sigh. That would have been good money, even better to see the look on Mr. Weyland's face as he handed over the money, but the offer sounded too good to be true anyway. Especially from some one like Weyland “Tomorrow is going to be a problem” she grunted “it's going to take me a week to get back to the world”
“Yes I told him that” Maxwell answered before hanging up on her. Rude.
But Lex had reached the peak, these next few moments were critical as her position changed. She did not have another second to waste on Mr. Englishmen - if his voice was anything to go by. She’s a little more drained than she'd like having had to put some of her focus on the conversation rather than her climb but she was at the top.
“He said he didn't have a week” A voice shouted.
Lex looked up, startled, to hear the voice from the phone sounding so close. A tall dark man in a long black coat and beanie was standing in front of a helicopter with such a nonchalance stance that Lex already knew she hated him.
You’ve got to be kidding me she thought.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
University of California Berkeley - Professor Marks Lecture
The clicking of the auditorium doors behind Lily had her glancing at what student would bother to come to the professor's lecture with only five minutes remaining. But a quick once over told Lily that he wasn’t a student. He held himself professionally. Too militant.
Maybe police? Perhaps a student was being arrested for drugs, or maybe the professor was being fired. Oh no! Maybe she was being fired? Lily thought.
“...thus, human vocal abilities may have appeared much earlier in time than the first archaeological evidence for symbolic behavior...we’ll pick up again on the Origin of Speech Thursday. Class dismissed” The professor finished, with a boom to his voice, causing Lily to turn back toward the front of the classroom.
The shifting of backpacks, chairs, and trays as students started to leave woke Marcus Albernay who sat in the front row. Lily could see him trying to discreetly wipe the drool from his face with the back of his blue hoodie. Lily never understood how people could have the audacity to fall asleep in class where the professor could see them. She’d be embarrassed out of her mind. She could already feel the flutter in her stomach just for Marcus himself. Then again she had to admit the professors theories and research were amazing but he wasn't the best at public speaking. Monotone speakers never were.
Go figure for a professor in linguistics.
Lily slid her glasses off the top of her head and back onto her nose while she turned around to gather up all her papers. She glanced back at the man by the doors. He hadn’t moved, which was strange to Lily. If he was a police officer, here for a student, then it would have been easier to secure the student before class was released. Then again if he was an officer wouldn't he have had the dean of the school with him? And he wasn’t in uniform. That seemed pretty unprofessional, Lily thought as she draped her messenger bag over her shoulder.
Lily glanced toward the back doors one more time as she made her way down the stairs only to see that the man was gone. Maybe he just had the wrong classroom. But one look at the front of the classroom proved her wrong. Professor Marks was now standing next to the sketchy man deep in some sort of disagreement.
How’d he move so quickly?
“...can help” Lily heard the professor say as she approached, the professor turned at that moment to gesture towards her.
“Mr. Weyland asked specifically for you Dr. Marks” the unknown man sighed but Professor Marks ignored him completely.
“Lily, this is Mr. Maxwell Stafford, he works for Weyland Industries. Mr. Weyland has offered to fund our research for another year" Excitement clear in his voice "If we were to meet with him to discuss some possible work he would like us to do for him. But I explained to Mr. Stafford that I couldn't leave my research at this time. However...you could take my place!”
“No,” Mr. Stafford affirmed.
“Mr. Stafford. Weyland sent you here because he wants the best of the best in all aspects of whatever endeavor he is taking on.” Professor Marks began “And that is exactly what you are getting. Lily has been working with me long before she received the official title as my assistant. She has been a part of my research team since the second year I started my study over eleven years ago.” Dr. Marks crossed his arms over his protruding belly. A sign Lily had learned meant he would not budge on his stand of the topic.
Dr. Marks was a walking contradiction that had Lily letting out a light chuckle. Big burly man with a long coarse beard but a sweetheart to the core. A professor of linguistics but a monotone voice.
“Mr. Weyland may have need for a small show of skill during this meeting. A show of skill your assistant here could not do for you” Mr. Staffords statement caused Lily to bristle in annoyance.
Obviously Mr. Stafford held little to no interest in Lily and though she was annoyed a bigger portion of her understood. He didn't know her. He didn't know the skills she could bring. Lily knew she did not look her age - she tended to come off a bit younger looking - and her short stature did not help her case. But this was an opportunity of a lifetime, a full years worth of funding for research! Not to mention the research as a whole was just starting to take a turn toward one of her linguistic interests.
Lily hated confrontation - hated causing trouble. She knew people tended to walk all over her more than the average person but even she had her limits. And unlike most people Lily could back up whatever she said if it came down to it. Her whole life she had been forced to be tough. She was the only girl born in a family filled with hunting crazed and wrestling obsessed men. Her three older brothers never cared about being gentle and her father always told her to suck it up. Now was one of those times.
Lily stood tall and faced Mr. Stafford head on “And what show of skill are you here to show us in regards to Weyland Industries Mr. Stafford? Are you one of the vital scientists employed by Mr. Weyland?” She questioned “I think not...For your information, as Professor Marks explained I have been working with him for the past ten years. I am well up to date on all the recent studies in linguistics if you are wanting an opinion on such matters. I am fluent in eight different languages and can confidently speak another two on top of that, if you are in so desperate a need for a translator. Also my main study is in Articulatory Phonetics so if Mr. Weyland has somehow stumbled upon some unknown civilization. I'd be the best at figuring out what they’re saying and replicating those sounds” Lily snapped at him.
Lily did her best to hide the tremble in her hands. Conflicting emotions and thoughts swarmed her mind as years of built in instinct told her that she was about to face physical retribution for her words, and Lily had no doubt with the way Mr. Stafford stared at her with a slow forming grin that he could easily inflict said punishment.
Oh god he was going to murder her! Lily thought. Mr. Stafford was going to murder her for speaking at him like that. That's what she got for being so rude. She could have just tried to persuade him but no she had to go flaunt her skills at him. Question his skills!? She’ll never -
“Pack your bags Ms…” Mr. Stafford spoke
Wait what? “What?”
“Ms. Andreu. Her name is Ms. Lily Andreu” Professor Marks interrupted with a chuckle.
Mr. Stafford still had that grin on his face as he walked back up the auditorium steps. "I’ll meet you back outside this building in two hours Ms. Andreu. I assume that is enough time to gather your things?” He explained. “Oh and do pack for the extreme cold Ms. Andreu” and then he was gone.
“...What just happened?” Lily asked out loud causing Professor Marks to laugh
"Oh Ms. Andreu, such a brilliant mind you have but you get lost in it too much. Stay safe, pack well and have fun" With that he turned away to gather his own things leaving Lily standing alone in the auditorium loosely clutching the strap of her messenger bag.
“What just happened?” Lily mumbled and she couldn't help but to think she should have called in sick.