"A friend of yours?" Lisa asked, looking at the raccoon.
"Sort of." Quill nodded slightly as he sat down in the chair, his hands resting in front of him. "Thanks to my impulsiveness, I've been wandering the interstellar society for quite some time. When I came back, Earth had undergone such significant changes, and humans had started to explore the interstellar society too."
After saying that, Quill looked around the office, where many peculiar items have appeared that had never been there in the era he left.
Lisa lowered her head, saying, "I knew it wasn't your fault when you had a dispute with Mandro. The parachuted director at the time didn't want me to interfere too much in the matter. I couldn't change your fate of being expelled."
"And you impulsively fled with the Kree spaceship to the depths of the stars. I can't imagine the dangers you must have gone through before finally returning here, but I have always felt guilty."
"So, Peter, I would never have asked for your help unless the situation was dire."
"Of course, I understand, Lisa. If you weren't so self-reliant and independent, never asking others for help, your talent wouldn't have been enough to fill the position of NASA's director. I've always felt guilty for interfering with your career, but if we both keep dwelling on guilt, let's not do anything."
Quill said jokingly, successfully making Lisa laugh. She shook her head saying, "I'm not this sentimental with others. Now, we really need to get down to business."
Showing a smile, Lisa sat opposite him, saying, "The good news is, with the development of space technology, I have a broader career space too."
Lisa handed out a business card. After Quill took it, he found the title on it said "Director of Accident Investigation Department in American Aerospace Administration."
Quill raised an eyebrow, saying, "I don't recall such a department in the aerospace administration. Was it newly established?"
Lisa nodded and said, "With the advancement of aerospace technology inevitably comes more aerospace accidents. I'm responsible for handling these accidents, I have been so busy. Still, lately, NASA's boss added a more complex task for this department."
Lisa put her hands on the table and looked at Quill, "You must have heard before you left. Over the years, countless unidentified flying objects have fallen on Earth, as if it was some kind of spaceship graveyard. At its peak, I had to deal with over 40 investigation reports of unidentified flying objects in a week."
"Originally, I took it in stride, but lately, things have been getting more unusual. The pressure is enormous, but I can't figure out what's going on. Quill, I won't beat around the bush. As your friend, I must ask for your help."
Quill nodded and said, "My abilities are limited, but if there is something I can help with, I will do my best to assist you."
Lisa let out a sigh, which took Quill by surprise. He had never seen this strong woman looking so worried. Then he heard Lisa say, "Most of the unidentified flying objects that fell on Earth were completely destroyed. The pilots, passengers, and important parts of the spacecraft were all burned out when they fell through the atmosphere at high speed."
"But over the years, among so many fallen unidentified flying objects, there are always a few lucky ones that can still keep some things after falling to the ground."
Quill nodded. He had heard during his work that something new was found in the wreckage of some unidentified flying objects, but most of the time, those things were useless. Human technology was too backward at the time, and the advanced alien artifacts could only collect dust in warehouses.
"Most of these lucky ones didn't carry any dangerous goods. Only parts of the spaceship could be dug up. But a small part of them was terrible... Have you heard of the Mandarin?"
The abrupt change in topic didn't give Quill time to react. But Lisa seemed not to expect an answer from him and explained herself, "He is a notorious fugitive, lurking on the remote border line of Eastern countries for a long time. The mystery of the Ten Commandments is what has allowed him to survive for so long."
"The Ten Commandments are one of the treasures brought by an alien spacecraft landing on Earth. Once snatched away by people with evil intentions, it can bring about terrible disasters."
"You mean..." Quill had a bad feeling.
"The director who expelled you that time is now securely in his position. Unfortunately, another unidentified flying object fell in the Rocky Mountains, quite well preserved. This director believes that there might be treasures like the Ten Commandments inside the spaceship."
Lisa closed her eyes and said sadly, "He believes that the aerospace administration should have full authority to investigate the unidentified flying object and thinks we should take the initiative to fight for the investigation rights of the spaceship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, S.H.I.E.L.D or any similar organization."
"He has sent two expedition teams for this reason, but they have failed miserably. The team members included Captain Coacher, Old Reiman and Professor Delta, who had only a few months left until retirement."
Quill widened his eyes, staring at Lisa and said, raising his voice, "How dare he?! They are just expedition members, not agents. How could he send them on a suicide mission?!"
Lisa covered her eyes, saying, "I have stressed this point to him many times, but I can't stop him. He is blinded by the allure of power. He thinks that NASA should have a more critical role in this era of everyone stepping towards interstellar, and he should have a more significant say. If nobody gives it to him, he will get it by force."
"But he's doing stupid things. So stupid!" Quill gritted his teeth and cursed. He then looked at Lisa, saying, "Are you hoping that I would investigate that spaceship?"
"No, quite the contrary, I am against anybody investigating that spaceship. My abundant professional experience tells me there are only endless dangers on it, no treasures. Therefore. I hope you can stop anyone intending to investigate it, especially our colleagues. Don't let them risk their lives anymore."
Lisa looked into Quill's eyes, saying, "I will find an official reason to send you to the frontline base where the spaceship crashed for investigation. But what you have to do is not get close to that spaceship but stop any additional people whom the director sends afterward. You may use any means, even if it means kidnapping them."
Quill also looked into Lisa's eyes, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, Lisa, but you should understand. This is not a solution."
"It shouldn't be up to us to find the solution." Lisa's eyes were full of deep meaning. She looked at Quill and said, "S.H.I.E.L.D should be in charge of this matter. Do you understand what I mean?"
The light outside the window dimmed, and the reflection on the Hudson River shined into the room through the thin curtain. The hand holding the quill finished another paragraph. The outdoor light fell on the tail of the last ink stroke, like the faint light coming out of a door that had just opened a crack.
"I understand Lisa's meaning. Of course, in my not so long professional career, I had had contact with agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and I clearly know which part of the world they are responsible for - the part that normal people, who were like me at the time, could never come into contact with. The part that hides deep beneath the ice and water."
There must be something in that spaceship.
I'm so certain because I saw an unspeakable fear in Lisa, in the eyes of this woman etched with resilience in every wrinkle."