Phone Home
He dialed NEMO directly this time.
<<<<<<CONNECTION>>>>>>
He chose CONVERSATION PIT from the menu. La Creme was there, alone and probably waiting.
What’s the panic?
YOU DON’T KNOW? <<CREME>>
Just finished exams...been locked up in student hell...
NASA ABORT...SHUTTLE WENT TO SHIT. <<CREME>>
So? More Beckel fuel problems I s’pose.
UH...UH. NOT THIS TIME. NASA GOT AN INVITATION. <<CREME>>
From aliens? SETI finally came through?
NOPE. FROM CHRISTA MCAULIFFE. <<CREME>>
Right.
SERIOUS. SHE WELCOMED THE CREW OF COLUMBIA. <<CREME>>
Get real...
I AM. CHECK OUT CNN. THEY RECONSTRUCTED THE VIDEO SIGNAL BEFORE
NASA SHUT THE FEED DOWN. THE MONITORS HAD A GREETING FROM CHRIS-
TA. ABORTED THE DAMN MISSION. <<CREME>>
I don’t get it.
NEITHER DO I. BUT, DON’T YOU PLAY AROUND IN NASA COMPUTERS? <<CREME>>
Sure I do. Poke and Play. I’m not alone.
AND REPROGRAM THE LAUNCH COMPUTERS? <<CREME>>
Never. It’s against the Code.
I KNOW THAT, BUT DO YOU? <<CREME>>
What are getting at?
OK GOOD BUDDY...STRAIGHT SHOOTING. DID YOU GO IN AND PUT SOME MESSAGES ON MISSION CONTROL COMPUTERS? <<CREME>>
Fuck, no. You know better than that.
I HOPED YOU’D SAY THAT. <<CREME>>
Hey...thanks for the vote of confidence.
NO OFFENSE DUDE. HADDA ASK. THEN IF YOU DIDN’T WHO DID? <<CREME>>
I don’t know. That’s sick.
NO SHIT SHERLOCK. NASA’S ONE PISSED OFF PUPPY. THEY HAVEN’T GONE PUBLIC YET, BUT THE MEDIA’S GOT IT PEGGED THAT HACKERS ARE RESPONSIBLE. WE MAY HAVE TO LOCK IT UP.
Damn. Better get clean.