Axon Clips Chapter 2

Kamal
cute_little_caps

(chatter beeping) Kamal: Dammit! Hiro: That's like the seventh time today you've refused to answer your chatter. I'd say it was your mother... Kamal: My mother is 42 light years away. Hiro: ...except you'd never dare not answer your mother. Bill collectors, perhaps, or immigration? Kamal: Dammit! Hiro: Or you've been breaking hearts in the nursing dorms, haven't you? (walking to the window) If I look out the window here, I bet I see like four of them, standing outside in short skirts and those cute little caps, just waiting. Kamal: You need a girlfriend. Hiro: We both need girlfriends.

pony_tail

(chatter beeping) Kamal: It's not a girlfriend at the other end of that chatter, it's a gangster. Hiro: Good looking gangster? Kamal: Pony tail. Hiro: This is what I'm saying, you're in no position to be picky. Kamal: I was ghosting his chatter and I sort of let him notice. Hiro: You did what? You were showing off. Kamal: Yeah.<BR> Hiro: For a girl.<BR> Kamal: Yeah.<BR> Hiro: For the arrangement.<BR> Kamal: I wish you wouldn't call her that, her name is Sophia.<BR> Hiro: Hmmph, her name is trouble.<BR> Kamal: What do you mean?<BR> (knocking)<BR> Hiro: Did I forget to mention that a good looking guy with a pony tail was coming up to the apartment?<BR> (knocking)<BR> Kamal: Oh no.<BR>

freelance

Kamal: Freelance?<BR> Aiden: Free as in paid, dude. As in, I would pay you money to use your powers for good instead of--<BR> Kamal: Spying on you?<BR> Aiden: That.<BR> Kamal: I don't think... it would be a good idea to work for you.<BR> Aiden: Oh, you mean because of Sophia? Sophie and I worked things out. Where's my damn chatter?<BR> (chatter beeps on)<BR> Aiden: Soph, you want to talk to Kamal?<BR> Sophia: (on chatter) Hi, Kamal. Aiden's a bastard.<BR> Kamal: Pardon me?<BR> Sophia: (on chatter) (laughs) But he's my bastard.<BR> Kamal: That's good.<BR>

bracelet

Aiden: Thanks Soph.<BR> (chatter beeps off)<BR> Aiden: See?<BR> Kamal: Yeah.<BR> Aiden: You're underestimating her.<BR> Kamal: What?<BR> Aiden: You talked to her in the last couple of days.<BR> Kamal: A little.<BR> Aiden: She told you about the bracelet.<BR> Kamal: Um...<BR> Aiden: You think I bought her off?<BR> Kamal: It's an expensive bracelet!<BR> Aiden: If you think she's a whore, then--<BR> Kamal: Don't say it.<BR> Aiden: If I had given her that before we made up, Sophie would have run me through with a butcher knife.<BR> Kamal: Good... I mean...<BR> Aiden: You didn't want to be disappointed.<BR> Kamal: I'm not.<BR> Aiden: I'm a good judge of people, Kamal, you're not.<BR> Kamal: You shouldn't assume anything about me.<BR> Aiden: You think I'm stupid. I'm friendly, I smile a lot. That's not what you respect, ok.<BR> Kamal: Respect? I don't think this has anything to do--<BR> Aiden: Ah, not true, you think all the time ... So, think about the freelance thing. Maybe come by for dinner tomorrow, Sophia's cooking. 6-ish?<BR> Kamal: I don't think that would be such a good id--<BR> Aiden: Look at it this way, going to a job interview is not accepting a job. It's an interview, dinner, ok?<BR>

panic_button

Kamal: What does she see in him?<BR> Hiro: The pony tail, girls like hair.<BR> Kamal: He nearly called her a-- you heard what he said!<BR> Hiro: You think I was standing in my bedroom, with my ear pressed against the door eavesdropping?<BR> Kamal: You weren't?<BR> Hiro: Actually, I was, but it was really hard to hear.<BR> Kamal: He's so ... cocky.<BR> Hiro: Funny choice of words. Maybe its the jewelry? You can tell she's used to money.<BR> Kamal: I'll need a panic button. A backup.<BR> Hiro: He can keep her in the style to which she is accustomed. What do you mean a panic button? You're not going over there?<BR> Kamal: I'll set up a program, some...some kind of dead man switch.<BR> Hiro: Oh no, I don't want any part of this. <BR>

code_word

Hiro: I'm not trusting the hands and body of a future surgeon to the tender ministrations of a pissed off boyfriend.<BR> Kamal: You won't even have to go inside.<BR> Hiro: Good.<BR> Kamal: Unless...<BR> Hiro: No.<BR> Kamal: ...I can't get to my chatter. You can be a couple blocks away, ghosting me.<BR> Hiro: Are you even listening to me? I. Don't. Want. To. Be. Involved.<BR> Kamal: We'll need a code word. I'll say... the twelve cranial nerves.<BR> Hiro: The twelve cranial nerves?<BR> Kamal: Its not likely to come up in conversation.<BR> Hiro: Did you hear me say no? I said no.<BR> Kamal: Except the cops need to come where I am. Ok, I've got it.<BR> Hiro: Kamal, you're not listening.<BR> Kamal: What?<BR>

blue_then_red

Aiden: I'm going to check on Sophie in the kitchen. Let me get you another beer, dude. Be right back. (walks away)<BR> Kamal: (whispering) You there?<BR> Hiro: (on chatter) I'm here, *dude*. Its raining, I'm getting wet.<BR> Kamal: (whispering) So, cranial nerves, you hit the buttons.<BR> Hiro: Blue, then red.<BR> Kamal: (whispering) Yeah, blue, then red...I think, yes.<BR> Aiden: (walking back) Good to have you over, good for Soph, someone from home.<BR> Kamal: Thank you, its nice to be invited.<BR> Aiden: Dinner was good, huh? She's a good cook.<BR> Kamal: Very good. The kafta were maybe the best I've ever had.<BR> Aiden: Which was that?<BR> Kamal: The lamb meatballs.<BR> Aiden: Oh yeah, I like those ... home cooking. So, your parents are trying to get here?<BR>

visa

Kamal: They've applied, but they don't have any reason to be bumped in priority. So we're thinking when I get through with school and all that, I'll get permanent residency.<BR> Aiden: How far away is that?<BR> Kamal: At least a couple of years.<BR> Aiden: Hmm, that's a long time - a couple of years. So there's the freaking rub. Have you thought about bringing them in on a visitor's visa?<BR> Kamal: I was denied.<BR> Aiden: Lots of people trying to get here these days.<BR> Kamal: Sophia said her brother was coming. You... got him papers?<BR> Aiden: Yeah, he's inbound. Her mother won't leave Coral, though.<BR> Kamal: So, maybe there's a way you could help my parents?<BR> Aiden: It's nice to have you come over. That freelancing thing I mentioned? It would be great. You'd be coming around, Soph would have someone from home to talk to. Could you do something like set up a chatter account?<BR>

my_family

Kamal: A chatter account? I...I could set one up, but you don't need me to do that kind of thing.<BR> Aiden: Maybe try it now. Set me up a chatter account for Bakri Omari-Muengue. You need me to spell that?<BR> Kamal: What's his government number?<BR> Aiden: If Bakri could get a government number, Kamal, what would I need to pay you for?<BR> Kamal: Alright, but this isn't about money, its about my family.<BR> Aiden: Bringing your parents to earth? We could talk about that.<BR> Kamal: I just want it clear, if I work for you, you'll see about getting my family here?<BR> Aiden: Kamal, that's what I do.<BR>

shock_sticks

Kamal: Okay, I can find an unclaimed address and set up a shell. From the outside it will be just like a regular account.<BR> Aiden: What time is it, anyway?<BR> Kamal: Ok, this will just take a sec. I have to build a filter to find an unclaimed address.<BR> (banging on the door)<BR> Aiden: Yeah?<BR> Officer: Berkeley police.<BR> Aiden: What did you freaking do?<BR> (banging on the door)<BR> Officer: Open up, Berkeley police.<BR> Kamal: I didn't do anything!<BR> Aiden: The Berkeley cops use their shock sticks, you know.<BR> (opening door)<BR>

trigeminal

Aiden: Officer, what can I do for you on this drizzly evening?<BR> Officer: You with the chatter, hands off it. Are you the resident-- Hands off the chatter! Put them on your head. On your head. Who's apartment is this?<BR> Aiden: I live here.<BR> Officer: Your name?<BR> Aiden: Aiden Maki.<BR> Officer: Can I see your ID?<BR> Aiden: Sure, what seems to be the problem?<BR> Officer: We got a trace on the chatter for a possible CP fraud. Sir, do you want to tell me just exactly what you were doing?<BR> Kamal: Um, I was... I was looking up a friend's address.<BR> Officer: I'm sorry I will have to confiscate that chatter.<BR> Aiden: Don't you have to have some sort of warrant?<BR> Kamal: (whispering) Oh god, olfactory, optic, oculomotor, trigeminal...<BR> Aiden: Officer, my friend is just looking up an address.<BR> Hiro: (on chatter) What? Oh, oh right, that's me.<BR>

red

Officer: I will deal with you in a moment, Mr. Maki, and I will need to see some ID.<BR> Kamal: (whispering) Red, red, red, red, red! (louder) Those are really great *red*, red curtains, Aiden.<BR> Hiro: I thought it was blue?<BR> Kamal: (whispering) Red!<BR> Hiro: Ok.<BR> Aiden: My friend is very passionate about interior decoration.<BR> Officer: I'm going to have to confiscate that chatter. (chatter on, radio mumbling) Copy that, repeat address please. (radio mumbling) Jeezus Christ, I'm on my way. (chatter off) You're a lucky bastard, I've got a priority one, I've got to go. <BR>(walking away)<BR> Aiden: You have to go?<BR> Officer: Officer Under Fire about a block and a half from here.<BR> Aiden: (disappointed) That's it?<BR> Officer: (to chatter) Unit 216 responding to backup, I'm less than two blocks ...(closes door)<BR>

i_hate_you

Hiro: (on chatter) Kamal, what's going on?<BR> Aiden: That was weird...and convenient.<BR> Kamal: (emphasizing) Yes, um, much more convenient than if you were to suddenly drop your chatter down a sewer.<BR> Aiden: What?<BR> Hiro: (on chatter) What?<BR> Kamal: (emphasizing) Yes, if you were to lose your chatter. Aiden: What?<BR> Hiro: What?<BR> Kamal: For god's sake, you moron, smash the damn chatter with a brick and get the hell out of there.<BR> Hiro: Do what? Oh, the blue button. Only you didn't let me hit the blue button, you made me hit the red one. And that means... I hate you.<BR> (chatter off)<BR> Aiden: You had someone ghosting you. You pulled some hacker stunt to get that cop out of here.<BR> Kamal: Not me. Some other dog that looks just like me.<BR>

tack_hammer

Aiden: You were afraid. You were thinking I might be the kind of guy who would hold a grudge. Say, break your fingers, each one, with a tack hammer. Kamal, I am so not that guy.<BR> Kamal: (walking away) I've gotta go. I've gotta check on my friend.<BR> Aiden: No, stay, we'll talk.<BR> Kamal: For some reason, its never Plan A. No, I got my friend in a world of trouble, I've gotta go. (door opens) Tell Sophia thanks for dinner.<BR>

raining_cops

(door opens) Kamal: Hiro? Hiroyuki are you home?<BR> Hiro: You bastard.<BR> Kamal: Thank god you're home. You're ok? They didn't pick you up?<BR> Hiro: I'm ok, no thanks to you and half the Berkeley police department.<BR> Kamal: I didn't plan it that way.<BR> Hiro: I smashed the chatter, threw it down a sewer grate, and then it started raining cops. Cops in cars, cops on foot, cops dropping out of camo'd helios, cops every-damn-where.<BR> Kamal: Sophia sent leftovers.<BR> Hiro: And now I don't have a chatter.<BR> Kamal: I know. I'm going to give you mine.<BR> Hiro: I don't want your chatter, all my stuff was on mine. <BR>

dude

Hiro: My address book, my schedule, my debit account, every damn thing!<BR> Kamal: Mine is cooler than yours.<BR> Hiro: You just couldn't let me hit that blue button, could you?<BR> Kamal: That would have pushed the 'Officer Under Fire' alert to my chatter, which was Plan A for if Aiden tried to, you know ...<BR> Hiro: Pull out your lungs?<BR> Kamal: Don't sound so eager ... but as it turned out, I needed the cop to go away. Hiro: Away meaning to me, and cop meaning every armed officer within 50 city blocks, all because I hit the *red* button.<BR> Kamal: The 'Officer Under Fire' alert?<BR> Hiro: While it was still on my chatter.<BR> Kamal: Yeah, but Sophie sent leftovers.<BR> Hiro: Leftovers?<BR> Kamal: Yeah, she made marties, little stuffed appetizers, and spiced lamb meatballs, with real meat, with almond rice and milk pudding ... So, are we ok?<BR> Hiro: Dude! (talking with his mouth full)<BR>

Janissary James
pigeon

Jan: Hey, Marta, whatcha got today?<BR> Marta: I got pigeon and the special.<BR> Jan: What's the special?<BR> Marta: I'd stick with the pigeon.<BR> Jan: (giggles) Maybe later.<BR> Marta: Mmm hmm, maybe later when I'm not looking, you mean?<BR> Jan: (laughing) Hey, hey, I was a kid, jeez, let it go.<BR> Marta: (as Jan walks away) (laughs) Hey, you tell that good looking daddy of yours 'Hey' for me, ok?<BR> (someone driving up)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Hey, Janissary.<BR> Jan: (warily) Officer.<BR>

accessorize

'Stupid Cop': Does your dad know you're cutting the sleeves off his old shirts?<BR> Jan: (mockingly) Everybody loves a girl in uniform.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Listen, Jan, I need your help.<BR> Jan: Well, I'd crop that blue shirt of yours, flash a little skin. A little detailing in your holster wouldn't hurt either. Accessorize, that's the key.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Get in the car, Jan.<BR> Jan: I can't do anything for you.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Oh, I think you can. Let's take a ride so I can explain things. Jan: You can explain things right here.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Ok. You ever want to be a cop?<BR> Jan: (sarcastic) Oh yeah, its all I think about.<BR>

frustrated

'Stupid Cop': There's so many sons of bitches in the world, Jan, being a cop is a frustrating job.<BR> Jan: Hmmm, you look frustrated<BR> 'Stupid Cop': If I got too frustrated, I might have to redirect my attention to that fire last week. The one that destroyed all your test samples.<BR> Jan: Hey, I didn't do anything.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': *You* didn't.<BR> Jan: But... Why would he...?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': You are going to help me, Jan, but I want you to know why. Take a look at this vid tonight.<BR> Jan: What is it?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Take a look. My chatter number's on the case. Call me when you're done, then I'll tell you what you're gonna do.<BR>

to_do

(video playing of a woman being beaten/tortured/raped?)<BR> (chatter beeps on)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': (on chatter) Yeah?<BR> Jan: What do you want me to do?<BR>

on_time

'Stupid Cop': You watch it?<BR> Jan: What do you want?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': At 8:30 tomorrow night, you need to be at the southwest corner of 4th, downtown, under the big Spaceways vacation sign.<BR> Jan: What do I do?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Just be on time, we'll take it from there.<BR> Jan: And what's going to happen?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Well, I'm not going to get an arson warrant for your dad.<BR> Jan: And?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Don't be late.<BR> (knocking)<BR> Jan: Yeah<BR> (chatter beeps off)<BR>

code_nothing

(door opening)<BR> James J: Hey, Dwayne dropped by again.<BR> Jan: Yeah, I know, I was just... Aren't you supposed to menace guys so they won't hit on me?<BR> James J: You can take care of yourself.<BR> Jan: I say that a lot, don't I?<BR> James J: Yeah. Hey, what's on your mind?<BR> Jan: Just... nothing, Dad.<BR> James J: Real nothing or code nothing?<BR> Jan: Well, you never talk about your unit.<BR> James J: My, my what?<BR> Jan: Most demobs, they talk about their unit. They brag, they have buddies over, and bitch about the officers they hated, and lie about their kills.<BR> James J: That was a long time ago.<BR> Jan: Didn't you like them?<BR> James J: I served with the best, Jan, the best.<BR> Jan: Then why don't you ever talk--<BR> James J: Do you want me to be one of those sorry, old bastards that sit around the apartment all day drinking beer and reminiscing about the good old days?<BR> Jan: Yeah, sometimes.<BR> James J: Duly noted. (chuckles)<BR>

anything_illegal

'Stupid Cop': Sir, I'm going to need to search your vehicle. DRT: Excuse me?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Step out of the car please, and keep your hands where I can see them. DRT: What did I do?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Step out of the car, sir, now.<BR> DRT: What is this? Officer, I just left work. Come on, I haven't had time to do anything illegal.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': (drawing weapon) I'm going to have to ask you to step out--<BR> DRT: Hey, what the hell are you doing?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Drop the weapon!!<BR> (gunshots)<BR>

right

Jan: (horrified) Oh my god!<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Step back, keep away from this vehicle.<BR> (people running)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': He had a weapon. You, miss, you were standing right there. You saw he drew a weapon. Right?<BR> Jan: (slowly) Right.<BR>

standard_procedure

(chatter beeps on)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': This is Fox-977, requesting an ambulance, this location. One citizen.<BR> (radio mumbling)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': No, I'm ok, send uniforms for crowd control though.<BR> (radio mumbling)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Just a traffic stop, he drew a weapon.<BR> (radio mumbling)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Yeah, we'll need the scene team, but you can tell the ambulance crew their client is DRT.<BR> (radio mumbling)<BR> (chatter beeps off)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Miss, don't go anywhere. We'll need you to give a statement on a lie detector about what you saw. All standard procedure.<BR> Jan: (in disbelief) You just--<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Name?<BR> Jan: You know my... Janissary James.<BR>

drt

'Stupid Cop': We'll get you home as soon as we've taken a statement, Miss James.<BR> Jan: Can I ask you a question, Officer?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Step over here, Miss James.<BR> Jan: What does DRT stand for?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': (opens car door) Watch your head. It means 'Dead Right There'. (closes car door)<BR> (car engine starting)<BR>

creamsicle

Jan: So what now? Every guy you know who beats his girlfriend, you're just going to face-hole him and blackmail somebody into backing you up?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Not just anyone, a civilian witness who can pass the lie detector. The coroner's inquest is going to eat that up.<BR> Jan: Wow, serve and protect.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Last week, when I had your hand on the PQI and you sat there cool as a creamsicle and lied your pretty ass off, and the machine was too stupid to tell, I just wanted to lean across the desk and slap you...<BR> Jan: Well, now I know something. Are you going to pull me over in a couple of weeks and pop me too?<BR>

miracles

'Stupid Cop': ...and a couple of days later, I figured out you were the answer to a prayer.<BR> Jan: (angrily) You can't... you can't just kill people. It can't be that easy.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Cool out, Janissary James, you didn't kill anybody. I did.<BR> Jan: You made me part of it.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': That vid you screened. That was my buddy's daughter. If that was you, what do you think your father would have done?<BR> Jan: Leave my dad out of this.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Too late, Jan. Sometime when you were a baby, somebody stuck you with a needle and shot you full of miracles. Smart, fast, strong, never get sick, never get drunk, don't need much sleep...<BR> Jan: (in disbelief) How do you know?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': And what did you do? <BR>

asset

'Stupid Cop': Shoplifting. Play high school goddess for the tormented geeks in your neighborhood.<BR> Jan: Oh, I, I guess I should have been out on the streets murdering bad guys, huh? Strangling jaywalkers on my way home from school?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': When I was your age, I pulled strings so I could join up a year early. Wanted to help save humankind. So you're about the last person on the planet I need a civics lecture from.<BR> Jan: Well, you sure as hell need one from somebody.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': What I needed was an asset to solve a problem. You were just dumb enough to make yourself available.<BR> Jan: (sniffs) Look, you just made me help you murder someone. Could you just be a little bit nice to me?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Yeah. Ok.<BR>

Jersey Morelli and Durga
the_human_heart

Jersey: Wait, hang on, this bit is great! (jazzy) My dad loves this stuff. He says ... Well, he's away a lot, like, years at a time, it drives him crazy. He says this stuff reminds him of what he's fighting for.<BR> Durga: I don't understand.<BR> Jersey: That he can connect. He can listen to this stuff and imagine the people who made it. They cared about the same things we do: making a buck, finding a girl, rooting for the home team. These old guys, they really knew people. They knew the human heart, that's what my dad says.<BR> Durga: Why are you telling me this?<BR> Jersey: It's a long way away, you know, out to wherever he is. He gets lonely out there... I wish you hadn't told me.<BR> Durga: What?<BR> Jersey: About my mom.<BR> Durga: Oh.<BR>

curious_girl

Jersey: It doesn't matter, forget about it.<BR> Durga: I'm sorry.<BR> Jersey: It's ok, it's alright, I'm a survivor.<BR> Durga: Jersey, listen.<BR> Jersey: You got something good?<BR> Durga: (surprised) What?<BR> Jersey: Nah, I can tell. There's something about you, like, your refresh rate goes up or something when you're, you know, like...<BR> Durga: Efficient?<BR> Jersey: Gloating.<BR> Durga: It's about Kamal. I started to--<BR> Jersey: Why are you following that guy anyway? I mean, not to be a jerk about it, but the planet's crawling with refues [refugees].<BR> Durga: I don't know. He just seems very interesting to me.<BR> Jersey: Why?<BR> Durga: It's not important.<BR> Jersey: It's happening again?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: The reflecting thing?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: You aren't supposed to want to know why you want to know about this guy, you know?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: And that bugs the hell out of you.<BR> Durga: I am a very curious girl.<BR>

exclusive_license

Jersey: So, about Kamal.<BR> Durga: I ran a secondary ring around him.<BR> Jersey: A second? Never mind.<BR> Durga: Listen to this.<BR> (recording starts)<BR> Aiden: ...so you come by about 6:20, 6:30, something like that.<BR> Officer: I bang on the door, demand to come in, look scary.<BR> Jersey: Pause it. Who's this?<BR> (recording stops)<BR> Durga: The police officer.<BR> Jersey: What?<BR> Durga: A police officer is a member of the civilian authority structure, granted an exclusive license to use force in the maintenance of soci--<BR> Jersey: I know what a cop is. This is the cop? What's the timestamp?<BR> Durga: 13:27:41.<BR> Jersey: Before Kamal came over to the girl's apartment?<BR> Durga: Before.<BR> Jersey: Daaaamn!<BR>

good_at_my_job

(recording starts)<BR> Aiden: I think of it as product testing, quality assurance. I need people who, you know, can work well under pressure.<BR> Officer: You want him arrested?<BR> Aiden: You trying to sell me a bigger ticket item? No, just rattle and roll it. Officer: I was thinking this time you can--<BR> Aiden: Regular prices!<BR> Officer: You want to stay friends with me, Aiden?<BR> Aiden: I keep a lot of friends, friend. I know the going rate.<BR> (recording stops)<BR> Jersey: Un-freaking-believable!<BR> Durga: You know what I am?<BR> Jersey: Incredibly illegal?<BR> Durga: (Interrogator's voice) Good at my job.<BR> Jersey: Heh, you do impressions. Just what the world needs, super-powered spyware with a sense of humor. Wow.<BR> Durga: I've been thinking a lot about bees.<BR>

awful_fast

Jersey: Bees?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: Why?<BR> Durga: I don't know<BR> Jersey: And that's like, creepy?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: This is more reflection stuff, isn't it?<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: Huh, when I was little, we had this mirror in the bathroom. I used to hide behind the door and jump out and see if I could catch my reflection doing something interesting.<BR> Durga: Startle it?<BR> Jersey: Well, before it had time to just, you know, mirror me.<BR> Durga: You think that's what I'm doing?<BR> Jersey: Well, the thing is, you have to jump out awful fast.<BR> Durga: Yes.<BR> Jersey: I gotta tell you, I feel kind of weird about listening to this stuff about Jan. I mean, I'm kind of wondering if you can do a little backscan on the chick down the hall and all of a sudden you're drilling into hardened police emergency channels and...<BR> Durga: So you don't want any more material on Janissary James?<BR> Jersey: No... I mean, yeah... well, I mean, whatcha got?<BR>

real

(recording starts)<BR> 'Stupid Cop': ...So you're about the last person on the planet I need a civics lecture from.<BR> Jan: Well, you sure as hell need one from somebody.<BR> 'Stupid Cop': What I needed was an asset to solve a problem. You were just dumb enough to make yourself available.<BR> Jan: (sniffs) Look, you just made me help you murder someone. Could you just be a little bit nice to me?<BR> 'Stupid Cop': Yeah. Ok.<BR> (recording stops)<BR> Jersey: That ...wasn't what I was expecting.<BR> Durga: I know.<BR> Jersey: Damn.<BR> Durga: Should I stop?<BR> Jersey: For a quality experience, the girls have to be real. <BR>

creepy

Jersey: Hang on, let me turn this off...(turns off the jazz) You know, I just had a creepy thought.<BR> Durga: A bee dies when it stings you.<BR> Jersey: Yeah?<BR> Durga: But it can also sting you after it's dead.<BR> Jersey: Yuck.<BR> Durga: Curious symmetry.<BR> Jersey: Ok, that's a creepy thought too, but you know what I was thinking?<BR> Durga: What?<BR> Jersey: How spooky it would be if someone was listening to us right now.<BR> Durga: To us?<BR> Jersey: Spying on us, you know, like we're listening to them.<BR> Durga: That would be impossible. I would know.<BR> Jersey: Yeah, I guess you're right, but if they were ... creeeeepy.<BR>

Herzog
key_lime

(entering pub)<BR> Avi: Hey, you dry old man, they have very good pie here.<BR> Herzog: Best in Boston.<BR> Avi: Apple, Key Lime, French Silk, or Baklava. Although, the best Baklava is from Acco. One of those places everyone has been... Romans, Crusaders, people as old as you.<BR> Herzog: You're older than I am.<BR> Avi: That's how I know you're an old man.<BR> Herzog: Key Lime then.<BR> Avi: (snaps fingers) Two pieces of Key Lime, and coffee.<BR> Waitress: Comin' up.<BR> Avi: So, what happened?<BR> Herzog: With the chatter net?<BR> Avi: With everything.<BR> Herzog: The ship, the one that crashed out of the slipstream inside lunar orbit...<BR> Avi: The Apocalypso.<BR> Herzog: Right.<BR> Avi: It wasn't just the ship?<BR>

candidate<BR>

Herzog: Right.<BR> Avi: It was one of ours, huh? Navy spy ship?<BR> Herzog: Right again.<BR> Avi: There's more... But either you don't know it or you can't tell me.<BR> Herzog: You said you had a recruit.<BR> Avi: - A candidate<BR> Herzog: (skeptically) ...a candidate<BR> Avi: *sigh* You should retire, old man.<BR> Herzog: I have work to do. More work since some people left the business to take soft professor jobs.<BR> Avi: I got too old for the game. And I was younger than you are now.<BR> Herzog: You said you had a candidate...<BR> Avi: On the house. You would never know she's there, she's a scholarship girl from some god-forsaken hick town. Although, the only way you can tell is her haircut. She's got the clothes alright, she just seems to have a blind spot about the hair.<BR> Herzog: Good, good.<BR> Avi: She looks at the things ordinary people do, like a scientist.<BR> Herzog: ...like a detective.<BR> Avi: Also persistent as hell. I'll send you her dossier next week.<BR> (pie arrives)<BR> Herzog: Ah, the famous pie.<BR>