waited. A few minutes later she heard President Miles’ voice, “Hi Ms. Gettnor, my staff has been trying to arrange a White House visit for those of you who developed your spacecraft and rescued astronauts Abbot and White. I know you haven’t received a call as yet, but that’s because my people started with your father and his AI told them to speak to you instead. Since I was never able to apologize to him after the incident with General Harding, I thought he was probably still angry about it and tried to call him directly. I was also referred on to you. Is he upset? Not a Democrat? Is there anything I can do?”
Tiona stifled a giggle, “I don’t think so ma’am. It’s just that… my father’s not a social person. He’s not antisocial, more… non social. Although we haven’t talked about it, I’m pretty sure he’s not at all upset about what happened anymore. In his world it would be a problem that cropped up and that he’s already solved, not one he worries about anymore.”
“He solved?”
“Yes ma’am, well, mostly him. You know, in the sense that he notified General Harding’s superiors, up to and including you, about what the general was doing as well as helping us get out to Kadoma so we could obtain publicity… I’m pretty sure once Harding was shut down my dad pretty much forgot about the whole issue so he could go back to thinking about things he cares about.”
Sounding incredulous, President Miles asked, “Your dad is the one who broke into everyone’s AIs and told us what was happening?”
“Um, yes ma’am, I thought you guys knew that.”
“Is… he also the one who broke into the NSA’s system and put up the banners on their computers telling everyone that General Harding was engaged in illegal activities?”
“Uh, probably?” Tiona said, uncertainly. She had begun to wonder whether she should admit to what her father had done.
“I thought your dad was a physicist?”
“Um, he is. But, he’s also really good at programming. My mom, who worked as a programmer her whole career, says he’s a programming wunderkind .”
The president laughed softly, “You wouldn’t believe the consternation that’s overcome the NSA. Since none of the highly capable outside hackers would have had any interest in what Harding was doing, the NSA’s been assuming that the only person who could have done it would have been one of their own. They’ve been witch hunting to figure out who it was. Both to give them a commendation and to know who is able to do things like that. They’ve been embarrassed because they can’t even trace the intervention and because none of their people have stepped forward.” She laughed again, “Now they’re going to be trying to hire your dad!”
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll work for anyone else.”
Sounding curious, the President said, “Who’s he working for now?”
“Himself, he hates having anyone else tell him what to do.”
“Hmm, and I guess the thruster technology will bring in enough money that he won’t have to work for anyone else. Do you think if, during his visit to the White House, I personally asked him to consult with the NSA he might be willing to do it?”
“Oh, no ma’am. He won’t come to the White House. It’s hard to get him to leave the house. And it’s pretty much impossible to get him to work on something he’s not interested in. Sorry.”
“Really?!”
“I’ll ask him ma’am, but I know what the answer’s going to be. He’s, uh, really very different from most people.”
“Huh, and yet, he’s been able to play a major role in understanding the thrusters, as well as out-program the NSA?”
“And come up with the new fusion power plants, yes ma’am.”
“Those are his?” The president said, doubtfully.
“Yes ma’am, really good at physics and programming, but astonishingly bad with social interactions.”
***
When Tiona entered the basement, her dad was working on a device the size of
Tiona stifled a giggle, “I don’t think so ma’am. It’s just that… my father’s not a social person. He’s not antisocial, more… non social. Although we haven’t talked about it, I’m pretty sure he’s not at all upset about what happened anymore. In his world it would be a problem that cropped up and that he’s already solved, not one he worries about anymore.”
“He solved?”
“Yes ma’am, well, mostly him. You know, in the sense that he notified General Harding’s superiors, up to and including you, about what the general was doing as well as helping us get out to Kadoma so we could obtain publicity… I’m pretty sure once Harding was shut down my dad pretty much forgot about the whole issue so he could go back to thinking about things he cares about.”
Sounding incredulous, President Miles asked, “Your dad is the one who broke into everyone’s AIs and told us what was happening?”
“Um, yes ma’am, I thought you guys knew that.”
“Is… he also the one who broke into the NSA’s system and put up the banners on their computers telling everyone that General Harding was engaged in illegal activities?”
“Uh, probably?” Tiona said, uncertainly. She had begun to wonder whether she should admit to what her father had done.
“I thought your dad was a physicist?”
“Um, he is. But, he’s also really good at programming. My mom, who worked as a programmer her whole career, says he’s a programming wunderkind .”
The president laughed softly, “You wouldn’t believe the consternation that’s overcome the NSA. Since none of the highly capable outside hackers would have had any interest in what Harding was doing, the NSA’s been assuming that the only person who could have done it would have been one of their own. They’ve been witch hunting to figure out who it was. Both to give them a commendation and to know who is able to do things like that. They’ve been embarrassed because they can’t even trace the intervention and because none of their people have stepped forward.” She laughed again, “Now they’re going to be trying to hire your dad!”
“Oh, I don’t think he’ll work for anyone else.”
Sounding curious, the President said, “Who’s he working for now?”
“Himself, he hates having anyone else tell him what to do.”
“Hmm, and I guess the thruster technology will bring in enough money that he won’t have to work for anyone else. Do you think if, during his visit to the White House, I personally asked him to consult with the NSA he might be willing to do it?”
“Oh, no ma’am. He won’t come to the White House. It’s hard to get him to leave the house. And it’s pretty much impossible to get him to work on something he’s not interested in. Sorry.”
“Really?!”
“I’ll ask him ma’am, but I know what the answer’s going to be. He’s, uh, really very different from most people.”
“Huh, and yet, he’s been able to play a major role in understanding the thrusters, as well as out-program the NSA?”
“And come up with the new fusion power plants, yes ma’am.”
“Those are his?” The president said, doubtfully.
“Yes ma’am, really good at physics and programming, but astonishingly bad with social interactions.”
***
When Tiona entered the basement, her dad was working on a device the size of
Similar Books
