using antibacterial reusable towels. As well as those
ultra-violet hand dryers. For what it’s worth, research shows that they are
very effective. And there is no such thing as a paper towel up there in space.
Things are different in long-term habitats like that.”
Keller chewed his salad and thought for a bit. When
Molly wasn’t looking, he stole a tater tot from her plate. “I guess that makes
sense to avoid disposable things. Every ounce of weight carried to the space
station costs over two thousand dollars, so I guess those paper towels would
cost a ton of money.”
He chewed some more and asked, “So you’re all getting
the one million dollar bonus, right?”
Everybody stopped chewing and looked around the table.
They observed each other to see if anybody gave a hint that they were getting
more or less. It was silent. Poker faces were on full power.
Keller added, “That’s not really a question. You are all getting that bonus. It was my idea. I had to make sure we had the best people
here; mainly because you had to take up my slack since I’m not an engineer. I
just make money magically appear. And rockets. I make them appear too. It’s a
skill.”
Even Yeva smiled. Keller had the gift of gab. In one
fell swoop, he bumped their egos and made a self-deprecating statement. He was
far more skillful than he let on.
Yeva stopped chewing and motioned with her fork while
saying, “You do not deserve to be on the mission Mr. Murch. You have not earned
it like we have.”
Adam interjected, “Hang on now, let’s be diplomatic.”
Keller spied a challenge. He laughed and said, “Well,
let’s look at it this way. With my technology, this entire mission is being
planned and launched in less than a year, maybe even half that. If you had to
wait on the defense contractors alone, you’d be lucky to get a design approved in less than six years. By then, you, Yeva, would be considered too old for
this type of mission. Not only do I deserve to be on this rocket, but you
should be thanking me.”
He smiled as if he’d just won a battle. Then he
continued.
“To be honest, this was supposed to be an American
mission only. Yes, it’s true. Adam, I don’t think you knew that. We had to
invite a Russian because I sort of shafted the Russian Defense Bureau out of
$20 million in a deal that was no longer, um, strategic for Murch Motors.
That’s one of the reasons why they weren’t going to let us use the Soyuz to
launch astronauts anymore. However, they suggested Yeva and she seems very
qualified. Yeva, you are our Fast Pass to the Soyuz launch vehicle.”
He made the last point by sticking a fork into another
tater tot from Molly’s plate.
Keller added, “Now of course, Adam, you are the team
captain so, you know, I will defer all technical decisions to you. I am just a
worker bee here.”
He bowed his head toward Adam.
Adam said, “Thanks Keller. Let’s agree that Keller has
earned a spot on this mission, although in a non-traditional way. Without him,
there would not be a rocket ship to get us there in a reasonable time. Okay?”
Molly was playing with what food she had left; a
thought was being tossed around in her head. She looked up and said, “So have
any of you seen the missing photo?”
Adam quickly replied, “Huh? Yes, we’ve seen them.”
Molly added, “No, you’ve seen photos A, B, and C. The
paperwork said there were four photos originally, but it wasn’t in the packet
that I got. In fact, I haven’t talked with anybody who’s seen it.”
Keller took a swig of coffee and said, “It’s funny
that you mention that. I spoke with the NASA director about it and he told me he
couldn’t discuss it.”
Adam looked confused.
“That just doesn’t make sense. It’s either something
wonderful or something terrible.”
Keller stabbed the last tater tot and said, “You’re
right, it doesn’t make sense, but they probably have a good reason. Training
starts tomorrow. Eat
ultra-violet hand dryers. For what it’s worth, research shows that they are
very effective. And there is no such thing as a paper towel up there in space.
Things are different in long-term habitats like that.”
Keller chewed his salad and thought for a bit. When
Molly wasn’t looking, he stole a tater tot from her plate. “I guess that makes
sense to avoid disposable things. Every ounce of weight carried to the space
station costs over two thousand dollars, so I guess those paper towels would
cost a ton of money.”
He chewed some more and asked, “So you’re all getting
the one million dollar bonus, right?”
Everybody stopped chewing and looked around the table.
They observed each other to see if anybody gave a hint that they were getting
more or less. It was silent. Poker faces were on full power.
Keller added, “That’s not really a question. You are all getting that bonus. It was my idea. I had to make sure we had the best people
here; mainly because you had to take up my slack since I’m not an engineer. I
just make money magically appear. And rockets. I make them appear too. It’s a
skill.”
Even Yeva smiled. Keller had the gift of gab. In one
fell swoop, he bumped their egos and made a self-deprecating statement. He was
far more skillful than he let on.
Yeva stopped chewing and motioned with her fork while
saying, “You do not deserve to be on the mission Mr. Murch. You have not earned
it like we have.”
Adam interjected, “Hang on now, let’s be diplomatic.”
Keller spied a challenge. He laughed and said, “Well,
let’s look at it this way. With my technology, this entire mission is being
planned and launched in less than a year, maybe even half that. If you had to
wait on the defense contractors alone, you’d be lucky to get a design approved in less than six years. By then, you, Yeva, would be considered too old for
this type of mission. Not only do I deserve to be on this rocket, but you
should be thanking me.”
He smiled as if he’d just won a battle. Then he
continued.
“To be honest, this was supposed to be an American
mission only. Yes, it’s true. Adam, I don’t think you knew that. We had to
invite a Russian because I sort of shafted the Russian Defense Bureau out of
$20 million in a deal that was no longer, um, strategic for Murch Motors.
That’s one of the reasons why they weren’t going to let us use the Soyuz to
launch astronauts anymore. However, they suggested Yeva and she seems very
qualified. Yeva, you are our Fast Pass to the Soyuz launch vehicle.”
He made the last point by sticking a fork into another
tater tot from Molly’s plate.
Keller added, “Now of course, Adam, you are the team
captain so, you know, I will defer all technical decisions to you. I am just a
worker bee here.”
He bowed his head toward Adam.
Adam said, “Thanks Keller. Let’s agree that Keller has
earned a spot on this mission, although in a non-traditional way. Without him,
there would not be a rocket ship to get us there in a reasonable time. Okay?”
Molly was playing with what food she had left; a
thought was being tossed around in her head. She looked up and said, “So have
any of you seen the missing photo?”
Adam quickly replied, “Huh? Yes, we’ve seen them.”
Molly added, “No, you’ve seen photos A, B, and C. The
paperwork said there were four photos originally, but it wasn’t in the packet
that I got. In fact, I haven’t talked with anybody who’s seen it.”
Keller took a swig of coffee and said, “It’s funny
that you mention that. I spoke with the NASA director about it and he told me he
couldn’t discuss it.”
Adam looked confused.
“That just doesn’t make sense. It’s either something
wonderful or something terrible.”
Keller stabbed the last tater tot and said, “You’re
right, it doesn’t make sense, but they probably have a good reason. Training
starts tomorrow. Eat
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