Freefall 0811 - 0820 (H)
Freefall 0811
The inspector cometh
Could the Inspector have failed us?
Yes. Our ship is provisionally certified. He doesn't have to give us permission to fly until we're fully certified.
How do we get fully certified?
We have to fly the ship. It's bureaucracy that dates back to earth. It's known as a catch-22.
A catch-22. Sigh. Human beings have so many wonderful things that I want to introduce my species to.
Freefall 0812
The inspector cometh
Freefall 0813
The inspector cometh
Okay, ship. You've passed your inspection. Let's go!
Request denied. The engineer has not yet approved conditions for take off.
Nuts. I'm the captain. But it's Florence who really controls if we can fly and what we can do.
I've got to find out what trick the humans used to convince the people who build and maintain the machines that they're the ones with no power.
Freefall 0814
Freefall 0815
The inspector cometh
Hi. I came to see if there was anything for me to do.
Hi. *sniff* Odd. The Inspector's smell is back.
Sniff? Snuff, snuff. Sniff!
Uhm, yes. I don't think he knows it's gone.
Helix. Go. You can catch the Inspector before he's gone too far.
I come to help and this is what happens? When will I learn not to listen to those urges that tempt me to do the right thing?
Is that the Inspector's watch?
Freefall 0816
The inspector cometh
A watch is… tiny! How were you able to smell it?
The Inspector was sweating and the watch case was metal. That doesn't hold scent well.
On metal, the volatiles boil off very rapidly. It makes for a strong scent for a very short time. If the watch had been here a day or two, I wouldn't have noticed it.
Florence puts out a lot of fluff when she talks. Things like safety, flight plans, life support. But every now and then she says something I really need to know.
Freefall 0817
Return of the watch and obligatory chase scene
Thinking about it, Florence had the right idea about giving the Inspector his watch back.
But her timing and execution are off. I should be the one who gives back the watch after the Inspector has returned and settled into his office.
He'll be so surprised that I'm trying to give his watch back, that I bet I'll be able to get his wallet.
Freefall 0818
Return of the watch and obligatory chase scene
Freefall 0819
Return of the watch and obligatory chase scene
Freefall 0820
Return of the watch and obligatory chase scene
Excuse me. Would you like to join an angry mob to savagely beat Sam Starfall?
Let me check with the wife.
… an angry Mob. … Sam Starfall. Well, yes. I'm pretty sure there'll be another one.
It must have been so much easier to organize angry mobs before cell phones.
I'd like to think of this as my “Head start” time.