Wallace has asked to write the second part simply because I can cover the technical aspects of the story better not that is it terribly complicated but then Wallace hates anything technical. Before the Corcas dweebs turned up I was looking a the auxiliary console which as it turned out was almost useless except for the fact that the keyboard and terminal appeared to working fine. The was prompt was: DOS> I had worked this much out when they appeared round the corner, what I said to Wallace was probably more through ego that anything else. Wallace really didn't need me telling him it was hopeless.
The middle of three men spoke first, “Well, well we finally meet the infamous detective. I see you've met Mr Brown my pet a present from Johnny here and you had better tell your woman that she is wasting her time that console is completely locked out from the control room up top.” Wallace replied, “Tell her yourself or are you afraid of women and you don't have much of a imagination I mean calling this beast Mr Brown.” While they were chatting I had noticed that Johnny Howard was actually quite cute too young for me of course, a complete shame that he got mixed up with Dwight who obviously was just another male chauvinist pig. “I'm sure she heard me, as for imagination okay I'm not too good with coming up with names but then I'm excellent at everything else!” Dwight retorted loudly as if he needed to shout.
All the time they were talking I was typing, the command prompt was someone's poor attempt at humour. The system was Unix based although I didn't recognised the base code it was probably a custom job since I'm sure there aren't many suppliers of: Breath of God Satellite Control Operating Systems out there. Not a great acronym really: BOG S COS. Still Unix is far easier to hack than many GUI (Graphical User Interface or PAC (Point and Click)) based systems, sorry I'm getting bogged down in the technical aren't I? I told Wallace I wouldn't be any good at telling the story. Basically I had found Max's program that he embedded into the system before Dwight killed him at least Max appeared to have shown some remorse before the end. However I couldn't get the damn thing to run. Behind me Wallace was saying, “Ah! Yes, like coming up with interesting ways to destroy the world?” “We are not destroying it you stupid man, we are saving it! Do you really think we would let the asteroid actually get closer enough to cause an issue, we have worked everything out to nine decimal places. We are completely safe.” “So burning the air we breath is safe is it?” “Don't be silly the atmosphere won't actually ignite the chances of that happening are millions to one. Is that woman of yours completely deaf?” I knew that he was trying to distract me, I was so aching to wipe the smile off his face with a well aimed fist, however I knew if I got Max's program to fire then that would probably do the same trick.
At that point two guards came round the other side of the column both were carrying MP7 sub-machine guns, I used to own the airsoft version until I got bored with it. They stood a little to left of Mr Brown who so far had been quite quiet though the prospect of loud noises going off near a woolly mammoth I didn't like to consider. Wallace had decided to try his trick of divide and conquer, “Is that what you told Joe and Max before you killed them?” Johnny Howard looked at Dwight quite startled obviously he wasn't involved in Dwight's plan. Wallace continued, “Well it looks like you haven't told your associates that when someone becomes a problem you just kill them.” I heard Dwight say “Den here knew he is not as squeamish Johnny, although Johnny doesn't really care about anything he is quite single minded. By the way I forgot to mention the asteroid should have just entered the atmosphere according to my calculations and I'm never wrong.” That's when I managed to trick their computer system into firing Max's program off, of course I had forgot that Max had said it would require at lot of power and then everything happened all at once.
Let me see if I can get it all in order for you, first a klaxon went off and a computer voice said, “Intruder Alert.” Then all the lights dimmed and I could barely see anything, Dwight shouted “What hell have done, you will destroy...” his voice cut off as I felt rather than saw Mr Brown's bulk shift towards the left where the guards were standing. I heard the sound of shots, Wallace shouted to hit the deck, I felt a sharp sting to my left shoulder and I got down quick as lightening. I was pretty sure I had caught a ricochet, the lights brighten somewhat and I saw that both guards were on the floor, Dwight and Dennis crumpled against the wall. Johnny Howard was the only person standing, Mr Brown had obviously got upset because he had lost control of his bladder I suspect the loud noise of shots had scared him. My God it smelled. I got up and saw that the terminal on the console was shot to pieces I could only hope that Max's program worked.
Mr Brown seemed happier and was marking his new found territory in the usual manner that animals do, he happily marked the two guards and Dwight and Dennis. The lights were back on and I helped Wallace back to his feet. Wallace looked concerned when he saw I was bleeding bless him. The cavalry arrived a few minutes later in the guise of Inspector Galesh and about fifty coppers better late than never I suppose.
After that is was Wallace and me endlessly telling the Inspector exactly what happen from the very beginning, over and over again. What is it with men that you have to tell stuff again and again. They always seems to do stuff the hard way.
One last item before I finish, Wallace just got off the phone with Tom Kat, if you remember that was Joseph Kat's brother. Apparently the solicitor had found the keys to Joe's lock-up. He is coming to pick up Wallace just in case there is anything pertaining to the case. Wallace says he will post up anything interesting tomorrow. That's it, I can only assume Max's program worked because the asteroid didn't burn our atmosphere or impact the Earth. Somebody's else turn to save the planet next time I think.
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