"Computers and the Law I suppose?" Scott said drearily.

"Don"t make it sound like the plague," Tyrone laughed. "I"m doing it because I want to, and it"s needed. In fact I would expect a good amount of the work to be pioneering. Pro bono.

There"s no case history; it"ll be precedent setting law. I figure someone"s got to be there to keep it honest. And who better than . . ." Tyrone spread his arms around the back of the chair.

"You, I know. The great byte hope." Scott laughed at his own joke which triggered a similar response from Tyrone. "Hey, man.

I wish you all the best, if that"s what you really want."

A sudden beeping began. "What"s that?" asked Tyrone.

"A computer begging for attention. Let me see who it is."

Tyrone followed Scott into his office, still astonished that anyone could work in such a pig pen. And the rest of the house was so neat.

>>>>>

The computer screen held the image of the single word while whoever was calling caused Scott"s computer to beep incessantly.

"What the h.e.l.l?" Scott said out loud as he pecked at the keyboard standing rather than sitting at his desk.

wtfo

YOU"RE THERE. GOOD.

kirk?

YUP. WANNA GO TO A DEBATE?

Excuse me?

YOU WATCH THE PRESIDENT?

Of course. I have a mild interest in the subject.

SO DID I AND EVERY OTHER PHREAK IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEY"RE NOT HAPPY.

Why?

SEE FOR YOURSELF. THE CONVERSATION PIT AT NEMO IS Br.i.m.m.i.n.g. I GOT YOU AN INVITE.

I have a guest.

FRIEND OR FOE

friend. definitely.

REMEMBER HOW TO USE MIRAGE?

I can fake it.

To Tyrone"s amazement, Scott seemed to know what he was doing at the computer. Scott sat down, put his electronic conversation with Kirk on hold, and called up another program as the colorful screen split into two.

I got you on the bottom window.

YOU"LL SEE THE PIT ON THE TOP. JOIN IN WHEN YOU WANT.

Maybe I"ll just listen.

WHATEVER. I"M LOGGING ON.

The top window on Scott"s computer screen blinked off momentarily and then was filled with a the words from the dissident phreaks.

CONVERSATION PIT: KIRK, RAMBO, PHASER, FON MAN, POLTERGEIST,

AND WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? >

B THE FASCIST GOVERNMENT IS JUST TRYING TO TAKE OVER. THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS GOING RIGHT DOWN THE s.h.i.tTER

>

I AGREE. THEY LOOK FOR ANY EXCUSE TO TAKE AWAY ANY FREEDOM WE MAY HAVE LEFT AND THEY TOOK THIS h.o.m.oSOTO THING AND BLEW IT RIGHT OUT OF PROPORTION. JUST LIKE VIETNAM.

>

YOU DON"T BELIEVE THAT, DO YOU? >

YOU BET YOUR SWEET a.s.s I DO. SINCE WHEN HAS THE GOVERNMENT GIVEN A s.h.i.t ABOUT US? ONLY SINCE THEY REALIZED WE HAVE POWER WITHOUT THEM. THEY"RE NO LONGER IN CONTROL AND THEY"LL DO ANYTHING THEY HAVE TO TO GET IT BACK.

>

I DON"T THINK THAT IT"LL BE THAT BAD >

YOU BEEN HANGING OUT WITH THAT MASON GUY TOO MUCH

>

CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY. HE"S LISTENING >

ALL THE BETTER. HE"S AS BAD AS THE FEDS.

>

May I say something?

WHY DID YOU WAIT SO LONG?

I must beg to differ with Phaser with a question.

IT"S YOUR DIME.

>

Believe me, I understand that you guys have a point, about hack- ing and the free flow of information. But who"s in control now?

From my viewpoint, it"s not you and it"s not the government. It"s h.o.m.osoto.

SO?

>

So, if freedom is the issue as you say, I a.s.sume that you want to keep your electronic freedom at all costs.

RIGHT!

>

THAT"S THE POINT

>