Free Mad Worlds Collide by Tony Teora Page B

father did.
    "Dad, I want to do something for my country. I think I can do something really big at the NSA. There are a lot of bad folks out there and I want to stop them."
    His father’s reply was only now hitting home. "Son, if yo wanna stop all bad folks you can start by quitting the NSA. Mark my word son, no good will a come from snoopin’ around people’s private lives. Talk to ‘em about US constitution and see how long they’ll keep ya. Darn, spent all that good money to let some school fill your head with dog poop."
    Joey and his father seldom talked anymore, but this call had to be made. He was going to have to cancel a long awaited vacation. The phone was ringing. Oh Mom, please answer the phone!   I really don’t need Dad’s attitude today.
    Ring…Ring…Ring…
                   "Milano residence, Nick speakin’."
    Joey hesitated.
    "Hello… hello ?" Nick continued.
    "Hi Dad, it’s Joey."
    "Hey, hozza my spookson doin’?"
    "Dad, I’m not in the mood for this crap. Please stop saying stupid shit. Is mom home?"
    "Your mama went to da store. I ain’t good enough to talk to? Well, you haven’t been home in over a year and you’re not in the mood? Been too busy tapping people’s phones, eh son?"  "Dad, you know I can’t talk about my work. Now please listen. I cancelled my trip home."
    "Really, Joey. Why? Your mama and I miss you. What’s goin’ on?" There was real concern in Nick’s voice.
    "Dad, trust me. I can’t talk about it. But something came up."
    "Well, whatever it is, ya know better than I, son, that your phone is tapped, right? All a you spooks gave up your freedom a long time ago. Did ya find anyone at work that talks about the US Constitution who still has a his job? Did ya son?  Son??!"
    Joey had never thought the agency was watching him before, but maybe the old man was right. Maybe he was being bugged. "Sorry Dad, look.  I want to come home but I’m not feeling well today.  It’s nothing big. Look, I’ll call you later when I feel better and see if I can fly out tomorrow." Joey was lying and his father could tell.
    "Son, you take a good care of yourself now, you hear? If you need anything call immediately. I have a few friends in Colorado, Capeesh?"
    "Yeah Dad I understand, thanks.  I’m ok, I love ya. Please tell Mom I love her too."
    Joey could not fly out tomorrow. He felt like he was eating his father’s words on a ham-on-rye buttered with shit.Son, if yo want to stop bad folks you can start by quittin’ the NSA. Today Joey wanted to quit. The e-mail he’d received on a private and secure NSA channel made no sense. Worse, it turned Joey’s stomach. The mail even deleted itself from the server within five minutes after receipt—a mission impossible trick. Was it a test by the NSA? The base was pretty funky with all the extra security. But hell, this was the tightest encryption system---not even the NSA could break it in less that a year using the main server. Joey had to change his password daily. How the hell could someone be sending this message?  Joey read the e-mail again.
     
    To:                    Joey Milano
    From:                 PIT
    Subject:             Private
     
    YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER. CANCEL VACATION TO ILLINOIS. IF YOU TELL ANYONE YOUR LIFE WILL BE AT GREATER RISK. TRUST NO-ONE. CHECK INTO MILSAT-ONE TRANSMISSIONS. TELL NO-ONE. SYSTEM HIGHEST PRIORITY. DO NOT RUN REVERSE CARNIVORE THIS WILL GIVE YOU AWAY BECAUSE OF NEW MSAT PROGRAM. CHECK TO CONFIRM AT MILSAT-ONE. SECURITY UNTRACEABLE AT MILSAT-ONE.
     
    DEFENDING…DEFENDING…DEFENDING…
     
    ********END OF MESSAGE
     
    Joey sat in his second story apartment overlooking the orange-brown dirt plains of Colorado Springs. He had brought home a printed copy of the message.
    Hell, he thought, if I get caught with this they’ll take my job.  Worse, there is no copy on the server.  They’ll think I wrote it myself!  They’ll think I’m nuts!