The Disease of Planet VEE

Chapter II Planet Vee Returns

Location: Houston, TX, NASA space center. Date: January 11, 2100. Time: 4:00 AM.

Planet Vee is near earth. A meeting is being held to discuss the matter.

“80 Years ago Planet Vee was discovered by Phil and Garter Cranips. It sent gas from the sun into Jupiter, destroyed the N.E.S. probe, and caused the world’s most devastating earthquake of 12 on the Richter scale. 1000's of people died.

Today there are still some places where destruction is evident. Youth groups that can't do anything to permanently fix the damage have made the places look nicer with flowers and trees. These places are slowly getting fixed by the government, but until then the trees and flowers will have to do. We know ways of protecting the people and their property from total destruction.

In addition to that, Planet Vee won't come as close to earth this time. Our job is to find a way to make Planet Vee not come near earth at all. I have confidence that we can come up with a way to make Planet Vee not get as close as it's going to.

But if we can do better and complete the assignment word for word, that will make me have enough confidence to believe that we could build the star ship Enterprise. You have your orders. Let’s get to work!”

The astronomers and scientists got up and left the room along with the speaker, Bill Quips, President of NASA. One astronomer walked toward Bill in the hallway.

“Mr. Quips.”

“Yes.”

“You’re crazy! We can't move Planet Vee!”

“Why not?”

“You said that planet Vee destroyed the N.E.S. Probe!”

“Yes I did.”

“That probe was one step away from being called android!”

“So?”

“So! We haven't built any thing as advanced as The N.E.S. We couldn't even rebuild it if we tried.”

“Jonathan. You're not even tasting the gross looking mush.”

“What?!”

“You don't know if a food tastes good or bad until you try it. You don't know if something will work unless you know what the object you’re working with is like. Take that box over there.”

“OK.”

“I don't know what is inside or if it's empty.”

“So?”

“So. I don't know if I can lift it. It could have heavy parts or be filled with Styrofoam peanuts. You don't know until you try. Now all I'm asking you to do is to have an open mind and try the mush.”

“OK.”

“Good. Now get to work.”

“Yes sir!”