MAF's staff had been searching through the last few years' newspapers, looking for cases of government corruption or abuses of power, investigating th...m further (newspapers not being the best sources of factual information), and MAF was now ready to start pursuing several of them. The idea of "instant justice" was one that appealed strongly, certainly much more so than sympathy for the criminal Frankensteins' families, so we came out of it looking good.Another idea that appealed strongly was. But when I got back home there was a message on our phone. Emily wanted meto call her back......"Dawn, I am so looking forward to dinner at your place, but can I get arain check until tomorrow? You haven't started preparing anything yet, Ihope? See, the school staff has been pressuring all the families to cometo tonight's awards celebration, where kids get plaques and ribbons forthings they have done, and there will be food booths and some bands and acomedian and even a magician, plus some kids. She couldn't see any of the aliens yet, but the sounds of their approach grew louder. With a heave, she closed the thick metal hatch and locked it. "How long until the drop ship arrives?" she asked Bishop."Five minutes," Bishop replied, not looking up for the computer console where he was piloting the vessel remotely. Even he, an android, felt a sense of relief knowing not all was lost."How long until the reactor blows?" Ripley asked, a little more urgently.Still not looking up Bishop replied,. Have a nice remainder of your date, ' the judge said, bringing the gavel down with a bang.As Darla was being escorted away, she turned and looked around the courtroom. When she saw me I smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She smiled back, but seemed a bit embarrassed by the whole thing.Twenty minutes later, we were again seated in a little diner. Darla was sipping coffee, and had asked me why I had stuck around."Why, you're my date! It wasn't finished. What kind of date would I be if I baled when.