The Investigator and the Outside Consultant –

"Larry, I need your help!"

"Agent Eppes, what can I do for you today?"

"It's actually 'Uncle Don' that needs your help."

"Oh? Is everything alright with your adoptive niece?"

"I need a rocket, Larry."

"Um … Don, you do realize that I don't actually own the space shuttle?"

"Well, yeah, but—"

"In fact, I was merely a passenger. The pilot was a remarkably steady-handed woman named Amelia Paches. We had several interesting conversations concerning the physics and the metaphysics of 'piercing' the atmosphere of Earth."

"Larry, I meant a model rocket. How high do they get?"

"I imagine that would depend on the means of propulsion and other factors."

"You mean you – Nena, just head to the car, I'll be right behind you – you mean you don't do model rockets?"

"Not since I was a small child. I've been more interested in aspects of astrophysics that could not be tested with cardboard and firecrackers."

"I need firecrackers?"

"I don't think so, for a rocket. A firecracker's energy is expended omni-directionally and probably wouldn't give you the desired thrust."

"It needs to go high. Do I just go to a hobby store?"

"I doubt that an off-the-shelf purchase would give you significant altitude."

"Larry, man, I need a rocket!"

"May I ask the nature of the urgency of this situation?"

"Nena thinks I launched a doll's head into space."

"I must not have heard you correctly. A doll's head?"

"Yeah, but I just hit it out of sight and if I don't find a way to stop her from launching the Lego spaceships now that I know about them, it's going to be my fault somehow."

"Lego spaceships?"

"Please, Larry, can you help me? My 'cool uncle' credentials are on the line!"

"Agent Eppes, I shall do my utmost."