Jon didn't have much time to consider Karyn's theory, because right then his mother's voice interrupted his thoughts, rather loudly.
"JON! ANSWER ME!!!"
Jon started violently. "Mom! What! Where are you?" He looked around wildly, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Karyn stared at him like he'd grown an extra head. "I didn't hear your mother come home."
His mother continued yelling at him, as if she hadn't heard him. "JON! Wake up! Are you all right? Why won't you answer my IMs!?"
Jon put his hands to his ears. "She's like, yelling right in my head! I guess you can't hear her, right?"
Karyn had another flash of inspiration. "Jon, this is what's replaced our phones. What's she saying?"
"She wants me on IM. I don't think she can hear me."
"You better answer her quick, before she thinks something is wrong!"
"JON!"
He winced, that one actually hurt. "She already does! Damn, how do we do this?" Jon was starting to panic.
"Um... Use the Replomat!"
"What should we make? A phone?"
"No! It has a net connection! I bet we're all supposed to be wired!"
"Yah, good idea!" Jon rushed back into his bedroom, with Karyn quick on his heels. "Replomat, can you um, work like a phone, can I talk to my mother through you?"
"Yes, I can."
Jon felt a bit more on even footing now. "Replomat, establish a voice link to Mom."
"Redirecting audio input and output... connection established."
Jon's mother's voice came to them from the Replomat. "Jon, why is this link through your replicator? What are you up to?"
"Hi Mom! Sorry... um.. Had a little problem; this was the first thing I could think of."
"What kind of problem?? The House Net says everything is working! What are you and Karyn doing?"
"Um, nothing, Mom, really! I just couldn't talk back to you for some reason."
"You had me so worried! The House said you both were awake with normal vitals."
Karyn muttered, "Big Brother is alive and well."
Jon's mother heard that. "Karyn, you know I wouldn't spy on you, but this felt like an emergency. Another second and I really would have accessed the House mikes and speakers. And the cameras if I had to. Why weren't you answering, either?"
Karyn, now on the spot, thought quickly. "Sorry, Mrs. Winters! Jon and I were... experimenting with interfaces. We'll fix everything before you get home, promise." She waited on tenterhooks for the response. She hoped she'd bluffed well enough for Jon's mother to buy it.
Karyn caught Jon's eye, pointed to his pocket, and mouthed 'stone'. Jon nodded his acceptance.
"Karyn, it's OK to call me Sheila. 'Experimenting with your interfaces', huh?"
Jon came to her rescue. "Really Mom, it was, like a brand new program we were trying. But it has some bugs, we'll have to switch back to normal. Shouldn't be too hard. Sorry we worried you."
Sheila's voice took on reproving tones. "Jon, be careful with stuff you download! I won't want an expensive repair bill! I don't think the Reids would either!"
Jon tried to keep the sound of relief out of his voice. "Don't worry, I made backups. So, Mom, why did you call?"
