The Partner
Chapter 2
Josh spoke up saying. “Let’s fly to Argon Prime to the shipyard from there we can contact the Kingdom End shipyard to place an order. I have a friend at Kingdom End, Salas No we been working on a few ship upgrades. Salas will give you the best deal on the ship you want. Let’s finish our coffee and grab a breakfast bar to hold us over till we get to Argon Prime where I’ll by you the best meal you ever had. What do you say?”
Ann smiled saying. “That sounds great but were is your ship?”
Josh answered. “My ship is the Zipper a custom M5 in the docking bay ask the Dock Master I’ll tell him to be looking for you. I’m going to get the ship ready to leave I’ll meet you in the hanger.”
Josh leaves a message for his friend Noah saying I’m going to look for a few odd jobs to keep me busy.
Josh hurries to the hanger telling the Dock Master about Ann meeting him at the ship and they would be departing together. As he arrived at his ship seeing the lock box quickly stored his gear and took the box aboard. The box was lighter than he thought it would be.
Josh thought. “I have just the place for this to go. But first to look inside!
Laying my hand on this pad should open it.’
As the lid opened he could fill an excitement looking at them for the first time! He reached and took one of the pistols it felt like a part of his hand as he looked at it. It was smooth but did not fill slippery; all the gifts were extremely nice!
But for now I needed to store them away in my locker. Josh thought. Returning the pistol in the lock box and started placing in in the locker. He heard a voice saving.
‘Josh I can attach the security box to the inside of the locker if you want?”
Looking around but no one was there! “Who said that?” Josh asked.
“I did I am your Personal Computer Assistant I can network with your PDA and scanner that’s in the security box or I can integrate with your ship if you wish?’
Josh asked? “What will you do if you integrate with my ship computer?” Download an interaction connection to the ship?
Josh asked. “So you can do what?”
“What ever you want me to do.”
Josh questioned. “And what is your core function?”
“Your safety and to assist you in many ways.”
Josh asked. “Name a few of what you call many ways?”
“At your command I can autopilot, dogfight, turret defense and fighter drone control and find the best buy or sale for trading through the gate network.”
Josh stated. “Hold on! You know how to access real time information through the gates?’
“Yes.” Responded the computer.
Josh asked. “Can I contact my friend in Kingdom End from the ship here?’
“Yes as soon as I integrate with the ship you can contact whom ever you wish within the recognized gate links.” Answered the computer.
Josh asked. “Will any of the systems on the ship be interrupted?”
The computer replied. “ No it will only take 2 minutes to download then to search for any upgrades that are possible and to secure the system from outside influence. “
Josh questioned. “How do you need to connect to the ship?”
“I can connect wireless do you wish to proceed?” Asked the computer.
Josh stated. “Yes proceed thin bring up the data on the weapons I just placed in the lock box and but it on the right main monitor.”
“Data will be on monitor in three minutes. “. Responded the computer
Josh requested. ‘And secure the lockbox to the inside of the locker.”
“ Lockbox secure Commander. “
Josh was surprised with the response. Josh asked? “What's with the Commander stuff?’
“What would you like to be called?” The computer asked.
Josh stated. “Just call me Josh I’m no longer a Navy Officer“.
As you wish Josh, do you wish to give me a name or a personality?
Josh thought this is deferent! Josh said. “ Let me hear the female one’s in a regular voice. “
They started with hello the first 10 sounded just about the same Josh said please stop and just give me the top 20 please.
As Josh listened this was much better ok play 7 and 18 again please. Josh said. “Ok let’s go with seven”
And have you chosen a name?
“Yes Sarah.” Josh said.
“Sarah is a good name and thank you.” Sarah replied.
Looking at the weapons data the pistols could regenerate it’s own ammo. 1 round every 11/2 seconds and could place a coating on each round to allow it to pierce armor at a 2 second rate with a 8 shot self contained clip with a firing rate of 20 a second.
Josh asked. “Sarah how long is the lifespan of the weapons?”
Sarah replied. “The weapons and power units will last for 1000 years.”
Josh asked? “What about you and the other things the Ancient gave me?”
Sarah replied. “All units will last 1000 years. ’
Josh asked? “What if I die?”
Sarah declared. “All units will only work for you, and then after their 1000-year life all units will disintegrate to a dust. “
Josh replied. “ I see the rounds from the pistol and rifle will turn to a harmless dust after 2 minutes is that what happens?”
No Sarah replied. “The rounds are designed to do that, all the other units have a disintegrate unit inside.”
Josh asked? “ Can they be made to disintegrate before there time? “
Sarah replied. “No they are none detectible, nor can they be altered in any way. When scanned each will only show the outer size or you can choose what each peace will show up as. Except the lockbox it will show as empty when scanned.”
Josh ordered. “Sarah make all items show as a standard counter part that can be bought. Except for the pistols and their holsters can you make them undetectable to all modern scanners?’
Sarah asked please give details?
Josh replied. “If it could show up as anything maybe they can show as nothing?”
Sarah answered saying. “Yes they can but only while there concealed under your jacket in their holsters. Exposed they will show up as standard projectile weapons.”
Josh said that will be fine when I pull them out I’ll going be using them.
Sarah hailed. “Josh Miss Dane is outside the ship.”
Josh ordered. “Sarah all interactions with anyone other than me keep it very simple and plain like an ordinary computer. And remove the data off of the monitors.”
Sarah stated. “Understood Josh.”
Josh opened the hatch stepped out Ann was admiring the ship.
Ann asked. “What kind of ship is it Josh?”
Josh felt a sense of pride about his ship from the way Ann was looking at it!
Josh explained. “This is the Zipper she’s a custom built M5 of my own design. I took a new M5 prototype the Harrier a ship being designed at the Seizewell Shipyard and altered it to what I wanted. They were unwilling at first but after a few favors and the right placed bribes and a lot of credits here she is!”
Ann looking at the ship asked. “Josh please tells me about your ship!”
Josh explained. “Well she’s fast about 595M/S. Steering 150%. Acceleration is 70M/S.
Shielding is a fast charge 5 MW off my on design. The hull size is 1800 units. Cargo capacity is 100 medium units. The weapons are 4 APAC on the wings and a rear turret with an AIRE.”
Ann replied. “Wow I’m impressed Josh! But what about four weapons, has it got the power to keep them firing?”
Josh smiled and said. ”I designed the power unit and it’s bigger than what most M4 class ships have.
So yes I can keep them firing! Salas and I have improved the range about 20%. The firepower a whopping 30%. And the firing rate around 15%. The ship is one of a kind. It’s fast, responsive and can dish out some serious hurt fast! I can use any missiles but the hornet.
I am extremely proud of the Zipper she’s the first I've built”
Ann answered. “Well Josh I don’t know were to start you have impressed me, I am overwhelmed with you and your ship.”
Josh stated. “Thank you Ann. Not more than 4 people know about the ship improvements.
You’re my partner now so I’m revealing them to you. I hope to enhance the freighter as well.
Our lives depend on you keeping the improvements secret! Only you and I, Noah and Salas know about them and I want it to stay that way! Do you have a problem with that Ann?”
Ann looked right at Josh saying no, it should give us an advantage over the other ships!
Josh replied. “Yes it will and I want to keep it that way. I have entrusted you because the man that gave you the laptop and PDA trusted you and wanted us to meet.
You and I are working for the same objective to put together a good sold business to build from.
Please tell me Ann why are you at the Goner Temple?”
Ann smiled saying. “I’m here because I wanted a fighter pilot with morality! No someone out just to make profit. Noah and I had talked many times about what kind of person I wanted to work with.
I had a few in mind when Noah told me about you we have a lot in common we’re both orphans and I worked as a freighter pilot for the Navy and your a Navy fighter pilot and I trust Noah.”
Josh though I have just told a stranger secrets about my ship because I felt I could trust her.
I can read people like a book if they’re hiding something I can tell it! A monk at the temple had worked with me to refine this gift I seem to have. People lie all the time, most for no reason! Ann was sincere and passionate about becoming successful and that’s what it takes.
Ann please come aboard you can store your gear in the locker. Josh holds his hand out to shake hers.
Ann reached out taking Josh’s hand in a handshake, an old tradition of closing a deal.
Josh showed Ann her locker as she put her things away.
Alpha Man Chapter 2
Moderators: TheElf, Moderators for English X Forum
Very good, awaiting further chapters 
