“Welcome back,” Saagar said as Mac walked into TCA barracks building to check in and stow his stuff. “Sensors show you are carrying a non-Titan Custer weapon on your person.”

  “Thanks,” Mckenzie replied. “And yeah. I bought a KM Arms FP9-M yestersol at the urging of the Bonhams. It’s allowed.”

  “It is. You’ll have to register it with Captain Mahoney office though,” Saagar said.

  “I’ll do right after storing my bag,” Mac replied as he stopped outside his dorm room. “Uh, Saagar, why isn’t my door opening?”

  “Because this room been reassigned,” the advisor answered.

  “Why? I have I been kicked out?”

  “No,” Saagar laughed. “Chief Alexandra’s exception for you to go ahead and move aboard the Lady Hawk after tosol’s test flight was approved.”

  Awesome! Mac thought, doing a fist pump.

  “Oh. Uh…”

  “Go and see the security office. Handle that paperwork. The Chief says they will wait so you can be on the test flight.”

  “Thanks Saagar!” Mckenzie happily said. He rushed towards the security office.

  *

  Mckenzie walked up the Lady Hawk’s cargo ramp with a smile on his face. Unlike more modern ships, the merlin class caravel did not have a separate boarding hatch. The only way onto and off the ship was the cargo loading ramp.

  You know, only having one entrance and exit isn’t exactly fire or emergency safe, Mac thought as the idea hit him. His smile slipped a bit. He shrugged. Oh well. It’s too late now and I can get an escape pod in the future.

  Mckenzie felt a vibration start. He walked through the small cargo hold and then quickly went down a ladder to engineering. Mac stuck his head in the compartment and his smile returned. He saw his three Decs in their cradles on the left bulkhead. In front of the reactor, stood EM.

  The droid turned and walked to the engineering console and took the seat. He looked up at Mckenzie and smiled. “You made it. I had my doubts even though the Chief assured me you would do everything in your power to be here for the initial test flight.”

  “It’s good seeing you too, my friend,” Mac said. “Is the Chief aboard?”

  “She is and is up on the bridge. The Chief will be serving as the ship AI since I haven’t gotten to installing the core yet,” Michelangelo answered. “Which is unusual as is her serving as pilot.”

  “She’s doing all that?”

  “Indeed, Mac. Between you and me, I think she just wants to see how this old ship will function,” EM replied. “The Lady Hawk is one of the oldest ships we have refurbished here at TCA, and I admit I also want to see how the old girl handles.”

  “Make that three of us because I’m more than eager to see how she handles,” Mac said. “Guess I should let the Chief know I’m aboard.”

  “I’m aware you are here,” Chief Alexandra said over the ship speakers. “Not only did Saagar advise me you were on your way, but I used the opportunity to test the internal sensors. They performed flawlessly.”

  “Good to know,” Mac commented.

  “Yes,” the Chief said. “Stow your bag in your cabin and come up to the bridge so we can get this show on the road.”

  “Yes Chief,” Mac replied. “Talk to you later, EM.”

  “Yep,” the engineer agreed.

  *

  Mac tossed his bag on his bunk. He glanced at the hatch to the head. Yeah, I better use it before I go to the bridge.

  “Chief, I’ll be there in a couple of minutes. I need to use the head.”

  “That’s fine and this is an opportunity to test the internal sensors privacy mode,” she replied.

  “Uh… yeah,” Mac muttered. I forgot the sensors cover every inch of the ship. And I should have known she would want to test the sensors further.

  He took a calming breath and entered the head.

  *

  “Does privacy mode work?” Mac asked as he entered the bridge. He glanced at and traced the data cable that ran from the Chief’s head to the enclosure in the deck just forward of where the bulkheads had been, that would house the AI core. Mckenzie stepped over the cable and walked up beside the Chief.

  “Yes. I’ve set the sensors to give privacy in your cabin, the half head, and full head. Everywhere else is set for full coverage,” the Chief answered. “Take a seat, strap in, and we’ll launch.”

  “I just realized something,” Mac said. “With just the one console station, the Hawk isn’t setup for others to strap in.”

  Chief Alexandra frowned. “I agree that we did overlook that possibility.” She then smiled. “But it gives us another opportunity.”

  “What’s that?” Mac asked as the Chief unbuckled and stood up.

  “For you to fly the Hawk on her first test flight,” the Chief answered, gesturing to the pilot’s seat. “I’ve asked Aenor to join us as neither EM nor me are qualified as flight instructors.”

  “That works for me,” Mac eagerly replied, taking the seat and strapping in. “Should we do the preflight checklists?”

  *

  “Aenor has just entered the ship, and I am sealing the ramp,” Chief Alexandra announced.

  A moment later, a black-haired, green-eyed version of the Chief entered the bridge. Yep, somebody has a type or got a good deal.

  “This is an interesting design. Will I get a chance to fly her?” Aenor asked the Chief. “That will be up to Mckenzie since the Lady Hawk is his ship.”

  “I don’t mind,” Mac said. “If you hadn’t come, I wouldn’t get to fly her yet.”

  “True,” Chief Alexandra agreed. “Mckenzie, this is Aenor, she is a flight instructor. Aenor, this is Mckenzie Edwards.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Aenor,” Mac said. I guess calling her by name is alright since neither she the Chief has indicated otherwise.

  “Likewise,” Aenor replied. She sat beside the Chief on the couch. “I’d prefer to be at the copilot station, but this will do. Mckenzie, have you and the Chief preformed your preflight checklists?”

  “We have,” Mac answered, glancing once more at the unfamiliar controls. These Draconis consoles are a bit different than what I’m used to.

  “And everything checks out,” the Chief added.

  “Then, ease us out of the hanger, Mckenzie,” Aenor instructed. “Once we break Europa’s atmosphere, head to Jupiter so we can test the fuel scoop and finish filling up your tanks.”

  Mac didn’t immediately respond to the instructors directions. I think I have this under control.

  “Is there a problem, student?” Aenor asked.

  “No ma’am. These Draconis consoles are new to me,” Mac answered honestly. He took a calming breath and pushed his doubts away.

  “Very well. Take us out,” Aenor instructed again. This time with a smile on her face.

  “Yes ma’am,” Mckenzie replied with a grin as his excitement surged. He activated the maneuvering thrusters and gently pulled back on the stick, causing the Lady Hawk to lift into the air. Mac carefully guided his ship out of the hanger. These controls are sensitive, and the Hawk is a bit… twitchy.

  “So far so good. She’s preforming as designed,” Chief Alexandra stated. “I’m sharing the sensor feed with you Aenor.”

  “Thank you, Chief. Nicely done, Mckenzie,” Aenor said after making sure he hadn’t hit anything or anyone. “Chief?”

  “Extending wings for atmospheric flight,” Chief Alexandra replied. She smiled. “We’re ready Mckenzie.”

  “Then, here we go,” Mac said, pulling back on the stick and feeding power to the thrusters. The landing gear talons retracted, and the Lady Hawk gracefully soared skyward.

  32

  “Mckenzie?” Aenor prompted. After a moment, she looked at the Chief and added, “He’s one of those.”

  Mac wasn’t paying attention as he gazed through the forward port while feeling his smile was going to eat his face. Just look at that view, he thought.

  Jupiter loomed large and filled the right half of the forward view. Beyond the gas giant were millions of tiny stars with the sun small yet out shining everything else off to the left.

  The stars are magnificent, and the view is even more captivating to me than it has ever been before. Is that because this ship is mine? Mac wondered. Yes, this is real! The Lady Hawk is mine! My dreams are coming true!

  “Are you well, Mckenzie?” the Chief asked. “Aenor, what did you mean by one of those?”

  “I have control,” Aenor stated. She glanced at the Chief. “He’ll realize he is no longer in control in a moment.”

  “Does this happen often?” Chief Alexandra asked, pointing at Mac.

  “Often enough. Some students get lost in the moment the first time they fly away into space,” Aenor answered. She smiled. “This ship is a hot rod.”

  “I’m not familiar with that term,” the Chief said.

  “It’s an old pilot term that refers to a fast, highly responsive, and easy flying ship,” Aenor explained.

  “Uh, what’s going on? Why don’t I have control?” Mac asked. The two droids laughed. “Did I miss something?”

  “Just an UFO” the Chief joked. Aenor laughed.

  “You got caught up in the moment,” Aenor said. “It happens often enough, so I took control.”

  “Oh. Sorry,” Mac replied.

  “Don’t be. As I said, it happens,” the flight instructor said. Aenor grinned. “Besides, your Lady Hawk is one sweet little ride.”

  “She is twitchy,” Mac noted.

  “True, but that’s part of the fun. You’ll get used to her feel in time,” Aenor replied. “Chief, everything looks good on my feed, but how are things back in engineering?”

  “Michelangelo reported a slight fluctuation in the reactor after takeoff, but he quickly isolated and resolved the issue. It’s been smooth sailing since,” the Chief answered. “As you know, EM does excellent work, and Mckenzie has proven to have a nice touch himself. If he wasn’t so gung-ho about being a captain, he would make an excellent engineer.”

  “Thanks for the compliment, Chief,” Mckenzie said.

  “You’re welcome, but it’s the truth as I see it,” she replied.

  “Mckenzie, are you ready to take back control?” Aenor asked.

  “Yes ma’am,” Mac answered, putting his hands back on the controls.

  “You have control,” the flight instructor said a few seconds later. “Head toward Jupiter so we can test your fuel scoop out.”

  “Yes ma’am,” Mac agreed, altering their course slightly.

  “Mckenzie, I’m going to give you the feeds your AI will provide you as well. You’ll see detailed information on your console and some more basic info through your implant, though you can request more detailed information, if it’s necessary,” the Chief advised. “Just relax and let the information flow.”

  “Alright,” Mckenzie said. Hope this works.

  He allowed his implant to connect with Chief Alexandra. Information started to trickle to him through the implant. The trickle quickly became a flood.

  “No! Don’t take it all,” the Chief exclaimed. She cut the flow. “The human mind cannot make sense of that much data at once. That’s why you have an AI or in this case, me.”

  “I’ll take control for a few minutes while you work with the Chief,” Aenor offered. “And we’ll fly around a little bit before testing the scoop.”

  “Thanks, Aenor,” Mac said, accepting her offer. “Alright, Chief. Let’s try again.”

  *

  I’m getting frustrated, Mac thought half an hour later. He still couldn’t control the flow and visualize the data as the Chief said he should be able to. “What am I doing wrong?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Trying to take in all the ship data in at once,” the Chief answered bluntly. “And that’s everything including internal sensors, external sensors, radar, life support, engineering, flight control, etc.”

  “Perhaps Mckenzie needs a visual aid,” Aenor said. “Some of my students have needed such help in the past.”

  “Aids like how the data is presented on the pilot console?” Mac asked.

  “Yes,” the Chief and Aenor answered together.

  “My implant doesn’t have anything like that,” Mac said. “I suppose I could find something on the GalNet though.”

  “Here,” Aenor said, opening a connection to him. “I have just what you need.”

  “Alright,” Mac replied, accepting the connection. He downloaded the data package and scanned it. Mckenzie then installed it. He smiled. “This is a neat little instrument app. There’s even an option for analog representations.”

  “Yes,” Aenor agreed. “A former student wrote it about 30-sol years ago. It has helped several former students.”

  “Mckenzie, are you ready to try again?” Chief Alexandra asked.

  “Yes Chief,” Mac answered. The data started to flow again. This is much better than before and I know what it all means. “It’s working.”

  “Yes,” the Chief agreed.

  “Alright. Let’s see how you fly now,” Aenor said.

  *

  “Not bad,” the flight instructor said. Aenor sent a flight path to the pilot’s console. “This is a normal refueling run pattern. I’m going to let you try your luck.”

  “Seems pretty shallow,” Mac replied. “I think I can handle it.”

  “That’s what everyone says their first time,” Aenor said. “Jupiter’s storms and winds are nothing to play around with.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” Mac said. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Here we go, he thought as he started the descent into Jupiter’s atmosphere. The Lady Hawk started to rock, and the hull popped. Oh my God! What was that?

  “Ignore that,” Aenor stated. “Stay on the path.”

  “It’s normal,” the Chief added. “Jupiter puts a lot of pressure on ships. The Hawk is fine.”

  “Alright,” Mckenzie said, checking his readings.

  “Deploying scoop,” the Chief announced.

  “Mckenzie, your angle is too steep, pull up,” Aenor instructed.

  “I’m trying, but she’s fighting me,” Mac replied as the Lady Hawk continued to bounce around from the winds. I’ve never had a shuttle not respond to my commands before.

  “The Lady Hawk is not a shuttle. While not a lot larger than a shuttle, she is larger and heavier,” Aenor advised. “As you noticed before, she is also touchier. You’re overcorrecting.”

  “I see that! I’m trying,” Mac replied.

  “I’m taking control,” Aenor said a moment later. They rose up and things smoothed out. “You had gotten us in too deep to start with.”

  “I… yeah,” Mac muttered. “Guess, I have a lot to learn still.”

  “Yes, you do,” the droids replied together. Mac laughed, though they didn’t.

  “Stress,” Mac said with a shrug. “EM, how are things down there?”

  “Better now that we’re not as deep in Jupiter’s atmosphere,” the engineer answered. “You’ll learn to do refuel in your sleep in time.”

  “You’ll get the hang of things,” Aenor agreed. She winked at Mac. “After some quality sim and flight time.”

  “Thanks,” Mac said. “Does the academy even have a simulator for a merlin? I couldn’t even find an old one on GalNet.”

  “No,” the Chief answered. “Though we are modifying an existing simulator for you and any future merlin owners that attend TCA. The data from this test flight will ensure the sim is as life like as possible.”

  “That’s great! Thanks again,” Mac said.

  “You’re welcome,” the Chief replied. “Let’s head for home. I’m assigning you landing pad 3 on the east side of the repair facility. That’ll get your ship out of my barn and into normal service.”

  “Plus, that’ll let the academy start charging me for power and other services,” Mckenzie said. The droids agreed. “Still, it’s cheaper than docking at a station. Speaking of stations, how will the Hawk dock at them? She’s not exactly setup like more modern ships.”

  “In older cradles or larger hangers just like similar older ships,” Aenor answered. “Chief, do you need weapons data?”

  “No. Mckenzie’s particle cannons are standard weapons,” she answered. “We have plenty of data on those.”

  “Good enough,” Aenor said. “Mckenzie, I will land the Hawk. After you prove to me that you can handle her well and land safely in the simulator, I’ll let you try for real.”

  “Alright,” Mac agreed. “I don’t have a problem with that.”

  33

  “I’ll see you later Chief,” Aenor said as she stood up. “Mckenzie, I’ll see you when you start your advanced flight class. Saagar has told me I’ll be your primary flight instructor then.”

  “When does that class start?” Mac asked.

  “Soon,” Aenor answered with a grin. She waved and walked through the lounge and headed off the ship.

  “I guess that means I get that class this semester,” Mac muttered.

  “Yes,” the Chief agreed, unplugging the data cord from her port. “Or next semester. It’ll depend on what Saagar has scheduled you for. He’s replacing your electives with more work study.”

  “Gotcha. Are you leaving too?” Mckenzie asked. Work study is fine and will help me make some credits on the side.

  “Not yet. I’m going to install your AI core and start it up since EM has other tasks to complete. You are welcome to help,” the Chief answered.

  “Sounds good,” Mac said. “Chief, do you know if I can still eat in the cafeteria even if I’m living aboard the Hawk?”

  “Yes,” she replied.

  “You can also have frozen food delivered here for you to cook yourself. The cost is the same since the academy charges for delivery, which is already included in your costs,” Saagar chimed in. “Though you will need to order eating and cooking supplies, which is an extra charge. Same goes for linens since you’ll be taking them with you. Place an order with Victoria and she will have it delivered.”

  “Thanks Saagar,” Mac replied. “This keeps getting more expensive by the sol.”

  “Yes, it does,” Chief Alexandra laughed. She walked down to engineering and returned with the AI core. The Chief slotted the core in its cradle. She plugged the data cord back into her data port.

  “I could have gone and fetched the core,” Mac offered. She shrugged. “Is there anything I can actually help with?”

  “Soon,” the Chief replied. A few minutes later, she spoke. “Mckenzie Edwards, owner and future operator of the merlin class caravel, Lady Hawk, this is Joseph, your ship AI. He is named after Joseph of Cupertino, who was once considered the patron saint of space explorers. Joseph, this is Mckenzie Edwards, your future ship captain.”

  “Greetings Mckenzie Edwards. I look forward to working with you,” the AI stated. “A merlin class will take some getting used to.”

  “Hi Joseph. I’m looking forward to working with you as well,” Mac replied.

  “Updating the ship network with the newest GalNet changes. Starting level 1 lockdown,” Joseph said. “Our future communications will be through your implant’s messenger app or pilot console until you reach level 2 and can unlock my voice communication.”

  “Understood,” Mac replied. Though I may hold off on that particular upgrade until level 3 or later. I can always get a Shepard or other companion droid for companionship. That’s not a bad idea. I should keep a lookout for more trashed or cheap droids. “I look forward to our future conversations.”

  “And that’s that,” Chief Alexandra said, unplugging the data cable. “That’s your cable, so I’ll leave it for you to put away.”

  “Alright Chief,” Mac laughed. “Thanks for tosol.”

  “You’re welcome,” she replied before walking aft.

  *

  “Alright. What do I need?” Mac asked himself once alone. Joseph sent a reply. Guess I’m no longer alone even if Joseph won’t be the best conversationalist for a while. “Yes, I know I need food and other personal items. That’s what I meant.”

  Joseph sent him a link to the academy store’s food options and more links for linens and personal items.

  “Thanks Joseph,” Mac said, plopping down on the couch. “I think I should get long term staples like rice. Could you show me a list and pop it up on the lounge view screen?”

  Indeed, Mac thought as he read the AI’s response. He looked at the listing on the screen. Even at just level 1, Joseph is proving his worth already.

  “Alright Joseph,” Mac said a few minutes later after making his shopping list. “Why don’t you introduce yourself to Victory and put this request in for me?”

  Mac read the response and laughed.

  “Alright, alright. So, you’re an outgoing sort and have already met and held conversations with the other AI,” Mac replied. “Just don’t be giving away our secrets or the ship.”

  He read the response.

  “I’m sure I’ll have secrets eventually. Speaking of, I need to double check those little gaps in the decking back in the hold and see if they can be shored up and insulated,” Mac said. “I think they’ll make great hidden compartments in case I ever decide to smuggle some small goods.”

  Like medicine or outlawed cores and chips, Mac read. “Exactly. High valued small goods that not everyone allows. Let me know when the delivery arrives, will you?”

  *

  “Thanks Joseph. I’ll let them in,” Mac said an hour later as he turned off his welder and returned it to the toolchest. He covered up the first of his new hidden compartments and sent the toolchest back to its spot in engineering. He stretched and opened the ramp. Two delivery bots attached to lifts carried his supplies into the hold. The bots beeped, left the pallets, and headed back down the ramp. “Too bad you don’t have a body, Joseph. If you did, you could help me unload and sort all this stuff.”

  Ha! I bet he is glad he doesn’t have a body and can’t do menial tasks, Mac thought after reading the AI’s response. But Joseph does have a point. A generic humanoid bot would be a big help with these sorts of jobs.

  “Good idea, Joseph. Keep an eye out for any trashed bots that I can buy cheap and fix,” Mac told his AI. He looked at the two pallets of supplies and sighed. Now, it’s time for the fun part. I should start with the frozen food.

  34

  Mac stretched and smiled. I do love this bed. And it is a twin XL sized bed, not a bunk. It does need better sheets, but these will do for now.

  He sat up and pulled up his class schedule for the new semester. His third semester started in a week. More basic courses and work study instead of electives. Which, that’s fine by me. Saagar has hinted that they’re going to try to force a career path on me after this school year is over, but I’m going to stick with my plan even if it delays my graduation past most of my classmates. I know a couple of them are doing the same thing as I am, so I won’t be alone.

  Mac dismissed the information and walked into his head to perform his morning ablutions. He dressed a few minutes later. I wonder if I can get Saagar to replace one of the work study slots with advanced flight so I can go ahead and get my small ship license. That way, I can take the Lady Hawk home at semester break and show her to my folks.

  He pulled on his boots and sent Saagar a request for the course change. Mac then walked into the galley and made breakfast.

  “Mckenzie, why do you want to change courses and take advanced flight so soon?” Saagar asked after Mckenzie accepted the call.

  “A couple of reasons,” Mac answered after finishing the slice of bacon he had been eating. “It’ll allow me to pilot my ship without needing an instructor or hiring a pilot. That means I can visit home during breaks more easily. And with my license, I could look for courier or small in system freight hauling jobs to do while on breaks as well.”

  “And just how would you find jobs?” the AI asked.

  “I thought I’d hit up the Bonhams and offer my services to start or see if they know others that could use my help,” Mac answered. He took a sip of the canned coffee he had purchased from the academy. Ugh. This stuff sucks, but it’s caffeine. I really need to find a better source of coffee and teas even if it means splurging a bit. Then again, I could just drink frozen orange juice even if it’s mostly orange flavored water.

  “Interesting. The possible work study is something I approve of even with students being required to do summer cruises their final two years,” Saagar replied. “Though, I know you mostly want your license so you can go home.”

  “True,” Mckenzie admitted. He ate some grits. I’m surprised the academy had grits. They never offer them for breakfast. Thankfully, even these cheap grits are just grits and not something that can be messed up. Mac broke up the rest of his bacon and sprinkled the bits over his grits.

  “I approve your request and have notified the others including Aenor of the changes. Your schedule has been altered, and your first advanced flight class is a week from solmorrow following your lunch hour,” Saagar said.

  “Thanks Saagar. I really appreciate it,” Mac replied. He ate some of his bacon and grits. Just like being a kid again.

  “You’re welcome. What are your plans for tosol?”

  Mckenzie swallowed before answering. “I thought I’d hit up the repair facility and see if the Chief has anything I can work on. If not, I’ll come back home and start studying.”

  “If the Chief has nothing for you, perhaps you should spend some time with your classmates.”

  “You have a good point. I know it’s not good for me to isolate myself from them. I’ll consider hanging out at the barracks lounge for a while or maybe inviting a few over here if the Chief doesn’t have anything for me.”

  “Good,” Saagar replied. “I will talk with you later.”

  But I really don’t want to hang out with the others at the lounge, Mac thought after the AI had disconnected. I’m still not over Marion and don’t want to see her or her boss if they’re back already.

  Mac shook his head and finished his breakfast. He cleaned up. I need to ask EM or the Chief about my hidey holes too.

  *

  “Hey Chief,” Mac said after getting the droid’s attention.

  “Mckenzie,” she replied. “Need something?”

  “Sorta,” Mac answered. “I was wondering if you had some advice on something and if you have some work I can do.”

  “Work? No,” Chief Alexandra replied. “We’re saving student work for after the start of the semester.”

  “Figures, but I thought I’d ask.”

  She nodded. “What’s the other thing on your mind?”

  “There’s a couple of spots in the Hawk’s hold that would make good hidey holes,” Mac answered. She gave him a questioning look. “And I’ve already re-enforced the cubbies and have fixed the access so a human can’t tell they’re there.”

  “But you don’t know how to hide your smuggling slots from sensors,” the Chief concluded.

  “Uh… yeah,” Mac replied, doing his best to keep his embarrassment off his face. It’s not like smuggling is illegal except for in the system you’re smuggling to. The info just isn’t available on how to hide your smuggling cubbies on the GalNet.

  “Give me the dimensions of your cubbies and follow me. I’ll start printing off what you need, but you’ll have to do the install yourself.”

  “Thanks Chief. And I know this material isn’t free either,” Mac said, falling in behind her as she walked towards the printers.

  “You’re welcome,” Chief Alexandra replied. “What I’m providing you will only stand up to level 5 sensors, depending on how good those sensors are. But it’ll give you a good idea of the direction to go in if you want to smuggle a lot.”

  “I suppose Marconi sensors will see through this stuff.”

  “Yes, they will,” the Chief replied.

  “What about the other sensor brands?”

  “Depends on their level. Even bad sensors will see-through low-level dampening material if the sensors are high enough level.”

  35

  Oh, come on! Mckenzie thought right after two asteroids collided ahead of the Lady Hawk. I hate the asteroid belt!

  “Joe, increase power to the forward shield,” Mac said as fragments peppered the Lady Hawk’s shield.

  The AI responded as instructed. A message from the AI appeared on Mac’s console. Mckenzie glanced at the message and snorted. I can practically hear the haughtiness in that message.

  “Well, drop the attitude and I’ll consider calling you by your full name,” Mac replied as he sent the Hawk into a spiraling downward right turn to avoid a huge asteroid fragment. That thing was almost as big as my ship!

  Another message from Joseph appeared on the console. Mac ignored it while he focused on clearing the asteroid belt. He glanced at the message once the Lady Hawk emerged from the belt. Just my luck to get stuck with a stuck-up AI, but at least Joe does his job.

  “Nice going on the shields, Joseph,” Mckenzie told the AI as he put the Hawk back on her correct course. Another message appeared on the console. And just when I was trying to be nice. Joe is such an ass. Too bad I can’t replace him.

  The ship froze and the lights dimmed before brightening. The forward view blanked out and became opaque. Mac looked up. Aenor waved him to her. Mckenzie nodded.

  “Alright Joseph, disengage your link,” Mac said. “Looks like we’re done.”

  The AI didn’t reply, but instead simply dropped his connection to the simulator. Mac shrugged and exited the capsule.

  “Nicely done, Mckenzie. You and Joseph are a decent team, though you need to work out your differences,” Aenor said. “You’ll be stuck together for as long as you own the Lady Hawk.”

  “Thanks, but that collision wasn’t totally lifelike,” Mac replied. Aenor just smiled. “And I’m trying, but Joe is just so…”

  “Arrogant?” his flight instructor replied, her smile becoming a knowing grin.

  “Yes,” Mckenzie agreed. “If I had known we wouldn’t really mesh, I would have seen if I could have picked my AI’s personality or gotten an AI from another corporation.”

  “You could have,” the flight instructor said. “It would have cost you more credits, but picking out your AI’s personality, voice, and even sex are options.”

  “I should have done more research,” Mckenzie grumbled.

  “Yes, you should have,” Aenor agreed. “On the bright side, you passed your final flight exam and I’m adding your small craft license to your student profile.”

  “That’s fantastic!” Mckenzie said. “Thanks, Aenor! This means I can take the Hawk home over the semester break.”

  “You’re welcome,” the droid replied. “But Mckenzie, you need to re-read the regulations. While you are now qualified to pilot the Lady Hawk on your own, you are not a licensed captain yet.”

  Mac’s mouth fell open, and he snapped it shut. Son of a…

  “That means I still need a licensed captain to agree to go home with me,” Mckenzie said. Aenor nodded her agreement.

  “You can always hire a captain,” she suggested.

  “I can’t afford to do that, nor do I want to lease my ship to someone else,” Mckenzie said. “I don’t suppose you’d be up to going with me, would you?”

  “While I would like to, and the academy does allow us to be hired out to students for such trips, Deigo Alberto has already procured my services for the next two weeks,” Aenor answered. “Chris Tabors has already procured the Chief’s services as well.”

  “What about EM?” Mckenzie asked.

  “Cristina Gutierrez has requested his time and service,” the instructor replied. “In fact, the staff in the small cohort available to second sol-year students have been assigned already.”

  “I really should have spent more time hanging out this semester instead of focusing on my studies and working,” Mac muttered. Aenor nodded and gave him a sympathetic smile. “Is there anyone left?”

  “Not that I’m aware of, that’s why the Chief is going with Mr Tabors,” Aenor answered.

  “Guess, this means I won’t be going home because I can’t imagine the academy allowing me to take the Hawk out without some kind of supervisor.”

  “True,” Aenor replied. “Let me work with the Chief and Saagar the rest of the afternoon. We’ll come up with something or let you know you’ll have to stay.”

  “Alright. Thanks,” Aenor,” Mckenzie replied. She smiled and nodded again. Mac returned the smile and headed back toward the Lady Hawk.