Discovering Alien Technology Part Two
Copyright© 2026 by GMet
Chapter 9
Tuesday morning I was up early as usual and slipped out to the garage to work out. I dove into the lake for a cooling swim before I fished a bit in the boat. I filleted my catch and put it away before showering out in the garage. I had breakfast ready for everyone when they woke up. Dad and I ate quickly as he had to drop me off at the arena before getting to the airport. The ladies would head to headquarters to get ready for the Trent Morrison meeting. I warned them again to be careful around him and his subordinates before we left.
Practice was odd as they had the first line centre working with Alex and David while I was regulated to the fourth line with Steve and Jake as my wingers. They were a lot slower then Alex and David but I compensated and we eventually clicked enough to take on the other lines in scrimmage play. After practice, the coach had me come to his office.
“Ben, the line change wasn’t because you missed yesterday’s practice, it was because we got word that several Major Junior teams are interested in you and we have to be prepared to go on without you,” Coach Gillie told me.
“Just because they are interested, doesn’t mean I’ll play for them,” I told him. “I don’t have time to play in those leagues, with all the games and travel they do.”
“Well, Sudbury, North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie are all interested in you in the OHL and Brandon and Regina in the WHL,” he informed me. “I’m sure others will be soon enough. Hockey Canada will be here this weekend to deem you exceptional so you could play in the Major Junior leagues.”
“Wonderful,” I said.
“You’re something else,” he said with a shake of his head. “Almost anyone in your position would be jumping for joy and eager, but not you.”
“Normally I would be but there is so much going on right now,” I told him. “We just launched our detection probes and our fighter had it’s first test flight yesterday.”
“I heard that,” he remarked. “How is everything going?”
“Great actually,” I responded. “The probes are on their way to the asteroid belt and the fighter flew to the east coast and performed well in their strafing runs. The new space craft are getting built in Winnipeg and should be ready to go to the moon and fight fires by the end of the year.”
“I guess you are busy,” Coach admitted. “Still, you’re only young once and opportunities to play in the Major leagues don’t come along too often. Just about any fifteen-year-old that gets deemed an exceptional player, gets drafted and plays in the NHL, so keep that in mind.”
“I will and I appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me, playing for the Ice Dogs,” I responded. “I will definitely think about it.”
“I’ll let you play with Alex and David this weekend, and feel free to show off a bit,” Coach Gilbie told me. “Those two will probably move up to Major Junior soon as well, especially playing with you.”
“Okay, I’ll make sure they get lots of opportunities to shine,” I replied.
“Not what I meant but it will show them you can set up as well as score,” he said with a shrug. “Alright, see you at three.”
“Thanks Coach, see you then,” I responded and left the room.
Reece was waiting for me and it was a quick drive to our headquarters. Riley pulled me into my office when I got there. She gave me a passionate kiss and we made out a bit before she pulled slightly away from me.
“Remember, you don’t need a California strumpet when you have me and possibly others here,” she informed me.
“Who says strumpet anymore?” I asked with a grin.
“I didn’t want to call her something else until her actions prove it out,” she said impishly.
“Good thinking,” I responded, grinning at her. “So are you are going to protect me from the terrible strumpet?”
“Absolutely,” she replied. “Just wait until you see what I’ll be wearing. You won’t be able to look at anyone else.”
“I can’t wait,” I said. “Just make sure he doesn’t set his eyes on you or Reece for that matter,” I warned her. “He has a history of taking more than just a company from his adversaries.”
“We’ll make him a eunuch before that ever happens,” she responded, again looking fierce.
“Remind me not to make either of you mad,” I told her as she got off of me.
“Don’t worry, we will,” she agreed. “We have a lot of practice at it already.”
I rolled my eyes at her before we joined the others.
“Why aren’t you changed yet?” mom asked.
“We have some time,” I replied. “What is left to do?”
“Nothing, everything has been cleaned, we have all the drinks ready as well as the pastries,” she replied. “We have a presentation ready if we want to show what we’re about and the status of our projects. A tour can be done if things go well. Scanners are now located at all our entrances, including the front lobby so we’ll know if they have anything dangerous on them. Our security robots will be in the room and outside. Scans turned up negative everywhere and we will scan again once they are in the room.”
“Excellent, thanks everyone,” I responded. “Anything else to discuss?”
“No one sign anything or agree to anything verbally,” Rachel warned. “Either ask for a written proposal or we’ll write one up. Instead of saying we offer or propose, say ‘what if we suggest’ instead. Girls, don’t get caught alone with anyone. Stay close to Ben and the adults. The robots can show them to the washroom and monitor their activities. They can get their own drinks and refreshments. You’re our test coordinator and media and government agency coordinators. I’m sure they’ll gather Riley is more to Ben soon enough. Everyone understand?”
We all nodded.
“Good, I’ll step in and stop a conversation if anyone is saying or doing something that could hurt us,” she added. “Don’t keep talking if I do, even if you think you’re in the right. There are subtleties to everything in law that could come back to haunt us. Agreed?”
“Yes,” I said, knowing she was talking to me.
“Alright, everyone go get changed and meet back here in ten,” mom directed as dad walked in.
Mom and Rachel pulled him to their office while Riley pulled me to mine. I got to watch as she got out of her work clothes, leaving very a sexy underwear and bra set on for me to admire. She walked over and pushed up my chin to shut my mouth.
“You like?” she asked.
“Love,” I replied.
“You get to see them again if you behave today,” she told me. “Keep away from the hussies, don’t promise anything and I’ll rock your world this evening.”
“Yes Ma’am,” I responded with a grin.
She let me watch her saunter over to where her clothes were and slip a short black skirt up her legs. A sheer white blouse was next to cover her white bra and then heels made her even taller. She pulled on a suit jacket in black that came down to her waist to finish off the outfit.
I put on a black suit with a white shirt and a silver tie and then slipped on dress shoes over black socks and I was ready for the meeting. Of course she had to adjust my tie and pick off any fuzz before we walked to the conference room, our robot security trailing along. The adults were in good business suits and looked beautiful and handsome.
“We’re a good-looking group,” I said to everyone.
“Thank you son,” mom replied. “You look handsome and of course Riley and Reece look a tad too gorgeous. Keep each other safe.”
We all nodded as I got a sub-vocal notice from Base that two big SUVs had pulled into the parking lot.
“They’re here,” I told them after pulling out my phone to show video of them getting out of their vehicles. “Two vehicles, eight people.”
“I’ll go meet them with Rachel,” dad said as they moved to the door.
I moved to the refreshment table and got a pop and a plate with a couple pastries. Everyone else just shook their heads when I asked if anyone else was getting something before they arrived. I put them in front of my usual seat in the middle of the far side of the table and the girls moved to stand on either side of me. Mom stood beside Reece, leaving a seat for dad beside her and another seat for Rachel beside Riley. Security robots took station in the corners and we had small scanners situated in the ceiling. I opened the pop and took a sip before putting it back down on a coaster.
“Really, you couldn’t wait?” Reece asked waspishly.
“It’s all part of the plan,” I told her.
“To make you look like a kid?” she asked.
“Yep,” I agreed. “Let’s see how it works.”
She looked at me sharply and then nodded.
“Oh, by the way, it looks like Hockey Canada wants to denote me as an exceptional player so I can play in the Major Junior league as a fifteen-year-old,” I informed them. “They and five team reps from the OHL and the WHL will be at the next game scouting me for their teams.”
“Congratulations Ben,” mom responded. “Is that something you’d like to do?”
“I don’t have time this year to just go play hockey,” I replied. “If I was just a normal teen then sure, it would be something I’d try. Maybe in a year or so once the bases are built and we’re established as a space delivery service.”
“Keep an open mind and a civil tongue when talking to any of the representatives and maybe they’ll keep you in mind for next year,” she instructed.
“I’ll try,” I responded, crossing my eyes and looking like a lobotomized idiot.
That made her grin while shaking her head at me.
“Hopefully that look will stick and you’ll get your wish about looking like an idiot,” Riley told me, poking me in my side. “Try not to embarrass yourself and your girlfriend.”
“So you don’t want to be associated with an idiot?” I asked.
“We’ve got standards to uphold and you’re slipping down the scale, quickly,” she warned with a frown.
‘I get no respect,” I said.
We heard the herd coming up the stairs and put on our game faces. Dad and Rachel led the way inside and waved them to the near side of the table before moving to stand beside mom and Riley, respectively.
Trent Morrison took the seat across from me and then a brunette, not his girlfriend or her sister, stood on his right. A man took his left and then another woman and two men took the next outside spots. Finally, the blonde sisters took the far spots on the right. The girlfriend was dressed to impress while the sister wore glasses, had her hair pulled back into a bun and was wearing a pant suit rather than a dress or skirt. It made her look intelligent rather than trying to impress with her looks like her sister.
“Welcome to Addler Enterprises,” dad formally welcomed everyone. “I’m Chris Addler, CEO, in charge of all construction projects and ship builds.”
“Hello, I’m Moira Addler, CFO,” mom was next.
“I’m Reece Owens, media and government agencies coordinator,” Reece said.
“I’m Ben Addler,” I stated.
“Riley Owens, testing coordinator for all products and space craft test flights,” my gorgeous girlfriend told them.
“I’m Rachel Owens, legal,” Rachel kept it short.
“Thank you for having us at your headquarters at such short notice,” Trent responded. “I’m Trent Morrison, CEO of Morrison Holdings.”
“Lilith Montgomery, President of Morrison Holdings,” the late twenties or early thirties good looking woman stated.
“Shawn Laurence, CFO,” the man on the other side of Trent informed us.
“Vince Bannister, VP of acquisitions,” was next.
“Adele Pullman, technical VP,” the cute black-haired woman stated with a smile.
Abe Weinburg, legal,” was the last man’s introduction.
“Ophelia Defoe, girlfriend and model,” the older sister stated.
“Cassie Defoe, sister of girlfriend and I just finished my first year for a PHD in Aerospace design at Stanford,” the younger sister said, looking at me with interest.
“Everyone, please help yourself to refreshments at the side table before we begin,” Rachel said, pointing to the table. “We’re not your typical company and we don’t stand on ceremony, as you can see as Ben has started without us.”
Everyone laughed as I shrugged and said, “Snooze you lose. I’ve had a busy morning so I’m eating while I can.”
“What’s a typical morning for you?” Cassie asked.
“Workout, swim, fish, make breakfast, hockey practice and then work in the shop,” I said. “Usually I don’t have to put on a suit so this isn’t a usual morning.”
“I can see why you’re hungry,” she responded as she got up. “I think I’ll see what you have over there.”
“Be our guest,” I said. “Everything is fresh and delicious so don’t let it go to waste.”
My girls got up and struck up a quiet conversation with Cassie and most eventually got in line. Mom, dad and Rachel went last. Lilith slid a Danish and a coffee in front of Trent and went back for hers. Eventually everyone was munching on a pastry and drinking coffee, water or a pop. We had decided to wait them out and have them state why they were here so I just kept eating and drinking.
Riley whispered to me, “Cassie is very smart. She’s still only seventeen and she’s been at Stanford since fourteen. This could be more about her than we suspect.”
I nodded and took a bite of pastry before glancing over at her. She winked at me before taking a bite of a croissant. I didn’t take the bait but kept looking along the row of people. They were all daintily eating their choice and taking sips of coffee or whatever they had in front of them. It was not their practice to do so in a serious meeting so they were already thrown off a bit. Trent was watching me as were most of the others but Base and I were sub-vocalizing so I wasn’t nervous at the attention.
‘Two are recording everything and one attempted to put a bug on the table but it won’t stick after we coated it,’ Base told me. ‘Cassie Defoe was fourteen when she started at Stanford in dual engineering and math degrees. She just finished her first year in Aerospace design for a doctorate and has held a four-point-zero grade all the way through school. She has a couple of inventions that might be useful in space suit design as well as space craft food prep and waste disposal.’
‘Good to know,’ I responded. ‘It’s not coincidence she’s here. See if there is a deeper reason.’
‘I will investigate further,’ he replied and went silent.
Trent wiped his hands after finishing his Danish and then spoke.
“Thank you for the refreshments,” Trent said. “We are here to discuss a proposal to partner with you on your moon and Mars space ports. We are of the opinion that what you’ve done so far with your inventions is slowly changing the world for the better but getting people off world is what will truly propel humanity into a better future. Morrison Holdings wants to be a part of that and is willing to pay handsomely for the privilege.”
I looked to the left and the right and nodded to mom.
“What, besides money, would you bring to the table, and what would a partnership entail in your proposal?” she asked.
“We have fifty companies under our control and they could help provide materials, equipment, management expertise and more,” he replied. “We propose you get us up there, help build the base and we run it for you, splitting the profits sixty-forty in your favour.”
“And what services of the base do you think show a profit?” mom asked.
“Building of colonies, space tourism, consumables, surface transportation, space transportation, supply for exploration and so much more,” he said.
“So you not only want to partner in the two bases but with our transportation and tourism services,” mom inquired.
“Of course, they would be based out of the bases you build, correct?” he answered.
“Not necessarily,” dad responded. “They would be based here to start and then at our space station we’re building next year. The bases are to land other colonists groups and to supply them. At this time we’re not sure if we will help build the colonies or just get people to the moon and Mars.”
He looked at everyone on either side of him.
“We weren’t aware of the space station being built or your business plan,” he admitted. “Would you be interested in partners for all of your space endeavours? Could we build a base to take over some of the distribution of supplies and consumables?”
“That would be the most profitable portion of our services, tacking on additional cost to the colonies from our delivery fees, just to store and hand them out,” mom responded. “Why would we agree to that?”
“Our buy-in fee would go far to finance your various space ship, space ports and space station builds,” Trent said.
“I’m sure it would but we don’t need it,” mom stated. “We are doing just fine self financing.”
“Yes, we’re very impressed with your start up company and what you’ve accomplished in a year,” the CFO, Shawn Lawrence spoke up. “But, you’ll be putting out a lot of money with no income next year and having a partner will make sure you don’t drain down your reserves.”
“We don’t have those concerns,” mom said with confidence. “Our costs to deliver supplies to the moon and Mars are minor compared to other attempts underway or what is currently charged for satellite deliveries.”
“What if we just bought your company outright and retain you to work for us?” the VP of acquisitions asked.
“No thank you, we’re happy with our company the way it is and the goals we’ve set for our and humanity’s future,” mom responded.
“This is not going the way we anticipated,” Lilith spoke up for the first time. “We want to be involved in this endeavour. How do you think we can partner with you?”
“I’m sure we’ll have companies based on the space station to service all the ships and provide food and entertainment like you’ve seen on various TV shows and movies,” Rachel spoke up. “Perhaps you could submit a proposal for that. If you want to put up a colony on either planet, we would be happy to quote you costs to deliver you to the planet and ship your supplies. If you want to put up a base in the States to fly out of, we may use that if an agreement could be reached. There are many possibilities but we would have to see a benefit and it would not include a takeover or a controlling interest in any collaboration. Any language of that in any proposal invalidates the proposal and we quickly walk away.”
The group looked at each other, at least the six that worked for the group. The girlfriend and her sister looked at me, both trying to get a read on me.
“What is your timeline for starting your bases?” Trent asked.
“Space craft testing late this year, flights to the moon and Mars for landing and exploration early in January, base building first quarter of next year, starting with the moon,” dad told him.
“Any chance it could be moved up?” he asked.
“Testing for AddlerThree perhaps, which would be the craft to go to the moon and Mars,” dad said. “AddlerFour, the first large cargo craft, might not be done until the end of the year as they are concentrating on AddlerSeven and AddlerEight right now.”
“And what are those?” he asked.
“AddlerSeven is a new design for a forest or wildfire fighting craft while AddlerEight is our new atmospheric passenger craft,” he informed them.
“You’re much farther along than we knew,” Adele, the VP of technology jumped in. “Why build the firefighting craft and the passenger jet first?”
“We needed the Canadian and provincial buy-in for the new space port and the firefighting craft will help across the country,” dad explained. “The passenger craft will help us get to Winnipeg fast to check on the builds while the space port is being built. We hope to have them both ready in a month and then start on a Cargo ship or two.”
“Good ideas, both of them,” Adele said. “Could you start the cargo build earlier if you had more room?”
“Perhaps, though we only have so many robots to build them,” dad mused. “What’s your rush?”
She looked to Trent to answer.
“We’d like to have a sanctuary should things down here take a turn for the worse,” he said after thinking for a bit on whether to answer the question. “I like to be prepared for anything and the sooner the better.”
“Do you have anything specific you’re worried about or timing?” I took over, alerting Base.
“Not yet but we suspect something might occur during holiday celebrations,” was his reply.
No one was smiling or surprised at his statement, not even the two sisters at the end as I quickly glanced along the group. I looked at everyone on my side and they just shrugged.
“We could accelerate the ship building in Winnipeg and put up another hanger to build two cargo craft,” I mused. “Maybe we could start testing in November out of here and launch our next flight to the moon soon afterwards. The return trip to build the runway and bunkers could happen in December so we could be up there before Christmas. That’s if everything goes well and we see some evidence of what you’re afraid of.”
“I’ll give you the details we have if you promise to keep them to yourselves and include us in your plans,” Trent responded.
“We can keep the details to ourselves unless we need the help of others to stop them,” I replied. “If they can’t be stopped, then we could invite you to join us up at the base in payment for your warning, though you’d be there as our guests.”
“There are so many things we would have to put into place to make this work and supply the base,” mom stated. “If the world is in some sort of chaos, how do we resupply the base or bases?”
“That’s where we would come in,” Lilith spoke up. “We’ve been storing large amounts of specialized supplies; food, oxygen, water and building supplies to supply a base. We were going to use a deep mine to build a sanctuary but a moon or Mars base would be virtually unreachable if your ships were all there.”
Base and I were sub-vocalizing and he had gone through everything that the company had on all their servers, even their supposedly hidden ones. He had found nothing yet. The supplies they spoke of couldn’t be found either.
“Send us everything you have on this event and we’ll discuss our options,” I told them. “When we’re convinced and have tried everything we can to stop it, then we’ll accelerate our builds. Did you bring some evidence to show us?”
“I have a bit but I’ve been reluctant to carry it around or leave it where others could access it online,” Trent replied. “Can I access your monitor?”
“Sure, use the HDMI cable in the middle of the table,” I told him as I didn’t want to give him access to our network.
It took him just a minute to start showing documents on the screen, going too fast to catch everything if you were a normal human. I, along with Base, absorbed everything and Base quickly had everything on his laptop scanned and then pulled into a separate server that he then put offline. Base read everything while Trent was still showing things on the screen to us.
‘This is nothing but disjointed ramblings from unconfirmed sources,’ Base told me. ‘If this is all he has, it’s a hoax to get something from us.’
Trent finished up and said, “So, as you can see, there is a very good chance there will be financial and military attacks when we are least prepared to deal with them.”
“You have disjointed documents from various countries but no evidence this all ties into an attack,” I responded. “I’ll conduct my own investigation but unless you have something more, I’d say you’re reaching.”
“You haven’t had time to properly read those documents or determine how everything ties together,” Trent said with a frown.
“Actually I read them all and nothing links them together whatsoever,” I rebutted. “A Chinese food menu from Shanghai, a letter to a Subhet Patel outside Bangladesh, India asking for money from his daughter at Brown University, and a bill for laundry for a Pavlov Demetri in St. Petersburg, Russia along with programming code from a high school student in Miami Florida to determine the average of an array of numbers. It’s gibberish and not very smart gibberish.”
“How could you do that?” Lilith asked.
“I read fast,” I answered with a shrug.
“And he’s very, very smart,” Mom added. “Now, if Ben says that’s garbage then I think our meeting is up.”
They all looked at each other and then smiled at us.
“That was a test,” Trent announced. “We had to be sure Ben was as advertised. He passed so now we can proceed with the real deal.”
Everyone on our side stayed quiet and just stared at him.
“You’re mad and we’re sorry but this is too big to trust to rumours and luck,” Lilith somewhat apologized.
Still nothing from us.
The VP of acquisitions, Vince Bannister, spoke up, “The reason we’re here is to bring your company into ours. We’re offering one hundred million for all your divisions, along with all of you retaining your jobs and ten percent of your company’s profits.”
I saw Cassie Defoe, the younger sister slightly shake her head.
“That would be no,” I replied. “That definitely concludes our meeting today.”
“We’re willing to go up to two hundred million,” Trent said quickly.
“No,” I repeated as I stood up. “We are done here. Time to go and take your bugs you’ve been trying to plant with you.”
“This is not good business practice,” Abe Weinburg protested. “The price is double what you’re worth and more than what you will earn in at least four years.”
“Your math is wrong but that doesn’t matter as we’re not in it for money,” I told him.
They all stared at me for a few moments before Trent stood up and grabbed his laptop after flinging the cable towards the centre of the table.
“You’ll regret this,” he promised.
“I highly doubt that,” I replied as I had the security robots take a few steps towards the table. “You will definitely regret any attack on my company or our families.”
“I’m not scared of your Terminator wannabees,” he snorted.
“Then you’re more a fool than I suspected,” I said with a laugh. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t be that obvious as to send them after you. They’re going to escort you out of the building, now.”
The rest of their party stood up and all of them started walking to the doorway. Cassie gave Riley and I a wink and a quick look back at her seat before she followed everyone out the door. Dad made sure they left while Riley went over and checked out her chair to find a card slipped down the inside arm. Before she read it out loud, I pulled her out of the room and pointed down to my office, putting my finger on my lips. She nodded, we went into my office, and she read the card out loud.
“Hi Riley and Ben, I’m not employed or aligned with them, I just wanted to meet you two and maybe see a real space ship. Call me if it would be possible to come back soon. I have a couple weeks before school starts at Stanford so sooner than later would be good. I really hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely,
Cassie Defoe.”
“I like her,” Riley said. “Should we call her right away or in a day or so?”
I shook my head at her eagerness.
“Let’s check things out a bit more before we do that,” I told her. “I need to ensure that they don’t do anything stupid and I need to check her out thoroughly that she’s not his stooge or spy. She could just be a good actress.”
“It’s possible but I don’t think so,” Riley admitted. “Okay, do your research but don’t dillydally.”
“Yes Ma’am,” I replied with a grin. “You really like her, don’t you?”
“She’s smart like you but much better looking,” Riley responded.
“Don’t you already have a blonde?” I asked.
“Yes, but you can’t have too many blondes,” she answered with a grin.
“That is true,” I agreed. “Do I ever get to have a blonde?”
“Probably not her as she’s mostly into girls,” Riley informed me.
“And you know this how?” I asked.
“Because I’m the same way and same knows same,” she told me. “If you’re good, maybe Teigan will join us.”
“But I like to be so bad,” I told her with an evil grin.
She just shook her head and put Cassie’s number into her phone. Next she pushed me back towards the conference room and told me to get rid of the bugs, again.
Service robots were already checking out the seats, the table and floor and walls and had a few already on the table when we came in. They continued to the refreshment table and then down the hallway and stairs out to the door. They even checked our cars and found a couple as they were parked nearby. Base got all the information and the signals from the bugs before they were destroyed. We ate the lunch we had catered in and then I worked with Base on developing counter strikes on Morrison Holdings if required. He bought a few million shares of their company through his shell companies while also fully infiltrating their systems. He already had full access to their laptops and even their high security server was compromised. He had bugs in their jet and was listening to all the conversations.
‘There was an interesting one by the sisters that you and Riley would like to hear,’ Base told me and then let me hear the recording.
To read the complete story you need to be logged in:
Log In or
Register for a Free account
(Why register?)
* Allows you 3 stories to read in 24 hours.