June 24, 2795  10:58 am

“You've GOT to be KIDDING me!!” Tom looks like he just got cheated as I push my new purchase up to the shop.  “I thought you where going to get a CAR, not scrap metal!”

Granted it doesn't look like much more than a beat up piece of titanium.  52 years old, badly damaged in an accident, it doesn't exactly have the hallmarks of a good car.  However his reaction did catch me off guard.  Anyone knows it's not what it looks like, it's what it has under the hood.

“I'm not expecting you to fix it.  I just need to order parts through you and rent your tools.”

Tom give me one of those looks, sighs, then walks over to look at it up close.

“So what exactly did you get then?”

“I believe they said it's a Titan GX.”

A few surprisingly silent moments pass before he finally responds, “A TITAN GX?!?  How the HECK did you get one of those?!?”

“Yes.  I just said I wanted it, signed the paper work and paid for it.”

Tom just shakes his head and lets out a low whistle, “How lucky can you get?  Anyways, getting the parts is no problem, but renting out my tools is out of the question.  I need them all here.  Although you said you had military mechanics training, so you're probably pretty good with tools.  I guess I could let you use a bay and the tools.  Just be sure to put them back where you find them!”

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July 6, 2795  1:02 pm

Past couple weeks of work on the car has worked wonders!  Actually got to start it up and start tunning the twin turbine engines yesterday!  Tom seemed very impressed by the base specs too!  Funny thing is, I think he's more anxious to see the thing on the road than I am.  He's actually a pretty swell guy despite first impressions.  Seems he was a military man too.  Although somehow he managed to get out right before the big war.  Lucky dog.  Seems he also helps out at a local race track.  Considering how much he likes high powered wheeled vehicles, I wouldn't be surprised if he is wanting to see the Titan on the track.

Sadly not everything is quite going as planned.  Past couple weeks, despite glowing reviews from the military, are spent getting zero responses from places I applied too.  Apparently everyone is uncomfortable having the deadliest thing known to man working for them.  Gee, I wonder why?

After another fruitless morning of job searching, I walk into the shop and start working on tuning the Titan.  Tom looks up from his latest “Dipstick Job” with a concerned look.

“What's eating you?” he asks setting down his tools and walking over to me.

“Nothing.  No predators or parasites can harm me,” yeah, I still have to act like I don't understand half of the little phrases.

Tom shakes his head and chuckles, “I mean what's bothering you?  You seem upset over something.”

“Job searching is proving difficult.  Most places aren't hiring.  The rest say they can't hire me.”

Tom stays silent for a few moments, probably thinking.  “Well, you do know with all the nut heads around here I can't get everything done around here.  I know you're pretty good with tools and have an interest in cars.  Would you want to work here?  I could use the extra help.”

A job here?  That's practically a dream come true!  Just don't tell my Dad that, he's the one that pushed me to go into the service.

I smile and look back at him, “Yes, I'd like that very much!”

“Great!  I'll get an application for you to fill out then,” he says heading to his office.  “I guess the only question is how good are you at catching mice?”

Honestly, Tom is the only person I know who is crazy or brave enough to joke around with me.  I bet he'd probably say the former.

Either way, I still have to force myself not too laugh or even smile at his joke, “I'm very adapt at catching mice, although they don't have enough meat on them to be worth eating.  Why do you ask?”

Tom just shakes his head and chuckles again, “Never mind!”