During the months that followed, numerous problems were encountered during the building of the base. Overshot knew that she wouldn't be able to expand the base when the business was built on top and thus had to plan ahead. Excluding the normal things found in a base namely the laboratory, medical bay, bridge and her own berth-room, she had decided to add some extra rooms for future use. An extra-large open space and four additional octagonal rooms like how her berth-room and the medical bay was. She did not know what the rooms might become, but it all depended on how long she would stay on Earth.

They might just end up being storage, she suspected.

The business on top was built to accommodate various needs, and Overshot had to admit that Max had done an excellent job in the designing. It was a motel that doubled to serve various tourist activities and, if the advertisement online was anything to go by, people were interested in the business.

After Overshot finished building the base by servo, she covered it up and instead employed normal human builders to assist in the business on top. They had to follow her design to the T, considering a part of the design she would later have to branch out to connect to the base below. For now, she had a very unpractical temporary entrance into the base that she did not use often.

Her calculations were perfect until the first problem struck: an earthquake. She had not made much compensation for natural disasters and a part of her base toppled in when it occurred. After that, she and Max went back to the drawing board and added additional support structures to fend off against a number of natural disasters.

All except tsunami's, but she hoped so far into the main land, it would not be a concern. Max assured her that she didn't need to worry about that.

The second problem came two months into the building process when Max had not shown up for their daily meeting. She had gone to his college and discovered that he had not been to his scheduled class either. Standing at the campus, Overshot bit her lip as she thought about the situation. She was confused with her own emotions before eventually admitting to herself that she worried for the boy.

She didn't want to search for a new human pet and start all over again. She had made too great a progress with Max to let him go.

A beep came from her wrist and she brought up her smart-watch to see a message from Max. It asked her to come over to his house. Silently, she started to head over to his house.

Her real body was hidden in the base since Max at the beginning had worried each time she headed into town and hid her body in an alleyway. She now hid her body in the base and permanently headed into town in her holoform. The only problem was that she could not form her holoform too far away from her actual body and thus they had to figure out the transport problem very early in the process.

Overshot had consulted the town's managers, specifically those working with public transport. Since the mine was partly seen as a historical area and she was bound by her contract to the estate agent to keep a part of the mine intact for the historical aspect, it was easy to convince them to agree that she could build a straight transport system between the two. It was done on the condition that she was completely responsible for the transport and that a part of the monthly income had to go to the municipal.

Many ways were discussed, but she ended up building a light rail transit that carried trams. The rail had a direct path between the base and the town, per her design, with a streetcar always available for her use. Within a week with her working each night, the transit and its functioning cars were finished. She explained the speedy progress by using the explanation that she had private contractors building in the night. They did not seem any wiser about the truth about this mysterious girl who suddenly appeared.

After all, money talks a different language to them.

Reaching Max's house she headed over to the buzzer and rang it. After a minute of no response she rang again, face starting to form into a scowl. This time the gates opened and she smirked triumphantly. She walked up the driveway and towards the front door. There she was greeted with a very stern face.

The previous night when Max had gotten home, it was to a very unhappy looking face.

"You okay there dad? A client overly needy as usual?" Max played off, walking past his father into the kitchen. His father was a huge and stern man who could easily say no. As a large equipment contractor, he was typically on many construction and manufacturing sites. In terms of genetics, Max surely did not get his dominant traits from him. They looked alike, but not much else.

"Not a client, but I receive some bad news today. Terrible, in fact," his father spoke ominously, entering the kitchen behind him.

"Really? That doesn't sound good," he wasn't exactly used to his father being so mysterious and felt a bit awkward because of it.

"No, no it does not," his father narrowed his eyes. "M.I.C.E. called me today," at this Max frowned and turned in question. M.I.C.E. was the gaming company who had approached Max when he was still in high school and now had a conditioned internship with. He had to admit that he had been slacking off on the 'conditioned' part.

"Yeah?" he asked with curiosity.

"Yeah, and they told me that you should have given them an update weeks ago and they sent warnings which you elected to ignore," Max's eyes went wide, finally remembering all those emails. He had intended to respond, he really did, but then he was called to the mine to assist with some designing or the other and it flew from his mind.

Or he was called in just to keep Overshot company, not that she would ever admit that she felt lonely. Max was starting to understand her better and now couldn't be fooled that easily. She had the need to socialise like any sentient being.

"Dad, I can explain," he tried but his father quickly held up his hand.

"No need. The company has already terminated your internship and retracted any further payments for your tuition," he spoke strictly, staring down at his son. "How could you have let this happen?"

"Dad, I'm sorry," his voice came out in a weak attempt.

"I'm not going to pay any additional costs than I have up to now. It's your responsibility to deal with your mistake and find a way to cover those costs. You're going to have to get a job," Max's father was the type to let his children rather live and experience the world for what it was rather than keep them in a protected shell. Max's problems were his own and his father would not reprimand him for it since Max would deal with the consequences anyway.

"I've been... the reason I haven't been so involved with the internship so much is because I'm sort of... starting a business?" Max decided to admit, his father's eyes going wide. He had not expected this is in the slightest.

"Excuse me?"

"I made a friend. Sort of. We're partners. She bought a piece of land and there's building going on there now but she decided that to maximise efficiency that the land had to be used for more than one purpose. She gave me a part of the land to work with and I decided to make a... business," he explained, trying not to actively lie. It was true what he said, however. "We've been building for two months now," he whispered, casting his eyes away. It was a rather big secret, he now realised.

"... a business? You abandoned the internship to build... a business?" his father sighed. "That does sound like something my son would do. But why did you keep this from me?" Max looked down and thought about it. Why did he keep it from his father? Of course the alien part, but he could've told him about his plans for the business.

"I... I wanted to prove that I could run my own life and that I don't want to live under your wing for the rest of my life," he looked up at his father. "I wanted to make a big step in my life with no one to influence me. It's... hard to explain," his father shook his head.

"What type of business?"

"Oh! It's a motel but it has other things as well like there's cable cars up the mesa and there's bowling and a telescope and even a VR room! It's... a tourist stop, basically. A holiday resort," he scratched at his forehead. "I wanted to build a place that a lot of people would enjoy,"

"... is that where the tram leads to?" Max looked up and nodded. "Where did the money come from?"

"Uhm, my partner made a huge investment. If our planning is right, we'll start making profit within a few months," he spoke unsurely, knowing his father was an entrepreneur as well. "She's a genius. Like seriously. She designed the place herself and managed the construction as well. The entire project is her baby and when she gave me a piece as well I was so surprised. We didn't even know each other that well when we started working together but now I feel as if I know her like the back of my own hand, even though she wouldn't admit that she's easily readable. I've really never met someone like her and I never will again. She's an amazing partner," he spoke, his tone growing softer. He really couldn't believe how uninteresting his life had been before he met her.

"How did you two meet?" his father asked, moving to sit at the dining table. Max joined him.

"...she moved in front of my motorcycle. I had to swerve to miss her," he quickly made up.

"Is that how your bike got destroyed?"

"...yeah," he lowered his head in shame.

"Was she injured?" he looked up and shook his head. "Good. I'm proud that you're taking the initiative of your own life," Max smiled foolishly, proud that his father wasn't upset with him. Pr it seemed like it, anyway. "You still should have told me. I could have helped with the process," Max nodded slowly.

"Yeah... I'm sorry. I really am," his father only nodded.

"So, who's this girl?" his father leaned forward with his elbows propped onto the table. Max quickly analysed the look on his face.

"Dad, it's not like that," she shook his head quickly and sighed. "I don't even think she'll ever be interested like that," he commented, more to himself. Since Cybertronians had no part in the cycle of... not birth, exactly – forging?- of the species, then there was no need for relationships really.

Unless they also needed to make an emotional attachment to another, but with their practically immortal lives, wouldn't they grow tired of each other?

"What's her name?" his father started the interrogation.

"Artemis. She's a little older than me but she's a real genius,"

"No surname?"

"Uhm..."

"What's het exact age? Where did she come from? Do you know anything about this girl?" his father carried a suspicious look on his face.

Oh boy, was all Max could think in that situation.

Although Max tried to come up with excuses on the spot, his father could see through his lies and had been reprimanded because of it. The two went to bed angry with his father fully intent on restarting the conversation in the morning. Max had been prepared to wake up early to head to his classes but his father was down in the kitchen on his laptop, very early in the morning.

"According to the public reports of the municipal of transport, that tram had been built in under a week. Rather impressive work if you ask me," was the first thing he told. Max sighed.

"We hired private contractors to build during the night. We didn't want to move huge construction vehicles on the town's roads during the day. It would cause too much traffic,"

"Really? Which private contractors? Maybe I know them,"

"Why are you suddenly a police officer?" Max scowled, heading to create his breakfast.

"I'm just worried that you're putting all your effort into this business of yours and she might turn out to be scam. Did you even sign a contract with her? There's nothing legally binding, is there?" Max sighed heavily and turned to his father.

"Dad, I know this girl enough to be certain that she will not abandon me. You can trust me on this," he did not know what to tell him anymore. This was quickly becoming horrible.

"In that case, I would like to meet her face-to-face to make my own judgement, if you don't mind," Max stared at his cereal for a moment before turning his head to his father.

"I'll bring her home after our work today,"

"That won't cut it. I'm sure you can spare one day of classes, can't you?" Max sighed heavily.

"Yeah, sure. I'll just wait a few hours. I'm pretty sure Artemis has a morning client today," which was the truth. Each morning she had to go over the progress of the top-side building with the workers and direct the plans for the day. It had become such a scheduled part of her life.

Her frequent usage of her holoform was beyond a tolerable level. She just wanted the base finished so that she could roam around freely in her true form. Although, her hatred of flesh has somewhat subsided.

"Good, and put away that cereal. Now that we actually have some time together, I think I'll make us some breakfast. Sound good?"

"Sure,"

Which is how Overshot ended up in front of Max's home, his father staring down at her. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, wondering why a variable in her human pet's genetic makeup was trying to intimidate her.

"Maxwell's father, I assume?" she stated with boredom.

"You assume correctly," he said back with an almost strained voice.

"The resemblance is easily noticeable," she commented, peering at his form. "Is Maxwell present?"

"He is, but I would like to speak to you first, if you don't mind," he moved to the side, holding the door open for her. She hummed suspiciously, entering slowly.

"I was not aware I was called over to be interrogated. I would have brought my prison jumpsuit along," she spoke with a cynical undertone.

"Just a concerned parent. You understand, right?"

"No," she spoke plainly, as she walked to the living room where she took a seat and folded her legs. She looked serious and the older man wondered for a second whether she was confused who was doing the interrogating.

Moreover, he was suspicious how she knew the layout of the house already.

He sat on the couch across from her, folding his hands together.

"Artemis, was it?"

"Yes," she spoke with narrowed eyes.

"Do you have a surname, Artemis?"

"Yes," she answered, smirking. He sighed.

"What is your surname?"

"Danvers,"

"Artemis... Danvers,"

"Yes," he shook his head.

"Where did you come from, Artemis?"

"My mother's womb," he looked at her with a look of exasperation. She leaned forward with her elbows on her knees and wrapped her hands together. "I understand that you have concerns, Mister Davis, although I cannot exactly emphasise with them. My childhood has done more than just harden me and I have never had the experience of a 'family'. I was born in Nevada and I was raised in an orphanage. Last year my birth parents died and I inherited more money than I knew what to do with. I came here since I had been told I had a cousin who still lived here but he turned out to be more than I could handle.

I decided to start my own business and since I had the money, nothing was stopping me. However, I did not want to do it alone. I never had any... friends, but when I met Maxwell, I knew I wanted him as my business partner. He is more intelligent than given credit for and I do not think my personality would be compatible with many others. I had not taken into account that his family might have a problem with our partnership, mainly for the reason that I never had a family and thus it is not a huge priority to me. I now know that it is to others. Maxwell is more than just an irreplaceable asset to me and I know that my business will not thrive without his contributions.

I... understand that my responses are probably not what you expected. I do not care much for friendship or emotional things. They are hard to process anyway. Maxwell is an excellent companion to me, and I hope that I can offer to make his ambitions a reality as well," she nodded with a serious look, Max's father staring at her with a confused expression. He clearly had not expected any of her words, even though most of it was lies she dreamt up on the spot.

One part was true though: she did want to make Max's ambitions come true, even if just for the reason to pay him back for his contributions to her.

"And what would you know about my son's ambitions?" he eventually questioned.

"That he has big plans for the future of virtual reality gaming. That he plans to create realistic augmented reality games. That he has the idea to branch out the augmentation to other professions like medicine, military training and education," she spoke with a flat tone, Max's father's eyes opening wide. "Maxwell tends to get into a 'zone' when he talks about his passion. Albeit I not seem like it, I do take an interest," he nodded slowly.

"This business of yours... what qualifications do you actually have to run it?"

"You doubt my abilities?" she nearly snapped before stopping herself in her tracks. "I have no qualifications on paper, but you are more than welcome to go to the mine and study the infrastructure and blueprints yourself. You can decide for yourself then," he wondered about her words for a second.

"Max did say you were a genius,"

"Do you believe him?"

"Should I?"

"If you are not convinced yet, then it will come in time," she sat back and made herself comfortable in the seat. He hummed in thought.

"Why my son though? You said he was an invaluable asset. He isn't exactly qualified either,"

"Now you doubt your own son?"

"He has no experience, especially in entrepreneurship," Overshot frowned at him before an idea struck het. She let her face relax and smile.

"He may not have," she chuckled. "But you do," she spoke, waving a hand in his direction.

"What does that mean?"

"If you are worried about his qualifications, then make him qualified. Teach him the basics. I will even employ you to do it, if need be," she nodded to herself. "Yes. This is an excellent idea. That way I can be assured that he will not mess this up, and you will be too. I had no quarries with him learning as he went on, but now I see that some basic knowledge may be a good idea. Yes, yes..." she smiled to herself as her train of thought went on.

"I do not have the time for something like that," he eventually spoke.

"You're an equipment contractor, are you not? And I am a landlord busy with construction that requires certain equipment. If I employ you for the job you actually do, then you will spend a lot of time around the construction site which, as it so happens, Maxwell does too. One can learn a lot from a simple work chat," she said suggestively and leaned forward onto her hands. He hummed in thought.

"You're a genius at something," he admitted. "I will think about your offer, but for now, our topic seems to have shifted. I still have more questions,"

"Then by all means, Mister Davis, ask away. I have all day,"