BXBX NOVEL Chapter 23 - Space, The New Frontier
Elon suggested a fancy restaurant where they could eat and talk.
Price drove Vince in the Agera R and opted for valet parking.
The valet was terrified to park such an expensive car, but Vince didn\'t care much.
"This place offers excellent food and some privacy," Elon said.
The group spent some time getting to know each other while eating dinner.
[This guy is 100% what I expected. He\'s rather odd and is the same way he presents himself to the public as he is in private.] Vince thought.
"That Agera R is a beautiful piece of machinery but have you tried electric vehicles? The instant torque available to the driver is exhilarating." Elon declared.
"I\'ve heard about Tesla and your roadster, but it\'s not my style. Instead, the EV technology itself is what interests me." Vince replied.
"Electric is the future. Oh, this reminds me of my business proposition." Elon said.
"I\'ve heard of Future Tech\'s new autonomous construction and manufacturing drones called \'Hive Mind\' and am interested in procuring some.
Elon explained SpaceX\'s future ambitious projects, such as reusable rockets.
[This could be to my advantage. Price had already proposed buying satellites for the BitCash network, but the available ones in orbit were outdated and useless.] Vince thought.
"I\'ve done my market research and have concluded that Future Tech employs the best artificial intelligence developers and engineers in the entire world, and SpaceX also lacks the level of autonomy we require," Elon added.
"You\'re asking a lot from me, Elon. Artificial intelligence is a core business of Future Tech. I can\'t just share it without compensation." Vince said with a poker face.
"I can give you a 10% stake in SpaceX for the development of our rocket autonomy." Elon offered.
"This isn\'t enough. Our \'Hive Mind\' will be able to manufacture your rockets more effectively without the constraints of traditional equipment.
It can also manufacture mass-produced vehicles for Tesla.
I\'ve heard you\'ve been planning to sell more Teslas to the general public. Hive Mind can help you deliver your product on schedule with the highest quality." Vince declared.
"You drive a hard bargain, Vince. I\'ll offer a 10% stake in SpaceX and Tesla, including discounts for future satellite launch missions." Elon replied.
"That sounds much better. Right, Price". Vince asked jokingly.
Price choked on his drink for a bit before nodding in confirmation.
"You can contact Ralph, the department head of our financial division, for further discussion," Vince said.
"You should stop by SpaceX tomorrow. I\'ll show you around the HQ," Elon offered.
"Sounds good. We\'ll see you tomorrow then." Vince replied.
They bade farewells after dinner and waited for the Agera R.
It was still in one piece, but the valet who drove it back was sweating profusely.
Random people took photos of the car and Vince as they were leaving.
Posts on the internet were popping up with taglines like "Future Tech X Tesla?!" with photos of Vince and Elon leaving the restaurant together.
Tesla stock soon started rising as the partnership hype went around the internet and newsrooms.
Vince, Price, and some bodyguards stayed in California while others returned to Austin.
He called Ralph to discuss Elon\'s partnership offer as the finance department would manage it under Ralph.
Future Tech Holdings have been slowly acquiring stock in major S&P 500 companies.
Vince had written an investment plan outlining which companies to avoid and which ones to buy at a premium.
Amazon and Tesla will eventually shoot up in value, while car manufacturers like Volkswagen will decline due to business practice scandals.
An Agera R parked outside the SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, LA.
Employees wondered if Elon bought a new car recently and thought he would never replace his Tesla for anything else.
Two unfamiliar people left the car and erased their initial thoughts.
Elon\'s secretary welcomed the two into the building and brought them to Musk\'s office.
"Good to see you both again. Welcome to my beloved SpaceX." Elon said with a huge smile.
[This guy is pretty happy today. Probably because of Tesla stock price rising from yesterday.]
"I\'m not as knowledgeable in material science as in software and network engineering, but I\'m rather excited to see rocket boosters and spacecraft up close," Vince replied.
Elon brought them both to a massive hangar. SpaceX stored multiple rocket boosters and spacecraft shells located in this hanger.
"This is the new Falcon 9 and Dragon spacecraft. The only reusable rocket in the world." Elon presented proudly.
"Impressive. How long is the manufacturing process for these spacecraft?" Vince asked.
"If building one from scratch, it would take around three months for an entire spacecraft," Elon replied.
Price gave a small chuckle after learning about the long manufacturing time.
"What\'s so funny, Price" Elon asked.
"It takes too long for SpaceX to produce its only product. The Hive Mind would take only a month to manufacture it at its current configuration but could probably do it within two weeks after the processor upgrade." Price replied.
"How are you so confident in the Hive Mind?" Elon asked.
"It may not look it, but I designed the cybersecurity protocols for the Hive Mind. So I have a deep understanding of its capabilities." Price confidently replied.
"If what you say is true, then I\'ll be happier regarding our future partnership.", Elon declared.
"This is the VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) testing area for the new landing system. Development has been slow, but it hasn\'t worked out for us and NASA yet."
"Falcon 9 and Dragon will require the level of autonomy that Hive Mind exhibits," Elon stated.
"Your team can contact Patel, the department head engineer for Hive Mind, and the engineering department. Your VTOL system will work flawlessly soon; I can assure you," Vince replied confidently.
Elon introduced Vince and Price to some executives and department heads at SpaceX while showing him some other areas.
"Does SpaceX currently produce satellites?" Vince asked.
"Not currently, but we\'ve been planning to for a while now. Most of the satellites we\'ll be launching are made by Boeing or Lockheed Martin." Elon replied.
"Future Tech requires dozens of advanced satellite systems for the expansion of the BitCash and Bitcoin Bank network."
"I suggest collaborating in the development of new satellites to reduce cost buying them from third parties in the future."
"The Hive Mind will also manufacture them eventually at a discounted price." Vince offered.
"Sounds good to me," Elon replied.
They shook hands before bidding farewell.
[Space is the new frontier, I guess] Vince thought
Stats since last checked:
15 million BTC
$940 million in Future Tech
$4 million personally
300+ employees
Three company contractors