Page 6 of Dark Shaman: Love Found
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KIAN
Kian closed the file he'd been going through and glanced at his watch. It was almost three o'clock, and Kalugal should arrive at any moment.
His cousin rarely scheduled formal meetings, and since becoming a council member, Kian couldn't remember Kalugal ever requesting to meet in the office. The fact that he'd requested a specific time slot through Shai meant that something was brewing in Kalugal's mind that he wanted to share with Kian, and Kian alone.
"Come in," he called when the knock came at precisely three in the afternoon.
Kalugal entered carrying two coffee cups, the aroma of freshly ground beans wafting through the office. "Figured we could both use the caffeine this time of day." He set the cups on Kian's office desk. "Don't you find it strange that even immortals experience an afternoon slump?"
"We are part human." Kian removed the lid of the cup nearest to him. "And we are not machines."
Kalugal's smirk indicated that this had been precisely what his cousin had been leading him to say, but so far, Kian couldn't begin to guess what was swirling in Kalugal's brilliant mind.
"You are correct. We are not machines, but we are very good at using them." Kalugal leaned back in his chair. "I have a feeling that you will want to have the rest of this conversation on the roof over cigars and whiskey." His lips lifted in a crooked smile. "I timed this meeting strategically so it would be proper for us to enjoy both without you feeling like you are breaking the rules. I know how important those are to you."
"I was wondering about that." Kian opened the desk drawer where he kept his stash and pulled out a box of cigarillos. "Will these do, or do you want the real thing?"
"Those will do just fine." Kalugal waved a hand. "What I have to say will not be long enough for a Cohiba."
Kian put the box in his pocket and pulled out two shot glasses and a bottle of whiskey that was still half full. "Let's go."
Kalugal eyed the two cups of coffee. "Should I bring these up?"
"Sure," Kian said.
Once they reached his rooftop sanctuary and settled into the lounge chairs, each holding a lit cigarillo, Kalugal took amoment to puff on his before speaking. "I've been thinking about our conversation regarding the robot army you want to build with the help of William, Kaia, and the blueprints from Okidu's journals."
Kian's interest sharpened. "What about it?"
"William and Kaia are going to take forever to develop a prototype, and then it's going to take even longer to produce the robots in any meaningful numbers. We're talking years, maybe decades, before we have a force capable of standing against my father's new and improved army."
"I assume that you didn't come here to point out all the ways in which this is an undoable plan. You thought of an alternative?"
"I did. And my idea's brilliance is in its simplicity." Kalugal's eyes lit up with the enthusiasm of someone who'd been itching to share what he'd come up with. "Exoskeletons."
"What about them?"
"Think about it." Kalugal puffed on his cigarillo. "The suits are equalizers. It doesn't matter who is inside the suit as long as they know how to use it. They don't need to be powerful or indestructible. The suit makes them so."
Understanding dawned. "You're suggesting we outfit humans with exoskeletons."
"Exactly." Kalugal leveled his intense gaze on Kian. "The mechanical augmentation brings everyone to the same level.A human in a well-calibrated exoskeleton can match an immortal's strength, even an enhanced immortal. And with the right modifications, they could even exceed it."
Kian leaned back in his lounger, his mind going through the possibilities. "The suits we have are built for immortals. They are heavy and difficult to maneuver. The modifications to make them suitable for humans will need to be extensive."
"Which is why we need to steal some excellent engineers," Kalugal said casually, as if stealing personnel and their knowledge was a typical Monday afternoon activity.
"Who do you have in mind?"
"There's a robotics company in the Bay Area—Mechanicals Inc. They've been developing military-grade exoskeletons for the Defense Department. Their top engineers have decades of combined experience in exactly what we need." Kalugal leaned forward eagerly. "We have two options. We can steal their people along with their knowledge, their experience, their design innovations, and years of R&D, or we can buy the company."
"I prefer to buy. Are they selling?"
Kalugal shrugged. "Does it matter? I can make them eager to sell. Or I can make their key personnel offers they can't refuse. Companies do it all the time." He cast Kian a mocking glance. "I know that you want to do everything by the book, but luring away key personnel with lucrative offers is only called stealing. There is nothing illegal about it." He smirked. "We make them offers that are too good topass up, and the chance to work on cutting-edge technology without the government red tape or budget constraints. For the ones who need more persuasion..." He shrugged. "We might have to come up with creative ideas for making their employment package more attractive."
Kian took another sip of coffee, using the moment to think. The plan had merit, but it wasn't as simple as Kalugal made it sound. "Even if we acquire the expertise, mass production is another challenge. We'd need facilities, supply chains, and quality control systems. All of it would have to be hidden from both human authorities and your father's network of spies."
