Chapter 2 The Spark of Revolution

In The next morning,

Kareem Al-Masri was an early riser, always the first to leave for the company. He adjusted his tie, prepared for another long day, when he turned and froze. Ryan stood in the hallway, fully dressed in business attire. For a brief moment, Kareem's stern expression cracked, a flicker of surprise-and perhaps even pride-appearing in his eyes. He quickly masked it, clearing his throat. "You're up early," he said, watching his son closely. Ryan adjusted his cufflinks, keeping his voice calm. "Figured I'd see what this company is really about." Kareem nodded slowly, suppressing a smirk. "Good. Let's go." They stepped outside, where a sleek black luxury car was waiting. The driver opened the door, and both men slid into the backseat. The car moved smoothly through the city, silence stretching between them. Kareem broke it first. "I wasn't expecting you to change your mind so quickly." Ryan stared out the window, watching the city blur past. "Maybe I realized that fighting you head-on isn't the best strategy." Kareem raised an eyebrow. "Strategy?" Ryan turned slightly toward him, his expression unreadable. "I'm here, aren't I?" Kareem studied him, sensing something underneath his words. He had spent years negotiating, reading people, and right now, he could tell-Ryan wasn't submitting. He was planning something. The father smirked slightly. "Just remember, success in business requires discipline, not just intelligence." Ryan returned a smirk of his own. "Guess I'll have to see if your definition of success and mine align." The conversation ended there, both men knowing the real battle had just begun. As the company building loomed ahead, Ryan knew this wasn't surrender. This was infiltration.

Ryan stepped out of the car, blinking against the bright sunlight reflecting off the towering glass facade of Al-Masri Technologies. The building was a monument to power and ambition, its sleek design merging steel and glass in a way that screamed precision, dominance, and innovation. A massive, holographic display on the side of the skyscraper showcased cutting-edge weaponry, autonomous drones, and next-gen military vehicles-a stark reminder of his father's empire.

As he walked through the grand entrance, the sheer scale of the company became overwhelming. Employees moved swiftly, dressed in sharp suits and lab coats, engaged in deep discussions or tapping away at their tablets. The marble floors gleamed, reflecting the golden lighting overhead. The air was thick with purpose, a well-oiled machine of efficiency and order.

Ryan let out a quiet breath, his mind a battlefield of emotions. He hated this place, yet he couldn't deny its brilliance.

His father's voice pulled him from his thoughts.

"Ryan, meet Nadia," Kareem said, motioning toward a young woman standing beside him. "She's an amazing person. Despite her young age, she proved herself invaluable to this company. To the point that I now depend on her completely as my personal assistant in management."

Ryan glanced at her. Nadia looked to be in her early twenties, with neatly tied dark hair, confident eyes, and a polished yet energetic demeanor. She extended her hand with a warm smile.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ryan," she said.

He shook her hand briefly. "Same."

Kareem continued, "Nadia will take you on a tour around the company. If you have any questions, she'll answer them. After this tour, I expect you to decide which department you'll be joining."

Ryan gave a slight nod. "Understood."

His father turned on his heel, already swarmed by a team of executives, discussing reports and project updates as they walked toward the elevators.

Nadia broke the silence with her bright, enthusiastic tone. "So, Ryan, I know you probably have your reservations about this place, but trust me-it's incredible. Your father built something truly revolutionary. You'll see soon enough."

Ryan shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, we'll see."

The tour started in the weapons development sector-labs filled with engineers designing high-tech rifles, self-targeting missiles, and autonomous combat drones. Ryan barely paid attention.

Next was the aerospace division, where sleek warplanes were displayed in various stages of assembly, their exteriors gleaming under the bright lab lights.

Then came armored vehicles-massive machines built to withstand explosions, equipped with state-of-the-art tracking and stealth capabilities.

Through it all, Ryan's mind drifted.

"This isn't me."

Everything was about war. He wasn't against engineering-hell, he loved it. But his passion was different. He wanted to build something new, something that didn't exist solely to destroy.

As Nadia kept talking, he found himself wondering if he should just walk out of this place and never look back.

But then... he saw it.

A darkened room. A solitary glass case.

Inside, hanging like a relic of a forgotten dream, was a metal suit-sleek, powerful, and years ahead of anything he'd seen today.

Ryan stopped in his tracks.

Nadia followed his gaze and paused mid-sentence.

"What's this?" Ryan asked, his voice lower than usual.

Nadia hesitated before answering. "That... was Project Talon."

Ryan turned to her. "Talon?"

She nodded. "It was an experimental exo-suit designed for infantry soldiers-meant to provide enhanced strength, speed, and an arsenal of built-in weaponry. The idea was that a single soldier, equipped with this, could take on an entire battlefield."

Ryan took a slow step closer, eyes fixed on the intricate plating and reinforced joints of the suit.

"Why was it scrapped?"

Nadia sighed. "Cost. Operational issues. And, most importantly, no soldier could adapt to it properly. The neural interface was too complex, the mobility too unnatural for humans. No matter how many adjustments were made, the project just... didn't work. So, it was shut down."

Ryan's fingers tightened into fists.

His mind was racing.

"This is it. This is what I've been looking for."

The gears in his brain clicked into place-his knowledge of robotics, AI, and combat systems all screaming for a chance to bring this thing to life.

His lips moved before he realized he was speaking.

"I can make it work."

Nadia blinked. "What did you say?"

Ryan turned to her, eyes blazing. Without another word, he spun on his heel and rushed back the way he came.

"Ryan?!" Nadia called after him, hurrying to catch up. "Where are you going?"

He didn't stop. "Where's my father's office?"

"What-why? What's going on?"

Ryan didn't answer. He had a deal to make.