ugh a stack of reports. Around him, a team of executives sto

ir thick with the weight of decisions

heavy office d

kly, his eyes bur

nd him, her voice

et me explain fi

ion. Karim looked up from his documents, his

urprise flickered

Karim asked, settin

, unwavering. "I need

for his employees to leave. Without hesitation, they gather

vy silence, occupied only

ir and motioned for them to

I've made my decision. I

lanced at Nadia. She shifted

said. "That it had too many issues and wa

re. "We need to restart it. Whateve

rsation. "Ryan, you don't understand. The Talon suit wasn't ju

ighters now-why risk a soldier

e wrong. Machines might be effi

decisions no AI ever could. You wanted

im, his express

erious ab

s didn't w

n the desk in thought. Aft

conference. The biggest companies in the world will be

n the military tech industry, specializing in autonomous

weapons. If you can develop the Talon suit by then and prove to me a day b

irked.

he said, his voice low and deliberate, "you'll abandon this i

was charged, the ch

's gaze, his heartb

an impossible deadline. No one could rebuild a failed project from

't thinking a

lready p

r him, her voice filled with uncertainty

orming on his lips. "Y

lked out, ready to b

ipping his coffee as Lina entered. She glanced at him, imme

out Ryan," she said

. "You always

ed back, crossing her arms. "He told

ring. "It was the only way to make

eyebrow. "And

actually succeeding flickered in his mind, and for a brief second,

want him to win," she

as he masked the emotion.

aking her head. "

own, he knew-if Ryan could pull

wasn't quite

ont of the mirror, adjusting h

arp, calculated-just

moment. Everything had its time,

fe, standing in the living room. She was glancing at he

rk," she mused, arms crossed.

ow, sensing the playf

n we go out together? Suddenly, time loses all

uckle, shaking his head.

ber last weekend? You said, 'Give me

n important contrac

ter, she asked, "Are you really not going to stop having breakfa

nks and, with a diplomati

ly. "That's a 'no'