Chandra left the hotel and climbed into the limousine. She had only been in New York for a couple days before reading about a new military project that had gone wrong. She even had suspected the doctor leading the project had immediately lost his funding as a result of the fiasco. In her opinion he had likely gotten off easy, but since it was all that had happened to him, it opened up a new possible business opportunity for her.

“Chambers Street and Church Street,” Joseph stated to the driver as he climbed in behind Mr. Gerard.

Chandra crossed her legs and rode on in silence, contemplating the up coming interaction with Doctor Zane Bishop. The agreement should be fairly straightforward, she would provide the funding for him, and he would provide her with prototypes and working models to break into the military field with. Ultimately it would allow her to dip her fingers into an ever growing pot of funds.

Of course there were other motives for her desire to provide the funding for a robotic soldier. She looked across the limousine at Joseph; such a good man, honest, loyal, and more than capable at his job, and very good at keeping a secret. Though she did dislike keeping him from his family, whereas Mr. Gerard she kept around for his quick draw and sheer brutal strength.

However, both were human, and at least one of them she did not want to see die. She had seen a good deal of people die over her many years of life, and only a handful had gotten close enough to her that she actually felt dismayed at their passing. Such was a life she had chosen to lead though. Keeping herself at a comfortable emotional distance from others. Having a bodyguard of steel would prevent her from getting attached to someone, as well as providing an easy way of her being able to establish her own militant force in the future.

Mercenary work had been a treasured tradition in the past, and still was to some extent in the modern world.

The limousine pulled up at the designated intersection and Chandra’s bodyguards got out before her. She followed shortly after and lead the way into a small office building near the New York City Hall. She made her way into the building and presented the proper papers and identification, as did her bodyguards who also left their pistols at the front door, and then lead the way through the building and to the elevators.

She took the elevator up to the third floor and stepped off and made her way through the halls and into an empty room. She had not expected to find the doctor already there, but was ever so slightly disappointed anyways. She took a seat at the table and waited patiently as Joseph and Mr. Gerard took their places at the corners of the room.

Half-an-hour later she greeted the Doctor as he entered the room. “Good morning Doctor Bishop. I trust your trip was pleasant?”

Chandra rose as Zane entered the room. Both of her bodyguards tensed for a moment as he did. Joseph had not mentioned Kiya’s other form to Mr. Gerard, but the latter man was fairly observant and had picked up on Joseph’s unease, as though he expected whatever had been in the hotel room to have followed them seven hundred miles to New York.

“Nothing to apologize for Doctor,” Chandra said with a smile. She retook her seat after Zane. “I know just how… troublesome, the traffic here can be.”

She nodded in response to Zane’s comment and thought for a moment on how best to express herself. “I am a businesswoman Doctor Bishop. I have my ‘fingers’ into nearly every business type and in almost every corner of the world, save a military branch.”

She reclined in her seat ever so slightly and entwined her fingers together on the table. “Your research intrigues me, and I am in the position to invest in said research, and its possible applications, civilian wise and militarily. Could you possibly further expand on it? The article was… dry.”

”I know of your plight Dr. Bishop,” Chandra said as her smile faded. “I also am aware that no criminal lawsuits have been filed against you for the ‘accident’. The civil one from the man’s family aside, you are, for the most part, in the clear of the incident. Just because most of the big-whigs of the various governmental military branches won’t touch you does not mean that those in the private section are going to keep you at arms reach.”

She paused for a moment, though only a moment and did not give him the chance to jump into the conversation before she was through. “And it is in the private sector that the real money is to be made anyways. Typically there is less red-tape to wade through as well, though your project would be an example of one that is an exception and takes a little more rigidity, depending on which country I sponsor you in. As I stated before, it will be a risk. More-so for me than for you, I guarantee you. However, it is a calculated risk [i[I[/i] am more than willing to take. The only thing I might have overstepped myself on is your willingness to sign on underneath my wing.” She held up a hand to stop him from speaking.

“I have already laid the path towards your research, and started the process of initiating the proper paperwork channels within your government for a project of this size. You must have been wondering why you were not contacted sooner, as I’ve known about the incident and subsequent fall out for nearly four weeks now, and what I have just mentioned is the answer. Now, are you going to explain to me some of the finer details of your project? Can your current prototype be reproduced? What were the circumstances behind its ‘malfunction’? Or are you going to rise and walk out on the opportunity of a lifetime?”[/color]

Chandra let a small smile get through, just enough to be noticeable. She had taken a risk in going ahead and filing the paperwork that did not require his signature and the gamble had paid off. She watched him glance to Mr. Gerard and Joseph, and suddenly wondered if they made him nervous. She dismissed the thought as he refocused his gaze on her and she smiled.

She listened patiently to his explanation of expenses, and she had a follow-up question for that; namely whether or not cheaper materials could be used for a ‘mass-produced’ model. The question could wait until after his other answers. After what she judged he must have thought to be long enough for her to think about what he had said and reconsider her offer.

As he answered her second question, she quirked her eyebrows up and said, “Not a malfunction? Explain.”

She listened to his explanation and nodded, then pursed her lips for a moment before asking. “Was this an accident? Also, how can we prevent it from occurring again? Something along Asimov’s law of robotics? I can assume that would be too simple, however… we’d need to have some sort of failsafe, I assume you understand. Tell me more about this Stalker Robot. I want details.”

Chandra sat and listened, nodding and filing away the information he volunteered about making it out of cheaper materials. She felt differently of course, and already had an idea for a ‘troop commander’ style. Such things could be brought up at a later date though, as right now was time to finalize their agreement.

Though she was not about to interrupt her guest. “Certainly. I can assume other modifications might be made in time and with more study?” She paused only for a moment before motioning to Joseph who moved forward with a small stack of papers which he deposited on the table. Chandra pulled the stack in front of her looking them over for a moment before turning them around and sliding them to Zane. “Dr. Bishop, if I could have your signature on these, and I’ll schedule a tour for you to visit the construction site.”

”Of course not, and if you do not believe me, you’re welcome to read all the way through them yourself,” Chandra said as she leaned back in the chair and folded her hands on her lap. “If you remember a portion of our previous conversation, I stated that I had begun laying the foundation for the paperwork channels. I’ve acquired land for a fresh research facility, of which you’ll have final word on the ultimate design and most of what it is stocked with, and acquired research permits, almost. Most of those papers, about three fourth, are a simple contract saying that you work for me, exclusively. You keep patents and designs, but can’t go to someone else. I’m certain you can understand, this is an investment, for both of us. The other fourth are the last bits of paperwork needed to get you the permits to develop your research further.”

She waited for a moment before continuing. “Feel free to go over them all, I’ve the time to wait. The construction site is a new research facility. The ground was broken earlier this week. As I said, the final design is up to your scrutiny. If you need something added, or removed, changed, etcetera, pass the word along and it will be done. Have you other questions?”

”Patience good Doctor,” Chandra said, taking the papers back and flipping quickly through them just to make sure he had not missed a page. Once she was satisfied she held the papers up for Mr. Gerard to take. “Mr. Gerard, take these and make sure they get to the proper places as quickly as possible.”

Mr. Gerard took the bundle of papers without a word and left the room. Chandra redirected her attention to the doctor. “Do you have a team? The group you worked with to create the original, have they moved on? I’ve done my research, but your associate’s names have been… difficult to come by. Would you like to work with them again?”

”I still need names Doctor,” Chandra said in a patient tone. “I would be more than willing to extend a lucrative offer to them as well. But it isn’t quite possible without knowing just who to contact. Also, is there anyone else I should extend invitations to? Colleagues you studied with or some such bunch?”

While awaiting for his answer Chandra rose from her seat, holding out her hand towards Joseph; who put a clipboard into the outstretched hand. She presented the board to Zane. “Names, if you please. And addresses or phone numbers if you happen to know of them, though that would just expedite the process.”

She moved around the table, offering her hand to Zane. “If you’re ready, we’ll go visit the build site, though there isn’t much yet to see. Did you drive yourself?”

Chandra smiled benevolently at the good doctor. “I completely understand. Though the sooner I have those names, the more likely I can get them to sign on. I’m sure you can agree with that reasoning, right?”

She did not wait for a response before continuing. “No, my driver will take us both to the build site, and if you are willing to trust my associate,” she gestured towards Joseph as he stepped forwards, “He’d be more than glad to follow us in your car.” She led the way through the door and back to the elevators, waiting patiently for his response. It ultimately did not matter whether or not Zane agreed to let Joseph drive his car. If he did it would allow for her to ask more questions before they got to the build site.

Not that the build site was all that impressive… but it would be. It was going to cost a small fortune, but, this was something she could feel was going to pay off, and pay off big time. “What do you say Doctor? Let Joseph drive behind us?”

Chandra nodded to Zane as she seated herself in the back of the limousine. She took out a small cell-phone and punched a couple keys. “Joseph, disable the alarm before trying anything on the Doctor’s car.” She waited just long enough for an affirmative response from her preferred bodyguard. She snapped the phone closed just as the driver closed his door and the limousine started on its way.

“Just what kind of unpleasant surprise would he have received if he had not turned the alarm off Doctor?” She asked as the limousine wound its way out of the city ever so slowly. She did not think she would ever get used to this day and age’s ‘traffic’. She patiently waited as the doctor explained his ‘unique’ alarm system.

((continued in: The Build-site ))