Moving In

Sam's next move was carefully calculated, like all his previous actions. He needed to initiate the next phase of his plan.

Turning to his trusted partner, Gaia, he instructed her to draft a message.

"Gaia, prepare a message for William Archer," Sam said.

[Understood, Big Brother.] Gaia replied.

The AI system promptly began to construct the message.

'Sail today at night. Stop the cargo boat at (x.xxx, x.xxx). Then use the package to have dinner and then go to sleep. Once you wake up, go back.'

The instructions were straightforward and crafted with care to avoid any unnecessary complications. Yet, even if William Archer deviated from these orders, Sam wasn't worried.

He had a backup plan.

In the belly of the cargo ship, hidden from the prying eyes, were his trump cards - the robots. These machines were his silent workforce, ready to spring into action when required.

The robots were his fail-safe. They were instructed to operate and navigate the ship to Death Island, irrespective of William's actions. Once there, they were programmed to initiate the construction process, performing tasks that would have otherwise required a human workforce.

However, Sam's reliance on William was strategic.

He needed William Archer for appearances, to set sail from the docks of City N, and to return once the robots completed their tasks. In this grand game of chess that he was playing, William was an important pawn, maintaining the facade of a typical cargo shipment. At the same time, the real work unfolded in the shadows. Sam was inching closer to his objectives with every step, with the world none the wiser.

After shooting the message to William, Sam's attention was pulled back by Gaia's soft, synthetic voice.

[Big Brother, another matter needs your attention. ViewLingua, Vocalex, and LingoNovel. We are in partnership with these firms concerning the Orion Translations App. What should our next move be?]

Sam paused, allowing the implications of Gaia's reminder to sink in. He had been so engrossed in the unfolding situation that he had momentarily overlooked these business affairs. As he weighed his options, he realized the best course of action.

"Oh, I totally let them slip my mind," he admitted, feeling slightly embarrassed. "I think the best way forward is to acquire them. We'll gain full control and won't have to haggle over deals anymore. Yes, acquisition sounds right."

Armed with a decision, Sam reached out to Eva, his second-in-command and an indispensable part of his team. Dialing her number, he began the conversation on a light note, "Hey, Eva. How are you doing?"

Taken aback by the unusual question, Eva replied with surprise in her voice, "Wow, where did this sudden concern come from, Boss? As always, I've been swamped, thanks to you."

Sam could imagine Eva rolling her eyes on the other end of the line and chuckling. "Um, I guess I deserved that. I've been working on a significant project lately. If everything goes as planned, I'll have a big surprise for you in about six months."

"Wait a second, what project are you talking about? How come I haven't heard about this?" Eva shot back, her curiosity piqued.

"It's a secret, Eva," Sam responded with a teasing note in his voice. "Now, speaking of business, I know that the companies we partnered with are waiting for our responses. I say we try to acquire them. If they're not open to selling, then we'll proceed with the partnership. However, we should aim for higher profits."

Eva listened to his plans before voicing her concerns, "That makes sense. But there's something you should know, Sam. Our financial situation is getting a bit tight. The subscription model seems to have reached saturation. Sure, we have steady monthly earnings, but the chances for exponential growth are dwindling."

"I know," Sam responded thoughtfully. "That's why I've been working on creating an Operating System. I've named it OrionOS. It's state-of-the-art, far superior to anything on the market. But releasing it just like that might not maximize our profits. I've been contemplating creating an ecosystem around OrionOS. If developers use our platform to create their apps, they can receive assistance and create their software more efficiently. This way, we get to eat and have our cake too."

"Sounds like a brilliant plan, Sam," Eva said, sounding a tad relieved. "So when are we shifting to the new building? This place is starting to feel crowded."

"Soon, Eva. I'll keep you updated. Meanwhile, take care," Sam said, ending the call with a soft chuckle. He could picture Eva's exaggerated sigh of relief as she responded, "Okay, take care too. And let me know as soon as you have the opening date for the new building. Bye, Sam."

With the call ended, Sam leaned back in his chair, processing the conversation. There was much to be done, but he felt a sense of satisfaction for the time being. Things were moving according to plan, and he had every intention of keeping it that way.

"Gaia, it seems we've got a fair bit of groundwork to lay out," Sam said, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his hair.

"I need you to create an ecosystem for our OrionOS using our Cryptoglare programming language. Make sure the development kit you create is compact and lightweight. It's crucial for it to be user-friendly. Once you've done all of that, get it up and running on the computer so I can take a look."

Gaia's voice, though synthetic, echoed reassurance.

[Understood, Big Brother. I'll get to work on it right away. Do you want me to devise a marketing strategy as well?]

Sam couldn't help but feel a tinge of satisfaction at Gaia's initiative.

"Thinking ahead, are we? That's progress. However, we'll leave the marketing to someone else for now. I have someone in mind who would be perfect for the job."

Sam dialed two numbers simultaneously with a renewed sense of purpose, initiating a conference call with his friends Riya and Jay. Their voices filled his room as they picked up the call, each trying to outdo the other with their greetings.

"Hey there, Riya and Jay. How are things? Have you guys made it to City N yet?" Sam asked, cutting through their excited chatter.

"Oh, Hey, Sam!" Riya replied, her voice bubbling over the line like champagne. "Yes, we have arrived, and we've also moved into the apartment you got for us. Isn't this a bit too much, though?"

Sam found himself laughing, the genuine warmth of her gratitude making him feel good. "Ah, quit it, Riya. We're friends, aren't we? Just ask for whatever you need. No need for formalities."

Jay jumped in, his tone playful, "Ho Ho! Listen to Mr. Moneybags here! Don't flaunt your wealth too much, Sam. We might just decide to rob you one of these days."

"Okay, okay, enough with the banter," Sam retorted, chuckling. "Now, if you two have finally settled down, how about coming over to my apartment? I've got some work that needs your special touch."

"We'll be there, Sam," both of them responded in unison. He could almost see their enthusiastic nods through the phone. Their camaraderie was a refreshing break from the high-stakes game he was playing, and he found himself looking forward to their meeting. As he hung up the phone, he couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation for what lay ahead. It was just the beginning, and already, things were starting to fall into place.

The soft chime of the doorbell echoed through the relatively sparse yet furnished apartment.

Sam, who had been sitting on a comfortable couch, got up to open the door.

His friends, Jay and Riya, stood at the doorway, their faces lighting up as they saw him. Jay's wavy brown hair was tousled from the ride, his casual clothing betraying his laid-back persona. Beside him, Riya, with her gleaming dark hair cascading down her shoulders and a radiant smile on her face, looked ever the enthusiastic, go-getter type.

"Look at you, living in this posh apartment and yet leading such a simple life. That's what I call a Sigma male," Jay commented, entering and looking around with an approving nod.

"Sigma for life," Sam responded with a chuckle, leading them further into his living space. The room was bathed in soft, warm light, making the room appear cozy and welcoming.

After a few moments of casual conversation and catching up, Riya steered the conversation toward the work Sam had mentioned on the phone. "So, what's this big project you've been working on, Sam?" she asked, her curiosity evident in her tone.

"We're on the verge of launching a new product - a bundle of software, to be precise. I was hoping you guys could help me with marketing it," Sam said, resting back on the couch.

"The product package consists of an Operating System, a Software Development Kit, a platform to release those softwares, and a Programming Language, among other things. Essentially, we've created an ecosystem around our Operating System, OrionOS, which we developed using our unique Programming Language, Cryptoglare," he added, watching their reactions closely.

At Sam's words, Riya and Jay's eyes went wide, their jaws dropping in amazement. The stunned silence in the room was almost comical. "You guys might want to close your mouths, or I might be tempted to stuff an egg in," Sam jested, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jay was the first to break the silence, his voice a mix of shock and excitement. "Holy...! Are you messing with us, Sam? Your company pulled off something of this magnitude so quickly? Are you sure you're not some alien genius or something?"

Riya, though equally astonished, could only nod in agreement. While neither of them was an expert in the field, but both knew enough to understand the potential impact of what Orion Enterprises would unleash upon the market. It was a game-changer, and they were standing at the precipice of this thrilling new venture with their friend.