Emma left after I promised to consider her offer honestly I wanted to agree immediately but didn't want to seem too eager. I had only a week to decide as our window of opportunity would be open then and quickly close right after and we wouldn't be able to predict when the next was available. For now though I was advised not to contact her until the day before to lower our risk.
Although it has been a few short days it is still too early to contact M'Shen about her progress about locating spies. I am already certain that she has located more than a few already but I don't want to poke the hornets nest too soon. So for now I will give her another week before calling her.
I couldn't reach out to the X-men or the Fantastic Four because we were currently on bad terms. I also couldn't contact the Avengers as I was supposed to distance myself from them for now. As far as business goes I don't have a product ready to be released yet. Which reminds me that I should check on the girls in the lab as they have been radio silent for a while. Cortana assured me that nothing bad happened to either of them but it wasn't healthy to be cooped up in the lab that long. No matter how passionate they were about the project their health comes first.
With this in mind I went to the research and development department of Black technology. When I arrived neither Thoris nor Luka seemed to notice as they argued about technical aspects of how they should focus their efforts. Luka wanted increase the devices power output while Thoris wanted to expand it's range. Normally I would be upset that they were so consumed by the project not because I care about them in some noble sense but because they are resources too. Fortunately what they are arguing about is a problem that means that other issues were resolved.
"Is there a way way to do both?"
Thoris: Of course there is but we would have to rework everything we.. have... done so far... hey master what brings you here?
"I came here to see how you both were doing as neither of you have left the lab in quite some time"
Luka: Well as you can see we're at the very edge of a breakthrough but we need to decide if we want it expand it's range like an idiot or do the smart thing and increase it's power output
Thoris: What did you say bitch!?
Luka: You heard me!
"LADIES! Compose yourselves! Both of you are brilliant minds don't diminish yourselves by acting so thoughtlessly. We are here to achieve the same goal both ideas show merit but we don't have to choose one above the other correct? If so I want you both to work on integrating both concepts into the device am I clear!"
Luka: But...
"Am I clear!"
Luka & Thoris: ... Yes...
"Good how soon can you two get this done?"
Thoris: I'm not certain possibly two or three weeks but it would require a massive design overhaul... unless... no forget it it's not worth the hassle
"Just because you are smart doesn't mean you are clever just tell me the solution you need and I'll see if it possible"
Thoris: Fine there are two ways to make it possible in short amount of time option one is vibranium
"It might be possible if I can convince a certain princess or use smugglers but the second option would likely raise tensions and I can't afford to look like a bad guy at the moment"
Thoris: option two would be nth metal
"Not impossible just more difficult as I would need to find a possible source"
Luka: There are possibly better options but we lack any possible access to them so we can't be certain
"Look into modifying the device while I try to negotiate for some vibranium but don't get your hopes up for that as for Nth metal I'll see if my contacts can assist us and if I come across anything else I'll send you the data to see if it is a possible substitute"