"Is this the last cell?" asked Saladin Pasha into his radio, as he stood in the middle of a wrecked concrete room.

  Corpses littered the floor, and the stench of death mixed with gunpowder filled the air.

  "Yes sir, this is the last of Osiark-Jihad's cells," came the voice of his Lieutenant over the radio.

  "Have you checked against both our intel network and what we've intercepted from Mossad?" pressed Saladin.

  "Double-checked sir, these guys were not that sophisticated in their operations. Just a bunch of idiots trying to play radicalized smugglers of nuclear materials," scoffed the Lieutenant.

  "All right, then. Time to initiate phase two. Have you been successful in establishing contact with any private nuclear power companies?" asked Saladin.

  "Yes and no. We managed to get into contact with Albrecht Nuclear Systems, but they've declined to work with us. Instead, they have asked for time to arrange a meeting with another company called Sirius Nuclear," said the Lieutenant.

  "Interesting. All right, we'll wait for them. In the meantime, let's clean house. I want every extremist scumbag, to know that there is a new sheriff in town," said Saladin, as he walked out of the room, leaving the corpses behind.

  ---

  "All right Elijah, what's this emergency that we have to use a synagogue for?" asked Daniel Goldberg, sitting down.

  "Spare me the theatrics, Daniel. You know perfectly well why I called you here," said Elijah, his voice low and serious.

  "The Osirak-Jihad has been wiped out by some other organization. I'd call that a middle-east turf war, so why is Mossad so spooked that they've asked the CIA's help?" asked Daniel, who was indeed CIA, and meeting with his Mossad counterpart.

  "It's because of this guy. He's known only as Saladin, and has built a cult following by claiming he's the historical Saladin reborn," said Elijah, pulling out a grainy drone photo and sliding it across the table.

  "Another desert loudmouth who thinks he's had a divine revelation? Come on Eli, you know as well as I do that it was politics and guns, not God who carved out Israel," scoffed Daniel, as he looked at the photo.

  "You've been in secular America too long, Daniel. That desert loudmouth has managed to take control of most of Libya. He's pretty much the de facto head of state," shot back Elijah.

  "OK, so he's a warlord. Libya's still a big ass powder keg, somebody or the other's going to off him. We've already got enough messes to deal with without staging a regime change," said Daniel.

  Elijah sighed deeply. "You're missing the point Daniel. Saladin wants nuclear power to prevent foreign interventions. The Osirak-Jihad was created by Mossad deep cover agents to isolate him and stop that in the first place."

  Daniel began a sarcastic handclap. "Bravo, you tried to isolate Libya by posing as Iraqi extremists," he scoffed.

  "And it worked! We got the entire region skittish about asking or pursuing nuclear power to avoid been seen as pandering to terrorists!" snapped Elijah.

  "And here I thought that we had finally seen the end of Arab-Israeli conflicts, but you guys just had to stir the pot again," sighed Daniel.

  "Hey, you don't live surrounded by guys who want to wipe you off the map OK! We're doing what we have to do to survive!" snarled Elijah.

  "All right, so what exactly do you want the CIA for?" asked Daniel wearily.

  "Saladin has been putting out feelers to both American and European nuclear energy companies to invest in his plans for Libya's economic development. He's already made some sort of deal with Albrecht Nuclear Systems, because he and Friedrich Albrecht are here in Massachusetts," said Elijah.

  "They're here? Why?" asked Daniel cautiously.

  "Our agents spotted their limo going into the Sirius Software compound," said Elijah, watching in satisfaction as color drained from Daniel's face.

  "You should have just started with that Elijah! Or even better, you should have apprehended them!" snapped Daniel.

  "On what grounds? They are here on tourist visas, and haven't done anything illegal," said Elijah.

  "Yeah well, you better pray that Aaron Zakhrov doesn't agree to whatever they propose. If that kid decides to help, you'll be looking at a nuclear-powered and nuclear armed Libya within a year," snarled Daniel, as Elijah began to shake.

  ---

  "I'm starting to think you like my HQ Friedrich, you've been making quite a few visits," chuckled Aaron, as Friedrich and Saladin entered his office.

  "Well, this time I come with a business proposal. This is Saladin, a new upstart in Libya who wants to bring his people out of the fossil fuel age," said Friedrich, as he introduced Saladin.

  "It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Zakhrov," said Saladin, bowing slightly."Friedrich, are you sure about this? I'd rather not get involved in middle-eastern power struggles," said Aaron.

  "I understand your concerns, Mr. Zakhrov, which is why I'm here to propose that you build and operate the nuclear power plants and reactors, with full transparency. Western reactors, western money, Libya just gets the electricity," said Saladin.

  "I see, a black box operation then, Sirius Nuclear just gets Libyan profits, while you benefit from the energy," said Aaron thoughtfully.

  "It should ease the minds of those jackals in the Mossad," chuckled Saladin.

  "That's if they even allow us to go in, how would we do this?" asked Aaron.

  "Simple, you'll be under my protection in Libya, and you can arrange your own bodyguards and security," said Saladin.

  "Alright Friedrich, why come to me with this? Your liquid metal reactors have a much higher power density than the heavy water ones that I have," said Aaron.

  "Proliferation concerns my dear boy. My reactors need plutonium or enriched uranium, and nobody is going to let Libya get a hold of that," said Friedrich.

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  "Whereas my reactors use natural uranium, and can be built with a lot less security concerns," said Aaron.

  "Exactly. And as an independent Western company, you will have less political baggage than trying to import from India or Canada," said Saladin.

  "All right, I will consider this proposal, but I will need some time to think about this. If I have to fight Mossad and possibly the UN, I'll need to make sure I'm backing the right people," said Aaron.

  ---

  Natasha nervously entered Aaron's office, her heart pounding in her chest.

  "Master Zakhrov, I need to talk to you about Saladin," she said.

  Aaron raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

  Natasha sat down, and looked at her hands, collecting her thoughts.

  "When I was in the CIA, my first assignment was to infiltrate the harem of a Libyan warlord, and assassinate him," she began.

  Aaron nodded, listening intently.

  "The mission failed. The Libyan civil war did the job for me, and I was stuck with no way out. It was Saladin that facilitated my safe return to the US, and not the CIA, who disavowed me and left me to die as collateral damage," she said.

  "Saladin is this warlord's heir I take it?" asked Aaron,

  "Yes sir, but he's also smart. He was only 17 at the time, and was able to save me because he had already gotten a large military following," said Natasha.

  "So, what you're telling me, is that I can trust Saladin, and I should back his idea to bring nuclear energy to Libya," said Aaron.

  "Yes sir, I'm indebted to you, but also to him. I'd like to settle that debt with him if I can," she said.

  Aaron smiled at Natasha, came around his desk, and gently lifted her chin to look up at him.

  "I was going to back him anyway, but now I have a personal reason to do so. However, you're mine now, and I don't like to share," said Aaron, his hand tightening possessively on her chin.

  "Yes sir," said Natasha, blushing at his possessive tone.

  Olga's voice broke over the intercom: "Master Zakhrov, we've got a small army of federal agents outside with an arrest warrant for a Saladin!"

  "Send them in Olga," said Aaron into the intercom.

  He turned to Natasha.

  "I'm pretty sure Saladin is smart enough to get them off his back, you agree?" he asked her.

  "Yes sir, I agree," chuckled Natasha.

  "Come on then, let's see what they want," said Aaron, as he opened the door to his office.

  ---

  Color drained from Daniel's face as he saw Natasha standing outside the Sirius Software HQ building, with Saladin and Aaron.

  "Well hello, Daniel. It's been a while," said Natasha, her gloved hands twitching to draw her guns.

  Daniel's mouth opened and closed like a fish, as he tried to process the sight of Natasha standing between Aaron and Saladin.

  Natasha relaxed, and her face lit up in a mocking smile.

  "What's the matter? You look like you've seen a ghost," she teased, as she stepped forward.

  "We're here to bring Saladin in for questioning, along with his associates, which includes you, Natasha," he said, his voice steadying.

  "You have a warrant?" asked Natasha.

  Daniel pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to her.

  Aaron took out his phone and called Andre.

  "Andre, we've got federal agents here with a warrant, get the entire legal team prepped and ready to move," he commanded.

  "We'll be there in ten minutes," replied Andre over the phone.

  "Well, you heard the man Mr. Daniel, we'll leave in ten minutes, with my legal team," said Aaron, as Daniel grit his teeth.

  ---

  Daniel fought hard to suppress his feeling of being outgunned as he stared at Aaron, Saladin and Andre flanked on either side by Andre's team of law-bunny aides and paralegals, capped by a smirking Natasha on one end, and a bemused Olga on the other.

  "All right, let's cut to the chase Mr. Zakhrov. Have you been approached by Saladin and his associates to build nuclear power plants in Libya?" asked Elijah.

  "My client answers only to US authorities, and will not answer to foreign agents," said Andre, his voice firm.

  Elijah gestured impatiently for Daniel to repeat the question.

  "No. I was approached to upgrade and modernize their power grid," said Aaron.

  "You expect us to believe that bullshit? Modernize the grid indeed! You've been asked to build nuclear power plants!" snarled Elijah.

  "Mr. Goldberg, I refuse to answer any more questions. Good afternoon," said Aaron, getting to his feet.

  "Sit your ass down! We're not finished!" snarled Elijah, springing to his feet.

  "Mr. Goldberg, we're done here. Now if you'll excuse me. I have a business to run," said Aaron, completely ignoring Elijah.

  "You're free to go, Mr. Zakhrov. However, Mr. Saladin here has overstayed his welcome on United States soil, he will be taken straight to the airport," sighed Daniel.

  "I do not wish to overstay my welcome. Thank you for your hospitality," said Saladin, standing and bowing.

  "Mr. Saladin, it was a pleasure discussing business terms with you. I'll send you the contracts and plans once you're back in Libya," said Aaron, shaking Saladin's hand, and leaving with Andre and the others.

  ---

  "You're a piece of work you know that?" grumbled Michael, as he watched massive crates marked with Sirius Nuclear's logo being loaded onto a military cargo plane.

  "Hey, it's a legitimate business plan," said Aaron.

  "Yeah yeah, tell that to Israel and Mossad. They almost had an aneurysm until the IAEA declared the sites clean," growled Michael.

  "Well, I did say that this was a black box operation. Libya gets a new power grid, and we get good money," said Aaron.

  "You better hope that it stays that way Aaron. If even one of those reactors gets compromised, we'll be looking at the gallows," said Michael seriously.

  "I'm not an idiot Michael, I've made sure that the reactors are non-breeding. There's no chance of proliferation," said Aaron.

  "Like that will stop Israel from bombing the shit out of them on the first sniff of enrichment they get," shot back Michael.

  "Which is why I specifically selected Jewish-American technicians to operate those reactors once we have them up and running," said Aaron with a smirk.

  "Only you can come up with an idea of making a Jewish ghetto town in the middle of an Islamic dictator's country and sell it with a straight face," sighed Michael shaking his head.

  "Hey, if it works, it works," said Aaron with a shrug, as the plane's cargo bay closed.

  "Be safe Aaron. I mean it," said Michael, giving Aaron a firm handshake.

  "I will. And thank you, I know this was hard on you as well," said Aaron.

  "It was way harder for Monica and her father," chuckled Michael to himself, as Aaron waved goodbye.

  ---

  Monica's scream of frustration rent the air as she pummeled a punching bag with brass knuckles.

  "How dare he! How dare he do this to me, my people!" she wailed as tears spilled out of her eyes, and the punching bag grew deformed.

  Daniel and Elijah shifted uncomfortably as he watched her.

  Finally, Monica calmed down and zipped open the punching bag.

  The two men recoiled as a bloody and battered corpse, that was the IAEA inspector who had signed off on the Sirius Nuclear Libya project fell out of it.

  With a deep breath, Monica turned to them.

  "I suppose that worm's report means that we can't stop the project?" she asked with a pout.

  "U-um no. Now the only way to stop it is if we find evidence of proliferation," said Daniel.

  "Well then Eli, get your little boys to plant some evidence. I'm sure you managed to sneak a few agents into that plane," said Monica.

  "I don't know what kind of voodoo that kid's got, but he -" began Elijah, before Monica's brass knuckles slammed into his face, sending him sprawling.

  "Pathetic! Useless! He's just a spoiled brat! How hard is it to infiltrate his operations?" she screamed, as she kicked Elijah in the ribs.

  "Get up! Get up and do your job!" she screamed, as Elijah groaned in pain.

  Daniel stepped in, and pulled Monica away from Elijah.

  "Monica, stop! You're not helping anything by beating up Elijah," he said firmly.

  Monica viciously elbowed Daniel in the stomach, making him double over in pain.

  "You're no better! You had him detained! Why didn't you just throw him in a CIA prison? Or better yet, just kill him?" she screamed.

  Daniel moved quickly and forced Monica into a half-nelson before slamming her against the wall.

  "That's because my dear Emily, doing so would have exposed our own operations to federal scrutiny. So calm yourself, and let us think of a way to stop this without exposing us," he hissed, as Monica started to whimper.

  "Y-yes sir," she said, her voice low and submissive.

  "There's a good girl, now run along and see what you can do about making sure that monstrosity of a school he built doesn't get a single admission," said Daniel, releasing her.

  Monica nodded, and walked out of the room, her head down.

  Daniel helped Elijah up.

  "Are you all right?" he asked.

  Elijah spat out a mouthful of blood.

  "That bitch is unstable! All thanks your damn inbreeding," he snarled.

  "Careful Elijah, or you'll spit more than blood," said Daniel softly.

  Elijah swallowed nervously.

  "I think we should look at the regime change option. Pretty sure Saladin has pissed off at least some people that we can use," he said, trying to get back into a professional mode.

  "You want a regime change, you'll have to do it yourself. I've got Zakhrov and DuPont to deal with," said Daniel.

  "All right, I'll see what I can do," said Elijah, leaving Daniel.

  "Dammit, I'll have to arrange for making this look like an accident," muttered Daniel, looking at the corpse that had been left.