Amidst the greenery of the giant suite, a podium had been erected. In front of it, in haphazard rows, desks and chairs lined the way making the scene look like a makeshift schoolroom smack dab in the middle of the Amazon rainforest. Standing off to one side, Bosak thumbed through his notes as the executives arrived in pairs, rattling off facts and issues to each other they wished to discuss in the coming meeting. The CEO regarded each with veiled anxiety and a nod of his head.

All of the major players were there. The Board spilled into the front rows, fifteen men with white and grey hair in alternating shades of dark suits. Each man represented a specific region of the world and the operational interests for which their expertise was valued. These were men like Gregor Konstantin (Russia), Hideo Takashi (Japan), John Guo (People’s Republic of China), Andrew MacLellan (UK) and Jan Vaske (Holland).

Various other departmental heads and Vice Presidents filed into their seats behind them. Robert Highet, looking jet lagged in his tattered suede jacket, represented Marketing. Next to him sat his Vice President, Omega, freshly returned from cleaning up the mess left behind in her office. To their right, across the aisle and filling the rows to the back, sat the heads of Research and Development for all VirCorp and its subsidiary companies. They were a wild bunch, a hybrid of scientists, engineers and spindoctors rolled into one.

Slinking through the foliage, Falcon slithered into a seat in the back row, wreathed in shadow.

Finally, Jack Osprey, Chairman of the Board, arrived with his personal assistant/ninth wife Donna. The years had been generous to the balding former head of the corporation and his countenance sported the rosy glow that only one who has aged gracefully can achieve. He greeted Bosak with a handshake, then embraced him softly as a son, whispering into his ear, “When you have moment later, we need to talk.”

Bosak nodded and gently clapped him on the back as they parted. “OK. Thanks, Jack.” As all settled in their seats, he stepped to the podium and began.

“Thank you all for coming. I realize many of you had already planned to be here anyway, but given the short notice I know that Robert here had to fly in from London. My thanks again to all of you for making it.”

Highet nodded and smiled sleepily, “It’s no problem, Chief.”

“Most of you are probably wondering why the need for an all hands meeting. Well, we have just fallen into some precarious circumstances and I would very much like your input. The future of the company rides on what we decide to do here today.” He paused to eyeball Falcon. All eyes followed Bosak’s gaze to the predatory VP, who sunk down in his chair, arms folded. Bosak resumed. “All other questions you have will be addressed later, but for now there is one major outstanding issue we must handle immediately.”

There was great murmuring as Bosak let the importance of the matter sink in. At last, he brought a finger to his lip for silence.

“As you are all aware, we have been negotiating tentatively with the US Government for some time now with a proposal to address declining military enlistment. As the public has been vociferously against the reinstitution of the Draft, lackluster enlistment numbers and the escalating crises in the Middle East have fed the need for a stronger, better organized fighting force. It was with this in mind that I first tapped the brain of our Vice President of Personnel, Mister Oliver Falcon, to develop a recruitment, training and incentive program to build and retain skilled military personnel.”

Bosak paused, letting the silence build.

“What he has created is, indeed revolutionary, but pushes the envelope of every major moral and ethical debate since the end of the 20th century. Oliver, I would very much like you to show them what you’ve shown me.”

Falcon’s eyes went wide with terror. Slowly, he stood up and stepped shakily around the desks to the podium. Bosak tapped the podium and a large wide screen rose from the floor behind. Sliding the memory stick into a slot in the podium, Bosak stepped back and yielded the floor to Falcon. “It’s all yours. I suggest you try being honest for a change.”

Falcon adjusted his tie, then cleared his throat. “My fellow executives, Members of the Board,” he nodded. “I am pleased to stand before you today. You are about to see a demonstration of my epiphany that will shift the very paradigms of hiring and recruitment practices.” He pressed play on the console and meticulously delivered the pitch, gathering confidence as he sold his idea.

Under the piercing gaze of Bosak, Falcon left out no detail that Bosak already knew about, including the issue of consent. The assembly gasped and murmured to each other, stealing looks of offended dignity as the presentation progressed. When at last he concluded, the audience had gone white, save for Omega, Osprey and Bosak whose involvement was already apposite.

“So, even as we speak, the first batch is here in this very facility being trained for their initial presentation to General Montesque tomorrow. If all goes well—“

“Thank you, Mister Falcon,” it was Takashi who spoke first. “I believe I’ve heard enough.”

“But think of the potential!”

There was a pained silence, broken only by a polite coughing from the side of the podium. “I think it would be in your best interest to sit down, Oliver.” Bosak put his hand on Falcon’s shoulder and gently walked him, babbling, back to his chair. The audience watched in rapt attention as Bosak got back to the podium.

“So,” he began, “what do you propose we do about this situation?”

Faces screwed up in thought, arguing among themselves for a long while.

Finally, John Guo from China spoke. “While I concede to Mister Falcon that his idea is revolutionary, these are politically unstable times to go forward with the project.” All eyes wandered from Bosak to Falcon.

“The public will think we’re dictators,” MacLellan chirped through his brogue, “with no respect for the global conscience! You didn’t even consider the repercussions of ‘kidnapping’ an employee!”

“If this gets out, the public will shut us down,” Konstantin barked. “At the very least, crippling fines will be imposed.”

“Yes,” Jan Vaske interjected. “Not only that, but had you obtained consent, Mister Noone may have agreed to a settlement package. This is work of the sloppiest order, Falcon.”

“Well, it so happens that I did offer him a resettlement and promotion package to Australia.”

All fell silent.

“As you are all aware, we are building a new Pacific HQ. I offered Mister Noone a training and management position for when the aforementioned facility is completed.”

Heads turned to Bosak, who was taken aback. “That is not what I was told. Stop making things up to save your skin, Oliver.”

Falcon sneered. He had one up on the CEO. “I have the signed agreements, uh…agreement by Mister Noone on my computer.”

“Agreements? Plural?” It was Osprey this time. “Who else is involved?”

“Perhaps I should answer this one, Monsieurs.”

“Mademoiselle Omega, please. The floor is yours.” Bosak stepped away from the podium, inviting her to speak.

Gracefully standing up, she primly strode to the podium. “Forgive my silence, Mister President. I realize now that Monsieur Falcon’s project did not have your approval.” Falcon shot her a venomous glance. “It is best to come clean, if we are to preserve what dignity we have left.”

“We appreciate your honesty. Please, continue.”

“Thank you, sir. Per the presentation you have just viewed, it was I who, working alongside the boys in R&D, designed the basic skills and training program for the first batch. As they matured in their incubation, my program gifted to them all the basic motor and language comprehension necessary to function when they came into their own. Of course, the program also engendered a certain awe and loyalty towards the company. It was with this “company spirit” in mind that Monsieur Falcon approached me a second time.

“Using my revolutionary technique, Monsieur Falcon told me I was to implement corporate reeducation for not one, but two subjects as part of a further test. The first, Joseph Noone, you know about. The second, a Monsieur Lawrence Lawrence, was with Monsieur Noone. Before we began the program, each man had sworn to me that they had been promised a new life and career at the Australia Headquarters. I thought nothing of it at the time, as Monsieur Falcon had informed me that the two men were delusional and required rehabilitation. That was the task I was given. It seemed opportune at the time, but now I regret what I have done.

“When we lost power in the building, I had already stepped out for lunch. When I came back, I found that both men were gone. I have no idea what has become of them. I ask the Board’s forgiveness for my part in this nefarious plot. I will resign if it is your desire.”

The Board conferred with each other for a few moments, while Omega stared into the finish of the podium. She looked up and saw Bosak smiling calmly at her. Finally, Jack Osprey spoke.

“Omega, I speak for the Board when I say that you have both our forgiveness and thanks for the light you have shed on the situation. I humbly ask that you do not resign. We have been consistently impressed with your dedication.”

“Thank you, Monsieur Chairman.” She nodded with a seductive smile and walked back to her seat next to Highet, who gave her a conciliatory pat on the back. Bosak stepped back to the podium.

“So, the question is. With the General arriving for an inspection, what are we going to do? I propose we take a two-hour recess to brainstorm some solutions. Agreed?” The Board and executives all muttered their approval and nodded their heads.

“Sir,” a hand shot up from the third row. It was Steve Mills from IT. “I have just one question before we begin.”

“What is it, Steve?”

“Can we get pizza first?”

Bosak laughed, then smiled. “Of course! Send your request to Kristen, my assistant. Now if you’ll excuse us,” he jerked his head toward Osprey, “Jack and I have something we need to discuss in private.”