Castle wasn't overly concerned with the outside world at the moment. His sole focus was finishing his cloaking technology and getting it off his plate. Even Steve's ongoing quest for revenge against Wo Fat was delegated to Ramsey and the ever-curious little fatty, with instructions to provide Steve with intelligence support if needed.
Both Ramsey and the little fatty had enough authority within the Jarvis system to manage most tasks, leaving Castle free to immerse himself in his work.
The plan was simple: finish the technology, hand it over to Lockheed Martin, and potentially allow Northrop Grumman to join the project if they showed interest. Once the technology was out of his hands, the weight of fending off India's ambitions would fall to the industrial giants. Their financial interests would ensure they protected Castle's technology far more effectively than Castle could on his own.
Fully committing himself to his work, Castle made rapid progress. After all, he wasn't creating the technology from scratch; he was replicating an already proven system from the Marvel universe's Stark Industries. With the hardware already complete and tested, the remaining task was to write the software that would control the system.
Castle's efforts paid off after four days of uninterrupted work. The control code for the visual cloaking system was finally completed and passed all internal tests.
This wasn't just any prototype—it was based on a tried-and-true technology. Castle wasn't innovating; he was copying. And if he could copy anything, it was Stark's work.
The flexible display panels, which had been designed earlier for use on drones, were fully operational. Now, with the software finalized, the project was essentially complete.
Emerging from his lab, exhausted but triumphant, Castle planned to rest before contacting Lockheed Martin to inspect the final product.
However, Northrop Grumman, which had been watching the situation closely, wasn't about to let Lockheed Martin take the prize without a fight.
Both companies knew the limitations of Castle's initial technology. The current system was only effective for subsonic aircraft, as the heat generated during supersonic flight would compromise the flexible display panels and render the visual cloaking ineffective.
Yet the potential of the technology was undeniable. Even its first-generation application had already made Northrop Grumman's B-2 bomber the world's only aircraft capable of both electromagnetic and visual stealth.
Both companies were fully aware of the stakes, which is why they monitored Castle so closely, even while maintaining a facade of indifference.
Meanwhile, Castle was well aware of India's scheming. Jarvis had already intercepted communications from the Indian defense sector, revealing their plans to either acquire the technology diplomatically or, failing that, to take it by force. Using hacked smartphones from the Indian meeting rooms, Castle pieced together their strategy in real-time.
Though Castle found their overconfidence laughable, it was no less unsettling. He didn't want his family or friends to face danger because of someone else's ambitions.
He knew India planned to approach him through formal channels first. If diplomacy failed, they wouldn't hesitate to escalate. Castle was confident they wouldn't get far with the latter approach, but he didn't want to take unnecessary risks.
Castle immediately contacted Lockheed Martin and informed them that the technology was ready for inspection. Their response was as enthusiastic as expected. They promised to send a delegation to Castle's estate for negotiations as soon as possible.
Castle also called his old contact at Northrop Grumman, Mark, a senior vice president who had worked closely with him on previous projects. Castle shared the good news that the technology was complete and offered Northrop a chance to collaborate again.
Castle made it clear, however, that this time the technology wouldn't be exclusive to Northrop. Lockheed Martin would also have access to it.
Mark wasted no time relaying the news to Northrop's leadership, who quickly mobilized to join the talks.
The following days saw Castle caught in an intense negotiation process at his estate, with representatives from both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman in attendance.
Beckett, returning home from work each evening, found Castle visibly drained from the daily ordeal. Negotiation wasn't his strong suit, and he despised the nitpicking over every clause.
Without someone like Mozzie, who excelled at these games, Castle struggled to keep up. Fortunately, Mark stepped in to assist, acting as a mediator and ensuring that Castle wasn't completely outmaneuvered.
The Lockheed Martin team had initially planned to exploit Castle's inexperience, using every trick in the book to secure favorable terms. However, Mark's presence changed the dynamic. As Northrop's representative, he reminded Lockheed that Castle was not only a valuable partner but also a Northrop shareholder.
Lockheed Martin realized that pushing Castle too hard could backfire, potentially driving him closer to Northrop. Begrudgingly, they conceded to several of Castle's demands:
The technology would not be exclusive to Lockheed Martin. Both companies would share responsibility for funding future development. Castle would oversee the next stages of research and development, ensuring he remained integral to the project. The licensing fees for the technology were set at an astronomical figure, reflecting its groundbreaking nature.
For half a month, Castle found himself shackled to the negotiation table.
Beckett, despite her love for Castle, had no intention of stepping in. This wasn't her area of expertise, and she knew it. She was a detective, not a corporate negotiator. Even her current role as precinct captain hadn't cured her aversion to paperwork, let alone high-stakes bargaining.
Castle couldn't help but miss Mozzie's knack for negotiation. Mozzie had provided valuable advice over the phone, but his current role as an advisor to Benjamin Arthur left him unable to assist directly.
With no better option, Castle endured the grueling talks himself. It was a harrowing experience, but ultimately, a necessary one.
At the end of two weeks, Castle's estate had become the battleground for one of the most lucrative technology deals in recent history. And while Castle wasn't thrilled with the process, he was relieved to see the finish line.
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