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SSC

Chapter 4

"This is just unorthodox." Orlando stated fiercely gesturing an open hand at the large bay window leading to the balcony.

They were in Khan's quarters. The suites the Sheikh had provided them were luxurious to the extreme.

His room began with bleached doors with their infamous golden handles. The entrance lead to a foyer with a mahogany table in the centre. There was a sinuous ceramic vase on top of the table, adorned with white acacia and vermilion hibiscus flowers. The room carried the same strong scent of Oud and musk but the cool air from the A/C was a refreshing indulgence.

There were two archways on either side of the foyer. The one on the right lead to Khan's bedroom. There was a queen sized bed in the centre, prepared to perfection with coffee cream bed covers and several pillows propped against the head board. Two bedside tables stood erect on either side of the bed, carrying two shadow-bell shaded lamps.

A door next to the bed led to the bathroom. On the wall opposite the bathroom door was a French window with an alabaster frame. Sunshine streamed through the clear glass, illuminating the space. The light bounced off the concave awning above the bed with a blue mosaic rimmed lining. It held a chandelier at the centre. Khan remembered eyeing the source of illumination when he first saw it. He didn't approve of the strategic placement of the sharp crystals over his bed.

There was a cupboard in the far bottom left corner of the room, surprisingly lacking golden paint on its handles. The room had a very baronial, Arabian feel to it and it was very cozy.

The other path from the foyer led to Khan's new study. A large, red Persian carpet took up the entire tiled floor. A dark mahogany desk stood at the far middle. Rich stationary was already provided. His seat resembled a throne, high back and covered in black leather. He rather liked it.

Khan was seated at the desk, his long legs hidden by the wide table. He was casually reading the peace treaty and demands the Sheikh had had written up for him. Surprisingly, they weren't too trying.

He raised his head up from the document and looked to Orlando, his second in command and his friend. The man was bothered by the national clothing of the people of the U.A.E and he did not hide his opinions from others.

"It's tradition for them." Khan retorted monotonously.

Orlando continued to leer out through the window within the room. Wisps of his short blonde hair were highlighted by the sunshine. The intense light of the day made his usually striking blue eyes, seem colourless.

Orlando had very soft features in compared to most of his comrades, especially Khan. In moments when Khan stood, poised and elegant with power that radiated through his high cheeks bones, strong jaw and dark features. Orlando seemed like the younger sibling. His face was smooth and almost cherubic if not for his pristine nose. Despite his tall, broad shouldered structure. Orlando carried a boyishness about him that had caught the many smitten eyes of the native girls in India.

He stood poised and solider like in his ebony coat and pants. The uniform clothing of all Auguments. There was a silver insignia on the left breast pocket. It was a Triskelion, its three spiraling curves were frozen in an anti clock wise direction. It was a Celtic sign of progress and revolution.

The mark of the Auguments.

Khan too wore it proudly on his own suit.

"Yes I understand." Orlando said in response to Khan's comment. "But the heat is enough to boil eggs and they are walking around wearing black. If anything I pity them."

Khan smiled at this. The Arabs had a very strange culture. The modesty of the women were hidden behind thin black robs. The only skin they showed was the flesh around their eyes, which was surprisingly fair. He had discovered that the senior or middle aged group of women wore a gold mask over face that rest on the bridge of their noses.

Khan knew Orlando was more intrigued, despite finding the impracticality of it.

The men were dressed in white robes that they called a Gandurah. The only hints of the western influence were the cars they drove, and the expensive watches they wore.

Khan didn't mind the culture. He could do without the strong perfumes though. He had always been fascinated with learning new things. The rest of his team didn't object much either. Expect for three other women that accompanied them. Susan especially, she liked to voice her opinion boldly.

They were given strange looks. Women weren't equals in Arab culture. Khan discovered that by the looks of disapproval he had received from some of the Sheikh's advisors. The female Auguments had attended the meeting, regarding the fate of the Arab nation the night before. Many of the local members were perturbed by their presence.

Khan did not want to dismiss the women for the Sheikhs discomfort. Their culture's were about to fuse. Zayed needed to accept it as it is. Besides, Khan didn't want to have to deal with Susan's irate diatribes. He regretted the day he invited her to his bed. But one incensed look from him usually silenced her.

"What are their terms?" Orlando inquired, striding towards Khan's desk. His arms stiff at his sides, like the ever obedient soldier.

"Not much." Khan mused, leaning back into the leather comfort of his seat. "These people value family over a nation, they do not wish to interfere with our plans."

"But?" the young man added. Khan smiled at this. His friend shared his suspicions.

"We still have enemies. Mr. Khalifa for example. He does not approve of our plans for the oil supplies." Khan voiced his findings, Orlando nodded assiduously.

"Evidently the Sheikh cannot be too keen on someone else in his place." Orlando noted.

"Quite." Khan agreed. "We should expect some subtle attack on our lives, from them. Ignorance is a card we can play most fruitfully."

Khan was curious to see what methods of assassination they would try. The Indians had attempted poisoning, hiring professional gun men, even seemingly innocent children. But none had worked. After all, they were made to be indestructible.

"I have news from France." Orlando announced. Khan regarded him with his iridescent eyes gleaming in intrigue. He relaxed with his arms slung over the arm rests, listening intently.

"Joseph has successfully conquered the land." The Augument leader was surprised by the bulletin.

"He took longer than I suspected. Either way, we must send our congratulations. What of the States?"

"Still under progress."

"Hm." Khan steeling his fingers under his chin, he drifted into his thoughts. The Auguments had been around since the 1950's. Khan was only given reigns to lead a charge to India in 1990. He ruled the lands for three years before deciding to extend his rule towards the rich, oil exporting Arabs.

So far he and his kind had taken control of thirty five nations. After signing the treaty with the Arabs, he could add U.A.E to the list.

"It won't be long now." He said to Orlando. "We will soon have total control." Some would call it optimism but there were no probabilities in war. Only surety and Khan knew their superiority was unmatched.

A sudden knock at the door pierced the silence. Orlando's slender neck craned in the direction of the entrance.

"Enter." Khan boomed in his commanding tone.

Susan entered briskly. She was a tall slender woman. Her platinum blond hair was usually kept at a high pony tail, not a strand out of place. The black suits they all wore, hugged her slim figure. She walked with a grace and her head held high in a manner Khan used to find attractive. Now he couldn't help but feel the arrogance radiate in her stiff walk.

He was arrogant too, he wasn't oblivious to this. But in her it was more bitter and tyrannical.

She approached the foot of the desk. She nodded in acknowledgement to Orlando and then fixated her dark eyes on to Khan.

"His Highness wishes to present you with a gift. A transaction, I believe." She stated calmly. Khan was amused by this, his lips quirk up mirthfully.

"If it is a transaction it is not a gift." He stated. Susan nodded in frigid agreement.

"It would be rude not to accept. Apparently they were made just for us."

"Made?" Khan echoed his interest had peaked. He exchanged a furtive glance with Orlando.

Is this the subtle attack he was expecting?

"Well then." Khan got to his feet. His sharp, alabaster cheek bones radiating in pre-eminence "We mustn't keep his Highness waiting."