Chapter Twenty-One

'Welcome to Mars Corporation, Sir Peter,' Chijioke, the AI, announced as the car came to a gentle stop in front of the entrance. A robotic valet was already waiting to park the car. Peter stepped out, adjusted his tie, and took a deep breath before heading towards the private elevator reserved exclusively for him.

As he approached, a few staff members greeted him warmly. 'Good morning, Sir Peter!' they called with respectful smiles. He nodded in response, maintaining a composed expression as he entered his exclusive elevator.

The ride was swift and smooth, taking him directly to the 20th floor, which was quiet and serene, unlike the bustling lower levels. When the elevator doors slid open, Peter stepped into the hushed hallway. The only sound was the faint hum of air purifiers.

Stella was already at her desk, focused on her tasks. Although she didn't need glasses, she wore them today to enhance her professional appearance. On her desk sat a warm serving of okpa wrapped in banana leaves and a bottle of zobo drink. She ate small bites and sipped occasionally. Having skipped breakfast at home due to rushing to work, she had picked them up from a street vendor on her way in.

When Peter reached her office, Stella looked up, her fingers still dancing over the keyboard. 'Good morning, Sir Peter!' she greeted brightly. 'I've prepared everything for your meeting today.'

Peter smiled, leaning against the doorframe. 'Good to see you, Stella. But before the meeting, I'd like to visit the tech department and check on the progress of some projects, especially the Nightengale Link,' he said, taking a sip from his nearly empty bottle of palm wine.

He was glad Stella hadn't quit after discovering he was the CEO. He admired her bravery and intelligence. Having her as his personal secretary brought him quiet joy, even though he sensed her growing distance. Her smile was purely professional now, but he was still grateful, hoping she would forgive him soon and share her sweetest smile again.

Stella nodded, adjusting her glasses. 'Of course, sir. They've been working hard on it. The engineers are also finalising tests on the MarsBand and other devices. I'll let them know you're on your way.'

'Thank you, Stella,' Peter replied, taking another sip of his palm wine before heading to the tech wing.

Peter made his way back to the elevator, finishing the last sip of his palm wine before tossing the empty bottle into a trash can in the corner of the hallway. As the elevator doors closed, he pressed the button for the tech floor.

Chijioke's voice came through the discreet smart earpiece nestled in Peter's ear, barely noticeable to anyone around him.

'Sir Peter, I've completed the connection to the Nightengale Link system. The system is almost ready for its trial run. There are no network issues to worry about; it's all perfect.'

Peter paused, intrigued. 'Nightengale Link? Is it fully operational now?'

'Almost,' Chijioke replied smoothly. 'The tech department is putting the finishing touches on it, but it's nearly at the stage where we can begin the trial run. The system uses laser-based communication and bypasses all regular networks, ensuring a flawless, uninterrupted connection—no matter where in the world the other person is. Just like the nightingale bird, which flies directly to its destination without obstacles and sings with a clear, melodious voice, the Nightengale Link ensures your communication reaches its destination smoothly and without barriers.'

Peter smiled, impressed by the possibilities. 'That's brilliant, Chijioke. I'm heading over to the tech department now to check on their progress and ensure everything is in place for the trial.'

As the elevator descended, Peter felt a surge of excitement. The Nightengale Link was one of Mars Corporation's most ambitious ventures—a communication system designed to provide uninterrupted, direct connections anywhere in the world, inspired by the nightingale bird's enduring migratory journey and its clear, melodious song. Just as the nightingale braves storms and challenges during its migration, the Nightengale Link was engineered to thrive in adverse conditions, ensuring flawless and reliable communication no matter the weather or location. Alongside it, the MarsBand, an innovative wearable device, aimed to redefine personal technology.

The elevator chimed softly as it arrived on the tech floor. Stepping out, Peter entered the sleek, high-tech hallway leading to the Innovation Lab, the heart of the Tech Department. The corridor buzzed with the quiet hum of cutting-edge technology, its glass walls revealing teams working on various projects.

He passed the MarsBand Lab, where developers were refining the wearable device, and the Prototype Zone, alive with engineers testing experimental gadgets. Finally, he reached the Nightengale Hub, the focal point of one of the company's most groundbreaking initiatives.

Inside, the sprawling lab was a hive of activity, with specialised zones buzzing with innovation. Engineers glanced up and nodded respectfully as Peter walked by. Today, he was eager to see how close they were to perfecting the Nightengale Link.

The lab was alive with activity. Machines hummed, and the smell of electronics filled the air. Engineers were hard at work, adjusting devices, testing screens, and studying data.

Peter walked to the central console, a shiny black panel surrounded by holographic displays showing live designs and performance stats. This was the control hub of the Nightengale Link project, the beating heart of Mars Corporation's technological revolution.

'Good morning, everyone,' Peter greeted them. The lead engineer, Ifeanyi, looked up with a cheerful smile.

'Good morning, Sir Peter!' Ifeanyi said, wiping his hands before shaking Peter's. 'We're almost ready. We've managed to fine-tune the laser communication system, so it stays stable even during bad weather.'

Peter nodded, intrigued. 'Chijioke told me it's almost ready for a test. Are you confident it's nearly good to go?'

Ifeanyi smiled and gave a reassuring nod. 'Yes, sir. We're very close. The system bypasses regular networks, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted connections—much like the nightingale, which travels vast distances with focus and strength, overcoming challenges to reach its destination.'

Peter leaned over to look at the console, happy with the rapid development he was seeing.

'Good job, everyone,' Peter said with a smile. 'Keep up the great work. I'll try out the Nightengale Link myself once you're done with the final checks.'

The engineers nodded, pleased with Peter's encouragement. As he turned to leave, Ifeanyi called out, 'Sir, we'll notify you as soon as we're ready for a full demonstration of the system!'

Peter made his way across the room to the section where MarsBand engineers were working. A younger engineer, Ada, stepped forward from the group.

'We're adding new sensors to the MarsBand, sir. It will help users track their health in real-time. It's not quite finished yet, but we're getting closer.'

Peter gave a thumbs-up, smiling. 'Great work, MarBand team. Keep it up.'

With that, he turned, his mind already racing with ideas as he walked through the hallway towards the elevator. Along the way, he passed several workstations where engineers were deep in discussion about integrating neural interfaces, while another team tested advanced biofeedback technology designed to align MarsBand wearables with each user's unique biological rhythm. These cutting-edge developments were pushing the boundaries of wearable technology.

But Peter's focus soon shifted to Nightengale Link, an innovative communication technology, seamlessly connecting across smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Unlike traditional apps that relied on unstable networks, Nightengale Link used laser-based technology to deliver vivid, uninterrupted 3D holographic calls, ensuring a flawless experience in both busy cities and remote areas.

As the elevator doors closed behind him, Peter envisioned the future: immersive business meetings that felt as real as face-to-face conversations, families connecting in lifelike 3D despite being miles apart, and doctors conducting remote consultations with holographic patient projections. With Mars Corporation spearheading this innovation, communication was on the brink of transformation.

While the MarsBand catered to wearable tech enthusiasts, Nightengale Link was set to redefine communication across multiple devices, surpassing conventional apps and ushering in a new era of holographic connectivity.

The nightingale's song was known for being clear, pure, and enduring, and now Nightengale Link, the groundbreaking new technology from Mars Corporation, was set to do the same. Just like the nightingale's melody was beautiful and lasting, Nightengale Link would offer communication that was clear, reliable, and transformative.