Document:

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                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.6

                          GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

              1998 EMPLOYEE SHARE OPTION AND RESTRICTED SHARE PLAN
                          (AS AMENDED AUGUST 17, 1999)

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                          GUILFORD PHARMACEUTICALS INC.

              1998 EMPLOYEE SHARE OPTION AND RESTRICTED SHARE PLAN
                          (AS AMENDED AUGUST 17, 1999)

                  Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc., sets forth herein the terms of
this 1998 Employee Share Option and Restricted Share Plan as follows:

                  1.  PURPOSE

                  The Plan is intended to advance the interests of the Company
by providing eligible individuals (as designated pursuant to Section 5 below)
with incentives to improve business results, by providing an opportunity to
acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company, which thereby will
create a stronger incentive to expend maximum effort for the growth and success
of the Company, and will encourage such eligible individuals to continue to
serve the Company. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of share
options and restricted shares all as set out herein.

                  2.  DEFINITIONS

                  For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents
(including Share Option Agreements and Restricted Share Agreements), the
following definitions shall apply:

                      2.1.     "Affiliate" means any company or other trade or
business that is controlled by or under common control with the Company
(determined in accordance with the principles of Section 414(b) and 414(c) of
the Code and the regulations thereunder).

                      2.2.     "Agreement" means a written agreement between
the Company and the recipient individual that sets out the terms and conditions
of the grant of an Incentive Award.

                      2.3.     "Board" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.

                      2.4.     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

                      2.5.     "Committee" means the stock option committee
appointed by the Board pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Plan.

                      2.6.     "Company" means Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc.

                      2.7.     "Effective Date" means the date of adoption of
the Plan by the Board.

                      2.8.     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended.

                      2.9.     "Exercise Price" means the Option Price
multiplied by the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an
Option.

                      2.10.    "Expiration Date" means the date fixed for
termination of the option at the time it is granted, or, if earlier, the
termination of the option pursuant to Section 18.3.

                      2.11.    "Fair Market Value" means the value of each
Share subject to the Plan determined as follows: if on the Grant Date or other
determination date the Shares are listed on an established national or regional
stock exchange, are admitted to quotation on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System, or are publicly traded on an
established securities market, the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be the
closing price of the Shares on such exchange or in such market (the highest
such closing price if there is more than one such exchange or market) on the
trading day immediately preceding the Grant Date or such

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other determination date (or if there is no such reported closing price, the
Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked
prices or between the high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no
sale of the Shares is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day
on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Shares are not listed on such
an exchange, quoted on such System or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value
shall be determined by the Board in good faith.

                      2.12.    "Grant Date" means the later of (i) the date as
of which the Board approves the grant and (ii) the date as of which the
Optionee and the Company or Subsidiary enter the relationship resulting in the
Optionee being eligible for grants.

                      2.13.    "Holder" means a person who holds Restricted
Shares under the Plan.

                      2.14.    "Incentive Award" means an award of an Option or
Restricted Shares under the Plan.

                      2.15.    "Option" means an option to purchase one or more
 Shares pursuant to the Plan.

                      2.16.    "Optionee" means a person who holds an Option
 under the Plan.

                      2.17.    "Option Period" means the period during which
Options may be exercised as defined in Section 11.

                      2.18.    "Option Price" means the purchase price for each
Share subject to an Option.

                      2.19.    "Plan" means the Guilford Pharmaceuticals Inc.
1998 Employee Share Option and Restricted Share Plan.

                      2.20.    "Reporting Person" means a person who is
required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

                      2.21.    "Restricted Share Agreement" means the written
agreement evidencing the grant of Restricted Shares hereunder.

                      2.22.    "Restricted Share Award" means an award of the
right to purchase restricted Shares granted pursuant to Section 12 of this
Plan.

                      2.23.    "1933 Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
now in effect or as hereafter amended.

                      2.24.    "Shares" mean share of common stock, par value
$.01 per Share, of the Company.

                      2.25.    "Share Option Agreement" means the written
agreement evidencing the grant of an Option hereunder.

                      2.26.    "Subsidiary" means any "subsidiary corporation"
of the Company within the meaning of Section 425(f) of the Code.

                  3.  ADMINISTRATION

                      3.1.     BOARD.

                      The Plan shall be administered by the Board, which shall
have the full power and authority to take all actions and to make all
determinations required or provided for under the Plan or any Option or
Restricted Share Award granted or Share Option or Restricted Share Agreement
entered into hereunder and all such other actions and determinations not
inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan deemed by the
Board to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan or any
Option granted or Share Option

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Agreement entered into hereunder. The interpretation and construction by the
Board of any provision of the Plan or of any Option granted or Share Option
Agreement entered into hereunder shall be final and conclusive.

                           3.2.     COMMITTEE

                           The Board may from time to time appoint the
Committee, and the Board, in its sole discretion, may provide that the role of
the Committee shall be limited to making recommendations to the Board
concerning any determinations to be made and actions to be taken by the Board
pursuant to or with respect to the Plan, or the Board may delegate to the
Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration of the
Plan, as set forth in Section 3.1 hereof, as the Board shall determine,
consistent with the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended and Bylaws of the Company and applicable law. In the event that the
Plan or any Option or Restricted Share Award granted or Share Option or
Restricted Share Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be
taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken by
or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power and authority
to do so has been delegated to the Committee by the Board as provided for in
this Section 3.2. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such
action or determination by the Committee shall be final and conclusive.

                           3.3.     NO LIABILITY

                           No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be
liable for any action or determination made, or any failure to take or make an
action or determination, in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option
or Restricted Share Award granted or Share Option or Restricted Share Agreement
entered into hereunder.

                  4.       SHARES

                  The Shares that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Awards
may be treasury Shares or authorized but unissued Shares. The number of Shares
that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Awards under the Plan shall not
exceed, in the aggregate, 1,100,000 Shares. No more than 50,000 Shares may be
issued pursuant to Restricted Share Awards under the Plan. If any Incentive
Award expires, terminates, or is terminated or canceled for any reason prior to
exercise or vesting in full, the Shares that were subject to the unexercised,
forfeited, or terminated portion of such Incentive Award shall be available
immediately for future grants of Incentive Awards under the Plan.

                  5.       ELIGIBILITY

                           5.1.     DESIGNATED RECIPIENTS

                           Subject to the next sentence, Incentive Awards may
be granted under the Plan to (i) any full-time employee of the Company or any
Subsidiary (including any such individual who is an officer or director of the
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate) as the Board shall determine and
designate from time to time or (ii) any other individual whose participation in
the Plan is determined by the Board to be in the best interests of the Company
and is so designated by the Board (such determination to be deemed to be made
with respect to any recipient by virtue of the grant of an Incentive Award to
such an individual).

                           5.2.     SUCCESSIVE GRANTS

                           An individual may hold more than one Incentive
Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein.

                  6.       EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN

                           6.1.     EFFECTIVE DATE

                           The Plan shall be effective as of February 17, 1998,
the date of adoption by the Board.

                           6.2.     TERM

                           The Plan has no termination date.

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                  7.       GRANT OF OPTIONS

                           Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the
Board may, at any time and from time to time, grant to such eligible individuals
as the Board may determine, Options to purchase such number of Shares on such
terms and conditions as the Board may determine. Such authority specifically
includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but
without amending the Plan, to modify grants to eligible individuals who are
foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States
to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom.

                  8.       PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS

                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any
other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered
into by the Optionee with the Company, except an agreement, contract, or
understanding hereafter entered into that expressly modifies or excludes
application of this paragraph (an "Other Agreement"), and notwithstanding any
formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect
provision of compensation to the Optionee (including groups or classes of
participants or beneficiaries of which the Optionee is a member), whether or
not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit
to or for the Optionee (a "Benefit Arrangement"), if the Optionee is a
"disqualified individual", as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any
Option held by that Optionee and any right to receive any payment or other
benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the
extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into
account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Optionee under
this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any
payment or benefit to the Optionee under this Plan to be considered a
"parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Internal
Revenue Code as then in effect (a "Parachute Payment") and (ii) if, as a result
of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by
the Optionee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all
Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could
be received by him or her without causing any such payment or benefit to be
considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right
to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with
all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Optionee under any Other
Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Optionee to be considered
to have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would have the effect
of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Optionee as described in
clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Optionee shall have the right,
in the Optionee's sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or
benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements
that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or
benefit to the Optionee under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment.

                  9.       SHARE OPTION AGREEMENTS

                  All Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced
by Share Option Agreements, to be executed by the Company and by the Optionee,
in such form or forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Share
Option Agreements covering Options granted from time to time or at the same
time need not contain similar provisions; provided, however, that all such
Option Agreements shall comply with all terms of the Plan.

                  10.      OPTION PRICE

                  The Option Price shall be fixed by the Board and stated in
each Share Option Agreement. The Option Price shall not be less than the Fair
Market Value of the Shares.

                  11.      TERM AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS

                           11.1.    TERM

                           Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate
and all rights to purchase shares thereunder shall cease at such time as may be
fixed by the Board and stated in the Share Option Agreement relating to such
Option.
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                           11.2.    OPTION PERIOD AND LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE

                           Each Option granted under the Plan shall be
exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time over a
period commencing on or after the Grant Date and ending upon the expiration or
termination of the Option, as the Board shall determine and set forth in the
Share Option Agreement relating to such Option. Without limiting the foregoing,
the Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, may in its sole
discretion provide that an Option may not be exercised in whole or in part for
a stated period or periods of time during which such Option is outstanding;
provided, however, that any such limitation on the exercise of an Option
contained in any Share Option Agreement may be rescinded, modified or waived by
the Board, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time after the
Grant Date of such Option, so as to accelerate the time at which the Option may
be exercised.

                           11.2A.   RETIREMENT

                           If the Optionee retires from the Company or a
Subsidiary following the attainment of age 62 and (i) the Optionee has
completed at least five years but fewer than ten years of service with the
Company or a Subsidiary, the Optionee shall have the right (subject to the
limitations on exercise set forth in Section 3.7 below) to exercise all or any
part of the Option, to the extent the Option was vested upon the Optionee's
retirement, for a period equal to the shorter of (a) five (5) years following
the Optionee's retirement or (b) the remaining term of the Option, or (ii) the
Optionee has completed as least ten years of service with the Company or a
Subsidiary, the Optionee shall have the right (subject to the limitations on
exercise set forth in Section 3.7 below) to exercise all or any part of the
Option, to the extent the Option was vested upon the Optionee's retirement, for
the remaining term of the Option.

                           11.3.    TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

                           Upon the termination of the employment of an
Optionee with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, other than by reason
of the death or "permanent and total disability" (within the meaning of Section
22(e)(3) of the Code), any Option granted to an Optionee pursuant to the Plan
shall terminate, and such Optionee shall have no further right to purchase
Shares pursuant to such Option; provided further, that the Board may provide,
by inclusion of appropriate language in any Share Option Agreement, that an
Optionee may (subject to the general limitations on exercise set forth in
Section 11.2 above), in the event of termination of employment of the Optionee
with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, exercise an Option, in whole or
in part, at any time subsequent to such termination of employment and prior to
termination of the Option pursuant to Section 11.2 above, either subject to or
without regard to any installment limitation on exercise imposed pursuant to
Section 11.2. above, as the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall
determine and set forth in the Share Option Agreement. Whether a leave of
absence or leave on military or government service shall constitute a
termination of employment for purposes of the Plan, shall be determined by the
Board, which determination shall be final and conclusive. For purposes of the
Plan, a termination of employment with the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate shall not be deemed to occur if the Optionee is immediately
thereafter employed with the Company, any other Subsidiary or any other
Affiliate.

                           11.4.    RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF DEATH

                           If an Optionee dies while employed by the Company,
a Subsidiary or an Affiliate, the executors or administrators or legatees or
distributees of such Optionee's estate shall have the right (subject to the
general limitations on exercise set forth in Section 11.2 above), at any time
within one year after the date of such Optionee's death and prior to
termination of the Option pursuant to Section 11.1 above, to exercise any
Option held by such Optionee at the date of such Optionee's death, whether or
not such Option was exercisable immediately prior to such Optionee's death;
provided, however, that the Board may provide by inclusion of appropriate
language in any Share Option Agreement that, in the event of the death of an
Optionee, the executors or administrators or legatees or distributees of such
Optionee's estate may exercise an Option (subject to the general limitations on
exercise set forth in Section 11.2 above), in whole or in part, at any time
subsequent to such Optionee's death and prior to termination of the Option
pursuant to Section 11.1 above, either subject to or without regard to any
installment limitation on exercise imposed pursuant to Section 11.2 above, as
the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine and set forth in
the Share Option Agreement.

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                           11.5.    RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF DISABILITY

                           If an Optionee terminates employment with the
Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate by reason of the "permanent and total
disability" (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) of such
Optionee, then such Optionee shall have the right (subject to the general
limitations on exercise set forth in Section 11.2 above), at any time within
one year after such termination of employment and prior to termination of the
Option pursuant to Section 11.1 above, to exercise, in whole or in part, any
Option held by such Optionee at the date of such termination of employment,
whether or not such Option was exercisable immediately prior to such
termination of employment; provided, however, that the Board may provide, by
inclusion of appropriate language in any Share Option Agreement, that an
Optionee may (subject to the general limitations on exercise set forth in
Section 11.2 above), in the event of the termination of employment of the
Optionee with the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate by reason of the
"permanent and total disability" (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the
Code) of such Optionee, exercise an Option, in whole or in part, at any time
subsequent to such termination of employment and prior to termination of the
Option pursuant to Section 11.1 above, either subject to or without regard to
any installment limitation on exercise imposed pursuant to Section 11.2 above,
as the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine and set
forth in the Share Option Agreement. Whether a termination of employment is to
be considered by reason of "permanent and total disability" for purposes of
this Plan shall be determined by the Board, which determination shall be final
and conclusive.

                           11.6.    LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE OF OPTION

                           Notwithstanding the foregoing Sections, in no event
may the Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after the occurrence of an
event referred to in Section 18.3 below which results in termination of the
Option. In no event may the Option be exercised for a fractional Share.

                           11.7.    METHOD OF EXERCISE

                           An Option that is exercisable hereunder may be
exercised by the Optionee's delivery to the Company of written notice of the
exercise and the number of Shares for which the Option is being exercised. Such
delivery shall occur on any business day, at the Company's principal office,
addressed to the attention of the Board. Such notice shall specify the number
of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be
accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the Shares for which the
Option is being exercised. The minimum number of Shares with respect to which
an Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time shall be the
lesser of (i) 100 shares or such lesser number set forth in the applicable
Option Agreement and (ii) the maximum number of Shares available for purchase
under the Option at the time of exercise. Payment of the Option Price for the
Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be made (i) in
cash or in cash equivalents; (ii) through the tender to the Company of Shares
(so long as any Shares so tendered that were originally acquired by the
Optionee from the Company have been held by the Optionee for at least six (6)
months prior to such tender), which Shares shall be valued, for purposes of
determining the extent to which the Option Price has been paid thereby, at
their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise; or (iii) by a combination of
the methods described in (i) and (ii). The Board may provide, by inclusion of
appropriate language in an Share Option Agreement, an amendment thereto or
other agreement with the Optionee, that payment in full of the Option Price
need not accompany the written notice of exercise provided the notice of
exercise directs that the Share certificate or certificates for the Shares for
which the Option is exercised be delivered to a licensed broker acceptable to
the Company as the agent for the individual exercising the Option and, at the
time such Share certificate or certificates are delivered, the broker tenders
to the Company cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the Company) equal to
the Option Price for the Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the
Option plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company
may in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to the exercise of
the Option. An attempt to exercise any Option granted hereunder other than as
set forth above shall be invalid and of no force and effect. Promptly after the
exercise of an Option and the payment in full of the Option Price of the Shares
covered thereby, the individual exercising the Option shall be entitled to the
issuance of a Share certificate or Share certificates evidencing his or her
ownership of such Shares. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Share
Option Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none
of the rights of a stockholder (for example, the right to receive cash or
dividend payments attributable to the subject Shares or to direct the voting of
the subject Shares) until the Shares covered thereby are fully paid and issued
to him or her. Except as provided in Section 18 below, no adjustment shall be
made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the
date of such issuance.

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                  12.      GRANT OF RESTRICTED SHARES

                           12.1.    RESTRICTED SHARE AWARDS.

                                    (a)     The Board may from time to time,
and subject to the provisions of the Plan and such other terms and conditions
as the Board may determine, grant Restricted Share Awards under the Plan. Each
Restricted Share Award shall be evidenced by a written instrument which shall
state the number of Shares covered by the award and the terms and conditions
which the Board shall have determined with respect to such award, including the
number of Shares that the Holder shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be
paid, and the time within which the Holder must accept such offer, which shall
in no event exceed thirty (30) days from the date upon which the Board made the
determination to grant the Restricted Share Award. Upon the acceptance of each
Restricted Share Award, subject to Section 12.3, a certificate representing the
Shares covered by the award shall be registered in the name of the Holder and
shall be delivered to the Holder. The Holder shall generally have the rights
and privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to such Shares,
including the right to vote and to receive dividends, subject to the
restrictions specified in paragraphs (b) and (c).

                                    (b)     The Board shall determine a period
of time ("Limitation Period") which shall apply to the Shares transferred to a
Holder with respect to each Restricted Shares Award. Except as otherwise
determined by the Board, during the Limitation Period applicable with respect
to each Restricted Shares Award, the Holder may not sell, transfer, assign,
pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of the Shares covered by such
Restricted Shares Award. The Board in its discretion may prescribe conditions
for the incremental lapse of the preceding restrictions during the Limitation
Period, and for the lapse or termination of such restrictions upon the
occurrence of certain events before the expiration of the Limitation Period.
The Board in its discretion also may shorten or terminate the Limitation Period
or waive any conditions for the lapse or termination of the restrictions with
respect to all or any portion of the Shares covered by the Restricted Shares
Award. The certificate representing the Shares distributed with respect to each
Restricted Shares Award made under the Plan shall be affixed with a legend
setting forth the restrictions applicable to the transfer of such Shares. The
restrictions applicable to a Restricted Shares Award shall lapse and a
certificate for the number of Shares with respect to which the restrictions
have lapsed shall be delivered to the Holder free of all such restrictions upon
the earliest of the following: (1) the expiration of the Limitation Period
applicable to the Restricted Shares Award, (2) the occurrence of an event
prescribed by the Board which results in the lapse of the restrictions, or (3)
such other time as the Board may determine.

                                    (c)     The Shares covered by a Restricted
Share Award shall be subject to a repurchase option exercisable upon the
voluntary or involuntary termination of the Holder's employment with the
Company for any reason (including death or disability) during the Limitation
Period. The purchase price for Shares repurchased pursuant to the Restricted
Share Agreement shall be the original price paid by the Holder and may be paid
by cancellation of any indebtedness of the Holder to the Company.

                           12.2.    RESTRICTED SHARE AGREEMENT

                           All Restricted Share Awards granted pursuant to the
Plan shall be evidenced by Restricted Share Agreements, to be executed by the
Company and by the Holder, in such form or forms as the Board shall from time
to time determine. Restricted Share Agreements covering Restricted Shares
granted from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar
provisions; provided, however, that all such Restricted Share Agreements shall
comply with all terms of the Plan.

                           12.3.    CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED SHARES

                           The Board may require that the certificates
evidencing the grant of a Restricted Share Award hereunder be held in escrow
until such restrictions have expired. The Board may also cause a legend to be
placed on such certificates that complies with the applicable securities laws
and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions to which
the Shares are subject. Upon attainment of the specified objectives and
requirements (or, to the extent specified in the grant (or the portion of such
Shares earned by partial attainment of the objectives and requirements, as
applicable) free of restrictions.

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                  13.      TRANSFERABILITY OF SHARES AND OPTIONS

         13.1 General. Except as provided in Section 13.2, during the lifetime
of an Optionee, only such Optionee or grantee (or, in the event of legal
incapacity or incompetency, the guardian or legal representative of the
Optionee or grantee) may exercise the Option. No Restricted Shares shall be
assignable or transferable, other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, before the satisfaction of applicable performance and service
requirements with respect to such Shares, as set forth in the applicable
Restricted Share Agreement.

         13.2 Family Transfers. The Board or Committee may, in its discretion,
authorize all or a portion of the Options granted to an Optionee, or group of
Optionees, to be on terms which permit transfer by such Optionee to a Family
Member or an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests
are owned by Family Members (or the Optionee), provided that (x) there may be
no consideration for any such transfer, (y) the Stock Option Agreement pursuant
to which such Options are granted must be approved by the Board or Committee,
and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this
Section, and (z) subsequent transfers of transferred Options shall be
prohibited except those in accordance with Section 13.2 or by will or the laws
of descent and distribution. Following transfer, any such Options shall
continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable
immediately prior to transfer, provided that for purposes of Sections 11.7
hereof the term "Optionee" shall be deemed to refer the transferee. For
purposes of this Section 13.2, the term "Family Member" means a person who is a
child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law,
father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law,
including adoptive relationships, of the Optionee, any person sharing the
Optionee's household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these
persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation
in which these persons (or the Optionee) control the management of assets, and
any other entity in which these persons (or the Optionee) own more than fifty
percent of the voting interests. The events of termination of employment of
Section 11 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original
Optionee, following which the Options shall be exercisable by the transferee
only to the extent, and for the periods specified in Section 11.

                  14.      USE OF PROCEEDS

                  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Shares
pursuant to the exercise of Options granted under the Plan shall constitute
general funds of the Company.

                  15.      REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

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                  The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any Shares
under any Incentive Award if the sale or issuance of such Shares would
constitute a violation by the Optionee, the Holder, the individual exercising
the Option, or the Company of any provisions of any law or regulation of any
governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state
securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in
its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any Shares
subject to the Option upon any securities exchange or under any governmental
regulatory body, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with, the issuance or purchase of Shares hereunder, the Option may not be
exercised in whole or in part unless such listing registration, qualification,
consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions
not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way
affect the date of termination of the Option. Specifically in connection with
the 1933 Act, at the time of grant of Restricted Shares or when such Shares
becomes vested or upon the exercise of any Option, unless a registration
statement under such act is in effect with respect to the Shares covered by
Option, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such Shares unless
the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the holder of such
Restricted Shares or Option, may acquire such Shares pursuant to an exemption
from registration under such act. Any determination in this connection by the
Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no
event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the
1933 Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in
order to cause the exercise of an Option or the issuance of Shares pursuant
thereto or pursuant to a grant of Restricted Shares to comply with any law or
regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly
imposes the requirement that an Option shall not be exercisable or that Shares
may not be issued pursuant to a Restricted Share Award unless and until the
Shares covered by such grant or Option are registered or are exempt from
registration, the exercise of such Option or issuance of Shares pursuant to
such grant (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply)
shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the
availability of such an exemption.

                  16.      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

                  The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend,
suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any Shares as to which Incentive Awards
have not been granted. The Company may retain the right in an Agreement to
cause a forfeiture of the Shares or gain realized by a holder of an Incentive
Award on account of the holder taking actions in "competition with the
Company," as defined in the applicable Agreement. Furthermore, the Company may
annul the grant of an Option, or Restricted Shares if the holder of such grant
was an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary and is terminated "for cause,"
as defined in the applicable Agreement. Except as permitted under this Section
16 or Section 18 hereof, no amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan
shall, without the consent of the holder of the Incentive Award, alter or
impair rights or obligations under any Incentive Award theretofore granted
under the Plan.

                  17.      EXCHANGE ACT: RULE 16B-3

                           17.1.   GENERAL

                           The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 ("Rule
16b-3") under the Exchange Act. Any provision inconsistent with Rule 16b-3
shall, to the extent permitted by law and determined to be advisable by the
Board (constituted in accordance with Section 17.2 hereof) or the Board (acting
pursuant to Section 17.3 hereof), be inoperative and void.

                           17.2.   STOCK OPTION COMMITTEE

                           The Committee appointed pursuant to Section 3.2
hereof shall consist of not fewer than two members of the Board each of whom
shall qualify (at the time of appointment to the Committee and during all
periods of service on the Committee) in all respects as a "non-employee
director" as defined in Rule 16b-3.

<PAGE>   11

                           17.3.   ADDITIONAL RESTRICTION ON TRANSFER OF SHARES

                           No director, officer or other "insider" of the
Corporation subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to
sell Shares (which such "insider" had received upon exercise of an Option or
under a Restricted Share Award) during the six months immediately following the
grant of such Option or Restricted Share Award.

                  18.      EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION

                           18.1.    CHANGES IN SHARES

                           If the number of outstanding Shares is increased or
decreased or the Shares are changed into or exchanged for a different number or
kind of Shares or other securities of the Company on account of any
recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of
Shares, exchange of Shares, Share dividend or other distribution payable in
capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such Shares effected without
receipt of consideration by the Company, occurring after the closing of the
initial public offering of Shares of the Company, the number and kinds of
Shares for the issuance of which Restricted Share Awards may be granted and for
the acquisition of which Options may be granted under the Plan shall be
adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Company. In addition, the
number and kind of Shares for which Restricted Share Awards or Options, are
outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly so that the
proportionate interest of the holder of the Restricted Share Awards or Option
immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same
as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options
shall not change the aggregate Option Price payable with respect to Shares that
are subject to the unexercised portion of the Option outstanding but shall
include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price per Share.

                           18.2.    REORGANIZATION IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS THE
                                    SURVIVING ENTITY

                           Subject to Section 18.3 hereof, if the Company shall
be the surviving Entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the
Company with one or more other entities, any Option theretofore granted
pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a
holder of the number of Shares subject to such Option would have been entitled
immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a
corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Option Price per Share so that
the aggregate Option Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option
Price of the Shares remaining subject to the Option immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in
the applicable Restricted Share Agreement, any restrictions that were
applicable to any previously granted Restricted Share Award shall apply as well
to any replacement shares received by the Holder as a result of the
reorganization, merger, or consolidation.

<PAGE>   12

                           18.3.    REORGANIZATION IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS NOT
                                    THE SURVIVING ENTITY OR SALE OF ASSETS OR
                                    SHARES

                           Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
or upon a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or
more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity, or upon a
sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity, or
upon any transaction (including, without limitation, a merger or reorganization
in which the Company is the surviving entity) approved by the Board that
results in any person or entity (or person or entities acting as a group or
otherwise in concert) owning 80 percent or more of the combined voting power of
all classes of securities of the Company, the Plan and all Options outstanding
hereunder shall terminate, except to the extent provision is made in writing in
connection with such transaction for the continuation of the Plan or the
assumption of such Options theretofore granted, or for the substitution for
such Options of new options covering the stock of a successor Company, or a
parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and
kinds of shares and exercise prices, in which event the Plan and Options
theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so
provided. In the event of any such termination of the Plan, each individual
holding an Option shall have the right (subject to the general limitations on
exercise set forth in Section 11.2 above), immediately before the occurrence of
such termination and during such period occurring before such termination as
the Board in its sole discretion shall determine and designate, to exercise
such Option in whole or in part, whether or not such Option was otherwise
exercisable at the time such termination occurs. The Board shall send written
notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all individuals
who hold Options not later than the time at which the Company gives notice
thereof to its stockholders but in no event less than 30 days before the
occurrence of such termination. Unvested Restricted Share Awards shall be
vested in the case of an event described in this Section 18.3.

                           18.4.    ADJUSTMENTS

                           Adjustments under this Section 18 related to Shares
or securities of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in
that respect shall be final, binding, and conclusive. No fractional Shares or
units of other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and
any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each
case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share or unit.

                           18.5.    NO LIMITATIONS ON COMPANY

                           The grant of Shares and Incentive Awards pursuant to
the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company
to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate,
or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

                  19.      DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS

                  No provision in the Plan or in any Incentive Award granted or
Agreement entered into pursuant to the Plan shall be construed to confer upon
any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company, any
Subsidiary or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or
other right or authority of the Company, any Subsidiary or any Affiliate either
to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at
any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any
individual and the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate. In addition,
notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless
otherwise stated in the applicable Agreement, no Incentive Award granted under
the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Optionee
or Holder (including a transfer to or from the Company, a Subsidiary or an
Affiliate), so long as such Optionee or Holder continued to be a director,
officer, consultant, employee, or independent contractor (as the case may be)
of the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate. The obligation of the Company to
pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual
obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under
the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to
require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or
otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any participant or
beneficiary under the terms of the Plan.

<PAGE>   13

                  20.      NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN

                  The adoption of the Plan shall not be construed as creating
any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other
incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable
either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a
particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion
determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of restricted
shares or share options otherwise than under the Plan.

                  21.      CAPTIONS

                  The use of captions in this Plan or any Agreement is for the
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision
of the Plan or such Agreement.

                  22.      WITHHOLDING TAXES

                           22.1.    WITHHOLDING

<PAGE>   14

                           The Company shall have the right to deduct from
payments of any kind otherwise due to an Optionee any Federal, state, or local
taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Shares
issued upon the exercise of an Option under the Plan or with respect to the
termination of the Limitation Period with respect to Restricted Share Awards
under the Plan. At the time of exercise or termination of the Limitation Period,
the Optionee or Holder shall pay to the Company any amount that the Company may
reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation.
Subject to the prior approval of the Company, which may be withheld by the
Company in its sole discretion, the Optionee or Holder may elect to satisfy
such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company to withhold
Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an Option or (ii) by
delivering to the Company Shares already owned by the Optionee or Holder. The
Shares so delivered or withheld shall have a fair market value equal to such
withholding obligations. The fair market value of the Shares used to satisfy
such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company as of the date
that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. An Optionee or
Holder who has made an election pursuant to this Section 24.1 may only satisfy
his or her withholding obligation with Shares that are not subject to any
repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements.

                           22.2.    LIMITATIONS FOR REPORTING PERSON

                           Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of a
Reporting Person, no election to use Shares for the payment of withholding
taxes shall be effective unless made in compliance with any applicable
requirements under Rule 16b-3(e) or any successor rule under the Exchange Act.

                  23.      OTHER PROVISIONS

                  Each Incentive Award granted under the Plan may contain such
other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined
by the Board, in its sole discretion.

                  24.      NUMBER AND GENDER

                  With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form
shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine
gender, etc., as the context requires.

                  25.      SEVERABILITY

                  If any provision of the Plan or any Agreement shall be
determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any
jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable
and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain
enforceable in any other jurisdiction.

                  26.      GOVERNING LAW

                  The validity and construction of this Plan and the
instruments evidencing the Incentive Awards granted hereunder shall be governed
by the laws of the State of Maryland.<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.4

                         EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is made as of
January 1, 2000, between Cysive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
and Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr. ("EXECUTIVE") and supersedes and replaces that
certain Employment Agreement dated as of September 24, 1999 by and between the
parties hereto.

         The parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. EMPLOYMENT. The Company agrees to employ Executive and Executive
accepts such employment for the period beginning as of the date hereof and
ending on the fourth anniversary of the date hereof or upon Executive's earlier
separation pursuant to SECTION 1(d) hereof (the "EMPLOYMENT PERIOD"); provided,
however, that the Employment Period shall automatically be renewed for an
additional two year period commencing on the fourth anniversary of the date
hereof unless either the Company or the Executive gives the other at least 60
days written notice prior to the fourth anniversary of its desire to terminate
this Agreement.

            (a) POSITION AND DUTIES. During the Employment Period, Executive
shall serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and shall have the normal
duties, responsibilities and authority of the Chief Executive Officer, subject
to the power of the Company's board of directors (the "BOARD") to expand or
limit such duties, responsibilities and authority and to override actions of the
Chief Executive Officer. Executive shall report to the Board and Executive shall
devote his best efforts and of his full business time and attention to the
business and affairs of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

            (b) SALARY, BONUS AND BENEFITS. The Company will pay Executive a
base salary to be determined by the Board, subject to any annual increase during
the Employment Period as determined by the Board based upon the Company's
achievements of budgetary and other objectives set by the Board (the "ANNUAL
BASE SALARY"). Executive shall also be eligible to receive a bonus (the "BONUS")
determined in accordance with the Company's compensation plan, as established
from time to time by the compensation committee of the Board, and the Executive
shall be eligible to participate in the Company's split-dollar insurance policy
in accordance with SECTION 1(c) below. Executive's Annual Base Salary and Bonus
for any partial year will be prorated based upon the number of days elapsed in
such year. In addition, during the Employment Period, Executive will be entitled
to such other benefits approved by the Board and made available to the Company's
senior executives, including, but not limited to, vacation time, tuition
reimbursement, reimbursement of business expenses, car allowance and healthcare
benefits.

            (c) SPLIT DOLLAR INSURANCE AGREEMENT. The Executive, the Company and
the Insurer (as defined in the Split Dollar Insurance Agreement) shall execute a
Split-Dollar Insurance Agreement whereby the Company and the Executive shall
agree to "split" the premiums and benefits under a life insurance policy.
Pursuant to the Split-Dollar Insurance Agreement, the Company shall procure a
ten year life insurance policy naming the Executive as Owner and as the Insured.
The Company shall pay to the Insurer the premiums for such insurance policy,
subject to repayment by the Executive in accordance with the terms of the
Split-Dollar Insurance Agreement. The Executive shall have the option to pay
additional

                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>   2
amounts as premiums. As security for the repayment of the premiums by the
Company, the Executive shall execute the Split-Dollar Collateral Assignment
whereby the Executive shall grant the Company a security interest in the life
insurance policy. Executive hereby agrees that all premiums paid on Executive's
behalf, and all additional contributions made by Executive, during the period
ending on January 1, 2004 (such period being referred to as the "VESTING
PERIOD"), shall be forfeited to the Company in the event Executive is no longer
employed or engaged with the Company, provided, however, that if during the
Vesting Period (A) an event constituting a Change of Control (as defined herein)
of the Company occurs and (B)(i) the Executive's employment is terminated
without Cause (as defined herein) or (ii) the Executive terminates his
employment with Good Reason (as defined herein), in either case where such
termination occurs within one (1) year of the date of Change of Control takes
place, then Executive shall be entitled to receive all premiums paid and all
additional contributions made with respect to such Split-Dollar Agreement.

                  During the period beginning at the end of the Vesting Period
and ending on the termination date of the Split Dollar Agreement, portions of
the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy shall be included in
Executive's form W-2 as compensation for services. The Company shall provide
Executive an additional cash bonus in order to compensate Executive for
additional income tax liability resulting from the inclusion of the cash
surrender value of the life insurance policy in Executive's form W-2.

                  (d) SEPARATION. Executive's employment by the Company during
the Employment Period will continue until Executive's resignation at any time or
until Executive's disability or death or until the Board terminates Executive's
Employment at any time during the Employment Period (the "SEPARATION"). If the
Employment Period is terminated by the Executive without Good Reason, then the
termination will be effective thirty (30) days after the date of delivery of
written notice of termination. If the Employment Period is terminated by the
Board or the Chief Executive Officer without Cause or by the Executive with Good
Reason, then the termination will be effective fifteen (15) days after the date
of delivery of written notice of termination. If the Employment Period is
terminated by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer with Cause, termination
will be effective fifteen (15) days after the date of delivery of written notice
of termination. If the Employment Period is terminated by the Board with Cause
or by the Executive without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to
receive his Annual Base Salary and all fringe benefits only through the
effective date of termination. If the Employment Period is terminated by the
Board without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason, then the Executive
shall be entitled to receive his Annual Base Salary and all fringe benefits for
one year from the effective date of termination (such payments and fringe
benefits are referred hereinafter as the "SEVERANCE PAYMENT") payable over time
in accordance with normal payroll practices. In addition, in the event the
Employment Period is terminated by the Board or the Chief Executive Officer
without Cause or by the Executive with Good Reason, then all Executive's
unvested options as of the date of notification of termination shall immediately
and unconditionally vest. If the Employment Period is terminated due to death,
then the Annual Base Salary and medical insurance will be continued through the
next full calendar month following the month in which the Executive died. If the
Employment Period is terminated due to Disability (as defined herein), then the
Annual Base Salary, medical insurance and disability insurance will be continued
until the last day of the six-month period following the Disability; provided,
however, that such Annual Base Salary shall be reduced by the amount of any

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>   3
disability income payments made to the Executive during such six-month period
from any insurance or other policies provided by the Company. In the event
Executive is owed amounts under this SECTION 1(d), such amounts may be withheld
by the Company upon a breach or threatened breach of the terms and conditions of
SECTION 3 below.

         2. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

            (a) Executive acknowledges that the Company is engaged in the
business of software engineering and it builds and implements complex and highly
customized systems supporting large scale electronic commerce businesses (the
"BUSINESS"). Executive further acknowledges that the Business and its continued
success depend upon the use and protection of a large body of confidential and
proprietary information, and that he holds a position of trust and confidence by
virtue of which he necessarily possesses, has access to and, as a consequence of
his signing this Agreement, will continue to possess and have access to, highly
valuable, confidential and proprietary information of the Company not known to
the public in general, and that it would be improper for him to make use of this
information for the benefit of himself and others. All of such confidential and
proprietary information now existing or to be developed in the future will be
referred to in this Agreement as "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION." This includes,
without limitation, information relating to the nature and operation of the
Business or any other business conducted by the Company, the persons, firms and
corporations which are customers or active prospects of the Company during
Executive's employment by the Company, the Business' development transition and
transformation plans, methodology and methods of doing business, strategic,
acquisition, marketing and expansion plans, including plans regarding planned
and potential acquisitions and sales, financial and business plans, employee
lists, numbers and location of sales representatives, new and existing programs
and services (and those under development), prices and terms, customer service,
integration processes requirements, costs of providing service, support and
equipment and equipment maintenance costs. Confidential Information shall not
include any information that has become generally known to, and available for
use by, the public other than as a result of Executive's acts or omissions in
contravention of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

            (b) Disclosure of any Confidential Information of the Company shall
not be prohibited if such disclosure is directly pursuant to a valid and
existing order of a court or other governmental body or agency within the United
States; provided, however, that (i) Executive shall first have given prompt
notice to the Company of any such possible or prospective order (or proceeding
pursuant to which any such order may result) and (ii) Executive shall afford the
Company a reasonable opportunity to prevent or limit any such disclosure.

            (c) During the Employment Period and for a period of three (3) years
thereafter, Executive will preserve and protect as confidential all of the
Confidential Information known to Executive or at any time in Executive's
possession. In addition, during the Employment Period and at all times
thereafter, Executive will not disclose to any unauthorized person or use for
his own account any of such Confidential Information without the Board's written
consent. Executive agrees to deliver to the Company at a Separation, or at any
other time the Company may request in writing, all memoranda, notes, plans,
records, reports and other documents (and copies thereof) containing or
otherwise relating to any of the Confidential Information (including, without
limitation, all acquisition prospects, lists and contact

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>   4
information) which he may then possess or have under his control. Executive
acknowledges that all such memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports and other
documents are, and at all times shall be and shall remain, the property of the
Company.

            (d) Executive will fully comply with any agreement reasonably
required by any of the Company's customers, both actual and potential, business
partners, suppliers or contractors with respect to the protection of the
confidential and proprietary information of such persons or entities.

         3. NONCOMPETITION AND NONSOLICITATION. Executive acknowledges that in
the course of his employment with the Company, he will become familiar with the
Confidential Information concerning the Company and the Business, including
without limitation customer lists and contacts, and that his services will be of
special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company. Executive agrees that
the Company has a protectable interest in the Confidential Information acquired
by Executive during the course of his employment with the Company. Therefore,
Executive agrees to the following:

            (a) Noncompetition. So long as Executive is employed or affiliated
with the Company and for an additional one (1) year thereafter, he shall not,
anywhere within 50 miles of any of the Company's offices in the United States,
directly or indirectly own, manage, control, participate in, consult with,
render services for, or in any manner engage in, any customer or any business
actually competing with the Business of the Company, in whole or in part, at the
time of termination.

            (b) Nonsolicitation. So long as Executive is employed or affiliated
with the Company and for an additional two (2) years thereafter, the Executive
shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to
induce any employee of the Company to leave the employ of the Company, or in any
way interfere with the relationship between the Company and any employee
thereof, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company within one year
prior to the time such employee was hired by the Executive, (iii) induce or
attempt to induce any owner of a customer, supplier, licensee or other business
relation of the Company to cease doing business with the Company or in any way
interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, licensee or
business relation and the Company, or (iv) directly or indirectly acquire or
attempt to acquire an interest in any business relating to the Business of the
Company and with which, to Executive's knowledge, the Company has entertained
discussions or has requested and received information relating to the
acquisition of such Business by the Company in the one-year period immediately
preceding a Separation.

            (c) Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of SECTION 2 or
SECTION 3 of this Agreement, a court holds that the restrictions stated herein
are unreasonable under the circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree
that the maximum duration, scope or geographical area reasonable under such
circumstances shall be substituted for the stated period, scope or geographical
area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained
herein to cover the maximum duration, scope and geographical area permitted by
law. Because Executive's services are unique and because Executive has access to
Confidential Information, the parties hereto agree that money damages would be
an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event
of a breach or threatened breach of SECTION 2 or SECTION

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>   5
3 of this Agreement, the Company or any of its successors or assigns shall, in
addition to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, be entitled to
specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce, or
prevent any violations of, the provisions of SECTION 2 or SECTION 3 from any
court of competent jurisdiction.

            (d) Additional Acknowledgments. Executive acknowledges that the
provisions of this Section are in consideration of: (i) employment with the
Company and (ii) additional good and valuable consideration as set forth in this
Agreement. Executive expressly agrees and acknowledges that the restrictions
contained in SECTION 2 and SECTION 3 do not preclude Executive from earning a
livelihood, nor does it unreasonably impose limitations on Executive's ability
to earn a living. In addition, Executive agrees and acknowledges that the
potential harm to the Company of its non-enforcement outweighs any harm to the
Executive of its enforcement by injunction or otherwise. Executive acknowledges
that he has carefully read this Agreement and has given careful consideration to
the restraints imposed upon the Executive by this Agreement, and is in full
accord as to their necessity for the reasonable and proper protection of the
Confidential Information. Executive expressly acknowledges and agrees that each
and every restraint imposed by this Agreement is reasonable with respect to
subject matter, time period and geographical area.

            (e) Executive's Representations and Warranties. Executive represents
and warrants that he has full right and authority to enter into this Agreement
and fully perform his obligations hereunder, that he is not subject to any
non-competition agreement that would prevent or restrict him in any way from
rendering the services hereunder anywhere in the world, and that his past,
present and anticipated future activities have not, and will not, infringe on
the proprietary rights of others. Executive further represents and warrants that
he is not obligated under any contract (including licenses, covenants or
commitments of any nature) or other agreement, or subject to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or administrative agency which would conflict with
his obligation to use his best efforts to promote the interests of the Company
or which would conflict with the Company's business as conducted or proposed to
be conducted. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Agreement, nor the
carrying on of the Company's business as an officer, director or employee by
Executive, will conflict with or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any contract, covenant or
instrument under which Executive is now obligated.

            (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the terms and conditions of
SECTION 3(a) shall be inoperative and shall have no further effect, and
Executive shall have no continuing obligation with respect thereto, upon (A) the
occurrence of an event which constitutes a Change of Control (as defined herein)
of the Company and (B)(i) the termination of Executive's employment without
Cause (as defined herein) or (ii) termination of employment by Executive with
Good Reason (as defined herein), in either case within one (1) year of the date
on which the Change of Control takes place.

         4. DEFINITIONS.

         "BENEFICIAL OWNER" means a beneficial owner within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act.

                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>   6
         "CAUSE" means (i) the commission of a felony or a crime involving moral
turpitude or the intentional commission of any other act or omission involving
dishonesty or fraud with respect to the Company or any of its customers or
suppliers, (ii) conduct tending to bring the Company into public disgrace or
disrepute, (iii) substantial and repeated failure to perform duties of the
office held by Executive as reasonably directed by the Board not cured within
fifteen (15) days after written notice thereof, (iv) gross negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to the Company, its customer, suppliers or employees or
(v) any breach of Section 2 or Section 3 of this Agreement by Executive.

         "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means: (A) the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company or upon a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with
one or more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity, (B)
the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another entity or
(C) any transaction (including, without limitation, a merger or reorganization
in which the Company is the surviving entity) approved by the Board that results
in any person or entity (or person or entities acting as a group or otherwise in
concert), owning fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of all
classes of securities of the Company (other than persons who are shareholders or
affiliates of the Company at the time the Plan is approved by the Company's
shareholders.

         "DISABILITY" means a physical or mental condition which, for a
continuous period of at least six (6) months, has or will prevent the Executive
from performing his duties on a full time basis and in a professional and
consistent manner. Any dispute as to the Executive's Disability shall be
referred to and resolved by a licensed physician selected and approved by the
Board.

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         "GOOD REASON" means Executive's resignation within 30 days after his
discovery of any material breach of Section 1 of this Agreement by the Company
which is not cured within thirty (30) business days after written notice thereof
from Executive.

         "PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a limited liability
company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint
venture, an unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

         5. NOTICES. Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in
writing and must be either personally delivered, mailed by first class mail
(postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight
courier service (charges prepaid) to the recipient at the address below
indicated:

         If to the Company:

             Cysive, Inc.
             11480 Sunset Hills Road
             Reston, VA  20190
             Attention:    Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr. and Joseph M. Boyle

         If to the Executive:

                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>   7
             [EXECUTIVE]
             Cysive, Inc.
             11480 Sunset Hills Road
             Reston, VA  20190

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement will be deemed to have been given when so delivered
or sent or, if mailed, five days after deposit in the U.S. mail.

         6. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

            (a) Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability will not affect
any other provision or any other jurisdiction, but this Agreement will be
reformed, construed and enforced in such jurisdiction as if such invalid,
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

            (b) Complete Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly
referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any
prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the parties,
written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

            (c) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.

            (d) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein,
this Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Executive and the Company and their respective successors and assigns.

            (e) Choice of Law. All questions concerning the construction,
validity and interpretation of this Agreement and the exhibits hereto will be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict
of law provision or rule (whether of the Commonwealth of Virginia or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction
other than the Commonwealth of Virginia.

            (f) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement will be entitled
to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and
costs (including attorney's fees) caused by any breach of any provision of this
Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its favor. The parties
hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages may not be an adequate remedy
for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that any

                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>   8
party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of
competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific
performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any
violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

            (g) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company and the
Executive.

            (h) Business Days. If any time period for giving notice or taking
action hereunder expires on a day which is a Saturday, Sunday or holiday in the
state in which the Company's principal place of business is located, the time
period shall be automatically extended to the business day immediately following
such Saturday, Sunday or holiday.

            (i) Termination. This Agreement (except for the provisions of
Sections 1(a) and 1(b)) shall survive a Separation and shall remain in full
force and effect after such Separation.

                [The rest of this page left blank intentionally]

                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>   9
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Executive
Employment Agreement on the date first written above.

                          CYSIVE, INC.

                          By:  /s/ JOHN R. LUND
                              ---------------------------------------------
                              Name:  John R. Lund
                              Title: Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and
                                     Secretary

                          EXECUTIVE

                          /s/ NELSON A. CARBONELL, JR.
                          -------------------------------------------------
                          Nelson A. Carbonell, Jr.

                                     - 9 -

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