Sirius Zero: Building A Corporate Kingdom After Being Expelled
Chapter 30: Operation: Infiltrate Sirius Software

Chapter 30: Operation: Infiltrate Sirius Software

Natasha fidgeted nervously in the cheap off-the-rack black polyester skirt-suit, and uncomfortable synthetic leather pumps she had bought to comply with the dress code mandate mentioned in her interview invitation email.

The fact that it was a hot day, and her car’s A/C was busted, made her even more uncomfortable.

"I could endure the deserts of Iraq, so why am I so nervous and uncomfortable?" she thought, as she drove her old, barely functioning Ford Focus up to the security checkpoint of the Sirius Software compound, with massive semi-trucks rumbling both in front and behind her.

"Actually, I know why. That application made me enter my body measurements and I needed to upload a Photo ID, that’s why" she thought, as she recalled the frankly invasive application form.

The semi truck in front of her rumbled forward. A security boom came down, and a wicked set of spikes sprung up behind it, forcing her to stop.

She rolled down her window, and showed the interview email on her phone to the checkpoint guard.

The guard examined the email, and then waved her through. The boom lifted, and the spikes retracted.

She drove through the checkpoint, and parked in front of a small squat concrete building, that was labeled "Temporary Office".

A blast of ice-cold air conditioning hit her as the automatic door slid open, and she stepped inside.

The main foyer was lined wall to wall with humming blade servers. Roof mounted HVAC ducts blasted cold air into the room, and at the far end, was a featureless black door with a hand-print lock and an intercom panel. The name "Aaron Zakhrov, CEO" was emblazoned on the door in large white letters.

Natasha walked up to the door and buzzed the intercom. "I’m Natasha Parker. I’m here for the security guard interview." she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

A dull click sounded, and the door swung open with a hiss. Natasha stepped inside, and the door closed behind her with a soft thud.

The room was a small office, with a large desk equipped with a massive computer monitor, and a single chair in front of it.

Behind the desk sat Aaron, dressed in a sleek black leather business suit, with a black shirt and tie. He was looking at her with a cold, calculating gaze.

"Have a seat, Ms. Parker," he said, in a deep gravelly voice.

Natasha sat down in the chair, the cold air conditioning and the scent of the black leather furniture making her feel more comfortable.

"Let me get right to the point. I’m not running some affirmative action charity show.

As a Sirius Software security guard, you will need to protect the facilities you are assigned to from unauthorized access or entry, and detain or even incapacitate intruders or threats.

If you have the skills I require, you’re hired. If you don’t, then you’re wasting my time. So are you still interested in this position knowing that you might face real bullets and might have to kill someone?" asked Aaron, looking at her with a steely gaze.

"Yes sir. I agree to those risks," replied Natasha switching into her soldier persona.

"Come with me," commanded Aaron, getting up and striding to the door.

Natasha fell into step behind him, marvelling at how much his physique had changed since she had last seen him.

He had grown tall, she estimated that he would hit 2 meters, and his broad shoulders and movements belied a body that was lean and toned from hard training instead of steroids and supplements.

She was in great shape, and was trained in close quarters combat, but assessed that he had a significant advantage over her in both height leverage and upper-body strength.

Aaron led her out of the temporary office building and to another featureless concrete building secured with the same kind of heavy door and hand-print lock.

He unlocked the door and beckoned her inside.

Natasha entered to find a room lined with lockers and a table in the center with a disassembled handgun.

She recognized it as a Sig-Sauer 9 mm semiautomatic pistol.

"Your time starts now," said Aaron, clicking a stopwatch on his phone.

Natasha’s soldier instincts kicked in, and she quickly assembled the handgun.

"25 seconds. Not bad," said Aaron clicking the stopwatch off.

He opened a locker and pulled out a sleek black leather harness that had two holsters, four magazine pouches and two knife sheaths.

"This has to be fully equipped and concealed. You will find the required placeholder gear in the changing room," he said, handing her the harness.

Natasha took the harness and walked into the changing room.

She took off her blazer and skirt, and put on the harness, adjusting it to fit.

She started to equip the placeholder gear of two unloaded 9-mm handguns with built-in LED flashlights, four empty magazines and two plastic training knives, marvelling at the quality of the harness.

Her blazer and skirt created visible bulges around the waist-level holsters and knife sheaths, but didn’t obstruct her ability to draw the weapons.

Feeling more confident, she exited the changing room.

"That looks passable for now," said Aaron looking her up and down.

Natasha found herself averting her eyes and blushing under his gaze.

However, she quickly regained her composure when he beckoned her to another door, and opened another locker.

"These are low-velocity non-lethal rounds," said Aaron, handing her a pair of magazines. He opened the door to reveal a brightly lit corridor with a series of doors on either side.

Natasha loaded her guns and entered the corridor.

The door closed behind her with an ominous thud.

She was unsure what was expected of her, until corridor lights cut out, plunging it into darkness.

She quickly drew her handgun and activated the flashlight, illuminating the corridor.

A door opened to her left, she quickly turned and pointed her flashlight at it, revealing a cut-out of a man with a gun.

She quickly fired a shot, hitting the cut-out in the chest, causing it to fall over.

She moved down the corridor, scanning the doors with her flashlight.

Doors opened and closed at random, revealing hostile cut-outs, civilian cut-outs or even sometimes nothing at all.

After 10 minutes, the lights came back on, and the door at the end of the corridor opened, revealing Aaron standing there with a satisfied smile.

"Excellent work, Ms. Parker. You may take a break, and meet me in the office in 15 minutes," he said, as he walked away.

Panting slightly, Natasha walked back to the changing room and took off the harness.

"Still got it! I had thought I’d be more rusty after just shadowing people for Sarah and now Monica." she thought, as she greedily drank from the bottle of cold water that had been left for her.

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