Sirius Zero: Building A Corporate Kingdom After Being Expelled

Kazuya returned to the table, and sat down.

"Oh yes, I've been meaning to ask you, Aaron. How is that reservation system you built supposed to work? We simply walked right in today," he asked.

"That's because they were disabled for today. However, if you look at the entrance, you can see that there are actually two doors. The inner doors only open after a guest has confirmed their reservation with the scanner and cameras," said Aaron, gesturing to the entrance.

"And how do I make a reservation?" asked Kazuya, his eyes narrowing.

"Scan the QR code on the menu for now, and it will take you to the reservation page. The same code is displayed outside the cafe," said Aaron, watching as Kazuya pulled out his phone and scanned the code.

"A 40,000 yen monthly membership fee and a valid photo ID! That's a bold deterrent," chuckled Kazuya, as he looked through the reservation page.

"Combined with the security measures, it should keep out the riff-raff," said Aaron, as Shizuku returned with their main courses.

"Here you are, Masters and Mistresses. Your meals," she said, bowing politely, and placing the dishes in front of them.

"Oh, these look delicious!" said Margaret, as she picked up her fork and knife.

"Thank you, Mistress Margaret. Please enjoy," said Shizuku, as she stepped back to let them eat.

"Aaron, I've actually got a bone to pick with you," said Friedrich, as he set down his chopsticks.

"What's that?" asked Aaron, as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"You've been building your own nuclear reactors, and are producing heavy water along with probably your own Uranium. Are you trying to muscle in on my business?" asked Friedrich, his voice serious.

"Not at all. That was just the pursuit of vertical integration. While I have incorporated Sirius Nuclear, nobody has expressed an interest in my pressurized heavy water reactors, save perhaps for some terrorists who tried to steal some of my heavy water," said Aaron.

"I suppose you have a point there, Canada and India have already got the heavy water based reactor market covered, and the US isn't all that keen on expanding its reactor fleet," chuckled Friedrich.

"That's true. However, I'm getting more than enough revenue from my other enterprises," said Aaron.

"You just scored a five billion robot deal, you don't have to brag about it," grumbled Friedrich.

"This coming from the man who's just bagged a contract to power Japan's newest warship?" shot back Aaron.

"Haha, touché!" said Friedrich, raising his glass.

----

Meanwhile, in the Sirius Software HQ, James and Olga had taken over the daily operations.

"Damn, I have no idea how Aaron manages doing all of this," grumbled James as he monitored the Sirius Software nuclear reactors that were running in the underground mining complex.

"Well, Aaron might have to hire a few nuclear engineers to help with this, or at least to pacify the regulators," said Olga, looking over James' shoulder.

"Yeah, well after the Mario incident, I think he's gotten a bit skittish about hiring more nuclear engineers," grumbled James.

He locked the reactor control panel, and turned to Olga.

"All right, what's our next stop?" he asked.

"Dr. Khan's clinic. We'll need to check inventory and her medical equipment," said Olga, as she grabbed her bag.

"Right. Let's go," said James, as they walked out of the control room.

----

"Hey, doc. Making the status rounds, you need anything?" asked James, as he entered Dr. Khan's clinic.

"No, everything is fine," replied Kavitha as she massaged and poked at Jennifer's arm.

"OK, Jennifer. Your arm is fully healed, but it will still be brittle for a while. You can't spar yet OK?" she said, as she finished her examination.

"Yes, doc. I understand," said Jennifer, as she flexed her arm.

"Hey Jennifer, how are you holding up?" asked Olga, as Jennifer stood up.

"Arm's healed thanks to the doc, but I still break out in a cold sweat whenever Natasha's around," said Jennifer somberly.

"Yeah, well, I hope you've learned to to try any whisper network style coups," said Olga, patting Jennifer on the shoulder.

"Yes, ma'am. I won't do it again," said Jennifer, her voice low.

"OK, you heard the doc. No sparring for a while, so get back to the dorms," said Olga.

Jennifer nodded, and walked out of the clinic.

"Any word on when Mr. Zakhrov will be back?" asked Kavitha, as she finished cleaning up.

"He and the rest of the team should be back by tomorrow," said James.

"Good. I was hoping that he'd be able to start on the hospital project soon, I've already got a list of potential doctors and nurses to recruit," said Kavitha, wincing as her phone buzzed with an incoming call.

Olga and James were about to leave, but Kavitha held up a hand to stop them.

She clicked the answer call button on her phone, and spoke tersely into it in Hindi, before hanging up.

"Sorry about that, as I was saying. I have put together a list, can you vet them Olga?" she asked.

"Sure, send it to me," said Olga, as she pulled out her tablet.

"Ms Olga, I have an elderly couple here who claim that they are Dr. Khan's parents. Should I send them in?" came the voice of the security checkpoint guard over Olga's radio.

"Send them straight to the clinic, and keep them monitored," said Olga, raising her eyebrows at Kavitha's panicked expression.

"Dammit! Both of you, clear out. I need to change!" said Kavitha, as she rushed to the back of the clinic.

----

"So, this is where you've been hiding," said Kavitha's mother, as she entered the clinic with her husband.

"I can't believe that you gave up a residency at one of the best hospitals in the country to come and slum it in this creepy place," said her father, as he looked around the clinic.

"Well, I'm being paid pretty much the same, and I get to work on my own stuff here," said Kavitha defensively.

"Money is only part of the equation, Kavitha. 'Doctor at a prestigious hospital' sounds a lot better to prospective husbands than 'Doctor at a backwater clinic', think of your prospects as well," urged her mother.

"What is this Sirius Software anyway? That security was pretty heavy," asked her father.

Kavitha sighed. "It's a tech company. They hired me as an in-house doctor for their security team," she explained.

"Hmm, well. I could speak to the hospital director and ask him to take you back. I really don't like this place," grumbled her father.

"Papa, no! I like it here!" protested Kavitha, her voice rising.

"Kavitha, are you in trouble or something? This place feels like area-51! I don't like being stopped at a gate with spike strips just to see my own daughter," growled her father.

"Papa, I'm fine! Really!" said Kavitha, trying to reassure him.

"Please, Kavitha. Tell us the truth. Are you in danger?" asked her mother, her voice low and serious.

Kavitha sighed, and looked down at the floor.

"I'm a danger to myself, Mama. I was forced to leave the hospital because I had a momentary lapse in judgement," she said.

"So, you got fired and didn't tell us? Are you even still a doctor?" asked her father, his voice rising.

"Yes! I'm still a doctor! I still heal patients. But now I do it in a place that actually accepts me and lets me be myself! Unlike your interference!" shouted Kavitha.

"Interference? You go silent for nearly a month, your apartment has been cleared out, and you expect us not to worry? When I called the hospital they said you were no longer employed there, and the only way we found out where you are was through one of your colleagues mentioning you were trying to get her to come work with you!" shouted her father.

"Yes, well. It's been a bit of an adjustment working here, I didn't mean to make you worry," said Kavitha, her voice softening.

There was a knock on the clinic door, and Olga, wearing a skirt suit instead of her uniform, stuck her head in.

"Hey doc? My heel has been acting up lately, can you take a look?" she asked.

"Sure, come in. Mama, Papa, can you wait outside please? I am on the clock," she said.

Her parents exchanged a look, and glanced at Olga up and down as she limped into the clinic

"Fine, we'll wait outside," mumbled her father, as he and her mother walked out of the clinic.

"Thanks Olga, you're a lifesaver," whispered Kavitha as she closed the clinic door.

"Don't mention it. I know how your parents can be," said Olga, as she sat down on the examination table.

"Yeah, well. How am I supposed to explain to two orthodox parents that I get off on imaging breaking bones?" sighed Kavitha, as she pretended to examine Olga's perfectly healthy ankle.

"Well, I have an idea. How about we give them a tour of the headquarters, and you can basically stick to the story of being hired as an in-house doctor for the security team," suggested Olga.

"Hmm, OK. But I'll have to do it in this saree. I don't want them to see me in uniform yet," said Kavitha, wrapping a crepe bandage over Olga's ankle.