Natasha drove slowly through a pounding rain, her car's new wipers sweeping the sheets of rain away.
She noticed a figure standing by the side of the road, trying in vain to use a plastic box as an improvised umbrella as she approached the Sirius Software compound.
"Agent Olga? What are you doing out here?" she asked, pulling over and recognizing the figure under the plastic box.
"Just Olga now. I've had a little falling out with the FBI." chuckled the tall blond agent, trying in vain to hide that she was shivering.
"Come on, get in." said Natasha, unlocking the passenger door.
----
"Pretty nice place you've got here." said Olga, looking around Natasha's apartment nursing a cup of hot coffee. Her hair was freshly blow-dried, and she had changed into a toweling bathrobe that Natasha had lent her.
"Thanks. I just moved in a few days ago." replied Natasha, sitting down on the couch next to Olga.
"I suppose you want me to tell you everything. Well, after I submitted my report, I got called into a meeting with the Director. He was not happy that I had restrained my partner, and offered me a choice - either I could resign, or I could fight the sexual harassment charge Rochelle wanted to file against me. I chose resignation." said Olga, her voice breaking slightly.
"There, there. I know how you feel. I've had my share of being chewed up and spat out by the system." said Natasha, putting a comforting arm around Olga's shoulders.
"Thank you, Natasha. I appreciate it." said Olga, leaning into Natasha's embrace.
"You've told me about how and why you left the FBI, but you haven't told me why you were standing outside the Sirius Software compound in the rain." said Natasha.
"Don't miss much do you?" chuckled Olga. "Well, I was hoping to run into you, actually. Before I left, I'd seen that you had put out a few feelers for female ex-military and ex-law enforcement personnel. And since I'm now out of a job, I thought I could apply."
"I see. You've got a place to stay?" asked Natasha.
Olga shifted uncomfortably. "Rochelle was my roommate as well as my partner. I don't have anywhere to go now." she mumbled, her face red.
"It's a good thing that I like you Olga, because I don't usually do this sort of thing." grumbled Natasha, tossing Olga a spare blanket. "Make yourself comfortable on the couch. I don't suppose you have a skirt do you?" she asked, eyeing Olga's pantsuit that was spinning in the dryer.
Olga shook her head miserably. "I didn't know just how well connected that pipsqueak Rochelle is. All I've got is some nightclothes and some underwear in that box. I suppose it could have been worse, and I could have been thrown in Federal prison on false charges." she said, tears welling up in her eyes.
Natasha sighed as she considered the possibility that Olga was attempting to infiltrate Sirius Software with this sob story.
"Let's dangle some bait and see if she bites." she thought to herself.
"Sirius Software has an extremely strict dress code for female employees and applicants. A skirt-suit with a fitted or traditional cut, high heels of no less than 8 centimeters, and pantyhose or stockings. If you are still serious about applying, you can get the required clothing tomorrow with this." she said, handing Olga her Sirius Software employee credit card.
Olga took the card, her expression a mix of gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Natasha. I won't let you down."
"Don't thank me yet. You have 24 hours to get the clothing and a new bank account set up. Then you have to pass the interview and tactical assessment. If you fail, you're out. I'm not about to turn the job posting into a charity show." said Natasha seriously.
Olga nodded, her expression serious. "I understand. I won't let you down."
"Good. Now, get some rest. You look like you need it." said Natasha, getting up and heading to her bedroom.
----
"Alright, James. I'm initiating the reactor startup sequence. Are you ready?" asked Aaron, as he stood in front of the reactor control panel.
"Ready as I'll ever be, boss. Just make sure you don't blow us all up." replied James over the intercom, his voice slightly shaky.
Aaron took a deep breath, and pressed the button to start the reactor startup sequence. The control panel lit up, and the reactor core began to hum as it came to life. The hum changed to a low rumble that gradually increased in intensity as the reactor reached operational temperature.
"Voltage is at 11 kilovolts. Holy shit! We're at 100 megawatts already?" came James' incredulous voice over the intercom.
"Reactor is at 25% power right now" said Aaron.
"No. No. No. This is supposed to be a small modular reactor! Not some 400 megawatt behemoth!" James exclaimed, panic rising in his voice.
"Well, given that I've got all this lead here, I experimented with the fuel cycle a bit, and it seems to be working." said Aaron.
"Well keep that thing at 25% or less right now! I need to reconfigure our grid to handle the increased load." growled James.
"What are you talking about? I told you to make sure our grid can handle 400 megawatts!" said Aaron, his frustration at yet another delay mounting.
"That was assuming four 100 MW reactors not one 400 MW reactor! I need to reconfigure the relays so that the power goes through the entire compound now!" James shot back.
"How long, James?" Aaron pressed.
"3 minutes at least." James replied.
"Fine. But once you're done, I'm ramping this thing up to full power, and then I'm going to be building out the remaining three in the fleet." said Aaron.
"Hang on! The entire compound's power grid can handle on one of those! I'll need to quadruple the entire grid infrastructure!" James exclaimed.
"Don't worry. I don't intend to bring them all online at once. We'll do that in phases." said Aaron, his voice firm.
"Harry's right. You really are a sadist and a mad scientist rolled into one." James grumbled.
"A bit late to make that observation, don't you think? You should have caught on when I turned this lead mine into an underground lair." chuckled Aaron.
"Yeah, yeah. Well I've reconfigured the relays. Once this goes online, you're powering the entire compound and then-some all by yourself." said James, his voice resigned.
"OK, ramping up." said Aaron, keying the ramp-up sequence into the control panel.
"OK power distribution is stable, switching from external power to internal power." said James, as the lights in the mine flickered and then stabilized.
"Reactor is at 100% power, all systems stable." said Aaron over the muted roar of the reactor and turbines.
He locked the control panel, and walked out of the control room, heading for the mine's main entrance.