Chapter 9: Recruitment (2)

Before boarding my jet, I turned to Alejandro, who was still examining the HUD display inside his exosuit. His men were scattered across the safehouse, testing the limits of their new gear—some lifting vehicles, others sparring at enhanced speeds. Their excitement was evident, but they still had a long way to go before they mastered the technology.

"Alejandro," I called. He looked up, visor retracting to reveal his hardened features.

"What's next?" he asked, arms crossed. "You gave us the suits, but you haven't told me where this is going yet."

I smirked. "You and your men are headed to my company's headquarters. Jarvis will provide the coordinates. There, you'll undergo advanced training—not just on combat, but on how to properly utilize this technology. If you're going to be my frontline force, I need you at your peak."

He nodded slowly. "So we're not just mercenaries anymore. You're turning us into something else."

"You're becoming the future," I corrected. "Once you and your men are fully trained, you'll be leading operations. No more small-time contracts, no more running from corrupt officials. This is your chance to be on the winning side of history."

Alejandro exhaled, considering my words. Then, he extended a hand. "Fine. We'll play it your way—for now. But understand this: my men follow me because they trust me. If you break that trust, I walk. And when I walk, I don't do it alone."

I clasped his hand firmly. "That won't be a problem."

As he turned to relay orders to his team, I stepped onto the jet, ready to secure the next pieces of my growing empire.

"Jarvis, set a course for South Africa. We have more people to recruit."

"Understood, sir. Coordinates locked. Initiating takeoff sequence."

With a roar, the jet lifted off, leaving Alejandro and his men to prepare for the next phase of their transformation.

As the jet cut through the night sky, I leaned back in my seat, watching the landscape of Colombia stretch endlessly below. Alejandro and his men would take time to familiarize themselves with their new suits before they were ready for deployment. 

"Jarvis, who's our next target?" I asked, my fingers tapping idly against the armrest.

A holographic interface flickered to life before me, and Jarvis's voice echoed through the cabin. "I have compiled a list of three potential recruits, all highly skilled in their respective fields."

Two profiles appeared before me, each with a detailed dossier.

Potential Recruits:

Natalia Vasquez – Weapons Engineer

Background: Former weapons designer for a high-tech defense contractor. Went rogue after her designs were used in unethical warfare. Now operates in the black market, modifying weapons and selling tech to the highest bidder.

Skills: Prototype weapon development, energy-based technology, drone engineering.

Concerns: Skeptical of new employers due to past betrayals. Will only work for someone who values innovation and ethics.

Elijah Carter – AI & Robotics Engineer

Background: American engineer who disappeared off the grid after a scandal involving a stolen AI prototype. Suspected of working with underground tech syndicates.

Skills: Artificial intelligence, cybernetics, neural interface design.

Concerns: Paranoid and reclusive. Will need a strong incentive to come out of hiding.

I scanned the profiles, intrigued. Each of them brought something valuable to the table.

"I'll take all of them," I said, a smirk playing on my lips. "Natalia can help refine our weapons, and Elijah… well, he might be the key to advancing our AI and robotics."

"A wise decision, sir," Jarvis responded. "Shall I arrange for contact?"

"Not yet," I said. "Before I bring them in, I need to solve another issue."

I leaned forward, fingers steepled as an idea formed in my mind. "While I recruit these people, I need to make sure they actually understand the technology I'm giving them. There's no point in handing them advanced suits and weapons if they can't use them to their full potential."

I turned to Jarvis. "Play Ready Player One."

"Extract the OASIS" I said to my system.

-Extraction Request: OASIS – Ready Player One

 -Extraction Complete-

As the data streamed into my system, I grinned, gripping the armrest. This was it.

The holographic interface now displayed the entire framework of the OASIS—a fully immersive virtual world where anything was possible. The level of detail, the near-infinite applications of training, simulation, and engineering… it was staggering. But the movie version still relied on VR headsets and treadmills. That wasn't enough.

"Jarvis, this OASIS will be the central hub of our operations, but it needs upgrades. The old system used basic VR gear. We're going beyond that. Start developing a full-immersion system using two methods—one with a high-tech simulation cabin and another using a neural-linked smartwatch interface. The cabin should provide complete sensory feedback, and the smartwatch should allow for quick-access AR functions."

"Understood, sir," Jarvis replied. "However, our current resources limit mass production. I recommend creating a limited number of units for now."

"Do it," I ordered. "Once we secure more materials, we'll scale up."

I leaned back, watching the digital schematics take form. With this, my people wouldn't just learn about my technology—they would experience it firsthand.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, I leaned back in my seat, exhaling slowly as my system interface lit up.

Congratulations on completing the daily mission!-

 +1 to all attributes, +1 Extraction Point

I opened my profile, scanning my updated stats.

Profile

Zero Celestia

Age: 24

Strength: 7 (10)

Wisdom: 10 (10)

Agility: 7 (10)

Vitality: 7 (10)

Charm: 7 (10)

Luck: 5

Extraction Points:3

A faint pulse of energy coursed through me, subtle yet undeniable. My body felt more refined, movements smoother, reflexes sharper. I clenched my fist, feeling the increased strength flowing through my muscles. It wasn't a massive change, but it was there—an incremental step toward something greater.

I landed near a secluded industrial compound where Natalia Vasquez and Elijah Carter were rumored to be hiding. The facility was disguised as an abandoned warehouse, but the thermal scans showed otherwise—inside, I detected active power sources and automated security drones.

I stepped off the jet, clad in my customized armored suit, flanked by a Mark VII and a HALO unit. The presence of both was a calculated move—one to impress, the other to intimidate.

As I approached the seemingly abandoned warehouse, a mechanical voice crackled through a hidden speaker.

"You have five seconds to state your business before I activate the defense systems."

I smirked, hands in my pockets, eyes scanning the hidden turrets embedded in the surrounding structures. "I'm here to offer a job. One that will make your past work look like child's play."

Silence followed for a moment, then—

"Wrong answer."

Instantly, the entire facility came to life. Automated turrets emerged from concealed panels, their barrels locking onto me with eerie precision. Red laser sights painted my chest as hidden drones whirred to life in the shadows. A thick, reinforced blast door slid over the main entrance, sealing me in.

I chuckled. "Finally, some entertainment."

The HALO suit beside me shifted slightly, its sensors detecting the imminent attack. The Mark VII, already powered up, displayed targeting trajectories through my HUD.

"You have trespassed into restricted territory," the automated voice warned. "Hostile response authorized."

The first barrage of bullets erupted from the turrets, but before they could reach me, the Mark VII moved. Its repulsors flared as it generated an energy barrier, deflecting the rounds like they were mere pebbles. The HALO unit, unphased, took a step forward, letting the bullets strike its reinforced plating. The rounds flattened against its armor, completely ineffective.

Then came the drones—small, sleek machines designed for rapid suppression. They shot forward, unleashing high-powered plasma bolts. I barely moved. The Mark VII fired a precise repulsor blast, hitting the lead drone mid-air. It exploded in a bright flash, sending the others scrambling.

I raised my hand, and in an instant, the HALO suit responded. It launched forward, moving faster than a machine its size should be capable of. With a single punch, it tore through the nearest turret, ripping it from the ceiling like paper. The remaining defenses recalibrated, adjusting their targeting, but it was too late.

I engaged my suit's thrusters, rocketing toward the next turret, grabbing its barrel before it could fire, and crushing it with my gauntlet. Sparks erupted as I tore through the facility's security systems with ease, dismantling their so-called "advanced defenses" in seconds.

By the time the dust settled, the warehouse was silent. The once-lethal security network was nothing more than scrap metal scattered across the floor.

I turned toward the now-exposed entrance. "Still think I need five seconds to state my business?"

A long pause. Then, with a heavy mechanical groan, the warehouse doors rumbled open.

The underground lab was more sophisticated than I expected—walls lined with complex machinery, half-assembled drones floating in suspension, weapon prototypes stacked on workbenches. Natalia Vasquez stood near one of the tables, arms crossed, watching me carefully. Next to her, a disheveled yet sharp-eyed man with cybernetic implants—Elijah Carter.

Natalia arched an eyebrow. "You just tore through one of the most secure automated defense systems in South Africa. That wasn't luck. That was precision."

I smirked. "That was a demonstration."

Elijah's cybernetic eye glowed faintly as he scanned the wreckage behind me. "You knew we'd activate the defenses, didn't you?"

"Of course." I gestured toward the Mark VII, standing tall beside me. "Because I have technology decades ahead of anything you've ever worked on."

Natalia scoffed, walking around the suit, inspecting every detail. "This looks awfully familiar… Like something straight out of Iron Man."

I chuckled. "Similar concept. Vastly different execution."

Elijah, who had been silent until now, took a cautious step forward. His mechanical fingers twitched as his cybernetic systems analyzed my suit. "Ark Reactor... Neural-link compatibility… integrated AI… What kind of processor is this running?"

"A custom-built quantum core," I replied.

His jaw tightened. "That's impossible. There's no way current technology can handle that level of processing without overheating or quantum decoherence."

Instead of arguing, I let the Mark VII speak for itself. I activated its internal diagnostics, allowing the suit's core systems to project its architecture in a massive holographic display. Lines of code, energy readouts, and schematics filled the space around us.

Elijah's breath caught. His cybernetic eye widened, flickering wildly as it struggled to process the data.

Natalia took a step closer. "Is that… a stable quantum core?"

Elijah's hands trembled slightly. "This level of computation… it shouldn't be possible." His voice was almost reverent. "But it is."

I gestured to the HALO suit. "And then there's this one. No flight, but unparalleled durability. A walking tank built for frontline combat. You've spent your whole careers designing weapons. I'm offering you the chance to build the future."

Natalia exhaled, arms still crossed. "Alright. You have my attention. What's the deal?"

"You work for me," I said simply. "I will provide you with unlimited resources, cutting-edge facilities, and projects that will redefine what's possible."

Elijah hesitated. "And if we refuse?"

I shrugged. "Then you stay here, wasting your talents in the shadows while the world moves on without you."

A heavy silence settled between us. I could see Natalia weighing her options, the gears turning in her mind.

Then, she smirked. "I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a ride."

Elijah, still staring at the holographic schematics, finally sighed. "If you have this level of tech, I need to see your full schematics. If you're bluffing, I walk."

Without hesitation, I pulled a small data drive from my suit and tossed it to him. "Knock yourself out."

He caught it with mechanical precision, plugging it into his neural interface. A moment later, his entire posture changed. His breathing hitched. His fingers twitched. His cybernetic eye glowed brighter.

Then, a single whispered word:

"…Impossible."

Natalia noticed his reaction immediately. "Elijah?"

He didn't respond at first, still scrolling through the data at an inhuman speed. His hands clenched. His expression darkened.

"This… this isn't just advanced technology," he murmured. "This is…" He looked at me, eyes blazing with something between awe and hunger. "This is a revolution."

I smirked. "Now you get it."

Elijah exhaled sharply. "You've just recruited the best damn engineer on the planet."

I grinned. "Welcome to the future."

As we walked back toward the jet, I turned to Natalia and Elijah. "Head to this location." I handed them a small encrypted tablet displaying the address of my company's primary research facility. "You'll have full access to everything you need. Cutting-edge labs, unlimited funding, and the kind of technology that will make history."

Natalia glanced at the address before tucking the tablet away. "And security?"

I smirked. "You'll see soon enough. Just get there, and everything will be handled."

Elijah was still staring at the data drive in his hand as if it held the secrets of the universe. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. We're in."

With that settled, I stepped onto the jet. As the ramp closed behind me, Jarvis's voice echoed in my earpiece.

"Sir, all preparations for OASIS development have begun."

I took a seat, gazing out the window at the horizon, feeling the surge of power within me, the pieces falling into place.

"Good," I said. Then, shifting my focus, I gave the next command.

"Jarvis, set our course. Last destination—Ukraine."

"Coordinates locked. Initiating flight sequence."

The engines roared to life, and within moments, we were airborne, heading toward the next stage of my grand design.

"This is only the beginning."

Meanwhile…

A dimly lit control room buzzed with activity, screens flickering with live surveillance footage. A satellite feed displayed Natalia and Elijah boarding a separate transport, while another monitor tracked Alejandro's convoy heading toward the company's headquarters.

Two figures stood before the screens, watching in silence.

"That's three now," the first voice murmured. It was low, calculated.

"Alejandro Vargas, Natalia Vasquez, Elijah Carter… All heading to the same destination," the second voice added, his tone laced with intrigue.

"Coincidence?"

"Not a chance. Whoever's behind this is building something... something big."