Ryan had expected a normal security consultation.
Instead, he found himself sitting in a spotless reception room where every surface gleamed white, interrupted only by a discreet silver logo:
SERVE — Upgraded Security. Absolute Reliability.
The company's advertisements had been impossible to ignore. Peerless protection. Enhanced response. Security without compromise. They never explained what made their personnel different, only that every client received a dedicated operative capable of adapting to any threat.
A door slid open without a sound.
He was tall, his posture impossibly straight. Every inch of him was covered by a matte black rubber suit that fit like a second skin. Smooth silver gloves covered his hands, matching polished silver boots. There were no pockets, no insignia, no rank markings.
Only a small identifier across the center of his chest.
His face was visible, but even it seemed oddly expressionless. His eyes never wandered. He didn't blink for several seconds at a time.
His voice was calm, perfectly measured, and almost mechanical.
"This unit is designated SERVE-919. Thank you for selecting SERVE."
Ryan stood to shake his hand.
The handshake was firm. Identical pressure from beginning to end. It released at precisely the right moment.
"Uh... nice to meet you."
"It is efficient to meet you as well."
SERVE-919 tilted his head exactly fifteen degrees.
"Pleasantness is a beneficial component of client interaction."
Ryan wasn't sure how to respond.
"So... are you military?"
The answer carried no pride or irritation. It simply sounded like a fact.
SERVE-919 led Ryan to another room with a large screen that turned on as they entered, displaying a schematic of Ryan's house alongside other information.
"I have reviewed your application. Your residence has four unsecured approach vectors. Your digital camera placement leaves a twelve-second surveillance gap. Your daily commute is predictable to within ninety-one seconds."
"...How do you know my commute?"
"You volunteered sufficient information."
"I don't remember doing that."
The tablet vanished just as neatly.
"We have already formulated thirty-seven methods of improving your security."
Ryan shifted in his chair.
For the first time, Ryan noticed something else.
SERVE-919 never fidgeted.
Never scratched his face.
Never adjusted his clothing.
Never breathed noticeably.
"So... what's with the uniform?"
"It is the SERVE operational configuration."
"Its designation is sufficient."
Ryan couldn't help smiling.
"Doesn't that get confusing?"
The answer arrived instantly.
Ryan found himself oddly reassured despite everything. The man—if he was just a man—was unsettling, but there wasn't the slightest hint of arrogance or aggression. Every movement suggested complete control, every word conveyed quiet certainty.
SERVE-919 looked directly at him.
"If you accept SERVE's protection, my objective becomes singular."
Ryan had interviewed several security companies over the past week. Most had made grand promises, boasting about experience and tactics.
None had inspired the strange confidence he felt now.
There was something undeniably unusual about SERVE-919.
Something almost... engineered.
Ryan couldn't explain why.
But as he signed the contract, he had the unmistakable feeling that whatever SERVE truly was, it took its mission far more seriously than any ordinary security company ever could.
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