The muted sounds of the city buzzed in the background as William, alone in his dimly lit room, carefully opened the package he had retrieved from the docks.
Its contents were unknown, and the anticipation had been gnawing at him since he had returned home.
His life had become a series of intriguing mysteries and unanswered questions ever since he had met the elusive Mr. Anon.
The package yielded some medicines. As William saw these medicines, he could feel the gears in his mind beginning to turn.
Meanwhile, Sam sat in his high-rise apartment, looking at the sprawling cityscape.
He had been laying the groundwork for his plans like a chess master strategically positioning his pieces.
His phone buzzed, pulling him away from his thoughts. It was a call from Eva.
"The acquisition is complete, Sam. Trion Labs now falls under Orion Enterprises. George Callum is still at the lab if you need assistance," Eva reported.
"Thank you, Eva," Sam replied, pleased with the news.
His plans were unfolding smoothly.
Trion Labs, a once-failing material science laboratory, was now under his control.
After a quick lunch, Sam decided to go to the newly acquired facility.
Eva had already informed George of Sam's impending visit.
George, the previous head of Trion Labs, was intrigued by the unexpected visit but refrained from asking questions.
After all, the laboratory no longer belonged to him. He wondered what the new owner had planned.
As Sam exited the taxi and stepped onto the well-manicured lawns of Trion Labs, he found a group waiting to greet him.
These were the top scientists and administrators who now fell under his command.
Having so many eyes on him, it was a strange feeling, but Sam carried himself with an air of confidence.
Their expressions turned from anticipation to surprise as they noticed Sam exiting a taxi.
Sam could practically see the question marks floating above their heads.
Why would a wealthy man like Sam use such a standard mode of transport?
But he didn't feel the need to explain his choices.
His focus was on the task at hand, and the arrival was just another part of the plan. He was there to steer Trion Labs into a new era and was ready to get to work.
As Sam made his way toward the welcoming committee, he was struck by the stark contrast between the immaculate exterior of Trion Labs and the anxious expressions of the people awaiting him.
As he approached, a tall man, distinguished by years of hard work and intellect, stepped forward from the group, extending a hand.
"Hello, Sam. We finally met in person. I am George Callum," he said, a hint of tension in his voice.
Sam gripped the offered hand firmly, his eyes studying the older man.
"Nice to meet you, Professor George," he responded, his voice calm and measured.
George was momentarily taken aback at the unexpected title.
It was unusual for a business magnate to address him as a professor.
However, he quickly realized that Sam was not an ordinary business tycoon.
He valued knowledge and talent, and it was this respect that had saved their struggling lab.
As Sam made his rounds, meeting the rest of the team, he started to comprehend the dire situation the lab had been in.
Despite being home to some of the finest minds in the field, they had been struggling financially.
Their main project, researching a particular type of graphene, had exhausted their funds.
The potential applications of this material remained unrealized, and hence, no external investors were willing to finance their research.
Then, like a lifeline, Sam's offer had come along.
It was a choice between accepting the offer or letting years of hard work amount to nothing.
They chose the former, and now Sam was their new leader.
After the introductions, Sam was led into the labyrinth of Trion Labs, eventually ending up in the head's office.
As he settled into his new chair, he sensed the uncertainty in the room.
George broke the silence, "What about the lab's future, Sam? What should we do now?" He asked cautiously, unsure of what to expect.
It was a defining moment, the beginning of a new chapter for Trion Labs, and Sam, at the helm of it all, was ready to guide them forward.
After all, this was just another part of his meticulously crafted plan.
George's question hung in the air like a heavy fog waiting to be dispelled. The silence grew, and anticipation clung to the room like static electricity.
Finally, Sam leaned back in his chair, seemingly deep in thought.
Sam broke the silence, addressing George in an oddly comforting tone, "Here's what we're going to do," His eyes held a spark of excitement, "You guys continue with your research on the graphene material. However, there might be times when I'll need to use the lab, and during those periods, you all will be on a break."
George blinked, taken aback by the unconventional plan. "A break? During work hours?" He mumbled, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.
He had braced himself for a typhoon of pressure and overtime work, but this breeze of freedom and respect was wholly unexpected.
George's perplexed expression didn't escape Sam's notice, prompting him to add, "Think of it more as a mutual understanding, Professor George. I respect your work, and you respect mine. We're all here to contribute to the advancement of science, right?"
In response, George nodded slowly, his eyes reflecting a dawning realization.
"I suppose so," he admitted, loosening up a bit. "That sounds... well, fair."
A ghost of a smile played at the corners of Sam's mouth as he further clarified, "The projects I'll be working on are confidential, requiring utmost discretion. That's the main reason I sometimes need the lab to myself. I'm not trying to limit your access, but rather ensuring the integrity of both our researches."
"Oh, I see," George said, his confusion replaced with understanding.
He looked around the lab, appreciating the array of sophisticated equipment lining the walls.
The situation was bizarre, but the research opportunity was a silver lining.
"Alright then," George conceded, extending his hand towards Sam. "Looks like we have an understanding, boss."
"Indeed, we do," Sam responded, accepting the handshake. "Let's make science happen, Professor George." He added, his voice filled with shared enthusiasm and promise.
George, relieved by the explanation, nodded in agreement. "That makes sense, Sam."
Sam continued, "I'll need the lab for the next two days, so you can let everyone leave early today."
"Alright, I'll inform the team. The staff will have the next two days off, starting this afternoon," George said, relieved that the tension was resolved.
As George left the office, Sam settled into his new workspace.
He fired up the computer, ready to contact Gaia.
Thanks to internet connectivity, it was easy for Gaia to interface with the machine before him.
Sam smirked at the screen, ready to set his plans in motion, as the room hummed with the computer's whir and the possibilities ahead.
Inside the quiet confines of the lab, Sam broke the silence with his instructions to Gaia. "Gaia, take control of everything here and double-check any faulty equipment."
The soft hum of the computer responded.
[Everything's already checked, Big Brother. The equipment is in good working condition.]
Sam felt relieved at Gaia's quick response but proceeded with his next question. "Can we manufacture the material needed for the robots?"
Gaia's immediate response was both confident and reassuring.
[Yes, we should be able to complete the materials in a day. In fact, we could start working on the General Purpose Quantum Super Computer as well.]
At that, Sam couldn't help but grin.
He knew how much Gaia wanted a powerful processor. And he agreed it was a requirement, not a luxury.
"What about creating a simple Quantum Computer? A new home for you, perhaps?" Sam proposed, thinking about how useful it could be to shift the computer to Death Island, away from prying eyes.
Gaia responded promptly, [We can build a Quantum Computer with five million qubits within two days. Given more time, we can create a General Purpose Quantum Supercomputer in about three months.]
Sam shook his head. "We don't have that much time now. We'll make the supercomputer later with the help of the robots at Death Island. We should focus on creating robots and a new body for you right now. You can then carry out such inventions and research yourself. What do you think?"
Gaia's response was immediate, a soft, assuring voice through the computer speakers.
[We can certainly do that, Big Brother.]
"Alright, we'll start this evening." Sam declared, his mind excited about creating new stuff that doesn't exist in the world, yet.
After preparing his meals and notifying everyone who needed to be informed about his off-grid status for the next two days, he waited for the evening.
Sam rolled up his sleeves as the evening slowly crept in, ready to embark on this new journey.
Although an Artificial General Intelligence lacking physical form, Gaia metaphorically rolled up her sleeves, preparing to start the monumental task ahead.