The encrypted message came through in the dead of night, Mina's cell phone buzzing insistently on the nightstand. She cracked open one eye at the unfamiliar number before swiping to accept the call.
"Dr. Han?" The voice on the other end was tense but professional. "This is Director Jiang with Longwei Medical. We have a critical situation requiring your...specialized skills."
Mina was immediately alert, sitting upright in bed as her training took over. "I'm listening."
"One of our VIP patients, a very high-profile individual, is in dire need of emergency surgery within the next few hours. The situation is contained but the complexity is off the charts. We've cleared the third-floor ORs and assembled a handpicked team, but we need you to lead."
Director Jiang didn't need to say more, When a mysteriou patient's life hung in the balance and absolute secrecy was required, only one surgeon was called. Mina checked the time. "Send me the codes and details. I'll be there in thirty."
She gathered her surgical kit - the specially modified instruments and gear only she utilized - and initiated her secure uplink to the hospital's encrypted server. Biometrics confirmed, she downloaded the patient's files, quickly digesting the background data en route.
The case was a doozy, even by her standards. An extremely rare genetic defect had manifested in the VIP, causing a cascading systems failure. The only solution was an immensely complex multi-vector treatment combining cutting-edge genetic therapies...but even making a single miscalculation could be catastrophic for the patient.
Arriving at the guarded subbasement of Longwei, Mina changed into scrubs and made her way to the ethically-screened ORs. Director Jiang was waiting with the rest of the handpicked surgical team.
"The patient's identity is being kept completely confidential within this facility on a need-to-know basis," the director murmured under his breath. "But you can probably guess who it is based on the cover story: 'Beijing Party official suffering complications from his condition.' Understand?"
Mina gave the barest of nods, already focused. Whoever was under the knife tonight was likely a captain of industry, ruling elite, or maybe even one of the Nine Immortals themselves. The why didn't matter - only the surgical outcome.
Striding into the OR with purposeful strides, Mina ran through the procedures once more in her mind while the team prepped. She was the foremost expert in these experimental genetic techniques, but even she had never attempted anything this audacious. Let alone on a patient where even the slightest error could be a potential international catastrophe.
"Dr. Han," greeted Dr. Liu, her chief surgical assistant. "Everything is prepped and the team is ready. Do you need a brief rundown before we begin?"
"No need, Dr. Liu. I've reviewed the patient's file. Let's proceed with the plan," Mina responded, her tone sharp and precise. "What's the patient's current status?"
"Vitals are stable but deteriorating," Dr. Liu replied. "We're running a high-dose immunosuppressant to prevent any further systemic collapse."
"Good. Keep the pressure steady and monitor closely for any signs of fluctuation. We can't afford any surprises tonight," Mina instructed.
As she scrubbed in, she mentally reviewed the intricate sequence of steps required for the procedure. This was the type of extreme, high-stakes surgical mystery that really put her skills to the ultimate test. Mina felt the familiar sense of cold focus descending as she began scrubbing in.
Stepping into the OR, she was greeted by the soft hum of advanced medical equipment and the synchronized movements of her team. The patient lay draped and prepped on the operating table, the monitors displaying a steady rhythm of vital signs.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to embark on one of the most challenging procedures in recent medical history," Mina addressed her team. "Our patient's life is in our hands. Stay sharp, stay focused, and let's make history tonight."