Professor Samuel Reid was a 52-year-old renowned expert and leading figure in Biomechanics and Neurophysiology at the Paragon University of Applied Science and beyond. He cut a tall, robust figure with short black hair, always wearing his round-rimmed glasses, exuding an air of intelligence and boldness. His engaging lectures and hands-on lab sessions show his passion for teaching and research.
Samuel Reid's wife, Julia Reid, was also a researcher like her husband and a licensed nurse with a PhD in Community Health Nursing, working in another university off-state. They had two girls, and both were in different colleges abroad, one taking after her mother in the nursing field, while the other was a Chemical Engineer.
It was just another day in the Reid family. Samuel and his wife were up and ready for work, rushing to avoid the early morning traffic, especially so for Julia. Their lives weren't flamboyant, but they were content with their work and providing for their girls.
"Good day, sir,"
Samuel was greeted by security when he walked into one of the towering buildings in the university housing his lab and office.
"Good day to you too, Fred." He smiled back and greeted back.
As a well-known figure in the university, Samuel was greeted respectfully wherever he went, returning the greetings with smiles. His office and laboratory reflect his cluttered yet organized mind, filled with books, papers, and equipment. A whiteboard covered in equations and diagrams sits alongside a 3D printer and various skeletal prototypes.
He had two classes every morning and was always early to both of them. His students were aware of his dislike for tardiness and tried to be in class before him. Regardless of how strict he was, his students enjoyed his classes and how practical and applicable they were.
After his classes, Samuel had the rest of the day to work in his lab with his lab assistant, Beth O'Neil. Samuel has researched and worked on many things over the years, but none of them came close to what he was currently engrossed in. It was a research on the Development of Human Neuro-Enhancement and Biomechanical Augmentation.
One could say that the idea came from an untrusted source, but that didn't stop the professor from taking an interest in it. The more he researched and conducted experiments, the more information he scraped up and the more intriguing it became. On a large scale, the research was going to venture into areas that could bring humanity further into the future of advanced genetic engineering. Based on that, the university kept the research under wraps while secretly funding it.
In the last sixteen years, Samuel had worked tirelessly, and not long ago, he made a significant breakthrough. However, he needed help to move further and thus requested help from other universities.
Today, as Beth worked on the computer, a mail from a Canadian-based university popped up on the monitor, which made her light up with excitement. She quickly ran over to where Samuel was deducing theories and developing new ones on the whiteboard.
"Sir,"
She called out.
Samuel turned his attention to her,
"What is it?"
"A message from Brookstone University… they accepted our request!"
Samuel let out a breath of relief. He had applied to multiple universities, but they all turned him down due to their lack of experts in that field. Brookstone University was his last hope, and he was happy they accepted the collaboration.
"I'll forward the message to the board of directors to finalize the collaboration and bring them here as soon as possible."
~
It took two months to finalize the collaboration with Brookstone University, together with an all-expense paid trip to bring them to Paragon University. It was under the guise of a foreign exchange program; hence some students were involved.
Miles away in the Arcanum Helix Institute, Ilene had assembled a team in her office to give them their new assignment.
"Your new assignment will be nothing like you've been given in the past,"
As she spoke, images started to appear on the monitor behind her.
"This is Professor Samuel Reid, a very brilliant man, and your target. He has been working on something similar to our research here in the institute, and recently, he made a discovery that will be helpful to our cause here. Your assignment is to infiltrate the inner circle of those involved in his research and get me everything he had been working on."
The assembled team listened carefully, as these details would not be explained again. Ilene opened a box sitting on her table and spoke up,
"A foreign exchange group is expected to be at the Paragon University in five days. You're to intercept them on their way there and assume their identity individually. That's where this comes in…"
She said, reaching into the box, bringing out a thin flexible material, similar to a human skin.
"This is called FMG, Facial Mimicry Generator, an advanced nanotechnology and AI combined to create a wearable skin that alters one's facial appearance to mimic someone else. You'll each be given this mask for your assigned roles. Dr. Curtis will be the supervisor of this assignment, and he'll also explain how the FMG works."
She put the skin-like membrane back in the box, before speaking up again,
"I know you all have questions about the selection this time around. Given the sensitivity of this assignment, you have been carefully selected based on your areas of expertise and skills in the completion of this assignment. For this assignment, I appoint Lenny as the team leader."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Remember, the primary objective of this mission is to infiltrate and retrieve. The secret order will be given when everything is ready. You're dismissed."