4. Meeting of The Minds

A large estate due north of the school 4:30 P.M.

Jack Mason stopped at the front gate of the large estate owned by the man he was supposed to meet. It was agitating to be distracted from work to say the least. But the man Mason was about to speak with was the wealthiest client funding Project Unity. If he was weary about any small aspect of the project it was Mason’s personal responsibility to reassure him.

The security searched Mason and escorted him into the fort of a villa. From the outside, minus the security gate, it was simply a luxurious and expensive home. Jack knew better than to believe the façade, there was always an underlying truth. In the case of this home, there was hidden cameras, secret halls and rooms; all kept carefully, and thoroughly guarded by highly trained security details. It was an interesting place to visit. And dangerous.

The head of security stopped in front of a red-wood door, and knocked twice. The door opened, and Mason was lead through, the door being shut behind him. Mason took a seat and looked carefully at the man in front of him. Vasef Weskaber was a man of many talents, had an extreme intellect, and a natural inclination towards pursuing the unattainable. Vasef peered up from the paperwork on his desk, his brown eyes calm, but calculating. Mason took note of Vasef’s appearance. It was unwise to carry on with an important discussion if the time and place were less than acceptable. Vasef’s maroon dress shirt was cuffed up to his mid-forearm, thin black tie slightly loosened around his neck. He seemed to be in a decent enough mood, but a man such as Vasef was not so easily read.

“Good evening, it’s a pleasure to see you, Vasef,” Mason started.

Vasef stood, taking out two glass cups from a brilliantly carved cabinet off to the side. He placed the cups on the desk and poured himself some whiskey, then the next cup and pushed it towards Mason. Then he placed his whiskey beside his desk on a small table, and took his seat.

“Kind of you,” Vasef returned, his voice as equally calm, and steady as his body. “I would offer you vodka, but it’d be a shame to watch it drain from your belly. That is, only if this meeting doesn’t go well, of course.”

“Of course.” Mason nodded in understanding. “However, there is no need to deliver threats. We both have a thorough understanding of this project, and of what it means.”

Vasef took a sip of his whiskey. “Let us remain on topic then. As to why I called you here. I was looking over your volunteer list for the project. Any reason...as to why my daughter is on this list?” There was a silent storm that resonated in Vasef’s voice. It was always present, Mason noted. As if at any given second Vasef’s external mask could break and you’d drown underneath the hurricane that followed.

“Her answers, blood type, and medical records all match the desired criteria for the project,” Mason stated simply.

Vasef’s stare was deep. “I could care less about your scientific standards. This project is preliminary testing for a weapon creation. You expect me to offer up my daughter?”

“Allow me to elaborate…”

“By all means, please explain what is going on in that dark head of yours. Do keep in mind; however, that the information within my daughter’s brain is intensely sensitive information.”

Jack nodded. 

“To begin, I do not select the candidates myself. The researchers in charge of the selections process do. That being said, it would be severely detrimental to the project to deny entry when such thoroughly bred applicants are handed right to us.” 

Jack decided to take a sip of the whiskey. The last thing that he needed to do was unintendedly insult Vasef. “Thus far, this batch of students from this particular school have tested closest to the results we painfully desire. Coincidentally, your daughter, and my son are two of them. It could take months, years even to rediscover potential candidates as exceptional as these. To lose either of them, could put all of our hard work into a potential standstill.”

Vasef listened quietly. His eyes never left Jack’s lips, he was tracing every word. It felt strange to Jack to be examined so precisely. Though when Jack had expected Vasef to speak, he did not.

“As if the money, and time-constraints aren’t problematic enough,” Jack felt compelled to follow up with something, desperate to make Vasef see the possibilities that he was seeing. “I can assure you that her knowledge will be safe. I’ve already foreseen your possible level of distrust, and have organized an alternative form of testing.”

Jack opened his suitcase and pulled out an envelope with detailed instructions and diagrams explaining the exact process of the project and placed them on Vasef desk, sliding them over. Vasef stared at Jack with a look of discreet solemnity.

Jack waited a moment and continued, “Specifications, she will have her own, specially designed pod. It will be allowed to link only to the students, and my personal control room. You will be allowed to view from there, and address any information that is leaked. Meaning of course, only you and I will have knowledge of what goes on in her brain. Besides a student, if she so manages to link with them. But that would mean the project was a success, which is great. I would allow you to view the pod by yourself, but…unless you can translate the data, provide the necessary inputs, or otherwise perform all of the fundamental science mumbo jumbo. I’ll need to be there.”

Vasef began to tap the envelope lightly. His gaze was intent, and bored.

“It is a difficult decision I’m sure. I can of course, give you time to mull it over there is still a little while before the project truly begins.” Jack felt as if he had failed. “I understand it is a dissatisfactory predicament. I can pull her now, or any time of your choosing if you’d prefer.”

Vasef sighed heavily.

“I’m merely trying to give you the truth of potential losses.”

“And I thought I was a heartless man, very well. We’ll see how this goes.” Vasef finally answered. With that Vasef downed his whiskey in a large and easy gulp and called out to his guards in Russian. They then entered the room to escort Jack back to the car.

“If that will be all?”

“Of course, and feel free to contact me with any questions.”

“I’ll bear that in mind,” Vasef stood and Jack was escorted off of the premises.

As Jack entered the car and drove off, the sight of the estate in the rearview mirror gave him a sort of comfort. He sighed out of relief and felt satisfied that it had all gone well. Soon the project would be under way and all of the sacrifices would be worth it.