Paul Kaypek waits silently in his laboratory, sitting on a raised stool. He softly fondles a large transparent plastic bag. Inside the bag rests the metal-black box, with Ingenium's brain inside. The room is white bright and an array of different scientific objects rest on the desks and shelves above. Kaypek contemplates the years that he and so many others spent in creating this technology. The idea that all those years of hard and strenuous work, lies in his hands, in this small transparent plastic bag, sends a chill throughout Kaypek's entire being. He wishes, if only this moment, with him and his life's work, could last just a little bit longer.
The double-doors to the laboratory slam open and the sudden change of atmosphere makes Kaypek jump and immediately stand upright, while his stool falls backwards and makes a harsh thudding sound against the floor, where it lands.
Through the double-doors, walk in a team of unknown men to Kaypek, the only familiarity is Karl, his co-worker, who leads them through. Following suit are a few selected men and women from the press, who contradictory to their norm are keeping quiet and following orders.
This must have been rehearsed beforehand. It's very organised, Kaypek gently thinks to himself.
''Paul Kaypek?'' a tall man with short black hair, states.
''Yes...I...I am,'' Kaypek stumbles.
Kaypek notices out in the group of organised press, two people who bring out large cameras to their shoulders and start pressing buttons on the sides and adjusting the lenses.
The rest of the officials stand to the right of Kaypek and by the side of them a rather nervously looking Karl waits, unable to restrain himself from fidgeting.
The formally dressed tall man continues, ''Dr Kaypek, I am from the department of security and sensitivity, sent here today on orders from parliament, to detain and destroy the technology known as Ingenium. Which is currently the property of Manchester University, held under the name of Dr Paul Kaypek, head of robotics. I firstly and only ask of you, your understanding, permission, and complete co-operation to authorise the removal of this technology from your possession, into its reassigned status as government property.''
Kaypek's mind and eyes wander from the question. He detects two police officers stationed at the back of his laboratory.
They must have come around the back entrance, he thinks to himself.
For a second, Kaypek wonders what would become of him if he was to shout out, ''No!'' To the man subtly giving orders. He imagines the officers rushing around the sides to place him under arrest, the media backlash describing himself as an incompetent and ruthless man. Quotes from fellow colleagues verbally abusing him as, ''a strange and twisted man.'' and ''he was a loner and no one really knew who he was.'' He visualises himself losing his job, and to top it off, he is shunned and alienated from his science peers, remembered only as the clich?d mad scientist.
He pauses for a while, thinking that perhaps he's analysing things too much, and with his mind returning to reality, he realises he's still in the room from where his mind had just departed.
The tall man waits. Kaypek's complete loss of time has made him confused. God knows how long he has been standing there for, while everyone else has been eyeing him up for an answer.
The tall man speaks, ''Dr Paul Kaypek, do you comply with these terms?''
''Yes, yes of course, completely,'' the words race out of Kaypek's mouth, in effort to cause no more confusion.
The tall man continues, ''could you please hand me the device.'' He pulls out his long spindly arm and it hovers below Kaypek's peripheral vision.
Kaypek's head lowers and he sees Ingenium in his hand. He'd forgotten it was there. His grip is so tight that his fingers ache from exhaustion. He notices a crack he has made on the metal case, from the pressure of his grip, and small dotted patches of evaporated sweat that cover the plastic bag.
The tall man breathes out his nose an octave higher, to politely indicate his dwindling patience. Kaypek gingerly hands him Ingenium and the tall man snatches it out of his hand and swivels himself around on his heels to face his colleagues. Another tall man takes it out of his hand and places it in a metal briefcase. During the transaction, Karl's eyes widen and he quickly looks over at Kaypek in deep disbelief. Kaypek notices the alarm in Karl's eyes and gently lowers his head.
*