Illumini

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Imposing dark towers rise from the city street into the stratosphere above.  The modern buildings are so tall the dark glass reflected the clouds, blending into the orange night sky seamlessly.  Many monolithic towers rise above the shadowy street, as if creating another world above, far removed from the dirt, and fumes, and poverty below.

In a massive marble lobby, a well-dressed woman waited for the security desk to issue the last of the badges.  Above her, a giant flat screen played a corporate video.

"Good health is vital to all of us, and finding sustainable solutions to the most pressing health care challenges of our world cannot wait.  That is why we at Atlas are committed to applying science and our global resources to improve health and well-being at every stage of life.  We strive to provide access to safe, effective and affordable medicines and related health care services to the people who need them."

The group of suits milled around the lobby chatting.  Lawyer types mostly with a few doctors, ignoring the inspirational imagery on the video screen.  The disturbingly pleasant voice continued in the background above the din.

"Atlas has a leading portfolio of products and medicines that support wellness and prevention, as well as treatment and cures for diseases across a broad range of therapeutic areas.  We have an industry-leading pipeline of promising new products, based on our patented genetic engineering vectors, that has the potential to improve the human condition in our time."

The woman led the group across the lobby to a massive bank of elevators.  As they waited for the elevator doors to open the conversation was light, mostly about flights and hotels, dinner plans and meetings.  They entered the elevator and the woman swiped her card to take them to the executive conference room.

They all quickly took their seats in the plush leather chairs, a few greetings among familiar faces around the large table.  In the ornately paneled conference room, waiting for them, was William Emerson Endicott the charismatic CEO of Atlas Genetics, everyone called him Billy, especially the press.  With him were his chief adviser, and the Chairman of the Board, an elderly and wise man known as Dr. Oliver Lowell.  Sitting directly across the table from them both was Dr. Frank Conant, the Executive Director of Research and Development.  They had been waiting all evening, discussing their options.

Gathering around the table was the corporate legal team, flown in on short notice to deal with the emerging threat.  As they settled in the conversation quickly turned more serious.

'We've had a breach," Billy declared.

He paused to stare around the room.  With his imposing presence, he gathered everyone's undivided attention.

"One of our most promising genetic engineering therapies, the Illumini viral vector has been compromised," Billy said, getting to the heart-of-the-matter.

"Compromised?  What exactly are we dealing with?" one of the lawyers asked.

"A breach in security," Billy continued.

"Corporate espionage?" another lawyer inquired.

"No," Billy continued.  "This is much worse.  We believe this is an incidence of domestic terrorism."

The advisers gathered around the table gasped.

"What are we talking about here?" they collectively asked.

"Project Illumini has been infiltrated by a disgruntled employee, a clinical lab technician who gained access to the viral vector.  At least one suspect that we have identified."  Billy paused for effect.  "They have made it contagious."