MHG-V3-4 (Initial Draft)

Chapter 4 - visting the factory and abduction

A2.4
Ken stood nervously next to his father, dressed for the first time in a suit and tie, waiting as the elevator they rode in made its way down towards the factory floor.
The factory his father had brought him to was half research half manufacturing. That meant there were a group of scientists who were studying new techniques and there was a manufacturing plant for putting into production the things the science sectiom had invented.
Ken still had no idea what the factory produced however.
"This is just a routine inspection." Ken's father explained briefly. "Please dont ask lots of questions, just tag along and listen. The first thing on our agenda is a tour of the manufacturing plant. The second is to listen to the current research goals of the scientists and aporove the direction they plan to take. The third is to meet with the manager and talk about any problems they are having and ensure that the factory is taking appropriate measures to meet all company goals for the year."
"Yes sir." Ken said obediently.
His father nodded once and then stared ahead. When the door opened they stepped out onto the factory floor.
The factory was quite different from what Ken had expected. By the word 'factory' he had assumed to see assembly lines and machinery. Instead it looked more like a nursery. The floor was primarily occupied by shallow glass tanks filled with a milky white fluid that bubbled lightly. Tubes fed into the tanks, and men dressed in white overalls and surgical masks were walking between them, inspecting consoles and checking equipment.
What are they making? That was Ken's primary question, but he had been told to keep quiet, so he said nothing.
"Good morning, sir." A man dressed in a suit said as he ran up to them and bowed from the waist.
"Ah, your son?" He said, noticing Ken.
"Yes." Ken's father said. "I thought it was about time to introduce him to some of the things we work on here."
"Certainly." The man said smiling. "Well, to not detain you too long, the factory is running smoothly at present. We are currently able to keep up with all demand and the staff all seem to be happy and well."
"How about the coolant issues you were having last month?" Ken's father asked.
"Yes, it is enough to meet the current quota, but ongoing use without ugrading the system will eventually result in damage to the equipment. Plus we will not be able to increase production quantity unless the problem is resolved."
"I'll ensure management does something about it then."
"Yes. Well then, shall I show the boy what we are making?"
Ken's father looked down at Ken, whose eyes were pleading out, 'yes, yes, yes.'
"Fine." He said, "But make it quick."
"Certainly. Come over here."
The man said the last sentence to Ken, who followed him over to one of the big tanks.
"Can you take one out to show him?" He said to one of the men dressed in white.
The man nodded and put on two large gloves, then dipped his hands into the fluid and lifted out a flat sheet of rubbery flesh-covered material.
"What is it?" Ken asked, unable to contain his amazement.
"Synthetic skin." The man in the suit replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Skin?"
"Yes. Primarily this factory produces, or rather grows, all kinds of human organs for use in medical transplants. A patient who suffers extreme burn conditions, for example, could have this skin transplanted onto their body and be transformed into a new man within weeks."
"Extreme burn conditions?" Ken looked down at his own skin. Hadn't he, as recently as last year been involved in such a situation? Did that mean that perhaps the skin on his body now had not grown from within him but been transplanted onto him during surgery? And he had not even noticed it?
"Thats exactly right." His father said from behind, as if reading his mind. "The technology that saved your life 8 months ago came from here in this factory. Now, we must go. Thank you for your explanation."
"Certainly." The man said.
"Yes, thank you." Ken replied, bowing and them following his father to the next stage of the trip.
The next section of the factory was a research laboratory, which was a complex of office rooms, various lab rooms and other things. The lead scientist that escorted them to the meeting venue explained their current research.
"Brain tissue growth is coming along nicely, but producing an entire brain from scratch is problematic. The next challenge after that is how to wire it in to the rest of the body. Since there isnt really any medical application..."
"What about project x?" Ken's father asked.
"Well if project x were willing to fund it that would be fine. I think we could divert a maximum of 40% of our resources toward it if we had the proper funding."
"And if we scrapped any new research on other parts?"
"Scrapped research?" The scientist asked, shocked.
"Just a hypothetical question.."
"Well project x won't work unless there is at least something for every part, but I suppose the parts dont need to be perfected to at least create a prototype."
"I see."
Ken had no idea what they were talking about, or what the mysterious project x was.
Once they got to the meeting room they were seated and watched a twenty minute presentation detailing the plans for different organ research and improvements on existin designs. When that was finished they were off again to meet with the factory manager.