A G B Research Centre
Hertfordshire
Lat = 51 degrees, 48.6 minutes North
Long = 0 degrees, 21.3 minutes West
Friday 16th December 1988
Zero eleven fifteen hours GMT
Advanced Genetic Biotechnology is the largest agricultural research centre in the United Kingdom.
In one of its laboratories, Professor Winston Alexander Hooke was examining his latest research. Professor Hooke was fifty-five years of age with short-cropped greying hair standing only five foot three inches tall, he was small for a man, however, what he lacked in stature; he made up for in intellect; three years earlier, he had become the Nobel Prize winner for chemistry.
Two years ago, a government subcommittee had approached him to find a way to eradicate the opium poppy plant; his two years of work had finally born results two weeks ago when he finally developed the Reaper gene technology along with Professor Thompson.
The technology behind the discovery works by spraying a crop with a chemical that has been combined with a toxin gene lethal to the plants embryo. This is controlled by what is called a late promoter that is active only during the late stage of a seeds development
when the embryo is developing, added to this is a blocker that interferes with the ability of the promoter to turn on the gene.
The result is that the toxin when released; kills the embryo that is part of each mature seed.
This now causes the crop to be barren not producing any seed for the second generation, the final act is even more devastating, the toxin now finds its way down the plant into its roots and disseminates into the earth, causing the soil to become barren for the opium poppy plant for ten years.
Professor Hooke was distracted by a knock on the door followed by his assistant entering, “Professor the people you invited have just arrived.”
“Thank you Mary, please be kind enough to take them to the atrium for greenhouse seven and have them help themselves to the refreshments there, I will be with them in ten minutes.”
Ten minutes later Professor Hooke was standing in front of his audience, the same people whom had given him the task to eradicate the opium poppy.
“Ladies and gentlemen, two years ago you approached me to come up with a way to eradicate the opium poppy, I must admit; when I first heard your request I thought you were asking me to do the impossible even though in my
profession the word impossible is not a word my
profession uses lightly,” he paused for effect.
“However I am pleased to tell you the impossible has become possible, along with the total commitment of professor Thompson I now give you from Project Reaper; the Reaper gene.”
With that, he drew back a large curtain area that revealed three crops of opium poppy plants, first a healthy batch, the second showing signs of decaying and the third total destruction, with the remnants of the plants lying dead on the soil.
“Step forward ladies and gentlemen and gaze upon the end of the opium poppy.”
The audience moved forward, stopping at a roped barrier a yard away from the propagation, looking at the opium poppies.
He began to explain how the Reaper gene worked, “what you are seeing here are the three phases in the destruction of this plant, and from stage one to three is four days.”
When the professor had concluded his audience applauded him.
“Now ladies and gentlemen; if we retire to conference room one I believe we have some drink befitting a toast to this success, if you would like to follow Mary, thank
you.
The audience drifted from the greenhouse with the exception of Darren Smythe the head of the government subcommittee, “Professor may I have word with you?”
“By all means,” replied the Professor.
“I have some bad news concerning Professor Thompson; he was killed in Bogotá four days ago, I know you were both very close, I would like to offer my condolences.”
Professor Hooke was stunned by this revelation, “how did
this happen?”
“Things are a bit sketchy at the moment; however it appears he was kidnapped and was shot, when his body guards attempted a rescue.”
“What did they want from him?”
“We are pretty sure he was taken for his involvement with the Reaper project, from the report from his body guards his dying words were, Project Reaper they know.”
“Do we know who took him?”
“Not at the moment professor, however there are some leads being followed up by the home office and security services.”
“Has his family been informed yet?”
“All taken care of professor.”
“I must go and see them, offer my apologies to my guests Mr Smythe.”
“Certainly professor, will you be still going to America next Wednesday?”
“Yes my family have flown out today; I will join them next Wednesday.”
“This has certainly put a dent on the unveiling today and so close to Christmas, may I offer you and your family the season’s greetings professor.”
“Thank you Mr Smythe, enjoy your Christmas and I will see
you again in the New Year.”
Professor Hooke went out to the car park and walked over to his classic primrose yellow coloured MG Midget sports car, he climbed in turned the key; the twin carburettor twelve hundred and fifty cubic capacity engine kicked into life. He drove slowly down the gravel driveway leading to the main road; Professor Thompson’s family lived in Harpenden less than fifteen minutes away,
poor Rosie and the children he thought. The day was cold with a bright low sun that followed him on his left side as he drove down the rural roads, up ahead he noticed a car parked up on the approach to right hand bend, “god what a stupid place to stop,” he muttered.
He slowed right down and noticed a female standing by the car to the side of the road, he also noticed the rear nearside tyre was flat.
Professor Hooke pulled up behind the blue mini motor car,
climbing out he approached the female, he was instantly struck by her beauty, certainly from the south America’s probably a student looking at her and assessing she was probably about twenty years of age.
“May I be if assistance?”
The girl smiled, “my tyre it’s just punctured as I came down the road.”
Her English was very good with a sexy taint of South
American, “don’t worry I’ll have it fixed in no time and
we can both be on our way.”
“That’s so kind of you,” she replied.
“Not at all; after all it is the season for giving.”
The professor went to the mini’s boot and was relieved to see a spare tyre and tools; he took of his coat, rolled his sleeves up and began to jack the car up. As he was bending down, he felt a terrific blow to his skull that sent a shockwave through his body before collapsing unconscious at the side of the road.