Mission: Impossible -- The Hida Factor

Prologue:

The library on the campus of Old Line State University was not simply the finest in Maryland, but boasted one of the most comprehensive holdings in all the United States. That status made this college library one of the busiest, most visited places in its region. No one in the building's crowded lobby had reason to notice when he came in and browsed his way over to the library checkout desk. He was wearing casually intellectual attire. Granted, his hair might be a bit too long for the overall look, but it contributed to the impression of him as one of those non-traditional students. Just another back-to-school adult trying unsuccessfully to show he was still young, right? He enjoyed these little cameos and sank into his role by leaning into the desk. He rested his folded arms on the desktop, and impatiently tapped his feet while waiting for assistance.

"Can I help you sir?" the desk clerk asked sharply, coming over to face him.

"Oh, yes." he began, sounding absent-minded and straightening up. "I was looking for something on mysticism in the Far East."

"Nothing like heavy reading. I don't suppose you've tried the computer catalog yet?" the clerk asked, annoyed.

"Well to be honest I trust fate more than technology, what do you recommend?"

The apparently frustrated clerk snatched up a pencil and scribbled something quickly on a notepad. "There's an intriguing essay on fate in this title. You can find it using the computer catalog, that's the place to start, sir." The clerk thrust the paper at him.

"OK, ok. Thanks." he said in a convincing what-did-I-do voice before scanning the recommendation and walking away. A few minutes later he was on the library's lower level, passing a hand with aimless purpose over books on a back shelf. His hand found and withdrew the recommended text. Next, he ambled over to a reading stall and sat down with his selection. Just another egghead with a book, for all appearances. But he was really no ordinary scholar and this was no ordinary book.

He turned real pages until he found the thumbprint scanning lock that opened a vertically oriented miniature laptop the book-shaped shell contained. In spite of the technical complexity its size demanded, the device was still rather simple in function. It had a display screen and a disc drive for a tiny CD, which was also housed within the shell. He removed the CD from its place and popped it into the provided drive. He kept the display screen in front of his body, shielding it as its minimized glow indicated its operation. The IMF seal came on-screen as the laptop transmitted the audio feed directly to the internal ear piece he was wearing:

*Good morning Mr. Hunt.* The IMF seal faded and was replaced by a file photo of a man Ethan Hunt knew in a professional capacity, and hated on a personal level. *This, as you know, is Delton Zane. Zane has intentions of once again being a major player in the business of international destabilization by assassination for hire. Those intentions were recently made clear when Zane orchestrated the theft of the Eden Device from a high security government storage complex. This occurred while you were engaged with a previous mission, or you would have been informed immediately.*

Hunt felt an adrenaline rush course through him below the intellectual demeanor he projected this morning. The only thing more inconceivable than Zane stealing the Eden Device was the chaos he could cause if he actually managed to use it. But he shouldn't be able to use it -- not with the present configuration of its genetic master sequencer. Hunt had seen to that himself, some time ago. Had it really been just over three years ago? The laptop display screen shifted to a schematic of the Eden Device, and the audio continued. *It's believed that, in acquiring the Eden Device, Zane has learned that its genetic master sequencer was intentionally spliced with the DNA code of a Japanese police officer, one Hiroki Hida now deceased, as a means of preventing its use when the technology was in great risk of falling into Zane's hands. Of course, Mr. Hunt, you know more about that set of circumstances than any other IMF agent. This condition, referenced as the Hida Factor, will delay Zane's ability to use the Eden Device. However, we now have reason to believe this will not deter Zane for long without IMF intervention.*

The laptop screen changed again to show what appeared to be a school picture of a young boy with piercing green eyes and a solemn face. Hunt had a haunting suspicion of the boy's identity, even before the audio confirmed it. *This boy is Cody Hida, the only son of the late Hiroki Hida. Since half the boy's chromosomes were provided by his father, he is the only remaining living source of Hiroki Hida's complete DNA code. IMF believes Zane will move to acquire the child for use as a filter to screen the genetic master sequencer as he uses the Eden Device. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: prevent Zane's taking the boy, retrieve the Eden Device, capture and/or neutralize Zane. It's now preferable to destroy the Eden Device, but be advised that it can not co-exist safely with the Hida boy enabling its use by undesirable parties. If the Eden Device cannot be retrieved other, less preferable options may become necessary. You have full clearance to select IMF agents for this mission, to brief them on the Eden Device, and the Hida Factor. As always, should you or any of your IMF team be captured or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck Mr. Hunt. This disc will self-destruct in five seconds.*

Ethan Hunt closed the book-shaped shell tightly. Five seconds later there were a few wisps of odorless smoke that easily passed as so much dust from the book's cover. He left the book and exited the reading stall, knowing that the disc's destruction would trigger a further chain reaction. The book itself would be nothing but a strange pile of dust in less than a minute. He maintained his assumed academic aspect as he made his way out of the library. However, he was already thinking of the IMF agents best suited for the new mission. He was definitely taking this one. After all, how many times did fate give you the chance to protect the only son of a man who had saved your life?