Several other students looked jealously at the small crowd gathered around Mac's stall at the Annual MIT Undergraduate Engineering Showcase.

The seventeen-year-old, too engrossed in telling the group of people before him about his robot (the group included Professor Emeritus Orlov, who was a legend among the engineering students), didn't really notice.

'…it is designed to provide a safe, stable means of both transporting objects and moving them.' He opened up a small compartment in the base of the robot. 'This utilizes a gyroscope to maintain stability over rocky terrain, as does the arm.' He pointed at the crane-like arm that ended in what looked like a human hand, extending from the base of the robot. 'The hydraulics renders the arm and the hand extremely strong, and the opposable 'thumb' on the hand improves grip and dexterity…'

'What are the potential applications of this technology?'

'Well, it could be used for disaster relief, such as after earthquakes or mine collapses, to safely locate, deliver supplies to and free trapped people. It also has potential applications in bomb disposal….'

'What's the power source?'

'It operates on a battery. The charger that I have here is a solar charger, which I selected due to its sustainable and green nature, as well as the portability. There's no need to have access to the electrical grid to charge the robot. However, the battery could, in theory, be charged like any other battery using, say, electricity from the grid or a diesel generator…'

After his little spiel, as the crowd dispersed, looking rather impressed, a dark-haired woman in her late thirties or early forties, slim and serious, hair pulled back into a bun, approached Mac.

She took a copy of his resume from the stack on the front of his table that he'd been instructed to bring, and examined it. Her face gave nothing away.

'This is your second year at MIT, correct?'

Mac nodded.

'Yes, ma'am.'

'When are you graduating?'

Somewhat surprised by the question, Mac replied. 'Uh, if everything goes to plan, at the end of the next academic year, ma'am.'

The woman gave him a small smile, and handed him a business card.

'Just Thornton will do. I'm Patricia Thornton, with the Phoenix Foundation. We'll be in touch.'

She strode off, quickly disappearing into the crowd, leaving Mac holding the business card.

Patricia Thornton

Director

The Phoenix Foundation

Mac had heard of the Phoenix Foundation. They were a well-known and well-respected government think-tank, though somewhat mysterious, as they dealt in national security and defence. They recruited the best of the best, and to catch the eye of the Director of all people…

He pocketed the business card.

No time to think about that now. Another crowd had gathered around his stall again.

'Hi, I'm Mac. My robot is designed to…'

AN: The Annual MIT Undergraduate Engineering Showcase is fictional, to the best of my knowledge.