Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Not My Student!

“No need to.” The Professor stated flatly and walked back to his classroom.

“He is coming back; the professor is returning!” One student exclaimed.

At this point, all the students return to their seats and open their books to chapter 12, pretending like they had not spent the entire time trying to figure out just exactly what the professor was up to. Professor Thelete walks back into the lecture hall, still thinking about his interaction with Mikael.

There is a long moment of silence while Professor Thelete is lost in his thoughts. Then one of his students speaks out and asks him if everything is alright.

“Hmm,” the professor said absentmindedly. “Yes! Everything is fine. I think that it is best that we end the lecture early today. As you all recall, office hours have changed for today because of a prior engagement. I will start office hours a little earlier than usual and end them earlier as well. We will pick this up next week again,” the professor said as if coming out of a daze. “Class dismissed!”

As all of his students packed up, the professor walked over to the podium and disconnected his laptop and put everything away. He wasn’t in any rush, but he also knew that the sooner that he started office hours, the sooner he could leave campus and head home to prepare for his very important event tonight.

By the time that Professor Thelete had finished packing up and was at his office, 15 minutes had passed and there was already a line of students outside his office doors waiting for him. He walked in, put his laptop backpack down and called in his students to help them work on whatever their particular project was for the semester.

After he had helped a few students, the professor called for the next person to come in. There was a young man that looked about the right age to be a college student that walked in, but the professor was having a hard time recollecting the face of the student that was now sitting in front of him. Something felt off.

“How can I help you?” Professor Thelete said with a smile on his face.

“Good day, Professor. My name is Alkis Tripedes and I need help with a very special project that I am sure that someone will most suit you for.” The young man said in perfect English and in a very warm demeanor.

“Who are you?” The professor asked, taken aback. “I have no such student by that name in my class.”

“You are correct, Professor. I am not one of your students. The Greek government sent me here to solicit your help with something that is vastly important to our culture heritage. And we believe you are the best candidate for the job.” Alkis said with great enthusiasm.

(Just what the hell is going on here! This is the second time today that a foreign government has contacted me to help them. This makes no sense. Wait, did he say cultural heritage?) The professor thought to himself.

“You are the second person today to attempt to recruit me for some governmental project. I am not sure what is going on here, but I will need more information from you than the last one. If you have anything that you would like to say to me about the project, now would be the time to do so.” The professor said slightly heatedly.

“Please, Professor, we are both of Greek origin. I know this because of your last name. As a fellow Greek, I can assure you that this matter is of grave importance in vindicating one of our most esteemed ancestors from the city of Athens. I, of course, speak of the great philosopher Plato.” Alkis was trying to tread cautiously here and not reveal too much more in case someone was listening to the conversation.

“Plato?!” the professor said, completely confused.

(Why would Russia be interested in Plato? Are they even here for the same thing? At least Alkis has given me something tangible that I can latch onto. I wonder, does this have anything to do with my engagement later tonight?)

“Yes, Professor Thelete. Unfortunately, I would like to discuss more with you but my superior has not given me any more information regarding this. I can see the wheels turning your mind. I will leave you my card and the card of my superior. Just think it over, please.” Alkis stated with a warm smile and then walked out of the office.

The professor grabbed the business cards from the desk and was too deep in thought to notice that Alkis was leaving. It wasn’t until he heard the door open that he realized that he had gotten up to leave.

“Hey, wait minute come back here!” The professor shouted after him. The professor ran out of his office, but by the time that he had done so, Alkis was long gone.

(Just what in the hell is going on here!)

*sigh*

The professor finished with the last couple of students and then turned the lights off in his office, locked the door and headed down the stairs towards the parking lot. When he was halfway to his car, someone intercepted him and approached him. It was a female around his age, a young brunette wearing some sort of black robe with purple symbols on it. Fair complexion with freckles with brown eyes.

(Oh great! You got to be kidding me. Is this another government agent? This is just surreal!)

“Dr. Thelete, do not go to your meeting tonight! I implore you, do not attend your proposal meeting.” The unknown woman said with urgency and importance in her voice.

(How the hell does she know about the meeting tonight? I have never written anything down regarding it, and it is not on my computer or phone to be hacked. Scarcely 200 people know about the meeting! This is really freaking me out!)

“We know about your research, professor. We know you believe that myths and legends are real and you are more correct than you realize. I represent a Secret Society that has long known the location of your lecture tonight. Please, we beg of you, do not make it public. We have kept its location secret to prevent its technology from being used for nefarious purposes by governments around the world.” The brunette was practically begging him at this point.

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