System S.E.X. (Seduction, Expansion, eXecution)

The morning sun streamed through the MIT café windows, illuminating the steam from coffees and the scattered remains of half-eaten waffles.

The table that usually buzzed with Ethan Blake's energy was strangely silent.

Max, Ruby, Quinn, Ming, and Hailey were gathered. Although the guys seemed focused on their respective part, the worry over Ethan's empty seat hung heavily in the air.

"I can't believe he's missed class for three straight days," said Quinn, nervously stirring her tea. "Today we have Professor Stern's class, and you know how difficult that one is!"

"It's too weird," replied Ming, her boyfriend, scratching his head. "I texted him, I called him. Nothing. His phone is off."

Hailey, Ethan's girlfriend, looked haggard. She hadn't slept well for the past few nights.

"Do you think he's angry at us?" Hailey asked, her voice barely audible. "You know... about that day. About us abandoning him and not going out with him."

Ruby reached across the table and squeezed Hailey's hand. "Of course not, Hailey. Ethan is many things, but he's not that petty. If he were angry, he'd express it in a ten-minute monologue with obscure historical references. Ming is right, something must have happened to him. Maybe he's sick... 'genius flu'?"

"Or he got into trouble," Max mumbled, taking a bite of his sandwich, though his tone was serious.

Ming sighed, leaning back dramatically in his chair.

"Whatever it is, I just hope he gets back before this afternoon," Ming said. "It's Stern's Electrodynamics exam today! Remember! It's impossible. If Ethan isn't here, I'm going to fail. I don't understand half of the exercises from the last assignment."

"Me too!" exclaimed Quinn. "Maxwell's equations are hell. Ethan always simplifies them in his head. He could give us the correct answers in ten seconds and save us all. I wish he were here!"

Ruby chuckled lightly. "See, Hailey? It's not personal, it's academic. He's our life insurance against failure. Did you call the police or anything?"

"No," Hailey said, sipping her coffee. "I don't want to overreact. If I call the police and he's just traveling or something... he'll kill me over the publicity. Besides, what do I tell them? 'My genius boyfriend disappeared, probably solving some quantum physics problem'?"

Max leaned back, looking at Ethan's empty seat with a mix of worry and dependence.

"Well, if he doesn't show up before noon, someone has to go to his room and force the lock," Max said. "That test is too important for us to risk it."

The group nodded. The worry over the exam was real, but the underlying anxiety about their friend's absence was even greater. They didn't know that, at that moment, Ethan was far beyond their help, and the test he was facing was much harder than any Electrodynamics exam.

Just as Max was finishing his sandwich, his phone vibrated on the table. He saw the caller ID: his father.

"Excuse me, it's my dad," Max said, excusing himself from the table with a grimace. He stood up and walked a few steps away from his friends, holding the phone to his ear. "Hello, Dad? What's going on?"

"Max. Good morning. I just wanted to see how you were doing. I know you have an important exam today," his father's voice said, strong and clean, using the political tone he employed in public.

"Yeah, good morning. I'm fine, studying. But Dad, are you okay? Are you in Washington?"

"I'm fine, son. Look, I'm going to cut straight to the chase. You remember your friend... Ethan Blake, right? The boy you mentioned who is a prodigy."

Max's heart sank. "Yes, I remember him. He hasn't been to class in three days. We've actually been looking for him. Why?"

His father's voice turned grim, losing all trace of pleasantry. "I know exactly where your friend is, son. And no, he's not doing too well."

Max felt dizzy. "Dad, what are you talking about? What happened to him? Is he in the hospital?"

"Your friend is in a maximum-security federal prison, Max. Lexington. They have him detained, accusing him of being a terrorist—of planting a bomb at a Congressman's house. The very political enemy I'm about to destroy."

The air rushed out of Max's lungs. He glanced back at the table where Hailey was biting her lip, worried about Ethan's "flu." "A terrorist? That's insane, Dad. Ethan would never do anything like that! I know him; he's a genius, but he's not a—!"

"I know it seems crazy to you. But politics eats the truth, Max. Listen to me: this Congressman, Vance, is the same man I'm directly fighting for the governorship. What your friend did, whether true or not, has given Vance an excuse to play the victim and gain ground."

Max's father took a strategic pause. "This is where you come in, Max. I know you've just met him. But is Ethan the type who appreciates a massive favor, or is he the type who would forget about you as soon as he walks free?"

Max clenched his jaw. "Dad, he's the greatest genius I've ever met. I know I've only known him for a few days, but he's a brilliant person, and yes, he's loyal to his people. I trust him."

"Good. I will trust you and your judgment, Max," his father said, in a tone that signaled the game had just begun. "You are going to that prison, Max. You are going to use my name and you are going to talk to your friend."

"In the meantime," the Congressman continued, lowering his voice further, "a prosecutor friend of mine gave me some leads. Prosecutor Carter is burying evidence. Too many people have been seen moving documents, deleting camera evidence, moving serial numbers from weapons. They are desperate to hide something Vance did. It won't be too hard to get him out if we pressure them with the law."

The deal was laid out, cold and political.

"But listen closely: don't tell him we'll get him out for free. You have to sell the favor expensively. We need him to support my election and then counter-sue Vance for defamation and false accusations. I need Ethan to destroy Vance's reputation and hand me the governorship. Once that happens, Ethan will have all the air he wants, and you will be his savior."

Max stared at his friends, who were watching him curiously. He had just transitioned from an engineering student to a high-stakes political negotiator.