Reading Week and the Letter

Please forgive the absence of updates over the past weeks, things got busy and then reading came. Speaking of reading week, I thought it was odd that Company-X decided it would be a good idea to revoke my right to leave the country. Thats correct, I received an email a few days before reading week informing me that "...as an employee of [Company-X] international travel is prohibited unless done so with an approved chaperone present at all times..." I dont know about you but i find that a bit odd.

Returning to the lab today I found the doors completely locked, I actually had to find my advisor to enter the room as I could not unlock them myself. On my desk I was left a note listing my weeks advancements which were to be made. 

I need:

Finalized Materials order

Finalized Chemicals order

and a Lab schematic and timeline

Im still working on my research paper which should be finished tonight or early tomorrow morning (with luck and hard work). 

Also, on a side note, I'm getting weird inquiries from other professors. No one really paid any mind to me until recently, now I am being stopped in the hallways and question about how my research is progressing and when they can see my proposal and defense etc.. Its getting a bit creepy, and the looks on their faces while talking to me is always the best part. They always look slightly scared or nervous. Its great frankly, but I'm also getting nervous, I kinda just want this to take off and then end. 

With a good ending, the more TV and movies I watch the more I believe that as soon as I finish this work I'm going to be killed.. 

Its silly I know, but i cant help it. 

I'm only watching comedies now though.

Its just sitting there, as if that happens everyday...

 

I was called into my advisors office this afternoon, rather hurriedly I might add, to find a half copy of my proposal sitting on his desk. I'm sure you're wondering 'What exactly is a half-copy?' well it is basically the last 12 or so pages of my paper. The pages that outline what I need in order to conduct these experiments and the protocols in which I must follow. This is the exact half-copy that I gave the environmental lab technician about 3 hours prior to this 'meeting'. 

My advisors face was beet red, and sweaty. Eyes darting between me and the door he asked me not to sit but to lean over his desk as he said "You can't just give this to anyone! What do you think non-disclosure means..." in the kind of airy whisper that you know was supposed to be a yell before it was suppressed into something much more controlled. 

I was shocked, and mumbled something about being sorry, that I needed some help with something or other. Grabbing the sheets and forcing them through the shredder he turned back to me and said, 

"Do not do anything like that again okay [insert name here]?"

I shook my head to agree as he sat down in his chair, as if this where a James Bond film he leaned forward and said,

"When you get back to your lab you will find something waiting, you need to keep it in a safe place for now, as it will be very important in the future."

"Umm, okay" I forced out (what else can you say to something like that?)

Upon returning to my lab I found this waiting in the corner:

Its locked with a combination, which I was not given. I don't really like the looks of it sitting in my laboratory hindering my daily process. 

I have no idea what I would need that fits into a brief case.... I really wish it had not appeared.

...sigh....