Seanday Startup: The Front, pt1

"I like the idea, targeted personal training. It's a demographic that isn't saturated," Marcus said with a nod after looking at my business proposal. "This is very impressive, how old did you say you was?"

"I didn't," I replied. "But I'm nineteen."

"Do you have anyone in mind to run this business?"

"I'm going to be running it. I've studied the market and know how to get the clientele."

Marcus sucked on his lip. "Jason, I'm damn good at marketing. Built my own business over the past fifteen years, but not even I can sell your preppy, just out of college image to the people you're aiming at."

I looked down at my smart, but casual attire. "But--"

"Jason, it's not just your clothes. I think you should get someone more appropriate for the market to front the company."

"This is going to be my company," I said in a raised voice. "There's only going to be one person at the top, and that's me."

"Ok, well I've got a suggestion," he pushed a business card towards me, "meet me here at nine tomorrow."

I looked at the card, Brunswick-Atlas, Social Engineering Specialists.


Next morning I arrived at the address, the door itself was nondescript and didn't give anything away to the sort of business inside other than a small plaque with the company name.

I pushed the intercom button. "Yes?" a voice crackled over the speaker.

"Jason Arquette to see Marcus Quill," I answered.

There was a buzz, "Second floor, we've been expecting you."

Taking the elevator, I preened myself in the mirror as the doors closed. With a chime, the second floor was announced and the door slid open.

I stepped back in surprise, a man a few years older than me was standing in the doorway. "Oh sorry, did I startle you?"

"A bit," I replied stepping out.

"My name is Richard," he told me as we shook hands, "I'm here to show you around. Marcus will be with you soon."

I followed him through a door into a vast open space. To the left were some gym equipment and a tiled locker room. He took me to a large table on the right and offered me a chair.

"So what is this place?" I asked.

He poured a glass of water for me, "Sorry it'll all we have at the moment." I took a sip. "This place is a showroom for a very special business. Mr Quinn has taken us through your business plan, and I think we can help you with a frontman."

"But I'm going to be operating the business," I replied with a touch of frustration.

"Bear with me, I'm sure you'll be interested in what we can offer," he reassured me and clapped his hands. "Can you come out now gentlemen."

One by one four men appeared from the locker room. Each one had unique characteristics.

They varied in height and age, but all of them were clearly in the demographic of my proposed business.

Richard cleared his throat. "So I think these guys all target the sort of people--

He paused for a moment and took a breath. "That might be suitable to front the company." I went to speak--to explain again, but he interrupted me. "Just work with me on this, which one would be suitable?"

Richard gestured with his hand and the four men started walk around, flexing and posing.

"I think one and three are too short--no offence guys," I apologised.

Richard nodded and the two returned to the locker room. "And what about these two?" he asked.

I looked at number two, this dark ebony skin pulled tight across his muscular frame. "He's the right age, but he might be--," I frowned fearing of hurting the guys feelings, "a little over-built?" The guy shrugged. "He also looks a bit aggressive," I added.

Richard pulled a face, "I guess. You need someone that's approachable." I watched as the guy returned to the locker room. "So what about this guy?" He asked looking at the youngest of the four.

"Well, he's got a good physique. He looks friendly and approachable. How old are you?" I asked.

He looked at me, and then at Richard. "He's nineteen," Richard told me.

I watched as he turned in a circle showing me his body. "I was hoping for someone a little older. It'll give the clients confidence."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Jason, you're sort of contradicting yourself. After all your only nineteen yourself."

It sunk in finally, although I was business smart, first impressions always count and I was too young.

Richard pulled out a chair and the guy sat down. "I haven't really explained what we do here," Richard said hesitantly. "But let me show you." Richard pulled at his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. He grinned as he caught me looking at his previously hidden plate like pecs.

I watched with confusion as he picked at his lip and stretched it. He pushed first a few fingers, then his hands inside the space I gasped as the outline of his fingers pushed around the inside of his cheeks and around his eyes. By this time, his face had become hideously distorted.

With his hands now up to his wrists, he stretched his mouth open and pulled back. From inside, the face of a much older man was revealed--Marcus. "Sorry about the deception," he told me, "but I wanted to give you a practical demonstration of how good these suits were."

"Holly cow," I muttered.

"This is one of my other businesses, I provide new identities to those who can afford to have them." He clapped his hands, "OK guys you can come out now."

Three young men, each one no more than seventeen walked out. Over their shoulders where the skins of the three guys I'd seen earlier. "These are my sons, they help me out modelling these suits. And before you ask they are allowed to borrow them."

I looked at the guy sitting at the table. "Is he wearing a suit as well?"

"Yes, but that's my daughter inside that one. As you can tell these suits no only obscure your age, but also you height and build." He smiled at the guy, "Mary, would you take it off of me, please?"

"Of course," he replied in a deep voice. "But I have to go, so I'll see you at home." The guy got to his feet and shook my hand, "Nice to meet you, sir."

"Ok boys, you may as well go home as well." They hung the three suits over a bench and left the office.

"Are those the only suits you have?" I asked.

"Not at all, let me show you." I followed Marcus into an adjacent room and gasped at the rows of suits--maybe fifteen to twenty in total?

As was walked through the racks, I was impressed by the variety; some older, some younger. Various builds, and even different sexes. I stopped at a rail and looked at a couple of suits--three that looked familiar. I held up one of their faces, it was young with dark curly hair. "Your sons?"

"Yes, they asked for them. They wear each others sometimes when they go to school or out for the evening." He lifted the chin of the one I was holding. "This is Davy, he's let me wear it a few times and I've gone out with his brothers just so they could show me what its like to be young again."

When we returned to the open space, on the desk was the suit of the fourth guy. Although he was empty, his strong muscle development was still evident. "So where do these suits come from?" I asked Marcus.

"Trade secret," he told me with a wink.

I lifted the suit sprawled across the table; it was heavy. Through the skin I felt its muscles, its surface was warm and damp. I took a breath and was surprised by the musky smell of a recent workout.

Holding it up to myself I looked at myself in the mirror. Grabbing an arm by the wrist I held it out and smiled.

"You want to try it on?" Marcus asked.

"Is that possible? He looked taller than me."

"Don't worry they always fit--perfectly."

He took the suit from my hands and guided me into the locker room. Pulling a plastic basket from the shelf he told me I needed to be naked. Pausing I looked at the suit. This was the closest to being what I needed as a substitute front man. A big strong man--much stronger that I could ever achieve, but married up with my knowledge for fitness training. I had to give it a try.

Marcus helped me into the suit, and the deeper I found myself inside, the tighter the fit became. With all by the head remaining, I looked at my new physique. I twisted, flexed and stretched. My fake body performed flawlessly. I sucked in my stomach and rolled it controlling the muscles perfectly. I relaxed and tensed my abs and touched them, they felt natural and firm. "OK, let's finish this," I told Marcus.

I watched in the mirror as he fought with the mop of curly hair before pulling the guy's face over my own. I felt the same tightness as the face seemed to bond with my own.

Marcus stepped back and for the first time I saw my whole reflection as a new person. I stretched my arms and pushed my hands through my hair admiring my dark skin and full lips.

Then I felt the worst pain I'd ever experienced. Like a thousand hot needles pushing into my mind. I grasped my head and crumpled to the ground as another wave of heat coursed its way through my mind. Instinctively curled up into a fetal position. My body tensed, and the world went dark.

---- END OF PART ONE