Ryan Lane is a college student.
A freshman, in fact, when we first meet him. Heading back to the campus of Stanford University. A good one, too, and proud of it. Proud as well of his other skills such as his love of motorbike racing as we learn the minute we meet him for the first time. Taking part in a race to go to the National Championship and going up against a guy who had no heartburn with dealing his opponents serious harm in order to win. Lane has no similar emotion but does have a determination to win, which, interestingly, he inherited from his mother who was the one that taught him how to race.
We learn in those opening words how Lane was raised on a beautiful parcel of land on backs of the Potomac River - 100 acres which had to have cost a penny or three. We also learn shortly thereafter that his brother is an FBI agent and that fact will play a huge part in changing the life of Lane. As will young Lane's insatiable curiosity and his penchant for looking further and deeper than most people would. It is what would put him into harm's way on several occasions and make his adventures a lot of fun to follow.
And the locations where that curiousity will become apparent get more impressive as the months pass. In the second adventure we find Lane working as an intern at the White House. It is only a summer gig but a couple months is plenty of time for Lane to get interested in something and thus stick his nose into places that will get the rest of him in trouble. Then it is back to Stanford and a new adventure before landing at the CIA headquarters.
His reason for showing at Langley is to visit his father, a scientist and engineer working for the Agency. Once there, though, his skillset and his young age make him the perfect tool to be used by the Director. As his growing dossier indicates, this reigning NCAA motocross champion with the reported athletic build is quite impressive as it lists him as 'brilliant' and 'genius'.