1 November 2034
It was a great evening. Winter just setting in. Jay walked through the snowy landscape. The most influential person on the planet walking from the entrance to the main building is always creepy, even if it is Heidelberg.
Jay wore a black suit and a long overcoat that almost swept his path with him. He never looked up from the ground. That's not because the ephemeral winter was overpowered. But that didn't mean he was down-to-earth either. Jay looking down simply means he is looking for something deep down. One thought. Mind full. Yet his steps were always mindful, not only the ones towards a grandeur disguised as a university.
Mark came out running towards him carrying a collective of flowers, which he prefers calling a bouquet. He greeted Jay, "Happy to meet you, sir.", trying for a handshake.
Jay stopped walking and looked up. A look colder than the winter. "Happy too. Would be much more without formalities." Mark felt like he was kissing a vessel on the stove, which was just now taken out of the fridge.
"So, tell me Doctor....?", Jay started.
"Markus Hoffman, sir", said Mark.
" Jay is better", Jay smirked. Mark had no idea whether he's replacing 'Markus' or 'sir'.
"I'd make you a 'Hoffman' straight away, if you succeed. There are many warmer nations in the planet, in the Globe to be exact", joked Jay.
"Thank you sir. But I don't do it for becoming a 'Hoffman' as I am already one", Mark jeopardized his career on a damn joke.
To his relief, Jay laughed, only to look cold again. "Jay. Is. Better."
"This way, Jay", Mark took over Jay's job of staring at the ground.
"That's beautiful. Remember, your students itself are seniors to me.", smiled Jay.
With that, Jay wore a black mask over his face. Mark led him to an isolated presentation hall. Jay said, "I am not much of a biologist. Keep it short, simple and slightly spicy"
Mark explained, "We've discovered that we could reverse track a person's birth date from specific mutations in their genome. Hypothetically, that information can be embedded into bacterial plasmids."
Jay interrupted, "That's something I've heard already. Elaborate"
Mark continued, "We're still working on that genetic coding part."
Mark went on for half an hour, before he was interrupted by a Trot-bot carrying coffee. He left his coffee's warmth to the winter, while Jay didn't mind removing his mask to sip a much needed cup of coffee. Mark explained to Jay and concluded that the project's incubation period was indefinite.
Jay understood that Mark's whole point was to make him patient about his proceedings.
Jay placed his empty cup on the table as he spoke, "Take your time. Remember, that date must be the end of my threat. Humanity's threat. Once that date is fixed, I'll fix an end date for my....." They were perturbed by a young lady entering the room. She didn't mind anyone and went on, "Sorry for disturbing you. But Dr. Müller wants....", until she recognized Jay.
"OH. MY. GOD.", she was awestruck as she realized what she had did. But Jay was in a different world. He couldn't take his eyes off her round, black eyes that bore a smile warm enough to melt all the snow in Germany.
She left the room, biting her tongue in disappointment.
"Who..... was that?!", stammered Jay. After all, he was still an 18 year old.
"That's a neuroscience student, Janu, if I am not wrong", replied Mark.