"And finally, this is my office," said Aaron as he, Adelaide and Natasha entered his office on the 128th floor.

"Wow! What a view!" exclaimed Adelaide, looking out through the tinted bay window at the sprawling Boston and Sirius Zone landscape before her.

"So, still think I’m an evil overlord?" asked Aaron as he sat at his desk.

"Oh yeah, you’re an evil overlord, but a nice one," said Adelaide with an impish smile.

"Well, Ms. Albrecht, it was nice meeting you. Natasha will take you back to the employee housing complex," said Aaron, shaking Adelaide’s hand.

Adelaide was about to leave, when Natasha’s radio crackled to life.

"Ms. Parker, Friedrich and Axel Albrecht are en-route to HQ," came the report from the main security check point.

"Copy that," said Natasha, as Adelaide’s jaw dropped open.

"Y-you know my father?" she asked, as she staggered into a chair in front of Aaron’s desk.

"Yes, but I don’t want to make things awkward. Do you want to see him or not?" asked Aaron.

"I-I want to see him," said Adelaide, her face set.

Aaron nodded, and they waited for Friedrich and Axel to arrive.

---

"Adelaide!" gasped Friedrich as he and Axel entered Aaron’s office and saw her sitting there with Aaron and Natasha.

"Father," said Adelaide, trembling nervously.

Friedrich strode forward and pulled her into a hug.

"It’s so good to see you! I missed you so much!" he said, hugging her tightly, tears leaking out from his tightly shut eyes.

After what felt like an eternity, Friedrich let go of her, and looked her up and down. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"I see you’ve been doing pretty well, what brings you here?" he asked.

"Mom got a new job here. She’s at her orientation now," said Adelaide.

"I see," said Friedrich. He turned to Aaron.

"I’m sorry for bringing my family baggage into this, but what exactly is Dr. Messerschmitt working on here?" he asked.

"She’s our new genetic researcher and head of our new gene therapy department at Sirius Hospital," said Aaron.

"Why are you dabbling in genetic research?" asked Friedrich, as Axel and Adelaide exchanged greetings.

Aaron exchanged a glance with Natasha.

"We’ll discuss it later in private," he told Friedrich.

Friedrich nodded, and turned back to Adelaide.

"So Adelaide. What are your school plans?" he asked her.

"I’ve applied to St. Ignatius Academy, my entrance test is next week. I took a break from studying to explore the campus and ran into Mr. Zakhrov here, who was kind enough to give me a tour," replied Adelaide.

"I see. Well, I’m happy about that. And how is your mother?" asked Friedrich.

"Totally pissed. She had to doll herself up in a skirt and blazer with nail polish this morning. She grumbled and cursed, and called Mr. Zakhrov all sorts of names," giggled Adelaide.

"Oh, I can definitely picture that. Well, Aaron. I must say your corporate policies have tamed a shrew far better than I thought they would," chuckled Friedrich.

"Hey cousin Axel, you should check out Mr. Zakhrov’s car. It looks exactly like something you would make," said Adelaide.

"That’s because it is something I made. Herr Zakhrov was my mentor after I got kicked out of that Volkswagen internship. I gave him the first one off the production line," chuckled Axel.

Adelaide’s smile faded.

"I don’t know what Mom was thinking when she left. It seems you both got a massive jump ahead just as she left," she said.

"Well, I don’t actually blame her. I was up to my neck in controversy at the time, the unions were out for my blood, and the green party was screaming that my power plants were bomb factories and disasters waiting to happen," said Friedrich.

"Yeah, well, so much for the whole sticking together through good times and bad vow," grumbled Adelaide.

"That one is easy to say at the altar, it’s much harder when bad times actually come around," conceded Friedrich.

"Anyway, are you free this evening Cousin Adelaide? I want to show you the stuff I’ve built," asked Axel, trying to steer the conversation to a happier note.

"Well, I don’t know. Mom will be back in the evening," said Adelaide.

"In that case, let’s pay her a visit as well. I’d like to catch up with her. So you two kids can go off and have fun," chuckled Friedrich.

"OK, thanks, Father," said Adelaide, and she left with Axel.

---

"All right, Aaron. What’s this about gene therapy?" asked Friedrich.

Aaron gave him the short version of the genetic anomaly that Kavitha had discovered.

"Aaron, if what you are saying is true, then we are in extremely murky waters, and dealing with something that everyone, even in the scientific community believes is nothing but a hoax and conspiracy theory. And Alexandria is going to be in for a very nasty surprise," said Friedrich.

"Go on," said Aaron.

"I need to get into a bit of family history here, but it is necessary.

During college, it was Alexandria who pursued me first.

I was wary of her intentions, believing she was yet another gold digger after the Albrecht family fortune. However, she told me that she was after something far more insidious, my genes.

She wanted to bear a child that combined the best of her genetics with along with mine.

The result was Adelaide. We drifted apart in political views after marriage, but what sealed the deal for me back then, was her belief in eugenic breeding.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, eugenics was all the rage. It was that which gave rise to the Nazi Master Race theory, and all the insanity that caused.

However, as genetics as a science developed, that desire to perfect the human race never went away. Alexandria told me that there were rumors in her scientific circles about something called the Adam project.

A research project to engineer a perfect human being. However, as Cold War tensions started to dwindle, and ethical debates and tensions around cloning, mapping the human genome, and other such practices flared up, that idea was thought to be abandoned and killed off.

If what you are telling me is true, then your grandparents had perfected at least one goal of that project: to eliminate geriatrics and freeze the aging problem," explained Friedrich.

Aaron nodded.

"That’s why I’m investing in genetic research and gene therapy. While we know the benefits, I want to make sure that we can correct or reverse any adverse effects that my genes can cause. I didn’t ask for this, and I sure as hell don’t want to force it on those whom I care about," he said, looking at Natasha who blushed furiously.

"Well, yes. I can see why you are worried about it. And don’t worry, for all her faults as a wife, Alexandria is an excellent genetic expert, and is capable of separating ideology from scientific truth," said Friedrich.

"Onto more pleasant matters, how is the zone construction coming along?" asked Aaron.

"Swimmingly, thanks to the drones. And I’ve even put down my own version of your excellent NDAs and dress code mandates. While my female employees can wear pants, they are still held to exacting standards of presentation," chuckled Friedrich.

"So no more green faction problems?" asked Aaron.

"Those rats are getting a taste of their own medicine. A lot of them fled here in fact, and are pushing their poison among the more gullible of the American populace," growled Friedrich.

"True enough. I’ve heard that President Frank-Silverman has been granting them political asylum. Can’t blame her though," said Aaron.

"That’s true enough. Anyway, I’d like a breather before Hajime and Eric get here. And I’d like to meet Alexandria too," said Friedrich.

"Well then, let’s talk later when Hajime and Eric join us. Make yourself at home in the meantime," said Aaron, and Friedrich left his office to settle into a guest room.

---

"Is this some kind of sick joke?" demanded Alexandria as she looked over the genetic analysis that Kavitha had given her.

"I wish it was. I still wake up every morning and think that this thing was a mistake on my part," said Kavitha.

"Well, unfortunately it isn’t. Your initial findings were spot on. Aaron Zakhrov has the genetic equivalent of the fountain of youth. And here I thought I had finally made peace with the fact that the Adam Project was an urban legend among geneticists," sighed Alexandria.

"The Adam Project?" asked Kavitha.

"It was this hoax in East Germany that the Soviets had seized Nazi eugenics experiment data, and were researching how to create a so-called perfect breed of humans. The idea was to conquer the world not with money or control of resources, but raw superior intellect and clinical immortality. Everyone dismissed it as just wishful thinking," said Alexandria.

"Well apparently somebody managed it. This goes without saying, but this finding is extremely confidential," warned Kavitha.

"Hey, I’m not stupid. I know. Besides, even if we try to go public, nobody will believe us," said Alexandria.

"Well, that’s the crux of your research project. Find out exactly what this mutated genome does, and if it can be reversed or contained," said Kavitha.

"Yeah, sure. This is pretty much a one in a lifetime thing. You know what? It’s totally worth dolling up in a damn skirt suit every day," said Alexandria with a wry chuckle.

"I still recommend you get your work outfits from The Feminine Professional. They’re a lot easier on our poor unenhanced bodies," said Kavitha.

"Fine, fine, I’ll check them out," chuckled Alexandria, and got to work on analyzing Aaron’s and Ivan’s genomes.

---

"Welcome, Chancellor to the Sirius Zone Redevelopment Authority," said Michael DuPont, ushering Liesel into the office.

"Impressive," said Liesel, taking in the sleek black glass walls and the black glass round table where the other members sat.

"This is Elena Park, president of the SZRA, that there is Commissioner Richard Hastings of the SZPD, that is Margaret Smith, and Elliot Thompson representing the business owners, and this is Ivan Zakhrov who represents the residents," introduced Michael.

Liesel inclined her head in greeting at each of them.

"It is an honor to meet you all. Let me get right to the point. The UN, and the EU, in their infinite wisdom, have decided to place the same kinds of sanctions that Germany faced before the Second World War. However, this time around, instead of military domination, I am here to propose a cultural exchange program with the Sirius Zone. Germany will export its cultural heritage here in the form of cuisine, film and media, and other arts, in exchange for education and employment opportunities for our youth," she said.

"I don’t see any downsides to that. All in favor?" asked Elena.

"No objections, but how do we pull this off?" asked Ivan.

"The German government will fund German themed restaurants, and set up centers for German language learning, as well as scholarships and student exchange programs at both high-school and university level," said Liesel.

"And we will zone, manage and protect them from hostile influences like those Green factions who fled here," said Michael.

"A cultural bulwark eh? I guess that will work," said Richard.

"Very well, let’s draw up the paperwork," said Elena.