Empire State University.

Dr. Curtis Connors Office.

The late afternoon light squeezed past the black blinds, giving the dimly lit office some radiance.

Rows of small shelves filled with archaic tomes stood on both sides of the black wooden desk. Papers and opened books were scattered chaotically across the desk's surface, vividly encapsulating the scholarly nature of the office owner.

The whiteboard behind the desk was covered with roughly scribbled strings of fantastical equations and incomplete formulas. Some sections of the creamy walls weren't spared from the blue marker's pointy assault.

This messy outlook embodied Dr. Curtis Connors' frustrations as he continuously rubbed his throbbing temples. He sat over his untidy desk, his eyes obsessively staring at his lifelong research on the 24-inch monitor.

But what was the point of obsession if he couldn't achieve his goals? Dr. Connors was slowly sinking into the abyss. Without a breakthrough, he feared he might go mad.

How long? How long has he researched the uniqueness of Class Reptilia, especially the miraculous limb regeneration exhibited by the lizards? Dr. Connors didn't care to count. After losing half of his arm during his time as a military surgeon in the US Army, he focused all of his hopes on resolving his crippled status via his research. No, he wasn't a cripple. That's how he had always reminded himself. A scientist was never a cripple if they still have an intact mind to come up with a solution. Defects were meant to be corrected, just like how he sought after the key to regenerative biology, day in and day out.

"What's the missing link to unify this flawed equation? Why are all my calculations leading to dead ends? Am I pursuing something unachievable? No, no, science always has a way," Dr. Connors mumbled in a low voice as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the headache that threatened to overtake him. Then he sighed in exasperation before removing his round glasses and placing them over the cluttered papers.

"Each human genome is genetically expressed differently from the reptilian genes. While the two DNAs can easily undergo hybridization through the incomplete Connor's formula, the stability is short-lived and collapses after a few seconds."

"I seek permanence, not some cheap thrills," he angrily gritted his teeth before sweeping away some papers off the desk.

"Who will show me God's equation? I reject inferiority!" Dr. Connors' voice trembled with emotions as he glanced at his crippled arm.

***

When Joe arrived outside the magnificent gates of Empire State University, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. The familiar modern architecture of the towering buildings with stained glass windows greeted him the moment he walked past the gates. Everything looked the way he remembered as he inspected the surroundings.

Joe inhaled the calming scent of freshly mowed grass and pruned bushes. There was an evident vibrant energy in the university's atmosphere as numerous students chattered and laughed as they discussed whatever they were discussing. Some students walked in a hurry for their afternoon classes, perfectly knowing they were late.

'Why do I feel detached from all of this? This past?' he wondered, his figure receiving several curious glances from his fellow students. Wait, could he still be considered a student? Yes. You could still be considered a student as long as you were learning anything new each day. Even a teacher had much more things to learn. Knowledge had no definite end.

As Joe observed the students, their laughter and hurried footsteps seemed distant, almost trivial. He couldn't help but imagine the chaos that would ensue if they knew the extent of his knowledge—a knowledge that would make their four years here feel like a futile exercise.

'Anyway, there's no reason to compare myself to those lesser than me considering my tremendous advantage. It ain't fun,' Joe pondered, a small grin tugging at the corners of his lips.

From his peripheral vision, he noticed a group of students pointing at him while whispering amongst themselves. Most of them were women as they began swarming toward him with star-struck eyes.

"Ugh, sometimes I hate being a famous idol. My cursed looks and the adoration they show me..." Joe's smile wavered as he observed those people moving in slow motion. His temporal perception had massively strengthened after being exposed to small traces of quantum energy. Another factor was his reaction speed. When you can perfectly move beyond supersonic at your maximum limit, you can selectively choose how you interact with your environment. That's why Joe always chose to turn off some aspects of his superhuman senses.

Before those mad fans could devour him and waste his time, Joe escaped into the campus building. Of course, he didn't use any powers. It was too risky; too many eyes were watching. He had to meet Dr. Connors, just as he had previously intended.

***

While Dr. Connors was lost in endless thoughts, a gentle yet audible knock sounded at the door. He was jolted from his musings and returned to the present.

'Who could it be?' he arched his brows in confusion. He alternated his gaze between the door and the cluttered mess on his desk. 'I can't tidy up now. I hope they overlook this mess.'

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Connors hurriedly picked up the fallen A4 papers on the ground and piled them onto the desk.

"Come in," Dr. Connors called out as he tried to find a comfortable posture in his seat.

The door finally creaked open, and a face which he hadn't seen for over ten months came into view.

Dr. Connors narrowed his eyes, thinking maybe he had suddenly been afflicted by macular degeneration.

Returning his glasses to his face, Dr. Connors asked in a surprised tone. "Petersen, is that you?"

The young man in front of him differed from the boy he knew several months ago. He had an imposing presence and a remarkable aura of confidence. His sapphire blue eyes were clear, like pools of mystical waters. It was as if he could see through the essence of any phenomenon, be it a human or the toughest mathematical equation.

It was a ridiculous thought, even for someone like him, a revered scientist proficient in genetics and biochemistry.

"Hello, Professor Connors. It's me, Joe Petersen," Joe introduced himself, secretly amused by his totally justified reaction. He had truly changed - not just physically, but also aura-wise.

"Oh, Petersen. You surprised me because you somehow seem different after not seeing you for a while," Dr. Connors said, his expression softening before he motioned Joe to enter and take a seat.

"Thanks."

Joe nodded and closed the door behind him. In just a second, his eyes scanned everything in the room. The poor handwriting scribbled over the whiteboard, a section of the wall, and the papers captured his attention. The rough mathematical equations and incomplete biochemical expressions immediately gave him an idea about the doctor's research.

Joe smiled inwardly as he took his seat.

"How have you been, Petersen? Sorry about your mother. It must have been hard on you." Dr. Connors leaned forward, a sympathetic expression on his face.

With a resolute look on his face, Joe replied. "It was the hardest time of my life. However, I somehow managed to pull through it. Life goes on even as the memories remain."

"Very true. It's saddening because that's the dark fate of us humans," Dr. Connors agreed as he leaned back in his seat.

"So, to what do I owe your presence? Because of your leave of absence, you're now a year behind your peers."

"That's what I came for. I came to graduate early," Joe declared, a confident smile playing on his lips.

"W-What?" Connors heavily furrowed his brows, shock traveling through his body.

"I want to graduate early. During my absence, I covered a lot of things and contemplated the direction my life will take," Joe responded, strongly emphasizing his claim.

Connors studied him for a few moments as if looking for the ultimate decision. He would be lying if he said his certainty didn't infect him. It was an intriguing

Connors already knew about Joe's recent worldwide fame in game development. It was an achievement that put him above his peers. He was miles ahead in the societal standings.

It was only due to those reasons that Connors thought it was worth giving it a try. Maybe his genius in game development could be replicated in a gruesome field, like biochemistry.

"I hope you're not joking. If you want to graduate earlier, you have to be truly exceptional and extremely brilliant. There are a lot of steps you can take to convince everyone you are worthy of an early graduation."

"I'm going to give you a graduate-level exam. Do you mind?"

Connors fixed his glasses before opening his drawer and retrieving a thick bundle of examination papers. He sneaked a glance at him to gauge his reaction. However, Joe's expression never faltered. In fact, his eyes looked hungry for those graduate-level exams.

The hardest exam? Nah, he had the ultimate skill [Megamind].

"Ready when you are, Professor."

After Joe received the exam, he meticulously wrote his name and enrollment number. He wasn't as impatient as his past self. When he had been in Midtown High, he had cultivated a small habit of failing to include his name on the exam paper. As he reminisced about the past, perfectly organized information on advanced biochemistry and molecular biology appeared in his mind.

It only took him fifty minutes to scribble down overly detailed answers to the complex essays that could make grad students surrender. If that wasn't enough, Joe also wrote several alternative answers since he could. It was a frightening scene.

"I'm done." Joe returned the neatly arranged papers to the professor.

Connors curbed his surprise and began examining the answers, especially those tied to the most troublesome questions in the test.

"Petersen, t-this..." Connors stammered, a clear look of astonishment plastered on his face.

"This is a perfect score. You've even written alternative solutions, showing a two-way approach toward a question!" He exclaimed.

Joe grinned, the outcome as inevitable as his smile suggested.

"This incredible achievement certainly deserves recognition."

'Go on.'

"I'll speak to the board and convince them about your capabilities. Prepare to be tested even more. You might even be asked for an original research paper. The academic board of professors has the qualifications to be that demanding."

'I've done it.' Joe fisted his hand under the desk.

After that, the two began having an in-depth discussion about real-world issues revolving around Biochemistry. Dr. Connors was amazed by Joe's genius, which further elevated his status in his eyes.

"By the way, professor, I have read your papers on herpetology and regenerative medicine. I was deeply impressed by the thought-provoking, cross-species module you included," Joe casually mentioned, intending to make Dr. Connors share his research willingly since he had already established a level of trust.

It was due to this fact that he dared. Among scientists, it was taboo to ask them directly to share their research. Joe had to be tactical. While his research on stem cells was great, it didn't fall behind Connor's obsession with limb regeneration. If Connor's formula were perfected, it would be more valuable than even stem cell technology.

"Oh, you also read about that?" Connors raised his brow while smiling, feeling some pride that his research was recognized.

"Yeah. But I think something is missing, right? Just like how two different spatial regions can be connected via an Eisen-Rosen bridge, your Connor's formula lacks a stable link—a connection," Joe vaguely spoke, garnering even more curiosity from the professor.

Joe knew he had already led the professor to where he wanted him to be by using his obsession.

Connors' heart nearly missed a beat because of Joe's monstrous analysis, which was on-point. Just from little details of his research, he had already concluded that his formula was flawed. Maybe Joe was just what he needed to realize the full potential of his dream.

"Do you know... Do you know how to inhibit the collapse of the two genomes? How can I tame the lizard genes from overpowering the human ones? What do I need to balance them?" Connors desperately asked as he leaned forward in anticipation.

Connors had a feeling that Joe knew something. Even if it was just a little, it could still lessen his current dilemma. He needed that spark of inspiration.

"Mad science problems require mad science solutions," Joe lightly stated in a tone full of mystery. He then took a blank paper and a pen. He began sketching a few organic structures, chemical formulas, reversible reactions, mathematical equations, and finally, the Decay Rate Algorithm.

Those simple actions almost made Connors jump from his seat with impatience.

"Professor, this is what you're looking for. The source code to limb regeneration," Joe said in a nonchalant tone as he presented the paper.

"Rejoice aplenty."

With trembling hands, Connors received it, treating the fresh formula as the most precious thing in the world.

"Is this... the ultimate link?" Connors skimmed through the formula, his mind going into overdrive.

Joe nodded in reassurance.

'If this decay rate algorithm is as powerful as he claims, then... won't I be able to regrow my lost arm?' Connors' mind was in a state of chaos as he experienced various emotions in one moment.

There was hope.

"This is too valuable, Petersen. How can I repay you?"

"There's no need for that. I think you've already repaid me by recommending to the board for my graduation request."

"That's so little compared to your help."

Joe waved his hand. "Professor, I've already made my decision."

'Your Connor's Formula is now inside my mental library. If I perfect it and re-create the serum...' he restrained his inner excitement.

'Sorry doc, the decay rate algorithm is indeed the connection you've been looking for. However, it's still a temporary solution if you get impatient.'

After the Professor vehemently declared that Joe would be treated as a special case, Joe eventually bid his goodbyes while in a jovial mood.

No, both parties ended up satisfied. As for Dr. Connors' fate, Joe had no comments toward that.

Wasn't fate always in your hands or something like that? Only Connors could determine his own outcome.

***

[Word Count 2407]