005: DR. ANGEL.

Chapter 10: A Chilling Task

Jon, having dressed up after the revealing analysis in the lab, made his way to meet General Zhu. The air in the room seemed heavy with the weight of unresolved mysteries. As Jon entered, he found General Zhu sighing, a tired expression etched on his face.

"What's the news?" General Zhu asked, not bothering to look up from the papers scattered on his desk.

"It's not Patient Zero. Likely Patient 100. The virus is evolving, becoming more resilient," Jon reported, his voice carrying the burden of disappointment.

General Zhu sighed once more, the weight of the ongoing crisis evident in his tired eyes. Without lifting his gaze, he reached for a folder on his cluttered desk and handed it to Jon.

"Take this. You need to seduce Dr. ANGEL in 2006 and find the formula used to create the ANL Virus. Understood?"

Jon's sigh mirrored the heaviness in the room. "Understood."

As he left the room, Jon's thoughts turned to Joanna. The juxtaposition of his personal life and the demands of his mission created an internal conflict.

The mission, ruthless in its objectives, demanded sacrifices, even if they entailed personal losses.

In a quiet moment, General Zhu's stern voice cut through Jon's contemplation. "It doesn't matter if you don't do this. You better find a lead next time, or your girlfriend won't be the only one disposed of."

The chilling words hung in the air. Jon, torn between duty and personal connections, clenched his fists.

The harsh reality of his role as a regressor, where missions took precedence over personal lives, sank in.

The mission, relentless in its demands, held the power to dictate the fates of those entangled in its web.

With the folder in hand, Jon steeled himself for the next regression, a journey that would require him to navigate the complexities of 2006 and seduce the enigmatic figure behind the creation of the ANL Virus.

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2006.

Days till Outbreak: 99.

Returning near the facility, Jon smoothed the neckline of his shirt, adjusting to the temporal shift that had just occurred. He re-entered the building, adopting the persona of Dr. Jon Doeth, a name he had chosen in the absence of parental ties.

His first challenge was to locate his office. Navigating the bustling corridors, Jon approached a nurse with a polite inquiry, "Excuse me, can you help me find my office?"

The nurse looked at him, a bit puzzled. "Are you new here? I don't recall seeing you before."

"Yes, just got my credentials sorted. Dr. Jon Doeth," Jon explained with a friendly smile.

The nurse, though still uncertain, decided to assist Jon. Together, they wound through the labyrinth of corridors until they reached a practitioner room conveniently situated next to Dr. ANGEL's office.

"Here's your room," the nurse said, glancing at Jon with a mix of curiosity and friendliness.

"Thank you," Jon replied, appreciating the help.

As the nurse departed, Jon stepped into the practitioner room, contemplating the delicate balance of his mission. With Dr. ANGEL's office just a thin wall away, Jon knew he had to tread carefully in the intricate dance of deception that awaited him.

Jon glanced into the mirror of his temporary practitioner room, adjusting his appearance for the role he had assumed. As he did, he noticed the door slightly ajar. A voice reached him from the corridor.

"Dr. Mathur," the voice paused, "who are you?"

Angel, intrigued by the unfamiliar voice, looked at Jon with confusion as she entered the corridor. The man seemed equally surprised but quickly composed himself, offering a friendly smile.

"Dr. Jon Doeth, new here. Nice to meet you," Jon introduced himself, extending a hand. "Miss...?"

She replied, "Angel."

He continued with a charming grin, "What an angelic name. Would you like coffee? Women do love my coffee."

"No, I'm good. But where's Mathur?" Angel inquired, her confusion lingering.

Jon, maintaining his friendly demeanor, explained, "Not sure. I was just looking for my office and ended up here. Must have mistaken the door."

In the days that followed, Jon's encounters with Angel remained brief—limited to polite hellos and goodbyes.

However, there was a constant in these fleeting moments: Jon's warm smile. Angel, an average-looking woman by societal standards, found herself blushing under the unexpected attention.

Jon, with his calculated charm, decided to break the routine.

One day, he mustered the courage to invite Angel for coffee.

Surprised but intrigued, she agreed and joined him for a break in their busy schedules.

The café atmosphere provided a casual backdrop for their conversation.

Jon, sipping his coffee, decided to steer the conversation towards the virus outbreak. "What's your perspective on outbreaks?" he casually inquired.

To his surprise, Angel's eyes gleamed with a strange intensity. "It's like testing the world, treating them like rats in a box. Observing their reactions, their desperation—it's fascinating."

Jon's eyes subtly condensed, caught off guard by the depth of her dark desires. "That's quite an unusual perspective," he remarked cautiously.

Angel, unfazed, continued to share her unsettling thoughts. "Imagine the power, the control. It's intoxicating."

Feeling a need to shift the atmosphere, Jon offered, "How about I take you home?"

Angel, her curiosity undiminished, agreed with a nod. She was liking this man.