Not A Date
Finally, it was date night. Well, it was the afternoon of date night. Taking into account that Pam was in her mid-20s I had decided to change my age to 25 to make sure she wouldn't have to deal with stares as she would be seen on a date with a 16-year-old. After all, my clone body is still that of a 16-year-old Garfield Logan.
I had mentioned this to her so she would know before the date. She was aware of my situation because I made sure to tell her the bare bones of it. However she informed me that April had told her about my physical age and how my mentality didn't match. She was remarkably uncurious about the whole thing.
I had decided to go with a casual outfit of brown mountain boots and faded blue jeans. My shirt was a button-up black silk with dark green buttons and long sleeves that had a low collar. It looked good on me with both my green skin and my suntanned white skin. I wore a white T-shirt under the black one so I could have the buttons half undone to give me a more casual look. I left my hair green with black roots and a wind-blown style. Besides, 5 minutes on the bike and that's what it would be anyway.
I checked my phone again for the tickets to make sure we could go right in and then I did the usual phone, keys, and wallet check before heading out of my room. I made it halfway down the steps before I remembered the Atlantean plant gift for Pam. I ran back up to grab it and shook my head at myself, hopefully, the ride to the Garden would calm me down. I waved to Arnie, "Headed out." Then walked to my bike and kicked it to life, then drove to Robinson Park where the Wayne Botanical Gardens was located.
Once I got to the Wayne Botanical Garden, I texted Pam and told her where I had parked and what I was wearing. We didn't want to ruin our first impressions with pictures over the phone. Just a couple of minutes later I received a reply.
-(Scene shift)-
About 30 minutes earlier.
An exceptionally attractive woman was straightening out the leaves of a giant plant that looked freshly planted and whispering calm words to it as she arranged it. Squatting down next to the plant she wore a white lab coat over an aqua green button-up shirt, skintight black pants, and green mid-heel shoes completed her outfit. She wore a pair of light green thin-framed glasses that tried to hide her deep green eyes, her vibrant red hair was in a bun, but several strands had broken free to outline her face in a careless look that would be ideal for any magazine cover.
A woman approached where the redhead was squatting and heard her prize employee talking to the newly acquired Welwitschia Mirabilis plant. She was in her late 40's and of Asian descent, though born in America. She wore a light pink shirt and cream-colored pants all covered by her own white lab coat. She was holding her ever-present red coffee cup with a yellow smiley face on it and said, "I knew I was smart to bring you on staff, Pam."
Pam, "Tell that to Grimley," She motioned towards an elderly man in a wheelchair who was currently giving the ladies a disapproving sneer.
Luisa, "Oh, just ignore him. He still thinks women have no place in the sciences. Especially plant sciences."
Pam, "Then how did you get me hired here in the first place? I am sure there is no end of applicants that would happily stroke his ego for him."
Luisa, "I showed him your research in Transgenic Hybrids. HA ha, He thought P.I. Isley PhD was a man and I had no interest in correcting his assumption."
A voice sounded from the entry to this wing of the building. "Okay class, gather around."
Luisa, "Oh good, they're finally here."
Pam, "Are those... Children?"
Luisa, "They are students from Gotham Academy."
Pam, "I need to check on my experiments."
Luisa, "Oh no you don't. I am NOT doing this alone. The Wayne Foundation funds us, remember? This is a small price to pay to keep in their good graces."
Pam, "That worthless playboy only funds it because his mother started it." she mumbled under her breath.
Luisa, "Hello class. I'm Doctor Luisa Cruz, one of the plant sciences specialists here. You're just in time to see Doctor Pamela Isley, our newest researcher, planting our latest acquisition. It's called The Living Fossil. Anyone know why?"
Silver-haired student, "Cuz it's old?"
Luisa, "Exactly. Thousands of years old. Lots of plants live longer than animals. Birch, Maple, Ash... These trees can live between 100 and 120 years. The Willow can live up to 400 years." Luisa gestured to her pride and joy of the exhibit, "Taxus Baccata, the Yew. Anyone want to guess how long this tree can live?"
The same silver-haired student, "500 years?"
Luisa, "Try five thousand years." She then gestured towards Pam, "Now Doctor Isley will show you what we are working on together. Let's go into the lab, shall we."
Pam led the children into the lab where they saw another scientist marking results on a clipboard as he walked between tables.
Pam, "Imagine if we could take the most desirable traits of all species, plant and animal, then combine them."
Blond male student, "Aren't plants and animals really different?"
Pam reached out and grabbed a banana off the table. "Well, yes and no. All living organisms share similar DNA. Sixty percent of human DNA is actually the same as this banana here."
Black-haired female student, "Well that's all nice in theory. So, are you creating new GMO hybrids?"
The scientist marking the charts, a blond middle-aged man noticed Pam was holding his banana, "Hey, that's my lunch. You can pay me back by taking me to dinner." he noticed the class that entered and said, "Ohh, forbidden fruit, young and sweet." He didn't say it loud enough for anyone but Pam to hear.
Pam ignored the blond guy and answered the black-haired female student, "It's more than theoretical. Mice like these normally die after six months or so." She pointed to some common white mice in a cage. "These have been injected with a serum derived from a combination of the plant you saw outside. These mice are now a year old."
As Luisa was telling the students about the resident asshole Albert Grimley and his mediocre accomplishments, her phone chimed to notify her of a text message. She quickly typed a return message and excused herself from the class.
-(Scene Shift)-
Within a minute Logan pulled his phone from his pocket and read [Just come inside and find a security guard, then tell him you are a guest of Dr. Isley, and you need him to bring you to me.]
With a sinking feeling in my stomach, I swore to myself and then thought (No Way she agreed for a date in the place where she works. Right!) Shaking my head, I walk inside to find the nearest guard and tell him "I'm here to see Dr Pam Isley please." I have to be kind to my own kind.
He replied, "Yes, she just informed us you would be arriving. Let's get you a visitors' badge and then I will take you to her."
I thanked him and then we quickly got me a badge and he led me to a side wing of the garden. Where I watched a young school-age boy picking a berry from a tree, I saw a gorgeous redhead in a lab coat walk past him and then stop and tell him, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. Those Berries are VERY poisonous."
The young boy quickly dropped the berry in fright and yelped, "Yikes!"
She watched as the young boy quickly rejoined the group he was with and then she started my way again. This was a very beautiful woman, filled out as all women wish they could be. While she had no muscle showing she was not a skinny girl, the word voluptuous was made for her. As she drew near me, I began to feel a connection to her, an instinctive liking if you will. I could tell that she wasn't of The Red but I still felt a friendly connection through the flow.
I saw her pause and clutch at her stomach, then look at me questioningly. I gave her a nod and said, "Hello Pam. Please tell me you didn't agree for me to take you out on a date to the place you worked. Because that is no date."