Students, faculty and other onlookers frowned and shook their heads as the long, wide and low slung, black, angular coupe entered the University of Berlin's main campus parking lot. A deep purring emanated from its engine as it slowly drove past the rows of unassuming electric cars plugged into charging ports, seeking an empty spot. The large air intake cut-outs in the long sloping hood, the single row of six large black exhaust ports jutting at a slight upward angle from the rear, and the massive rear wing, gave it the appearance of a jet-fighter taxing on a runway.
A group of students, wearing orange vests and carrying a Just Stop Oil slogan, quickly assembled in front of the car blocking its path.
The car showed no signs of stopping, and continued its menacing approach.
Self-preservation won out over ideology for several of the activists, who quickly moved out of the way.
The more zealous members sat on the ground, even as the car drew closer.
An ear-splitting roar rent the air as two massive black BMW racing motorcycles surged ahead of the car and stopped in front of the seated activists.
The riders, dressed in black leather racing suits and full-faced helmets, with menacing black rifles strapped to their backs, dismounted from the bikes, seized the activists and tossed them out of the way like rag-dolls.
The car's engine turned from a deep purr to a banshee-like howl as it accelerated and shot past the disorganized activists.
Finally, the car swung into an empty parking spot, and with a final growl, its engine cut-out.
The driver-side door swung upwards in a scissor motion, and its occupant, Adelaide Albrecht, emerged: a statuesque, slender young woman with elbow-length, silky, straight blond hair, flawless alabaster white skin, and cold, piercing aquamarine blue eyes.
Her black, form-fitting, tailored blazer, buttoned over a crisp white blouse and black tie, with a black pencil skirt reaching just above her black pantyhose-covered knees, gave her an aura of classic sophistication.
Her security detail smoothly parked their powerful motorcycles on either side of her car.
"Keep those climate obsessed vermin away from my car, by any means necessary," ordered Adelaide.
Her guards saluted in acknowledgement, and with a swish of her hair, Adelaide strode towards the main administrative building, her glistening black leather knee-high boots with wickedly sharp, gleaming metal stiletto heels ringing out an intimidating clip-clopping sound on the concrete surface of the parking lot.
----
Yosef Frank, the clerk manning the admissions office looked up as Adelaide approached, his greeting caught in his throat and he broke out into a cold sweat on seeing Adelaide.
Adelaide regarded Yosef with a haughty stare. His white curly hair and beard, along with his cream-colored cardigan, and brown eyes magnified by his spectacles, gave him the appearance of a plump sheep.
She opened her black leather satchel and pulled out a plush folder of documents, which she handed to Yosef.
"Good morning, Herr Frank. I'm Adelaide Albrecht, I am here to apply for the business administration and entrepreneurship course," she said, her voice sent a shiver down Yosef's spine.
"O-of course, Fräulein Albrecht," stammered Yosef, taking the folder from her black leather-gloved hand with trembling fingers.
"Calm down! Don't read too much into her appearance! She's just a young girl, here to study!" thought Yosef furiously, fighting down the feeling that Adelaide's appearance seemed almost too perfect.
Adelaide's full, black lipstick-coated lips curled into a cruel smile, as Yosef broke eye contact, and quickly and efficiently went through her documents, entering the relevant information into his computer.
"H-here you go, Fräulein Albrecht. Please report to Auditorium 1 for your orientation," said Yosef, handing Adelaide her freshly processed student ID card.
"Thank you, Herr Frank," replied Adelaide, taking the card from his trembling fingers and walking away, her boot heels clicking sharply on the smooth, tiled floor.
----
Adelaide carefully adjusted her skirt, and sat with her feet crossed at the ankles in the spacious auditorium.
Students carefully avoided the chairs on either side of her as they filed in and waited for the orientation to start.
Adelaide for her part, focused on the lectern, from which the dean of the university would give his address.
"My expectations have not been met so far. Surely there are others from my kind of background and heritage here?" she thought as the dean began his address, going over the proud history of the university, and its commitment to social justice, diversity and inclusion.
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" asked a cute-sounding, high-pitched voice, in slow, but fluent German.
Adelaide looked away from the dean's lectern to see a petite Japanese girl standing next to her, indicating the empty seat on her right.
"Not at all, please, be my guest," said Adelaide in fluent Japanese, startling the girl.
"Thank you, your Japanese is excellent!" said the girl switching to Japanese. She sank into the chair, adjusted her long tan skirt and pulled her cream-colored jacket tighter around her.
"I can speak it well enough, though I still struggle with the writing systems," said Adelaide, giving the girl a small smile.
"My name is Tomoe Yamamoto. Nice to meet you," Tomoe introduced herself with a small bow.
"I'm Adelaide Albrecht, it's nice to meet you too," replied Adelaide.
"Which course have you taken Albrecht-San?" asked Tomoe, paying no attention to the droning of the dean.
"Business and entrepreneurship, and I've taken a credit course on nuclear physics," replied Adelaide.
"I see! In that case we'll be classmates. I'm in the business and entrepreneurship course as well! I wanted to take it in Japan, but my father insisted that I 'broaden my horizons'," grumbled Tomoe.
"Your father is right, I myself studied in Tokyo for a year. It gave me valuable insight and appreciation for your country and your people," said Adelaide.
Tomoe blinked, then hastily gave Adelaide an apologetic bow.
"My apologies, Albrecht-San. I meant no disrespect to your country. My nationalism got the better of me," she said.
"Apology accepted, and nationalism respected. So, I take it that you are here for a similar reason that I was in Tokyo," said Adelaide, smiling as Tomoe flushed and squirmed.
"Yes. I'm here because my family has close business relations with a company here, and I am meant to become our new executive liaison," said Tomoe with a rueful chuckle.
"I think we'll get along well Yamamoto-San, let's drop the formalities and honorifics," said Adelaide, extending her hand.
"I think so too, Adelaide," giggled Tomoe shaking Adelaide's gloved hand without hesitation.
The dean ended his address, and the various heads of departments took over, giving the students taking various courses and tracks instructions on how to get to their respective classes.
Adelaide and Tomoe rose, and proceeded to their first class: Economics 101.