The Nexus.

Later, I found myself wandering into the woods behind my house. The serenity of the trees and the gentle rustle of leaves provided the perfect atmosphere for reflection. I sat down with my legs crossed, closed my eyes, and began meditating. My focus was inward, on myself, on understanding what I wanted to achieve. I visualized outcomes, concentrating on shaping my desires into reality.

Minutes passed as I sat there in silence, lost in thought. It was then that I felt it—a faint, unexplainable presence. I opened my eyes cautiously, scanning the area, and then I saw it: a small kitten. It padded softly toward me, meowing curiously. As it circled me, its intent became clear. Its thoughts were innocent and simple. The kitten wanted me to care for it, to take it home and make it part of my world.

I extended a hand, petting the kitten gently as it allowed itself to get closer. But before I could truly connect with it, the kitten vanished, as if it had never existed. Shocked, I froze in place, unsure of what had just happened. A wave of panic rushed over me—had I imagined it? My confusion lasted only a moment before the kitten suddenly reappeared, sitting in front of me once more.

Relief washed over me, and realization struck: I had made this happen. Somehow, my desire for the kitten to return had manifested it. However, the kitten, perhaps sensing the intensity of the moment, became frightened and darted back into the woods. I felt terrible, and guilty for scaring it away, but I also understood that chasing after it blindly would accomplish nothing. Instead, I resolved to continue my training.

I had to understand my abilities better, to know their limits and their potential. One particular skill intrigued me: hearing thoughts. I wanted to see if I could tune into someone's mind from a distance—my brother's, specifically. I sat down again, removed my socks and shoes, and began walking in a slow circle with my eyes closed, focusing deeply.

At first, there was only silence. The forest was calm, offering no insights. But as I continued, a strange sensation began to build. A ringing sound filled my head, growing louder with each step. My brain felt warm, almost as if it were heating up from within. The warmth wasn't painful, but it was intense enough to command my attention. Soon, my eyes began to feel dry, matching the heat in my mind.

Then it happened—a voice, faint but clear, broke through the silence.

"Aaliah, you broke my phone!" It was my brother, Booker, yelling.

"Don't yell at me, idiot! It's not my fault!" Aaliah shouted back, her tone defensive and sharp.

I could feel Booker's energy shift at her words. Something changed in him, a reaction fueled by the insult. Suddenly, the world around me transformed. I was no longer in the woods but standing in our living room. Booker's brown eyes had turned an unnatural, gleaming blue, and the entire house shook violently as objects floated into the air.

"I told you to stop calling me names, Aaliah," Booker said, his voice layered with a strange, polyphonic quality.

Aaliah's response was swift. She released a shockwave that repelled the floating objects around her, creating a momentary pause in the chaos. But I knew things were escalating fast, too fast. I sprinted toward the house, bursting through the door just as their fight moved into the backyard.

Booker stood there, emanating a visible blue energy that pulsed with raw power. He tore a section of the wooden fence from the ground and hurled it toward Aaliah. Without hesitation, she countered with a bolt of electricity that vaporized the projectile mid-air.

"Stop it!" I yelled, desperate to break through their fury. But they were too consumed by their emotions to hear me.

Booker raised his hands, creating a massive blue energy field that grew larger with every motion. At the same time, Aaliah summoned a thunderstorm, the clear skies darkening as thunder roared above us. Their powers collided in a climactic standoff, and I realized I had to act.

As their attacks converged—a bolt of lightning from Aaliah and a surge of energy from Booker—I made a split-second decision. My instincts kicked in, and somehow, I split into two versions of myself. One rushed toward Aaliah, the other toward Booker. Together, we intercepted their attacks, suppressing the destructive forces before they could cause harm. The energy dissipated, leaving only silence in its wake.

Before we could recover, a fleet of drones descended upon us, emblazoned with the words "Sentinel Solutions." Heavily armed operatives surrounded us, their weapons trained on our every move.

"Do not resist," one of them ordered. "You are under arrest for violating MHR-100: irresponsible use of metahuman abilities."

Collars and cuffs were snapped onto us, restraining our powers, and we were herded into an armored truck. As the vehicle rumbled down the road, my thoughts spiraled. What would happen to us? What would Mom say?

The drive lasted about forty-five minutes before we arrived at Sentinel Solutions headquarters. The facility was massive, a towering structure with an intimidating presence. We were escorted inside, and taken to an elevator that descended deep underground. Once there, the guards separated us, locking each of us in isolated rooms.

The restraints made it impossible to move freely. I leaned against the cold steel wall, my mind racing with questions. What did they want from us? What would they do?

Eventually, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. They stopped outside my door, which opened to reveal a man I recognized instantly: Joe Wann, the CEO of Sentinel Solutions. He entered the room flanked by two guards.

"Sorry about the rough introduction," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "It's standard procedure."

The guards helped me into a chair across from him. Wann dismissed them and leaned forward, his gaze sharp and calculating.

"You probably already know who I am, so let's skip the introductions," he began. "This facility isn't just a prison. It's a refuge for people like you—people with unique abilities."

I didn't respond, my eyes fixed on the table between us.

"But you're not like the others," Wann continued, his tone shifting. "Not even your brother or sister compare to what you are capable of. You're something else entirely."

His words sent a chill down my spine.

"You possess a power that ties directly to the origin of all metahumans," he said, his voice filled with a strange mix of reverence and curiosity. "You have what we call Ultimate Manipulation."

I sat upright at his words, my attention fully on him now.

"Ah," Wann said with a grin. "Now you're listening."