The Nexus.

"What is Ultimate Manipulation?" I asked, leaning forward, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. Joe Wann, standing across from me, crossed his arms, exuding calm authority. His eyes narrowed slightly, calculating, as though weighing how much truth I could handle.

"Ultimate Manipulation," he began, his voice deliberate and even, "is the power to manipulate everything."

His words hung heavy in the air, but he wasn't finished. "It is a limitless ability—one that knows no bounds. To wield Ultimate Manipulation is to transcend the natural laws of reality itself. It is to stand at the apex of power, unparalleled and unrivaled. If what I've seen is accurate," he paused for effect, "you may very well be the strongest being in the entire universe."

The gravity of his statement left me speechless, my thoughts racing. Strongest being? Universe? It sounded more like a myth than a reality I could accept.

"Why did you call me that?" I managed to ask, my voice tinged with suspicion.

"A being?" he asked rhetorically, tilting his head slightly. "Yes, a being. The user of Ultimate Manipulation is no longer on the same level as mortal man. You've stepped into the dominion of the creator—a realm where few can even fathom existing."

I leaned back in my chair, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. Was this some kind of manipulation? A lie? Or was he genuinely describing what I was? My chest tightened with unease.

Joe seemed to sense my inner turmoil. His tone softened, and he leaned forward slightly. "I know this is a lot to process. It's not every day you're told you're 'the one.' But it's the truth. You are indeed the one."

I shook my head, rejecting his claim. It felt too massive, too overwhelming. "No," I said under my breath, trying to dismiss the idea. "This can't be true."

Joe didn't push back against my denial. Instead, he offered me an alternative. "If it's too much for you," he began, his voice calm and measured, "I can remove the power entirely. Take this burden off your shoulders. You won't have to deal with it anymore."

The idea hit me like a slap. Lose my abilities? Never. They were a part of me, even if they were tangled with chaos and responsibility. Yet the thought of freedom from this mess was tempting. My thoughts were at war, and Joe could tell.

"I can take the anxiety away for good," he said, his arms unfolding as he stepped closer. "But this offer won't last forever. You have to decide."

I looked up at him, searching for sincerity in his expression. Finally, I shook my head. "No," I said firmly. "What happens now?"

Joe's demeanor shifted instantly, the softness replaced by a more serious tone. "You and your siblings have committed the greatest crime a metahuman can: using your gifts irresponsibly."

As he spoke, a projector descended from the ceiling, casting a bright light on the wall behind him. A video began to play, showcasing Sentinel Solutions. It depicted smiling individuals of all ages, each of them learning to hone their unique abilities. The footage painted a picture of harmony and progress, culminating in a group photo of metahumans and staff standing in a wide, open field, united under the banner of the organization.

"My corporation exists to help people like us," Joe said softly, his tone almost compassionate.

"People like us?" I asked, my interest piqued despite my wariness.

He raised a hand and conjured a shimmering purple forcefield against the wall. Its light filled the room, captivating me. "Yes," he said. "If you join us, you'll unlock your true potential. You'll learn to save lives—millions of them."

He gestured to a poster of Astrion, the great hero, pinned to the wall. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You could even surpass him," he said, his voice brimming with conviction.

Then, he stood and moved to my side, perching on the edge of the desk beside me. "Between you and me," he added in a conspiratorial tone, "I think you could be greater than anyone we've ever known."

His pitch ended with a chilling ultimatum. I could either join Sentinel Solutions, unlocking my potential and rising to greatness, or I could face imprisonment in the metahuman containment system—a place he described as the worst hell imaginable.

As he left the room, the table before me transformed, revealing two buttons embedded in its surface: one red, labeled Reject, and one blue, labeled Join.

For what felt like an eternity, I stared at the buttons, the weight of the decision bearing down on me. I needed guidance, but my siblings and I were separated. Then it hit me—I could use my mind to reach them. Closing my eyes, I placed my hands on the table and took slow, deep breaths, focusing on finding their thoughts.

At first, I caught fragments of random conversations.

"Did you hear the news? The boss found someone with manipulation abilities."

"Yeah, but his readings don't make sense. No apparent limitations."

These voices didn't belong to my siblings, so I pressed on. Finally, I located my brother, Booker. I could hear Joe Wann speaking to him, using the same charm and persuasion he'd tried on me. Wann praised Booker's unique power, describing it as something, not of this world. He offered Booker the same ultimatum.

I sensed my brother's hesitation, the allure of Wann's words working on him. "Booker," I intervened telepathically, "don't trust him. Keep your guard up."

My brother's confusion rippled through our connection, and I could feel his resolve falter. Wann seemed to notice something but didn't address it directly. Instead, he left Booker with the same choice he'd given me.

Next, I turned my focus to my sister. She was experimenting with her abilities, her frustration palpable. Wann arrived shortly after, repeating his pitch.

"This guy is full of himself," I said to her telepathically. "He doesn't mean what he says. He just wants our powers."

"I know," she replied. "He doesn't seem genuine—not even a little."

As Wann left her room, his frustration was evident. He likely suspected interference, but he didn't confront it.

Alone again, I leaned back in my chair, taking deep breaths to steady myself. The decision before us would shape our lives forever. I wished my siblings good luck through our connection, knowing that whatever choices we made, the consequences would be monumental.

The buttons on the table glowed faintly, their simplicity mocking the complexity of the decision. My hands hovered over them as I wrestled with the weight of responsibility, the fear of betrayal, and the hope for something better.

I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and prepared to choose.