Rory adjusted the plain white tee, the bold KARMAL lettering across the chest making him feel like he'd accidentally signed up for an elite academy. The grey athletic pants fit well enough, but the uniform left little doubt, this wasn't a casual assessment. It was an evaluation. A trial.
Ethan and Alex guided him through the training block, past open sparring rooms and gleaming gym equipment, until they reached a sealed section that resembled a research wing more than a training hall. Screens covered the walls, motion sensors blinked along the ceiling, and the air carried the sharp scent of metal, disinfectant, and worn rubber mats.
Alex moved up behind him, a small device balanced in her hand. "Hold still," she began, intending to attach it at the base of his neck where his implant sat. But Rory jerked away on instinct, his hand snapping up to cover the spot, gaze wary.
"What are you doing?" His tone was sharp, protective.
Alex froze, reading the tension in his shoulders. "Sorry," she said quickly, lowering the device. "I should've explained. This links to your implant so I can monitor your vitals. Nothing invasive, I promise."
Rory's eyes flicked to the device, then back to her. He rubbed at his neck, trying to shake off the reaction. Alex didn't move closer. "Can I?" she asked softly. "It won't hurt. I just need a live connection for the baseline."
He hesitated, jaw tightening, then gave a brief nod. "Okay."
Her movements were slow and deliberate this time. The device clicked faintly into place, and Rory exhaled, forcing his shoulders to relax.
"Good," Alex said, stepping back with a small smile. "Now we'll run a few baselines, strength, speed, endurance, reflexes. Standard stuff."
Rory gave her a dry look. "And if I fail?"
Ethan's mouth curved. "Then we'll all have to pretend to be shocked."
They began with a force plate embedded in the floor, its surface faintly metallic under the overhead lights.
"Stand here and press down as hard as you can," Alex instructed.
Rory stepped onto the platform, feet squared. He tested the resistance lightly; the numbers on the monitor flickered immediately, already far beyond an ordinary human's baseline.
"That you holding back?" Ethan asked, a grin tugging at his mouth.
Rory smirked, shifted his stance, and drove down harder. The machine emitted a sharp beep as the readings spiked, climbing fast enough for the data to blur. The metal vibrated faintly beneath his shoes before he stepped off.
"Not bad," Ethan murmured.
Alex noted the numbers. "Leg power looks strong. Let's see what your upper body does."
She guided him to a frame mounted against the far wall, a square, cushioned pad fitted with load sensors. "Full-body push," she said. "Feet planted, palms flat. Increase steadily, then hold for five seconds at your maximum."
Rory set his stance, fingers spreading across the pad. He eased forward, muscles tightening through his shoulders and arms as the graph on the nearby display climbed in neat increments.
Ethan leaned in to read the output. "Still holding back."
Rory glanced sideways, then pressed harder. The pad groaned softly. The numbers blew past the top threshold; the system chirped a warning.
Alex called it there. "Good. Controlled escalation, no instability."
Next came grip strength. They led him to a mounted bar studded with sensors. "Hang on with your fingertips," Alex said.
Rory arched an eyebrow but obeyed, curling his fingers over the edge and lifting his feet clear of the ground. His body hung still, muscles steady.
Seconds passed. Then minutes.
At two minutes, Rory still wasn't shifting, his arms and hands steady, showing no sign of strain. At five minutes, Ethan leaned against the wall, looking unimpressed. "You still good up there?" Rory glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow. "Should I not be?" Ethan let out a sharp exhale through his nose. "Jesus."
By eight minutes, a tremor flickered through Rory's arms. Alex finally spoke. "That's enough."
He dropped down lightly, flexing his hands. Only the faintest tremor betrayed any fatigue.
They moved next to a high-speed treadmill housed within a glass chamber. A narrow mask was fitted over Rory's nose and mouth, its tubing snaking back to the wall where a monitor displayed live readouts of oxygen saturation and pulse.
"Start running," Alex instructed, adjusting the settings on her tablet. "We'll raise the speed and incline gradually. Go until you can't."
Rory began at a steady jog, his movements loose and balanced. The treadmill angled upward, the belt accelerating beneath him. His strides grew longer, smoother. The sound of his footsteps barely touched the air.
Five minutes passed, then ten. The incline steepened; the pace climbed into sprint territory, past what even trained professionals could endure. Yet Rory's breathing remained calm, his rhythm unbroken. There was a strange ease to it, like his body had been built for this. The repetition lulled him; he could almost forget he was being watched.
By twenty minutes, Ethan and Alex shared a look through the glass.
"This thing caps at forty," Ethan muttered. "He's closing in."
Alex pressed the mic. "Alright, that's enough."
Rory eased down, pulling off the mask as the treadmill slowed. A thin sheen of sweat clung to his skin, but his chest rose and fell evenly. Alex glanced at the data feed, brows knitting.
"His heart rate barely changed."
Ethan gave a low laugh. "Guess we'll need a tougher treadmill."
Rory rolled his shoulders, a flicker of satisfaction breaking through his guarded expression. "So, what's next?"
Alex led him into a smaller booth where the walls shimmered with embedded sensors. Tiny bulbs blinked in irregular patterns, scattered like stars.
"Reaction test," she said. "Hit the lights as soon as they flash."
Rory stepped in, shoulders loosening as he took his stance. The first light flickered on, and his hand moved before he even registered the motion. Then another. And another. Each strike was sharp, precise, automatic.
The tempo quickened, the bulbs flashing faster, shifting position in unpredictable bursts. Rory kept pace easily. His body flowed from target to target, his movements seamless, almost rhythmic. When the system reached its highest setting, it didn't stop. The lights pulsed in chaotic waves, faster than any human reaction time should allow, but he was already beyond thinking. His eyes tracked patterns that hadn't formed yet, hands snapping out in anticipation.
Alex glanced at the data feed. "He's over the threshold," she murmured, not taking her eyes off the numbers.
Ethan watched from the doorway, arms folded. "He's not going to stop unless you tell him to," he said quietly. There was no judgment in his tone, only admiration.
Rory didn't hear them. He was lost in it, immersed in the movement and rhythm, something primal and instinctive taking over. For the first time since he'd arrived, he wasn't anxious or defensive. He was focused. Free.
"Rory," Alex called.
The lights cut out. He froze mid-motion, chest rising and falling, sweat glinting along his temples. When he turned toward them, there was a faint spark in his eyes, something alive that hadn't been there before.
A slow smile crept across Ethan's face, equal parts pride and surprise. "Guess we found his zone."
Ethan's voice cut through the hum of equipment. "One more," he said, gesturing toward the far end of the room.
They guided Rory to an enclosed chamber outlined by thin laser beams. Small obstacles dotted the floor in a precise grid, each one calibrated to track speed and precision.
"Agility test," Alex explained, her tone returning to calm professionalism. "Weave through the course as fast as you can. Don't touch the sensors, they'll register every break."
Rory nodded, still steadying his breathing, though a faint adrenaline buzz lingered under his skin. The lights in the chamber shifted from red to white.
"Ready?" Alex asked.
He gave a short nod.
A buzzer sounded.
Rory shot forward. The sensors flared as he moved, his body a blur of controlled motion. He ducked beneath one beam, twisted past the next, pivoting sharply through the course. Every movement was instinctive, his limbs seemed to know the layout before his mind caught up. The rhythm from the reaction test carried over, his body locked into that same state of effortless awareness.
Ethan watched, half-grinning. "You seeing this?"
"I'm recording every frame," Alex replied, her focus fixed on the monitor.
Rory hit the end of the course and came to an abrupt stop, barely winded. The final beam blinked out, signalling completion. He stood still for a moment, waiting for a new set of obstacles that never came.
Alex checked the results. "Two breaks," she said finally, scrolling through the data.
Rory frowned, brushing the sweat from his forehead. "Is that bad?"
Ethan shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Not even close."
Rory let out a quiet breath, his pulse finally beginning to settle. "So what's next?"
"Nothing." Alex said, stepping past him and giving his shoulder a firm pat. "Take five. You earned it."
"Seriously? That's it?" Rory asked, sounding almost disappointed, like he wouldn't have minded another round. Alex didn't reply; she was already absorbed in her tablet, eyes glued to the data as she drifted into the corridor.
Ethan watched her go, amused. "You won't get much out of her now. Once she's knee-deep in results, she stops hearing human voices." He nodded toward the door. "And yeah, that's it for today."
Rory hesitated, glancing back toward the reaction booth. The lights still pulsed softly across the wall, running their idle sequence. "Can I... do that one again?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What, the light show?"
Rory shrugged, his voice quiet but certain. "Yeah. I liked it."
A laugh slipped out of Ethan before he could stop it. "You liked it?"
"Yeah, was good," Rory admitted, almost shyly. "I can keep going, if you need more data."
Ethan's grin widened. "You've done enough for one day."
"I'm fine," Rory said quickly. "Really."
Ethan shook his head, still amused. "It's not you I'm worried about, kid. It's the hardware."
That earned him a small smile, brief, but genuine. Rory looked back at the booth one last time before letting it go.
"Come on," Ethan said, clapping his shoulder. "Let's find you a shower before she decides to run a stress test on your patience next."
***
Ethan led Rory down the corridor, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the polished floors. Instead of taking the most direct route to the showers, their path cut through a wide common room filled with muted chatter and low music. The space was open and relaxed, scattered couches, training gear piled in corners, a few off-duty recruits unwinding.
Conversations dulled slightly when Ethan entered. A few heads turned, curiosity flickering as people registered the stranger beside him.
A cluster of young Karmal recruits occupied one of the couches, Owen among them, flanked by his friends Beau, Joel, and Cam. Owen had a tablet balanced on his knees, finishing off a piece of homework while the others chatted lazily around him. They carried that easy, post-training energy that came after hours of drills and sparring.
Cam's attention shifted first. His eyes caught on the unfamiliar figure walking beside Ethan, curiosity sharpening.
"Who's that?" he asked, leaning forward, his gaze never leaving Rory.
Beau and Joel followed Cam's line of sight. Rory, still beside Ethan, scanned the room briefly as they passed. His eyes moved with quiet alertness, taking in the details before landing momentarily on Cam and the others. A faint crease touched his brow at their open stares, then he looked away and continued after Ethan without a word.
Owen watched them leave through the far door, expression unreadable. He wasn't exactly bothered, but something about it unsettled him. Ethan had been his guardian, his anchor, and for the past three days, that attention had shifted to this stranger.
He leaned back on the couch, shrugging it off. "Some kid Ethan's assessing," he said casually.
Beau tilted his head, sensing the faint irritation beneath Owen's tone. "That the one from the chop shop?"
Owen gave a small nod.
Joel raised his brows. "Wait...seriously? He's from one of those clinics?"
"Yeah," Beau said quietly. "Ethan found him there."
Owen shot him a warning look and nudged his leg with his boot. "That wasn't supposed to get around."
From across the room, Nelson, half-listening to the conversation, let out a short scoff. "So why's Ethan wasting time on some chop shop reject?"
Owen shrugged, deliberately neutral. "I'm sure he's got his reasons."
The others drifted back into their own talk, but Cam's focus didn't shift. His eyes stayed on the door long after it had closed, thoughts circling. He couldn't explain why, but something about that kid stayed with him.
***
Ethan guided Rory down the quiet corridor toward the shower block and stopped at the entrance.
"Alright, clean up," he said, nodding toward the stalls. "I'll meet you back here in ten."
Rory gave a brief nod and stepped inside. The room was mostly empty, the air warm and faintly scented with soap and steam. He stripped out of his training clothes and stepped under the hot water, letting it wash away the sweat and tension from the tests.
Had he done well? He didn't feel tired, not really. Maybe he should have pushed harder. Maybe they'd expected more.
He exhaled, forcing the thought aside, and finished quickly. After drying off, he changed back into his jeans, school shirt, and hoodie.
When he stepped back into the hallway Ethan was nowhere to be seen. Rory frowned, shifting his weight. He waited. Five minutes passed. Then another. A sense of awkwardness crept in. He wasn't going to just stand here looking like an idiot.
With a quiet sigh, he started back the way they'd come. The corridor opened into the common room again, where the same group of recruits lounged across the couches. Conversation dipped the moment he entered.
Rory pretended not to notice. He crossed the room toward an empty seat near the corner, hoping that if he looked occupied enough, they'd lose interest. He tugged at the sleeve of his hoodie, trying to disappear into it, the hum of quiet laughter around him pricking at his nerves.
Nelson lounged back in his seat, arms crossed, a lazy grin tugging at his mouth. "Yo, check the uniform," he said just loud enough for the others. "That's that busted public school, right? The one for screw-ups."
Beau snorted. "Figures. If he's from a chop shop, that tracks. No way a guy like that gets an enhancement legit."
Rory didn't hear them, but he felt it, the weight of their eyes, the quiet judgment like static in the air. He kept his gaze down, pretending to scroll through his phone, hoping they'd lose interest.
Cam, perched on the arm of the couch, shot them an annoyed look. "Do you have to read him?" he muttered. "You don't even know him."
Joel, less biting and more curious, tilted his head. "Kinda wanna know how he did on the tests, though." He turned to Owen. "You seen the scores?"
Owen, half focused on his tablet, hesitated. He hadn't checked, but the question lodged in his mind. A second later, his fingers twitched, his technopathy quietly reaching out into Karmal's internal system. Data flickered across his display.
Nelson leaned forward, amused. "Bet he bombed."
"Yeah," Beau added. "Probably quit halfway through."
Owen didn't respond. The numbers unfolding across his screen made his stomach drop. Rory hadn't just done fine, he'd destroyed every record. Strength, reflex, endurance, all maxed out. Higher than Owen's own best scores.
Joel caught the shift in his expression. "What'd you find?"
"Nothing," Owen said quickly, minimising the data and going back to his tablet."
Beau didn't buy it. He squinted, focusing, pushing a thread of thought toward Owen's mind. The contact brushed past Owen's defences before he could block it. Flashes of numbers, charts, redlined performance data.
Beau's eyes widened. "Dude. Those scores real?" he sent silently.
Owen didn't answer aloud, jaw tightening.
"I thought you said he was a chop-shop case," Beau pressed.
"He is," Owen shot back under his breath, though the conviction was fading fast.
Beau huffed, irritation bleeding into curiosity. "Then see what's in his head. Get a read. Something's off."
Owen hesitated. Ethan had drilled boundaries into him, never invade someone's system without consent. But curiosity, and maybe a hint of insecurity, gnawed at him.
He exhaled and reached out. No movement, no sound, just a ripple of connection. His consciousness brushed the implant at the base of Rory's skull and sank inward.
The flood came fast.
Images flooded in: a cramped bedroom, walls covered in drawings and faded posters. Rory, younger, quieter, sitting at the back of a classroom, staring at his desk without really seeing it. A rundown schoolyard. A friend, Dan, laughing as he handed him a cigarette, a shared bottle, a fight breaking out near the fence. Glass shattering under Rory's fists.
Then flashes: Ethan and Will chasing him down a back street, voices sharp with authority. His sister spinning through a dance studio, bright and carefree. Movie nights, her head tucked into his shoulder, the world outside forgotten. Then Rory sitting in the passenger seat of a car, someone handing him a coffee he didn't remember asking for. The sterile light of a hospital room, an IV taped to his arm, no one at his side.
The memories twisted, darker now. A living room. A man's voice slurred with drink. A blow. Rory on the floor, breath shallow, trying not to cry out. Then another scene, same room, different kind of silence. Pete's tone soft, almost coaxing, his hand lingering too long on Rory's shoulder, too near his throat. A look that made Owen's stomach turn before he tore himself free from the connection, breath catching. The noise of the common room rushed back all at once, loud and too bright.
Beside him, Beau gave a short, incredulous laugh, trying to mask the unease he'd caught through the link. "See, no way those scores are real," he muttered, voice carrying a bitter edge. "The guy's total trash."
Owen didn't answer. His focus stayed fixed on his tablet, expression blank. The flashes still burned behind his eyes, the bruises, the silence, the fear that had no words. Beau kept talking, but the sound barely registered.
For the first time, Owen wished he hadn't looked.
Cam glanced between Owen and Beau, catching how quiet they'd gone. His brows pulled together. "Yo, are you guys seriously reading him right now?"
Neither responded. Owen lowered his eyes, tension pulling sharp lines across his jaw. Beau, in contrast, lounged back with a careless grin, untouched by the moment.
Before Cam could push it, Ethan reappeared, stepping back into the room. "Sorry," he said, heading for Rory. "Got caught up in something."
Rory barely looked at him, his eyes fixed on the group still watching from across the room. His expression hardened. "What's their problem?"
Ethan followed his line of sight and smiled faintly. "Them? They're harmless. Just curious because you're new."
"Right," Rory said flatly.
Ethan laughed under his breath. "Come on, I'll introduce you."
"I'm good," Rory said quickly, but Ethan let out an amused exhale and hooked a hand over his shoulder.
"Relax. I promise they don't bite."
Rory sighed, defeated, and followed him across the room. The group straightened when they approached, pretending they hadn't been staring.
Ethan stopped in front of them, tone easy but pointed. "Since you were all gawking, figured I'd save you the trouble. This is Rory." He gave Rory a quick pat on the chest.
Rory stood stiffly beside him, gaze flicking between them but never settling on anyone for long. The tension in his shoulders gave him away, but the introductions were smoother than he'd expected.
Ethan gestured to each in turn. "That's Owen, Beau, Joel, Nelson, Sammi, Mari, and Cam."
Owen acknowledged him with a deliberate nod, poker-faced as ever. Beau flashed a languid, mocking smirk. Nelson's scrutiny was blunt, uninterested in pretending otherwise, while Joel studied Rory with a genuine sort of curiosity. Mari and Sammi offered polite, welcoming smiles. Cam, perched easily on the armrest, locked eyes with Rory and dipped his head in a nod that held for one beat longer than neutral.
Rory returned it with a short nod of his own.
"I'm just showing him around," Ethan said, resting a hand on Rory's shoulder. "Figured you'd all meet soon enough anyway."
Beau leaned back, twirling a paper ball between his fingers. "Showing him around, huh?"
"That's what I said," Ethan replied evenly.
Nelson squinted at Rory. "He joining Karmal or something?"
Ethan turned to Rory, whose brow creased. Ethan just shrugged, smiling. "No idea. But he'll be around for a bit. So, be decent, yeah?"
Mari tilted her head. "You go to Marwood, right?"
Rory hesitated. "Yeah."
Nelson let out a quiet laugh. "Figures."
"Don't be a dick," Cam snapped, shooting him a glare.
Nelson ignored it, grin widening. "So, rumour true? They found you in a chop shop?"
Ethan's gaze cut to Owen, the hint of disappointment sharp enough to sting. Owen shifted in his seat, refusing to meet his eyes.
"Nelson, you might be interested to know that Rory just beat all your scores in his performance test," Ethan said, his tone light but pointed.
Beau scoffed. "Like that's hard."
Nelson reached over and swatted Beau's arm. "Shut up."
Ethan's smile deepened. "Actually, he beat yours too, Beau."
Beau's grin faltered. His eyes darkened as he looked up at Ethan, jaw tightening.
Ethan gave Rory a small nudge. "Anyway, don't let this bunch scare you off. I'll finish showing you around."
Rory didn't argue. He just nodded once and followed Ethan out, but he could still feel the weight of their stares on his back.
As Rory followed Ethan toward the exit, a voice slid through his head, low and mocking.
'Better hurry home, before your old man decides to use you for target practice again.'
Rory froze mid-step, breath catching hard in his chest. That hadn't been spoken aloud.
Every muscle locked as the air in the room shifted. He turned sharply, scanning the group, but it wasn't them he saw. It was Pete. Standing right there. The same glassy stare, the same crooked sneer.
Rory's stomach twisted. His pulse pounded in his ears. The room felt smaller, the air thick. He could almost hear that slurred venom again, feel the threat hanging in the space between them.
His heart kicked harder.
He blinked, then Pete was gone. The recruits were back where they'd been, still watching.
And Beau was grinning. Darkly.
'Hope your dad doesn't mistake you for your mum again.'
The words slithered through his mind, cold and precise.
Owen stiffened. He felt the push from Beau, the deliberate nudge through the implant, and guilt punched low in his chest. He shouldn't have gone digging earlier. And Beau damn well shouldn't be doing this.
Under his breath, barely audible, Owen muttered, "Don't do that. Seriously."
Beau ignored him.
Rory's body went rigid. Heat rushed up his neck, burning through his skin. His fists clenched so tight his nails cut his palms. Before he could stop himself, he moved.
Beau barely had time to flinch before Rory's fist connected with his jaw. The crack echoed. Beau hit the back of the couch hard as Rory followed through, shoving him down.
Shouting broke out instantly.
"Woah! Stop new kid!" Joel lunged to grab him.
Beau swore, trying to push up. Nelson shoved at Rory's shoulder. Rory barely registered any of it, his vision narrowed, adrenaline roaring in his ears.
Then Ethan was there, fast. In a single motion his arm hooked around Rory's chest and hauled him back. Rory struggled against the grip, breathing harsh, but Ethan didn't let go.
"Enough," Ethan snapped quietly, dragging him toward the door while the room fell into stunned silence.
Nelson's voice broke it first. "Dude's a psycho!"
Joel looked over at Beau, who was sitting upright now, blood running from the corner of his mouth. "You good?"
Beau wiped it away with the back of his hand, staring at the doorway Ethan had pulled Rory through. "Yeah," he muttered, though the tension in his face said otherwise.
Owen, irritated by the entire situation, glared at Beau before grabbing his dropped workbook and flopping back down on the couch.
"You know you deserved that," Owen said, his voice flat.
Cam, still confused, glanced between the two of them. "Why? What did he do?"
Beau smirked, blood still smeared across his lips and chin. "I just reminded him he didn't belong here," he said, a hint of malice in his voice.
Cam's tone shifted, sharp with disgust. "Why would you do that?"
"Because it's true," Beau shot back, still bristling. "He doesn't belong here."
Cam leaned back, his voice cool but cutting. "You sound jealous."
Beau's jaw tightened. "Jealous? Of him?"
"Yeah," Cam said, smirking faintly. "He smoked your scores and he's not even trying."
Beau's smirk dropped. "Ethan's bluffing."
Cam raised an eyebrow. "You really think that?"
Beau shifted, irritation creeping into his voice. "Whatever. He probably padded the numbers. It probably says he beat your scores too."
Cam shrugged, calm and disarming. "I hope he did."
The silence that followed stretched thin, full of bruised egos and unspoken grudges. One by one, the recruits drifted back into their own spaces, pretending to scroll or talk, but the energy in the room didn't settle. It just simmered, quiet, restless, waiting for round two.
***
Ethan didn't speak until they were well down the corridor, far enough that the noise from the common room had faded behind them. When he finally stopped, he turned to face Rory, arms crossed, expression steady.
"What was that about?" His tone was steady, not raised, but carried enough weight to land.
Rory didn't answer. His breathing was still uneven, the anger not quite burned out of him.
Ethan exhaled slowly, trying again. "Did Beau say something to you?"
Still nothing. Rory's eyes stayed fixed on the floor.
"Beau's a technopath," Ethan said after a pause. "He can talk through your implant. Send thoughts straight into your head."
Rory frowned, though he didn't look up. He'd already worked that much out, but it didn't explain the rest, the voice, the image, the way it had felt so real.
"...That's it?" he asked quietly.
Ethan tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"That's all he can do?"
A crease formed between Ethan's brows. The realisation hit a second later. "He made you see something, didn't he?"
Rory's shoulders tensed. He didn't respond, but the flicker in his eyes was answer enough.
Ethan ran a hand down his face, muttering under his breath, "Fucking Beau." He drew a breath to steady himself before explaining. "His ability only works on people with implants. He can mess with sensory input...make enhanced minds see and hear things that aren't real."
Rory didn't move, but his fists had curled at his sides.
Ethan watched him for a beat before his tone softened. "Look, he's an idiot sometimes. Nelson too. But they're not bad people. They just like testing the new guy."
Rory's voice was quiet when it came. "Why's everyone acting like I'm staying here?"
Ethan blinked, caught off guard. "We're not...well, not exactly."
Rory looked up then, eyes sharp. "Then why tell them I'd be around a while? Am I coming back?"
Ethan hesitated, then laid a hand on his shoulder and guided him down the hall again toward Alex's office. "We'd like you to," he said. "It's not about punishment. It's about making sure you can handle what's in you, so you don't hurt yourself or anyone else."
Rory kept his gaze ahead, silent, the words sitting heavy in his chest.
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"You remember when you asked what I do for work?" Ethan continued. "This is it. I keep people safe, from people like us."
Rory's pace slowed. The phrase echoed in his head, cold and confusing. Safe from people like us.
"So, what?" he said quietly. "You think I'm dangerous?"
Ethan glanced at him. "You tell me."
Rory's jaw clenched. He thought of the vending machine he'd destroyed, the strength he'd shown in testing, the flash of Beau's grin before everything inside him snapped.
"I didn't start that fight," he said, his voice hard.
"No," Ethan agreed. "But you finished it fast."
Rory looked down at his hands. His knuckles were still red, the skin raw.
Ethan's tone softened again. "Nobody's saying you're a threat. But you need control. That's what this place is for, learning to hold it before it holds you."
Rory frowned, still processing that, then glanced down the hall in the direction of the common room. "Why are they even here?" he asked, his voice low. "They're just kids."
Ethan looked at him for a moment before replying. "They're here because they've already decided what they want. Karmal doesn't recruit minors, but once someone's enhanced, legally or not, they can apply for provisional training if they commit to joining when they're of age. It's their choice."
"So they're... waiting to turn eighteen?" Rory asked.
"Basically," Ethan said with a small nod. "They go through the prep program. Combat, ethics, regulation work, the lot. Once they're adults, they're placed in teams if they qualify. Owen's the only one cleared for partial duty right now. He's got permission from his guardians and sticks to the tech side."
Rory took that in quietly, his brow furrowed. "So they all want to do this?"
"Yeah," Ethan said simply. "They do. Some of them grew up around it. Some of them don't have anywhere else to go. But none of them are forced."
They reached Alex's office, and Ethan knocked once before opening the door. Alex glanced up from her tablet, smiling as she moved back to her desk.
"You don't have to decide anything right now," Ethan said, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Just think about it, alright?"
Rory frowned. "And if I don't? You'll just let me walk out and pretend none of this happened?"
Alex and Ethan exchanged a brief look. Alex's smile faded into something measured. "Not exactly," she said. "We can't let someone with uncontrolled enhancements go unmonitored. You understand that."
A knot formed in Rory's stomach. He didn't like the sound of where this was going.
"If you don't want to work with us, that's fine," Alex went on. "But you'll need to be monitored, and fitted with a red band."
Rory's brow creased. "Red band?"
"It's a suppression band," Alex explained. "It limits the chip's output. Your implant will still process the serum, but the enhancements won't activate."
"It's just a band?" Rory asked, his tone sceptical. "Couldn't someone just take it off?"
Alex shook her head. "It's embedded beneath the skin," Alex explained. "It lattices to nerves. Removal isn't simple...or safe."
Rory stared at her, disbelief flickering across his face. "So those are my options? Come back here and learn to control this, or get tagged and monitored for life?" He gave her a tight, sceptical look. "Sounds fair."
Alex shrugged lightly. "I know how it sounds. But that's the deal."
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "How long would I have to keep coming back?"
"As long as it takes," Alex said. "Ideally a couple of sessions a week. The more you put in, the faster it goes."
Ethan added quietly, "You don't have to decide tonight. Go home, clear your head, think about it."
Alex nodded. "Exactly. No pressure." Then she tapped a few commands into her console, her tone shifting. "Now... want to hear how you did?"
Rory hesitated before sitting down. "Sure."
Data filled the monitor as Alex scanned through it, her grin widening. "Well, Rory," she said, turning the screen toward him, "you did better than expected. A lot better."
Rory shifted in his seat, glancing at the columns of numbers and charts that meant nothing to him. "How do you mean?"
Alex leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Your physical metrics, strength, endurance, reflexes, came in higher than most recruits who've trained for years." She looked at Ethan, a spark of surprise in her expression. "In a few areas, he actually broke records."
Rory blinked, uncertain how to react. Ethan's faint smirk didn't help.
Alex scrolled further down. "Cognitive tests tell the same story. Your reaction speed and problem-solving are way above baseline. And then there's your implant sync..." She gave a low whistle. "That's the one that really stands out. Ninety-one percent efficiency."
Rory frowned. "Is that... good?"
Alex gave him an incredulous look. "Good? It's insane. Average sync sits around seventy. The best enhancements barely hit eighty-five. You're operating at near-perfect integration."
He sank back in his chair, the compliment landing uneasily. He wasn't used to being told he was good at anything. "So what does that actually mean?"
"It means you're a natural," Alex said simply. "You're not just enhanced, you're optimised."
Rory swallowed, shifting in his chair. The word made his skin crawl. Optimised sounded more like a machine than a person.
Alex noticed the shift in his posture and softened her tone. "It also means you're ahead of the curve. People train years to reach what you can do instinctively." She smiled gently. "You've got potential, Rory. Real potential."
He gave a short, disbelieving huff. "Right."
Ethan watched him carefully. "You don't see that as a good thing?"
Rory's eyes dropped to the desk. "It's not like I asked for it."
Alex's smirk eased. "No, I guess you didn't." She let the quiet hang, then slipped back into her easy tone. "Anyway, those are your results. You've got ability, whether you like it or not. If you stay, we can teach you how to use it."
Rory nodded, still turning it over.
"And with numbers like that," she added, giving him something to aim for, "you could even qualify for Karmal training when you're ready."
His brows lifted. He looked to Ethan. "That's actually possible?"
Ethan hesitated, then nodded. "If it's what you want."
Rory picked at his fingernails, uncertain. He'd never planned that far ahead.
"Like we said, no rush," Ethan added. "Just think about it."
Alex leaned back in her chair. "Any questions before we wrap?"
Rory hesitated. "Yeah. Any proof yet? About who actually put the implant in?"
They exchanged a glance. Alex shook her head. "Nothing solid. We're still pulling records."
"Okay." He let that settle before asking the question that had been gnawing at him since yesterday. "You said you knew my dad."
Alex's expression didn't change, but her quick glance at Ethan told him enough.
"Not personally," Ethan said. "We knew of him."
Rory waited.
Ethan kept it short. "Karmal works under Hector. People in that world paid attention to your father's research and work."
Rory frowned. "You mentioned them before... Hector. The oversight thing?"
"Yeah." Ethan shifted slightly, leaning against the desk. "They're the larger organisation Karmal operates under, a global network that oversees enhancement activity: containment, research, regulation, intervention. Whenever something enhanced becomes a risk, Hector steps in. They manage the big picture. We handle the field side."
He paused before continuing. "Karmal's one of their field divisions. We take the active response jobs, containment, rescue, recovery, sometimes enforcement. When a situation turns volatile, we're the ones sent in."
Rory absorbed that, nodding faintly. "So... you're the people they call when something goes wrong."
"Pretty much," Ethan said.
"And my dad?" Rory asked quietly. "He worked for Hector?"
"Not directly," Ethan said. "But his work touched it. He was developing tech and theory that could've changed the whole system. Some of Hector's researchers still quote his papers."
Alex glanced up from her tablet. "Robert Atwood was one of the first to explore how neuroserum could merge seamlessly with the human brain. Most people thought he was chasing fiction. Turns out he was just... ahead of his time."
Rory's expression tightened. "And that's why you think he might've put this in me."
Ethan's tone gentled. "We're not sure. But the implant's structure...its integration, it matches the kind of work he was known for. Too advanced for anyone else working solo."
Rory's throat felt dry. "So you think he did it to me on purpose."
Alex hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "We think your dad designed it for you specifically. Not as an upgrade, but as a safeguard."
Rory's brows drew together. "Safeguard?"
"Your implant doesn't behave like the ones we see in clinics," Alex explained. "It's more refined. More adaptive. It looks like something created to protect long-term, to support the system rather than overload it."
Ethan added quietly, "Most enhancement implants push the body to its limit. Yours regulates. It syncs smoothly, without strain. That's rare."
Alex nodded. "Whoever designed it wasn't trying to weaponise you. They were trying to build something stable. Something that kept your system in harmony."
Rory frowned, absorbing that. "Why would he do that?"
Ethan met his eyes. "We don't know yet. But whatever the reason, it wasn't an act of negligence or recklessness. It took skill. Planning. Intention."
Rory's gaze dropped, hands curling in his lap.
Alex lowered her voice. "It feels like he was trying to protect you, not experiment on you."
Rory's frown deepened. "Protect me from what?"
Alex paused, clearly expecting the question. "We don't know yet," she said honestly. "But we don't think it was something hostile or imminent. He wasn't shielding you from danger outside, more like giving your system the best foundation possible."
Rory didn't look convinced. "Still sounds like experimenting to me."
Ethan shook his head. "Experimenting is reckless. This wasn't. This wasn't someone testing random variables. It was precise. Purposeful. Done by someone who knew exactly what they were doing."
Rory's jaw tightened. "He didn't ask."
Alex softened. "No. He didn't. And I'm not saying that's okay. But everything we've seen points to intention, not carelessness."
Rory's eyes narrowed slightly. "But intention for what?"
Ethan held his gaze. "That's what we're trying to figure out. Nobody implants a child without a reason. Whatever he was trying to do, it wasn't to hurt you. That much is clear."
Rory's shoulders hunched slightly, the weight of it sitting uncomfortably. "It still feels messed up."
"And it is," Ethan said quietly. "Doesn't mean there wasn't a reason. Doesn't mean the reason was bad."
Rory glanced away, jaw tight, the familiar reflex of bracing himself creeping back in. "I just don't get why he wouldn't tell anyone. Why keep it secret?"
Alex exchanged a look with Ethan before answering carefully. "Maybe he couldn't. Maybe he didn't trust the people around him. Or maybe he didn't know who would try to take you if they found out."
Rory's head lifted slightly, a flicker of unease crossing his face.
Ethan added softly, "Your father was working on something powerful, Rory. Powerful people were watching. Keeping you off the radar might have been his way of keeping you safe."
"We'll tell you what we know when we're sure," Alex said gently. "We're not keeping this from you to control you. We just want the full picture. It's for your sake."
Rory didn't respond. Something in his expression shifted, a flicker of clarity slipping into place.
"Nick," he murmured.
Ethan's focus sharpened. "What about him?"
Rory lifted his gaze, the pieces clicking together in real time. "He told me he was following in Dad's footsteps." His voice had gone tight. "Which means he definitely knocked me out to enhance me."
Neither Alex nor Ethan spoke. The weight of it sat between them.
Rory frowned, confusion bleeding into frustration. "Why though? Why wouldn't he just tell me what he was doing? Why go through all that and then disappear? I don't understand what he gets out of it."
"I think that's the part we're still trying to figure out," Ethan said softly.
Silence fell again. Rory stared at the floor, brow creased, as if sorting through a puzzle that kept revealing worse shapes the longer he looked at it.
Then he spoke, voice flat. "So my dad put an implant in my head, and my brother drugged me and injected me with something to activate it. Something I didn't agree to and didn't even know existed."
No one corrected him. The truth sat too plainly in the air.
Rory let out a short breath. "That's fucked up, right?"
He looked up at them, not accusing, just genuinely bewildered. "I mean, I'm their...family....and that's a huge decision to make for someone."
Ethan folded his arms, expression steady. "It is. And you're right. You should've been told. You should've had a say. We can't justify how they did it, but we can help you with what comes next."
Rory nodded faintly, worn down rather than reassured.
Alex leaned forward, offering a small smile. "If it helps... plenty of people would give anything to have the enhancement you've got."
That pulled a faint, reluctant spark of humour from him. "Yeah, no. That part's sick."
Ethan's eyebrow arched slightly.
"I'm just...still stuck on why they did it," Rory added. "Why not just explain it to me?"
He exhaled and leaned back, shoulders sinking into the chair. "And I'm guessing you guys aren't just gonna let me run around like this."
"No," Alex said simply. "But not because we think you're dangerous. We want you to stay safe and learn how to manage everything properly." She stretched her arms above her head, then let them fall with a soft clap. "So let's talk rules."
Rory blinked. "Rules?"
Ethan gave a look that was half amusement, half warning. "You said it yourself. We can't let you walk out of here with a top-tier implant and no instruction, can we?"
Rory sighed, already wishing he hadn't asked.
Alex's smirk shifted into something steadier and more focused. "First rule. You do not talk about this outside Karmal. No bragging, no hints, no casual comments. Not even to friends. This protects you as much as it protects us."
Rory frowned. "Why? People don't know this stuff exists?"
Ethan shook his head. "Not the real version. Publicly, enhancement tech is classified as experimental and heavily restricted. Most people think the rumours are exaggerated. Faster reaction times, small boosts. Nothing close to reality."
Alex added, "When the truth slips out, things get chaotic. Panic, illegal interest, people trying to weaponise it. That is why Hector keeps a tight lid on it."
Rory let that settle, trying to imagine the world reacting to what he had seen Ethan do.
Alex continued. "Second rule. Now that you're enhanced, you're in the system. We need documentation. Confidentiality forms. Status acknowledgment. It is not ownership. It is accountability."
Rory raised a brow. "So I'm tagged."
"You're not property," Ethan said. "But yeah, you are officially flagged in their network. Certain rules apply because you're now on their radar. It keeps things from escalating."
Alex crossed her arms, her tone turning matter-of-fact. "You're lucky you're with us. If you'd shown up anywhere else, things might've gone... differently."
Rory leaned back slightly. "Okay... so what happens if I don't sign? What if I say no?"
Ethan didn't blink. "Then Hector lists you as an unregistered enhanced subject. That puts you under open review."
"Open review," Rory repeated. "That sounds...ominous."
"It means they keep an eye on you," Alex said. "If you refuse to cooperate and appear unstable, they step in."
"How?" Rory asked.
Ethan's jaw tightened. "Depends. Surveillance in mild cases. Temporary detainment in serious ones. Some regions go straight to containment. Karmal does not."
Rory sat with that, expression unreadable. "So it's either sign the papers or get treated like a walking threat."
"No one wants that," Alex said gently. "Which is why you're here, not behind a locked door. We want you to understand this and learn how to manage it."
Rory looked down at the table, then back at them. "And if I sign and mess up? Say something I shouldn't?"
Ethan shook his head. "Then we clean it up. If it's minor, we handle it internally. If it is larger..." He paused. "Then it gets complicated, but you are not left to drown."
Alex leaned in. "You are not the first person who stumbled into this. Most had no idea what they were walking into either. We keep people safe. That includes you."
Rory raked a hand through his hair fingers knotting at the roots as he tried to make sense of it all. "So I'm not locked up. But I'm not exactly free either."
"You're enhanced," Ethan said. "That comes with responsibility. But it doesn't erase your life. It just means you have to handle things differently."
Rory hesitated. "Has anyone ever tried to leave? No signing, no training, no red band. Just... walked out."
Alex and Ethan traded a brief, loaded glance.
Ethan answered quietly. "A few have."
"And?" Rory pressed.
"They usually get brought back," Alex said plainly. "Sometimes gently. Sometimes not."
Rory lifted an eyebrow. "So it is a prison."
"No," Ethan said firmly. "But you cannot walk around with unregulated enhancements and expect everyone to look the other way."
Rory chewed on the inside of his cheek. "I'm guessing if it's red band or sign up... this isn't reversible."
"No," Ethan said. "Once you're enhanced, it's permanent. There's no going back."
Alex folded her hands together. "You still have choices though. If you want a quiet life, and the red band route feels safer, you can take it. It suppresses the abilities. You will still be monitored, but from a distance."
"Even if I'm not using the abilities?" Rory asked. "Why still monitor me?"
Ethan answered calmly. "You can't undo what has been done. Even dormant, you are still enhanced. People check on things that contain power. Not because they expect trouble, but because they understand the risk of ignoring it. You wouldn't leave a loaded weapon lying around just because the safety's on. You check it. You make sure it's secure."
Rory nodded slowly, the weight of that comparison sinking in."
"And the other option," Alex said, "is registering properly. You get structure, guidance, access to resources, freedom to use your abilities responsibly, and legal protection. You would not be alone in figuring this out."
Rory let out a slow breath. "Right. So not prison. But it's definitely not just... living a normal life"
Alex gave a small, sympathetic smile. "Being enhanced is not normal. But it doesn't mean you can't build a life. It just means you have to choose what kind of life you want."
"Next up...sports," Alex said, a little more lightly. "You're o?cially banned from them."
Rory frowned. "What? Why?"
Alex gave him a look. "Come on, Rory. With your stats? You'd break records just warming up. People would notice."
Rory slumped back. "So I can't even play for fun?"
"You can kick a ball around in your backyard," Ethan said. "But no teams, competitions, anything where people keep track. You'd stand out immediately."
"Or you know...red band." Alex added grinning.
Rory groaned. "Great. So I'm supposed to pretend I suck at everything?"
Alex shrugged. "Blend in. It keeps you safe. And that includes healing. Don't let anyone see how quickly you recover."
"Speaking of that," Ethan added, "you'll probably find you don't get sick much anymore. Possibly not at all."
Rory frowned. "Why?"
"Enhanced immune response," Ethan said. "Your system is running at a higher level now. Faster recovery, stronger resistance."
Rory exhaled. "Weird. Cool, I guess. But weird."
"And if you get injured," Alex said, "don't make a show of how fast you bounce back. People notice more than you think."
Ethan's tone shifted again. "And that goes for fights too. No showing off. No losing your temper. If someone takes a swing at you, you walk away."
Rory frowned. "I'm not looking to get into fights."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because I heard you just gave Beau a nice shiner."
Rory flushed. "That wasn't..." He hu?ed. "That wasn't a fight."
"Sure," Alex said lightly.
"But seriously," Ethan continued, voice firmer, "no physical confrontations. You're stronger now, faster, more durable. Even without meaning to, you could hurt someone badly. And if anyone sees how hard you hit... it becomes a problem."
Rory dragged his hands across his face. "So don't stand out. Won't get sick. Don't fight. Don't talk. Basically don't exist."
Alex gave him a dry smile. "Now you're getting it."
Rory shifted in his chair, something uneasy flickering across his expression. "What if I already slipped up?"
Ethan looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Rory rubbed the back of his neck. "The beep test. At school today. I didn't know any of this yet and the teacher made us do it. I hit level fourteen before he told me to stop." He glanced at Ethan, almost checking for damage. "Was that bad?"
Ethan shook his head. "No. You stopped when told. Kids surprise teachers all the time. No one is going to decide you're enhanced because you ran well on one fitness test. It isn't a red flag."
Rory let out a slow breath, shoulders easing a little. "Okay."
Alex leaned back. "This is why we're telling you the rules now. You didn't know earlier. It doesn't count."
Rory gave her a tired glare. "And what happens if I slip up again?"
Alex's smile faded. She exchanged a glance with Ethan before answering. "That depends on how big the mistake is. If it's small, like showing off or slipping up, we handle it. Training, supervision, maybe restrictions."
"And if it's not small?" Rory asked.
Ethan's voice lowered. "Then Hector gets involved. And that's a dfferent game entirely."
Rory's shoulders tensed. "What does that mean?"
Alex sighed. "It means you're no longer Karmal's responsibility. You're theirs. And Hector doesn't take risks lightly."
"You mean they'd kick me out?"
"If you're lucky," Ethan said. "If they decide you're a threat, they'll contain you. They expect stability. If you can't show that, they intervene directly."
Rory narrowed his eyes. "That seems harsh."
Alex met his gaze. "It's harsh because the stakes are high. You think Karmal is strict? Hector's worse? That's nothing compared to what's out there."
Rory stayed quiet.
"There are groups," she continued, "who collect enhanced subjects. Scientists. Black-market groups. Private militaries. They don't care who you are. They care what you are. And they'll take you apart to figure it out. Physically. Technologically. Piece by piece."
Rory's jaw tightened, fingers curling slightly, but he did not interrupt.
"If that sounds extreme, it's because it is," Ethan added. "But it's real. It's happened before."
Rory looked up, tense. "And you guys couldn't stop it?"
"We try," Ethan said. "But even Karmal has limits. We can't be everywhere."
Rory's stomach turned. "Okay. But what if it's not them? What if it's just... someone normal? Like a teacher. Or a kid at school?"
"Then you stay ahead of it," Alex said. "Play it off. Be boring. Don't let it become a pattern. If someone notices, we step in early."
Rory narrowed his eyes. "Step in how?"
Ethan hesitated. "We de-escalate. Shift the story. Move people around if we have to."
Rory blinked. "Move people?"
Alex didn't confirm or deny. "We keep it clean. Quiet. No fallout."
Rory swallowed, his voice low. "That's a lot of pressure."
"It is," Ethan admitted. "But you're not alone. That's the whole point. We guide you so you don't have to manage this on your own."
Rory stared at the table for a moment, then looked between them. "So play nice or disappear."
"No," Alex corrected. "Play smart. We're not trying to punish you. We're trying to keep you safe."
He sat with that, clearly processing, his thoughts running in circles. Only now did the magnitude of their explanation begin to hit, settling through him with slow, deliberate force.
Ethan studied him carefully, noting the way his shoulders curled slightly inward, the way he chewed his thumbnail. He looked overwhelmed, not defiant.
Alex closed the tablet and let it rest on the desk. "Alright. I think that covers everything." She stretched her arms above her head, then dropped them dramatically on her desk. "Last step is letting your parents know what's going on."
Rory's head snapped up. "Wait, what?"
Alex blinked at the intensity of his reaction, smiling lightly at first. "Rory," She said gently, "you're under eighteen. It would be irresponsible, and unethical, if we didn't tell them you were enhanced and that you'll be coming here for monitoring. Technically it's required."
His pulse jumped. "But...that's not fair. I didn't ask for this. I didn't do anything. It just...happened. And if they find out, they'll lose it. I mean...they already think I'm a problem."
Ethan stepped in, calm but firm. "It's not punishment. It's responsibility. If a minor is enhanced, we're obligated to-"
He didn't finish.
Alex's expression shifted mid-sentence, her posture straightening slightly, eyes sharpening. Her empathy hit the wall of fear he was trying, and failing, to hide.
"Hey," she said softly, leaning forward. "Take a breath."
Rory stiffened, denying the vulnerability instantly. "I am breathing."
She caught the surge of panic underneath the bravado. The tightness in his chest. The sharp dread of bringing this home and dealing with what it would ignite.
Alex held his gaze, then continued in a steadier voice. "Protocol says we notify guardians if Karmal initiates the enhancement, or if a minor is brought in under disciplinary grounds. But that's not the case here. You came in voluntarily. You were already enhanced before we ever saw you. And he's not officially registered yet.."
Ethan's brow creased, caught between rules and reality. "Alex..."
She gave him a quiet look that said trust me.
After a moment, Ethan shifted his stance, reassessing the situation.
"Right," he said slowly. "Grey area."
Rory glanced between them, unsure if they were serious or placating him.
Alex lowered her voice. "We don't have to tell them today. Not while everything is still in the preliminary phase. You're not cleared, but you're not red-banded either. You're in the middle. Until anything becomes official, we have flexibility."
Rory straightened, forcing a nod that tried too hard to look casual. "Okay. Yeah. Sure."
Ethan added, gentler, "And when the time comes, we'll tell them with you. We'll help explain it so they don't panic."
"Sure," Rory said, fidgeting in his seat. "Yeah. Sounds good."
He tried for nonchalant. It didn't quite land.
Alex felt the anxiety still simmering beneath the surface, even though he hid it well.
Ethan gave Rory's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Alright," he said, his voice easing. "That's enough for one day."
Rory blinked, as if surfacing from deep water.
Ethan straightened and stepped away from the desk. "Come on. I'll drive you home."
Rory hesitated. A dozen questions crowded the back of his mind, each one tugging at him, but everything inside him already felt overloaded. He could barely keep the thoughts he had from tripping over each other.
He rose slowly, shoulders tight, hands burying themselves in the pocket of his hoodie.
Alex leaned back, studying him with a mix of sympathy and professional concern. "Don't torture yourself trying to make sense of all of it tonight," she said gently. "Give your mind a chance to settle."
Rory nodded and stepped out into the hallway.
Ethan lingered a moment, letting out a slow breath.
Alex didn't look up at first, but her voice cut across the room, calm and pointed.
"What are you going to do about Beau?"
Ethan lifted his head.
Her expression had shifted, still calm, but sharpened with something colder. "What Beau did in there wasn't harmless. He shouldn't have pushed inside Rory's head like that."
Ethan's jaw flexed. He'd already been thinking the same thing.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "I know."
Alex held his gaze. "That wasn't just a prank. He crossed a line."
Ethan nodded once, the decision already made. "I'll speak to him. Tonight."
A beat.
"He's not doing that again. Not with Rory. Not with anyone."
Alex's expression eased, approval softening the edge. "Good."
Ethan exhaled, squared his shoulders, and finally stepped into the hall after Rory.
***
What moment summed Rory up best here?
