In the solitude of my quarters, I settle into a deeper meditation practice. The room's ambient lighting dims automatically as I enter a focused state, my body relaxing while my mind sharpens. Following Helena's techniques, I direct my attention inward to the core of my telekinetic abilities.
With each controlled breath, I sense the energy flowing through specific pathways in my body, neural connections that have been enhanced by the aliens' procedures. I visualize these pathways strengthening, expanding their capacity to channel my telekinetic force.
Hours pass as I explore the true depth of my powers. In this deep meditative state, I discover that I can extend my telekinetic awareness beyond my immediate surroundings, sensing the molecular structure of objects without physically touching them. I practice manipulating smaller and smaller particles, first dust motes in the air, then the very air molecules themselves.
As my concentration deepens, I begin to feel the subtle vibrations of the facility around me, the hum of power systems in the walls, the minute shifts in air pressure as people move through nearby corridors. My enhanced awareness expands to encompass the entire residential block, allowing me to sense movement patterns and energy signatures.
Most intriguing is my discovery that I can telekinetically enhance my own physical form, reinforcing muscle fibers, accelerating neural responses, even subtly adjusting my body's internal functions. This self-modification potential could be a game-changer in combat situations.
When I finally emerge from meditation, I feel fundamentally changed. My powers have integrated more completely with my consciousness, responding now to intuition rather than deliberate thought. What once required concentration now feels as natural as breathing.
I check my tablet. It's well into the facility's night cycle. Nova's invitation lingers in my thoughts. Room A-17 in the privileged section would normally be off-limits to someone at my current status, but my enhanced senses can now detect the patrol patterns of the facility guards. A clear path is available if I decide to accept her invitation.
Tomorrow's Sponsor Observation Event is coming up fast. Meditating helped me feel more in control, but I have a feeling that raw power isn't the only thing that matters here. Making the right connections might be just as important if I want to survive this place.
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I glance at the clock on my tablet, then at the door. It would be easier to stay put, rest, and avoid drawing any unnecessary attention. But something tells me this isn’t just a casual invitation. Nova knows things, things I need to understand if I’m going to last here.
I exhale, shaking off the hesitation. If I want to get ahead, I need to take some risks. Besides, a man and a woman alone together at night? Maybe there might be more exciting things in store for me! After a deep breath, I push off my bed, having made my decision.
With my enhanced senses mapping the facility's security patterns, I make my way through the dimly lit corridors toward Block A. The privileged section is noticeably different, with wider hallways, softer lighting, and even subtle aesthetic touches like abstract artwork mounted on the walls. The accommodations clearly reflect the hierarchy of this combat-based society.
I detect two guard patrols and easily time my movements to avoid them, my enhanced speed letting me cross exposed sections in seconds. My telekinetic awareness picks up on the surveillance cameras, and I apply just enough pressure to their internal mechanisms to temporarily disrupt them as I pass.
As I reach door A-17, I sense the unique energy signature inside. Nova's photonic aura pulses steadily, like she’s been waiting for me. Before I can signal my arrival, the door slides open. She already knew I was coming.
Nova stands in the doorway, her luminescent patterns pulsing softly against her skin. She’s swapped her training gear for a flowing garment made of some alien fabric that catches and enhances the glow of her body.
"You came," she says, a slight smile on her lips. "Wasn’t sure you’d actually risk crossing sectors." She steps aside, motioning for me to enter.
Her quarters are spacious, at least three times the size of mine. Large viewport windows reveal a stunning alien landscape outside the facility. Towering crystalline formations stretch toward a horizon where two pale moons hang in the sky. The furnishings strike a balance between function and style, clearly tailored to her preferences.
"Perks of being valuable to the right sponsor," she says, noticing me taking in the room. She moves to a panel on the wall, taps a few controls, and nods. "Privacy mode engaged. They don’t watch everything. Not all the time, anyway."
Nova turns fully to face me, her opalescent eyes shifting through colors like distant galaxies swirling in motion. "You're not what I expected, Gary. Most new arrivals either break under the reality of this place, clinging to memories of Earth, or they give in completely to the aliens' conditioning." She forms a small sphere of light between her palms, rolling it between her fingers like a stress ball. "You seem to be adapting, but on your own terms. Taking what helps, ignoring the rest."
She steps closer, the glow from her skin casting shifting shadows across my face. "I told you I’d give you real answers. So, what do you want to know?"
