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Verille Mara's boots clacked against the polished, obsidian floor of the 47th underground level, three floors below the Organization's sprawling headquarters on the 50th. The corridor stretched endlessly, its reinforced titanium walls reflecting the dim, bluish glow of recessed lights. The air buzzed with the faint hum of quantum processors and the sharp tang of ionized air, a testament to the high-tech secrecy of this subterranean fortress. Her heart pounded like a war drum in her chest as she approached Block D, Office No. 7, where bold, glowing letters declared: **No1 Special Committee**. This was the sanctum she was duty-bound to enter with any new findings about Subject No1—the anomaly that could unravel her sanity.
She hadn't dared return to No1's containment cell alone. The memory of his presence—those unblinking, otherworldly eyes in the cell's eerie violet glow—made her stomach lurch. If she'd stayed, she'd have either collapsed or, worse, lost control in a way that would've torched her reputation among her peers. A rookie gamma-tier like her couldn't afford such humiliation, not when facing the Organization's elite. She'd already crossed paths with two of them during the chaotic incident in No1's cell: one an Omega, the other a peak gamma. They hadn't exchanged names, but their files were burned into her memory—monsters in human skin, wielding powers that could reshape reality.
*Stay calm, Mara,* she coached herself, her fingers trembling as she gripped her verification card. *They're professionals, doing this since before I was born. Just report what you found, say you didn't get a taskpad, and get out. They won't crush a rookie for no reason, right?* Her pulse thundered, each beat screaming doubt. No1 was an unknown terror, but these committee members? She *knew* their power, and that made them scarier. *Don't overcomplicate it. Lady Luck, please, don't ditch me now.*
Mara swiped her card against the scanner. The massive, reinforced doors slid open silently, defying their hulking presence. Stepping inside, her breath hitched as her gaze swept the room. Her mind reeled, questioning her existence as she took in the No1 Special Committee, seated around a sleek, black table under flickering holographic displays. Their uniforms bore glowing emblems—gamma for most, Omega for one—marking their godlike status. Her memory churned, pulling up every detail from their files, now amplified by their real, overwhelming presence.
- **John Korran**, peak gamma, brute force class, with earth and space manipulation that could shatter mountains or warp gravity within a 500-kilometer radius. A towering hulk of a man, his scarred jaw and buzzed black hair gave him a grizzled, battle-hardened look. His gray eyes glinted like steel, sizing her up like prey. His gamma emblem pulsed on his chest, a warning of his power to crush continents.
- **Veyra Solis**, peak gamma, telekinesis master, capable of lifting an island or accelerating objects to hypersonic++ speeds, even approaching near-relativistic during flight. Her silver hair flowed like liquid moonlight, framing sharp emerald eyes that seemed to see through Mara's soul. Slender yet commanding, her gamma emblem glowed faintly, a testament to her precision and power.
- **Omela Solis**, peak gamma, wielder of the Mirage Veil, crafting illusions that became real if believed, with a range up to 800 kilometers. Her blonde hair shimmered like spun gold, and her violet eyes held a predatory gleam, both alluring and terrifying. Her petite frame belied her ability to manipulate emotions, making love, hate, or fear feel as real as her illusions. Rumors pegged her as the next Omega.
- **Mira Taryn**, peak gamma, Tech Synergy with the Restore attribute, able to mend anything from shattered tech to fractured souls. She can achieve hypersonic action speed through her agility attribute, it's rare for a utility gamma teir to achieve that kind of action speed. Her wiry build and cropped copper hair gave her a practical, no-nonsense air. Her hazel eyes scanned Mara with clinical precision, her gamma emblem half-hidden under a tactical vest, hinting at her role as the team's fixer.
- **Dr. Renis Valtor**, Omega, the committee's leader, with mind control that could enslave entire cities from a thousand kilometers away. Gaunt and towering, his slicked-back white hair and cold amber eyes radiated menace. His Omega emblem glowed ominously, a beacon of his ability to make allies turn on each other without lifting a finger.
Mara's knees wobbled under their collective stare, her mind screaming, *What sins did I commit to land in this nightmare?* She imagined Dr. Renis forcing her to gut her friends while he sipped tea halfway across the planet, his power rendering resistance futile. *God, help me,* she pleaded internally, her chest tight with dread.
All eyes locked onto her, pinning her like a butterfly in a display case. Dr. Renis's brow twitched, as if preparing to probe her mind, but John broke the silence with a booming laugh. "Well, well, our rookie oracle graces us! What divine blessing brings you here, kid?"
Mara froze, her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth. "I—I…" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
"Don't mess with her, John," Dr. Renis said, his tone calm but laced with authority. "She's overwhelmed, and she's here for a reason." He gestured to a chair, his amber eyes softening slightly. "Miss Verille, sit."
Mara obeyed, her legs moving on instinct, sinking into the chair as if it were a trap. She was surrounded by titans who could crush her like an insect. A glass of water floated to her side, guided by Veyra's telekinesis. Veyra's gentle smile softened her sharp features, her voice warm. "Drink. It'll calm your nerves."
Mara nodded, gulping the water greedily, the cool liquid anchoring her fraying composure. As she set the glass down, Dr. Renis leaned forward, his gaze piercing. "So, Miss Verille, why are you here? Something unusual about No1, or another matter entirely?"
Relief flickered through her. *They're rational. They're not tossing me out.* Her earlier fears—of them fleeing No1's cell like cowards—felt absurd now. "I found something," she said, cutting him off mid-sentence, her voice steadier than she felt.
The room went still. No one reacted outwardly, but Omela's violet eyes glinted with curiosity, her blonde hair catching the holographic light like a halo. Dr. Renis tilted his head, reciting No1's known traits: "He sees through walls, hears us, influences a range up to 800 kilometers…" He paused, his tone skeptical. "Anything new?"
Mara swallowed, her heart lurching. "Yes. He can talk."
The air crackled with tension. John lurched forward, nearly toppling his chair before catching himself. "What?!" he roared, his gray eyes blazing. "That goddamn *rock* can talk? You sure you're not hallucinating, rookie?"
"Stop bellowing like a bull, John," Omela snapped, her voice sharp but tinged with amusement. Her violet eyes flicked to Mara, reading her like an open book. "She's not lying. I'd know—emotions don't hide from me. Liars flinch, and she's steady."
John's scowl deepened. "You said *most* of the time, Omela. What if—"
Her smile turned razor-edged, silencing him. "Don't test me, Korran." She leaned back, her blonde hair shimmering, exuding confidence that made Mara's skin prickle.
John huffed, turning back to Mara. "Fine. What'd he say?"
Mara's mind replayed the exchange, her voice trembling. "I can talk.'"
John's brow furrowed, his scarred jaw tightening. "I know *you* can talk, kid. What'd *he* say?"
"No, I mean, that's what he said!" Mara blurted, her cheeks flushing as she realized her mistake. "He said, 'I can talk,' when I asked him if he could."
John leaned back, his anger giving way to grudging acceptance. Veyra's voice cut through, her emerald eyes narrowing in confusion. "How'd you get him to talk? We've tried everything—toys, chocolate, money…" She glanced at Omela, who flushed, her violet eyes darting away.
"Even seduction," Omela muttered, her cheeks pink, her tone half-ashamed, half-defiant.
Mara's mind spun. *Seduction? Does No1 see me as… no, impossible!* Her thoughts raced, but she clamped them down, aware Omela could sense her emotions. Too late—Omela's smirk confirmed she'd caught the panic, her violet eyes glinting with mischief. Mara's blood boiled at the intrusion, her fists clenching under the table. *Stay out of my head!*
Omela looked away, as if sensing Mara's rage. Veyra chuckled, breaking the tension. "John even bowed to No1 once, like he was worshipping a god. Funniest thing I've ever seen."
"Hey!" John snapped, his face reddening, his gamma emblem flaring briefly. "Don't air that to the rookie, Veyra!"
Veyra's smile widened, unperturbed, her silver hair glinting as she leaned back. Mira, silent until now, spoke up, her hazel eyes sharp. "Enough bickering. If No1's talking, that's a game-changer." Her voice was clipped, her hypersonic agility evident in the quick, precise way she adjusted her tactical vest. "What else did he say, Verille? Any hints about his motives?"
Mara shook her head, her voice small. "Just… 'I can talk.' I didn't push further. I was too shocked."
Dr. Renis coughed, the sound cutting through the room like a guillotine. "Enough chit-chat," he said, his amber eyes narrowing. "Miss Verille, you're confirming No1 can communicate verbally, correct?"
"Yes," Mara replied, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart racing as she met his gaze.
His lips curved into a rare, chilling smile. "As expected of you, Miss Verille. My instincts were right about your potential." He leaned back, his Omega emblem pulsing ominously. "You've just earned a permanent seat on the No1 Special Committee."
Mara's heart stopped, her mind screaming, *No, no, NO!* Her vision blurred, panic clawing at her chest. "NOOOO!" she cried aloud, her voice echoing in the silent room, her body trembling as the weight of her new reality sank in. She was trapped with these titans, bound to a mystery that could destroy her.
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