Chapter 37: Controlled Variables
Dr. Evelyn Mercer stood with her arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the wall of monitors. Each screen showed a different angle of the Academy’s common area, but her attention was solely on Jake Foster and Levi Blackwell. The two had been released among the general student body for the first time since their arrival, and Mercer had been waiting to see how they would react. How they would behave.
Behind her, Marianne Kyros stood quietly, tapping her fingers on the data tablet she held, her eyes moving between the screens and the streams of biofeedback data coming in from the inhibitors implanted in Jake and Levi.
“They’re behaving well enough for now,” Marianne remarked, eyes flicking to the monitor. “Do you think they have any idea how closely they’re being monitored?”
“Unlikely,” Mercer replied. “They’ve been under some illusion of control, just like we planned. But they do realize how easily we could shut them down.”
The biofeedback inhibitors were working as designed, maintaining constant surveillance on Jake and Levi’s vitals and nervous system activity. If either one of them exhibited even the slightest surge in power, a dampening signal would be sent to neutralize their abilities before they could escalate. It was a necessary safeguard with subjects like these.
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“Jake’s readings are stable,” Marianne noted, scanning the data. “Levi’s, too, though… his patterns are more erratic than we expected. His emotional baseline is harder to pin down.”
Mercer studied the feed, watching Levi’s languid, almost indifferent posture. His white hair and glowing red eyes set him apart from the rest, and yet there was something about his demeanor—something detached. She couldn’t help but be intrigued by how calm he seemed, given all he had been through.
“His emotional state is… peculiar,” Mercer mused. “Whatever happened to him after Galewood has fundamentally changed him. He’s not like any other empath we’ve studied.”
“Do you think we should push him further?” Marianne asked, glancing up from the tablet.
“We will. But for now, let’s observe. We need more data on what he’s capable of.”
Marianne nodded, tapping more notes into her tablet as the two of them watched the screens. Jake was the more obvious threat, of course. His ability to channel raw energy had already caused one disaster, and the Academy wasn’t about to let him repeat it. His inhibitors were tuned to the most sensitive thresholds, ensuring that any spike in power could be met with immediate containment.
Mercer observed him closely. Jake was tense, his gaze sweeping the room like he was waiting for something to go wrong. The trauma of Galewood had left its mark on him, but it was clear he was trying to keep it under control. He was far more serious now than the reports suggested he’d been before.
Her attention shifted back to Levi, who leaned across the table and said something to Jake. Whatever it was, it broke through Jake’s tension, causing them to laugh uncontrollably. Mercer raised an eyebrow.
“Interesting,” Marianne muttered. “They’re an odd pair, aren’t they? Especially given everything that’s happened.”
Mercer didn’t reply immediately, watching as Jake’s laughter gradually subsided. Levi remained calm, almost amused by the reaction. Whatever bond they shared was strong enough to cut through the weight of their circumstances. That bond was worth keeping an eye on.
“They’ve survived because of each other I believe,” Mercer finally said, her tone measured. “It’s worth remembering.”
Marianne didn’t respond, her fingers still tapping on the screen as they continued to monitor the two. The quiet hum of the surveillance room was the only sound, both women focused entirely on the data and the scenes unfolding in the mess hall.