Chapter 63: Watching From The Shadows
Dr. Evelyn Mercer sat back in her chair, her eyes fixed on the training footage playing across the wall-sized screen in her office. The images of Jake Foster and Isaac Voss battling played in crisp detail, the raw power on display both awe-inspiring and dangerous. Isaac’s ability to shift his density and tank Jake’s energy blasts was a remarkable feat, but what really intrigued her was how Jake seemed to be absorbing some of the energy from Isaac’s punches, trying to harness it. His raw durability was already impressive. And he was getting stronger.
Beside her, Mariane Kyros quietly took notes, her expression focused, her eyes reflecting the screen. For the past few months, they had carefully documented the progress of Jake and Levi, the two Class 5 metahumans that had made Galewood a disaster zone. The experiment was bearing fruit, but Mercer had a broader goal in mind.
“Foster’s control is increasing,” Mariane said, her tone professional. “The inhibitors are still working, but he’s testing the limits.”
Mercer nodded slightly, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Of course he is. That’s exactly what we want. He’s starting to understand the full extent of his abilities. We need him to push himself—just enough to reveal what we need, but not so much that he becomes unmanageable.”
She paused the footage just as Jake’s energy blast flared out of his hands, causing Isaac to momentarily stumble before shifting his density to near-invulnerability. Mercer’s eyes narrowed at the sight. The dynamic between the Class 4 and Class 5 subjects had always been a point of interest for her. How would they fare against each other, and more importantly, how far could she push them before the cracks started to show?
“We wouldn’t be getting these kinds of reactions and data recordings if we kept them in isolation,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “It also helps our public image having them be seen every now and then.”
Mariane nodded, scribbling down a few more notes. “The other students are talking, of course. But that’s to be expected.”
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“It’s what we need,” Mercer replied, a trace of a smile touching her lips. “If we kept them hidden away forever, it would only raise suspicion. This way, we can say we’re integrating them. The leadership will be pleased to see they aren’t being treated like prisoners.”
Before Mariane could respond, the door to the office slid open, and Jonas Keene walked in, his expression hard and unreadable. He stepped forward, his eyes flicking from Mercer to the frozen footage on the screen.
“Another session?” Keene asked, his voice clipped.
Mercer gestured to the screen. “As you can see, progress is being made. Foster and Voss are continuing to provide excellent data.”
Keene’s gaze shifted to the image of Jake mid-energy blast, and then back to Mercer. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Mercer. Letting them interact with the general student body, pushing them in these training sessions—it’s only a matter of time before one of them snaps.”
Mercer’s eyes met his, cold and unyielding. “Controlled fire, Jonas. We’re pushing them to understand their limits. That’s how we stay in control.”
Keene crossed his arms, his posture stiff. “And what happens when they push back? Foster’s growing stronger every day. He’s testing the limits of his inhibitors. If he realizes just how far he can go—”
Mercer waved a hand dismissively. “We’ll be ready. The inhibitors are holding, and Foster is still learning how to control his powers. Besides, we’ve seen how easily Voss can counter him. They balance each other out.”
Keene’s lips tightened, clearly unconvinced. “That’s not the point. If one of them goes off-script, if they try to break out—”
“They won’t,” Mercer interrupted, her voice firm. “Because they know what happens if they do. They’re not stupid. And neither are we.”
Keene’s silence was telling. He didn’t agree, but Mercer had the final word. For now.
After a moment, Mercer turned back to the screen, resuming the footage. She watched as Jake unleashed another energy blast, his focus sharp, his control impressive for someone who had once been unable to hold it together. Isaac responded in kind, his body shifting to withstand the impact. The battle was a dance of power and control, and Mercer was content to let it play out.
“They’re progressing just as we expected,” she said, more to herself than to anyone in the room. “All we need to do now is watch and wait.”
Keene’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing as he turned and left the room.
Mercer watched the door close behind him before letting out a slow breath. Jonas Keene was always a thorn in her side, questioning her methods, pushing for more control. But Mercer knew better. This wasn’t just about containment. It was about understanding. And if they understood these boys well enough, they would never lose control.
She turned to Mariane. “Increase the frequency of their sessions. Let’s see how far they’re willing to push themselves.”
Mariane nodded, scribbling down the new directive without hesitation.
Mercer’s gaze lingered on the screen, on Jake’s determined expression as he fought Isaac. She knew Keene was right about one thing—these boys were dangerous. But that was exactly what made them valuable. And as long as they remained valuable, Mercer knew she was still in control.