TX-19-B floated toward the testing room, her form tense as she prepared for her regular mental retest. Although she had never shown any signs of illness before, the nagging fear that something might have slipped through always lingered in the back of her mind. After all, it only took one mistake for everything to change.
“I’ll meet you guys later,” she said to TX-21-R, TX-22-Y, and TX-23-G, who were waiting in the room outside, killing time before their own retests.
TX-21-R’s glow dimmed slightly in acknowledgment. “Good luck, TX-19-B. We’ll be out for a quick stroll. We’ll see you when you’re done.”
“I’ll go ask if TX-07 has any work we can do around the facility,” TX-23-G added, turning to float down the opposite hallway.
TX-21-R and TX-22-Y drifted lazily down the hall, their earlier training session having left them somewhat tired. The atmosphere between them was casual, though a slight tension lingered from their ongoing concerns.
“Where do you think TX-23-W has gone off to this time?” TX-21-R asked, her voice carrying a faint edge of frustration. “I don’t like it. What if he’s getting into trouble again? Or worse, planning something?”
TX-22-Y’s light pulsed gently as he shrugged. “He’s always up to something. But it’s nothing we can control. Focus on the now, TX-21-R. We’ll know when we need to.”
“Maybe. It’s not like him to disappear without a word,” she mused, her tone still uneasy. “I just have a bad feeling.”
“I know,” TX-22-Y replied calmly, his focus ahead as they turned a corner. “But we have other things to focus on right now.”
The soft hum of the facility’s systems buzzed in the background as a group of newborn PsySpheres floated nearby, guarded by two security officers. TX-35-Y, TX-34-R, and TX-33-P were freshly created, being escorted for their initial mental evaluations. The newborns hovered closely to one another, their movements hesitant as they took in their new surroundings, their bright surfaces glowing faintly. None of them had yet developed distinct personalities, all still adjusting to existence.
Suddenly, TX-33-P slowed down, drifting out of sync with the others. Their movement became jerky and uncoordinated, a faint tremor running through their spherical form. The glow surrounding TX-33-P flickered slightly, as though something was disrupting their internal stability.
One of the guards noticed and cautiously floated closer, concern clear in their expression. “Are you okay?”
A soft weeping sound came from TX-33-P, quiet at first, almost imperceptible against the background noise of the facility. But the sobs quickly grew louder, escalating into frantic, uneven gasps. The tension in the air thickened as the sound shifted again, twisting into something much darker—maniacal, high-pitched laughter that echoed down the corridor.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances, backing away as the other newborn PsySpheres recoiled in confusion. Before anyone could react, TX-33-P exploded with a burst of telekinetic energy, sending the guards and the other newborns slamming into the walls with violent force. The impact knocked them all unconscious, their forms scattered across the floor like fallen debris.
TX-33-P hovered erratically, their glowing pink surface dimming and brightening at random, their laughter still ringing through the hallway. Without warning, they shot forward, zipping erratically through the corridor, bouncing off walls and leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
TX-21-R and TX-22-Y rounded the corner, their relaxed demeanor evaporating in an instant. The scene before them was one of chaos—two guards and two newborn PsySpheres lay scattered across the hallway, unconscious. They hovered motionless, having been violently flung against the walls. The air was thick with unease, and the soft flickering of the overhead lights only heightened the strange tension.
“What the...?” TX-21-R muttered, her glow dimming as she looked around in confusion.
TX-22-Y narrowed his focus, his glow steady but apprehensive. “Something’s wrong. We should be careful.”
The two floated forward cautiously, scanning their surroundings for any clue as to what had happened. That’s when they saw it. Further down the hall, TX-33-P drifted erratically, their movements uneven and their surface flickering with instability. Every few moments, a sharp, wheezing breath escaped from them, followed by faint giggles or low, guttural weeping. The eerie sound echoed through the hallway, sending a shiver through TX-21-R.
TX-22-Y’s tone was serious now. “We should stay back. Something’s wrong with that PsySphere. They’re unstable.”
TX-21-R glanced at him, her glow flickering with determination. “We can’t just leave them like this.”
“I’m not saying to leave them,” TX-22-Y countered, keeping his distance. “I’m saying we need to be smart about this. Observe first. Figure out what’s going on. They could be dangerous.”
But TX-21-R had already started moving forward, ignoring TX-22-Y’s words. Her light brightened slightly as she tried to steady her voice. “Hey there, buddy, it’s okay. We’re here to help you.”
TX-33-P froze at the sound of her voice. Their form shook slightly, a strange mix of confusion and fear in their expression as they turned toward her. “No... I... I don’t want to... hurt you,” they whispered, their words barely coherent between trembling gasps.
TX-21-R moved closer, her glow soft and calming. “You’re not going to hurt anyone. It’s okay, just take a deep breath. We’ll figure this out together.”
But as she advanced, TX-33-P flinched and backed away, their light flickering wildly. “No! Stay back... something’s wrong... I... I might hurt you!” Their voice was filled with panic, growing more frantic with each word.
“TX-21-R, get away from them!” TX-22-Y called from behind, his voice urgent now. “Listen to them, they’re warning you for a reason!”
But TX-21-R refused to retreat. She hovered just inches from TX-33-P, her tone gentle. “You don’t have to be afraid. We’re your friends. Just tell me what’s wrong, and we can—”
Without warning, TX-33-P’s form pulsed with a violent surge of energy, and before TX-21-R could react, she was flung backward by an invisible force. She hit the wall hard, skidding near TX-22-Y before she managed to regain her balance, the impact leaving her momentarily disoriented.
TX-22-Y immediately moved closer, his glow pulsing with worry. “I told you to be careful! Are you alright?”
TX-21-R steadied herself, her form trembling slightly as she hovered back up. “I’m fine... but they’re not,” she muttered, her gaze fixed on TX-33-P, who now floated erratically in the distance.
TX-33-P began giggling softly again, their voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to... I didn’t mean to... hurt you...” Their words came out broken and uncertain, a thin thread of sanity holding them together. But it was clear that something was slipping—fast.
Then, all at once, the thread snapped.
TX-33-P’s giggles twisted into psychotic laughter, loud and uncontrollable. Their light flashed erratically, flickering between blindingly bright and deathly dim. They shot forward again, this time without warning or hesitation, their laughter echoing down the corridor like a twisted melody.
TX-22-Y moved closer to TX-21-R, his glow darkening with determination. “We need to stop them before this gets any worse.”
TX-21-R and TX-22-Y rushed down the corridor, their forms speeding through the facility. As they turned the corner, their eyes widened in alarm at the sight of more guards and PsySpheres scattered across the floor, unconscious and motionless, some slumped against the walls.
"More of them," TX-21-R muttered, her gaze darting over the chaotic scene. "We need to stop this."
TX-22-Y's calm, strategic mind was already racing. "We can’t just charge in blindly. We need to tire them out first—wear them down before trying to subdue them."
For a moment, TX-21-R hesitated. She wasn’t one to hold back when someone needed help, but this situation demanded more caution. With a curt nod, she agreed. "Alright. Let’s do it your way."
They turned another corner, and in the distance, they spotted the rogue PsySphere—the pink glow of their form flickering erratically as they floated through the hallway, still giggling, the sound unsettling and unsteady. TX-22-Y called out, “Hey! Stop!”
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TX-33-P froze midair, turning slowly to face them. Their breathing was labored and erratic. Suddenly, a chair flew out from an adjacent room, hurtling toward TX-21-R. Without a second thought, TX-21-R intercepted it, catching it just as it was about to collide with her, then flinging it back with equal force. Seeing the opportunity, TX-22-Y slid into the hallway beside him.
The chair halted midair, shattering as if it had slammed into an invisible wall. TX-33-P's eyes glowed faintly with power, their face twisted in a mixture of pain and madness.
Before TX-21-R could react, TX-33-P charged toward her, their telekinetic force crashing against her own. The air between them shimmered as their powers clashed, a near-visible barrier forming as they struggled for control. TX-33-P, however, was stronger. Inch by inch, they pushed TX-21-R back, her effort straining against the overwhelming force.
Suddenly, TX-22-Y emerged from the hallway behind TX-33-P, his plan springing into action. He darted toward TX-33-P, forcing them to divide their focus. TX-33-P whipped around at the last second, sending a telekinetic wave to push him back, but now their power was spread too thin.
“Now!” TX-21-R shouted, summoning her strength. She pushed forward with all her might. On the other side, TX-22-Y did the same, their combined efforts pressing down on TX-33-P from both directions. The unstable PsySphere was caught, struggling to maintain control, sandwiched between two opposing forces.
“Please... end this,” TX-33-P's voice trembled, a whimper slipping through their strained form. “Finish me... before it gets worse.”
TX-22-Y, seeing an opening, began to apply more pressure, but TX-21-R faltered. Her heart pounded as she stared at TX-33-P, unable to bring herself to push further. She hesitated, her mind torn between the necessity of stopping TX-33-P and the moral weight of what that meant.
“TX-21-R!” TX-22-Y shouted, frustration growing in his voice as he pushed harder. “We need to end this now!”
But TX-21-R wasn’t paying attention. Her force began to weaken as emotions overwhelmed her. Both TX-22-Y and TX-33-P seemed momentarily stunned, unable to comprehend her sudden shift.
“Just... finish... it...” TX-33-P tried to plead, but their words faltered mid-sentence. A sharp scream escaped their mouth, and a massive shockwave erupted from their form, knocking TX-21-R off balance and flinging TX-22-Y back across the hall.
TX-33-P's form crackled with energy as they charged at TX-21-R once again. This time, the clash of power sent her flying backward, her body hurtling uncontrollably down the corridor. She braced herself, closing her eyes and waiting for the inevitable crash into the far wall.
But it never came.
Instead, she felt herself stop gently, as if caught by something soft yet firm. Blinking in surprise, TX-21-R opened her eyes and looked around. Hovering beside her was TX-23-G, who had caught her just before she hit the wall.
“Are you okay?” TX-23-G asked, his usual calm presence a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them.
TX-21-R nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. “Yeah... I’m okay. Thanks.”
TX-23-G quickly asked, “What’s going on?”
Without missing a beat, TX-21-R began to explain, “A crazy PsySphere is rampaging aro—” Her words were cut short as TX-23-G suddenly yanked her to the side. A speeding chair, propelled by an unseen force, whizzed past them and crashed into the wall.
“You don’t need to explain more,” TX-23-G said, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the chaotic surroundings. “I’ve figured out what’s happening.”
Meanwhile, in another part of the facility, a guard patrolled the halls with a casual air, his footsteps echoing in the sterile, fluorescent-lit corridor. As he turned a corner, the scene before him stopped him dead in his tracks. Several guards lay sprawled on the floor, unconscious, their bodies lifeless. Among them were two PsySpheres from the batch they were escorting—motionless as if struck down by an invisible hand.
The guard gasped, stumbling back a step. Fumbling for the walkie-talkie clipped to his waist, he raised it to his mouth, urgency flooding his voice. “This is Patrol 3, come in!” he called, breathless. “We have a situation in Wing-5. Guards are down, and two PsySpheres from Batch 50 are out cold. I repeat, we’ve got an emergency in Wing-5!”
His words barely left his mouth before sirens blared through the facility, piercing the silence. The calm lighting shifted to a menacing shade of red, casting ominous shadows along the walls, and steel doors began descending from the ceilings, sealing off every exit.
Back where TX-21-R, TX-22-Y, and TX-23-G stood, a sharp metallic clang echoed as the heavy doors slammed down around them. The three PsySpheres found themselves trapped in a smaller space with TX-33-P, who now exuded a cautious energy. Unlike before, TX-33-P didn’t allow them to encircle them; objects flew wildly through the air, propelled by his erratic telekinesis. TX-21-R ducked just in time as a table shattered against the wall beside her.
“Does anyone have a plan?” she shouted, desperation creeping into her voice as she dodged a falling cabinet.
TX-23-G leaped aside, narrowly avoiding a chair that rocketed past him. “Not yet,” he muttered, his focus locked on TX-33-P, trying to anticipate the next attack.
As the battle dragged on, fatigue set in. All three could feel their energy draining, their movements slowing under the relentless barrage. TX-22-Y, panting heavily, suddenly called out, “Wait! Remember when the facility was invaded? That time when TX-07’s psionic surge gave us all splitting headaches?”
TX-21-R, still deflecting objects, glanced at him. “Yeah, what about it?”
TX-22-Y dodged a chair leg, his mind racing. “Our surges aren’t as strong as his, but what if we combine them? We could create something close to that effect. It might be enough to stop them!”
TX-23-G, still evading the onslaught, nodded. “It’s worth a try. I’ll distract them while you two get into position.”
TX-21-R and TX-22-Y sprinted down a side hallway, while TX-23-G focused his telekinesis on TX-33-P. He began hurling objects back at the berserk PsySphere, pulling chairs and tables into the air, keeping TX-33-P's attention locked on him. The two engaged in a chaotic dance of debris, with TX-33-P falling for the bait and pursuing TX-23-G down the hall.
Around the corner, TX-21-R and TX-22-Y waited in silence. The moment TX-33-P passed them, they sprang from their hiding spots, flanking them once again. TX-33-P charged up for another shockwave, the air crackling with telekinetic energy as they prepared to unleash their devastating burst. But before they could release it, the three PsySpheres entered into a psionic surge, channeling all of their remaining energy into a combined mental onslaught.
The pressure in the air grew palpable, as if gravity itself had increased. A crushing force filled the confined space, making it difficult to breathe. TX-33-P groaned in agony as invisible waves of psychic energy washed over them. Their lights flickered erratically, signaling their internal struggle. The air around them thickened, each telekinetic wave becoming harder to endure, even for the attackers. TX-21-R, TX-22-Y, and TX-23-G felt the weight of their own powers pressing down on them, threatening to overwhelm their consciousness.
TX-33-P let out a high-pitched scream, one filled with anguish, as their body convulsed from the intensity of the psionic surge. Their lights flashed uncontrollably, flickering between violent bursts of color.
TX-23-G’s vision blurred as he struggled to stay awake. His body trembled from the effort of sustaining the surge. Finally, all at once, the surge collapsed, and the four PsySpheres hit the floor, their bodies limp and motionless. Only TX-23-G managed to remain semi-conscious, his vision fading in and out.
Suddenly, one of the sealed steel doors creaked as it was forcefully lifted open. TX-23-G weakly turned his head just in time to see TX-07 rushing toward them. His metallic body was a blur of motion as he reached down and gently lifted TX-23-G into the air. That was the last thing TX-23-G saw before slipping into unconsciousness.
When TX-23-G opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a bed in the infirmary. Blinking against the soft light, he noticed TX-21-R and TX-22-Y resting on adjacent beds, still unconscious. At the far end of the room, he spotted TX-07, seated in his mechanical body, slumped over with his head bowed. One hand gripped his knee while the other supported his weary head.
“TX-07,” TX-23-G whispered, summoning every ounce of strength he had left.
TX-07 immediately perked up and rushed to TX-23-G’s side. Relief filled his voice as he said, “I’m so sorry... I wasn’t there. You went through so much because of me.”
TX-23-G shook his head weakly. “Don’t worry about it. We did what we had to do to protect everyone.”
TX-07 smiled, pride evident in his expression. “You all did an incredible job. I’m proud of you. This incident highlights how crucial it is to ensure no PsySphere is hiding a mental illness.”
TX-23-G’s face grew somber. “What happened to that PsySphere?”
“They’ve already been euthanized,” TX-07 explained softly. “There was no other choice, given their condition. The rest of Batch 50 is undergoing thorough testing to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Just then, the infirmary door swung open, and TX-19-B rushed in, her expression frantic. Upon seeing TX-23-G awake, she hurried over to him. “I’m so sorry! I should’ve been here!” she cried, tears streaming down her face.
Both TX-07 and TX-23-G exchanged worried glances, attempting to calm her. After a few moments, TX-19-B, still teary-eyed, excused herself from the room, leaving them in a heavy silence.
As TX-19-B quietly left the infirmary, her thoughts spiraled into a storm of guilt and doubt. The image of TX-23-G lying on the bed, pain etched across his face, played over and over in her mind. TX-21-R and TX-22-Y still hadn’t woken up, and their stillness weighed on her like a heavy chain around her body. Each inch she floated away from them seemed to tighten that chain, making it harder to breathe.
“Why wasn’t I there for them?” she thought bitterly, her teeth clenching. “Why hadn’t she been with them when they faced such danger?” The answer was a bitter pill to swallow—because she had been too wrapped up in finding TX-23-W. Her mind had been solely focused on his disappearance, on figuring out what secrets he was hiding. She had been chasing shadows while her friends had been fighting for their lives. What kind of friend was she?
Tears welled up in her eyes, but she kept moving. She despised this feeling—the growing conflict within her, a constant tug-of-war between her duty to her friends and her suspicions of TX-23-W. She had thought she was doing the right thing by pursuing the truth, by trying to uncover whatever hidden agenda TX-23-W had, but now... now it all felt selfish. Was she so obsessed with her own doubts that she had lost sight of what really mattered?
The image of TX-23-G’s weakened smile cut deep. They had fought a battle without her, faced a threat she hadn’t even known about because she was too consumed by her suspicions. Her heart ached with the thought. She had been so sure of herself before, convinced that she was doing the right thing by investigating TX-23-W. But now? Now she wasn’t so sure.
“Am I really doing the right thing?” she wondered, slowing her pace. “Or am I letting my distrust of TX-23-W tear us apart?” The tears she had tried to hold back spilled over, her body trembling as the guilt crushed her. She had distanced herself, chasing after her suspicions while her friends needed her.
“Is it worth it?” she asked herself, the question echoing in her mind like a haunting whisper. Was uncovering TX-23-W’s motives really worth the distance it was creating between her and her friends? Was she trading their trust for her own obsession?
But beneath that question, another fear took root, darker and more terrifying, “If I keep going down this path, will I lose them?”
As the infirmary grew smaller behind her, TX-19-B couldn’t shake the chilling thought that maybe, just maybe, she was already losing them—and by the time she realized it, it might be too late to fix.