Core overload

George awoke with a start, his enhanced senses immediately alerting him to the fading daylight outside. He stretched, his muscles responding with a fluidity that still surprised him. Rising from the bed, he made his way to the bathroom, catching his reflection in the mirror.

'Still me,' he thought, studying the face that looked back at him. 'But not quite.'

He turned on the shower, adjusting the temperature to near-scalding. As a human, it would have been unbearable, but now it felt just right. Stepping under the spray, he let the water cascade over him, washing away the grime and tension of the past few days.

As he lathered up, his mind wandered to Amara. Her face, beautiful and timeless, floated in his memory. 'What an enigma,' he mused, recalling their intense training session and the surprisingly domestic moments that followed.