Chapter 126

The air in the conference room felt thick, heavy with the weight of unspoken fears and suspicions. Dr. Carlisle looked up from his notes, casting a keen glance around the table. The screen continued displaying the two live feeds: on one side, a young woman with fiery red hair manipulated flames in mesmerizing patterns; on the other, a man soared through the skies, his silhouette stark against the distant mountains.

Dr. Carlisle finally broke the silence. "There's more here than just random manifestations. I've been studying Malik's case closely, particularly his mental states under different circumstances. While Malik first activated his power under life-threatening stress, it's clear that certain mental conditions can impact his control and strength. If we can identify a specific brain wave signal tied to the activation process, we might find a way to inhibit powers in general—even stop them from activating entirely."

Lisa Renfield furrowed her brow. "So you're saying Malik's mental state is a key factor in his ability to control metal?"

Dr. Carlisle nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Precisely. When Malik's mind is calm and focused, his control improves; under high stress, his power tends to surge unpredictably. If we can understand this pattern better, we could potentially develop a countermeasure—a signal that would interfere with the brain's activation of these abilities."

Across the table, Jonathan Hart leaned in, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. "Are you saying there's a way to block these abilities at the source? If we could turn this off in them, we'd have the perfect safeguard."

"Not so fast," Dr. Carlisle cautioned, shaking his head. "This isn't a simple on-off switch. These abilities are likely tied to deep-seated physiological changes, even latent DNA expressions. I'd need more samples—more data—to determine any consistent way of inhibiting them. And that's if we can even gather such samples without detection."

Lisa glanced back at the live feed. "Who are they?" She nodded at the two figures on the screen. "Where are they from?"

A new voice broke into the conversation. A junior agent who had been gathering information entered, tablet in hand. "The woman with the fire control is Mei Tanaka, a resident of Nishiwaki—a small town nestled in the mountains and forests of Japan. We haven't confirmed her background, but it seems she's led an ordinary life until now."

"And the one flying?" Lisa asked, her gaze shifting to the man soaring over a landscape of rolling plains.

The agent scrolled down, adjusting his tablet. "His name's Gabriel Alvarez, from La Estrella, a remote town in the highlands of Peru. He's a farmer, from what we can gather—a quiet man who lived a simple life until now. His family and community are just as baffled by his sudden abilities as we are."

Jonathan scratched his chin, pondering. "It's strange. These abilities…they're not just appearing randomly in high-stress situations. We've been observing patterns—specific triggers, even in Malik's case. Could it be that something else is awakening these people? Something environmental? Genetic?"

Dr. Carlisle nodded, though a frown tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Exactly. While stress has been a common factor in many of these cases, it's not enough on its own to explain such dramatic manifestations. Malik, for instance, only activated his power during a life-and-death situation, but his mental state now affects his strength and control. I suspect environmental factors, maybe even exposure to certain triggers, could be at play here."

A silence fell over the room as the officials considered his words. Lisa was the first to break it. "What about this: if environmental factors are a potential trigger, should we be considering the possibility that others might be affected soon? That we could be facing a wave of emerging abilities?"

Dr. Carlisle shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "It's not an impossibility. If these triggers are present in certain areas or are tied to stress, trauma, or even some specific physical environments, we could indeed see a wave. And if that happens without any form of intervention… the consequences would be uncontrollable."

Another official, whose face bore a look of deep contemplation, chimed in. "Dr. Carlisle, you mentioned studying Malik's mental states. Could we use that as a template to develop some form of countermeasure, a way to neutralize the abilities if they're misused?"

Carlisle tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. "We would need to monitor and replicate his brain wave activity during different states. If we can isolate the exact signals linked to his ability activation, we might be able to develop a device or signal to cancel or suppress those abilities momentarily. But it would require precision—testing, more data on cases like Mei Tanaka and Gabriel Alvarez."

Jonathan's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the live feed, the flickering flames and graceful flight playing out in parallel. "If we have to gather data, then let's do it. We can't afford to stand idle and hope this just fades away."

"But what about their rights?" Lisa interjected, looking appalled. "These are still people—ordinary individuals who've done nothing wrong. They haven't asked for these powers. We're talking about testing and experimenting on civilians here."

Jonathan waved his hand dismissively. "They stopped being 'ordinary' the moment they could conjure fire or take to the skies. Our priority is public safety."

Dr. Carlisle raised a calming hand. "I understand both perspectives. While we have to ensure public safety, we should also remember that this is new territory. If we mishandle these cases, we could provoke a backlash—one that might bring others with powers out of hiding, angry and looking for retribution."

The gravity of his words settled over the room. Finally, Lisa nodded, though her expression remained troubled. "Fine. But let's proceed with caution. We need to understand not only the 'how' but also the 'why.' Why these abilities? Why now?"

Dr. Carlisle tapped a few notes into his tablet, his mind whirring with theories. "I suspect the awakening might be due to changes in the environment, perhaps even shifts in the planet's magnetic fields, or something in the air, water, or food supply that only certain people are susceptible to. There are too many unknowns here. We'll need more research, and we must tread carefully."

The room grew quiet as the officials took in the enormity of their situation. Mei and Gabriel's images flickered on the screen, symbols of a new age that was creeping up on them, silent and inevitable.

Dr. Carlisle finally broke the silence. "We should contact their governments discreetly. I'll need access to any medical records we can obtain, anything that could help us understand why they, specifically, are showing signs of latent powers."

"Agreed," Jonathan said. "But remember, this is just the beginning. If what you suspect is true, we're on the brink of something huge—a complete shift in our understanding of human potential."

Dr. Carlisle nodded grimly. "Yes. And whether it's a gift or a curse remains to be seen."

With that, the meeting concluded, but the feeling of foreboding lingered as they dispersed. Each official departed with their thoughts, contemplating the dawn of a new era and the challenges it would bring. Dr. Carlisle stayed behind, looking once more at the screen.

This was only the beginning, and he felt an unsettling certainty that Malik and others like him would be at the center of an upheaval the world wasn't ready for