Unclassified

Director Hayes gestured to the surrounding equipment with an air of authority. "We'll begin with a series of controlled exercises to test your reflexes, strength, and speed. Don't worry, nothing too extreme… But be prepared to push yourself."

Theo nodded, his throat dry as he swallowed the knot of anxiety threatening to tighten. His heart pounded in his chest, a steady reminder of how little he truly understood about the power coursing through him. The energy inside felt like an untamed beast, restless and waiting. He wasn't sure how much of it he could control at once, but this was his moment—his chance to see how far he could push himself.

The first test was simple—speed. The floor beneath him lit up with a web of motion sensors, each one glowing faintly in a pattern that seemed to pulse with anticipation. He felt his pulse quicken as Director Hayes gave him a sharp nod. "Remove your hover boots."

Theo's stomach tightened, but he didn't hesitate. He slipped off the boots, letting his feet settle against the cool, polished floor. As soon as his feet made contact with the ground, he could feel a slight hum—his boots were off, but his body still felt charged, like there was more beneath the surface waiting to be tapped.

Director Hayes motioned toward the starting point, and in that instant, Theo launched himself forward, his body propelled by the energy he barely understood. He felt the surge of power all over his body, pushing him forward with a force he had never experienced before. The wind rushed past him, his hair whipping behind him as the sensors flashed beneath his feet. Each step was a burst of pure energy, every movement swifter than the last. But on his fourth step, the momentum sent him crashing forward. He stumbled, his body twisting uncontrollably, as if the very energy he'd had betrayed him. His limbs flailed helplessly, and the next moment, he was tumbling—sliding across the ground, his body slamming against the floor with a jarring impact."

Everyone was laughing. Except for Hayes

"70 MPH," Hayes muttered under his breath, his eyes never leaving Theo's form as he tore across the floor. His expression was unreadable, but the sharp glint in his eyes hinted at something akin to interest. "Now, let's see how you handle strength."

The floor beneath him shifted with a mechanical hum, and a massive weight appeared. A large, reinforced crate, its metallic surface gleaming under the lights, slid into position directly in front of Theo. It was clearly too heavy for an average person to lift, and Theo's stomach sank. The weight was the kind of challenge that could crush even a seasoned fighter, and Theo was anything but seasoned.

But the energy inside him had already begun to stir, ready to respond. He reached for the crate, his hands trembling as he tried to focus. The bio-energy within his body surged to meet the challenge. His muscles screamed in protest, but he wasn't backing down. He clenched his teeth and heaved, his arms shaking as the crate slowly lifted off the ground. The strain was unbearable, every fiber of his being pushed to the brink. His grip tightened as he struggled to hold the weight above his head, the heavy crate threatening to drop.

He was beginning to feel drained, He couldn't tell it yet but he had used quite a bit of his energy for these tasks.

"800 pounds," Hayes said flatly, his voice holding the same neutrality as before. He studied Theo's effort without a hint of approval or disappointment.

Theo stood, panting, the sweat on his brow glistening under the harsh lights. He felt the burn in his muscles, the ache of every fiber protesting the strain. His legs trembled, barely able to support the weight as his chest heaved for air. But there was a sense of pride mixed with exhaustion. He had done it.

The room fell silent for a moment, except for the soft hum of technology and the faint sound of lab technicians making adjustments in the background. Alyssa and James stood off to the side, leaning against the wall, their expressions unreadable. The room itself seemed to be holding its breath, as though the very air was waiting for the next test.

Director Hayes, rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his eyes flicking to the nearby technicians. "This is interesting," he said quietly, almost to himself. "Let's begin with the standard diagnostics next."

His voice snapped the silence, and the technician nearest to him, a woman in a crisp lab coat, stepped forward. She was efficient, but there was something almost… disarming about the way she moved. She adjusted her glasses, her eyes focused as she held up a sleek cylindrical device.

"Extend your arm, please," she instructed, her voice soft and controlled.

Theo hesitated for a moment, the sudden vulnerability making him uneasy. But he complied, extending his arm and watching as the device wrapped around his wrist with a soft hum. A holographic display blinked to life before him, streams of data appearing in a dizzying array of numbers and graphs that he could hardly understand.

The technician's brow furrowed slightly as she read the information displayed. "His energy levels are fluctuating," she murmured, her fingers tapping the screen. "They're unstable, but not weak."

Theo's heart skipped a beat at the word "unstable," his mind immediately flooding with questions. What did that mean? Was it a bad thing?

Director Hayes, as always, remained calm. His gaze was sharp, assessing. "Interesting," he muttered. "Run a deeper scan."

The machine beeped, its soft mechanical hum filling the otherwise quiet room. The readings shifted, updating in real-time, and Theo felt an uneasy chill settle over him. The technician's eyes widened in surprise as she read the new data.

"His energy… it's not following in a standard pattern. It's all over the place." She hesitated, clearly unsure how to explain it. "We can't identify the category of his power type either."

Alyssa exchanged a quick glance with James before her eyes returned to Theo. "That's not normal, is it?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

The technician was still scanning the readings, her expression one of confusion. "No," she admitted. "It's… How do I put this simply? His power isn't categorized in any of the known types. It's not elemental, it's not physical, it's not enhancement, and it's certainly not animalistic or summoning."

Theo swallowed hard, the weight of their words sinking in. Not categorized? Not part of any known type? Was that even possible?

Director Hayes' gaze narrowed, his expression unreadable as he looked directly at Theo. "Tell me—what have you felt since your power awakened?"

Theo took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. He tried to keep his voice steady, but his hands betrayed him, trembling slightly. He knew he had to be honest, but something about Hayes' calculating gaze made him wary of revealing everything.

"I don't know," Theo confessed, his voice quieter now. "I can feel it inside of me, darting all over my body. But that's it. It's like… it's alive, but I can't control it."

For a long moment, Hayes didn't respond. He simply studied Theo, his eyes piercing and calculating. Then, finally, his lips curled into a thin, almost predatory smile.

"Then let's push it further," Hayes said, his voice low and even, though there was an undeniable challenge in it. "Let's make you use it… James!"