Chapter 117: Rise and Fall.

Richard sat in quiet meditation within his private quarters in the Purnas Mansion Underground Base. Two weeks had passed since his forced awakening, and the chaos that once clamored in his mind had been silenced. He had mastered his telepathic abilities, suppressing the influx of thoughts and voices that had previously overwhelmed him. A subtle ripple of energy emanated from him as he extended his telepathic range to its maximum—one hundred feet. He tested sending a clear, concise thought, marveling at his newfound control.

"Two weeks," he thought. "The first was pure chaos, a deluge of voices. But now... silence. Pure, absolute silence. And the range... one hundred feet. Perfect."

Meanwhile, in his room, Jack was engrossed in watching adult videos on his laptop, lost in his own world. Suddenly, Richard's voice, clear as if he were right there, blasted directly into Jack's mind.

"Jack. I need you to come down to the basement."