CHAPTER 1: THE RADIATION EVENT

Elliot’s POV

The glow of multiple monitors washed over my face as I sat in the quiet hum of my private lab. On the central screen, a news anchor’s voice cut through the silence with rehearsed urgency.

“Breaking news: A catastrophic meltdown has occurred at the Chernobyl-2 experimental reactor site. Massive amounts of radioactive energy have been released into the atmosphere. Emergency crews are responding, but experts are warning of unprecedented side effects. Some theorists suggest this could trigger the activation of latent genetic traits in individuals, potentially leading to… supernatural abilities.”

My heart hammered against my ribs. This wasn’t a disaster; it was a catalyst. The Totem of Eternal Instinct and Life—a theoretical source of ultimate biokinetic power—had always been a myth chased by fringe science. But this… this radiation surge could be the key to locating individuals already predisposed to manifesting abilities, living batteries of potential energy that could fuel the Totem’s activation. My mind raced with a torrent of questions. Who would develop powers? What would the abilities look like? How could I locate them before anyone else did?

Luckily, I was prepared. I had the resources, the technology, and the team.

“Amy!” I called out, my voice echoing slightly in the sterile room.

The door slid open almost instantly. “Yes, sir?” Amy stood at attention, her posture perfect, her expression alert. She was efficient, sharp, and utterly loyal—my most reliable asset.

“We’ve just entered Phase One,” I said, turning my chair to face her. My voice was steady, but the underlying urgency was unmistakable. “The broadcast you just heard… it’s begun.”

“The radiation event,” she stated, connecting the dots immediately. “You believe it will create mutants.”

“Potential mutants,” I corrected. “Individuals with dormant genetic markers. The radiation is the trigger. We need to find them before they’re discovered by governments, corporations, or worse, before they hurt themselves or others.”

“Understood, sir. What are your orders?”

“First, I need you to compile a list. Use the predictive algorithms we developed—cross-reference medical anomalies, unexplained phenomena reports, and energy spike readings from the last 48 hours within the contamination plume. I want a list of every potential candidate within a five-hundred-mile radius.”

Amy nodded, already mentally cataloging the tasks. “Priority parameters?”

“Youth, isolation, and any history of… unusual luck or coincidence. They may not even know what they are yet. Then, dispatch retrieval teams. Standard protocol: observe, assess, and if confirmed, acquire. Quietly. I want them here, in this facility, for their own protection and our study.”

She gave a sharp nod. “Understood, sir. I’m on it.”

Ten minutes later, a timeframe that would have been impossible for any other system, Amy returned. Her eyes held a spark of triumph.

“Sir, I’ve located them. Initial scan has identified seven high-probability candidates. Profiles are compiling now.”

I raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. “That was fast. Even for you.”

A hint of pride touched her lips. “The AI Yelena processed the satellite and network data in real-time. The signatures are… distinctive, once you know what to look for. They’re like beacons.”

“Excellent. Begin acquisition protocols. I want them all brought to the holding sector. And Amy… be gentle, where you can. We’re not monsters. We’re offering them a purpose.”

“Of course, sir,” she said, though a flicker of something—doubt, perhaps—passed behind her eyes before she turned to execute the orders.

---