CHAPTER TWO 

           

MAXINE

I slowly opened my eyes, grogginess lifting like a veil. But instead of the sterile white room, I found myself standing in a dense forest. Sunlight filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

Confusion gave way to panic as I heard the distant hum of hoverbikes and the shout of Synod Agents. "Target acquired! Maxine Wilson, surrender!"

My heart racing, I took off in a sprint, dodging low-hanging branches and leaping over roots. The agents closed in, their boots pounding the earth behind me.

"Stop, Maxine! You're under arrest!"

I darted between trees, desperate to escape. Bullets whizzed past my ears, sending shivers down my spine.

Suddenly, a chasm yawned before me – a deep, wide, and dark hole. My instincts screamed warning, but the agents were closing in.

I hesitated, toes teetering on the edge. Fear wrestled with desperation.

The agents were too close.

I jumped.

The world dropped away, and I plummeted into darkness. My stomach lurched, and my scream was lost in the rush of wind.

Everything went black.

---

I gasped, sitting up with a jolt. A gentle hand pressed me back onto the examination table.

"Easy, Maxine. It's all done," a soothing voice said.

I blinked, focusing on the Medical Synod Agent's calm face.

"What...what happened?" I stammered.

"The QTS infusion was successful. You're free to go back to your parents now."

I rubbed my temples, trying to shake off the vivid dream.

"What about my results?"

"The assessment data will be provided to your parents. They'll discuss the details with you."

I nodded, still disoriented. The agent helped me sit up, and I swung my legs over the side of the table.

As I stood, my eyes met the agent's mirrored visor. For an instant, I thought I saw a flicker of something – concern, perhaps, or a warning.

But it was gone, leaving only the usual impassive gaze.

"Thank you," I muttered, taking a step toward the door.

"Remember, Maxine," the agent called after me, "your Neuroxine level will determine your future. Be prepared."

I shivered, the forest nightmare still echoing in my mind.

What had it meant?

And what lay ahead?

I changed back into my clothes, still trying to shake off the vivid dream. As I emerged from the changing room, I saw my parents waiting anxiously. Their faces lit up with relief when they saw me.

"Hey, kiddo," Dad said, opening his arms for a hug. "How'd it go?"

I shrugged, still feeling a bit dazed. "I don't know. They didn't tell me anything."

Mom's eyes flicked to the Synod Agents, her expression worried. "We'll find out soon enough."

Just then, a commotion erupted nearby. A couple, distraught and tearful, stood before a Synod Agent. The woman's hysterical sobs pierced the air.

"No, no, no! You can't take him away! He's our son!"

The Synod Agent's expression remained impassive. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Your son's QTS results indicate an NX-5 classification. He has been designated as government property, effective immediately."

The woman's cries grew louder, her body shaking uncontrollably. The man's face was ashen, his eyes vacant.

I felt a chill run down my spine. NX-5 – the highest level of Neuroxine enhancement. I'd heard rumors of what happened to those classified as NX-5.

The Synod Agent turned toward us, a data pad in hand. "Maxine Wilson's results..."

Mom's grip on my hand tightened.

"...indicate an NX-0 classification."

The room fell silent.

Dad's face scrunched in confusion. "NX-0?"

The agent nodded. "Yes, sir. Maxine does not possess any measurable Neuroxine enhancements."

Mom's eyes widened. "But...but that's impossible. We all have powers...Henry, Oscar, me..."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. NX-0 – merely human, without any powers.

The agent's expression remained neutral. "I'm afraid it's uncommon, but not unheard of. Some individuals may not exhibit Neuroxine enhancements, despite familial connections."

The couple's distraught cries still echoed through the room, a stark contrast to our stunned silence.

Dad's voice broke the spell. "What does this mean for Maxine's future?"

The agent's response was matter-of-fact. "She will not be eligible for Neuroxine-enhanced education or career paths. However, she may still contribute to society in other ways."

I felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. What did it mean to be an NX-0 in a world where powers defined you?

As we left the Omicron headquarters, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was somehow broken, that I didn't belong