After nearly six months of relentless cultivation, Kael Voss stood before Dr. Mordecai Thorne, ready to undergo the Conglomerate's assessment.
Gareth "Wraith" Stone fidgeted nervously beside him—understandably so. Kael had long learned from Gareth himself that despite months of diligent practice, the Unnamed Gene Calibration Protocol had yielded no results for the older boy.
Kael knew Gareth's dedication to the protocol was no less than his own. While Gareth lacked Kael's reckless, all-consuming drive, he had applied himself diligently, never cutting corners or shirking his training. Yet somehow, the protocol had failed to stir even a wisp of bio-energy within him. It seemed the genetic sequence required for the technique simply did not align with Gareth's DNA.
Kael's own nerves were frayed, his confidence shaky. He was certain Gareth would fail the assessment, and his own progress, though tangible, was minimal. Through his fanatical cultivation, he had merely strengthened the faint stream of bio-energy in his genetic pathways—from a thread as thin as a hair to one the width of a synth-fiber cord. Whether this meager improvement would satisfy Dr. Thorne, Kael had no idea. His heart thudded in his chest, anxiety coiling tightly in his stomach.
"Are you both prepared? Demonstrate your progress," Dr. Thorne said, narrowing his pale eyes as he sat in his ergonomic lab chair, his gaze cold and assessing.
"We're ready," Kael and Gareth replied in unison, their voices tight with tension.
Dr. Thorne rose slowly from his chair, placing the tattered holographic manuscript he never parted with—the Immortality Codex—on the nearby workstation.
"Extend your arms," he ordered. "Channel your bio-energy for me."
Grasping Gareth's right wrist, Dr. Thorne pressed two slender, calloused fingers to a prominent gene node on the boy's forearm, while his other hand rested lightly over Gareth's bio-energy core, a small device clipped to his thumb glowing softly as it scanned for energy signatures.
After several long minutes—time enough for Kael to count the hums of the lab's cryogenic storage units—Dr. Thorne withdrew his hands. His expression remained impassive as he studied Gareth from head to toe.
Gareth's face flushed crimson. He snatched his hands back, clasping them behind his back, and bowed his head, unable to meet the doctor's gaze. He knew Dr. Thorne had detected the absence of bio-energy—failure was inevitable, and he braced himself for the harsh rejection he was certain would follow.
"Your turn," Dr. Thorne said, his tone unchanged. To Kael's surprise, there was no anger or disappointment in his voice when addressing Gareth—only a faint flicker of regret before he turned his attention to Kael.
Dr. Thorne's fingers closed around Kael's wrist, and the boy suppressed a shudder. The doctor's skin was dry, rough with old calluses, and cold as synthetic steel—hardly the touch of a living man.
The foreign contact triggered an immediate reaction. Before Kael could consciously channel his energy, the bio-energy in his pathways stirred to life, surging through his genetic networks, flowing from his core to his cranium, then branching out to his limbs, completing a full circuit before settling back into his bio-energy core. The moment the energy began to flow, the discomfort of Dr. Thorne's cold grip vanished entirely.
"Hmm!" Dr. Thorne let out a soft exclamation, his fingers tensing slightly as he detected the faint but distinct energy signature.
"Quick—channel it again, deliberately," he urged, his face straining to maintain its usual impassivity, but his eyes blazing with fanaticism Kael had never seen before.
"Slowly. Let me trace its flow," Dr. Thorne added, his normally gravelly voice sharp with urgency as he pressed his other hand to Kael's core, the scanning device on his thumb flaring brighter.
Kael felt the doctor's hands tremble slightly—clear evidence of his excitement. Obeying without hesitation, he guided the bio-energy through his pathways once more, moving it at a deliberate pace.
"Excellent! Perfect! This is exactly what I've been seeking—no mistake, none at all! Hahaha!"
After a meticulous scan, Dr. Thorne could no longer contain himself. He threw back his head and laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the lab. His hands clamped tightly on Kael's shoulders, his narrowed eyes widening to fix the boy with an intense, almost maniacal stare—as if Kael were a rare genetic relic, priceless and irreplaceable.
The sound of Dr. Thorne's laughter grated on Kael's ears, and the tight grip on his shoulders sent a jolt of pain down his spine. The doctor's fanatical gaze filled him with unease, a flicker of fear stirring in his chest.
"Good. Very good," Dr. Thorne said, noticing Kael's apprehension. He released his grip, patting Kael's shoulder gently in reassurance, his laughter fading as quickly as it had erupted.
"Continue your cultivation with this same dedication. From this day forward, you are my personal apprentice," he announced, his expression returning to its usual calm, as if his earlier outburst had never happened. Only the occasional flicker of eagerness in his eyes betrayed his lingering excitement.
"As for you..." Dr. Thorne finally turned his attention back to Gareth.
Gareth had been stunned into silence by the doctor's reaction to Kael. Roused by the sound of his own name, he lifted his head, his eyes filled with desperate pleading. He knew failure meant reassignment to a peripheral outpost—or worse, being sent back to his resource-poor homeworld.
"Your genetic sequence is incompatible with the Unnamed Protocol," Dr. Thorne said, shaking his head slowly. "After all this time, to have no bio-energy response... you are not suited to be my apprentice in this path."
Gareth's heart sank with each word, hope draining from his face. Both boys heard the finality in the doctor's tone—Gareth's rejection was imminent.
But suddenly, Dr. Thorne's expression shifted, a curious glint appearing in his eyes as if a new thought had occurred to him.
"However," he said, his tone changing abruptly, "during my scan, I detected a unique genetic marker in your sequence. There is another gene-tempering program that would suit you perfectly. Would you be willing to learn it?"
Gareth nodded frantically, relief flooding his features. "Yes! Of course, sir!" he replied, barely able to contain his joy.
"Excellent. Both of you may depart. I will transmit your new cultivation protocols tomorrow," Dr. Thorne said, his mood clearly improved, as evidenced by his repeated use of "excellent."
Kael and Gareth exchanged a glance, both feeling a surge of relief and surprise. The assessment had been fraught with unexpected twists, but against all odds, both had passed. As they left the lab, the tension in their shoulders lifted—their futures in the Seven Luminaries Tech Conglomerate were secure, at least for now.