Inside the POD, Emily was hard at work. She was in the middle of another intense training session, with her body glowing faintly as she focused on mastering her healing powers. The AI-guided her through intricate steps, showing her how to use her energy to restore not just others but herself as well. Every time she healed, she felt her energy replenishing more quickly, and her control over her powers grew stronger. Her stats were steadily increasing, allowing her to maintain her focus for longer periods and enhancing her abilities at a remarkable pace.
Each session in the POD pushed her limits, but she welcomed the challenge. The progress was evident—her stamina had doubled, her focus sharpened, and her healing capabilities were far beyond what she had started with. Emily now had the ability to heal wounds and even minor internal injuries, which was a significant leap from where she had begun. The AI spoke in its calm, measured voice, "Healing efficiency: 70%. Recommend further endurance training to extend healing duration."
Emily nodded, beads of sweat forming on her forehead as she continued the intense training session. She knew she still had a long way to go, but she was determined to push herself further.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Dave's parents sat across from him, a sense of unease hanging in the air. John, his father, was the first to speak.
"Dave," he started, his voice carrying the weight of concern, "how long are we supposed to stay here? I know this place is safe, but we can't be locked inside your house forever. We have a life outside—jobs, responsibilities. What should we do?"
Linda, his mother, nodded in agreement. "I know you want to protect us, but there has to be some kind of plan, right? We can't hide here for the rest of our lives."
Dave sat in silence for a moment, thinking about how to respond. He understood their concerns. The house had become a sanctuary for them, but they couldn't remain hidden forever. At the same time, the dangers outside were very real—especially for anyone who didn't have the kind of power he had.
"Mom, Dad," Dave began carefully, "I understand how you feel. And I don't want you to feel trapped here either. But things have changed… a lot. I'm doing everything I can to keep you both safe, but we can't just go back to normal life. Not yet."
His parents exchanged a worried glance.
John leaned forward. "Then what are we supposed to do? Hide here until it's over? What if it never ends?"
Dave sighed. He knew his parents weren't prepared to face the kind of reality he now dealt with. "There's another option," he said after a pause. "But it's a big one. I'm asking because I want to keep you safe. You don't have to stay locked up here… but the only way I can guarantee that is if you both had powers of your own."
John and Linda looked at him, startled. Dave quickly added, "I'm not asking you to decide right now, but I want you to think about it. If you had powers like Emily, you wouldn't need to hide."
Linda blinked, trying to process what Dave was saying. "Powers?" she asked, her voice uncertain. "You mean like the abilities Emily has been training with?"
"Yes," Dave confirmed. "But it would be different for each of you. If you choose to go through with it, you could have abilities suited to your strengths. It's not an easy decision to make, but it's the best way I can think of to ensure you don't have to stay in hiding forever."
His parents were quiet, clearly struggling with the enormity of the choice they were being given. Finally, Linda asked, "What kind of powers are you talking about? What would we even be able to do?"
Dave leaned back in his chair, choosing his words carefully. "That depends. You'd have to think about what would help you the most. There are powers for defense, healing, strength—different abilities for different needs. You wouldn't be invincible, but you'd be able to protect yourselves and others."
John rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It sounds… unbelievable," he admitted. "But if it's real, we'll consider it. Just… give us some time to think about it."
Dave nodded. "Take as long as you need. I'm not asking you to make a decision lightly."
The conversation ended there, with a heavy silence lingering between them as Dave left his parents to contemplate their future.
Emily, still inside the POD, was wrapping up her training. Her body felt stronger than ever, and her control over her healing powers had reached new heights. But as the POD session concluded, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much larger.