Leo sat in the base's common area, surrounded by his teammates. Owen was busy tinkering with his gadgets, while Evelyn Torres, the team's healer, sat nearby, reading a medical journal. The atmosphere was calm, but there was a sense of uncertainty in the air.
"You okay?" Owen asked, glancing up from his work. "The Council can be pretty intense."
Leo nodded, though he couldn't shake the feeling of being under scrutiny. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just wish we knew more about these artifacts and why they're affecting me this way."
Evelyn looked up from her reading. "It's not uncommon for artifacts to interact with Reclaimers in unexpected ways. But what you're experiencing is on a whole different level. Have you noticed any other changes since you touched that artifact?"
Leo thought for a moment. "I feel... stronger. Faster. It's like my senses are heightened, and I have more control over my movements. But I don't know how long it'll last or if there are any side effects."
Owen adjusted his glasses, intrigued. "You know, there's a guy in the research division who's been studying artifact anomalies for years. Maybe he could help us understand what's going on with you."
"Who?" Leo asked, curious.
"Dr. Samuel Collins," Owen replied. "He's a bit eccentric, but he's one of the best in the field. I can set up a meeting with him if you're interested."
Leo agreed, eager to find answers. Owen made the arrangements, and they headed to the research division, a sprawling complex filled with laboratories and advanced technology. Dr. Samuel Collins, a middle-aged man with unkempt hair and a lab coat that had seen better days, greeted them with enthusiasm.
"Ah, Leo Rivers!" he exclaimed, shaking Leo's hand vigorously. "I've heard about you. You're the one with the artifact-induced superpowers, right? Fascinating stuff!"
"That's me," Leo replied, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the doctor's energy. "We're hoping you can help us understand what's happening to me."
Dr. Collins led them to his lab, where various artifact fragments and energy sensors were laid out on a large table. "Of course! Artifacts are my specialty. Let's take a look at your energy signature and see what we find."
Using a series of scanners and devices, Dr. Collins analyzed Leo's energy levels, comparing them to known artifact signatures. The results were surprising, even to the seasoned researcher.
"Remarkable!" Dr. Collins exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Your energy signature is unlike anything I've seen before. It's not just a simple enhancement—it's like your entire being is resonating with the artifact's energy."
Leo was intrigued but also cautious. "Is that a good thing? Should I be worried?"
Dr. Collins scratched his head, clearly deep in thought. "It's difficult to say. This level of resonance could grant you incredible power, but it might also have unforeseen consequences. We'll need to study this further to determine the full extent of your abilities."
Owen chimed in. "Do you think there's a connection between Leo's powers and the artifacts we found in the southern portal?"
Dr. Collins nodded, his excitement growing. "Yes, I believe so. The artifact shard you brought back has a similar energy signature to the one Leo touched. If we can find more of these shards, it might lead us to the source of the portals and the reason behind their existence."
The prospect of uncovering the mysteries of the portals filled Leo with a sense of purpose. He knew that his journey was far from over, and he was determined to find the answers he sought.