The woman pushed the door open further and walked into the slightly lit apartment. Her bright red hair surrounded a face that showed she had lived through a lot, and her bright red eyes looked deep into Alex's sadness.
"Alexander Thorne," she said with a deep and storng voice. "I believe we have much to discuss."
Alex looked confused. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
The woman gave a small smile. "Let's just say, I know about Project Genesis... and the Void within you."
Her words weighed down the room. Hannah, always sharp, saw a brief flash of strength in the woman's eyes right before she talked, it was like a quiet sign of hidden power.
"What do you want?" Alex asked at last.
The woman sighed and looked at the person inside the therapy pod who wasn't moving. "I can explain what happened to your father," she said, "and how I might be able to help… both of you."
Hesitantly, Alex and Hannah looked at each other. Alex still felt very sad, but he also really wanted to find out what happened and if there was a way to save his dad.
As they sat on the couch, the woman started to introduce herself. "I am Maya, and I was once a scientist working on a top-secret government project studying potential applications of alternative dimensions. During an experiment gone wrong, I was exposed to an unstable energy source similar to the Void Alex now has. Even though it gave me the ability to manipulate energy fields, it also left me with a constant internal struggle to control it. After escaping the government project, I dedicated myself to learning more about the energy source that altered me. I have become a rogue researcher, traveling the world and gathering information on similar phenomena. News of Project Genesis and the symbiont incident piqued my interest, which led me to you, Alex."
But most importantly, Maya offered hope. She talked about gaining control, about learning to use the Void inside him and make it a positive force. She said she would teach them and lead them through this unfamiliar world they had suddenly entered.
At that moment, a gasp broke the tense atmosphere in the room. John started to wake up inside the healing pod. His eyes were starting to open. Alex looked relieved, as if a wave had swept away the sadness that was about to consume him.
Alex hurried to the pod and awkwardly tried to work the controls. John came out, weak but awake. He hugged his dad tightly. He quickly gave his father the medication, holding his breath as he watched its effects start to work. John's face regained some color.
"Alex?" he rasped weakly.
"It's okay, Dad," Alex replied. "I'm here. We're going to be alright."
When John fell back asleep, Maya motioned toward the door. "There's much to learn. Follow me."
Alex gave his father a gentle kiss on the forehead and then looked at Hannah. Then, they walked out of the apartment with Maya.
The place Maya took them to for training was quite basic – just a big, empty room with nothing in it. She told them to stand with their feet apart, like the width of their shoulders, and close their eyes to concentrate on a single point inside themselves.
"Find your center," Maya strictly said. "Visualize a calm space within you, untouched by the chaos."
Time passed slowly as they practiced on this meditative exercise. Alex felt restless and annoyed, and his irritation only grew stronger.
"This is pointless!" he finally blurted angrily. "We need to be learning how to fight, not meditating!"
Maya's eyes snapped open, and she looked a bit upset. But before she could say anything, the room suddenly filled with energy. A strong flash of lightning shot out from Maya's hand, heading towards the far side of the room.
Alex, without even a conscious thought, moved out of the way of the blast with ease. He was surprised, which for a moment made him forget his annoyance.
"Whoa!" he said, his eyes open wide. "How did I do that?"
Maya gave a small, knowing smile. "Perhaps your instincts are sharper than you realize. Or maybe, focusing on your center wasn't entirely pointless."
Hannah, who had successfully stopped a fight between two people walking down the street earlier that day, now looked at Alex with more respect. Their abilities were showing up in unusual but clear ways.
"Alright," Alex said, embarrassed. "I apologize for doubting you. Let's try that meditation thing again."
Hannah, on the other hand, had a hard time. Meditation seemed strange to her, and her efforts to move things with her mind only made a few flowerpots shake a little. She felt discouraged, but Alex's strong determination encouraged her to keep trying.
One evening, as they sat tired on the training floor, Maya suggested a change in their routine. "Tonight, we delve deeper," she said, her eyes showing a strange excitement. "We'll explore your empathic abilities, Hannah."
Hannah's heart raced. Empathy had always been her strong suit, but using it as a tool felt uncomfortable. Maya, though, didn't seem bothered by her worries.
They sat facing each other, with Maya's directions still hanging in the air. Focus on my emotions, Hannah thought, attempting to see past Maya's unreadable expression. Pictures flashed through her head—a childhood memory of a lost pet, and a recent irritation with a difficult practice session. Hannah experienced a moment of empathy, reflecting Maya's hidden feelings.
Suddenly, a deep calm came over Maya. Her shoulders dropped, and the stress left her face. Her eyes, previously hard and distant, became gentler.
"What… what did you do?" Maya asked, surprised.
Hannah blinked, not sure what had just happened. "I... I don't know," she stuttered. "I just focused on your feelings, tried to understand them."
A warm smile spread across Maya's face. "That, Hannah, is precisely what you did. You calmed me, not by touch, but by pure empathy. It seems your power is more nuanced and more subtle than you thought."
Hannah felt excited. This wasn't just controlling minds or something; it was a deeper connection, like a way to calm people's worries.
Alex watched from across the room, feeling proud and amazed. Hannah, who seemed to have no special powers, had found a strength much greater than anyone could have guessed.
Suddenly, Maya's phone buzzed. Her face went grim as she listened to the message. When she hung up, she looked scared and worried.
"There's a problem," she tensely said. "Dr. Petrova. They found her."
Alex seemed confused. "Who found her? Why?"
"The ones responsible for the symbiont incident," Maya said. Her theeth gritted. "They traced it back to her, and now they'll stop at nothing to silence her. And if they learn about you, Alex…"
Fear twisted in Alex's gut. He realized that Dr. Petrova, the only person who knew about the Void, was in danger because of him.
"We have to help her," he declared with determination.
"There's no time to waste," Maya agreed. "We need to get to her before it's too late."
Urgency took over the room the three were in. Their lessons were no longer just about personal growth; they were now a critical matter of survival. They weren't just practicing to control their abilities, but they were preparing to confront a danger far beyond anything they had ever anticipated.