After Xal'Tor's message faded, the clearing was engulfed in stunned silence. The enormity of the situation settled over us like a heavy fog. Some people, driven by fear and a desperate need for safety, moved swiftly into the forest, while others, like me, remained in the clearing, grappling with the reality of what had just happened.
As the crowd gradually thinned out, those of us who remained started to exchange anxious glances and brief introductions. There was Sarah, a young woman with dark, curly hair and an intense, focused gaze; Alex, a lanky teenager with wide, frightened eyes and a shock of red hair; and Frank, an older man with a grizzled beard and a solid, commanding presence.
With a head count of 50 people, we quickly realized that only 10% of us—five individuals—had discovered their powers. This included Josh, who could teleport short distances; Sarah, who could generate electrical sparks; and Alex, who could move objects with his mind. The rest of us, including Maria, a middle-aged woman with tired eyes and graying hair, were left to cope with the reality of having no special abilities
As the shock began to wane, Josh broke the silence. "How do we know if we have these powers? And what can they do?"
His question prompted a wave of tentative experimentation. Immediately, an instinctive understanding of our abilities washed over us. Josh focused and shimmered out of sight, reappearing a few feet away. "I think I can teleport short distances," he said, his voice tinged with awe.
Others discovered their powers too. Sarah conjured sparks of electricity between her fingers, casting an eerie light on her determined face. Alex demonstrated his telekinesis by lifting small rocks and twigs, his concentration evident in his furrowed brow.
Not everyone was so fortunate. Maria and several others, including a weary woman named Laura, realized they had no special abilities. Their reactions ranged from quiet disappointment to visible frustration, highlighting the divide within our group.
As the initial excitement of discovering powers faded, practical concerns took over. Frank organized us to build a fire. We spread out to gather wood and kindling, the task giving us a purpose and a distraction from our swirling thoughts.
The fire crackled to life, casting a warm, flickering light over the clearing. The area around us was a strange mix of prehistoric plants with enormous leaves and towering trees that seemed to touch the sky. The air was thick with the scent of moss and the distant calls of unknown creatures.
I found myself lost in thought, reflecting on my life before the reset. Working at the coffee shop, my plans for the future—all of it seemed so trivial now. But I was determined to survive, to adapt to this new reality, whatever it took.
Once the fire was well-established, we gathered around it for more thorough introductions. Each person shared details about the powers they had discovered. Not everyone was forthcoming; some were too shocked or wary to reveal much. Sarah, Alex, and Josh shared their abilities, while others, like Frank, kept their powers to themselves.
Sarah's sparks flickered and danced between her fingers, casting an eerie light on her face. Alex demonstrated his telekinesis by lifting rocks and twigs, his brow furrowed in concentration. Josh, who had the ability to teleport short distances, gave us a quick demonstration.
Frank took charge of planning our next steps. "We need to find food and water, and establish a more secure base. We'll form groups—one for hunting, one for guarding, and another to scout for a suitable place to set up camp."
I volunteered to stay behind as a guard, while Sarah, Alex, and Josh were part of the hunting group. A few others joined them, and they set off into the forest with makeshift weapons and a determined look in their eyes.
As we settled into our roles, I felt an instinctive understanding of my own abilities. My adaptive physiology allowed me to change and adapt my body based on what I needed to survive. My adaptive assimilation enabled me to gain traits from anything I consumed. If I ate something with a specific ability, like a Blinker, I would gain that ability and could transform into that creature.
I also realized I could transfer these abilities to others through my bite. This meant if someone wanted to receive an ability I had assimilated, I could pass it on by biting them. It was both a powerful and unsettling revelation.
As I stayed behind with the women, children, and a few other guards, I met a family of four. Liz and Mark, 20-year-old twins, and their middle-aged parents. Susan, their mother, had been a successful lawyer, while Robert, their father, had been a CEO of a large company. They had been wealthy and influential before the reset, but now they were just like the rest of us—trying to survive in this new, harsh world.
Susan, with her sharp features and piercing blue eyes, spoke first, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. "We used to live in a nice house, had everything we needed. Now… we have nothing."
Robert, a tall man with a strong build and a calm demeanor, nodded, his expression grim. "We'll get through this, though. We've always been survivors."
Liz, with her bright eyes and determined stance, said, "We're not going to let this break us. We'll find a way to make it work." Her brother Mark, quieter but with a similarly resolute expression, nodded in agreement.
I admired their resolve and promised myself I would do whatever it took to help them. "We'll stick together," I assured them. "We'll find a way."
(Shift POV to the hunting group)
Sarah, Alex, and Josh moved cautiously through the forest, their eyes scanning for signs of edible plants or potential prey. The forest was dense, the ground covered in thick underbrush and fallen leaves that crunched softly underfoot. The air was alive with the hum of insects and the distant calls of animals.
They came across a small herd of deer-like creatures, but something seemed off about them. They had elongated limbs and an unusual, almost otherworldly appearance. Their fur had a subtle shimmer, and their eyes glowed faintly in the dim light filtering through the canopy.
"Look at those deer," Sarah whispered. "They're… different."
"Yeah," Alex replied. "And did you see how they moved? Almost like they were teleporting."
The group devised a plan to catch one of the deer. They spread out, creating a makeshift net with vines and branches. Josh, using his ability to blend into the surroundings, took the lead in getting close to the herd. He moved slowly, each step calculated to avoid making noise. Sarah and Alex positioned themselves to drive the deer toward the net.
"Let's call them 'Blinkers'," Josh joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Because they blink out of sight."
Sarah chuckled softly. "Blinkers it is."
The plan was simple but required precise timing. Josh signaled to Sarah and Alex, who began to make noise, startling the deer. The Blinkers reacted instantly, their bodies shimmering as they attempted to teleport away. But Josh was ready. He leaped forward, throwing the net with all his strength. It fell over one of the deer, entangling it just as it started to blink out of sight.
The creature struggled, its eyes wide with fear, but the net held. Sarah and Alex rushed in to secure it, using more vines to tie its legs and prevent it from teleporting.
"We did it," Sarah said, her voice filled with relief. "We actually did it."
Alex nodded, breathing heavily. "Now let's get it back to the camp."
(Shift POV back to Kael)
As I kept watch, I couldn't help but think about the alien's true motives. Xal'Tor and the Zorath race had reset our world and given us powers. But why? Were we part of some grand experiment, or was there another reason? The questions gnawed at me, but I knew we had to focus on immediate survival first.
Talking with Susan, Robert, and the twins helped pass the time. They shared stories of their previous lives, painting a picture of privilege and success. Susan had been a formidable lawyer, known for her sharp intellect and tenacity, while Robert had built his company from the ground up. Liz and Mark were in college, full of dreams and ambitions. Now, all those dreams seemed distant and irrelevant.
"We'll get through this," I told them, trying to sound confident. "We just need to stick together and adapt."
Hours later, the hunting group returned, carrying the body of one of the Blinkers. Their faces were a mix of triumph and exhaustion. Sarah's curly hair was matted with sweat, and Alex had a cut on his cheek, but they were smiling.
"We got one," Josh announced, dropping the deer in the center of the clearing. Its body was sleek and shimmering, even in death, hinting at its teleportation ability.