After waiting a bit to filter out those who did not posses a Super gene, the remaining cadets walked back into the awakening hall.
Now the big privacy screen stood in place, looming in front of the massive awakening orb. All the representatives from various factions aswell as the Solaris Concord stood there.
The sight of it all sent a chill down Talon's spine, stirring memories of how everything had gone wrong here not long ago.
'Not this time,' he thought, glancing over at Jason as they took their seats. They settled in, listening to the director and the Solaris representative's speeches, but Talon only half-focused, his mind already gearing up for what was coming.
One statement snapped him back to attention though.
"This will be your one and only chance for others to see your rank with absolute accuracy. After this, the machine cannot determine your rank anymore as it is calibrated to normal human levels. Your words could be false, other costly devices that measure your gene can be tampered with, or once you learn to manipulate the energy flowing within you, you can tamper with the results yourself."
A small smile tugged at his lips.
'Hehe… tamper with the results myself? Sorry, but that's exactly what I'm planning on doing.'
When the speech ended, they lined up by the chamber, Talon making sure to place himself directly behind Jason, with Kieran in front of him.
He watched, feeling a mix of anticipation and nostalgia, as one by one, the cadets entered as mortals and exited awakened. Each returned with a flicker of pressure in their aura before they suppressed it, just as he was doing now.
Talon couldn't help feeling the familiar, thrilling rush that came with controlling his newfound power.
"Cadet Kieran, please make your way to the awakening chamber," the director's voice called out.
"Good luck, man," Talon said, clapping Kieran's shoulder. Kieran nodded, appreciation in his eyes as he headed toward the chamber. But before he could step inside, Mira moved to Talon's side.
"Your mother sent me to go in with you to confirm your results," she said, her tone firm, leaving no room for argument.
He had expected this though.
Talon looked back, unfazed. "No, you won't."
Mira blinked, surprised. "No?"
He held her gaze, and before either could say more, the chamber lit up with a brilliant blue as Kieran made his result public. Every faction representative in the room seemed to flock toward him, already vying to offer him deals once his mandatory military service concluded.
Talon felt a flicker of envy, the kind he'd felt back then, only this time it was tempered by a sense of relief.
'Awakening something even crazier is both a blessing and a curse,' he thought with a grim smile, watching Jason as his name was called next.
Ignoring Mira's insistent presence, Talon turned to his friend with a smirk. "Good luck, man. You got this, and even if you get something lame, like Super hearing with a common gene, I'll still be your friend," he said, mimicking a self-righteous tone and giving a solemn head nod.
Jason shot him a confused look. "Super hearing? What are you even-?"
Talon froze, realizing his mistake.
'Oh right… that conversation didn't happen this time.'
He forced a smile, quickly covering. "Just a joke, man. Go on, don't keep them waiting."
Jason's confusion gave way to a grin, and he stepped into the chamber. True to his plan, he kept his rank private, but the extra time he took in there didn't go unnoticed.
It took almost double the time of the other cadets, and Talon felt a surge of pride and curiosity.
Whatever Jason had awakened to, it was big. When he came out, his telltale grin was all the answer Talon needed.
The Solaris representative gave Jason the standard introduction and offered him a holopad. Talon wanted to congratulate him, but his own name was called before he could say anything.
"Cadet Talon, make your way to the chamber."
Taking a deep breath, Talon made his way forward. Mira was close behind, her face tight with frustration. She clearly hadn't expected him to defy his family's orders.
Before stepping in, Talon turned toward the director. "Sir, I'd like to enter alone."
The director glanced at Mira, who was already moving to protest. But his nod was resolute. "You heard him."
"But Mrs. Graves insisted that-"
The director's voice cut her off firmly. "I respect the wishes of the Graves family and recognize their authority. However, this is a sacred matter for all Supers, and you must respect the cadet's wishes."
Mira opened her mouth, but before she could get a word out, Talon had already stepped into the chamber. The door locked behind him with a soft click, and the privacy screen turned opaque, blocking any prying eyes from seeing what happened next.
He truly did like Mira and knew that behind the cold exterior was a cousin who genuinely cared for him. Yet, it was a shame their worldviews clashed so starkly, Mira firmly believed in "family above all," while Talon refused to be a pawn for the Graves' ambitions.
He wanted freedom, not a future made by their expectations.
Inside, the world felt still and isolated, and Talon steadied his breathing. Before him was the awakening orb, massive and daunting, encased in intricate wiring and machinery.
It towered above him like a god, ready to cast his fate.
He ran a hand through his hair, nerves creeping in, and took a deep breath, letting the tension fade.
'This is it.'
This was the spot where he'd made the biggest mistake of his life. But this time, there would be no slip-ups.
Even if he lost control, whatever color the orb turned, no one would witness it.
A smile crept onto his face, genuine and a little reckless.
'Round two, let's do this.'