As I race toward Desta's quarters, paranoia explodes through my mind like shrapnel. Elara's deception changes everything. If she's facility security using a false identity, who else might be? The entire independent classification system could be riddled with plants and operatives.

  Nova? Her convenient interest in me suddenly seems suspicious. Her luminescent patterns could easily conceal monitoring technology. Her faction connections might be elaborate fiction designed to identify resistance networks.

  Marcus and his resistance group? The underground meetings, the information about the Integration Program, the offers of protection, all potentially calculated to identify assets attempting to evade collection. His electrical abilities would be perfect cover for carrying sophisticated surveillance equipment.

  Helena? Her mysterious position between sponsored and independent worlds makes her the perfect infiltration agent. Her access to restricted areas, her knowledge of neural templates, her too-convenient appearance offering alternatives beyond faction protection, classic intelligence gathering through seemingly valuable offers.

  Even Desta? The thought stops me cold for a moment. Could her neural damage be fabricated? Her classification as Null just another layer of deception to draw out assets with dangerous capabilities? The repair work could be exactly what they wanted me to attempt, revealing my neural repair abilities while thinking I was helping an ally.

  No. That's taking paranoia too far. The neural damage I've detected in Desta's architecture is too complex, too genuinely compromised to be fabricated. And her gradual response to repair work has shown authentic restoration patterns rather than predetermined responses. If anyone in this fucked-up system is what they appear to be, it's her.

  I reach the Null residential block, a utilitarian section even more spartan than independent quarters. The corridors here have minimal monitoring, the facility assuming correctly that assets with suppressed abilities present little security threat. This reduced surveillance might be our only advantage right now.

  Null assets take meals in a smaller distribution center than independents, a cramped space with basic dispensers and metal tables bolted to the floor. I scan the room from the entrance, extending my telekinetic awareness to map energy signatures while maintaining my scrambled location reporting.

  There, Desta sits alone at a corner table, mechanically consuming her nutritional paste. Even Nulls appear to maintain social hierarchies, with others giving her noticeable distance. Whether from her former technokinetic classification or some other factor, she exists in isolation even among the isolated.

  I approach directly, not bothering with subtlety. Watching us interact isn't suspicious anymore, our labor cooperation provides legitimate cover for communication. It's the content that needs protection, not the connection itself.

  "We need to talk," I say quietly as I sit across from her. "Security situation has changed."

  Desta looks up, her expression neutral but eyes immediately alert. "Location compromised?"

  "Worse. Telepathic security using false identities to infiltrate independent blocks. Direct psionic assessment capacity of neural architecture."

  Her hands pause momentarily in their mechanical eating motion. "Countermeasures?"

  "Limited. Need to develop psionic shielding techniques immediately. Telepathic trap set for tonight, security operative posing as sponsored telepath offering protection techniques."

  Desta processes this information with remarkable calm, another indication of her genuine nature. A facility plant would show performative alarm rather than calculated assessment.

  "My quarters minimal surveillance," she says after a moment. "Null classification considers neural activity irrelevant. Temporary sanctuary possible while developing countermeasures."

  The suggestion makes strategic sense. Elara is probably too busy setting up her trap for me to monitor Desta as well.

  "How soon can we move?" I ask, acutely aware that every minute increases risk of detection.

  "Now," she responds simply. "Finish nutrition cycle, proceed to maintenance access point near sanitation facilities. Secondary corridor connects to Null block without main hallway exposure."

  Perfect. Reducing our visibility in primary corridors decreases the chance of encountering Elara or other potential security operatives. The maintenance access routes seem increasingly valuable as navigation options outside standard monitoring.

  "Need to develop both psionic shielding and contingency plans," I say, keeping my voice low. "If telepathic security can bypass tracking implant modifications, our current deception strategy has significant vulnerability."

  Desta nods almost imperceptibly. "System access improving with each repair session. Beginning to identify security protocols and monitoring parameters. Potential information advantage if development continues."

  This confirms my assessment that continuing her neural repair work remains our best strategic option despite increased risks. A technokinetic with even partial system access provides critical intelligence advantages that might counterbalance the enhanced security threat.

  "Meet at the access point in fifteen minutes," I say, rising from the table. "I'll circle back through secondary corridors to check for surveillance before proceeding."

  As I leave the Null distribution center, my mind continues processing the implications of Elara's deception. The facility's classification system is more porous than anyone realizes, supposed independents working directly for administration, telepathic assessment operating alongside technological monitoring, elaborate deceptions designed to expose assets attempting to evade collection.

  I move through the maintenance corridors carefully, stretching my telekinetic awareness to detect any security presence while keeping my location scrambled. These passageways have become crucial for moving unnoticed, less monitored than the main corridors, linking different sections outside of normal transit routes.

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The entrance to the Null block is disguised as a maintenance panel, its worn-out label making it look like part of the facility’s standard utility access. I scan for surveillance before placing my palm against the hidden scanner. The panel slides open with a soft hiss, revealing the stark corridor beyond.

  Desta's quarters are in a secluded section of the Null block, reserved for assets the facility deems problematic or unfit to mix with the general population. The corridors here have minimal monitoring, security assumes, correctly, that those with suppressed abilities don’t pose much of a threat.

  Her door opens before I can knock, likely her awareness of system signals detecting my approach. The inside of her room makes my independent quarters look like a luxury suite. A narrow bed, a basic sanitation unit with no divider, and a bolted-down desk make up the entirety of her space.

  "Secure for now," Desta says as I step inside, motioning for me to sit on the bed. "Null quarters have minimal surveillance. Location tracking only, no audio feeds."

  I sit, extending my telekinetic awareness just to confirm. She’s right, the monitoring systems here are weaker than in independent blocks. Mostly location tracking, with cameras only in the hallways, not inside the rooms.

  "We need a better cover story," I say, getting straight to the point. "Work assignments and training won’t justify private meetings for long."

  Desta sits cross-legged on the floor, thinking. "Current explanations won’t hold up under scrutiny. New cover: psychological support framework."

  "Explain," I prompt.

  "Many enhanced assets develop psychological dependencies after classification. The facility allows limited cross-classification contact for stability. Helps prevent breakdowns, improves labor efficiency."

  She gestures around the room. "Null classification leads to high depression rates. Independents can be approved for regular interaction to provide support. Facility values productivity over strict isolation."

  It makes sense. A psychological support framework would justify frequent private meetings and even physical proximity, all without raising suspicion. The facility might even see it as beneficial.

  "How do we make the shift without raising flags?" I ask.

  "Submit a request through labor supervisor," Desta suggests. "Trell prioritizes efficiency over strict protocol. Will approve if framed as productivity enhancement."

  "And if security questions our relationship?" I press.

  "Simple truth works best," she says. "Former technokinetic struggling with permanent ability loss. Independent offering support. Connection formed through labor assignments, developed into psychological stabilization."

  It’s a solid plan. More convincing than the vague excuse of work-related cooperation. If the facility believes I’m helping Desta adjust, it would explain extended interactions and even emotional responses detected by monitoring systems.

  "We need to work on psionic shielding too," I say, shifting to the next immediate concern. "If telepaths can scan our enhancement pathways, we need another layer of defense."

  Desta nods, already considering the approach. "Technokinetic architecture includes natural signal isolation. Prevents feedback loops in system interactions. If neural repair focuses on those pathways, psionic resistance will develop alongside restoration."

  "So repairing your original pathways will also block telepathic scans?" I ask, seeing the advantage.

  She nods. "Not complete immunity, but strong interference. Enough to disrupt passive scans. Targeted probing would still be a risk."

  That’s a good start, but…

  "No, that won’t work." I shake my head after a moment of thought. "While psionic shielding provides privacy, it’s still an indicator of your recovering powers. We don’t just need to block their scans, we need to not show up on their scans at all."

  Desta pauses, considering. "Then we need to make my pathways unusable again."

  "What do you mean?" I ask, wary of where this is going.

  "Only option for passing telepathic scans." She folds her hands in her lap. "They can’t detect what isn’t there."

  "No, I’m not undoing all the work I put into fixing your pathways!" I hiss.

  "There is no other way," Desta says simply.

  I grit my teeth. There has to be a solution that doesn’t erase everything we’ve built! And then it hits me, I don’t have to destroy it, I just have to disguise it!

  "What if I make your enhancement pathways just look like they’re destroyed?" I suggest.

  Desta’s eyes widen slightly. "Is that possible?"

  "I think so, though I’ll need to experiment a bit," I admit.

  She nods, determination in her gaze. "Then let’s proceed."

  I extend my telekinetic awareness, creating our usual containment field while examining her neural architecture in detail. The damage patterns are familiar now, synthetic blockers strategically positioned throughout her enhancement architecture, particularly concentrated in system interface regions. But the previous repair sessions have already created significant progress, neural bridges bypassing suppression in critical pathways, gradually restoring function while maintaining the appearance of continued containment.

  "Going to begin mapping neural architecture first," I murmur, focusing telekinetic energy at the cellular level. I carefully map the restored pathways we’ve been developing. "Creating microscopic energy fields around functional neurons that alter their resonance pattern when subjected to scanning."

  This represents the most challenging aspect of the work, modifying how restored pathways appear without affecting their actual function. The technokinetic architecture must remain operational while presenting completely different signature patterns to facility monitoring systems.

  The work continues for nearly two hours, camouflaging repairs behind modified energy signatures, and making it look as convincing as possible.

  By the time I gradually withdraw my telekinetic awareness, Desta’s neural architecture has been fundamentally transformed. Not just repaired in critical pathways, but comprehensively masked beneath layers of deception designed specifically to fool telepathic and facility monitoring.

  Desta stands, moving with a little more ease than before. "Psychological support cover should start immediately. Request submission tomorrow."

  "I’ll handle it," I agree. "We’ll start establishing a visible pattern of meetings, make it seem natural."

  The cover story explains my visit tonight. If security questions our pattern of interaction, we’ll have a legitimate reason. It’s not flawless, but it’s a hell of a lot better than what we had before.

  As I move toward the door, Desta surprises me. "Thank you."

  It’s a simple phrase, but coming from her, it carries weight.

  "We help each other," I reply. "Better odds together."

  She nods, and for the first time, the pragmatic alliance between us feels like something more, actual trust in a place where trust is a rare thing.

  I check the hallway before stepping out, ensuring no one’s watching. From this point on, every interaction has to fit the cover story, words, expressions, even body language. Facility monitoring is always watching.

  Now then, Desta should be safe for now, it’s time to deal with Elara. A plan forms in my head as I leave the null quarters.