I make my way through the corridors of Block D toward Elara's supposed quarters, my mind focused on the evasion strategy I've planned. The facility's night cycle has dimmed the lighting to minimal levels, casting long shadows across the utilitarian passages. A few independents still move between rest areas and quarters, their furtive movements creating background activity that helps mask my own intentions.

  My telekinetic awareness extends outward in a controlled field, mapping security presence and surveillance coverage as I navigate the predetermined route. I deliberately maintain normal movement patterns for the first leg of my journey, allowing tracking systems to register expected behavior for someone responding to Elara's invitation.

  D-Block's eastern section houses the more recently classified independents, its corridors marginally less worn than the western areas. Security presence increases noticeably as I approach, two patrol drones where usually there would be one, and monitoring devices oriented with unusual focus toward major intersections. The setup screams trap to anyone paying attention.

  As I near the corridor leading to D-327, I begin the performance. My movement slows, body language shifting to suggest increasing caution. I allow my head to turn slightly toward a security camera, then quickly look away as if just noticing surveillance. To monitoring systems, I'll appear to be growing paranoid about being followed.

  Now for the critical component, the tracking implant scrambling. I focus telekinetic energy at the molecular level, creating precisely calibrated disruptions in the implant's transmission patterns. Not complete blockage, which would trigger immediate security response, but progressively intensifying location variance consistent with evasion tactics.

  To facility monitoring, my position will appear to jump erratically, first a few meters in random directions, then increasingly dramatic position shifts as my apparent paranoia escalates. The behavior signature precisely matches an independent asset spooked by security presence while attempting clandestine movement.

  I duck into a maintenance alcove, pressing myself against the wall as if hiding from surveillance. In reality, I'm creating a momentary blind spot to intensify the implant scrambling without visible telekinetic manifestation that cameras might detect. My heart rate increases deliberately, elevated vital signs will register through monitoring systems, reinforcing the performance of growing fear.

  After thirty seconds in the alcove, I emerge with visibly increased caution, glancing rapidly in both directions before moving away from D-327 rather than toward it. My pace quickens gradually, body language broadcasting increasing anxiety as I create the perfect profile of someone abandoning a planned meeting due to security concerns.

  The scrambling intensifies with each change of direction, my reported position now jumping dramatically throughout nearby corridors while my actual route follows a predetermined path toward Null blocks. To monitoring systems, I'll appear to be executing increasingly desperate evasion maneuvers while actually maintaining controlled movement toward my intended destination.

  As I approach the maintenance access point leading to Null sectors, I detect something unexpected, a subtle energy signature following at a distance. Not drone patrols or standard security, but what feels like another enhanced human maintaining careful pursuit.

  Elara? Possibly, though the signature doesn't match the telepathic pattern I've observed previously. Someone else then, perhaps another disguised operative deployed when the primary trap failed to make contact.

  I increase the scrambling to maximum intensity, my reported location now jumping randomly throughout the entire eastern section of Block D. The actual pursuit becomes more challenging as my tracker must rely on visual confirmation rather than implant tracking. I use this advantage to slip into the maintenance access point during a momentary surveillance gap.

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  The service corridor beyond offers temporary respite from direct observation. I move quickly through the dimly lit passage, my telekinetic awareness extended to maximum range to detect any pursuit. The energy signature remains in Block D, apparently unable to determine which access point I utilized.

  When I reach the refuge of my room, I pause to adjust the scrambling pattern. Now that I've successfully evaded the apparent trap, my reported location should stabilize enough to appear consistent with seeking refuge rather than continuous flight.

  Hopefully I've done enough to make Elara think I made an honest attempt at meeting her rather than blowing her off completely

  ---

  As I sit in my room, I consider my predicament. While I've managed to avoid Elara for now, they are still suspicious of my sudden development shift. And she probably isn’t even the only spy.

  Should I destroy the tools Helena provided me? No, if she’s really working with the aliens then that might just tip them off instead. I should act like I’m completely unaware, though I should be careful about using these aids she provided in the future.

  The more immediate concern is that there is no doubt that tomorrow's meeting with Karis will involve some sort of telepathic scan. What should I do? Should I try to replicate what I did with Desta?

  No, that’s stupid. It’s not like I can pretend my neural pathways are destroyed.

  Wait, maybe it really can work. Instead of disguising my pathways as destroyed, maybe I can disguise them as something else?

  Yes! I can make the enhancement architecture itself appear as standard neurological tissue. Then all the telepathic scan will show is the fake surface pathways I’ve built!

  I close my eyes and focus inward, entering a state of deep meditation despite being fully conscious. My awareness extends to the cellular level, mapping the distinct signatures that differentiate enhanced neural tissue from standard brain matter. The alien modifications glow with subtle energy in my perception, brighter pathways amid the organic architecture of my mind.

  These enhanced pathways are what telepathic assessment would target first, the obvious markers of telekinetic capability and potential molecular manipulation. The key isn't hiding them behind partitions but transforming their apparent nature.

  I begin the painstaking work of creating microscopic energy fields around individual neurons within the enhancement pathways. Not blocking or redirecting, but altering the resonance pattern each cell emits when subjected to psionic scanning. The same neurons performing the same functions, but presenting different signature patterns to external assessment.

  Sweat beads on my forehead as I maintain this precise manipulation across thousands of neural connections simultaneously. The work requires extraordinary concentration, modifying perception patterns without affecting actual function. While Desta had pockets of restored pathways to mask, I have a sophisticated enhancement architecture I’ve been diligently growing for the past week.

  The work is endless, multitudes of branching pathways to disguise. Thankfully I’ve already had practice with Desta, or else I’m not sure if I’ll even be able to finish all of this in one night.

  The concept evolves as I work. Not just masking enhancement pathways as standard neurons, but creating false enhancement architecture in areas that actually contain mundane brain tissue. Misdirection combined with concealment, showing telepathic scanning exactly what they expect to find but in deliberately incorrect locations.

  Time loses meaning as I restructure my neural architecture at the fundamental level. Hours pass in what feels like minutes, my entire consciousness focused on this microscopic manipulation of my own brain tissue. The strain is intense, blood vessels dilating to increase oxygen supply, neural pathways operating at maximum capacity to maintain the precision required.

  By the time I finally withdraw from the deepest levels of concentration, I've created something beyond simple disguise or partitioning, a comprehensive neural deception architecture that presents entirely false enhancement pathways while masking my actual abilities as standard brain function.

  To telepathic scanning, I'll appear exactly as expected, an independent asset with modestly impressive telekinetic capabilities that have developed in the wrong direction. The abilities they detect will function consistently with this profile, validating their assessment while revealing nothing of my true capabilities hidden beneath layers of neurological masking.

  CHARACTER PROFILE

  Gary (PROTAGONIST)

  STR: 11 - Enhanced strength

  SPD: 13 - Enhanced reflexes

  RES: 13 - Moderate enhancement recovery

  CTL: 64(+2) - Excellent telekinetic precision

  AWR: 30 - Significant perception

  Primary: Advanced Telekinesis (Molecular manipulation, Neural Architecture Modification)

  Secondary: Physical Enhancement