I drag myself out of bed, muscles pleasantly sore from the overnight physical optimization. Even simple movements feel different now, smoother, more coordinated, like my body has finally caught up to what my brain's been doing all this time. The enhanced physiology responds with immediate precision as I stretch cramped muscles, testing new capabilities within the confined space of my quarters.

  The corridors of Block D pulse with morning activity, independents moving between quarters and common areas, some eyeing me with increased wariness after yesterday's Integration assessment. Surviving consideration periods attracts attention in this place, creates new calculations in the social hierarchy. Security drones maintain standard patrol patterns, suggesting reduced monitoring priority now that my plateaued development has been officially recognized.

  CDC-4 is packed when I arrive, the line for nutrition allocation stretching toward the entrance. The stale air carries the bland smell of nutritional paste mixed with body odor and industrial cleane, the signature scent of facility living that never quite leaves your nostrils even during rest periods.

  "Looks like shit today," mutters someone ahead of me in line, staring at the gray paste being dispensed. "Probably recycled from yesterday's leftovers."

  I grunt in agreement, scanning the room while waiting. Marcus's resistance faction occupies their usual tables near the exit, their attention focused inward rather than on recruitment this morning. Shatter's pragmatists control the central area as always, their territorial presence maintained through calculated positioning. The unaffiliated independents fill remaining spaces based on complex alliance calculations invisible to facility monitoring.

  When I reach the dispenser, the system scans my palm and announces: "Independent Asset 7249. Standard allocation, minus 22% sponsor enhancement factor."

  The machine dispenses standard nutritional paste, the same gray sludge everyone gets in quantities determined by classification status and enhancement requirements. I take my tray and move toward an unoccupied corner table, maintaining visibility of both entrance and exit while avoiding direct faction association.

  As I force down the tasteless paste, I mentally catalog the day's priorities. Training session in Facility 9 provides opportunity to begin training enhanced physical capabilities without special attention. Agricultural assignment with Desta allows continued neural repair work under legitimate psychological support cover. The balance of revealed and concealed abilities requires careful calibration, showing enough strength to establish position without revealing advanced telekinesis.

  "Mind if I join?" comes a familiar voice.

  I look up to find Iris standing beside my table, her iridescent scales shifting through subtle color patterns that suggest caution mixed with curiosity.

  Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

  "Free facility," I respond with a shrug, continuing to eat.

  She sits, positioning herself to maintain clear sightlines across the room. "You survived assessment yesterday. Not everyone did."

  Her scales flicker with what might be concern, though whether for me or herself remains unclear. Independence creates strange alliances, temporary collaborations based on shared vulnerability rather than genuine trust.

  "My current development direction apparently reduces Integration interest," I reply, keeping my voice low. "Not valuable enough for immediate collection when other candidates show continued advancement."

  Iris's scales shift to a pattern suggesting calculation. "Smart approach. Facility prioritizes ascending development curves over stable capability profiles, regardless of absolute power levels."

  Around us, conversations focus primarily on security changes and collection patterns, at least five independents disappeared yesterday during assessment deadlines, creating ripple effects throughout the social structure. Each empty seat represents recalculation of alliances and territories, opportunities and threats reorganizing in the complex ecosystem of Block D.

  "Your Null connection maintained administrative approval," Iris observes, her scales flickering with something that might be respect. "Psychological support narrative provides unusually stable framework for cross-classification interaction."

  I continue eating without confirming or denying specific knowledge beyond what's generally known. Iris's information network clearly maintains comprehensive awareness of facility records, but that doesn't mean I need to verify her intelligence.

  "Labor efficiency improvements justify continued contact patterns," I respond simply.

  She nods, understanding both what I've said and what I've deliberately left unstated. The psychological support narrative creates legitimate cover for ongoing work with Desta while our actual neural repair sessions remain hidden behind carefully constructed explanations.

  "Arena selection imminent," Iris mentions, changing topics with deliberate casualness. "Your combat assessment metrics indicate high probability for inclusion in the next demonstration cycle."

  This represents valuable intelligence, the arena system selects independents for public combat demonstrations that determine potential sponsor interest. A different pathway for classification advancement, less immediate than Integration but potentially valuable for establishing position within the facility hierarchy.

  "Useful to know," I acknowledge, finishing the last of my paste.

  Iris rises, her scales shifting to a neutral pattern as she prepares to leave. "Independence means different things to different assets. For some, it's rejection of all control systems. For others, it's finding space to develop what truly matters while appearing to comply with expected parameters."

  With that cryptic observation, she returns her tray and exits CDC-4, leaving me to consider the implications of arena selection and the broader strategic situation. The physical enhancements I activated overnight will provide significant advantage in combat demonstrations, allowing impressive performance without revealing telekinetic abilities that might renew Integration interest.

  I dispose of my empty container and head toward Training Facility 9, ready to begin calibrated demonstration of my enhanced physical capabilities. The enhanced strength and speed represent valuable assets in the facility's combat-focused hierarchy, establishing position through capabilities that don't trigger special monitoring while keeping advanced telekinesis in reserve.

  Forgot to post updated character sheet in previous chapter so here it is again. It's also up in previous chapter now.

  CHARACTER PROFILE

  Gary (PROTAGONIST)

  STR: 21(+10) - Enhanced strength

  SPD: 25(+12) - Enhanced reflexes

  RES: 18(+5) - Moderate enhancement recovery

  CTL: 65(+1) - Excellent telekinetic precision

  AWR: 31(+1) - Significant perception

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

  Secondary: Physical Enhancement