rey

ing ache in my soul was gone, replaced by a gentle

voice echoed in my

ng Phase 1 stabilization.

ck at my wrist, where the bio-key was. A probe, thinner than a huma

, and rapid tissue regenerators flooded my system. On the UI flickering at the edge of my awareness, diag

ue's chart: Severe protein-calorie malnutrition. Bone density in the lowest percentile. Early-stage scoliosi

ith detached, clinical satis

auma is non-physical, originating from a bio-resonant psychic link. Suppressing s

inating. A pity I was the

nally opened my eyes, the slivers of light filtering thr

simply lay there,

my skull. The gnawing emptiness in my stomach had vanished. A feeling of strength-of en

ad receded, dulled to a faint, manageable a

ovement was flu

d and stood, testing my weight. Solid.

spered, my voic

ed. Malnutrition corrected to baseline. Neurological damage from 'Rejection' temporarily suppressed by 95%. Full

ave hoped. A temporar

tory. Categor

materialized a foil-wrapped energy bar and a sl

ld. The bar tasted like sweetened cardboard, but it was packed wit

m, my mind cleared complet

world of predators. I knew nothing of the geography or th

lind, emotional rampage. Revenge was a dish b

each name a data poi

ha Kow

or C

a Kane

power structure, and most importantly, the exact legal and ritualistic process for formally and irrevo

ception of me. They thought I was weak, broken

w variable, first establish a stable, observable baseline. I wo

s used for creating lividity and bruising on forensic dummies. With practiced hands, I applied a sallow, jaundiced tint to my sk

nd ingested it. Within minutes, my body temperature rose by two degree

the water bottle. The image was dis

I had one foot

rf

in a posture of utter exhaustion. I slowed my brea

asn't r

ery scrap of data Nightingale had on psychic phenome

. They had no idea they'd just locked a starving wolf-

hought they were dealing w

get a lesson in adv