The steel cuff on Jace's wrist felt like a brand, a constant reminder of his current predicament. His mind raced, calculating angles, escape routes, the precise moment to break free. He was strong enough, he knew that now. That force field door, Axel’s subtle pressure – they were tests, and he had passed them. The single cuff was a formality, a psychological restraint more than a physical one. He was bracing himself, mentally preparing for the moment when talking ended and action began.

  "Am I… staying cuffed then?" Jace asked, his voice carefully neutral, betraying none of the tension coiled beneath the surface. He met Axel’s gaze directly, projecting a mixture of defiance and forced calm.

  Axel considered him for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, a subtle shift in his posture, a slight relaxation of his shoulders. "No, Jace. You are not going to remain… captured," he said, using the word deliberately, echoing Jace’s unspoken concern.

  Jace blinked, a flicker of surprise momentarily breaking through his practiced composure. "Wait, how do you even know my name?" he blurted out, the question more reflexive than accusatory.

  A ghost of a smile touched Axel’s lips, a brief flash of dry humor in his eyes. "Jace," he replied, his voice calm and even, "I lead Counter-Defense against Enhanced, knowing your name is… the least amount of information I possess about you." The implication hung in the air, heavy and unspoken – CDE knew far more.

  He leaned forward again, his tone becoming more direct, businesslike. "We are prepared to release you, under certain circumstances." He held up a hand, ticking off points. "Firstly, you will submit to a full physiological and… power diagnostic. We need to understand the extent of your abilities, and any potential… vulnerabilities."

  Axel paused, his gaze unwavering. "Secondly, we believe you could be… an asset to CDE. You possess significant, if untrained, power. We can offer you… structured training. Combat, control, understanding of your abilities. In return…" he paused again, letting the condition sink in, "…you would assist us. Specifically, in apprehending the Maker."

  Jace’s brow furrowed. Asset? Training? It was… unexpected. Intriguing, even. The idea of understanding his powers, learning to control them, was undeniably appealing. But asset to CDE? Catching the Maker? It all felt… big. Too fast.

  "I… I'm still in high school," Jace said, the words feeling almost absurd in the stark interrogation room. "I don't know about being an… asset. And I don't see how I can just… help you catch the Maker. I barely know who he is." He paused, then, honesty overriding his caution, added, "But… training. Yeah. I… I think I need training. Badly."

  A flicker of something – understanding? – crossed Axel’s face. "High school," he repeated slowly, as if considering the concept for the first time in years. "That… could be problematic." Then, his gaze sharpened, a calculating glint returning to his eyes. "Unless… we remove the problem. We are equipped to… facilitate adjustments to your… schedule." The way he said "facilitate adjustments" hung heavy with unspoken implications, suggesting more forceful solutions.

  Jace’s eyes widened slightly. Remove the problem? Was Axel suggesting… "No! No, I don't mean… destroy the school," Jace clarified quickly, a touch of alarm in his voice. "I mean… I still need to, you know, go to school. Just… maybe we can work around it? Like… a part-time job? Something that explains why I'm not always around, but still… normal?" He gestured vaguely, trying to articulate his need for a semblance of his old life alongside this new, overwhelming reality.

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  Axel was silent for a moment, considering Jace’s suggestion. Then, a slow nod. "Part-time job," he repeated, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "A… plausible cover. Yes. That could be… arranged." He straightened, the businesslike tone returning in full force. "Very well, Jace. We have an accord. First, the diagnostic. Then, we equip you."

  Within the hour, the interrogation room was replaced by a gleaming medical bay. Wires and sensors were attached, scans were run, questions were asked, probing not just his physical body but, it felt like, the very essence of his powers. It was invasive, clinical, but also… reassuringly thorough. When it was done, and he was led back to a less sterile, but still functional room, clothes were laid out for him. Not the drab sweats he'd expected, but a soft, dark grey hoodie, comfortable jeans, and a sleek, black masked spandex suit that felt surprisingly supple, folded neatly, subtly contoured, undeniably cool.

  Finally, an officer handed him a small, sealed packet. "Pain relievers," he explained, his voice curt but not unkind. "Specially formulated for… enhanced physiology. You might find them… useful." Jace took the packet, the weight surprisingly comforting in his hand

  Jace shrugged into the soft hoodie and pulled on the jeans, the unfamiliar fabric feeling strangely comforting after the scratchy jumpsuit. He carefully folded the black spandex suit and tucked it, along with the pain relievers, into the provided duffel bag. He was still adjusting to the rapid shifts in his situation, the interrogation room feeling like a distant, unpleasant memory now, replaced by… well, he wasn't entirely sure what this was. Freedom? A gilded cage? He wasn't free of the cuff, not entirely, but the shift in tone was undeniable.

  "Where to now?" Jace asked the officer who reappeared at the door.

  The officer, impassive and efficient, simply nodded. "This way."

  As they walked, Jace tried to catch sight of Axel. "Is Axel around? I wanted to… thank him, I guess." It felt weird to be grateful to the guy who'd just intimidated and interrogated him, but a part of him recognized the shift in demeanor, the almost… apology.

  The officer’s expression remained unchanged. "Mr Reed is currently unavailable." It was curt, final, and offered no further explanation.

  They arrived at another room, this one larger and more dimly lit than the medical bay. Inside, people in white coats moved with purpose, attending to various consoles and equipment. In the center of the room, on a raised platform, was a circular podium. It was crafted from a material that looked like glass, but possessed a strange, internal luminescence, a soft neon blue glow emanating from within its depths. Intricate patterns, almost like circuitry, pulsed faintly beneath the surface, adding to its otherworldly feel.

  As Jace stepped into the room, one of the white-coated technicians gestured towards the podium with a silent nod. Hesitantly, Jace approached it, climbing the podium. It felt like glass. He opened his mouth to ask what it was for, but before he could utter a word, the room hummed with a rising intensity. A bright, cerulean light bloomed from beneath the podium, bathing the platform and then Jace himself in an incandescent glow. It was warm, not painful, but intensely bright, momentarily blinding. He instinctively shielded his eyes with his cuffed hand.

  Then, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped. The light vanished. The humming ceased. He blinked, his vision swimming for a moment, and then cleared. He was no longer in the dimly lit room.

  He was… home.

  Familiar posters adorned his walls, his slightly messy bed was unmade in the corner, and the faint scent of leftover pizza hung in the air. Disbelief warred with astonishment. He stumbled forward, touching his desk, his books, the worn-out rug on the floor. It was all real. He rushed to the window, peering out at the familiar street, the pre-dawn quiet of his neighborhood just starting to stir. He was home. Teleportation. It had to be teleportation. That podium… that light…

  Shaking his head in bewildered wonder, he pulled out his phone, intending to check the time, maybe see if anyone had messaged. But the device in his hand wasn't his familiar, cracked-screen phone. It was sleek, new, and unfamiliar. He frowned, unlocking it. It looked… identical to his old phone in terms of interface, same apps, same contacts, but… different. He checked the time. 6:00 AM. Exactly. No time had seemed to pass at all. His breath hitched in a scoff of bewildered amusement. They’d even replaced his phone.

  He was hungry. The adrenaline and the weirdness of the last few hours had worked up an appetite. He headed to the fridge, pulled out the cold pizza from last night – thankfully, no CDE dietary restrictions were being enforced yet – and devoured a slice standing at the counter. Then, remembering the packet, he tore it open and swallowed a couple of the special pain relievers with a gulp of water. Almost instantly, a soothing warmth spread through his muscles, easing the lingering aches from his… encounter.

  Finally, exhaustion crashing over him, he slumped onto his bed, still in the new hoodie and jeans, and pulled the covers over himself. The black masked spandex suit remained in the duffel bag, silent promises of a future he was only just beginning to comprehend. Sleep came quickly, a deep, dream-filled slumber that finally allowed him to process, or perhaps simply escape, the bewildering reality of his new life.