The abandoned observatory had become their headquarters.
It wasn't comfortable.
Broken equipment covered the floors, dust coated every surface, and half the roof leaked when it rained. But it was hidden, quiet, and far enough from the city to avoid attention.
For now, that was enough.
Riven stood in the middle of the open courtyard behind the observatory, arms crossed.
"Again."
Ava groaned.
"Riven, we've been doing this for two hours."
"Good," Riven replied. "That means we need three more."
Mira leaned against a railing. "You're enjoying this a little too much."
Riven ignored her.
"Transform."
Seven bracelets pulsed at once.
Alien energy erupted around them.
Ava's body hardened into glowing blue crystalline armor.
Luna's form became sleek and fast, silver lines flowing across her skin.
Mira ignited in golden light.
Nyra's eyes turned completely gold as invisible psychic energy wrapped around her body.
The others followed, each transformation different, strange, and powerful.
But also unstable.
Riven stepped forward.
"Rule one," she said. "You don't panic when you transform."
Ava flexed her glowing fingers.
"Easy for you to say."
"Rule two," Riven continued, "you don't rely on power alone."
She suddenly moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
She grabbed Mira's arm and flipped her onto the ground.
"Fight."
Mira rolled back up instantly.
Golden energy flared from her palms.
"I thought this was training!"
"This is training."
Mira fired a blast.
Riven dodged it by inches.
The beam slammed into a tree, splitting it in half.
"Too slow," Riven said.
Across the yard, Luna dashed past Ava in a blur.
Ava barely reacted before Luna tapped her shoulder.
"See?" Luna grinned. "Speed."
Ava scowled. "Show-off."
Nyra stood still, eyes closed.
Her bracelet glowed brighter than the others.
Inside her mind, something moved.
A voice.
Old.
Alien.
Host adaptation progressing.
Nyra's eyes snapped open.
Something wasn't right.
Meanwhile, on the roof of a distant building, someone watched through a scope.
The figure adjusted the lens.
Seven energy readings glowed on his device.
Training patterns.
Movement speeds.
Power output.
Every detail recorded.
The man lowered the scope slightly.
"So these are the hosts."
His red eyes narrowed.
The alien energy surrounding them fascinated him.
But also disappointed him.
"Still inexperienced."
The man stepped back into the shadow.
"My name is **Rooder."
He looked again toward the observatory far away.
"And I will be the one who decides if you're worthy of surviving."
Back at the observatory, Riven clapped her hands.
"Stop."
All seven girls powered down.
Energy faded.
Everyone was breathing hard.
Mira dropped to the ground. "I hate training."
"You'll hate dying more," Riven said.
Nyra suddenly spoke.
"There's something else."
Everyone looked at her.
"The GeneShift… it's evolving."
Ava frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Nyra looked at her bracelet.
"It means this power isn't finished with us yet."
Riven's expression hardened.
"Good."
She looked around at the team.
"Because whatever is coming next…"
Her eyes drifted toward the distant city skyline.
"We're going to need it."