A rare tranquility filled the private lounge deep within the laboratory.
Under the soft, warm lights, Julian Ford was, for once, not in his signature white lab coat. He wore a soft gray sweater instead, shedding the cold austerity of a researcher for a gentler, more domestic warmth.
He carefully served Josie Quinn, filling her bowl with her favorite dishes.
"Cece," Julian Ford said, putting down his chopsticks. His tone held a barely perceptible note of caution. "Your test results are in."
He paused, then continued, "Your cells... are indeed very different from those of other superpower users. Their activity is extremely low, and they have almost no reaction to the energy from Crystal Cores. It's like... they're completely insulated."
Josie Quinn's grip on her chopsticks tightened imperceptibly. "So, that means I can't absorb Crystal Cores? Is that it?"
