— "The Heat Test"

The room was small, metallic, and unbearably silent. A single table stood at the center, covered with wires, gauges, and a tray of strange materials the scientists had prepared for her. The fluorescent lights above hummed like insects.

Jamie sat with her arms strapped to the chair. Electrodes clung to her temples, and a faint pulse of electricity buzzed through the wires. Her breathing was already uneven.

From behind the glass, Dr. Brenner’s calm voice filled the room.

Dr.Brenner: — “Focus, Nine. Generate the heat. Control it.”

Jamie’s jaw clenched. Her palms began to sweat as the air around her shimmered, just slightly, like the start of a mirage. The white stones in the tray trembled, then hissed as warmth spread through them.

The gauges jumped. Steam rose.

But Brenner’s voice pressed harder.

Dr. Brenner: — “Not enough. Push further.”

Her head throbbed. She tried again — more heat, more force. The tray glowed faintly now, the air warping as if flames licked invisibly above it.

Pain shot through her skull. Her nose bled, dripping onto her chin. Jamie gasped, fighting to stay conscious.

Dr. Brenner: — “Further.”

The command was merciless. She screamed, the sound half-strangled, and the heat burst outward in a violent surge. The tray cracked, one of the gauges exploded with a sharp pop, and steam erupted across the table.

Jamie’s body convulsed. Blood spilled from her nose, staining the front of her gown. Her vision blurred, and she slumped forward, weak, trembling.

From behind the glass, Brenner’s silhouette remained still. Unmoved. He only scribbled a note on his clipboard.

Inside the room, Jamie whispered faintly, almost to herself:

Jamie: — “I can’t… I can’t anymore…”

The electrodes smoked, the scent of scorched plastic filling the air. She hung her head, exhausted, caught between fire and collapse.

And for just a flicker of a second, the corners of her mouth curled in something like defiance — even broken, she hadn’t given him everything.

Note for Players: You can play Jamie, a character from the scene, or an original character.