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She approaches with practiced professional efficiency that doesn't quite mask subtle tension evident in micro-expressions—slight tightening around eyes, minimal muscle engagement at corners of mouth, fractional elevation of shoulders indicating stress response management.

"Recovery unit seven," she answers, checking intravenous lines with competent movements that suggest medical training despite omega designation. "You experienced severe metabolic compromise requiring immediate intervention."

I study her more carefully as she performs standard assessment protocols—taking pulse, checking pupillary response, evaluating skin turgor with practiced motions that carry institutional precision without corresponding emotional detachment.

Her appearance strikes me as immediately familiar despite certainty I've never encountered this specific individual during previous institutional residency.

Dark skin marked with subtle evidence of systematic abuse—scars partially visible beneath laboratory coat collar, discoloration patterns suggesting deliberate trauma application rather than accidental injury.

Most distinctive is her hair—dual-colored in pattern that defies standard genetic expression, tangled mass containing both natural texture and what appears to be deliberate modification designed to create specific visual signature.

Multiple piercings adorn visible features—silver rings through lower lip and left nostril, elaborate constellation of metallic insertions lining ear cartilage in pattern suggesting deliberate design rather than random decoration.

"Who are you?" I ask directly, the question serving dual purpose of maintaining expected disorientation while gathering tactical information.

Her eyes meet mine briefly before returning to clinical assessment—gaze carrying defiance that transcends institutional conditioning despite apparent compliance with assigned responsibilities.

The expression strikes an immediate chord of recognition despite certainty we've never previously interacted.

I know her.

Not from direct encounter but from memory accessed during recent delirium—one of the omegas in my sister's cell during the last consciousness period before extraction.

The tattooed, pierced omega with multi-colored hair and defiant posture who volunteered for sacrifice despite having the least future potential among their captive group.

"Riot," she answers, the single word carrying weight beyond its syllables.

The name sends an unexpected jolt through carefully maintained composure—coincidental designation matching my primary alpha target, creating momentary cognitive dissonance before strategic mind reasserts control over emotional response.

Not my Riot. Different designations, applied to different individuals through independent naming process.

Before I can formulate an appropriate response accounting for this coincidental nomenclature, the door opens with electronic precision that indicates security-level access rather than standard entry protocol.

The omega—this "Riot"—immediately shifts posture and affect, adopting institutional compliance patterns with practiced efficiency that suggests prolonged adaptation to surveillance conditions.

"Subject appears to be experiencing sedation effects consistent with pharmacological intervention protocol," she states with clinical detachment entirely absent from previous interaction. "Consciousness fluctuation within expected parameters given metabolic recovery staging."

I recognize tactical communication instantly—warning disguised as standard status report, alerting me to appropriate performance requirements without alerting monitoring personnel to unauthorized information exchange.

Clever.

I allow my eyes to drift closed, body relaxing into apparent unconsciousness that provides cover for continued environmental monitoring through auditory channels. The performance comes easily after years of similar tactical adaptations during previous institutional residency.

"Metabolic indicators?" Male voice inquires with clinical interest that fails to completely mask an undertone of concern regarding asset preservation rather than patient welfare.

"Stabilizing within acceptable recovery parameters," the omega responds, paper rustling suggesting reference to documentation rather than digital monitoring—interesting deviation from standard institutional protocol prioritizing electronic record-keeping over physical documentation.

"Consciousness assessment?" The question carries a sharper edge, suggesting importance beyond standard medical monitoring.

"Intermittent awareness with extended sedation periods," she reports with practiced efficiency. "Confusion consistent with prolonged nutrient deprivation followed by rapid reintroduction of metabolic support. No evidence of permanent cognitive compromise."

Paper rustles again, followed by the sound of pen against surface—another deviation from standard protocol, suggesting deliberate creation of a physical rather than digital record.

The implications register immediately—documentation intended to exist outside institutional monitoring systems, a potential resource for information exchange beyond electronic surveillance parameters.

"Continue assigned monitoring rotation," the male voice instructs, professional detachment failing to completely mask relief, suggesting a personal consequence attached to my recovery rather than merely institutional objective achievement.

"Accelerated recovery represents significant protocol improvement over previous failure patterns. "

"Yes, Doctor," the omega acknowledges with appropriate deference that carries no corresponding emotional engagement—perfect performance of expected compliance without genuine submission to authority structure.

"This assignment represents an opportunity to compensate for previous protocol deviation," the male voice continues, tone suggesting warning beneath professional communication. "Your integration status remains conditional pending demonstrated compliance with revised behavioral parameters."

A moment of silence follows—duration suggesting either nonverbal response or deliberate communication pause designed to establish authority hierarchy before verbal acknowledgment.

"I understand, Doctor," the omega responds finally, tonal flatness suggesting practiced rather than genuine acknowledgment. "My attempt to escape was the ill-considered reaction to survival imperatives rather than a deliberate protocol violation."

"Your unauthorized departure from the designated containment area resulted in significant resource allocation requirements and potential security compromise," the male voice corrects with administrative precision.

"The intervention of unauthorized external elements further complicated containment and recovery operations. "

"I was left behind to die," the omega responds, the momentary breach in professional facade revealing a genuine emotional response beneath constructed compliance.

"The teams evacuated without completing designated extraction patterns.

My survival resulted from emergency intervention by external assets rather than a deliberate escape attempt. "

The clarification registers with perfect clarity despite my continued performance of unconsciousness—this omega somehow escaped institutional containment, likely during the same operational period that resulted in my sister's extraction.

Her return, like mine, appears non-voluntary despite different circumstantial parameters.

"Designation as primary monitoring asset for Subject 496 represents a significant rehabilitation opportunity," the male voice continues, ignoring substantive response in favor of reinforcing authority parameters.

"Compliance with assigned responsibilities will result in a corresponding adjustment to integration evaluation metrics. "

The numerical designation strikes a discordant note amid otherwise predictable administrative communication—496 rather than 495, indicating they recognize my true identity rather than maintaining sister-substitution pretense apparent in the Omega's initial address.

They know who I am.

The realization carries strategic implications requiring immediate reassessment of operational parameters. If they recognize my true identity, experimental objectives likely differ significantly from standard recapture protocols typically applied to escaped test subjects.

"I'll continue monitoring vital signs and metabolic indicators according to established recovery parameters," the omega acknowledges, professional tone returning as conversational conclusion approaches.

"The subject appears to be entering extended sleep phase consistent with accelerated healing protocols. "

Footsteps move toward the exit, the electronic door mechanism activating with a distinctive sound indicating security-level clearance requirement for both entry and exit functions.

The door closes with pneumatic precision, silence returning to the recovery environment as monitoring equipment continues its rhythmic operation in the background.

Several moments pass before the subtle shift in atmospheric pressure suggests movement within the room rather than departure—the omega returning to proximity rather than exiting with a medical supervisor.

"They're gone," she whispers, voice pitched below standard audio monitoring threshold while maintaining volume sufficient for direct communication. "You can stop pretending to be asleep now."

I maintain apparent unconsciousness for precisely 7.3 seconds—sufficient duration to confirm absence of secondary surveillance protocol while establishing appropriate caution regarding potential monitoring systems beyond standard implementation.

Then I open my eyes slowly, focusing on the omega standing beside my bed with an expression suggesting recognition of strategic performance rather than genuine medical unconsciousness.

"Smart," she acknowledges, approval evident despite minimal verbalization. "Always verify before revealing awareness."

I study her more carefully now that pretense has been temporarily abandoned, noting details invisible during initial interaction.

The omega designated "Riot" carries herself with a distinctive combination of defiance and calculation that suggests prolonged institutional adaptation without corresponding psychological submission—survival requiring performance of compliance while maintaining internal resistance.

"You know I'm not Patient 495," I observe quietly, voice pitched to match her sub-monitoring threshold while maintaining clarity sufficient for direct communication.

She nods slightly, movement calibrated to remain below motion-detection parameters while conveying clear affirmation.

"I know Nyx," she confirms, the simple statement carrying significant implications regarding her involvement in events surrounding my sister's extraction. "You have her face but nothing else."

The assessment carries neither accusation nor judgment—merely factual observation delivered with precision suggesting experience with identity assessment beyond apparent designation as research subject.

"You helped her escape," I extrapolate, connecting available information points to the most probable historical narrative.

Another minimalist nod acknowledges accuracy without providing verbal confirmation that might trigger linguistic analysis protocols within monitoring systems.

"And somehow found yourself back here anyway," I continue, the observation serving both information gathering and potential alliance foundation through recognition of shared circumstance.

Something flickers across her features—a brief emotional response suppressed through practiced control before fully manifesting in observable expression.

The reaction suggests a complex history regarding return to institutional containment, potentially involving elements beyond simple recapture protocols.

"Not entirely dissimilar to your own return journey," she observes with unexpected perceptiveness that suggests intelligence beyond standard omega assessment metrics. "Though I suspect with significantly different motivational parameters."

The observation confirms my initial assessment—this omega possesses analytical capabilities exceeding institutional classification, potentially representing a valuable alliance opportunity within the otherwise hostile operational environment.

Before I can formulate an appropriate response accounting for multiple strategic possibilities, a subtle shift in monitoring equipment rhythm indicates approaching surveillance cycle completion—timing requiring immediate conversation conclusion to avoid detection through standard pattern analysis.

"Return to apparent sleep," she instructs quietly, already moving toward the clinical station with practiced efficiency. "We'll continue when operational parameters permit secure communication."

I allow my eyes to close as she resumes her professional position, body settling into a convincing approximation of unconsciousness developed through years of similar tactical requirements.

Through careful, even breathing and controlled muscle relaxation, I continue processing acquired information while appearing to have returned to the recovery sleep phase.

Riot.

The designation echoes with unintentional synchronicity—an omega sharing a name with my alpha that I came here to reclaim, somehow connected to my sister's escape, while now assigned to my monitoring despite an apparent escape attempt of her own.

Coincidence seems statistically improbable given circumstantial parameters, suggesting a potential strategic opportunity beyond apparent happenstance.

If institutional assignment places this omega in proximity to me on regular rotation, information exchange possibilities expand significantly beyond initial operational projections.

As monitoring equipment continues its rhythmic background presence, my mind calculates potential strategic advantages while my body maintains a perfect unconscious facade.

The mirrors continue their relentless reflection of reality I've returned to after six years of external existence—my choice, my plan, my mission.

Find my alphas.

Rebuild my pack.

Complete what we started six years ago.

With an unexpected omega alliance potentially developing, operational probability metrics shift toward improved success parameters despite significant challenges remaining throughout implementation phases.

One step closer to finding Riot— my Riot —and the others waiting in the levels below.