Awakening

Philip Hasterok

Premise: Jake joins the Council of Eighteen, the world’s ruling body of gifted 18‑year‑olds, after a global collapse. - Key Events: - Induction ceremony disrupted by a rogue telepathic attack. - Jake instinctively shields others, earning trust and admiration. - Early Council debates reveal ideological divides. - The mysterious Archivist hints at the Eidolon Project — a centuries‑old genetic experiment. - Jake leads a successful operation against insurgents in Sector 12, using invasive mental control for the first time. - A Councilor leaks classified data, sparking riots; Jake pacifies thousands with a mass “calm wave.” - Ends with Jake quietly convinced that only he can keep the world stable.