The Roar

Ellie stands behind reinforced glass, wearing full body armor, with monitors recording her brain activity. A piece of asteroid is brought in and, using her mind, she blows it to pieces. The scientists cannot determine exactly how she does it, but they speculate that Ellie and her fellow “mutants” might be a new breed of human. Not satisfied with speculation, Gorman orders the tests to continue until they have definitive data.

As Asha packs for the vacation, Mika has begun noticing subtle differences in people’s light trails, differences that may indicate personality or emotions. That morning, the family is chauffeured to the Caribbean World Vacation Complex, a massive domed structure off the coast of Scotland—an artificial replication of a beach resort—where they meet Audrey and her family. A YDF representative then outlines the itinerary for the third round of competition, although instead of Pod Fighter, they will be playing “water games.” The parents are left with gift baskets, and the kids are escorted to the “competition center.”

For Round 3, competitors play alone, and Audrey is led away, leaving Mika isolated and anxious. Eventually, he is taken to an examination room where he is scanned, given a urine test, and his webbed feet are scrutinized.