Dr. Novak led them to a small conference room where a laptop was already set up. He gestured for them to sit, his manner shifting from clinical to something more human.

  "I want to be transparent with you about what Daisy has been through," he said. "It's difficult material, but I believe you need to understand what we're working with."

  The screen showed what appeared to be brain scans, side by side.

  "On the left is a typical adolescent brain," Dr. Novak explained. "On the right is Daisy's, taken three months ago when she arrived here."

  Even to Wei's untrained eye, the differences were apparent. Areas that should have been symmetrical weren't. Regions that glowed brightly on the normal scan appeared muted or overactive on Daisy's.

  "From what we've reconstructed," Dr. Novak continued, "your daughter was part of something called 'Project Hollywood.' Not a government initiative," he added quickly, seeing Wei's expression darken. "A criminal enterprise that systematically kidnapped children - primarily from families they believed wouldn't have resources to pursue them. Immigrants, transient populations, families in poverty."

  "Because we were Chinese," Xiuying said flatly.

  Dr. Novak nodded grimly. "That was likely a factor in why they targeted Daisy, yes. The project's goal was to artificially trigger metahuman activation events."

  "Is that how powers work? I didn't think..." Wei said, remembering news reports he'd seen.

  "It isn't, no. Activation Events are essentially random, based only on your proximity to life-threatening events, with no real genetic factor or accurate predictor," Dr. Novak explained. "Which is why Project Hollywood was so monstrous. They were essentially..." he paused, searching for words that wouldn't be too traumatic, "...creating life-threatening situations for children. Systematically. And most didn't survive."

  Xiuying made a small, broken sound. Wei felt his hands begin to shake again.

  "What did they do to our daughter?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

  Dr. Novak tapped a few keys, bringing up a different set of images. "Based on blood work and toxicology, we've identified traces of numerous experimental compounds in Daisy's system. Some we recognize as highly controlled psychoactive substances. Others we're still analyzing."

  He pointed to several areas on the brain scan. "These regions here - the amygdala, parts of the prefrontal cortex - show significant damage consistent with prolonged exposure to stress hormones and psychoactive drugs. They deliberately targeted the parts of her brain responsible for emotional regulation."

  "They damaged her brain?" Xiuying asked, horror evident in her voice.

  "Yes," Dr. Novak said simply. "And they did it systematically, over years. The objective, as best we can determine, was to create a state of perpetual emotional dysregulation. We don't have a lot of detail about what their goals were, but we believe the intent was to create... human bombs, of a sort. An easily deployable... how do I say this..."

  "Set it and forget it," Xiuying completed for him, feeling her throat lock up, recalling some old infomercial. Wei remembered the moment during their visit when Daisy had started to become angry, how quickly the guards had responded.

  "Her abilities," he said slowly. "They're connected to her emotions."

  "Yes. Specifically to anger," Dr. Novak confirmed. "Daisy's power, as you may have been told, is called 'dynamimesis' - she copies other people's powers. Her specific variation causes her to copy the power of whoever she's currently the angriest with. No anger, no power. We believe that Project Hollywood may have sold or auctioned her off as an anti-metahuman weapon."

  Wei covered his mouth. He had to avoid the bile.

  He clicked to another image - brain scans showing activity patterns. "When Daisy experiences intense anger, we see massive spikes in neural activity here, here, and here," he pointed to several regions. "Far more activity than is healthy for any brain, much less that of a juvenile. It's almost as if it gives her a sort of miniature seizure, so to speak."

  "So she can't control it?" Xiuying asked.

  "That's what we're working on," Dr. Novak said. "The people who had her before - first Project Hollywood, then a criminal group called the Philly Phreaks - they deliberately exploited this connection. Like a weapon."

  The thought of their daughter - their gentle, butterfly-collecting little girl - being used this way was almost unbearable.

  "The incident in Philadelphia," Wei said, needing to understand the full scope of what had happened. "How bad was it?"

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  Dr. Novak's expression grew solemn. "Seventeen casualties. Dozens injured. It was a coordinated attack on a courthouse during a high-profile trial. Daisy was part of a metahuman strike team."

  Wei closed his eyes, trying to process the enormity of it.

  "She was restrained during her arraignment," Dr. Novak continued. "That's when we first realized the extent of her abilities. A metahuman known as 'Bloodhound' - the superhero that helped subdue your daughter - was her target at the time, and she was repeatedly manifesting... well, the details aren't important. But she did not need to be in proximity to Bloodhound to be mad at her."

  "Arraignment?" Xiuying repeated. "She was put on trial? A child?"

  "Initially, yes," Dr. Novak acknowledged. "But once we understood the circumstances - the years of captivity, the evidence of drugging and manipulation - the case was transferred to juvenile court and ultimately to us. The legal classification is complicated, but essentially, she's considered both a victim and a special security concern."

  "A prisoner," Wei said flatly.

  Dr. Novak sighed. "I understand how this looks, Mr. Zhen. But please understand - Daisy's abilities make her uniquely dangerous, especially when she's emotionally dysregulated. Which, due to the damage done to her brain, is much of the time."

  "But you said she can get better," Xiuying insisted. "That there's hope."

  At this, Dr. Novak's expression softened. He clicked to a new image. Another brain scan, but with subtle differences from the first. Not any differences Xiuying would be able to point out to you if you asked, but differences noentheless.

  "This is from last week," he said. "The adolescent brain has remarkable plasticity - the ability to form new pathways, to adapt and heal in ways an adult brain cannot. These areas here," he pointed to several regions, "show new neural connections forming. Her brain is literally rewiring itself."

  "What does that mean?" Wei asked.

  "It means there's genuine reason for optimism," Dr. Novak said. "The therapeutic protocols are showing results. We're using a multi-faceted approach; medication to stabilize her neurochemistry, dialectical behavioral therapy, controlled emotional exposure exercises, mindfulness training. The fact that she remembered details about her dance class today is extremely encouraging. Memories tied to physical activities are often more resilient, and they can serve as anchors for recovering other memories."

  He leaned forward, his expression earnest. "What you witnessed today - her using the grounding technique without prompting - that represents enormous progress. Three months ago, that flash of anger you saw would have triggered a full rage episode, complete with physical manifestations of copied powers."

  "So what happens next?" Xiuying asked. "What's the plan for her future?"

  Dr. Novak closed the laptop. "The immediate goal is stabilization - helping Daisy develop consistent emotional regulation skills and a sense of identity beyond what was forced on her. Longer term, we're working toward controlled power management."

  "And then?" Wei pressed. "Will she ever leave this place?"

  Dr. Novak hesitated. "That's a complex question. Legally, Daisy was involved in actions that resulted in multiple deaths. Even with extenuating circumstances, there are consequences."

  "She was a child. She still is," Wei said, anger flaring. "She was kidnapped, drugged, brainwashed--"

  "I understand," Dr. Novak interrupted gently. "And those factors are being considered. But there's also the matter of public safety. Daisy's abilities make her dangerous, especially when she's emotionally dysregulated."

  He spread his hands. "That said, I believe in rehabilitation, Mr. Zhen. Especially for someone as young as Daisy. We're developing protocols that could potentially allow for supervised releases in the future. Structured community integration, remote monitoring systems, ongoing therapeutic support. It's possible she may be transferred to Aurora Springs, at least in the short term."

  "How long?" Xiuying asked. She didn't bother asking about Aurora Springs. A nicer sounding prison, she assumed.

  "It won't be quick," Dr. Novak admitted. "I'm talking about years, not months. But with continued progress, and with consistent support systems - which includes you - I do believe Daisy could eventually reintegrate into society in some form."

  Wei thought of the apartment listings he'd been browsing in their hotel room. The job he was about to quit. The life they were about to upend.

  "We'll be here," he said. "Whatever it takes, however long it takes."

  Dr. Novak nodded, then reached into a drawer and produced a small tablet in a rugged case. "We've developed a secure video chat system. Once she's ready - and with proper supervision - you could have virtual visits between in-person ones."

  Wei took the tablet, weighing it in his hands. Such a small thing to represent their tenuous connection to their daughter.

  "Dr. Novak," Xiuying said suddenly. "The jade butterfly necklace I mentioned. Would it be possible for Daisy to have it? Not the original - we have a replica we bought after she disappeared."

  The doctor considered this. "I'd need to have it scanned and approved through security protocols. Nothing with metal components, unfortunately. But yes, I think that could be arranged."

  "When can we see her again?" Wei asked.

  "Thursday," Dr. Novak said. "10 AM. I'll arrange for a longer session. Forty-five minutes instead of thirty. And based on today's progress, we might be able to reduce some of the security protocols. Perhaps a table between you instead of the partition, eventually."

  As they stood to leave, Dr. Novak offered one last observation. "What you did today - showing her those photographs, sharing those memories - that was exactly what she needs. Not pressure to be who she was, but reminders that she was loved. That she is loved. As you can imagine, us government types... aren't exactly in a position to show 'love' in that way. Ha ha,"

  Wei nodded, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.

  As they walked back through the sterile corridors of Daedalus, past the checkpoints and armed guards, he found himself mentally calculating how quickly they could find an apartment, how soon they could move their lives across the country.

  Xiuying must have been thinking the same thing. She squeezed his hand and said in Cantonese, "I'll call my sister tonight. She can pack up our apartment, ship what we need."

  "I'll email my boss tomorrow," Wei replied. "See if there's... see if there's any way we can make things work across the country. We can stay in the hotel until we find a place. Maybe in New York City?"

  "Are you crazy? New York City... Silly! Buffalo. Or Albany. Two bedrooms," Xiuying said firmly. "For when she's ready."

  It might be years, Wei knew. It might never happen at all. But the alternative - giving up on their daughter again - was unthinkable.