Project Prometheus Ch. 68 - Teaser (Patreon)

Qadira lowered herself to the floor, settling into a comfortable position as she began her warm-up routine. Stretching was essential, especially after being trapped in stasis for thousands of years. She started slow, rolling her shoulders before extending her arms overhead, feeling the satisfying pull of her muscles waking up.

She shifted into a seated stretch, one leg extended, the other bent, reaching forward until she felt the strain in her hamstring. The tension was there, but it wasn’t unbearable. Still, it was a stark reminder that her body, once honed for endurance and strength, had weakened over time. The idea frustrated her, but she pushed the emotion aside. There was no use in lamenting the past—only in rebuilding herself from this point forward.

After finishing her stretches, Qadira rose to her full height, rolling her neck before making her way to the resistance machines. Free weights might have been her preference, but given the uncertainty of her condition, she needed controlled resistance—something that would allow her to gauge her strength without risking a torn muscle or worse.

She stopped in front of the preacher curl machine, adjusting the seat and armrest to accommodate her larger frame. But as she settled in, her gaze was drawn toward Alex and Kasumi once again.

They were both deep into their workouts, focused and composed, their movements precise and powerful.

Qadira had been fascinated by the smaller species aboard the Darkstrider, but this was different. Watching the two of them lift with such practiced ease, she found herself momentarily enthralled by their strength.

Alex, at six and a half feet, was far shorter than her, yet the sheer density of his muscle was undeniable. The way his arms flexed with every controlled movement as he lifted heavy free weights spoke of a disciplined, well-trained body. There was an effortless quality to his strength, the kind earned through years of conditioning.

And Kasumi…

She was barely six feet tall, yet she moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior. Her muscles, lean and sculpted, flexed with every rep, each motion fluid and controlled. There was grace in her power, an economy of movement that showed not only strength but skill.

Qadira couldn’t help but be impressed. For beings significantly smaller than her, they had developed a strength that rivaled what she had once considered normal for her kind. 'Perhaps size is not as defining a factor as I once believed,' she mused, her amethyst eyes lingering on them a moment longer before turning back to her own task.

Just as Qadira was about to begin her first rep, a voice, smooth and laced with amusement, startled her.

“Enjoying the show?”

Qadira nearly jumped, her grip momentarily tightening on the machine’s handles. She turned her head sharply, amethyst eyes locking onto the figure standing beside her.

Delilah.