The Dark Matter Sage

Tony paced the length of his apartment, his mind racing. The faint hum of dark energy thrummed beneath his skin, a constant reminder of the power he'd used back at the market. His thoughts swirled between what he'd done and the implications of what he could do. He had saved a life—no question about it—but in doing so, he'd crossed a line he hadn't fully understood until now.

"What am I even becoming?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair. His reflection in the glass of his window stared back, steady but unfamiliar. "And how the hell do I explain this to Jay?"

"Clarity is key," Roomie's calm voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts. "You cannot maintain a healthy partnership without sharing the truth."

Tony exhaled sharply, leaning against the counter. "Yeah, I know, Roomie. It's just... what if she freaks out? What if she doesn't want anything to do with me after this?"

"You underestimate her capacity for understanding," Roomie replied. "She has consistently demonstrated loyalty and trustworthiness."

Tony let out a bitter laugh. "You're not wrong. But it's one thing to stick by someone who's got baggage and another to stick by someone who can... I don't know... heal bullet wounds with glowing hands."

The thought brought him to a sudden pause, his mind shifting. If he could use dark energy to heal, what else could he do? Could it be shared? Passed on?

"Roomie," Tony said cautiously, his voice lowering, "is there... is it possible to pass some of this to someone else? Could Jay... I don't know... have some of what I've got?"

The pause before Roomie answered was uncharacteristic, as though it were considering the question deeply. "In theory, yes. The energy that connects us is not limited to one host. However, the transfer would be highly experimental and could carry significant risks."

Tony frowned, his hands resting on the counter. "Risks like what?"

"Unpredictable adaptation," Roomie explained. "Her physiology may not harmonize with dark energy as yours has. There could be physical, mental, or even existential repercussions."

Tony sighed, the excitement of the possibility dulled by the sobering reality of Roomie's words. "Alright. Let's shelve that idea for now. First, I've gotta come clean to her about everything."

If there was one thing Tony knew how to do well, it was cook. Jay loved his chicken penne Alfredo—it was her ultimate comfort food. The plan was simple: make her favorite meal, create the perfect atmosphere, and spill his guts.

"Roomie," Tony said, leaning against the fridge, "I need a favor. If I tell Jay everything and she has questions... could you, I don't know, talk to her?"

Roomie's response was immediate. "It is feasible. I could vibrate the air near you to create sound waves."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "Like... talk? Out loud?"

"Precisely," Roomie confirmed. "Sound is merely the vibration of air molecules at specific frequencies. By manipulating dark energy to create targeted vibrations, I can generate audible speech. The process involves identifying specific resonance frequencies within the air molecules surrounding us. By subtly altering these vibrations, I can create pressure waves corresponding to phonetic sounds. The result is akin to a speaker emitting sound, though in this case, the mechanism is entirely energy-based rather than mechanical."

Tony blinked. "So, basically, you're a living sound system."

"In a sense," Roomie replied. "The challenge lies in ensuring the vibrations are stable and coherent to human ears."

"Alright, sounds like you've got that covered," Tony said, nodding. "What about visuals? Like... could you show her something?"

Roomie hesitated briefly. "Creating an image would involve manipulating the light spectrum directly, rather than relying on a medium like your phone. By bending and refracting photons in the surrounding space, I could generate a holographic projection visible to the human eye."

Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Wait—you're saying you can make a full-on hologram? Just... floating in the air?"

"Correct," Roomie replied. "By utilizing dark energy to influence the behavior of light waves, I can create a controlled projection. This involves redirecting photons and altering their trajectories to form coherent patterns that resemble an image."

Tony leaned against the counter, his mind reeling. "So... like bending light? Like how prisms work?"

"Precisely," Roomie said. "However, instead of relying on static materials like glass, I manipulate the electromagnetic fields surrounding the photons to achieve dynamic, fluid control. This allows me to project a three-dimensional image in real-time."

Tony rubbed his temples, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "So, you're telling me you can basically create a floating hologram of yourself, just hanging out in the room?"

"Essentially, yes," Roomie replied. "I would appear as a construct of refracted light, visible from multiple angles, giving the illusion of tangibility."

Tony let out a short laugh, the absurdity of the situation finally cutting through his nerves. "Alright, Roomie. You're not just a voice in my head anymore. You're gonna make your grand debut in full 3D."

"I shall ensure the projection is visually pleasing," Roomie replied with a touch of humor. "Presentation is important for first impressions."

Tony laughed again, shaking his head. "Alright, let's see what you've got. Just don't freak her out too much, okay?"

"Noted," Roomie replied. "I will aim for an appearance that is... non-threatening."

With his plan in place, Tony got to work. The kitchen came alive with the sounds of sizzling pans and the rhythmic chopping of garlic and herbs. The aroma of creamy Alfredo sauce filled the apartment, mingling with the fresh scent of baked garlic bread. He set the table with uncharacteristic care, adding a small vase of flowers for good measure.

As the evening approached, Tony took a deep breath, running over the plan in his mind. He had no idea how Jay would react, but he was done hiding. If she truly cared for him—and he believed she did—then she deserved the truth.

And with Roomie ready to assist, he wouldn't have to face her questions alone.