The sterile white walls of the consultation room pressed in on Anya. The air, meticulously filtered and temperature-controlled, felt suffocating. Elias, the council representative, sat across from her, his expression unreadable behind the polished veneer of his genetically engineered composure. He offered her a data-pad, its surface shimmering with holographic projections of intricate cellular structures and complex genetic pathways.

"These are the proposed enhancements," Elias said, his voice a low, smooth baritone, devoid of any emotion. "They address your… deficiencies, and optimize your cognitive and physical capabilities to the peak human standard. Think of it, Anya, as unlocking your true potential."