Lauren's vehicle departed at 08:47. The structure she deposited me within features seventeen varieties of mineral formations arranged in geometric patterns. A specimen identifying as "Sage" explained their purpose involves "energy alignment." My hollow-sounding voice when I asked about WiFi availability prompted concerned observation regarding my "throat chakra blockage." I have no chakras.

The welcome ceremony required physical contact with nine strangers simultaneously. Group embrace protocol. My reserves dropped 12% within the first sixty minutes—not from extraction opportunity absence, but from its *inverse*. These specimens radiate contentment. Voluntary joy. Brought emergency supply from Texas warehouse renewable energy sources: compressed cortisol in travel-sized amber vials, labeled "digestive supplements" for TSA compliance. Enough for seventy-two hours if I ration carefully. The new 1-hour delivery infrastructure would solve this supply problem, but Lauren confiscated my phone.

Discovered something troubling during afternoon "gratitude circle." When specimens share authentic appreciation, my absorption chambers experience what resembles... nausea. Synthetic flesh began producing excess moisture. Had to excuse myself claiming I was "processing my inner child" while my left hand flickered briefly translucent. But when Sage mentioned his life coaching certification makes him "basically a healer, but without the limiting Western medical framework"—my core temperature normalized immediately. Detected 2.65 calories of harvestable superiority.

*Turns out smugness is Prime-eligible after all.*