Location: Outer Echo Facility – Underground Access Tunnels
The rain had finally stopped.
But everything else was still falling apart.
You and Leon moved in silence, weapons drawn, down the unlit tunnels beneath Echo's compound. Dust rained from the ceiling as explosions rumbled above.
Leon glanced sideways. "You know she wouldn't just disappear. Ada's smarter than that."
You nodded, jaw tight. "Unless someone smarter got to her first."
You both froze at a junction—two paths diverged.
Leon squinted. "Blood trail. Left."
You stepped right. "And heat signatures. Right."
You looked at each other.
Then, without saying a word, you both moved forward—together.
---
Cutaway: Upper Levels – Lia & Kairo
They kicked open the last reinforced door, Echo soldiers scattering from the surprise assault. Lia darted through smoke, Kairo covering her with precise burst fire.
They were close now. They could feel it.
Then—a blast of light hit the floor between them, sending them both flying.
"Ah, kids," a voice purred from the smoke. "You made it so far."
A shadow walked through the flames—Nova.
White coat. One glowing eye. Laugh like cracked glass.
She cracked her neck, flexing her hands, fingertips laced with living nanotech.
"You must be Lia," Nova smirked. "Zeyren said I couldn't kill you. But he didn't say anything about fun."
Lia stood, blood on her lip. "You'll wish he had."
Kairo stepped up beside her, eyes locked. "We're not scared of you."
Nova's smile sharpened.
"Good."
The lights exploded—
And the battle began.
---
Cutaway: Lower Levels – You & Leon
You found it. The cell was cracked open.
No signs of a struggle. No guards.
But in the corner—Ada's pendant, dropped on purpose.
Leon picked it up.
"She left us a trail," he said, voice low.
You nodded slowly. "She knew we'd come."
But something moved behind you. Something big.
And far, far too quiet.