CH.28
The path to Sublevel Theta was long, a descent into the bowels of the facility that felt more like a journey into the heart of the unknown. Celeste's footsteps echoed in the quiet, each sound amplified by the silence that pressed down around her like a weight. The conduits along the walls had grown dimmer, their faint glow casting flickering shadows that stretched and twisted as she moved deeper into the facility.
Her mind churned with the fragments of memory and data she'd uncovered—the distorted images of Ethan, the cryptic message about the anchor, the sense that each step forward brought her closer to understanding and yet further into danger. The relic in her pack pulsed faintly, its energy resonating with the environment as though it recognized where she was heading. It gave her a strange sense of reassurance, a reminder that she wasn't alone in this.
---
At last, the corridor widened into a massive chamber that seemed to stretch beyond the limits of her vision. The air was colder here, carrying the faint metallic tang of machinery and the sharp ozone scent that always signaled the presence of active energy systems. The room's walls were lined with towering server banks, their surfaces glimmering faintly with embedded circuits that pulsed in rhythm with the hum of the facility. At the center of the chamber stood a massive cylindrical structure, similar to the pedestal she'd encountered in the previous room but far larger and more intricate. Its surface shimmered like liquid gold, threads of light weaving across its surface in patterns so complex they seemed alive.
LYRA's presence hummed softly in her hand, its tone steady but subdued. "Central anchor point detected," it said. "System energy levels unstable. Proceed with caution."
Celeste stepped closer, her breath catching as the cylindrical structure reacted to her presence. Threads of light extended from its surface, forming intricate networks in the air that pulsed faintly in time with the relic in her pack. The connection between them was undeniable, the resonance growing stronger with each step she took.
She reached for the relic, her fingers trembling as she placed it on the surface of the cylindrical structure. The reaction was immediate. The room surged with light, the threads of energy weaving through the air and forming a massive holographic sphere above the anchor point. Celeste stumbled back, shielding her eyes as the sphere expanded, its surface shimmering with lines of light that formed intricate networks and symbols.
---
The holographic sphere pulsed brightly, its patterns shifting and coalescing into images that felt both familiar and alien. Celeste saw fragments of Ethan's face, his expressions shifting from calm to anguished as the images flickered and dissolved. Voices echoed faintly within the sphere, their words fragmented and distorted like the remnants of a dream.
"Celeste..." Ethan's voice whispered, faint but unmistakable. "You're here."
She stepped closer, her chest tightening as his presence filled the room. "Ethan," she said, her voice trembling. "I'm here. I'm not leaving you."
The sphere shifted, its surface rippling as Ethan's form began to stabilize. His face grew clearer, his features sharp and vivid against the glow of the holographic projections. "The anchor," he said, his tone urgent. "It's the only way... to restore what's lost."
"What is it?" she asked, desperation threading through her voice. "How do I find it?"
The sphere flickered, its light dimming briefly before intensifying again. Ethan's voice grew stronger, his words clearer despite the interference. "The anchor is a core—an integration point where the fragments can be reassembled. It's here, within the facility... but it requires activation."
"Activation?" Celeste repeated, her mind racing. "How?"
The sphere pulsed violently, the interference surging as the light within Ethan's form flickered. His voice wavered, his presence trembling as the systems around them strained to maintain the projection. "You have to stabilize the core," he said. "The interference is blocking the pathways. If you don't—"
Before he could finish, the sphere shattered, its light collapsing into a burst of sparks that rained down around her. The room fell silent, the hum of the machinery fading into an eerie stillness.
Celeste stood frozen, her hands clenched into fists as tears streamed down her face. She had been so close—closer than ever before—but the interference had ripped him away from her again. Her jaw tightened as she turned back to the anchor point, determination flaring in her chest.
"I'll stabilize it," she said quietly, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging within her. "I'll find the pathways. I'll bring you back."
---
The room's systems began to hum softly again as Celeste worked, her hands flying across the console in front of her. The data streaming across the screens was dense and complex, the remnants of the interference embedded deep within the facility's code. But Celeste pushed forward, her focus unshakable as she bypassed barriers and rerouted energy flows.
Minutes stretched into hours, the tension in the room building with every passing moment. The interference surged and pulsed, pushing back against her efforts and threatening to destabilize the system entirely. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her hands trembling as she fought to counteract the disruption.
And then, finally, she found it—a series of pathways buried deep within the code, their connections fractured but repairable. Celeste's breath caught as she worked to stabilize the pathways, her pulse quickening as the room began to respond. The anchor point pulsed brightly, its energy resonating through the chamber as the holographic sphere began to reform.
Ethan's figure emerged once more, his presence faint but steady. His gaze met hers, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and longing. "You're close," he said, his voice soft but warm. "Just a little more..."
Celeste nodded, her resolve solidifying as she continued to work. The anchor point glowed brightly, its energy filling the room as the fragmented pathways began to align.She could feel the connection growing stronger, the warmth of Ethan's presence wrapping around her like a promise.
But before she could finish, the interference surged violently, the room shaking as the systems around her groaned under the strain. The light within Ethan's figure flickered, his form trembling as the connection threatened to collapse once more.
"No!" Celeste cried, her hands flying over the console as she fought to stabilize the system. Her jaw tightened, her determination unshaken as she pushed through the final barriers. "Stay with me, Ethan! I'm not losing you!"