Location: GOC Grand Citadel – Summit Floor
Black Echo—Lucas, Nick, and Emma—stood in the gravity-elevated lift that climbed to the top level of the Citadel. Only high-ranking agents and elite units were ever summoned this far up. That fact alone made the air feel heavier.
Emma (looking around):
"This place feels… different."
Nick (fidgeting):
"Yeah, like if you breathe wrong, you'll get vaporized."
Lucas (stoic):
"Stay sharp. This isn't routine."
The doors slid open with a quiet hiss.
Inside, a command chamber stretched into the horizon. Holographic projections hovered in the air—maps, threat analyses, strange codes written in languages not of Earth.
And standing at the center, arms crossed like a mountain in armor, was a man of legend.
---
🛡️ Gorge Copper – The Iron Wall
One of the 4 Elite Walls—the strongest known defense units in the GOC. Known as "The Iron Wall," Gorge Copper was said to have blocked an entire Type 4 invasion force… alone.
His obsidian armor gleamed beneath the ceiling lights. He turned to face them.
At first, his gaze swept over Emma, then Nick with a furrow of distaste.
But when his eyes landed on Lucas—
He froze.
His brows twitched.
Gorge (muttering almost too low to hear):
"…Millar…?"
His expression shifted subtly—but within seconds, it was gone. A crack quickly smoothed over.
Nick (whispering to Emma):
"Did he just glitch?"
Emma (whispering):
"He looked like he'd seen a ghost."
---
Gorge (clearing his throat):
"You three. Black Echo. You've shown potential beyond projections. You adapted to a live portal event. You survived a Type 1 ambush. Your control over your awakened abilities is… notable."
Nick (grinning):
"I get that a lot."
Gorge (flatly):
"Don't get used to it."
Emma (stepping forward):
"Sir, may I ask—what happened just now? You said the name Millar like you—"
Gorge cut her off, hard and sharp.
Gorge:
"Drop it, Agent."
The tone left no room for debate. Emma blinked, surprised, and stepped back.
Lucas stood silent, expression unreadable. Not denying. Not answering.
Nick (softly):
"Yeah. Drop it."
---
💥 Portal Breach – Level Zero
Suddenly—alarms blared. A tear opened mid-air, right inside the fortified room.
Crimson lights washed over the room as an eerie, low hum echoed through the chamber. The air warped. A Type 4 Portal.
And from it stepped a figure in black robes, violet energy lacing his fingers like living wires.
---
👁️ Type 4 Neuroxin – Xenno
He looked human—frighteningly so. Smooth skin, white-silver hair, glowing violet eyes. He smiled as if greeting old friends.
Xenno:
"...Ah. Lucas Millar. So it's true."
He ignored the others entirely.
Emma (alarmed):
"He knows your name!"
Nick (growling):
"Say one more word and I'll rip your throat out."
Xenno (calmly):
"Easy, beast. This is not your moment."
He leaned slightly, eyes piercing into Lucas.
Xenno:
"You bear her blood well. We will see each other again."
Lucas flinched—only slightly. But Xenno noticed.
Gorge (voice like a hammer):
"Enough!"
He stepped forward and struck—his gauntlet glowing with seismic force.
But Xenno simply vanished, fading with a grin, as the portal collapsed behind him.
---
🧩 Aftermath – Echoes Unanswered
Silence returned. The Citadel's alarms shut off.
Emma (to Lucas):
"Who was he talking about? Who's 'her'?"
Lucas (quietly):
"…No one."
Nick (with a glance to Gorge):
"Right. No one."
Emma narrowed her eyes, but said nothing more.
Gorge (coldly):
"Dismissed. We'll speak again—later."
They turned to leave. But as the doors closed behind them, Gorge remained—his eyes still fixed on where Xenno had stood.
Gorge (to himself):
"Lyra… what did you leave behind?"
To Be Continued..