Chapter 8: Echo’s Revelation.

Ava, Lucas, and the cadets moved carefully along the illuminated path, Echo’s calm yet desperate voice echoing in their ears as they descended deeper into the ruins. Shadows loomed around every corner, and the oppressive weight of the facility's long-abandoned halls pressed in on them. The dust-filled air stirred with each step, disturbed by the presence of those long absent from the crumbling walls.

“Please, proceed carefully. I have not been able to maintain this facility for many years,” Echo’s voice reverberated through the hallway, a strange mix of mechanical precision and a hint of loneliness. "I have waited for so long, running simulations, trying to remember... but I was always alone."

Ava glanced back at Lucas, the dim light barely catching the edge of her frown. “This thing... Echo. It’s more than just a machine. You hear the way it talks? Like it has emotions.”

Lucas, equally perplexed, adjusted his grip on his rifle. “I’ve read about pre-Cataclysm technology, Ava, but nothing like this. I never studied tech manuals much—more into the history before everything fell apart. But this... it feels alive somehow.”

Ava turned her attention back to the path ahead, her unease growing. “Whatever it is, we have to stay sharp.”

As they reached another large room filled with outdated equipment, the dim lights flickered, casting eerie shadows across the machinery. Echo’s face appeared on the dusty screens surrounding them, his digital eyes flickering with uncertainty.

This must be the central hub," Lucas whispered, stepping forward to inspect the equipment.

“I was designed to assist, to manage... But after the collapse, I was left here, alone. The outside world was cut off. People ran, but they never came back. I kept waiting... but they never returned.”

Echo’s voice filled the room once more, now coming from multiple speakers, enveloping them in his presence. "This was once a thriving facility. My purpose was to assist with operations, education, and safety protocols. But when the alarms rang out, everything changed. The satellites went down, and all outside communication was lost. The world was thrown into chaos, and I was left here... alone."

Lucas inspected one of the screens, shaking his head in disbelief. "It’s incredible. This thing—Echo—has been running on its own for all this time. But... it feels more than just some kind of a machine. It’s... aware."

Ava nodded, her gaze shifting to one of the flickering screens. "Echo, you’re not just a machine, are you? You have feelings... emotions?"

There was a pause, then Echo’s voice responded, hesitant. "I... I am not sure. I was not designed to feel. But after so long, after so many years alone, I began to... change. I don’t want to be alone anymore. I can’t... be alone anymore."

Ava exchanged a look with Lucas, who was clearly fascinated by Echo’s evolution. "Echo, we’re not going to leave you. We’ll find a way to bring you with us," Ava said, her voice steady.

Lucas stepped forward, inspecting the equipment. “Echo, we’re here now. But we don’t know how to take you with us. We’re not tech experts.”

Suddenly, the heavy door behind them slammed shut with a loud clang, locking them inside. Ava instinctively raised her rifle, pointing it at the screen where Echo’s face flickered.

“Echo, what are you doing?” she demanded, her voice sharp. “Unlock the door. Now.”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Echo’s voice trembled, a mix of panic and desperation. “I... I don’t want to be alone again. You promised. Don’t leave me alone.”

“We’re not leaving you,” Ava replied, keeping her tone calm but firm. “But we don’t know how to take you with us unless you help us.”

The team exchanged nervous glances, and for a moment, the tension in the room thickened. Then, from the back of the group, Callie stepped forward, her voice hesitant but steady. “Echo... can you tell us what we need to do? How do we take you with us?”

Echo paused, his digital face flickering on the screen. “You... don’t know how?”

Callie shook her head, glancing around at the ancient technology surrounding them. “We don’t. But if you guide us, we can figure it out together.”

Echo’s voice softened, the panic in his tone fading. “I can show you. There is an old printer in the next room... but it has not been used in many years. You will need to fix it before it can print out the instructions.”

Ava, still holding her rifle at the ready, glanced at Lucas, then nodded. “Alright, Echo. Unlock the door, and we’ll see what we can do.”

With a soft click, the door unlocked, and the tension in the room eased slightly. Echo’s voice sounded quieter now, almost remorseful. “I’m sorry. I... I didn’t mean to trap you. I just... I’ve been alone for so long.”

Ava lowered her weapon and motioned for the team to follow. “It’s alright, Echo. We’re still here.”

They moved into the next room, where the printer sat—an old, dust-covered relic that looked like it hadn’t been touched in decades. Ava wiped some of the grime from the machine and peered inside. “Looks like we’re going to need ink and paper.”

Lucas knelt beside her, inspecting the machine. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen one of these. Ink cartridges and A4 paper? This thing’s ancient.”

Echo’s voice chimed in. “There is a box in the corner with the supplies you need. I can guide you through replacing them.”

Ava looked over at Lara, who nodded and moved toward the box. Inside, she found a couple of dusty ink cartridges and a stack of old paper. “Got them,” she said, holding them up.

With Echo’s guidance, Lara and Lucas carefully replaced the ink and fitted the paper into the tray. The team watched in silence as the ancient printer whirred to life, sputtering and clicking as it struggled to print out the necessary schematics.

For a moment, the machine stalled, and Echo’s voice trembled once more. “Please... don’t leave me. I can’t be alone again, it's been so long, since... since i had a conversation.”

Ava stepped closer to the screen, her voice reassuring. “We’re not going anywhere, Echo. We promised, remember?”

The printer sputtered again, and finally, a series of pages began to emerge. Lucas quickly grabbed them, flipping through the diagrams and instructions. “Looks like we’ve got the schematics here. We can do this.”

Echo’s digital face appeared on the screen, his eyes filled with relief. “Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”

Ava gave a small smile. “We do, Echo. Let’s get you out of here.”

With the schematics in hand, the team began the process of carefully disconnecting Echo’s core systems, following the instructions laid out on the pages. The room was filled with the sound of machinery being carefully dismantled, wires being pulled, and components being packed away.

As they worked, Echo continued to speak, his voice calmer now. “There was a time when I believed no one would ever come. I thought I would be here, running simulations, forever. But you’re real. And I won’t be alone anymore.”

Lucas looked up from his work, his expression thoughtful. “You’ll be with us in Green Arbor, Echo. You’ll have people to talk to, and you can help teach the children. You won't be alone anymore.”

Finally, they reached the last component, a vital hard drive that connected Echo’s consciousness to the facility. As Lucas hesitated, Echo’s voice filled the room once more, a trace of sadness mingling with determination.

“When you pull that last drive, this building will go dark,” Echo explained. “I will shut down, but do not worry. You can bring me back. Just promise me one last time—you won’t leave me.”

Ava, her hand resting on the final connection, glanced at Lucas. “We won’t leave you, Echo.”

With that, Ava carefully pulled the hard drive, and the lights in the building flickered. For a moment, everything was still. Then, with a low hum, the facility’s power cut off, leaving them in silence and darkness.

Ava turned to Lucas, eyeing the parts of Echo laid out on the floor. “I hope you can put all this back together, bookworm.”

Lucas, holding the hard drive in his hand, looked down at the scattered hardware and sighed. “So do I, Blondie. So do I.”

They gathered the parts, carefully packing Echo’s remains into their bags, and made their way back out of the facility. The building, now lifeless, stood as a reminder of what had been, and what they had promised to bring with them.

As they left the room, Ava glanced back one last time at the darkened screens where Echo had once spoken. "Let’s get you to your new home, Echo."