New Echelon by night was a world of contrast.
Above, shining towers of chrome and glass reached into the clouds—neon light bleeding into the sky. Floating transports hummed silently between districts, AI drones patrolled the air, and giant holo-ads shimmered with offers of peace, power, and perfection.
But below, in the Undergrid, where Lia and Kairo now walked…
…it was darker.
Graffiti covered cracked concrete walls—tags from survivors, rebels, and vigilantes. Kids sold bootleg tech from crates. Mechs limped down alleyways like old dogs. And rumors floated like smoke.
This was where the truth lived.
Lia stopped beside a rusted vending station, buying two synth-coffee packets with a swipe of her chip.
Kairo leaned against the wall beside her, arms crossed. He hadn't spoken much since Zeyren.
She tossed him a packet. "Still mad?"
He caught it, jaw tight. "You shouldn't have let him talk."
"I didn't let him do anything."
"You listened."
That cut deeper than he meant it to.
She turned to face him. "You think I owe him something?"
Kairo looked away. "No. I think he wants something you don't even realize. And I think… you might let him in."
Silence passed.
Around them, the city pulsed—holograms flickered above the skyline, streetlights buzzed weakly, and music played from some bar down the lane. A remix of an old-world jazz track.
Lia finally said, "Zeyren isn't the danger. It's what he might be connected to. He knew about the signal. And he knew where we'd be."
Kairo softened a little. "You think he's got access to Echo?"
"I think… he might be Echo."
---
Just then, an explosion shook the block—far in the distance, but close enough to send a warning through the streets.
A black smoke cloud rose from one of the outer sectors.
Lia's eyes darkened. "We're running out of time."
Kairo stood, cracking his neck. "Then let's move."
But as they took off, winding through the alleys of this rebuilt world—neither of them could shake the feeling that this wasn't just a new war.
It was a mirror of the old one.
And this time… it was personal.