The Echo of Tomorrow

Chapter 13: The Unseen Players

The cold, metallic corridors of the Nexus stretched endlessly as Lyra and Selene navigated their way deeper into the heart of the facility. Every step felt like treading on the edge of a knife, the looming threat of discovery pressing down on them. The alarms had yet to sound, but Lyra knew it was only a matter of time before the TCA realized where they were headed.

As they reached a large intersection, Selene suddenly stopped, her posture tense. "We're not alone."

Before Lyra could ask what she meant, a faint shimmer rippled in the air before them. Within seconds, two figures materialized out of thin air, their forms cloaked in sleek, advanced armor that bent light around them. Their helmets, smooth and featureless, emitted a faint hum as they regarded Lyra and Selene with unreadable expressions.

"Selene," one of them spoke, his voice smooth but edged with caution. "You should not be here."

Lyra tensed, instinctively stepping back. "Who are they?"

Selene exhaled sharply, lowering her weapon slightly but not letting her guard down. "Shadow Operatives. Ghost agents of the Resistance. They're not with the TCA, but they aren't exactly our allies either."

The second figure removed their helmet, revealing a striking woman with short, silver hair and piercing amber eyes. "You have no idea what you're interfering with," she said, stepping forward. "The Catalyst isn't just a key to rewriting history—it's something far older and far more dangerous. If you take it, you might not like what you awaken."

Lyra frowned. "Then why are you here? If you know so much, why haven't you done anything to stop the TCA?"

The man beside her scoffed. "Because sometimes, the devil you know is better than the one you don't."

Selene tightened her grip on her weapon. "We don't have time for riddles. Either help us or step aside."

The woman's gaze lingered on Lyra for a long moment before she sighed. "You're not going to back down, are you?" She exchanged a glance with her companion before nodding. "Fine. But don't say we didn't warn you. We have our own mission to complete, and if our paths cross again... we may not be so agreeable."

With that, the two figures stepped aside, vanishing once more into the shadows.

Lyra felt the weight of their warning settle in her chest, but there was no turning back now. Whatever the Catalyst truly was, she had to find it. And she had to be ready for whatever came next.