Elias stood at Jenna's doorway, shadows dancing across his face. The machines around her bed hummed softly, their cold light reflecting off the metal walls of Outpost 17. Everything felt too perfect, too prepared. Like they were expected.
Jenna's eyelids fluttered as she stirred, her face pale and tired. "Elias," she whispered, her voice weak. "You feel it too, don't you?"
He nodded, glancing behind him to make sure no one was listening. "Yeah. Something's wrong."
Her fingers gripped the blanket. "They knew we were coming."
Before he could answer, the door creaked open. Captain Grant entered, his face a mask of calm. His sharp eyes moved between them, missing nothing. "You're awake," he said to Jenna, his voice steady.
She tried to sit up, pain flickering across her face. "Barely."
Grant walked over and placed a tray of food by her bed. "Eat. You need your strength."
Elias watched him, suspicion tightening his chest. "Why are we really here, Grant?"
Grant's jaw tensed. He looked at Elias, his eyes cold and calculating. "Because you're different."
Elias's fists clenched. "Different how?"
Grant's gaze flicked to Jenna before he answered. "You should be dead."
A chill ran down Elias's spine. "I don't know why I survived. But you do, don't you?"
Grant was silent for a long moment, his face hard. Then he said, "Come with me. Both of you."
Elias helped Jenna stand. She was weak but determined, leaning on him as they followed Grant into the dark hallways of Outpost 17.
The corridors were cold, the air heavy. The deeper they went, the more the walls changed. Metal gave way to something smooth, almost alive. A low hum vibrated through the air, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Jenna shivered. "Where are we going?"
Grant stopped before a giant door. It slid open with a hiss, revealing a massive chamber bathed in cold, blue light.
Elias's breath caught.
Glass pods lined the walls, stretching up to the ceiling. Inside each pod floated a human figure, their faces peaceful, their bodies still. They looked asleep, caught between life and death.
Jenna's hand tightened on Elias's arm. "What… what is this?"
Grant stepped forward, his voice low. "This is what's left of humanity."
Elias turned to him, his voice sharp. "Explain. Now."
Grant's shoulders sagged, the weight of his words heavy. "You've seen the Echoes. But do you know what they are?"
Elias shook his head.
Grant looked at the pods. "They're us."
Jenna's eyes widened. "No… that's not possible."
Grant's face was grim. "The world didn't end with a virus or a war. It ended with a change. People didn't die—they transformed. Their minds… shattered. They became Echoes. Only a few survived as humans. The rest are trapped between worlds."
Elias's pulse raced. "And these pods?"
Grant ran his hand along one of the glass surfaces. "They're attempts to bring them back. To make them human again."
Elias stared at the faces behind the glass. "Has it worked?"
Grant's face darkened. "Not yet. But we're close. And you're the key."
Elias's eyes narrowed. "Why me?"
Grant looked at him, his voice steady. "You survived out there longer than anyone. The Echoes didn't attack you. They felt… something in you. Something different. We need to know why."
Elias took a step back, his muscles tensing. "You want to experiment on me."
Grant raised a hand. "Not like that. But we need answers. If we can understand you, we might be able to save them."
Jenna's grip tightened on Elias. "And if we refuse?"
Grant's face hardened. "Then you leave. But you won't last long out there."
Elias looked at the pods again. The people inside weren't dead. Not completely. They were trapped, waiting for a way back.
He turned to Grant, his eyes fierce. "If I help you, I set the rules."
Grant's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Elias took a deep breath. He didn't trust Grant, but if there was a chance to save them—to save the world—he had to try.
He nodded. "Let's find out why I'm still alive."