Eclipsed Horizon — Chapter 77: "The Echo Hunt"
The emergency lights painted the Command Hall in red.
Not flashing. Not pulsing.
A steady, unwavering crimson — the color Zephyr used only when the threat level surpassed protocol, prediction, and precedent.
Every senior officer of the Eclipser Corps was present. Every division leader. Every combat captain. Every analyst.
For the first time since the Sky-Singularity Event, the Corps had been summoned to a full-scale emergency conference.
Arden Lyss stood at the center of the holo-dais, hands behind her back, posture rigid enough to bend steel.
"Begin the recording," she ordered.
The command console chimed as the city complied.
---
The Briefing
Arden turned to face them.
"Earlier today, Zephyr initiated an involuntary convergence involving Cadets Cael Drayen and Lyra Vance. This was not a malfunction. It was a defensive reaction."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
Arden continued:
"During this convergence, an external resonance presence attempted to breach Zephyr through Cadet Vance."
That silenced the murmurs.
Seraphine stepped beside her, her voice quiet but razor sharp.
"That presence is the Echo."
Dozens of officers stiffened.
A few swore under their breath.
Arden gestured — and the holo-platform lit up, displaying the Echo's distorted figure from the convergence chamber. A featureless silhouette. Lines of static across its form. A half-mask of broken light.
"Until now," Arden said, "the Echo's interference was confined to neural resonance. But today proves it can project, intrude, and attempt to cross channels it has no authority to access."
Sena Korr murmured, "But projecting requires a physical anchor point. It can't do that from nowhere."
Mireen Solis pulled up a map.
"You're correct."
The holo-display zoomed out into Zephyr's full topographic layout.
And at its edge—
A faint blue distortion pulsed in the outer districts.
"An energy spike occurred here," Mireen said. "Five minutes before the Echo attempted to reach Cadet Vance."
"Is it still there?" Arden asked.
"No."
Mireen zoomed further.
"But there is a trail."
A thin spectral line traced across the district like a scar.
Jax whistled. "That's not a resonance leak. That's a… footprint."
Cael and Lyra exchanged a look.
The Echo wasn't hiding anymore.
---
Public Exposure
Arden extended an arm toward Cael and Lyra.
Both stepped forward.
The entire hall turned toward them — whispers rising, questions forming, theories igniting.
Jax muttered to Sena, "Dual Anchors standing side by side… that's going to start rumors for months."
Sena elbowed him sharply.
Seraphine raised her voice.
"As of this moment, Cadets Cael Drayen and Lyra Vance are officially recognized as Zephyr's Dual Anchors. Their resonance link is the most stable—and volatile—connection Zephyr has produced since the Collapse."
The room reacted instantly.
Some shocked.
Some impressed.
Some worried.
Some calculating.
Arden continued:
"The Echo targeted Vance because her link to Drayen strengthens the city. If they are compromised, Zephyr destabilizes with them."
Lyra's pulseband glowed faintly.
So did Cael's.
They felt dozens of eyes on them — not admiration, not fear.
Responsibility.
Expectation.
Seraphine stepped closer, her presence a quiet stabilizing force.
"The Echo has made its intentions clear. It is no longer content to haunt memory. It intends to enter the physical world."
The room shifted.
"So," Arden said, "we hunt it."
---
The Command Strategy
Arden snapped her fingers — the holo-map reconfigured.
Three distinct layers appeared:
1. Resonance Output Radar
2. Aether Disturbance Tracing
3. Pulseband Harmonic Projection
Mireen tapped the map.
"The Echo left these oscillation patterns behind. They're unstable, but traceable."
Jax grinned. "Good. We trace it, trap it, and hit it before it learns how to hit back."
Seraphine shook her head softly.
"No. If you strike too early, you may lose it. Or worse — drive it deeper into the neural field."
Arden's eyes locked onto Cael and Lyra.
"This hunt requires two things:
A tactical sweep of the district—
And an Anchor-led resonance pursuit."
Lyra blinked. "Wait… us? You want us to—"
"Yes," Arden said.
"Because the Echo is drawn to you."
Cael went still.
Lyra felt her stomach twist.
Seraphine folded her arms.
"It seeks your resonance. Use that. Turn the bond into bait."
Lyra exhaled sharply. "That sounds dangerous."
Arden didn't flinch.
"It is."
Cael stepped forward.
"We'll do it."
Lyra shot him a look.
"Cael—"
"You saw what it tried to do to you." His voice was steady, but his eyes were burning.
"I'm not letting it get near you again. And if it's chasing us—then we draw it out on our terms."
Seraphine's gaze softened, just barely.
Arden nodded once — the approval of a commander who expected nothing less.
"The operation begins in one hour."
The emergency lights shifted from red to white.
Mission color.
Everyone snapped to attention.
---
Outside the Hall
As the Corps dispersed, Lyra pulled Cael aside near the elevators.
"Cael," she whispered, "you volunteered us before I could even—"
"You don't have to say yes," he said quietly.
"But I'm not letting you walk into this alone."
Lyra pressed a hand over her pulseband.
Her heart was still unsteady from the earlier overload.
"…You really meant what you said?"
He nodded.
Lyra hesitated — then leaned her forehead gently against his.
"I meant it too."
For a moment, everything softened.
Then—
The city lights flickered.
A cold static ripple crawled across the corridor.
Cael tensed immediately.
"Did you—"
Lyra nodded.
"I felt it."
The Echo.
Brushing the edge of their link.
Watching.
---
End of Chapter 77: "The Echo Hunt."