The icy cavern echoed with the harsh sounds of your heavy breaths and the faint drip of melting frost. Subject Zero lay motionless on the frozen lake's cracked surface, but you didn't dare relax. The tension in the air was thick, like the calm before another storm.
You studied it carefully — that twisted reflection of yourself, a mirror cracked and distorted by science and pain.
Uneasy Silence
After what felt like minutes, Subject Zero's pale blue eyes flickered open. It sat up slowly, the weight of its body sending tiny fractures through the ice.
"You fight well," it said quietly, voice rough but steady. "But why do you hunt me? We are... linked."
You tightened your fists, feeling the cold bite through your gloves. The system pulsed softly in your mind, reminding you of the crucial decision ahead.
[Dialogue Choice:]
"Because what they did to you, they tried to do to me."
"I don't care about our connection. You're dangerous."
"Tell me who you are."
You chose option 3.
A Fragment of a Past
Subject Zero's gaze softened slightly, a hint of something almost human flickering in its eyes.
"I was a project—an experiment. They tried to replicate the abilities you unknowingly possess. But I was incomplete. A failed echo."
You felt a chill, deeper than the cold around you. The system chimed softly, highlighting new intel:
[Project Name: Echo Protocol][Objective: Clone and weaponise enhanced humans with unique abilities.][Status: Terminated — with several survivors.]
The weight of the revelation pressed down on you. You weren't just hunting a target; you were confronting a shared origin.
Tentative Alliance
"I don't want to fight you," Subject Zero continued, voice steady but strained. "If we work together, maybe we can uncover the full truth — and stop those who want to control us."
You hesitated. The system updated:
[Trust Level: Subject Zero – Neutral (35%)]
Your instincts told you to be cautious, but also curious. The shadow of a bigger threat loomed.
You nodded slowly.
New Objectives
You stood side by side, exiting the cavern into the frozen wasteland. The storm had passed, but the journey ahead promised more danger.
Your system updated as you made the decision:
[Quest Updated: Uncover the full Echo Protocol conspiracy.][New Ally Acquired: Subject Zero (conditional)]
[Skill Points Earned: 6][Distribute points across stats or skills.]
You allocated points evenly, including a small boost to Luck, feeling it might be essential in this uncertain game.
Echoes of Danger
As you moved away from the cave, the system pinged urgently:
[Alert: Unknown signal detected – Madripoor region.][Probability of Echo Protocol remnants: High]
Your pulse quickened. Madripoor meant shadows, black markets, and mercenaries—an ideal place to dig deeper.
Subject Zero looked at you with a grim expression.
"The real fight begins now."