Reo was a genius. At just 13 he knew more about quantum physics than most adults. His lab was his kingdom—full of screens that glowed, machines that hummed, and inventions no one else could dream up. Sometimes he wondered if all this knowledge made him special or just alone.
One night he was tweaking a quantum scanner he'd built to detect energy patterns. The screen flickered with weird numbers. Reo frowned, adjusting a wire. Then—bam—the lights went out. A second later they snapped back on.
In the middle of the lab stood a boy who looked exactly like him.
Same face. Same hair. Same everything. But this boy's eyes were wide with terror. "Save me," he whispered, then collapsed.
Reo's heart pounded. He dragged the boy to the lab table and grabbed his scanner, hooking it to the boy's arm. The screen buzzed, then flashed: "Subject: QS Divergence—Origin Unknown." Reo's jaw dropped. QS meant Quantum Signature—a unique energy every person had, like a fingerprint. This boy's QS was mixed with his own like they were linked. The boy's skin shimmered with faint glowing symbols that pulsed with the scanner's hum. Then—pop—sparks flew and the machine smoked. Reo stepped back, stunned. This wasn't just a clone. This was something huge.
A hologram flickered on his desk. It was Subaru—his older brother, missing for years.
"Reo… if you're seeing this, things are bad. Protect Project X. It's not just data—it's everything. Trust the echo. He's more than he seems."
The message cut off. Reo froze. Subaru was alive? And what was Project X?
The boy groaned and opened his eyes. "Where… am I?" he asked, voice shaky.
"You're safe," Reo said, trying to stay calm. "What's your name?"
The boy blinked, confused. "I… don't know."
Reo nodded. "Then I'll call you Echo."
Echo tilted his head. "Okay."
Echo was weird but curious. He followed Reo around the lab, copying how he moved and talked. At first it creeped Reo out—like a living mirror. But soon Echo felt more real. He asked about the lab, the machines, and even himself. Sometimes, he sat by the window touching the symbols on his skin like he was trying to remember something important.
One day Reo was fixing a tiny drone when it suddenly buzzed to life. It floated up, wobbling, then tilted its head—just like Echo did when he was puzzled. Reo's tool slipped from his hand. "Echo, is that you?"
Echo grinned and the drone copied him. "I think so. It's… fun."
Reo's stomach flipped. Echo was controlling it with his QS. But how? And why did Reo feel like they weren't alone?
Late that night, Reo sat on the floor, knees pulled to his chest. Maybe Subaru had always believed he'd step up when the world fell apart. But he wasn't sure he was brave—just the only one left. He glanced at Echo, who was watching his reflection in a polished metal panel, pressing a finger to his cheek as if he wasn't sure it was really there.
Outside, a shadow darted past the window. Drones had been hovering near the house lately. People in black suits lingered on the street. Someone knew about Echo—and they were getting closer.
That night, a message popped up on Reo's secret server—the one only he and Subaru used.
"They've found you. Run. Now."
Before Reo could move, alarms screamed. Glass shattered as drones flooded the sky, their lights blinding. Reo grabbed Echo's hand. "Let's go."
They bolted through alleys, drones buzzing behind them. A soldier in black blocked their path, grinning coldly. Reo dug into his pocket and pulled out a smoke bomb he'd made for emergencies. He threw it—whoosh—and grey clouds swallowed the alley. The soldier fired a bullet, grazing Echo's arm. Echo winced but shoved Reo forward. "Keep running," he said.
They stumbled into an abandoned football stadium and hid under the bleachers. The place was old and quiet—for now. Echo pressed a hand to his bleeding arm, breathing hard.
Reo slumped down, shaking. "Why are they after us? What's Project X?"
Echo looked at him, his eyes wide but steady. "Subaru said to protect it. Maybe… that's enough for now."
Reo stared at the cracked ground. "I'm just a kid. I didn't sign up for this."
Echo swallowed, voice soft. "But you helped me. That matters."
Reo looked up. Echo wasn't just a copy anymore—he was becoming his own person. It made Reo feel stronger. And afraid. And like maybe he wasn't alone.
He pulled out a small drive Subaru had left him. He plugged it into his laptop, hoping for answers. The screen filled with code, then glowed with one line:
"Trust the echo, Reo. He's the key."
Reo's chest tightened. He glanced at Echo, who was staring at his reflection in a puddle, touching his face like he wondered who he was.
"Key to what?" Echo whispered.
Reo opened his mouth but stopped. The air changed. It tasted like lightning, sharp and metallic. Cold static crawled across his skin. Something buzzed inside Reo—his QS, the energy he'd never understood. It woke up, pulsing in his chest. The air twisted around them, shimmering like heat above a fire.
Before he could think, a flash of light exploded. The world vanished.
When Reo blinked awake, he was on the floor of a hidden lab. Screens lined the walls, humming softly. A console glowed with the word: "Project X."
Echo groaned nearby, rubbing his head. "Where… are we?"
Reo stood, his hands shaking. "Subaru's lab. I think."
Alarms pulsed in the walls like a heartbeat. Outside, soldiers' boots thumped closer. They'd escaped—for now. But the fight wasn't over.
Echo met Reo's gaze, steady and scared at the same time. "What next?"
Reo clenched his fists. He didn't know if he was brave. But maybe that wasn't the point.
"We protect it," he said. His voice was stronger than he felt. "Together."
And he knew, somehow, that Echo was thinking the same thing.
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TO BE CONTINUED…