The silence of the mirror labyrinth was so profound that the sound of Alex's own breathing seemed like thunder. Standing before him, the SCP Foundation Guard, an imposing figure in dark tactical uniform and gas mask, loomed as a promise of protection and, at the same time, an enigma. His calm, robotic voice resonated in the reflective space: "Agent Echo. I have arrived. My mission is to join you."
Alex blinked, trying to process the most surreal turn of his life. An SCP Foundation agent. Here. Summoned by him? Reality had become stranger than any fiction he'd ever binged.
"Agent... Echo?" Alex asked, his voice tense. His chest camera captured the imposing figure of the guard, while his lens camera showed the System menu, where the "SCP Foundation Guard" option was now grayed out, indicating the agent was already active. "Uhm... and what am I supposed to call you? Alex? Echo? My username?"
The guard remained motionless for a moment, as if processing the question. "My protocol indicates 'Agent Echo.' I have no directives regarding personal identifiers outside of operational mission." His voice showed no inflection, no hint of humor.
The chat was buzzing with theories and reactions:
[Bruce Wayne]: "Professional. Highly trained. An invaluable asset. But without self-initiative, he's a tool."
[Tony Stark]: "He's a robot! Or a cyborg! Ask him his specs! His power source! His operating system!"
[Rick Sanchez]: "Ha! A generic soldier controlled by a kid! This is TV gold. Now, where's the blood?"
[User_Excited]: "It's an SCP! Alex has an SCP by his side!"
[The Professor]: "He's not a robot, he's a program. And is his loyalty unconditional?"
Excitement points generated: +2000 (for the revelation and potential)
Alex ignored Rick Sanchez's theories for a moment. He turned to the guard. "Alright, Agent... uh... do you have a name? Or a number?"
"My designation is Agent One-Nine-Nine. You may refer to me as One-Nine-Nine, Agent, or by my unit classification if necessary for the operation." The answer was direct.
"Okay, One-Nine-Nine. Nice to meet you. I'm Alex. Or Echo, I guess. And our 'operational mission' right now is not to lose our minds in this mirror labyrinth and not to die," Alex explained, his natural charisma peeking through despite the situation. His chest camera showed the unusual conversation, while his lens camera focused on the uniformity of the environment. "This place is new. We call it... uh... Mirror Level? Reflected Labyrinth? The chat got creative."
The chat offered names and warnings for the new environment:
[Jonas Kahnwald]: "A new level. A new layer of reality. Are there echoes of the past here?"
[User_Explorer]: "The Level of Reflections! Beware of optical illusions, Echo!"
[Solid Snake]: "Reflections are a disadvantage. Use them as cover, but don't trust them. The enemy could be behind any illusion."
[Freddy Krueger]: "Oh, how beautiful. A place where you can't tell reality from nightmare. Just how I like it."
Excitement points generated: +1500 (for the new level and visual threats)
One-Nine-Nine slightly turned his head, his eyes behind the gas mask scanning the environment. "Extreme visual refraction environment. Recommendation: activate route marking system. Optimize 'Basic Navigation'."
"Good idea!" Alex exclaimed. He'd forgotten about his new skill. He activated "Basic Navigation." The cost in excitement points was moderate, but worth it. Immediately, a series of subtle translucent arrows appeared in his vision, superimposed on the floor, indicating the "real" path and intersections. The reflections in his lenses cleared, allowing him to distinguish reality from illusion with astonishing precision. "Uhm, and Agent, I don't know if you know, but this place is... a labyrinth? Is there an exit? Or is it another 'level' like the others?"
"My primary directive is to protect and assist Agent Echo. My knowledge of this environment will update as we explore it. This is assumed to be a transient anomalous environment, with an exit point." The agent's voice was as mechanical as ever, but the words offered a glimmer of hope.
The chat approved of the agent's utility:
[Batman]: "Constant analysis. That is the key. The agent is a reliable data source. Use him."
[Walter White]: "An equation. New variables. New plan. Always a plan."
[User_Analyst]: "How useful that agent is! He's an advanced AI assistant!"
[Rick Sanchez]: "Ha! 'Knowledge will update'! He's a walking database! How ingenious!"
Excitement points generated: +1800 (for agent's utility and progress)
With One-Nine-Nine by his side, Alex ventured into the mirror labyrinth. The agent moved with silent efficiency, his P90 always ready, his eyes scanning not only what was ahead but also the multiple reflections. Alex realized the agent's utility not just as a bodyguard, but as a second pair of eyes, and even as a comforting presence. He was no longer quite so alone.
They walked for what seemed like hours. Alex's "Basic Navigation" worked flawlessly, guiding them along the true path, avoiding dead ends and deceptive reflections. Sometimes, Alex caught a glimpse of movement in a distant reflection, a blurred figure that vanished before he could focus on it. One-Nine-Nine didn't react, suggesting they were just visual illusions or that his perception was even sharper.
"This is like a constant magic trick," Alex commented, whispering. "My eyes know it's a mirror, but my brain insists there's another hallway. How is anyone without this skill supposed to not go insane here?"
The chat pondered the psychological effects:
[Bruce Banner]: "Prolonged visual disorientation can induce psychosis. Your ability protects you from it. It's a psychological asset."
[Joker (User)]: "Oh, how fun! Going insane in a labyrinth of yourself! The best joke!"
[User_Reflection]: "It's like a Portal level! Reality is a lie!"
[Freddy Krueger]: "Sweet illusions, Alex. My favorites. I'll show you the real ones soon."
Excitement points generated: +1200 (for disorientation and psychological threat)
Suddenly, One-Nine-Nine stopped. His weapon rose, pointing at a section of the wall. There was nothing visible, only the infinite reflection. Alex tensed, following the direction of the agent's gaze. His chest camera captured One-Nine-Nine's alert posture. His lens camera showed the exact point the agent was aiming at.
"Anomaly detected. Irregular refraction pattern. High probability of invisible or camouflaged entity," One-Nine-Nine's robotic voice was clear.
"Invisible?" Alex whispered. His Enhanced Hearing picked up a faint crackle, like moving crystals. And then, a whisper, so faint he thought it was his imagination, coming from the point the agent indicated. A whisper of his own name.
"Echo...?"
The voice. It was a childlike voice, distorted, almost like a distant echo. It wasn't in the chat. It was in the labyrinth. And it was coming from the wall.
The chat immediately recognized the danger:
[Ellen Ripley]: "Be careful! Invisible entities are the most dangerous. Don't trust voices."
[Fox Mulder]: "A quantum camouflage phenomenon or a phase effect. Not an entity, it's a manipulation of space."
[User_Terror]: "God! I don't like that! Don't answer, Alex!"
[Hannibal Lecter]: "The voice. An invitation. What sweet flesh is there for the butcher?"
Excitement points generated: +3000 (NEW INVISIBLE THREAT!)
"Who's there?" Alex asked, his pistol raised, his eyes scanning the wall. The reflection of his own pixelated face stared back from all directions.
The whisper repeated, louder, clearer, now with a tone of pain. "Help... Echo... I'm here... in the wall..."
Alex felt a pang of compassion. A child's voice. But in this place, compassion was a dangerous luxury. One-Nine-Nine remained firm, his weapon aimed.
"What do we do, One-Nine-Nine? Is it an entity? Or is it... is it really someone?"
"Evaluating. Entity may be a vocal anomaly or an illusory manifestation. Direct intrusion is not advisable without further data." The agent's voice was logical, dispassionate.
The chat engaged in a rapid-fire moral dilemma:
[Captain America]: "A voice asking for help. It's a test of character, Alex. But not an invitation to recklessness."
[Rick Sanchez]: "It's a trick! A f*cking trap! Don't be a sentimental idiot, Alex!"
[User_Hope]: "Maybe it's a child! Don't leave them alone, Alex!"
[Jigsaw]: "The choice is yours, Echo. Salvation or condemnation? The wall is just a barrier."
Excitement points generated: +4000 (EMOTIONAL DILEMMA!)
The voice sounded again, now with a tone of childlike desperation. "Please... it hurts... I want out... Echo..."
Alex hesitated. The image of the man who had died at the hands of the Skin-Stealer, the one he couldn't save, flickered in his mind. He couldn't make the same mistake. He couldn't let another person suffer. But what if it was a trap?
He looked at One-Nine-Nine, then at the chat burning with debate. The pistol in his hand felt heavy. The reality of being an "Agent Echo" with a mission, with an ally, and with the burden of millions of viewers, loomed over him. This place wasn't just survival. It was a constant test.
"Agent," Alex said, his voice firm. "If we can help, we will. But with caution. Is there a weak point in the refraction pattern? A way to interact without fully entering?"
The agent turned slightly, seeming to process the order. "Evaluating. Manipulation of light or sound frequency could reveal a temporary opening. A pulse device or specific resonance is required."
Alex smiled faintly. His show had only just begun. And he had a weapon, an SCP agent, and a mystery pulsing in the walls.