Chrono Custodians

After the squad members were tended to by the medics, they regrouped to file their mission report. Once that concluded, the conversation turned to the girl they’d rescued. 

After the squad had brought her back, the Knights had taken her into custody for her own safety and to perform a series of medical and chrono-energy checks, standard protocol for someone involved in a time distortion.

“First,” Thane began as he stood before a charts hologram, his voice steady but grave, “I want to commend you all on your work in retrieving the girl and bringing back critical intel. Eclipse, as you’ve discovered, is no ordinary threat.” He glanced toward Dax, “Reid Evaris was once a Knight, a promising one. The news of his allegiance with Aequitas is… troubling, to say the least.”

The squad remained silent, the weight of Thane’s words sinking in.

“From what we can see from the young hostage’s blood tests, it seems she has innate abilities connected deeply to chrono energy. However hers seem more amplified than even the rarest of conditions. Her being experimented on in the past is not out of the question either.”

The squad stood eerily silent at that revelation.

“We have reason to believe Eclipse has been using the girl because of her unique connection to chrono energy. The helmet they forced her to wear was designed to tap into her abilities to access distortions more effectively, possibly even stabilize them for brief periods. It appears Reid Evaris has been using her to probe these distortions—delving into them, likely searching for something.”

Thane’s eyes narrowed.

“If Aequitas recaptures her, they’ll continue to exploit her until they’ve achieved their goals, whatever those may be. That’s why it’s imperative we keep her safe. For the time being, she is under the protection of the Knights. And I’m assigning Squad GX to guard her around the clock. She will be your responsibility, day and night, until we’ve secured Eclipse or dismantled this scheme. She cannot fall back into their hands.”

Dax, still tense from the day’s events, let out a sigh. “We won’t let that happen. Not again.”

Thane nodded approvingly. “I trust you won’t. She’s been through more than any child should. But she’s safe with you, and with your diligence, we’ll ensure she stays that way.”

The Supreme Commander nodded in finality, giving each of them a firm look. “I’ll have a secure room prepared for her nearby. Your shifts will be arranged to ensure she’s never left alone. We’ll proceed with extreme caution—Eclipse may try to reach her by any means necessary.”

◔

Squad GX was gathered in the squad room, a quiet hum of chatter filling the space as they waited. Talia leaned back in her chair, arms crossed with a smirk as Jessie teased Mira about her device needing an “upgrade.”

“What you even working on there Mira?” Jessie asked.

“Well the Strider needs some work with that dent, and I thought of giving it an upgrade while I was at it.”

“A Strider upgrade? Color me intrigued!” Jessie shot up from his chair, the conversation finally getting interesting.

“I thought I could try and make it fly for a few minutes. Like REALLY fly!” Mira explained, enthusiasm palpable.

“Are we sure that’s… safe?” Talia narrowed her eyes.

Tidus hovered closer, its tone matter-of-fact. “The Strider’s chrono propulsion is built for ground and low-altitude travel. Sustained flight needs stabilization to avoid chrono field turbulence, or—what humans call—‘crashing.’ With Mira Chen’s skills, however, the upgrade is feasible.”

“Woah for real? That would make it a special edition or something, right Dax?”

The otherwise friendly giant sat off in the distance, seemingly there but not quite. At the mention of his name he didn’t even jolt, but simply turned his head.

“If it works, why not?”

Maybe he had grown tired of waiting? The others thought, trying not to dampen the mood further.

The reason for their wait was a delicate one. Liriana, the girl they’d rescued, was wearing a helmet that wasn’t easy to remove. The device had been crafted to amplify her chrono readings, and removing it had been a complicated, meticulous process that had required several specialists. Rhea, true to her protective nature, had stayed with the girl through every moment, ensuring she wouldn’t feel alone.

Dax, as it seemed however, was barely listening. He sat apart from the others, his arms crossed, his gaze fixed somewhere far off. The encounter with Reid weighed heavily on him, his mind replaying every detail—the bitterness in his old friend’s eyes, the rage behind every strike.

At that moment, the door slid open, and Rhea stepped in with Liriana at her side. The girl was small, her face a little pale and marked by the traces of dried tears. Her light blue hair hung loose, and she clutched tightly onto Rhea’s hand, green eyes darting around the room with a mixture of caution and curiosity.

Rhea gave the squad a nod, her expression softening as she looked down at Liriana. “Everyone, meet Liriana. As you know, she’s going to be staying with us for now.”

Jessie was the first to approach, his face breaking into a warm grin. “Hey there, kiddo. I’m Jessie. Fastest Knight in Neotera, at your service!” He gave her a playful salute, hoping to get a smile out of her, but Liriana only stared back, staying close to Rhea.

Talia stepped in next, offering a gentle smile. “Don’t mind Jessie, he’s all talk. I’m Talia, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t drive you too crazy.”

Then Mira walked over, crouching down to Liriana’s level and offering her a small, gentle wave. “I’m Mira. I handle the tech around here. If you ever get bored, I can show you how some of it works. And this is Tidus, our personal drone!”

“Greetings, human child.”

On the other hand Dax simply offered a nod.

Liriana’s gaze flicked between them, her grip on Rhea’s hand tightening. She didn’t say a word, but Rhea gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, encouraging her to relax.

“Would you like to see your room? It’s right next to ours.”

Liriana nodded silently, still holding tightly onto the captain. As they walked down the short corridor to the room prepared for her, the squad pointed out various details.

“That’s the kitchen, by the way,” Jessie said, gesturing to the room just off the main area. “Where all the magic happens. And by magic, I mean Mira’s invention of the ‘30-second rehydrated pizza.’”

“That was one time,” Mira snapped, “And I’ve perfected it since then.”

Tidus hovered nearby, “Correction: Mira’s ‘perfected’ pizza still ranks as a 4.3 out of 10 in culinary satisfaction based on team feedback.”

Rhea led Liriana into her room, a small but cozy space with a bed, a soft chair, and a window that overlooked the shimmering lights of Neotera. It was simple, but safe—a place she could finally call her own.

“This is your space,” Rhea said gently, kneeling beside Liriana. “Whenever you want to be alone, or if you need anything, this is where you can go. But remember, we’re all right nearby. You’re not alone anymore.”

Liriana looked around, her gaze lingering on the bed and the faint glow of the city lights. For a moment, she seemed lost, as if the concept of having her own space was foreign to her.

“Can I… stay here?” The girl managed to spell out weakly.

“Of course. This place is only reserved for you.” Rhea smiled reassuringly.

As the others continued chatting with Liriana, explaining little quirks of the tower and the schedules they kept, Dax stayed back, his arms crossed, his gaze distant. He knew he should be paying attention, maybe even offering a welcoming smile, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Reid. The bitterness, the betrayal…

Rhea noticed Dax’s silence and gave him a questioning glance, but he only offered a curt nod, not quite ready to explain the turmoil going on inside him.

Liriana, meanwhile, stayed close to Rhea, saying little but taking in everything with cautious, wide eyes.

“You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to,” Rhea said softly, kneeling beside her again. “Just know that this place is yours now too, and we’re here to help you. All of us.”