Rescue o’Clock

Inside the Chrono Strider, Mira’s fingers flew over the console, monitoring the holographic feed from Dax’s hidden comms, projected in front of the squad. The Strider hovered low near the outskirts of Pyrite Reach, cloaked and waiting for the signal.

Dax’s point of view appeared on the display, as he followed Reid into the heart of the facility. The squad hung on every word and movement, knowing their plan hinged on perfect execution.

“He’s doing good,” Mira muttered, “No signs they’ve caught on.”

Talia leaned forward, her orange eyes fixed on the feed. “Let’s hope he gets close to Liriana soon. The longer this takes, the more unstable that distortion grows.”

Jessie, one leg bouncing with pent-up energy, grinned. “Relax. Dax is doing his part perfectly. Me? I’m the one they should be worried about.”

“You’re on a timer, Jessie,” Rhea reminded him sharply. “When the Strider’s cloak wears off, we’re all exposed. No room for mistakes.”

Jessie stretched lazily. “Mistakes? Never heard of ‘em.”

“Stick to the plan. No improvisation.”

“I will keep him in check, Captain Rhea Solstice. Worrying is not logical.” Tidus chimed in. Instead of protecting Mira, this time round Tidus the drone would be used as her eyes and ears within enemy grounds.

The room fell quiet as Reid’s voice came through the feed. “Fine. I’ll indulge you. Follow me.”

Mira glanced at Rhea, fingers hovering over the controls. “He’s taking Dax to Liriana. Almost time.”

On the holo-feed, Dax’s view panned to a glass-paneled chamber. The squad exhaled in collective relief as they saw Liriana sitting inside. They had found her location.

Jessie shot to his feet, cracking his knuckles and turning to Tidus. “That’s our cue tin can.”

Mira held up a hand. “Not yet. I need to get us into position first. Cloak disengages in three minutes—don’t get cocky.”

“Still think this is a good idea?” Talia asked, her voice tinged with worry as she braced herself against the Strider’s interior. It was true that Mira had managed to modify the Strider to be able to fly briefly, but it wasn’t exactly… tested, yet.

The Strider shuddered slightly as it began to rise, as the entire squad held their breath.

“Relax, Talia,” Mira quipped, though her tone betrayed her nerves. “It’s just a test flight… with a bit of high-stakes rescue mixed in.”

Slowly but surely, the trusted means of transport for the knights rose, aligning itself with the crumbling factory’s upper levels.

Jessie laughed, gripping the edge of the open hatch. “You worry too much guys, see? Just keep it steady, and I’ll handle the rest.”

“As will I.”

Mira’s voice hardened. “You’re on a two-minute clock as soon as you jump. I’ll count it down. Don’t miss the window… like literally.”

Without hesitation, Jessie leapt from the Strider, shattering the reinforced window before him with a powerful kick. The alarm blared instantly, red lights flashing throughout the facility as the shards scattered around him.

“Okay Jessie, you’re on the clock. Two minutes before we lose cloak. Get her out.”

“Already on it,” Jessie replied, dashing through the corridor before him with chrono-infused speed. The guards that rushed to the sound of the window breaking and the alarm blaring were met with a set of kicks to the face as Jessie used their bodies to springboard across the room.

Another guard rounded the corner, swinging his spear at the knight, who ducked beneath it and entered the room the valuable girl was held in.

Liriana’s eyes widened as she saw him, relief flooding her face. “Jessie!”

“Found ya!”

The guards stationed with Liriana barely had time to react before Jessie attacked them with his sword sending a couple chrono energy waves at them. The first one landed a clean hit on one of them, incapacitating him, while the other managed to recover fast. But that wasn’t enough, because the young knight had already whipped out his revolver shooting at him.

“Tidus?! Can you do something about that glass?!”

“Already on it. 1 and 30 on the clock.” Tidus the drone moved to the glass dome and scanned it. Soon, a number of numerical patterns appeared on the glass’ surface, moving rapidly. Like any other thing in this world after the great Chrono War, the glass pane holding Liriana was a technological substitute for iron bars, and if there was a code to crack, Mira was there to make it happen.

Mira’s voice came over the comms soon.

“The chrono tech shielding the glass is down, smash it to smithereens Jessie!”

The knight smirked at the rebellious order he received. The guard, realizing his intentions, attacked, but Jessie dodged to the right, and then released a smoke screen gadget.

“Liriana, step away from the glass!” The young knight warned before he dashed to the dome and brought it down with his shoulder. The glass splintered like ice, as Jessie checked on the girl.

“Oops, hey there, kiddo,” Grinning in reassurance, he knelt to untangle the restraints holding her, Tidus lighting the way even in the thick smoke Jessie’s gadget had created. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“The smoke will soon clear. Beware.” The drone warned.

“You… came.” Liriana barely held back her tears of relief.

“‘Course we did. We’d never leave you here.” Jessie smirked as he hoisted her onto his back, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders. “Hold on. We’ve got about a minute to make this dramatic.”

“Jessie, I need you out now. Fifty seconds to cloak drop.”

“On it.” Without waiting another second, the young knight kicked his chrono gear up one last notch, as far as it would go. He kicked off the ground, rushing past the smoke and the dazed Aequitas member who attempted to attack him, but was ultimately too slow.

Jessie moved like lightning as he navigated the twisting corridors with Liriana clinging to him. Even if the building was old, it seemed the Aequitas had taken precautions by installing adequate security. The facility’s lockdown measures had been activated, sealing doors and barring windows as the guards scrambled to contain the intruder. But Jessie didn’t need to use any of those exits. He knew where he had to go.

They were on the top floor. Thus the only way was up.

He bolted up a staircase, ascending toward the rooftop. The alarms grew louder, the shouts of Aequitas soldiers echoing behind him. On the roof, a squad of Aequitas awaited him, their weapons drawn. One of them sneered.

“End of the line, Knight. Nowhere to run.”

Jessie’s smirk only widened as he dashed out and stepped toward the edge, Liriana clutching his shoulders. The Aequitas encircled him slowly, as if they were cornering their prey.

But as the situation seemingly worsened by the second, the young knight’s expression brightened up with mischief.

“Oh, I’m not running... I’m flying.”

Without hesitation, he leapt off the roof, free-falling into the open air.

“Wha–!”

Dumbfounded, the Aequitas soldiers rushed to the edge, their eyes widening as the Strider’s camo dropped, revealing the ship rising to meet him.

Jessie landed with a flip on the Strider’s deck, holding Liriana securely. Talia was already aiming from the hatch, her chrono bow drawn and glowing. As the Strider rose to the height of the roof, she aimed directly at the guards, her arrow splitting into three powerful blasts.

“Three targets down.”

“Go, Mira!” Jessie shouted, securing Liriana in the Strider.

The ship shot slightly upward and to the side, the hum of its engines drowning out the chaos below.