Breaking Point

The knights stood frozen glancing at each other, the weight of his words sinking in.

“I see how it is…” Krause gritted his teeth, his usual wit turning to seething fury. “You’ve really betrayed the order, Thane.”

“Betrayed? No. I’ve only been playing my role, Krause.”

“Yeah, yeah you’re a tragic hero doing what’s right, we’ve heard that before.” Erling wasn’t having it, “What even IS your noble purpose, huh, old man?”

Thane’s gaze narrowed.

“To erase all this. You, and everything else. Humanity should have never tampered with time. And the Aequitas are here to restore balance to the world, by changing history and erasing every trace of chrono energy from existence.”

“You’re… nuts.” Erling stood shocked at such a revelation, not quite sure how to react, “That’s how you justify all those crimes and damage. By saying it will all just be erased by changing the past?”

“Precisely.”

“And how do you know the hourglass exists? Or was that just another of your lies?” Next to Erling, Ilka Rain asked, her tone sharp.

“Oh, it exists. However, it’s not here. All this was set up for this moment. So I coud get to… him.” Thane grinned. He raised his hand, and with his finger pointed at…

“Jessie Valis.” His voice echoed through the cave, as silence fell. Jessie’s eyes widened, as he felt all eyes shift to him.

“The missing piece. Your father always knew you were special. It’s why he told me about you.”

Jessie froze for a second. “What are you… talking about?”

“Your father and I were friends. He came to me before the Valis Incident. He confided in me, Jessie. Told me you were unique. If there was one way of finding the hourglass, it would be through you. Have you never asked yourself why you’re so fast? Why the distortions can’t kill you? Why you get headaches around them?”

Jessie’s grip on his blade tightened, “You’re… lying.”

Thane shook his head, almost pityingly. “Am I? When did the Knights ever tell you the truth about your father? You don’t believe the incident was caused by your father’s recklessness, do you?”

No. He didn’t. Jessie’s mind reeled. Thane was the only person to say those words to him. To affirm his suspicions.

Talia stepped forward, “Jessie, don’t listen to him. He’s trying to manipulate you.”

“Think about it, Jessie. Why do you think all the intel pointed to you crossing paths with us?”

“You…” Rhea’s eyes narrowed at him.

“You think it was a mere chance all that intel came from my network? Why did the Aequitas expect you at the train auction? Was it a coincidence I sent you after Eclipse, Dax’s former associate? The commander with Mira Chen’s creation… how do you think he recognised her?”

“You bastard!” Dax barked, barely catching himself to not lunge at him.

“It was all by design. My design.”

Jessie’s head swam, Thane’s words cutting deeper than any blade.

Thane’s smile turned colder. “You’re the center of this, Jessie. Join me, and together we can end this meaningless war. No more lies, no more chaos. We’ll have a chat. I’ll tell you everything about your father… about the Aequitas.”

Could he actually have the answers he so desperately searched for? Jessie seemed to think for a moment before catching himself. How could he even think of betraying his squad and everyone he loved?

No chance.

Jessie’s gaze hardened, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him. “Why? Do I matter to you? We’ll all be erased from time if your plan succeeds anyway. I refuse.”

“Think about it, young Valis. Don’t make the same mistake your father did. Don’t reject me.”

“I said no.” Jessie exhaled, unsheathing his blade.

Thane sighed, a trace of disappointment in his expression. “So be it. Such a shame, though. You could’ve saved your friends.”

Thane raised his hand, and the Aequitas forces surged forward and soon the clash of weapons filed the air. Squad GX and NX, along with the other knights, fought desperately, their formation breaking under the relentless assault.

Erling Krause activated his chrono glove, sending waves of temporal waves toward the advancing Aequitas forces. The space around him flickered and warped as he slowed, accelerated, and reversed the movements of his attackers, cutting them down with ruthless precision. Beside him, Ilka Rain’s umbrella twirled, deflecting incoming energy blasts before transforming into a deadly blade. Gregor Halvath, the powerhouse of Squad AX, unleashed a barrage of chrono-infused bullets from his massive minigun, the weapon roaring as it tore through the enemy ranks. Elara Volz, Squad AX’s stealth expert, flickered in and out of sight, her close-range attacks dismantling Aequitas soldiers before they even realized she was there.

Amid the chaos, Squad NX struggled to hold their ground. Calian Lager fought fiercely, his glaive slicing through enemy after enemy. But the knights were outnumbered. A blade found its way past his defenses, plunging into his side. But he fought despite the pain. However the next shot to the chest made him stagger, his glaive falling from his grasp as he collapsed to his knees.

“Cal!” Dax cried, and Eris screamed.

“Captain!” Her twin daggers flashing as she fought her way to him. But the Aequitas closed in, overwhelming her despite her skill. One soldier found his way behind her without her realizing, slamming his spear down at her back. Eris fell beside her captain, her eyes wide with shock as the light faded from them.

“No no! Damn it!!” Skye screamed, her tears obscuring her vision as she aimed. Gravik stood next to her, shocked but still fighting.

“Fall back!” Rhea’s voice rang out, sharp and desperate. Her whip lashed out, using her time lock on a few Aequitas soldiers and then swiftly striking them down. However the strain of the battle was beginning to show. “We need to regroup!”

Jessie fought like a man possessed, his blade moving in a blur as he slashed one attacker after another. But even he couldn’t ignore the carnage around him. “We’re losing too many!”

Mira’s hands trembled as she fired her blaster, Tidus helping her with his own laser.

Dax held the line, his gauntlets cracking skull after skull. But even he couldn’t do that forever against the sheer number of enemies though. A chrono grenade dropped beside him as he was occupied tussling with an Aequitas powerhouse. The explosion rocked the cave, and Dax cried out, clutching his arm as blood seeped through his suit.

“Dax!” Rhea shouted, rushing to his side, but another explosion sent her flying to the wall, her head smashing against the rocks. She collapsed, her body limp against the rubble.

“Talia, get the captain out of here!” Jessie shouted, his voice breaking with panic.

Talia nodded, slinging her bow over her shoulder and lifting Rhea with a grunt. “Got her!”

Gravik and Skye were barely holding on. Skye fired wildly at the advancing Aequitas, her pistol sparking from overuse. Gravik, bleeding heavily, swung his hammer one last time before collapsing to his knees.

“Go,” Gravik said through gritted teeth, shoving Skye forward. “Don’t wait for me.”

“Not a chance!” Skye snapped, hoisting him onto her shoulder despite her own injuries. “You’re not dying here too.”

“Everyone, a distortion is closing in!” Liriana shouted through the comms, causing Talia to stop advancing.

“Stop!” Mira shouted to the knights, managing to halt some of their advances.

Sure enough, as everyone began to retreat, a massive distortion erupted near the cave’s entrance, its pull tearing through the rocks and widening the exit, pulling a few unlucky knights and Aequitas with it.

Thane’s voice cut through the chaos, calm and mocking. “You’ve already lost, Knights.”

Erling Krause turned to his squad, then towards the remaining knights “Everyone, get out of here,” he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “We’ll hold them off.”

“No!” Jessie shouted, but Krause stepped forward, his expression resolute.

“This is an order, Valis!”

As the remaining knights scrambled toward the growing exit, squad AX made their stand. Jessie and the survivors gave one last look towards the elite squad, before they ran outside. 

◔

The base was steeped in a suffocating silence, broken only by Skye’s anguished cries. The retrieval team had returned, carrying the lifeless bodies of Calian Lager and Eris Berg on stretchers draped with the Knight’s emblem. Skye knelt beside the bodies, her trembling hands clutching Eris’ daggers as tears streamed down her face. Gravik stood silently behind her, his head bowed and his massive shoulders slumped, blood-stained bandages wrapped tightly around his torso.

Dax and Rhea remained in the intensive care unit, their conditions stabilized but grim. The medics darted around, their faces tight with exhaustion. Talia, Mira, and Jessie sat in stunned silence in one corner of the medical bay, each lost in their own thoughts.

The mood in the room was devastating. Knights moved quietly, their faces pale and their eyes hollow. There were whispers in hushed tones.

“What can we even do now? Thane knows everything.”

“Squad AX… word is only Erling Krause and Ilka Rain barely made it out.”

Jessie’s mind swirled with turmoil, the weight of everything crushing him. His father, Thane, the lives lost—each one felt like it was his fault.

What if I accepted Thane’s offer? Would everyone still be alive? Would Cal, Eris, and the others have survived if I just—

He clenched his fists, anger bubbling under the surface. At himself, at Thane, at the world.

A sudden commotion made them all look up. Erling Krause stormed into the room, his crimson Anchor Suit scuffed and dented from battle, his hair a mess and his face streaked with blood. His expressions was a mask of fury, his usual calm and sharp wit stripped away entirely.

Jessie barely had time to react before Erling crossed the room in long strides, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him against the wall. The impact rattled the room, and Talia and Mira sprang to their feet, ready to intervene.

“Stop!” Mira shouted, but Erling’s sharp glare froze them in their tracks.

“Stay out of this,” Erling growled, his voice low and seething. “You don’t get to play mediator here.”

Jessie didn’t resist, too numb to react. He only stared back at Erling, his eyes hollow.

“What are you hiding, Valis?!” Erling’s voice rose, raw with grief and rage. “What’s the big secret? What’s your father’s deal? Because my squad died for it! Gregor and Elara died for it, and Ilka is barely alive!” His grip tightened, and his voice broke. “All of this—Thane’s obsession, the Aequitas’ moves—it all circles back to you. So tell me, what the hell are you hiding?!”

Jessie’s gaze faltered. He opened his mouth, but no words came. What could he say? That he didn’t know? That he’d been just as blindsided as everyone else? The guilt in his eyes was answer enough.

Erling’s teeth clenched as he slammed Jessie against the wall again, though the force lacked the previous anger.

“My teammates, Valis. They’re gone. Gregor, Elara—they were my family. Do you understand that? And they’re gone because of whatever game your father and Thane were playing. So I’ll ask you again—what are you hiding?”

Talia stepped forward, her voice steady despite her trembling hands. “Krause, that’s enough. Let him go. This isn’t helping anyone.”

Erling’s glare snapped to her, “You think this doesn’t concern you? You’re part of his squad. You’ve fought beside him. Do you even know what’s at stake here?”

“He’s one of us,” Mira interjected, “Whatever you think he’s hiding, he’s not Thane. He’s not the enemy.”

“You’re all so damn naive. You don’t even see it, do you? He’s the reason we’re all in this mess.” He looked back at Jessie, his expression dark. “And you don’t even know why, do you?”

Jessie’s silence was all the answer he needed. With a sharp click of his tongue, Erling let him go. “You’re a damn puzzle piece, Valis. A missing link in a game none of us understand. And because of that, good people are dead.”

With that the ace of the knights turned on his heel. Before leaving, he stopped, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

“Figure it out, Valis. Or there won’t be anything left to fight for.”

The room remained still long after he was gone. Jessie slid to the ground, his back against the wall as he stared at the floor. Talia knelt beside him, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. “Jessie,” she said softly, but he didn’t respond.

Mira stood a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she fought to steady her breathing. Skye’s sobs filled the silence once more, and Gravik placed a heavy hand on her shoulder, his own grief etched deeply into his face.

The base felt heavier than ever, the weight of their losses threatening to crush them all. And amidst it all, Jessie grappled with the question Erling had left hanging in the air.

What was he hiding?