Final Hour

The barren wasteland stretched endlessly in every direction, the ground cracked and parched under an unforgiving sky.

Squad GX, and Squad AX, huddled around a flickering fire, its warmth doing little to combat the chill of the wasteland night. Each of them wore their anchor suits, a reminder of the last battle they fought with them.

The mood was tense, laced with anticipation. Mira knelt beside Jessie, the dim firelight reflecting off the small metallic tool in her hand. “This is going to hurt,” she warned.

Jessie nodded, extending his hand. Mira deftly made a small incision, just enough to expose the edge of his anchor. With a precise motion, she used the tool to extract the glowing disk, pulling it free from his flesh like a gel substance instead of solid metal. Jessie winced, biting back a grunt of pain as blood seeped from the opening. Mira quickly dressed his hand in a bandage.

“Another one down,” she muttered, placing the extracted anchor into a containment box Elias held open.

It was a necessary procedure so the knights couldn’t track them down.

Elias spoke rather nonchalantly, “I’ve modified the anchor suits to compensate. Your weapons and suits will still draw power like they did before, but the Knights can’t track you anymore. Although they might still track the last known location. We don’t have much time.”

One by one, the rest of the squad underwent the same procedure. When it was done, the group settled around the fire once more. “So…” Dax broke the silence, his voice low and gruff. “What’s the plan when we get to the cave?”

All eyes turned to Jessie. He stared into the flames, his face partially obscured by shadows. For a moment, he didn’t answer, the weight of their expectation pressing down on him. Finally, he spoke.

“In order to use the Hourglass properly, I need to be there. In that cave. Where it all started,” he said, his voice steady, “And from there, I’m thinking of… destroying it.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Mira was the first to break it, her voice sharp. “Destroy it? Are you insane? You don’t even know what that’ll do to you—or to the world!”

“You could die,” Talia added, her tone harsher than usual. “Have you even thought about that?”

“I have,” Jessie exhaled firmly, meeting her gaze. “But I can’t use it to alter time. That would make me no better than Thane—or anyone else who wants it for their own gain. No one should wield that kind of power. It has to be erased.”

“That’s not your call to make!” Mira snapped, her voice trembling. “What if destroying it causes another distortion? Or something worse?”

“Jessie…” Liriana’s soft voice cracked as she held back tears. “Please don’t…”

Even Dax, who rarely let his emotions show, looked at Jessie with a mix of frustration and concern. “There’s gotta be another way, kid.”

The former captain, Rhea, looked on in silence as the exchange happened. She tried to be reasonable, grounded, logical. But her emotions wouldn’t let her. How could she, when Jessie’s life was at stake?

“We’ll find another way.” She said, trying to mask her anxiety, “Together.”

Erling, who had been silent until now, nodded slowly. “Do you even know how to destroy it?”

“No. But I think I’ll figure it out once we’re there.”

“That is a very reckless plan even for Jessie Valis standards.” Even Tidus reacted.

The protests grew louder, his squad arguing over the risks and the recklessness of his plan. Liriana buried her face in her hands, while Mira and Talia continued to press him for alternatives. Through it all, Jessie remained quiet, letting their words wash over him.

Finally, he raised his hand, silencing them.

“Guys… thank you,” he began, his gaze moving from one teammate to the next, voice steady, “For running away with me. For throwing away your lives… your careers. Removing your anchors must have hurt you. Not just physically. This was your livelihood, your identity. And you threw it away to protect me.”

The company around the fire sat in silence, their expressions unreadable.

Jessie sighed and continued, “But we all know how this has to end. I need to stop it. I need to destroy it, no matter the cost.”

His words hung in the air, heavy and final. Liriana wiped her tears, her lips trembling as she nodded reluctantly. Mira looked away, her jaw tight with unspoken emotion. Even Talia, ever composed, seemed shaken.

The members of Squad AX exchanged glances, their expressions somber. Erling’s sharp gaze softened, and Ilka gave a faint nod of acknowledgment. They didn’t need to say anything; their respect for Jessie’s resolve was clear.

◔

The next morning, the wasteland was eerily quiet as the squad approached the cave. The entrance was partially obscured by debris, but what caught their attention was the sleek black Strider parked nearby.

“Looks like someone beat us here,” Elias muttered, adjusting the visor on his suit.

“The scans indicate the vehicle of a high ranking officer.” Tidus affirmed.

“Who could that be?” Dax rolled his eyes.

“Any anomalies?” Mira asked, glancing at her handheld scanner.

“None so far,” Elias replied, “But something doesn’t feel right.”

“The distortions don’t seem to touch this place…” Liriana explained, as she did for the length of their trip. Without their anchors they had used her feel for the distortions to avoid them as best they could. Once more she laid down her wisdom.

“Within it must be safe.”

Jessie’s grip tightened on his weapon as he studied the Strider. “From the distortions, yeah. But be ready for anything,” he said, his voice low.

Everybody moved cautiously toward the entrance, their weapons drawn.

As they neared the cave, the sound of footsteps echoed from within. Jessie’s heart raced as a figure emerged from the shadows.

“Looks like the old fart is really here,” Erling muttered, raising his chrono glove.

With long, deliberate footsteps, a figure emerged.

It was none other than Ambrose Thane.

"Jessie Valis, took you long enough.”

Erling gritted his teeth at the sight of him, “You scum…”

“What do you want Thane? Threatening my father wasn’t enough for you?”

“So you know everything now, do you?" Thane’s voice echoed, "But I too know the hourglass is within you, boy. And I’m sick of playing the waiting game. I can’t let time catch up to me too.”

Jessie gripped his blade tighter, his heart pounding as Thane stepped closer.

"When I kill you," Thane continued, his voice chillingly calm, "your blood will do what it was meant to. Your heart will act as the perfect vessel, the conduit I need to access the future. And with it, I will find the cure. I will save my family. Damn reversing time to hell!”

“So you never shared the ideals of the Aequitas did you?” Rhea asked.

Jessie’s eyes narrowed. "You’d destroy the world for your own selfish dream? You’ve already sacrificed everything. How much more blood has to spill before you realize you’re no better than the distortions themselves?"

Thane’s gaze hardened, but beneath it, there was a flicker of pain. "You think I want this? You think I chose this path? I’ve lost everything, boy. Everything." His voice cracked, and for a moment, the commander’s mask slipped, revealing the grieving father beneath.

"You can’t understand the agony of watching the people you love slip away while you’re powerless to stop it. I won’t let my daughter join them. Not when I have the power to save her."

Before Jessie could reply, Thane reached into his coat and pulled out a syringe filled with a volatile, glowing blue liquid. "This will ensure you don’t leave this cave alive,"

Without hesitation, he plunged the syringe into his own arm, the raw energy coursing through his veins with a crackling surge.

“What is he doing?” Ilka Rain asked, as Liriana clutched her head.

“That’s… that’s suicide.”

“He’s injecting raw energy into himself… that’s one way to destroy your body alright.” Elias chimed, as he checked the readings.

Thane convulsed, his body contorting as the energy reshaped him. His armor fused with his skin, glowing fissures spreading across his form like cracks in time itself. His eyes burned with unnatural light, and his voice became a distorted echo.

“I’ll kill Valis before it comes to that.”

Mira’s and Elias’s scanners buzzed to life, the warning tones growing more frantic. "Aequitas forces incoming," Mira announced, her voice grim. "Dozens, maybe more. They’ll be here any moment."

The squad exchanged tense glances. No words were needed to understand what had to happen. Jessie turned to them, his expression resolute. "You guys hold off the Aequitas. I’ll take care of Thane."

"No way!" Dax barked, stepping forward. "We’re not leaving you to face him alone, kid."

"Absolutely not," Talia added, her eyes blazing. "We’re a team. We fight together."

“Jessie, hold on, let’s think this through.”

"Are you nuts?!" Mira’s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and fear. "You can’t—"

"I have to," Jessie interrupted, his voice firm but filled with gratitude. He looked at each of them, his gaze softening. "This is the only way. You all know it."

The group fell silent, their protests dying on their lips as the truth settled in.

Liriana was the first to step forward, tears streaming down her face as she wrapped her arms around Jessie. "You have to come back," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Promise me."

"I’ll try," Jessie said softly, holding her close for a moment before stepping back.

Dax clapped a hand on Jessie’s shoulder, his grip firm. "You’re a pain in the ass, Jessie boy. But you’re OUR pain in the ass. Don’t make this the end. We still have a score to settle in the arcade.”

Jessie chuckled faintly. "You’ll keep them entertained for me, won’t you, big guy?"

"Always."

“The chances of your survival are lower than 17%, Jessie Valis.” Tidus hovered close to his face, its voice uncharacteristically somber, “However, I choose to believe you will succeed despite the odds.”

“Thanks, tin can. I’ll miss you too.”

Talia stepped forward, her usual composure wavering. "You’re been reckless, infuriating, and entirely unpredictable," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "But… you’ve also been the heart of this squad. If anyone can stop him, it’s you." She placed a hand on his cheek briefly before turning away, her expression unreadable, “I believe in you, Jessie. Thanks for everything.”

Then it was Rhea’s turn. She never was good at expressing her feelings. So she let actions speak instead. She pulled the young man into a hug, the kind a proud mother would. Finally her voice came, broken and somber.

“Through these months, I’ve seen you grow each day. I’m proud of you, Jessie. We’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thanks, Rhea.” Jessie smiled, then turned to Mira.

“Hey, Mira. Now’s the time to tell me what you couldn’t back at—“

"Jessie…" Her voice broke, and for a moment, she couldn’t speak. Then, with sudden determination, she stepped closer, grabbing his face and pulling him into a kiss. It was desperate and lingering, a silent plea for him to stay safe.

When she pulled away, her eyes were shining with tears. "You don’t get to die, Jessie Valis. Do you hear me? You come back. No matter what."

Jessie’s chest tightened as he looked at her, his heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. "I’ll do my best," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Farewell, Jessie Valis.” Erling said, and Ilka offered a respectful nod.

Elias sighed, “Thank you for doing this, Valis. Your name won’t be forgotten.”

“It’s a shame I won’t destroy you myself old man.” Erling shot one last look at Thane, seething with anger.

With that, the combined squad turned and made their way toward the cave’s entrance, their weapons drawn. The sound of approaching footsteps and distant shouts grew louder, signaling the arrival of the Aequitas forces.

Jessie turned back to Thane, who stood at the center of the cavern, his transformed form radiating power. "It’s just you and me now," Jessie said, raising his blade.

Thane’s distorted voice echoed through the chamber. "You had your time for goodbyes. Now let’s end this."

The two stood poised, the cavern around them crackling with raw energy as the final battle began.