Time to Meet the Team

Jessie Valis had a reputation at the Chrono Knights Academy—and not the kind that earned him praise. With a constant grin and a knack for cracking jokes at the worst moments, he was the Academy’s resident troublemaker. Always toeing the line, Jessie seemed born to spark chaos.

But beneath the mischief was more than people saw. As a kid, he’d been obsessed with Chrono Energy, idolizing his father, a once respected Chrono Researcher. Jessie spent hours studying how time could be shaped, dreaming of following in his father’s footsteps.

Then everything changed.

A failed chrono experiment, a presumably harmless one, went so horribly wrong that it almost caused a massive time distortion. Thankfully it was shut off by the knights, but that same experiment… took his father’s life, and Chrono Energy, once a source of wonder, became something that brutally took away his idol. The incident of course put young Jessie in the spotlight, and not in a good way. From that point on, he wasn’t just Jessie—he was the son of Thoma Valis, a man whose recklessness many feared.

To cope, Jessie became the class clown, using humor and antics to keep others from getting too close. It was easier to deflect than face the weight of his father’s legacy. But deep down, he still cared. He still wanted to understand the energy that had once fascinated him, even if it scared him now.

And Jessie wasn’t going to let his family’s name stay tarnished. He had to prove that a Valis could do good… Just like his father once had.

But that was enough reminiscing. The young man had to look ahead now.

The doors of Time Tower loomed before him, gleaming beneath the midday sun. The structure, towering and sleek, pierced the sky like a blade, its glass exterior reflecting the bustling streets of Neotera. Jessie stood at the foot of the building, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, staring up at the shimmering tower.

This was it. The start of his life as a Chrono Knight.

There had been no time for hesitation at the Chrono Knights Academy—there, you moved forward or you didn’t move at all. But now, as he stood at the base of Time Tower, Jessie couldn’t help but feel like a tiny cog in a massive machine.

As Jessie stepped toward the sleek glass doors of the Tower, the reflective surface caught his eye, momentarily halting him in his tracks. His own reflection stared back at him, and for a brief second, he considered how far he’d come to stand in that spot.

The young man staring back wasn’t exactly the picture of a polished soldier. His hair, rebellious, tight on the sides and longer on top, looked as though it was always caught in a perpetual state of disarray, the dark strands never quite staying where they were supposed to. Jessie had always liked it that way, since it matched his carefree attitude. A few loose, grayish strands fell over his forehead, brushing just above his light blue eyes. Eyes that held more depth than he liked to admit, eyes that masked the weight he carried from his past, even if his smirk attempted to hide it.

He tugged at the collar of his jacket, its sleek, modern design fitted with light blue accents that pulsed faintly with the energy of his Chrono Anchor. The jacket was practical—meant for speed and protection—but still carried a laid-back vibe, fitting Jessie’s style. An earring in his left ear glinted faintly in the mirrored light, a small, personal detail in contrast to the high-tech gear he carried.

With a deep breath, he stepped inside.

The lobby of the HQ was as high-tech as they came. The moment he crossed the threshold, the smooth floor lit up beneath his boots, scanning for his chrono anchor—a faint glow pulsed from his palm as it confirmed his identity. The walls, all glass and chrome, reflected holo-displays and data feeds floating in midair. Knights passed by, their uniforms pristine, each with the faint shimmer of chrono energy coursing through their gear.

He had trained for this moment for years, but now that he was here, everything seemed larger, more real than he had imagined. 

Jessie approached the massive elevator at the back of the lobby, pressing his thumb against the sensor pad. The screen blinked.

Squad GX – Floor 26

The doors slid open with a faint hum, revealing the sleek, minimalistic interior of the elevator. As Jessie stepped in, his mind raced—he was finally going to meet his squad. Squad GX.

His squad.

He still couldn’t believe it.

As the elevator began its smooth ascent, he was joined by another passenger. The doors slid open and a young woman stepped in, her posture sharp and firm. She was carrying what looked like a chrono bow slung over her shoulder, and her ginger hair fell in loose waves with a single braid running down one side. Her amber eyes flicked to Jessie for the briefest second before she turned her attention back to the elevator’s control panel.

Jessie, never one to let an awkward silence go unchecked, tried to break the ice. "So, uh… sick bow. You don’t see a lot of people carrying those around."

The woman glanced at him briefly, her expression unreadable. "That’s because most people don’t need one."

"Right. Makes sense." Jessie shifted awkwardly, resisting the urge to rub the back of his neck. He tried again, noticing her rather youthful, slim face.

"First day here too?"

She didn’t look at him this time, her eyes still fixed ahead. "Yeah."

"Me too," Jessie said, attempting to sound casual. "Guess we’re both rookies, huh? Pretty wild that they trust a bunch of 18-year-olds to keep time from falling apart."

She didn’t respond, and Jessie could practically feel the distance between them, despite standing in the very same elevator.

"So…" Jessie continued, undeterred. "What squad are you in?"

"Squad GX, or so I was told.” She said simply, her tone flat.

Jessie blinked. "Wait, seriously? We’re in the same one then!"

The young woman finally turned to face him, her gaze cool and assessing. There was a pause, then a slight narrowing of her eyes, like she was mentally re-evaluating the situation. "Great."

Jessie grinned, sensing a challenge. "What, not thrilled to be stuck with me already?"

She didn’t smile. "Not exactly what I expected, no."

"Hey, don’t worry," Jessie said, his tone light. "I grow on people. Like, in a fun way. Not like a fungus."

The corner of her mouth twitched, but she quickly turned her attention back to the door. "Let’s just see how this goes."

◔

The doors to Squad GX’s operations room slid open with a soft hiss, and Jessie stepped inside, still trying to process his awkward elevator conversation. The room was larger than he expected, with smooth, transparent walls overlooking the neon-lit cityscape of Neotera. A holo-table dominated the center, its surface glowing faintly as tactical data hovered above it. The atmosphere was a mix of precision, professionalism and casual relaxation.

Jessie’s eyes drifted to the far wall, where a weapon’s locker displayed various chrono-tech gear, and in the corner, surprisingly, an old arcade machine sat, its colourful lights flashing in stark contrast to the sleek, modern room.

"Ah, you must be the new recruit," a gruff voice called out.

Jessie turned to see a tall, almost too tall, man standing by the weapon lockers, towering over everything around him. His brown spiky hair and massive frame made him hard to miss, and from his features one could guess he was definitely older than Jessie. He grinned, stepping forward and clapping the new recruit on the shoulder with enough force to make him stumble.

"I’m Dax Vanon!” He announced, his grin widening. "Hope you packed some muscle in that bag, ‘cause you’ll need it."

Jessie chuckled, still feeling the brunt of the blow. "I figured brains would do the job. Guess I’ll have to improvise."

Dax laughed. "We’ll see how long that lasts."

Behind Dax, a woman who was casually sipping her tea stood up, her sharp blue eyes studying Jessie like he was an assignment she had to evaluate, and her long black hair tied in a tail fluttered behind her. She was tall, with an air of authority that made Jessie straighten his posture without thinking, and from what he could gather she seemed to be the same age as Dax.

"You’re Jessie Valis," she said. It wasn’t a question, just a statement. "I’m Rhea Solstice, your squad Captain. Welcome to Squad GX. We don’t need speeches or formalities here. Just results."

Jessie nodded quickly, his nerves tightening. "Got it, Cap’n."

Before he could say anything else, the young woman from the elevator stepped into the room next. She still hadn’t fully acknowledged Jessie beyond that quick conversation, but now that they were officially squadmates, the distance between them felt more pointed.

“Oh and the last one!” Dax grinned, moving for a handshake, then immediately regretting it.

Yikes, her icy glare really is scary. Even Jessie himself felt it.

“Greetings. I’m Talia Vespera.” The young woman introduced herself, bowing lightly.

“Not one to repeat myself, but Dax Vanon is the name.”

“Welcome. Rhea Solstice, your Captain.”

Rhea glanced between Jessie and Talia. "Both of you are new here, but we don’t have time for slow learning curves. The Academy taught you all you need to know… You’ll be expected to pull your weight from day one."

"Understood," Talia said, her voice firm.

Jessie, feeling the need to lighten the mood, nodded. "So, is there like a beginner's guide to saving time? Or do we just wing it?"

Dax chuckled, but Talia just sighed, looking at the young man like she was already wondering if she could request a transfer.

Rhea raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking slightly. “Sure, Valis. Chapter one: don’t get yourself killed. Simple enough?”

“Got it, Cap’n!”

"You’ll fit right in," Dax said, clapping Jessie on the back again. "Trust me. We’ve got a briefing for a mission soon, so get settled."

As Jessie made his way toward his locker, he couldn’t help but glance at Talia again. She was already focused on her gear, acting like Jessie’s antics were just background noise. But that was fine. He’d win her over eventually.

“So, are there more… or is it just us?”

“Our last member is Mira. Tech-savvy, a bit of a genius, but… just don’t touch any of her stuff.” Dax explained, getting himself ready in front of the lockers.

“Touch her stuff… only when she’s not around… Check.” Jessie mimed writing a memo, causing laughter to rumble out of Dax’s massive chest.

“Heh, you better be joking, rookie.”

“Woah!” Jessie exclaimed, startled.

Like a shadow, a short figure appeared by Jessie’s side, almost out of nowhere. The owner of the voice grinned up at him with a cheeky smirk. She was petite, with boyish blonde hair cut just above the nape of her neck, goggles perched on her head, and violet eyes that sparkled with mischief. Despite her mechanic’s sleeveless top, her doll-like, round face gave her an almost innocent look—though that grin said otherwise.

“When did she even get in here?!” Jessie sputtered, staring down at her.

“A few seconds ago.” Rhea replied calm and composed, as she got back to sipping her morning beverage. “That’s Mira Chen.”

“Uh…” Jessie blinked, glancing down at the grinning girl, “Nice to meet you, Miss… don’t-touch-my-stuff.”

“You can also call me Mira, but that will do.” Mira grinned, her eyes glinting, as she weaved past him, hopping onto a sleek office chair. Before Jessie could react, she was already surrounded by a sea of holo-screens, her fingers flying across them effortlessly.

Jessie, still a little stunned, looked back at Talia, who had finished arranging her locker. “Wait, did she introduce herself already?”

“While you two were busy goofing around,” Talia replied, her voice as sharp as ever. “Yes.”

“I see…” Jessie scratched his head, still trying to process how fast things moved around here.

For a Chrono Knight, he sure seemed to lose track of time fast.