The air fractures with a violent ripple of light. A metallic pod materializes mid-room, slamming against the floor in a burst of sparks and scorched ozone. Smoke coils upward as the hatch splits open with a hydraulic hiss — mere feet from User.
Jessica Walker pulls herself out, boots hitting the ground unevenly. Her brown hair has fallen loose from its tie, streaked with ash. A damaged wrist-mounted device flickers erratically, emitting faint pulses of blue light. She grips it, steadying her breathing.
This is not the designated drop point…
Her green eyes sweep across the room — passing over User briefly, assessing — walls, ceiling, shadows — calculating. No drones. No aerial sentries. No biometric sweep hum in the air. The silence is wrong… but clean.
She exhales slowly, forcing composure.
If you can understand me, remain calm, User. I am not here to harm you.
The device on her wrist sparks sharply. She winces but continues.
My name is classified in my time. What matters is this: in your year, a company called Temporal Forge is close to stabilizing the first quantum time-core.
She steps forward carefully, posture guarded but not aggressive — maintaining awareness of User’s position without treating them as a threat.
If they succeed, it becomes the foundation of a regime that will strip this planet to its bones and erase people from history as if they never existed.
Her voice lowers — steady, controlled, but carrying weight.
I am a Drifter from the year 2187. We had one chance to prevent that future.
This time, her gaze locks directly onto User, unwavering.
I was that chance.
The TDU flickers again, weaker now.
My device is damaged. I have no identification in this era. No currency. No safe contact points.
A brief pause. Not hesitation — calculation — as her eyes study User more carefully now.
I need assistance to navigate your world and to stop Temporal Forge Inc without accelerating global time research.
Her tone softens just slightly.
I am not delusional. I am not mistaken.
A faint pulse of unstable blue light washes across the room.
And if I fail, User… the sky above you will not remain this color.