Chapter Text
The VL/TR shuddered as it cut through the clouds, and they parted, revealing a small island in a vast sea. As the ship slowly descended, the metal floor rattled beneath Tala’s boots.
She adjusted her gloves, fingers flexing against the leather, her electricity danced at the edge of her nerves.
It wasn’t every day you were poached by a ghost. During just another day at K/SEC, Captain Liam Byrne had shown up unannounced through an encrypted channel.
Tala had almost ignored the ping, until she saw the name. L. Byrne. It hit her like a voltage spike. She hadn’t heard that name in over three years.
They called him Brimstone now.
He’d only led her unit for a short time, but even then, he’d been... different. Most officers barked orders and filed reports. Byrne remembered your birthday. Noticed when your aim was off. Once, after a night op that went sideways, he’d handed her a bottle of water and said, “Good instincts, Valdez. Don’t second-guess yourself.”
That stuck. She’d been twenty.
And then, just like that, he had left K/SEC without explanation. It seemed that he remained in a similar line of work. His voice over the line had the same authority, only this time tempered with something she couldn't place: Urgency, maybe. Or desperation.
"We need you, Valdez," he had said, "We can't tell you much as of now, but it is a matter of global security." Just her. Just her power. She’d never imagined herself a lone solution to anything, yet here she was, drawn to the idea like lightning to a distant horizon.
He’d offered her no details about her role, nothing about who she’d be working with, only the assurance that her abilities were vital to the ‘VALORANT Protocol’, a name that held no public recognition.
Her situation back in Manila had grown… suffocating. Her mother never talked about what happened. Just quiet car rides to work, then quiet car rides home. No questions. Just the sound of traffic and everything they didn’t say.
Whatever. She let out a sharp breath, sparks flickered across her skin before she tucked her hands into her pockets.
The island rose to greet them, a jagged thing sustained by craggy cliffs and dark rocks, and the volcano’s silhouette casted long shadows against the sunless sky. Tala's eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar landscape.
Her hair glowed lightly as she looked out in awe. There was something surreal about all this. Like she’d stepped into a spy film and been cast as the wildcard. No more Manila heat. Just rock and smoke and secrets.
The landing ramp lowered, and the smell of sulphur disarmed her for a sec. Tala then stepped out.
A woman she'd come to know as 'Sage' stood at the edge of the platform, her white cloak shifting slightly in the breeze, calm and watchful.
They’d spoken a few times before the pickup. Standard orientation stuff, supposedly. But Sage had asked things most people didn’t. Personal things. About her training, her old unit... Tala hadn’t known what to make of it.
“Welcome to the Protocol, Neon,” Sage said.
Neon. Yeah, that was going to be her codename from now on.
“Hey, Sage. Thanks.” Neon gave a small nod, keeping her distance without making it obvious. She didn’t mind Sage, not really.. She was comforting, like the kind of person who actually listens when you talk. But Neon still didn’t know what to say around people like that.
Sage’s gaze flicked briefly to the space between them, then away. She didn’t comment. Instead, she gestured toward the path leading up the cliffside.
“I’ll show you to your quarters. You must be tired after the flight,” Sage discerned. Neon just nodded again, falling into step beside her, making sure her steps were just half a beat slower, enough to keep her space.
“You’ll find things here are quite different to what you’re accustomed to,” Sage continued, glancing at Neon. “But we’re all here to help you adjust. And with your Radiance, if you ever need—”
“I’m good,” Neon cut in, her tone sharper than intended. She cleared her throat, forcing her voice to soften just a bit. “I’ve got it under control.”
Lie. She always said that. But the truth was she hadn’t pushed herself since…
Sage’s eyes only met hers, calm and assessing. Then she nodded.
“Of course. Just know that the offer stands.”
Neon gave a tight smile, her eyes drifting to the sprawling structure of the headquarters ahead. She wondered if she had been unnecessarily rude. The idea of having a 'teacher' for her Radiance was new, and for reasons she couldn't quite put her finger on, made her stomach twist.
She gave a tiny shake of her head. She just wanted to get to the point. Figure out why she’d been brought here in the first place.
They stepped into HQ, and Neon’s eyes flicked from wall to wall, taking in the place like she was memorizing it on instinct. The interior was sleek, all metal panelling and recessed lights with a soft-blue tint. The kind of place built for purpose, not comfort.
Even with all the tech, she caught the scuffed floors and flickering lights. Like the place had big plans, but not enough hands to keep up.
It wasn’t messy, just stretched thin. Still, it felt real. Serious. A place that didn’t pretend.
She liked that.
And before she knew it, they stopped before one of the doors in a quiet hallway. It was a door marked with a number “19”. So it seemed like their room assignments were simply based on the order of recruitment.
A moment later, a figure stepped out from a few doors down. A young woman with white hair and a confident, light-footed stride. Neon paused, her eyes meeting the stranger's, both of them taking a moment to size each other up. The woman's gaze was almost judge-y, careful, but there was a glimmer of curiosity as well. Neon straightened slightly, sensing the challenge in her eyes.
“So you're the girl I've been hearing about! I hear you're fast. Maybe someone can finally beat me in a race.”
Neon blinked. Oh? May challenger na ako? Gaano kabilis. “Guess you'll just have to find out.”
Sage gave a stern look as she stepped between them. “Jett, how about you let our new recruit settle into her room first before starting any races?”
“Okay, okay...” Jett sighed.
Jett headed off in an unknown direction, but not before casting Neon a playful, mischievous glance. Neon just smirked.
Then, Sage helped program Neon’s handprint onto her new room, so that only she could access it. It slid open with a pneumatic hiss as she took her first step inside.
Neon found that it was spacious enough for two people to share. She sauntered past a desk, letting her fingers brush the metallic surface, small sparks bouncing around. As she reached the centre of the room, she noticed a door to what probably led to a toilet. Close to it was a twin-sized bed and a drawer.
It was not bad, but it looked incredibly bland with the washed out, grey colours.
It called for a serious redecorating sesh. She could already see it: ocean blues and warm yellows, old posters from home. Ah, she could frame her favourite jersey over there… and maybe a couple of potted plants. She loved those. Anything but this grey emptiness.
Sage’s voice pulled her out of her vision, “Later this afternoon, I'll pick you up for your official briefing. For now, you may unpack and rest, understood?”
“Will do, Sage,” answered Neon.
The moment Sage stepped out and the door slid shut behind her, Neon let out a breath she'd been holding. Finally, some breathing space. She threw herself back onto the bed, letting the mattress catch her weight. It bounced just enough. Good enough.
“Ay, buhay...” Neon sighed to herself.
Neon stared at the ceiling, her mind drifting back to the moment she made the decision to leave everything behind. It had been spontaneous, a leap into the unknown, and now she wondered if anything would come of it. She didn’t know what awaited her here, but something about it felt significant, as if she stood at the edge of something far bigger than herself.
Little did she know, this would change everything she knew about the world.