Chapter Text
Location: WOOHP Maximum Security Wing
The hum of surveillance drones echoed through the sterile corridors of WOOHP’s deepest security sector, where silence was the only proof of containment. Blue-white lights flickered overhead in the reinforced hallway, casting long, cold shadows across steel floors and reinforced cell doors. In Cell 13, behind layered titanium barriers and a magnetic lock interface, the Black Knight waited—motionless, hunched as if in sleep. But his stillness was deceptive. Inside the cell, hidden within a hollowed-out piece of faux armour strapped to the wall, ancient gold wiring intertwined with micro-circuitry blinked to life. The Knight opened one eye. A slow, sinister smile crept across his face.
“History shall rise again,” he murmured under his breath, voice like rusted steel dragged across stone. With a flick of his fingers, he connected the final piece of a compact, glowing device forged from WOOHP’s own technology and salvaged relics of his twisted past. The chamber pulsed once with heat, then silence. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then came the crackle.
A high-pitched keening shrieked through the air. Sparks burst from the walls. Surveillance cameras spun madly before blacking out. A throaty, archaic laugh echoed through the corridor as red emergency lights exploded into a strobing frenzy. The heavy security doors hissed open. BWOOP! BWOOP!
The shrill, mechanical wail of the breach alarm blared across WOOHP’s central command.
Agents in sleek grey uniforms dashed to their stations, fingers flying across control panels, eyes wide in disbelief.
“He’s gone!” one shouted. “Cell 13 is empty—he’s triggered some sort of… dimensional anomaly!”
The air inside the corridor twisted, warping reality itself as the Black Knight stood amidst a swirling vortex of gold and indigo. His stolen Chrono-Reverter hung from his wrist like a gauntlet of power. His smirk widened as he stepped backward into the portal, wind whipping his cloak around him.
“Let the present crumble,” he declared. “For the past shall reign eternal!” And with a final pulse of time-warping energy, he vanished, leaving only a scorched scorch-mark and a silence far louder than the alarms.
***
WOOHP Briefing Room
Sam leaned forward, frowning at the holographic display suspended in the centre of the room. Alex crossed her arms, face tight with concern.
“Wait—he built a what?” Alex asked, eyes widening. Jerry, unusually pale, adjusted his tie as the simulation replayed the prison footage in front of them.
“A Chrono-Reverter,” he confirmed grimly. “A hybrid device capable of temporarily altering time streams within a contained field. And he’s already used it once.” Sam narrowed her eyes.
“If he can distort time itself, there’s no telling where—or when—he’ll strike next.” Jerry nodded.
“This is no longer just a prison break. This is a war against history.”
***
Location: Beverly Hills Mall – Fitting Room, Lavish & Lace Boutique
“Oh. My. GOSH,” Clover breathed, admiring her reflection as she twirled dramatically in front of the mirror. “If this gown doesn’t scream regal perfection, then I seriously don’t know what does.” The dress was floor-length chiffon, shaded in blush and lilac, cinched at the waist with a delicate ribbon of faux diamonds. It shimmered under the boutique lights as she moved, casting ripples like sunlight across water. The sleeves puffed elegantly at the shoulder—just dramatic enough—and the trailing skirt fanned around her like a storybook. “Queen for a day?” Clover grinned at the boutique assistant, striking a faux-royal pose with one hand under her chin. “Try queen forever, darling.” Behind her, the boutique’s glass windows overlooked the sunny stretch of Rodeo Drive. The scent of vanilla candles mixed with fresh fabric and perfume samples, creating an oddly calming mood. But then, the air changed. Without warning, the boutique’s temperature dropped. A sudden gust swept through the shop—though the doors hadn’t opened. Clover froze, halfway through another dramatic pose. Mirrors rippled like water. A low, almost imperceptible hum vibrated through the floor. And then—light. A column of swirling, incandescent energy erupted in the centre of the boutique, coalescing into a ring of golden vortex energy. Clover staggered back, eyes wide, mouth open in disbelief. “Um… tell me that’s part of the ambience?” she whispered. From within the light stepped a towering, armoured figure. The Black Knight. But this time, his armour gleamed with strange energy veins, pulsing with otherworldly power. His eyes—visible through the visor—were fixed entirely on her.
“My lady,” he intoned, his voice deep, echoing unnaturally. “I’ve come to reclaim what is rightfully mine.”
“Uh, no thanks,” Clover said, backing away, raising her hands. “I’m not into time-traveling creeps today—maybe try again next Tuesday?” But before she could activate her compact or call for help, the Black Knight raised his gauntlet. The Chrono-Reverter sparked, sucking the air inward with a deafening rush. With a final flash, the portal surged and engulfed them both. Clover vanished, the dress rack behind her tipping over in the sudden burst of wind. And just like that, she was gone. Only a lingering swirl of gold particles—and a faint, echoing laugh—remained.