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The sleek limousine glided down the New Jersey highway, Agent Fox in the front, and James in the back, while a Humvee kept close pace behind them.

"It's been a while since I've seen the city," James mused, gazing out at the blur of buildings.

"I rarely leave my apartment these days. The architecture has certainly improved over the years." He reflected on his solitary existence, rarely venturing beyond his immediate surroundings.

"Indeed, Mr. James," Agent Fox replied proudly.

"The city thrives. Businesses are booming, tourism is flourishing, and infrastructure development is rapid, all thanks to our innovations."

Fox glanced back at James, noting his still-dirty T-shirt and pants. A loud growl erupted from James's stomach.

"Damn it, I never had breakfast!" James exclaimed, a touch of irritation in his voice, his hunger palpable.

"Can we stop at the nearest Kong's Burger?"

"No, Sir James, we can't stop for food," Fox stated firmly. "Even if we wanted to, traveling on a full stomach isn't advisable for you. I can't elaborate further, but we're almost at our destination."

The convoy soon arrived, entering the fortified gates of Fort Dix, a renowned military base in New Jersey. James recognized the barracks, war factory, power plants, and tech airfield from his past, but his eyes were drawn to an unfamiliar, imposing building.

Fox exited the limousine, assisting James, still in cuffs. He then gestured to the soldiers in the Humvee. "Remove the cuffs," Fox ordered. A G.I quickly obliged, freeing

James's hands, which he gratefully flexed.

They began walking deeper into the fort, accompanied by four G.I.s. James and Fox halted before the unfamiliar building.

"Thanks for getting these cuffs off. My hands feel much better," James said.

"But wasn't our destination the Pentagon? That's hundreds of miles from here."

"Precisely, Sir James, 221 miles away," Fox confirmed.

"But our innovations advance drastically each year. We've developed this: the Chronosphere. Thanks to it, we no longer worry about vast distances; we can instantly send ourselves to chosen destinations."

Fox proudly presented the Allied Nations' most significant new technology.

"That's incredible, but who invented it?" James asked, admiring the technological marvel.

"The Allied Nations' greatest minds collaborated on its creation. "Fox explained.

"but the true inspiration came from Dr. Siegfried, a close associate of the late Dr. Einstein. Einstein envisioned controlling time before his untimely death in the Second Great War."

"A great feat, achieved only by those with such grand visions," James acknowledged, recognizing Siegfried's dedication to continuing Einstein's legacy.

"That's right, Mr. James. Now, to reach our destination, we need to get into the Humvee," Fox said, pointing to the vehicle parked near the Chronosphere.

"Why the Humvee?" James asked, slightly confused.

"You're not familiar with how Chronoshifting works, Sir James," Fox replied, handing him an earpiece.

"Put this on. It will give you the Chronosphere's usage instructions and purpose. You can keep it, just in case."

James placed the earpiece in his right ear. It fit snugly, then a woman's voice chimed in.

"Incoming transmission."

"Hello, Sir James. My name is Eva, from Allied Communications HQ. I'll be your assistant today. I'll explain the capabilities of the Chronoshift and the dangers it poses."

"The Chronosphere was created by Dr.

Siegfried to drastically reduce travel times and provide our units with immediate deployment to their destinations. It can be used for ground, aerial, and naval units." Eva's voice was clear as James listened intently.

"However, it is unsuitable for infantry without protective capabilities against the time stream. The only way infantry can be Chronoshifted is if they are inside a vehicle."

"Vehicles act as a Faraday cage to shield personnel from the Chronoshift, as the plated steel of the Humvee blocks electromagnetic fields," Eva continued, her tone serious.

"The time stream is highly unstable. Direct contact with living biological tissue would result in disintegration into a pile of ash. Due to the instability of the timeshift, it could cause nausea, headaches, or vomiting.

Please be careful, Sir James."

"Good luck on your journey, Sir James," Eva concluded, her voice softening before the transmission ended, leaving James with a chilling understanding of the technology.

Agent Fox nodded to the G.I.s outside the Humvee, signaling them to remain at the base. He and James prepared for the Chronoshift.

"Sir James, I advise you to buckle up," Agent Fox cautioned. "The Chronoshift is a hell of a ride. It's still in its Phase One, so it's unstable. You might feel some discomfort, but you'll be fine."

The Chronosphere alarm blared, its dynamo spinning with increasing speed, generating crackling lightning. A countdown began, signaling imminent activation.

"Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... two... one... Activate!"

At zero, the Humvee was enveloped in a shimmering sphere of white lightning. A transparent, swirling sphere of time stream enveloped it entirely, followed by a blinding flash. They vanished.

Meanwhile, at the Pentagon, General Ben Carville, a bald, bearded man in his fifties, sat in his office. He had just received word that Agent Fox and James Rutherford, a former rookie commander, would arrive shortly.

"It's time to greet them myself," General Ben smiled, rising from his desk. Accompanied by several G.I.s, Guardian G.I.s, and his secretary, Quinn, he walked towards the rendezvous point where the Chronoshift was expected to appear.

They waited for a minute, then sparks erupted from the ground, accompanied by a bright flash. The swirling time stream vanished, revealing the Humvee. They were ready to welcome their former rookie.

However, James, clearly battling intense nausea, quickly flung open the Humvee door and stumbled out, staggering towards a nearby corner to vomit, despite his empty stomach. Fox, on the other hand, emerged from the vehicle completely unfazed, brushing himself off as if nothing had happened.

"We may need to call Siegfried to improve his work, but that can wait," General Ben remarked, acknowledging the Chronosphere's Phase One issues.

"It's good to see you, Agent Fox. It's been a while."

"It has, Sir Carville," Fox responded.

"And I welcome you, James. Welcome back, my son." General Ben greeted James with genuine warmth as James slowly stood, still a bit wobbly but regaining his composure.

"Hello, Sir. But I honestly don't wish to return," James replied weakly, yet audibly.

The General's expression turned serious as he approached James, his gaze meeting James's weary eyes. Their moment of shared understanding was broken by another loud growl from James's stomach, causing General Ben to laugh.

"You're still the same, kid. Hungry, I apologize, son, if you didn't get to eat on your way here." He chuckled, remembering James's perpetually gloomy demeanor but his deep affection for him, treating him like his own son.

"Come, let's go inside. And help Mr. James get some food and a uniform; he needs it."

General Ben welcomed them both in, instructing his men to assist James.

"You have a long way to catch up, my boy," General Ben added.