Gaspery-Jacques is a resident of the second moon colony in the 2400s. After working a mundane job in hotel security, he joins the Time Institute to investigate a strange anomaly where moments from different centuries seemingly overlap. His assignment requires him to travel to the past and interview various individuals who have experienced this auditory and visual phenomenon.

Edwin is the youngest son of a wealthy English family in 1912. His vocal anti-colonial views result in his parents sending him to Canada with a strict allowance. Unsure of his purpose in life, he travels the country, practices drawing, and eventually experiences a strange sensory anomaly in the woods of Caiette.

Olive is a successful novelist in 2203 who grew up on a moon colony. She undertakes a demanding Earth book tour to promote her novel, which features a fictionalized pandemic. As she gives lectures across the globe, a real virus begins to spread, making her increasingly anxious to return to her family.

Mirella is a New York resident trying to locate her estranged friend, Vincent. Ten years prior, her husband lost their life savings to a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Vincent's husband. Following a conversation with her current girlfriend, Mirella begins questioning her memories and decides to track down Vincent's brother for information.

Vincent is a woman originally from Caiette, Canada. As a teenager, she filmed a strange anomaly in the forest. She later marries an investment fund manager whose massive financial crimes ruin the lives of her friends, leading her to change her appearance and sever ties with her previous social circle.

Zoey is Gaspery's sister and an employee at the Time Institute in the 2400s. She uncovers a strange glitch across different historical periods, which she refers to as file corruption. While dedicated to her job, she is initially highly resistant to letting her brother get involved in the dangerous investigation.

Paul is a composer working in New York City in 2020. He incorporates old video footage shot by his sister, Vincent, into his musical performances. He shares what little he knows about his sister's whereabouts with Mirella after a show.

Talia, who also goes by Natalia, is a woman who grew up in the same moon colony as Gaspery. She builds a career in hospitality and eventually hires Gaspery as a security guard for the Grand Luna Hotel. Her parents formerly worked as time travelers before a failed mission forced them into exile.

Ephrem is a childhood friend of Gaspery who transitioned from working as an arborist to taking a position at the Time Institute. He actively recruits Gaspery to join the organization, believing his friend has the right temperament for the required detachment.

Aretta is a regional publicist managing the rigorous schedule of Olive's Earth book tour. She keeps Olive moving between engagements and handles the logistical details of the promotional circuit.

Dion is Olive's husband who remains on the moon colony during her tour. He works at a university center for physics and manages all childcare responsibilities for their daughter while Olive is away.

Faisal is Mirella's late husband. He invested heavily in a fund managed by Vincent's husband, only to discover it was a massive Ponzi scheme. The resulting financial devastation led to his suicide ten years before the main events of 2020.

Jonathan is Vincent's husband who runs an investment fund that turns out to be a fraudulent Ponzi scheme. His crimes ruin the finances of many investors, completely destroying the lives of people like Mirella and Faisal.