"SHATTERED CHAPTER 4"
(FAREEHA)
The lights of Watchpoint Gibraltar's runway stretched out beneath them in the dark as they approached twinkling an inviting path, guiding them home. With a steady experienced hand Lena smoothly brought down the small craft lightly kissing the asphalt. Fareeha moved to the back of the craft waiting as the Doctor did one last check of Widowmaker's vitals. The lieutenant tightened the straps of the gurney, the thick webbing biting into the rubber of the black body bag, ignoring Angela's look of reproach. Damn it to hell, the security officer was taking no chances.
Lena hopped out from the cockpit, a grin breaking her face as Genji handed her Widow's gun case,
"Don't mind if I do!"
As the ramp lowered, the pilot found herself the focus of numerous laser pointers centred on her chest and forehead, a chorus of metal on metal and high pitched whines as guns were cocked and pulse rifles charged. She dropped the gun case, throwing up her hands in mock surrender. From the depths of the craft Fareeha heard her flippantly say,
"Steady on there chaps, I give up!" Tracer playfully wiggled her finger tips, "I'd say I was unarmed but that would be a fib."
Close behind her, Genji sighed,
"Do you really have to antagonise them?"
"Ahhh come on mate, it can't be all doom and gloom now, can it?"
The security assault team remained trained on her. One of the guards barked,
"Where's the prisoner?"
Lena flicked her thumb pointing back into the aircraft,
"She's in there."
Picking up Widow's gun case, Lena made her way down the ramp with Genji quickly on her heels, their friendly bickering lost on the wind.
Touching her comm, Fareeha commanded,
"Gonzalez,"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Alpha team 2, prepare for prisoner removal to secure MED bay 12B, initiate protocol 26."
The ex-Helix officer had handpicked and trained the security team herself with months of drills, going over countless scenarios covering every eventuality that could possibly arise from removing and transporting a high impact prisoner. Outside there would be twenty six highly trained soldiers fanned out, staggered at intervals on the runway, four snipers concealed in opportune vantage points rounding the number to thirty and medical personnel kept at a safe distance in the building until given the all clear to approach. Still not entirely secure in her place at the newly formed Overwatch, Fareeha needed this to go without a hitch to prove, that Morrison had not made a mistake in recruiting her against her mother's wishes, that she was a valued asset to the roster.
Unholstering her pulse pistol the Egyptian soldier directed the muzzle at the comatose form, motioning with a tip of her head for Angela to proceed. The doctor went to move as if to release the gurney's brakes, Fareeha stopped her,
"We'll meet you in the assigned MED bay; my team will take care of the rest."
"I'm not leaving my patient."
"The prisoner is in no immediate danger, you, however, might be."
Angela replied, her voice tinged with annoyance,
"Need I remind you, Lieutenant Amari, I am a combat medic with years of experience in the field?"
Angela's reprimand and brusque professional tone chafed the younger woman. She wasn't trying to be deliberately combative; she was trying to do her job. Too many times the soldier had witnessed a lack of regard and caution, how underestimating a criminal in their custody could result in a routine removal devolving into hell ending in the death of good officers.
"Follow, if you must, but keep a safe distance."
The Doctor glared at her, shaking her head.
Once more touching her comm, Fareeha announced,
"Gonzalez, protocol is ago. I repeat protocol is ago."
Two soldiers clad in black swiftly entered the aircraft, flicking the brakes on the gurney and wheeling it down the ramp onto the runway with a practised ease. Winking red laser pointers littered the black rubber of the body bag giving the impression of measles as the security team began to move towards the building with Fareeha and Angela following close behind,
"This is a little overkill, don't you think?"
Remaining vigilant, Fareeha replied firmly,
"No."
The team moved like a well-oiled machine, comms alight with chatter negotiating each level, passing through encrypted security doors at intervals each one locking firmly behind them with a soft hiss leaving behind two guards behind as sentinels. Their progress was quick and fluid as they moved in staggered formation, never taking their sights off the gurney as they worked their way down to the heavily fortified fully equipped subterranean level kept specifically for such reasons.
Entering the secure level they passed various tightly shut doors continuing onto their destination at the end of a wide low corridor. The MED bay was awash with surgical light, various medical personnel prepped and ready for their arrival, anticipation electrifying the room. Fareeha scanned the state of the art med bay taking in the security cameras that covered every inch of the room before alighting on the nervous eyes peering out over green surgical masks. These junior doctors and nurses were too green for her liking, though chosen from the best and the brightest she doubted any of them had the experience of dealing with a patient this lethal. Angela entered, calmly giving orders causing a sudden flurry of activity, before turning in the door way blocking the entrance.
"You will not enter; this is my domain, Lieutenant."
Fareeha began to protest. This was no time for a jurisdictional pissing contest. Angela held up a dismissive hand,
"I will not risk contamination of my OR. My own personnel are perfectly capable of handling any situation that may arise. However, I shall permit two of your officers to remain outside!"
"What if she wakes up?"
"I assure you, she won't. I fully intend to keep her in a medically induced coma until I conclude my examination and analysis of her physiology. If you wish for peace of mind, you may observe from the gallery."
As the door began to close, Fareeha overheard the Doctor addressing the AI,
"Athena, please would you be so kind as to alert Commander Morrison and Captain Amari to the successful retrieval of Amelie Lacroix as requested and I am about to commence my examination."
"Of course, Dr Ziegler."
The glass door hissed closed in the ex-Helix officers face beeping as the locking mechanism activated. Fareeha banged it with a fist, the muscle working in her jaw at the dismissal. Shoving her pistol in its holster she addressed her subordinates,
"Gonzalez, Stevens, stay here. Keep comms open and keep me abreast of the situation. If the asset makes any attempt to escape, shoot to kill. That is an order."
Gonzalez nodded,
"Understood Sir! Shoot to kill."
Fareeha moved with enraged purpose, stalking the corridors ignoring the looks she garnered from people she passed as they scrambled to get out of her way.
"Where' s my mother?"
Shrugging, Lena looked up from the report she was constructing,
"No idea. Why?"
Rounding on the pilot, she snarled,
"Did you know?" She snapped,
"Did I know what?"
"That we were going to collect Widowmaker?"
"No!" lena replied, her features pinched in confusion at the accusation, "I didn't even know we were going on an unsanctioned mission! No one seems to tell me anything round here!"
"Yeah, you and me both!"
Why? What's going on?"
Wedging her foot in the doorway, Fareeha asked,
"Wait! What did you say?"
"Nothing!"
"No, you said 'as expected'.
"It was merely a turn of phrase."
"Did you know we were collecting Widowmaker?"
Gently pushing the woman back out into the corridor, Angela replied matter afactly,
"I have a patient to attend to, Lieutenant."