Chapter 8
JTN Server – Watchpoint San Francisco
Akagi silently looked at her tea with haggard eyes. The girl was unmoved to the beautiful aroma that the tea was producing, nor the appetizing look of a virtual cheesecake that was standing beside her tea. Her mind was all muddled up with the status report that she would have to deliver to the person that she was waiting for.
"Sorry I'm late. The U.N. ambassadors were all beginning to go online." And then the person appeared in front of her. She slowly looked at the Strike-commander of the Overwatch, and force a small smile.
"It's all right. I'm afraid that Nagato-san won't be joining us today." Akagi said and put her right hand on the table.
"Well then, shall we start?," Jack in an upbeat tone began as he sat down. Several windows appeared beside him. Akagi only gulped heavily, dreading what she would have to say. She looked down as her mood began to change darker.
"I'm afraid…I've come here…bearing a bad news." Jack noticed the sudden downcast on her voice. His heart then began to race.
"What is it?"
Akagi then looked at him, with small tears building up on her eyes. "Yesterday, at exactly 5:30 am, Commander Reyes at sortied out without authorization," Jack, with Gabriel's name mentioned, shifted his eyes uneasily, the dreaded feeling from yesterday had come back and began to churned his stomach, brutally.
"Apparently, he stole the mission flask which contain all of our future missions and campaign. Commander Reyes had sailed towards the Palawan islands." She paused hesitantly, before continuing, "and there he…encountered a large Abyssal den."
Jack gulped, he felt his chest has sank deeply, an agonizing dread began to crush him down, mercilessly. "And then…?" he let out, lightly shaking his voice.
"We rescued him but along the way…" Akagi trailed as a single tear fell from her left eye, "…Commander, at exactly 12:00 noon… Gabriel took his last breath…and by 3:00, Nagato had officially declared Zumalt…'decommissioned and beyond repair'."
Akagi became silent as she began to sob quietly, looking away from Jack who was still and unmoved.
He didn't know what he had just hear. The server room's atmosphere had become so heavy suddenly that his vision began to sway. The dreaded feeling from earlier had now crushed something inside him and that made him unmoved. He felt that all of his functions had ceased completely, unable for him to process the report.
Then after a second he slowly looked at Akagi. "Akagi… Thank you for the report. I believe— "he paused as he felt his hands began to shook, "I believe…this ends our conversation."
Akagi bowed at him, wiping away some tears, before she stood up and then disappeared. Jack was left all alone inside the server room with a still crushing atmosphere. He sat silent, looking at his tea.
"Gabe…you…idiot," then slowly Jack muttered before he slumped down at the table. "Gabe…I'm sorry…this…" and then, appearing between the slip of the cracks of his mask, a single tear came out and drop onto the floor.
Pain…Gabriel didn't know how many where he was, all he could feel was that everything was warm, and a creeping pain crawling all around his body. Where am I…? he questioned in much confusion but to no avail his mind was blank.
I…couldn't move… couldn't breathe…he tried to move his limbs but he didn't feel any of his muscles moving and then he tried to breath, but no air had entered in him. It was all too familiar for him, he felt that he was back from that place, underneath the rubble of the Swiss HQ, with everything burning to ashes.
Heh…finally…this is truly hell…he mentally smiled and began to drift off into oblivion.
"Shouhou, tie it up quickly!" Houshou commanded as the girl quickly dressed the wound on Gabriel's left arm. Mutsu, sitting beside her, had begun to wipe something on the man's right arm, it sizzles and created sickening sound of the flesh, burning up.
The commander who was completely submerge in the bath, suddenly rose and screamed in agony. "Gahh-no-no!" Gabriel tried to thrash the pain but he couldn't move his arms as Houshou held him tightly from behind.
"Commander, it's alright." she grunted as her arms tighten around the man's shoulder's, "it'll be over soon.," she cooed to him, but to no avail. Gabriel howl's filled the bath house. The man felt his skin was being torn apart, pain was eating him from within.
"So-painfu-enough...Angela." his eyes shot straight up, remembering that time when he was inside the tank.
"We need more repair buckets." Mutsu declared.
"Eh, but we just poured the 16th repair bucket," Shouhou interjected as the man wince in anguish.
"Let's pour more, Nagato-san." Houshou then darted to Nagato. The Secretary Ship was watching the whole ordeal from the doorway, her eyes were red, probably form crying, and she only nodded in approval.
Mutsu then pulled the rope beside the separate bath. A bell rang loudly as a green bucket appeared above Gabriel and then began to pour its content. And then the man howled in distress again.
Fubuki silently stood in front of the bath house. She was worried about the commander, her fingers were crossed in anticipation and she was fidgeting, uncontrollably.
"Fubuki-chan…" Mutsuki, who was watching her, only glance in sadness.
Just then the door opened and Nagato came out, the destroyer girl quickly darted to her. She cast her tense eyes up towards the battleship
"Nagato-san...um...how's Commander." Fubuki asked, anxiously. The Secretary ship looked into her, her eyes were ill at ease. She only dithered and responded.
"Houshou and the other CV's had done their job to restore Gabriel…" she paused, wary what to answer, but continued. "This is the first time that we're dealing with human organs. Gabriel wasn't a warship to begin with…"
We know...Fubuki only looked down. She was downcast to the report. Just then Houshou emerged from the doorway and bowed at Nagato and the others. She looked up to them and notice the nervousness in their eyes.
"I did all I could, Nagato-san." she began, depression filling her voice. "However, It seems he will survive." ." A tired yet happy smile spread across the Light Carrier's face.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Mutsu whispered inaudibly. "Thank god…" she looked at Fubuki and Mutsuki, both girls were crying in happiness.
"Houshou-san, can we see him? We want to guard him for tonight," Fubuki asked, anticipatingly as Houshou nodded in agreement but redirected her eyes at Nagato. The Secretary ship only shrugged and looked at the two destroyers.
"Fine, but don't be too noisy," the two girls bowed at her and they both immediately went inside, closing the door to them. The Secretary ship then turned around and walked away while she muttered her final words.
"No choice. It's now Plan Phase B for Commander Morrison."
How many days was it, after that…? Gabriel slowly opened his eyes and looked up to the white ceiling above. The man then groaned lowly, as he sat straight up from his bed and ran his thoughts. It must've been a lot of days that has gone by when they stopped torturing him.
"I must've look ridiculous…" he smirked and buried his face on the palms of his hands.
"No, you weren't." A voice made him darted to the corner of the room, with alertness. Angela was there, on a chair with an angelic smile. "Stalker, aren't you?," Gabriel said, through his breath, and stood up. "What is it?" he asked coldly as the doctor shrugged.
"Just wanted to wake you up but your sleeping face, had prevented me." Angela looked far away through the window, reminiscing, and sighed deeply. Gabriel had caught a hint of sadness and he only growled.
"What is it?" he asked again, in a stern manner.
"Commander Jack-I mean Morrison, has called you. He said that he wanted you to attend the meeting later." Gabriel scoffed off a laugh of irony. If Jack would call him to something, that would mean the Overwatch was in perilous situation that he couldn't get out. He grinned evilly.
"So I'm guessing the whole Overwatch wanted to see me too?"
"Yes. The Abyssal threat had spiral out of control. They'd attack and crippled many of U.N.'s Naval Fleet, leaving a large hole on the Pacific Blockade. Luckily however they still have enough unmanned ships to reassigned on that portion, but it might not last long." Angela explained as the reaper only snorted, uninterested.
Hmm...he's losing his grip on this situation… Gabriel only grin, degrading on how the strike-commander handles the situation, poorly, and he's liking it.
"It's the U.N. who called us here...they're the ones can't handle the situation." Angela corrected him but he scoffed it off again. "Well, we shouldn't keep the thief, waiting, right?" he laughed evilly as he walked towards the door.
Gabriel silently trudge the hallway behind Angela. His face crept into a smile which scared some guards or newly recruited agents whom he passed behind. Angela only glance behind her and sighed, disappointingly as the commander, continuously left nothing but sinister impressions on some new recruits.
"Hmph...this is sure some fancy new watchpoint." he commented, unamused.
"Indeed, everything was donated by the newly-elected president, Reagan Reynolds, who was a big fan and number 1 supporter of the Overwatch organization." Angela explained as Gabriel wondered.
"Really...is he also a big fan of Jack Morrison too?" Angela paused on her walk and glance to him and answered.
"He's also a big fan of you."
Gabriel only blew some air, uninterested. The two resume there walking and entered into another long, opened, hallway. Hmm…? Gabriel suddenly stop as warm air suddenly hit him in the face. He looked to his right and froze.
The calm view of San Francisco Bay greeted him, together with its iconic Golden Gate bridge. Whoa...we're in San Francisco… baffled, his red eyes widened in amusement as he smile peacefully, not noticing Angela who was looking at him.
Gabriel...she looked mildly surprise to see him smiling like he was him before. "Gabriel...shall we go?" she asked as Gabriel returned and began to follow her.
Angela silently stood by a large door and looked behind her. Gabriel was also staring with a still, sinister grin. I hope this works, she hoped as she opened the door.
Gabriel walked inside. The room was a large meeting room, with a very long table on the middle and a large screen hanging above. On the meeting table, sitting on their chairs, were all of the Overwatch members. And all of them were looking at him.
Gabriel began while he landed his eyes on the left. Mccree waved at him, with a smile, and was sitting beside a Japanese looking man, that he couldn't recognize.
"My, Comrade Gabriel!" Gabriel darted to his front and saw the familiar German knight, Reinhardt, smiling cheerfully at him. Augh...Reinhardt...you never change… he didn't reply as he sat on the other end of the table and look in front again.
Jack was sitting on the other end, directly in front of him. His orange visor glowed ominously, against his red eyes. He only clicked his tongue, irritably, his calm sight agitated him.
"Now, now, luv, try to smile eh!," Lena 'Tracer' suddenly beamed beside him and before he could brush her away, she reappeared and sat on the right of Morrison. He looked away to his right only to feel a finger, poking his right cheek.
"Got your cheek, amigo." Sombra smiled mischievously as Gabriel only growled at her.
"Sombra...you sure have guts to show yourself in front of me." he began, frowning and showing his sharp teeth, but the girl only snorted lightly.
"Now don't get angry with me, just because you failed on abducting the president." Gabriel clenched his fist but then he felt a familiar stern gaze, he glanced back in front and saw Ana, staring at him with stern eyes. He clicked his tongue and only look away from Sombra.
"Sombra, don't tease Uncle Gabe will you?" Hana quickly ran and stood beside Sombra who only laughed, teasingly.
"Hana, just putting some smile on the gloomy edgelord." she added as they both walk away from him.
Gabriel only sighed, irritably, and ignored her. He looked to the front again and landed his eyes at Winston whose face was cold and plain. What is it, monkey? he thought mentally and averted his gold eyes.
"I see that you still couldn't distinguish the difference between a gorilla and an ape, Gabriel." Winston look away as Gabriel clicked his tongue in dismay.
"Well then shall we begin, the President is going to contact us soon." Winston added as everyone took their respective seats. Just then the screen above them lit up and a face of an aged white-haired man appeared.
"Good day Overwatch," the president bowed at them as everyone bowed too. "Now then shall we all skip pleasantries, and let's get straight to the point." the president smiled at everyone. Gabriel however only closed his eyes.
Half an hour later
What are those things? Gabriel only wondered as he listened to the meeting. It was already noon time as the President continue its report. Some of the Overwatch members were listening, intently, others were indulging on reading the holo-files that was presented to them from the beginning.
"So, there was a possibility that 'they' came from 'Mars'?" Winston asked as the President nodded.
"Apparently, yes. Many years ago, an unmanned spacecraft had landed on Mars. It was NASA's and their mission was to collect some dead bacteria on its surface. The mission was a little bit successful but…" a video appeared on the screen and it shows the spacecraft entering the atmosphere but then it suddenly began to spin, violently, and exploded.
"On the eve of the First Omnic War, NASA had commanded the ship to return to earth. However during its re-enter, a navigational error occurred and it exploded. Majority of its parts crashed on the Mariana's trench... Which where "They" first appeared. That's all the U.N. had found."
The president ended as Winston, stood up and fixed his glasses. "Thank you for that information, Mr. President. Now I would like to present me and Mie's findings."
The picture changed on the screen and it was replaced by five humanoid women-like creatures. Gabriel looked at the photos and smirk. The creatures have overwhelmingly pale skin, with some humanoid limbs, but some looked monstrous
"Whoa...now this is something…" Lucio said, smirking at a Wo-class, earning him a disappointed sigh from Symmetra, beside him.
"They all look like beach party goers." Hana said as Pharah added, " Yeah and their idea of beach party was global blockading the ocean and stripping of Mankind's maritime freedom."
"Heh, so hardcore." Sombra said while staring at a Ru-class battleship. "Nice...very nice…" Mccree commented making Gabriel grinned at him. "McCree I hope you're looking at the statistics, not their boobs."
McCree's face reddened and quickly shook his head. "O-of course not! It's not that I'm looking…"
"Really hmm…" The japanese man, glared at him, as McCree quickly denied. "H-Hanzo, really I'm not. It's just that-well-the Airfield Princess has large boobs and she's the strongest."
"I'm sorry. I don't think breast sizes has something to do on how strong they were." Genji commented while looking at the video, in front of him. "Indeed. For its merely nothing but a body part." Zenyatta, without leaving the file in front of him, added.
"Yeah I mean...there's something good on small sizes too...like the I-classes." Mei sheepishly added but Zarya, sitting beside her, quickly commented, "I-classes are the Abyssal fish types, Mei." making Mei and other girls slightly wince and sighed deeply.
"Well who cares, let's stop'em." Torbjorn said, excitingly. "Yes, indeed. However , they could certainly riddle us with holes even before we could move. They're too fast and agile and their firepower is deadly." Ana said while watching a video of I-classes, destroying a huge cargo ship.
"Which lead us into another topic." Winston said another picture appeared. It was a picture of a group of students gliding passively on the water. "Everyone this is the 'Kancolle Fleet,' and they're the only human force that stood head to head against these creatures."
Everyone looked at the photo, intrigued that only a handful of girls were the only ones who could fight the Abyssals. Some of them were amazed others were curious.
"They're girls…" Tracer said but Angela added. "They look like one... but they're not entirely human." Everyone fixed their gaze at him, curious, as Winston added more. "They're not human. They possessed the 'spirits of old WWII warships', which could explain why they have awesome firepower."
Gabriel raised his right brow, skeptic at first before he looked at the photo again and notice a word beneath the picture. Nagato…? Wait this couldn't be the same IJN Nagato of WWII confuse he only shrugged and glance back in front.
"Which lead us to another topic." The President fixed his glasses over his blue eyes and said. "I'm proposing for the Overwatch to collaborate with the Kancolle Fleet." Some of the Overwatch members smirk and smile. They like the sound of it.
"With all due respect sir. We would love to, but everything rest to the decision of the Strike-commander." Winston said, making Gabriel's eyes hardened as he stared at Jack. The man was calm and silent to the whole meeting, his visor mask never leaves him, and it ticked him off.
Then Jack calmly spoke, "Mr. President I would love to collaborate with them...but I'm only sending one man." Gabriel's eyes flickered, puzzled. Ana was also startled to what he said. "What do you mean by that, Jack?"
"We know little about this Abyssals, and I doubt the Kancolle Fleet could give us more information about them. They, too, were in the dark about their origin which could mean they don't have any idea about their weakness." he fixed his gaze at Gabriel as he stood up and began to walk slowly.
"All this time, they fought them head to head in the dark, without knowing if they could live for tomorrow, there success were merely due to luck. Someone, who quickly adapts on the battlefield, should collaborate with them and not all of you are like that...except for one." then he stopped and look down at Gabriel.
Gabriel hardened his eyes into an angry glare, Oh...so this is your game, Carino. Heh...you scum, "Who then Commander?" Tracer asked, inquisitively.
"I can't send all of you to the battlefield without knowing the enemy fully," Jack lastly commented as Gabriel made an angry grin. "So… You want someone to oversee the battlefield…, Am I right, Jack? Someone you can easily dispose of." he said with a snarl, eyes taunting the visor of the Commander.
Jack stared, probably thinking, before he spoke. "That, I will leave to your twisted imagination, Gabriel." Gabriel couldn't take it anymore. His calmness tick him off, as if he was looking down at some weakling.
He growled loudly making everyone shift in their sit, but he then he let out a laugh. "Fine then...I will oversee for you." he stood up and then grinned evilly. "However, I also think I will help them defeat the Abyssals. I will kill all of the Abyssals. And I will prove to you, that I am stronger than you!"
Gabriel declared to the unmoved Strike-commander. Jack only stared at his red eyes, his visor hummed silently, and then he snorted and walk away. "Good luck with that, Tier 10 destroyer."
Gabriel clenched his fist and began to charge only to be stopped by McCree. "Goddamn you Morrison!" Gabriel roared as McCree tried to pinned him down.
"Calm down sir! Jack was only joking."
"I'll kill him! I'll kill him with my bear hand-" *PSHH* a faint sound of bullet echoed and then Gabriel let out a short cry and then he became limp. Everybody was startled at first, they all looked in front.
Ana was still pointing her gun before she sighed. "Good thing I brought it here." she said as she put her gun back to her holster.
Beta-read by : PixelDemise
Hey guys, here's the latest chapter! For those who like my story, Thank you all! You're all the source of my inspiration.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kancolle and Overwatch :)
