Poison
Watchpoint: Gibraltar
Genji Shimada meditated alongside his teacher Zenyatta out in the grass. It was quite different than the snowy mountains of Nepal. This tranquility helped ease his mind. Nothing going on, just him and his spirit. After an hour of this, it was time for Genji to attend other Overwatch matters.
He stood, then bowed to his teacher.
"I have matters to attend to."
"Go on, my student."
Genji dismissed himself. There was a meeting to be had in the conference room, one that involved the seven core members of Overwatch. The door slid open, allowing Genji inside. He crossed him arms, looking at the other members as they awaited what Winston had to say.
"I'm glad everyone is here." Winston said. "We need to discuss something. That being the future. Talon is the first obstacle in our path to becoming recognized as heroes once again, but they are far from the only one."
"The second Omnic Crisis…" Mercy said.
"There is much to be worried about." Genji said.
"Things have really gone downhill since the PETRAS Act." Tracer said.
"That's why the world needs us again," Winston said. "I don't care what the UN says, we'll act as long as we are able."
Before anyone could speak again, someone swung the door open. Emily. She looked distressed, like something very bad just happened.
"Everyone… you have to see this!" Emily said with tears in her eyes.
"Emily, what is it?"
"I can't explain!"
Emily broke down and cried. Tracer ran up to hug her, holding her girlfriend tightly.
"Turn the TV on." Emily said. "It's on the news."
Tracer feared what she was about to see. Winston did as instruct, and switched to the news broadcast. Atlas News broadcasted on the spot an explosion that consumed King's Row. The destruction caused made Tracer's eyes widen. Her home, now destroyed. The smoke and debris led to numerous deaths. She couldn't say anything.
"We're reporting here from King's Row, which just an hour ago had been the target of a terrorist attack." Olympia Shaw said. "An explosion was detonated at the center of the district, leaving an untold number of citizens dead or gravely injured. The culprit isn't known, but the police of London will be looking further into the scene."
Tracer shut the TV off. That was all she could take. Along with Emily, she began to cry. They held each other, hoping that it would help them feel better, but it did little. The others looked at them, displeased that this happened. There was no doubt in their minds as to who was responsible for this.
Talon.
"Tracer," Winston said. "I'm sorry that this happened. I don't ever know what to say."
"It wasn't your fault."
"I know, but—"
McCree put his hand on Winston's shoulder. That was the signal to stop speaking. Sometimes, words with good intentions can only make things worse. Tracer got up from where she stood, wiping the tears off her face. A few deep breaths, and she decided she was going to pull through this.
Of all her years in London, she had never seen a terrorist attack on her home at this level. To think about all the lives that were lost in the explosion, innocent lives… and it could've easily been her if she hadn't been to Gibraltar. she was going to make whoever did this pay. First, she lost Mondatta, and now this.
Why does this keep happening?
The agents of Overwatch gathered together to assess the situation. Talon was believed to have been responsible for the crime. It fit with the general way they go about their tasks. Lúcio, however, had sneaking suspicions as to who was responsible for it.
"Guys, I have a feeling that whoever did this wasn't Talon. It was those Vishkar folks."
"What makes you think that?" Tracer asked.
"Because this is very similar to what they did back in Rio. To get us to accept their 'improvements', they destroyed a favela. I drove them off, and of course they're looking elsewhere."
"We don't know that they did this yet, though." Mercy said.
"Call it a gut feeling."
Regardless, they had to find out who did this so they could bring them to justice. Overwatch wasn't going to stand as acts of terrorism like this continue. For now, all they could do is wait until more details emerged.
London
Inigo Hawking was the mayor of London. After the tragic terrorist attack on King's Row, there was only one thing he could do. Hawking sat in his office, speaking to Advik Patel, a representative of the Vishkar Corporation. This was just what he wanted.
"I'm so glad we can negotiate this deal." Patel said. "What happened in King's Row was most unfortunate. First an assassination, and now this? It needs some real protection, the kind Vishkar can give."
"We've been in the works for a long time." Hawking said. "I'll sign the contract with you. As long you can provide us with improvements we need, you can do as you please."
They shook hands over the agreement. Patel smiled, everything had gone according to their plans. Soon, London will theirs to rule, and that will just be one more step. Next to Patel was negotiator Sanjay Korpal. He arranged the meeting between the two of them, and was happy with the progress that was being made.
"It's been in talks for a while." Korpal said. "This was the final straw."
"As long as you get me the results I need, I don't care what you do." Hawking said.
Hawking signed the contract to allow Vishkar to operate in London. Everything was put in place for them to run the city. After that ruffian Lúcio drove them out of Rio de Janeiro, they were looking for more potential business opportunities.
"If you'll excuse me." Hawking said. "I have an announcement to make."
"Of course, of course." Patel said.
Hawking dismissed himself, ready to announce their deal with Vishkar. After he left, Patel and Korpal both smiled.
"Just the way we wanted it." Patel said.
"But what of Overwatch?" Korpal said.
"Overwatch is nothing, just a shell of its former self. If anything, Talon will take care of them for us, but if we must fight them, the game will have already been decided."
"Yes. For now, we'll make London the Vishkar Headquarters of the West. We may have lost Rio, but we'll get it back. That, I am sure."