Author's Note
This along with another few chapters will be the last, as I feel I have reached the climax of the story (after this chapter) and I am simply running out of ideas. I'm sad to see my very first story coming to a close, but I figure it's for the best for me to move on. I'm glad with how the story came out and I have few regrets. I don't want to become an author who ends up milking the story just because they are too afraid to end it. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this and the last few chapters, and I hope to see you in another one of my stories in the future. Bye for now!
My eye snapped open in a jolt as I awoke in my bed, Hana's arm casually draped across me chest as she slept beside me. I smiled as she unknowingly smiled at the same time. 'Hope she had a better dream than mine.' I thought, shaking slightly as my mind flashed back to it. I sat up, gently placing Hana's arm down as I started to stand up, careful not to wake her up. I wanted her to rest, as we have a big mission tonight, and it may possibly be our last time together. I shook the thought off, as thinking like that is what will make us lose. I didn't bother to turn on the tv as it would simply be news reports on my failure, and reopen old wounds. I awoke at a much later time than usual, it almost being noon. But I figured that was a good thing, just less time to think about what could go wrong, and time to simply wait for the time being.
I walked out of the door, my mind set on the plans as my feet led me to Winston's office. My thoughts were running around in circles around my head, going back and forth as uneasiness took hold, my mind worried about the consequences of failure today, and what's at stake, the stress getting to me as I chose not to even try to completely comprehend them. The hallways were unusually quiet, most people keeping to themselves as they prepared themselves mentally and physically for what's in store. It will take all of us to work together to even come close to stopping their new army.
I entered his office, walking up the stairs leading to him. I hoped to catch him at the right time to figure out a plan. He was studying blueprints of the base we planned to infiltrate, his hand stroking his chin as he pondered. His head snapped up, his eyes lighting up as he recognized me, a smile coming to his lips. "I assume you've found something good?" I asked, as he nodded excitedly, telling me to order all agents here to go over our plan.
A few minutes later...
"Athena, bring up your scans." I said, a holographic image appeared, modeling the base, its paths and hallways built like a maze, complex and confusing, some hallways leading to dead ends, as if to trap any intruders. "You should be able to make override their systems in the central chamber here." She responded, an arrow appearing, pointing to the center of the base. "That's through the heart of the chamber, right past the most heavily guarded place in there." Jack pointed out, as I looked at it.
"But that means it's heavily guarded for a reason. If I'm correct, that may be where they are converting these agents into what we saw in our last mission." Angela spoke up, a bit of hope in her voice.
"There are two main routes, both leading to the center. It might be a good idea to split up to keep them off balance, then regroup there." Ana suggested, and I nodded agreeing. "No good, see those doors, the only way to open them is from the inside." Lena interrupted, pointing at the hologram. "It's not impenetrable, there's gotta be a way inside." I said, leaning against the table with my hands. I studied it, before a peculiar part of the building caught my attention. "Maybe we can send someone through this ventilation shaft." I said, zooming in on it.
"This is going to be dangerous. I volunteer." Pharah said, straightening herself out, looking straight at me. "I appreciate the thought, but you wouldn't be able to pass the firewall in time. We need a tech expert." Jack said, looking to me for a choice for who was going to be sent in. "Winston, you can hack anything, you may not be small, but you'll fit." I said, as he nodded. "I won't let you down." He promised. "I know." I said in response.
"The rest of us will split up, and keep them off of you while you get through." I said, as Jack stood up, walking towards me. "I'll lead the second strike team. We'll meet you on the other side of those doors." He said, as I placed a hand on his shoulder, nodding at him, grateful.
"I won't lie to you, I don't know what we'll find in there. This may be the end, for you, for me, for anyone. But I know for a fact, this is the end of whatever they are doing. We are stopping this, no matter what sacrifices we make. Talon has ruined countless lives, taking even more in those explosions, but the thing is. Not one more. They think they've won, but let's show them exactly what we're made of. On our terms." I looked around, all of them nodding and smiling, loyal, ready to follow me into hell and back, my family. "Well." I shrugged. "Let's go save the world."
A few hours later...
We landed near the base, hidden in the deep snow and the mountains, a perfect place to hide their deep secrets from the world. We snuck inside, its hallways built like a hive, creeping me out in a way. I was with Lena, Hana, Mcree, Reinhardt, Angela, Pharah, Genji, and Hanzo as we walked through, not really worried about being sneaky as the size of it allowing you to make as much noise as you wanted without alerting the base. Everyone kept their weapons drawn, their footsteps quick and quiet, as I led them through, ready for anything.
"No obstruction in sight so far, proceeding as planned." I heard Winston say over the comms device. "Same here, stay safe everyone." Jack said, before continuing onward into the deep hallways, its winding corners and rooms making me uncomfortable as I made my way through.
I held my hand up, signaling for them to stop as I spotted a few agents, their weapons in hand. Their heads unnaturally snapped our way, as if expecting us. "They've seen us." Mcree said, before firing, taking a few out. I got into cover, a barrage of bullets coming our way. "Reinhardt, stay here while me and Genji flank around." I ordered, as his shield popped up, blocking the bullets before they hit the agents behind him.
We snuck around successfully, coming up from behind as we attacked, Genji slicing into them. I tackled one, burning him, before one jumped on my back, his weapon not in his hands any longer. I struggled, holding his hands as they desperately tried to escape to grasp me. He neared me, his eyes an unnatural red, sunken into his skull, looking like a skeleton. My arms started to give out, before an arrow struck him in the head, as he collapsed onto me. I threw him off, nodding to Hanzo as thanks, before we continued down the hallway.
"Jack here, we're moving forward but we're taking heavy fire." He informed me. "Okay, we're moving ahead. How about you Winston?" I asked, as he grunted. "There is a door blocking my path, there may be a way to open it from the other side. I looked around, a control center catching my eye. I could see Winston in the vents, them being slightly transparent. "Just use that control panel there." He pointed, as I started to open it. "How ya holding up?" I asked, as he wiped away sweat on his face. "Besides being incredibly hot in here, I'm fine." He answered, and I chuckled. "Don't worry, we're almost there." I replied, as he smiled, before moving forward.
"We're in position, just waiting for the doors to open. We'll hold them off for now." Jack said, gunfire sounding around him as he did so. "Alright, we're on our way." I replied, ducking behind Reinhardt's shield as enemies fired at me. "Don't worry my friend, I am your shield!" He yelled, excitement clear in his voice. "I think you're enjoying this a little too much." Hana said, firing at the agents in cover.
We were pinned down by enemy reinforcements, the only way forward was behind them, and they didn't make it easy to get to it. These men feared nothing, not even death, as if all survival instinct was replaced with nothing. I shielded the others whenever Reinhardt's own gave out, as I depended on them to finish them off as I couldn't flank them or get close.
"I'm near the door; I'm coming down to help you." Winston said, but before I could stop him, he crashed through the glass, landing on top of them as he roared, slamming them into the ground. I charged down there to help him, taking out a few of my own. I picked one up by the throat, throwing him near Winston, before he caught him mid air, before thrashing him about on the ground.
He calmed down as no reinforcements arrived, placing his glasses back on. "Remind me not to get in your bad side." I joked, running forward to the door, Winston behind me. He quickly got to the doors, starting to open them as I radioed Jack, making sure he was okay. "Jack! We're opening the doors, are you all okay?" I asked. "Just get the door open!" He ordered. "Winston that door better be open!" I yelled, as he grunted. "Done!"
The doors opened, incoming fire whizzing past my ear, as I rolled to the side, everyone else falling behind. "Get support on the door, get them inside!" I ordered, as we all lined up, firing back at the seamlessly endless amount of agents. "Hold them back!" I yelled, firing back at them. Jack and the others fell back behind the door, as Winston quickly shut it on the rest of the Talon agents.
We all sighed, hands on our knees as we rested for a moment. "Angela! Patch the wounded up." I said, as she nodded, walking over to them. I looked at the rest, nodding. "Everyone else okay?" I asked, concerned. "We're okay." Jack said. "Brayden, you may wanna take a look at this." I heard Hana say.
I walked over to her, gasping as I found people stuck in pods, dead, tubes leading from the pods to the center of the base. I frowned, stepping closer, analyzing them. "They're keeping their own men captive? Why?" I asked. I frowned, confused at this action. The man in the pod eyes snapped open, his eyes filled with shock as needles emerged from the tube, entering his neck, as he started to twitch in an unsettling manner. His eyes then turned into the red color of the other agents we came across, clawing into the pod at me. "My god. They're changing them, injecting them with something, it's changing them." I turned to everyone behind me. "Get them out of here! Now!" I yelled, not caring if they were the enemy. This was a fate much worse than death.
We rushed to save them, smashing open the pods, but to no use, as the glass wouldn't budge, holding against even our greatest hits. We were forced to watch as they were indoctrinated in front of us, the fear in their eyes haunting me as they were changed. "We have to stop this. This is..." Lena muttered, trailing off. I turned to Winston, concern in my eye. "Do you have any idea what those tubes lead to?" I asked, pointing to the tubes that led through the dark hallways. "No, nothing like this showed in the blueprint. I have no idea." He shook his head, wondering how it never came up.
"Are we gonna follow them?" Angela asked. "I don't know what else to do. This leads to the center, and no matter what we find, we can shut this place down from the inside. Then we get out as quick as possible. Any escape plans?" I asked, as everyone shrugged. "I guess we're gonna have to run back through the hallways and hope we can get out in time." I said, the plan making me worried about our chances of a successful escape. One of us may need to hold them off, or sacrifice ourselves. I shook the worrisome thoughts off, hoping it doesn't come down to that.
"We're gonna need another team to hold the rest of the agents back before they get through the door. I'll lead another team to the heart of the facility, and shut it down." I sighed, before continuing. "If I say leave, and we're not there, you have to go. If you stay we all die. I don't plan for that to happen, but it may. This is it. Everything we've ever fought for, is all coming down to this. Make me proud, make yourselves proud, and know no matter what happens, we've had a damn good ride, and I'm glad I could be a part of it." I said, smiling as I saluted them. They all saluted back, each and everyone of them ready to do what it takes.
"Let's get this done. Hoorah!" I yelled, as they repeated the same word, their voices echoing throughout the long halls.
We walked through the hallways, following the tubes to the center of the base. I was with a small team, only a few agent with me. Lucio, Lena, Hana, Mcree, Jack, and Angela were to only ones with me. I smiled, reminiscing of the times I had with everyone, finding it oddly funny that we were in such a serious situation. The world depended on this getting done.
"I've been scanning for any heat signatures near you. But I've only detected one. Whatever you are nearing, must be massive." Athena said, as I listened closely, confused at what could be there.
My jaw dropped in shock as I stared at what was at the heart of this madhouse, all of the tubes leading to one massive cylinder in the middle. "That looks like what was bumped into those guys we ran into back there." Lucio said, staring wide eyed at it.
My mind flashed to the people trapped in the tubes, their minds corrupted as their thoughts were replaced with animalistic instincts. This explained the reason they moved so spastically and quickly, seemingly crazy actions during battle, not fearing death in any way. We all stared in awe as the cylinder ran to the roof of it, the tubes coming out pumping the liquid inside. "This must be how they are getting the liquid to the tubes." I muttered, inching closer and closer to the tube.
"Not so fast!" I heard a familiar growl come from beside me, Reaper pointing his guns at me. "I'm shutting this place down. The monstrosities you've created, the things you've done to your own people... it's... despicable, unforgivable." I said, walking towards the terminal in front of it. I jumped back as he shot the terminal, sparks flying back. "I'm afraid I can't let you do that." He said.
"Give up! You're outnumbered!" I tried to reason with him, hoping there was any human empathy in his heart for him to stop this himself, or die defending it. "That's where you're wrong kid." He said, as agents came pouring in from all sides, surrounding us as we all were at each other's backs, covering all sides. "Well I'm living the dream." Hana said sarcastically. I smirked, leaning my head her way. "You have odd dreams." I joked, before the agents fired on our position.
I shielded us all from the oncoming fire, before letting it go for us to fire back while they reloaded. They started to drop like flies around us, before more took their place, slowly nearing us. I fired back, burning them when the came in range, before blocking enemy fire from hitting Angela behind me. She nodded in thanks before firing at them with her pistol, surprising me with her accuracy. "You do this whole shooting thing a lot?" I asked, burning the ones charging at me when they ran out of ammo. "Sometimes to save a life you must take one." She replied, continuing her streak of kills.
I flipped to Hana, who's mech was taking heavy fire due to its size. One latched onto her, clawing into the metal. I tackled him, before snapping his neck in a simple motion. "Hey! That was my kill!" She complained. I rolled my eyes. "You know, when this is done, we should compare kills." I said, as she nodded in response, firing at the depleting enemy forces. "Boom! Headshot!"
We held our ground, the agents piling up around us as they all fell dead when they got too close. Reaper closed in on us as he realized we defeated his men. "Why must you always mess everything up?!" He yelled in fury and anger as he pulled out his shotguns, aiming them at me. "I could ask you the same question." I said, before blocking it. I grew angry as the spread of the fire grazed my leg, hurting me. I growled, closing the gap between us as I stomped near him. I dodged the multiple shots he fired my way, ducking and dodging his shots as each miss aggravated him more. He held his ground though, not flinching as I tackled him to the ground.
Reaper simply sat there as I punched him, as he didn't resist. I didn't care though, the things he had done were horrible, as he deserved no pity. I stopped for a moment, turning to Angela. "Shut this place down!" I yelled, before punching him again. My punches grew faster and harder, each one chipping a part of the mask off, until it revealed a scarred Gabriel inside. He grinned, the blood seeping from his smile.
I gasped in shock, his face horrifying. His nose was almost completely gone, only leaving a scarred stub in its place. A long scar ran from his left eye down to his right cheek. Part of his left cheek was missing, his teeth visible as only bits of flesh held the two pieces of his cheek together. "Go ahead. Kill me." He said, not hesitating in his words.
Jack was behind me, before nearing him as I stood up, stepping away from the former commander. "What happened to you Reyes?" He asked his old friend, sadness in his voice as he looked down upon him. "Overwatch happened. All of you are responsible for how I am today, and all the lives I've taken as well." Gabriel grinned, his eyes widening as he noticed Jack aim his weapon at him. "Do it. Reyes died long ago. Let me go with him." He almost pleaded, a sadness coming from him I had never heard before.
He aimed down the sights, shaking as he did so. I walked over to the others to make sure they were okay. They all nodded, as Angela shut down the base. I smiled, happy we could head home soon. I talked with Angela, the lights inside the base turning off as the power went off. We planted the bomb on the cylinder to make sure this base's technology is never used again, it's sickening experiments more than I could handle.
"I can't do it. There's too much of a bond we shared for me to completely cut you off." Jack said. "...but I'll do as you want. If you want to, stay here when we detonate the bomb." He offered, choking up slightly as a face he once loved like a brother stared back, only wanting death. I turned around, looking at him as I felt bad for Jack, as killing someone you love isn't easy.
Jack walked off to join us, as I held the detonator in my hands, ready to click as we flew off. "Thank you... but before you go." Gabriel muttered. Jack didn't turn his way, only muttering a "hm." "Something to remember me bye." Gabriel smiled, picking up the gun beside him, setting his sights on Angela. Angela flinched as she prepared to be shot.
My mind panicked as I lacked the time to create a shield to keep her safe. Time slowed down as I pushed Angela to the ground, saving her from certain death, before the bullet entered me instead.
Angela's eyes widened as blood spurted from my chest, directly over my heart, soaking my gear. Fear ran through my mind as blood poured out of my mouth, it's salty taste drowning me. I felt hands wrap around me as I fell to the ground. Hana's eyes were right in front of me, as she yelled my name, all sound drowning out as my vision started to fade. 'Is this what it's like to die?' The thought flashed around my mind. Her comforting hands and words did nothing as searing pain ran through my chest. "You should've killed me when you had the chance." Reaper said, chuckling as he turned into a mist, disappearing. I could hear my pulse quicken as my heart struggled to keep my blood flowing.
"Look at me luv! You're gonna be fine!" I heard Lena's voice crying out to me. I struggled to respond, the air burning my throat as I opened my mouth. "Do-don't... lie to... m-m-me..." I gurgled, my hand reaching her face. Jack's worried eyes met my own eye, guilt apparent in his eyes. "Shit... no." Lucio muttered, running his hands through his hair, panicking. "This is Jack, everyone get out of here for immediate evac, we'll meet you there!" He ordered on the comms device. The last sounds I heard before blacking out were Angela's sobs, my mind in a frenzy as I gasped for breaths of air.
Lena's POV
Jack carried a limp Brayden in his arms as we rushed out of the base, quickly getting to our evac point, heading into the plane. We closed the hatch as it took off, people yelling, worried about Brayden. If I'm being honest he doesn't look good. His chest had a hole in it the size of a fist, with blood pouring out to no end. My thoughts only made me more worried as I tried to focus on flying us to a safe distance before blowing up the base.
"We're at a safe distance. Blow it." I said, before hearing the click of the button, a massive explosion happening behind us, the debris flying into the cold air. Everyone sat near Brayden in the med bay, as I turned on autopilot, before walking over to see how he's doing. I stopped in my tracks as I heard worried yelling and muffled cries coming from inside. Jack was simply in shock, still coming to terms with what happened. I stepped by him, before his hand gripped my own.
"It's my fault, isn't it? I should've seen it coming, I was so worked up about Gabriel I let my emotions get in the way. I had the chance to end this, but instead I got my friend killed." He said, not bothering to look at me. "Don't think like that, he's a resilient kid. He'll make it." I assured him, my confidence a lie as I worried about him. He had survived bad but this was something entirely different. "I'm not naive, he isn't going to make it." Jack mumbled, before I walked off in silence. Everyone else sat near the med bay, Brayden behind closed curtains as Angela operated on him.
I sighed, shaking off a few jitters before stepping in, shaking off my pessimistic thoughts. I slid in the curtains, Angela wiping the sweat away from her brow as she kept working on him, holding back tears. Hana was hurrying, helping Angela in any way she could, like holding him still as he sometimes woke up in pain, his screams enough to make anyone feel bad. Angela turned my way, her eyes widening. "Oh, good! Please, be ready to hold him down in case he wakes up again. I can't have him thrashing about if I'm going to save him." She said. I nodded, gripping his arm, while Hana gripped the other. His one eye snapped open again, fear in it as he realized he was still here.
I tightened my grip, but felt no resistance. "Just... l-let me... g-go..." He pleaded, pain in every word he said. "Don't talk like that! You're not leaving me alone!" Hana yelled, fury piercing through her tone. He sighed, or more of choked, as he relaxed again. "I r-r-really fucked it up t-this time... d-d-did-didn't I my dear?" He tried to smile as he joked, only groaning in pain as cut into his skin to remove the bullet lodged in his chest. "Aaaaaahhhhhrrrrrgggghhhh!" He yelled, his screams shaking the table he was on, before he fainted once again.
Angela sighed in relief as she removed the bullet, before immediately wrapping the open wound. I helped her wrap it around his chest, before laying him back down gently. "Sleep tight." Angela said, kissing his forehead in a loving tone. Hana simply sat there beside the bed, as we didn't even attempt to try to get her to leave. She would stay there all night if she had to. Angela and I exited, exchanging worried glances. "Is he going to make it?" I cut straight to the chase. She pondered for a moment, sighing. "I don't know Lena. It doesn't look good though, I'll be honest. I hate seeing this happen, Hana is so worried, and to see her so heartbroken is..." she trailed off, the image popping into her head.
"Don't think about that, just focus on keeping him alive." I said, looking her in the eyes. She nodded. "I'll go talk to Jack, he seems pretty shaken up about this." She said, walking off. I sighed, figuring I'll fly us to base, hopefully getting him to the medical attention he requires. "Hold on luv." I said to myself, hoping he could hear some how.