Windy City Memories
By: maninblue88
Warnings: Spoilers for some of the missions for the game "Watch Dogs". Also, obviously, certain characters and story elements from "Chicago PD" are present in this story.
Copyright Notice: This is a crossover between the video game "Watch Dogs" and the TV series "Chicago PD". Therefore, all characters, locations, and other elements from "Watch Dogs" are the property of Ubisoft and all other related entities. Likewise, all characters, locations and other elements from "Chicago PD" are the property of the NBC network and any other related entities. No infringement is intended by my use of these properties in my story.
This story in its entirety is Rated "M" for violence, language, and scenes describing substance abuse and/or addictions.
[Author's Note: This story takes place 7 years prior to the events of my previous Far Cry 5 story "Respite", so Troy Harrison is once again a central character. Also, this story takes place in a sort of alternative fictional universe where the "Watch Dogs" storyline takes place three years prior to when it occurred in the timeline of the game. I mean no offense to any of you who are game storyline purists, so please keep that in mind when you're reading this story. Other than that, thank you all in advance for taking the time to read this and, of course, enjoy!]
Chapter 1: Endings and Beginnings
Task Force War Room
FBI Academy
Quantico, Virginia
September 2010
FBI Special Agent Troy Harrison carefully packaged up the miscellaneous case files that had been stacked on his small desk into a large cardboard file box. Officially, the office in which he worked was referred to as a "War Room", but it actually was nothing more than a cramped basement office with two desks in one of the office buildings on the campus of the FBI Academy. For the last four and a half years out of his decade long career at the Bureau, Harrison and his cousin/partner, Special Agent Bill Harvey, had ran a two-man organized and serial crime task force out of this confined office. They had travelled all across the country, and sometimes even overseas, working cases together.
Unfortunately, things had fallen out of place for the two partners over the last year. Bill Harvey had learned that he and his longtime girlfriend were expecting their first child together, and a few weeks later, he and Troy Harrison had learned that the FBI was withdrawing the necessary funding needed for their task force to continue on.
Bill had previously spent a few years doing covert intelligence work overseas prior to being recruited by his cousin, Troy, to come work for the FBI. Therefore, he had decided to accept a partial government penchant and retire early, while Harrison had handed in his letter of resignation to the Bureau's administrative staff, which made his imminent departure from the FBI effective at the end of business on this very day.
"Hey, bud", a voice said to Harrison from behind him.
A startled Harrison turned around to face whomever was talking. Bill Harvey stood in the open doorway of their empty soon-to-be former office, dressed in a stylish black leather jacket, dark cargo pants, and black boots with a black beret hat on his head. "Hey man", Harrison replied, "Jesus, you scared me!"
Bill smirked as he stepped a little further into the room. "Sorry", he said, "Packing up all our files?"
Harrison nodded with great regret. "Yeah", he replied as he motioned to the file box, "The Deputy Director wants me to bring these up to Headquarters in DC and distribute them to other units so they can take over the investigations."
The phone on Harrison's desk suddenly rang. He sighed as he promptly picked up the receiver. "Harrison", he flatly answered.
"Special Agent Harrison?" a female voice inquisitively asked from the other end of the line, "This is Beth calling from Deputy Director Hayworth's office at FBI Headquarters. The Deputy Director would like to see you personally after you distribute your case files."
"Understood", Harrison replied, "I'm packing up my office now, so please tell him I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Yes sir", Beth replied from her end of the line.
"Thank you", Harrison said before hanging up the receiver. He picked up the file box with both hands as he walked past Bill and out into the narrow basement hallway.
"Who was that?" Bill asked as he shut the office lights off.
"Hayworth wants to see me after I turn in our cases", Harrison said, "He probably wants me to finish that last bit of paperwork before I'm finally out of here for good." He sighed deeply before changing the subject. "I can't believe you're having a baby, dude", he said.
Bill chucked. "Shit, dude", he said, "neither can we. Krystal's still spun out about it."
"Where are you guys thinking of settling?" Harrison asked.
"We found a comfy place in New Hampshire near where her folks live", Bill replied, "I doubt it'll be much, but it'll be ours, you know?"
Harrison nodded. "Right on", he said before turning toward the open doorway of the office. Holding the file box in one, he reached his free hand out and grabbed the doorknob, locking eyes with Bill knowingly. "Here's to no more serial killers, mobster dickheads, and other assholes taking up our time."
Bill nodded. "Nothing but lullabies, diaper changes, and familial bliss for me from now on", he said confidently.
"I don't know what's down the road for me", Harrison said, "but I hear you there, bud." With that, he pulled the door to their office shut and locked it for the last time. He set the file box down on the floor and reached his arms out for a hug.
Bill Harvey reciprocated the gesture and hugged his cousin. "I love you, buddy", he said.
"I love you, too, man", Harrison replied, "I'm damn sure going to miss you."
FBI Headquarters
Washington, DC
2 Hours Later
After taking some time to distribute his case files to the appropriate FBI units, Troy Harrison entered the office foyer of FBI Deputy Director James Hayworth. He noted the presence of Beth Howard, the Deputy Director's secretary, sitting at her desk and typing on her computer. Beth was a slender brunette in her mid-thirties who was smartly dressed in a white button-down shirt and a medium-length black skirt with matching open-toed shoes.
"Hello Beth!" Harrison greeted warmly.
Beth looked up from her computer and gave the man an earnest smile. "Good afternoon, Agent Harrison", she replied with a kindly tone, "Please have a seat and the Deputy Director will be with you shortly."
Harrison gave the secretary a grateful nod before taking a seat on the large leather sofa across from the desk. It wasn't too long before the door to the Deputy Director's office came open.
Deputy Director James Hayworth appeared in the open doorway. He was a tall white man in his late fifties with neatly trimmed salt and pepper hair, dressed in a black three-piece suit with a paisley tie. "Agent Harrison", he said, "Please come in, son."
Harrison did as he was asked, promptly getting up from the couch and following his superior into his office. The Deputy Director closed the door behind them as Harrison took a seat in a leather chair across from Hayworth's large desk. A partial view of the US Capitol building could just barely be seen out the large window behind the desk.
"So", Hayworth began as he sat his large office chair behind his desk, "As you know, Agent, your resignation from the FBI has been accepted by this office and will officially become effective by five o' clock tonight. Have you distributed your case files as requested?"
Harrison nodded. "Yes sir", he replied, "That's what I was doing just before I came up. Bill and I had six active cases pending when we learned that funding was being withdrawn for the task force. I gave three to the Violent Crimes Section downstairs and the I asked that the other three be sent off by an FBI courier to the Organized Crime Division at the Washington Field Office. The agents there should be receiving them shortly."
"I see", Hayworth replied, "I hope you understand that withdrawing your task force funding was nothing personal, Agent. The Senate Subcommittee had asked a long time ago that those particular funds be reused to finance our various counterterrorism units around the country."
"I am aware of that, sir, yes", Harrison said, "The Director stated it quite clearly in his official memo. I'd like you to know that my decision to leave the Bureau was not made out of anger or discontent, sir. I just feel that a change of scenery would do me some good."
"How's Mister Harvey doing?" Hayworth asked.
"Bill's at Union Station as we speak", Harrison replied, "He's waiting for a train that will take him back to our hometown in Vermont. He's going to visit his mother and stay with her for a few days before going to meet up with his girlfriend over in New Hampshire."
"Good to hear", Hayworth said, "Please tell him that I wish them the best of luck."
"I'd be happy to, sir", Harrison said, "Thank you."
Deputy Director Hayworth nodded before setting a folder in front of Harrison. "I have to be honest with you, Agent Harrison", he said in a very concerned tone, "I'm not very happy with the thought of you leaving. You're a great agent, a talented profiler, and a stellar investigator. I'd hate to see such a fitting job prospect be filled by someone else, so inside that folder are details about a new position that I've taken the liberty of recommending you for. It's a special cyber task force based in Chicago, staffed by representatives of different agencies."
A now intrigued Harrison opened the folder and examined the documents inside. "Chicago PD, sir?" he asked, "the CtOS Task Force?"
"Yes, that's correct" Hayworth replied, "A huge tech corporation called Blume instituted a citywide operating system a few years ago called the CtOS, or Central Operating System. From what I've heard, the CtOS controls everything that's dependent on technology and AI in Chicago. There's a special task force based in their headquarters that's staffed by law enforcement personnel handpicked by Blume. ATF, FBI, NSA, the list goes on. All they need is someone from Chicago PD to join them and act as an agency representative."
"So, where do I fit in?" Harrison asked.
"The Chicago Police Department is willing to offer you Sixty-Seven-Thousand dollars a year for you to join their ranks as a Detective as well as an additional Twenty-Five-Thousand a year offered by the Blume Corporation", Hayworth explained, "You would work as a homicide detective by day and then work with the CtOS task force at night. You'd have to go through their police academy, of course, but successful completion guarantees you the position."
Harrison took a moment to really consider the offer before letting out a deep sigh. "Ninety-Two grand a year, huh?" he finally said, "Okay. I'm in. Chicago it is."
Deputy Director Hayworth smiled widely at that, gladdened by Harrison's acceptance of the offer. He opened the center drawer of his desk and produced a small packet containing an airline ticket and boarding pass, setting it on the desktop. "There's your ticket and boarding pass", he said, "Your flight to Chicago departs at seven p.m. tonight. I'll tell Superintendent Daniels to expect you at CPD Headquarters tomorrow afternoon."
Harrison skimmed through the small packet before realizing something and shooting the Deputy Director a very knowing look. "Wait a minute", he said, "This boarding pass has my name on it. With all due respect, Deputy Director, what would you have done if I passed on your offer?"
"I know you wouldn't, Mister Harrison", Hayworth replied, "Like I said before, you're too talented and experienced an investigator not to take advantage of an opportunity like this. I have the utmost faith in you, son." He extended a hand to Harrison.
Harrison shook the man's hand as firmly as he could, knowing that it would probably be the last time he would do so before leaving Washington and the FBI behind. "Much appreciated, sir", he said, "Thank you for your support and confidence all these years."
"You earned it, Troy", Hayworth replied, "Good luck, young man."
Harrison nodded before getting up from the chair and leaving Deputy Director Hayworth's office, the FBI, and Washington, DC for the last time.