The Darkest Knight
Part I: The Reformation of Overwatch
Chapter 13: Friends and Enemies
"Oh this is gonna be good." I chuckled darkly.
So the UN, you know the ones who literally had Overwatch disband, just showed up here, and if some of the info Dig was feeding me was correct, they had a lot of guns as well as a representative from the UN security council.
I will say though that I partially felt bad for Winston and the rest of Overwatch. Their stress levels shot through the roofs only seconds after it was announced the UN was on their base.
Of course that was all small compared too-
"Move love!" Lena pushed me forward, rushing me and several others deeper into the base, closer to our rooms and the mess hall and away from the hangar and the other weird holo table.
I blinked once as the other complied and the Ape turned away, grumbling under his breath as he started towards a door at the far end of the hall.
"Hold up," I put a hand on her shoulder, "where's he going?"
"To deal with the UN, which is where'll I'll be off to once you get off your hind quarters and scram!" Tracer hissed, her newer friendly attitude replaced by one laced with annoyance and worry.
Basically she was acting normal again.
"Fine." I replied in false surrender, "I'm going, I'm going!"
I turned from her and left the med bay behind, heading towards the mess, and essentially my room.
The others that had left; McCree, Mei, terminator, and the giant in armor, had all listened without question, though they all gravitated towards the mess hall as they talked to each other in hushed tones.
Tracer simply huffed from somewhere behind me, grumbling as a flash of blue signaled her departure.
I shook my head and looked towards the mess.
Part of me felt like indulging in conversation and food, but I decided against it.
You see, what is the only thing better than eating?
Being a nosey piece of crap.
"So we're watching the meeting with the UN right?" Dig voiced in my head.
"Duh."
Now I figured it would be partially entertaining, but the biggest thing was that watching their meeting would give me a better understanding of what exactly the deal was between the UN and Overwatch.
At least that way I could really have an idea of who I'm dealing with in regards to Overwatch.
Or at least what the governments of the world thought they were.
So I walked out of the mess hall's line of sight, feigning going to my room as Dig appeared next to me in a flash of light. I leaned against the wall and seconds later I reappeared inside my ship, the familiar metal walls welcoming me with hollow sights and sounds.
My helmet disappeared and I found a seat in a chair, siting with my feet up as Dig reappeared above the table and twitched once before saying, "well, the security wasn't much of a problem to hack, problem is they have an AI."
"An AI?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. There was some rather advanced tech on this planet, that much I could agree with, and…. well I guess I shouldn't be surprised they have an AI.
Hell they have these Omnic things which were basically Exo.
"Has it spotted you?" I asked crossing my arms.
"Nah." Dig replied, swiveling around till he was floating above my shoulder, "I've my distance and just kind of observed. She's smart, but not nearly as smart as me."
I rolled my eyes, "can you play the security feed without her knowing?"
"Definitely."
You could almost feel the smugness in his voice. Almost.
Cocky little shit.
"Then fire it up." I replied, as his center grew bright and the video feed appeared mid-air before us.
Winston and Tracer were outside the base, both standing tall whether it was on two or four legs as the UN representative and their apparent security detail approached.
This was gonna be good.
"Operatives Winston and Lena Oxford." A man with a gut and bald head greeted with clear disdain, black helicopters sitting in the background with propellers still and pilots still seated inside.
He looked down at Lena, and she felt her gut twist in uncertainty.
Last time the UN came to see the Reps. of Overwatch, it was to discuss their imminent shutdown thanks to the revelation of Blackwatch and god knows what else. She hadn't been in on the specifics, but it wasn't pretty… that much she knew.
Now they had broken the law by reforming…
And she honestly had no idea if they'd be able to talk their way out of this.
"And who exactly do we have the pleasure of speaking too today?" Winston greeted, his deep voice accompanied by a smile and deceptive cheer.
The man shook his head, "names Johannes Wilson. UN rep."
"Figured that much out love." Lena pipped up with a grin. She leaned on her left foot and eyed the man.
The man frowned ta her, "Lena Oxford. Pilot prodigy turned criminal. Oh how the tables have turned."
Not even to a proper meeting room and already the man was throwing accusations… wonderful.
"I don't think criminals is a very accurate statement Mr. Wilson. We're retired agents is all." Winston responded, his frustration hidden by a smile and kind voice, "but lets retire to a more private location so we can-"
"So what would you two call that mess in South Korea?" the man waved away Winston's statement before yanking out a phone and tossing it towards Lena.
"What mess?" She asked as she caught the phone a frown etched on her face. Not even the decency to wait and give them the benefit of the doubt… who was this man to treat them like such?
Not to mention completely ignore Winston's politeness.
She looked down to see that a video had loaded up, and and her heart fell…
If this man really had them on video… then there was no way they could ever talk themselves out of any consequences.
Of course she knew what would happen if she ever reactivated as an agent, but… she thought she'd have more time. If not that, then at least have a way to talk their way out of it.
She held her breath as she started the video.
It was shaky, and muffled voices echoed all around, but what caught her attention was that the camera finally settled its focus on a street.
Reinhardt was there his hammer in hand as he looked down at someone else, someone with a cape.
Nate.
When they fought in Korea.
Shit shit shit.
She watched as the scene unfolded and her anxiety started to sky rocket.
Yet through her paranoia she noticed the way the camera started to shake, how words were said that she didn't understand and only moments before she knew she would appear in the fight, the camera swerved away from the scene and down towards the floor, showing only tile as the video came to an end.
Relief washed over her and she felt her chest deflate. If it had shown her fighting Nate, then there really would've been nothing they could do to deny Overwatch's reformation.
However, with only two of their 'former' ranks shown in the video, Angela and Reinhardt respectively, she could simply divert the attention elsewhere.
"When was this taken?" She asked, feigning surprise in her voice and furrowed brow.
The mans eyes locked with hers, his suspicion obvious, but he none the less fell for her game, "a few weeks ago. South Korea's President was rather adamant about bringing in the culprits on this video to answer for property damage and the injuries sustained by several civilians."
"Was someone hurt!" She asked her eyes going wide. That day… and since, she had been so preoccupied with Talon and Nate that she hadn't even realized the possibilities of civilian casualties!
The fight had been small and continued!
Hadn't it?
"Several bystanders were hit by stray bullets, but fortunately no one died." The man sighed with a shake of his head, then at her with pursed lips, "Overwatch was shut down for a reason Ms. Oxford. If you all are operating without UN consent you are subject to prosecution to the fullest extent of international law you realize this?"
She frowned back and replied, "of course, I know that, but we were completely disbanded. I was there when it happened."
"As was I miss Oxford." The man narrow his gaze at her.
She blinked and cursed in her mind, her thoughts runing rampant as she tried to remember the day and place the man.
"Then you should realize," Winston stepped forward, shattering her thoughts, "we both understand the consequences of breaking the laws of the PETRAS act."
"So then I'm assuming you have no idea where Ms. Angela and Mr. Reinhardt are?" The man crossed his arms.
"When I heard from Reinhardt, he was in Germany, and that was weeks ago." Winston smoothly interjected.
Technically he wasn't lying…. they had heard from him a few weeks ago that he was in Germany, and that was right before they told him they were reforming Overwatch.
They were walking a thin line… one wrong word and it'd be over for all of them.
"What about Dr. Zieglar?" The man asked, "she was present as well."
"Last I heard she was apart of the Oasis initiative,' Winston replied, "have you checked there?"
For a moment Lena wondered whether or not he was going to mention Nate. Granted, Nate was an unknown to the UN so maybe they assumed he was a Talon agent, or some new evil maniac like Doomfist.
The man didn't reply to Winston's taunt, and shook his head, "look you're an intelligent fellow, and you and I both understand the consequences of agents becoming reactive. Oxford here was already reprimanded by the British parliament for actively engaging a Talon assassin near Kings Row, but she was lucky there wasn't nearly as much public damage, and that her actions were justly qualified with the assassination of Mondatta."
"What exactly are you implying?" Winston asked, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I'm not implying anything. I'm telling you, that no operatives are to be active, and if they are, they and you, will be punished to the fullest extent of the law." The man replied, a frown etched onto his face, his feet scratching the pavement of the landing plan.
"Then you'll be disappointed." Winston replied, his face calm and collected, though a dangerous glow shined in his eyes.
"I bet not." The man grinned, "see they didn't just send me here to warn you or shoot out false threats."
With a quick flick of the wrist the man pulled a letter from his coat, and handed it to Winston.
The ape stared at the letter distastefully before taking it, a sixth sense warning him of his disapproval. Large fingers pried the paper open and he quickly read the contents.
Lena watched as her friends very shoulders dropped and his eyes filled with rage and defeat all at once.
"Win-"
"Where's the hearing going to take place?" The Ape asked, his had clenching the paper and his his nostrils flared with heavy, angry breaths.
The man wasn't threatened and simply replied, "in Vienna. At least one hundred and ten countries will be there, and there'll be plenty of security."
"If we don't show?"
"Then you and the others will be considered enemies of the state by every sovereign nation present at the hearing."
Winston growled and crumbled the paper in his fist, and Lena blinked nervously at her larger friends sudden spike of anger. The ape took a step forward and the body language of the guards hinted at their anxiety, that and the fact they all took a step back and their index fingers hovered over the triggers of their weapons.
"Then we'll be there. I'll find a way to get in contact with the others." The scientist responded, and with that he stood taller and his presence indicated that this… meeting, was over.
The man simply puffed out his chest and nodded once, "see that you do," before turning away and walking towards the helicopters.
His guards followed him, and the pilots began a whirl of activity in the cockpits of their respective vehicles.
Lena let out a frustrated sigh as she watched them board their vehicles, "what a git."
"Hmph." Winston agreed with an agitated huff.
The sound of engines crackling to life and the propellers powering up filled the air. They watch for a few brief moments as the helicopters lifted slowly off the ground, till they finally hovered over the helipad briefly then flew up and away.
They watched for a few moments as the helicopters faded into the distance.
Then her friend glanced at her, "get the others."
She nodded.
Maybe… just maybe, they could would find a way out of this.
I stood against the wall, arms crossed and a frown etched upon my face as I observed the scene.
So watching them argue with the UN rep. had been.. sort of, entertaining, but when they called us down to meet, and by us I mean everyone minus Hana and Lucio, well I figured whatever had been on that letter was bad.
And now the members of Overwatch were sitting around a large table, McCree had his feet up, Angela-I mean Angel- looked flustered, the dude in giant armor was pissed, Winston with his hands under his chin, Tracer was rubbing her temples, Mei was tapping her fingers sadly against the table, I had no idea where terminator was, and the dwarf man was contemplating exploding. Well at least from the constipated look he had, he seemed about ready to burst.
But to be fair, the bomb Winston dropped wasn't a light one…
The were all being called in to be present at what was going to be a hearing for the remnants of Overwatch.
Apparently the letter described it as a… jury hearing, where the reps. would basically decide if the actions Angel and the others took in Rio and South Korea were worth it and completely justifiable.
I guess it was fortunate that Tracer and I weren't caught or seen at the Talon base that exploded.
God only knows how much trouble we'd be in for that.
"So you're saying no?" Lena asked, glancing at the cowboy sitting at the table.
He shrugged, "I ain't going to any meeting. They already said I'm an outlaw, and hell, they want me in chains asap. No way in hell am I serving myself up on a silver platter."
"And you?" Winston asked, glancing to me.
Oh yeah so they apparently wanted me to go along since I could help 'justify' their actions. Granted, in light of all the shit that's happened, their actions are very justifiable, but thats to those of us who were involved and truly understand just exactly what was happening.
Politicians on the other hand… well, depending on their agenda, they could simply state they didn't understand and we, and by we I mean Overwatch, would be shit up a creek.
"Well what exactly am I supposed to do?" I shook my head, "having me there's only gonna cause more confusion since no one really knows who I am."
"Not to mention your stories a little… interesting." Winston stated.
I caught his implication, and simply frowned.
Who told him my cover story?
Shit probably Tracer. Now I gotta deal with that.
"Interesting?" Angel asked, her eyebrows raised as she looked between us. the others follow her lead, though McCree and Mei looked more genuinely interested than the other who just looked suspicious.
"Simply put," Winston started, "chemicals are the cause of his abilities."
Her eyes went to me, "chemicals don't cause teleportation abilities, maybe enhanced physical strength and speed, but not teleportation."
"Sure, in theory," I retorted, "but I was there, and I know exactly how it felt to learn I could teleport."
Again, I ain't lying!
Seriously though, learning you just came back to life from the dead and that you can teleport and have to fight a legion of Fallen just to get to safety… well I'm sure anyone could guess how it felt.
"Theory? I've been studying human anatomy my entire life," Angela leaned forward, "I don't think theres a chemical accident that can somehow enhance someone on such a level."
"And what about terminator?" I asked, "he's a cyborg dude, thing, and he's fucking strong and fast, not to mention wield a mystical fucking sword and can cut both my armor and shield, yet you don't question him?"
"No I don't." She retorted, her eyes narrowing.
I simply glared back.
"Enough please," Mei sighed, "we need to figure this out!"
"Though I would like to discuss this further," Winston replied, to which I shot another glare because he started this, "I have to agree. We'll deal with your story later, but for now, we should focus on the hearing."
"And I still don't think I should go." I replied, no bothering to let tensions die, "not that you can make me, but if you want me to, I would be more than willing to consider it if you offered me some sort of trade."
In all honesty we could use more fuel for the ship, but we still needed to find out if there was any on this earth that would even be capable of sustaining the energy my ship requires before asking for it.
I didn't need to reveal any sort of weakness to any one here. Though from the squint Tracer gave me, I'm assuming she knew what I was going to request.
The woman then sighed, "Nathaniel, we could use your testimony. It would help to have you explain it all."
"What about the girl?" The giant asked, "she could help to honor our story!"
There were a few nods, then Winston added, "her words would help both cases, yours and ours, not to mention throw Talon in their line of sights."
I shook my head, "that totally depends on how she feels though. Like shit guys, she had a hard time seeing me, and panicked just from sleeping. Is she really fit enough to handle a trial?"
"And," Angela added, for once not glaring at me, "if they're already opposed to us, they could have a licensed psychiatrist simply diagnose her as clinically insane, or depressed, or a number of other things to discount her testimony."
"Which is why having you there would help everyone out, not to mention Lucio's story would also be a plus." Lena smoothly added, only shooting a glance at me.
A sigh left my lips, "so what? we clear all our names, make Talon a wanted terrorist organization, and have Hana, what? Put under police protection or something?"
"Something like that." Winston grumbled, his eyes focused on the table as he thought.
The group went quiet and a few eyes glanced to me, each one waiting for my response.
I shook my head again, "whatever, I'll testify for you all on two conditions."
"Vhat conditions?" The dwarf asked with a frown.
I raised one finger, "one, I get to stay here and won't be arrested by anyone, no matter what got it?"
There was silence so I raised a second finger, "two, I have another favor I get to use at a moment of my choosing,"
Immediately Angela began to speak up but I kept going, "no, it won't be for anything illegal, or malicious, I'll just need supplies, but what those supplies are I'll let you know when the time comes."
The groups eyes were set on me, but with a hearty laugh McCree simply shrugged and relented, "ehhaha why the hell not? He ain't gone against his word so far, and it ain't like we're in any position to bargain."
"Fine," Winston agreed, huffing again and turning back to Angela, "do you think Hana will be able to travel in time for the hearing?"
"It's in three days right?"
He nodded, and I simply shook my head again.
Personally I thought the last thing Hana needed was to be grilled by an entire room of politicians but hell if she's up for it then who am I to judge.
"I'll speak to her," Angela frowned, "but I honestly don't know if revealing her will be a good thing, it could force Talon to act upon whatever scheme they already have in place."
"Please," I rolled my eyes, "they've already been acting since the moment I arrived. I've dealt with them like five times already, and now you want to be cautious? Obviously its a little late for that."
"What I'm saying is we shouldn't escalate hostilities further," she glared at me, "we don't want more casualties like Hana's, not until we know what their endgame is and how to stop it."
"Hold the fuck up," I raised a hand and stepped forward, my mouth a gap from her statement, "so you're saying that having Talon running around, hurting people, innocent people, like Hana and Lucio, is okay?"
She started, "that's not-"
"Then you better get real fucking clear because that's exactly what it sounds like." I interrupted with a growl in my throat.
"What I'm saying is that we need to be careful." She shot back, though her face stayed composed despite the glare in her eyes. "They've had time to prepare, we haven't."
"And thats 'specially if monkey boys theory 'bout them kidnapping and replacing people is true." McCree added.
"Who knows what kind of damage they could do if it is." Mei added with a frown.
I pursed my lips, "I agree, but saying that we need to just let Talon run around is nonsense."
"That is not what-"
"Oh will you both just stuff it!" Tracer snapped, her voice breaking through our argument like a razor sharp knife cutting through a stick of butter. "It doesn't matter what we did, or what Talon did, it's done!"
She sucked in a deep breath before continuing, "we just need to get through this hearing, then we can deal with Talon. They're not going anywhere right? So stop getting your trousers in a twist and stop bloody fighting!"
I blinked once, and simply shrugged. "do what you want, but we gotta make sure we keep Hana close. I wouldn't be surprised if they still want her dead."
"Agreed," Winston entered in a comfortable rumble, "now we make sure she's willing to participate then we build a defense around yours, hers, and Lucio's testimonies, and we add on any sort of Talon conspiracies to build more credibility."
"That's not much of a defense," I added.
"It's better then nothing." McCree replied.
Winston then continued for him, "which is why we'll keep building our defense over the next few days. Between all of us I'm sure we'll find something concrete that'll keep us above water."
His words ended with a comfortable silence, and the group simply nodded, even I nodded. No matter how shitty we had all been to each other, I would admit that I'd rather have Overwatch around and capable of fighting Talon than to be doing it alone.
Doing it alone hadn't been going very well if I was being honest.
"Then tomorrow morning we'll begin preparations for our defense." Winston said with final, tired smile.
"All right," I locked my hands and stretched my arms above my head, "well, if you need me I'm gonna take a nap, knock if you need me."
And with that as my beautiful exit, I simply walked out, doors automatically opening and closing for me.
I walked about ten feet before I stared 'talking' to Dig.
"Dig, are there any cities nearby that the black box dumped info to?"
"Well, like I said, it was all over the globe. Nearest place would be… one sec…" His voice echoed though my head, and I ignored my sixth sense telling me about the people walking behind me, "Berlin. Huh. Convenient. I got a trace leading there, but I've only narrowed it down to a ten block radius."
I let a soft nod rock through my skull.
"Awesome. How far's Berlin on the sparrow?"
He was quiet for a second.
"Three hours, well more like two and half with the booster… wait, you're not going to sleep are you?"
"Nope." I chuckled in my head, "someone's gotta figure out what they're up to."
See I never agreed to worrying about Talon later, I said 'do what you want'.
I could deal with both these things at once.
"And let me guess, I'm supposed to keep the AI and everyone else busy while you supposedly sleep?"
"Oh yeah."
"Fuck me…"
Rain poured down all around me. It bounced off my armor, breaking apart in brilliant flashes as lighting accompanied the water, a perfect contract and display of light against the black sky of night.
Puddles formed on the sidewalks below, splashing as what few civilians remained outside rushed home.
My eyes scanned the streets, the building, and every nook and cranny around.
Crackz!
Lightning flashed and thunder roared behind me as I stretched my neck once again.
I sat in a crouch, and my feet twitched in anticipation from my viewpoint atop a grocery store.
"It's the only building with any sort of heavy internet connection and the only one with any sort of hard wired server."
"Are you sure?" I asked, slightly unsure of how I felt about breaking into a school. "It's a school…"
"Well I already broke into the servers of Verizon, and Microsoft. Neither of their stores in the area have the capabilities to store or receive that kind of info. At least, not from what I could tell. Also, theres the fact the rest of this area is either pharmacies or grocery stores so unless one of those stores with teenagers as cashiers, or the suburban homes of middle class families count as a hub of info for a international terrorist organization, this is the only qualified place."
I frowned as my weapon appeared on my back. "It's still a school…"
"A community College with the capabilities of hosting Talon. What else do you want man?"
My hand wrapped around the butt of my gun and I slung it off my back and into my arms. I flicked the safety off.
The school was indeed advanced. The building was two stories, but spanned at least two blocks with various grass scathed areas, and massive see through windows revealing common areas and long, intricate hallways on the very edge of the campus.
About six cars sat in the parking lot and one person was hurriedly rushing through the downpour towards one of said cars, so that meant there was about five people inside.
Easy enough.
I blinked off the roof and towards the school, lightning once more flashing through the sky and blanketing the sky and earth in a flash of white light as I reappeared on the street.
Boots slammed into the streams of water rushing down the pavement, and my cape fluttered widely as the wind howled and thunder roared its challenge once more. I started forward, my boots making almost no sound as the storm and what few cars drove by drowned out any sound I could possibly make.
Then a minute or two later I found myself walking on the sidewalk, right up to the main doors of the school's campus.
The rain only increased in its ferocity, and now sheets of liquid projectiles tumbled form the sky with monstrous winds throwing them onto the earth. It was as if the ancient God Poseidon was pissed at the world and decided to dump the ocean on us.
Or it was the fact that there was a serve storm covering the northern half of Germany.
The glass doors flashed with light, my silhouette darkening the frame and path into the school.
"You know, this would make a great horror movie." Dig chirped through my internal speakers.
"Eh," I looked at the doors and gently pressed on the handle, "last good horror movie we saw was dead space."
Locked, as expected.
I raised my hand and Sol erupted around my palm, fire flickering to life, steaming in the air as the rain vaporized before it even reached me.
"The live action or animated?"
"The one with Jaden Smith Jr." I grunted and pressed my hand against the glass.
Fire heated the center of the glass, and slowly yet surely it began to grow a bright orange as I fueled more light into the fire of Sol. The molten material grew weak and the moment I pulled my hand away it fell in a puddle at my feet, the rain rapidly cooling it and forcing steam to rise into the air for a few seconds before it hardened.
"That one sucks."
With the integrity of the rest of the glass door compromised I gently tapped on the glass and it cracked before falling apart.
"It's better than that shit of a movie called the Justice league." I replied as stepped through the door frame and into the schools lobby.
Wind and rain flew into the lobby after me, drenching the first few feet of tile with water.
Dig gasped, "that was a classic! The music, the CGI! All of it was top notch!"
"It was garbage, and not only hot garbage, but a steaming, rotting pile of hot garbage." I hissed, my steps silent as I walk thorough the lobby, past couches, tables and chairs towards a nearby hallway. "Anyway, whats the location of the server?"
"Second floor at the far end."
"Great."
I sighed and continued on, turning the corner and starting down the next hall. I'd just find stairs at the end of the first floor then head up.
The hall was dark, and silent and nothing but my boots could be heard the further in we got. Doors lined the hall, other hallways sprouting off from the sides and further away, and even every now and then, another common area popped up.
I turned another corner, this one to my left.
Beep.
I froze as a unknown popped up on my radar.
Fifteen meters ahead and to my right.
"Dig? Anything on security cameras?"
"Nope. No cameras in the commons areas and if I'm reading the blueprints to the building right then that's whats up there. Wonder if its a student?"
"Here this late? Doubt it." I huffed and I silently raised my weapon, my center of mass lowering as I stared froward, hugging the left wall.
Soft sounds, thuds and wisps of heavy breath started to become audible the closer I got to the next corner, and for a moment I was reminded of the time when Marco and I ambushed a Fallen squad deep in the Istvar Sink.
I stopped at the edge of the corner, and slowly peaked around to see-
Dark shapes against a wall.
"Oh shit Daniel!"
"Fuck!"
I turned back around, heat burning in my cheeks.
"Dig did I-"
"So that's what teachers do during their time off. Huh. Ah hahahaha!" He laughed.
I shivered. "Good lord they could at least get a room."
"Ahhh haha ha. Dude I totally recorded your face."
"Fuck you man."
"Nah they're doing enough of that! Hahahaha!" His laughter continued and I simply groaned before backtracking.
"Just find me a set of stairs… I don't want to run into anymore…. surprises." I lowered my weapon and followed as Dig laughed, but at least he set a waypoint on my visor.
I followed the path down another hall before hopping up a set of stairs and to the second floor. It wasn't much different. Windows, flashing lightning, the thud of rain, and common area with closed doors to actual classrooms and offices.
Boring overall.
So imagine my surprise when see through walls, aka glass walls, showed up at the end of the hall and rows upon rows of computers sat inside.
But before any of that, what I saw as I walked into the larger gallery/common area right before the computer room… or class, whichever it was, and I stopped mid step as a single monitor lit the area.
A girl- no, a woman… well fuck I actually can't see any details of her face- sat on one of the couches, legs tucked under her and laptop sitting on the arm of the chair as she typed away.
It looked uncomfortable, but eh. Who knows.
"So do we approach or-"
"Ich kann dich sehen." A soft, yet pleasant voice popped up from the girls position.
"What?" I asked, the hold on my gun tightening just in case.
"She said she can see you." Dig informed me in my head now instead of my helmet, and I rolled my eyes.
"Well, it'd be nice if my translator was on right now wouldn't it?"
The voice zehn asked, "Bist du nur dort stehen, and stare?"
Took long enough Dig.
"Sorry, I don't speak German." I replied stepping forward.
The girl/woman, simply looked up from her computer and towards me, the light of the computer was enough to barely illuminate her face, but I could see pale skin and freckles. Plus, either her eyes were blue, or she was looking at something blue.
"Ah. American." She muttered before looking back to her computer. She had a hoodie on, which was enough to keep most of her features hidden from me in the dark room.
"Sorry?" I asked, "I'm also not american." At least I didn't think I was?
Fuck if I know.
"Hmph." She mumbled, ignoring me now and returning to whatever it is she was doing.
I shook my head and started forward, headed to the waypoint which was located inside the computer room.
"Miss the exit for comic con?" The girl suddenly pipped up.
By this point I was a lot closer to her and was able to see her blue eyes and the edges of her blonde hair sticking out form under the hood.
"Comic con?" I asked, continuing forward with only the slightest inclination of my head to show her I was listening.
Her eyes landed on my gun and for a moment I felt self conscious as she obviously stared to feel uncomfortable.
She didn't reply, but pulled her legs out from under her and sat up straighter.
"So remind me never to take you out to a bar in armor. You're making blondie here freak out." Dig stated and I sighed.
"So what're you doing here?" I asked, continuing forward to the door of the computer room. I tugged at the handle.
Locked. Of course.
She didn't reply immediately and kept her focus on me. "You wouldn't happen to know about any sort of signal dump to this school would you?"
I blinked once and slowly turned around, eyeing her carefully as she in one sentence guessed almost exactly why I was here.
"Why do you ask?" I stated softly, my finger hovering over my trigger.
Sure she was small, probably about Tracer's height, but that comparison alone proves how dangerous anyone can be.
Add to that the fact she knew why I was here and-
"Because the staff asked me to look into their systems lag time. It increased about fifty fold over the past week, so I came in." She narrowed her gaze at me as she got up, leaving her computer on the chair.
"Dig?" I asked in my head.
"Hold up. Scanning facial features… running search…."
Her breathing was controlled, but I saw her hand slip behind her back. From the way her hand tensed up it could've been anything. A gun, a knife, even pepper spray.
But raising my gun would only provoke her.
I don't want to accidentally kill a civilian.
"Her names Sofia Hester. She's speaking truthfully if Facebook and the other three social sites she's apart of are anything to go by. She's a freelance computer hacker, though she had a contract with the german government a few months back."
I sighed in relief and lowered my gun fully so it was dangling by my side. "I've been tracking the same signal dump for a while now. I was on an undercover op, tried hacking into something that ended up dumping its info all over."
I threw a thumb over my shoulder and at the computer room. "Guess where trail number one lead me."
"Hmph." She nodded and relaxed, though her hand stayed behind her back. "that other girl said the same thing."
My head tilted to the side a little bit. "What girl?"
"Dark skinned with half a shaved head? Friend of yours?"
"Not that I know of." I asked shaking my head.
Suddenly the lights turned on and I glanced up as did Sofia.
There was a crackle, and suddenly the intercoms came to life, "boop."
"Dig what the-"
Thoom!
The lights instantly died, shattering, and sparks flew everywhere, the computers behind us fried like an egg as sparks cascaded from the sides and fronts, Sofia's laptop burst into sparks, and my shields suddenly depleted.
"What thum Teufel!" Sofia roared in german and english, my translator failing slightly as my visor flickered between life and death.
"Dig what the hell was that?"
"Local EMP, but advanced and weaponized. Hell, it even managed to affect your armors systems!"
I snapped my gun up and immediately scanned everything around me, Sofia freaked and threw herself to the ground, but she was fine since I obviously wasn't trying to kill her.
"Nate two things, one local police chatter has an entire division plus swat on their way, two, we have three unknown helicopters coming in from the south."
"What about the signal?"
"Gone when that EMP went off… I think it was a fake."
"A set up." My eyes went wide, and I leapt forward, grabbing Sofia by the arm and hosting her up, my eyes however stayed on our surroundings.
Something thudded against my armor and I looked down as a small pocket knife failed to breach my chest plate. I huffed out an annoyed breath at the girl who gulped when she looked up at me.
"Really? I'm obviously not here to hurt you." I informed her and relaxed.
She took a step back and I started forward with, "we need to go."
"Why?" though she followed me and managed to keep pace and started into a slow jog.
"Because obviously one of us was set up, and if it was me, then the people coming to finish the job are going to kill you without any sort of hesitation, and I'd rather not have your death on my conscious." I bluntly replied.
The stairs came into view as Sofia started, "vhat? That makes no sense! It was just a DOS attack!"
"Doubt it." I replied, as I hopped down the stairs and Sofia hurriedly followed. "Whoever set this up, wanted me here, and you shouldn't… oh fuck."
I grimaced as stopped for a second and Sofia gasped from behind me.
You know those teachers from earlier?
They were both still naked but they were both on the ground dead. Throats slit.
Well shit.
"Okay so we need to go now!" I growled and raised my weapon, arc swirling around me, "stay close to me if you want to live."
Sofia didn't reply, but my tracker told me she got closer to me by a few feet at least.
I started forward, my weapon and eyes sweeping every area in front of me and to my sides as we headed straight for the front door.
Sparking lights and computers that we passed assured me that the whole school had been wiped, which meant that any security footage of either me or whoever the assassin was, was gone.
At least that's one less thing to worry about. Kinda.
We hit the front common area, the massive glass paned windows shattered, and rain poured in from the outside, the flashing lights of police cars in the distance signaling that the authorities were near.
The rain didn't stop us, neither did the broken glass, so we ran, Sofia close behind me as we vaulted through the open doorframe I had created earlier.
We made it outside, feet bouncing off the wet grass, and stated towards the parking lot as-
"Incoming!"
I glanced to my right and a rocket soared from the sky down towards me through the rain and wind.
I had about three seconds.
I grabbed Sofia by the arm, my arc power slightly burning her jacket and tossed her behind me onto the grass, Raze Lighter appearing on my back.
Two seconds.
I grabbed my sword and spun it off my back.
One second.
I powered up the Sol shield and- my eyes went wide.
I had no personal shields!
Boom!
Sheer force and fire threw me backwards, shrapnel imbedding itself in my side and I hit the ground hard, flipping twice before I came to a stop and the hilt of my sword flew out of my hand.
"Gah." I coughed and red specks showed up on at the bottom of my visor.
"You've got some internal bleeding. You're healing should take care of it, but you've got more incoming!"
I glanced back to Sofia, who was coughing as she stood up, holding her side as blood leaked from it.
The pained expression she had though was clear, so no head trauma, or nothing sever enough to cause her to blackout. I took the brunt of the blast, so thank God she made it.
I looked up and saw three back shapes against the storm, lighting giving them an eerie look as they headed straight for us.
My eyes turned to the parking lot as red and blue lights flashed and several police cars just started to pull into the parking lot. Through the rain I couldn't see what the officers were doing but I have a feeling they were calling for back up.
You didn't just see an explosion and not call for back up.
"Get to the police now! I'll draw them off!" I ordered to Sofia and she followed my gaze.
I raised my rifle at the flying vehicles, "go now!"
I fired off a few shots. Whether or not they hit I didn't know, but it made Sofia run and ensured that I would be the only target. Or at least I hoped it did.
"Dig, sparrow!" I felt him confirm and as I spun and started to run, my sparrow appeared about twenty feet in front of me. I blinked forward, and landed on my ride, my feet hitting the sides and my hand throttling the machine forward.
Rain splattered against my helmet, and-
Rat tat at tat tat at ta at tat!
Even the rain and wind couldn't drown out the sound of automatic gunfire.
Adrenaline rushed through my veins. My heart pumped faster as gunfire roared all around me.
I could hear them hit the grass, and then the pavement as the bullets chased me across and into the street.
Siren's filled the air.
Ta ata tat at ta ta atat!
They hit water as the puddles exploded near me, as pavement blistered apart and into millions of piece and as cars that I drove through were hit, dings echoing through the air and screeches singling the fact the drivers were veering off the road and away from me as I shot through traffic and bullets followed me.
"Dig, give me something!"
"We're not gonna be able out run them!" He spoke in my helmet, mumbling as he obviously tried to calculate a way out of this.
"No shit! They're in helicopters!" I hissed back.
I hit the brakes and banked a hard left around a corner as the bullets suddenly decreased in ferocity, and hit the boost to launch myself forward. My sparrow took me through the suborn neighborhood, racing down the streets as rain continued to fall.
The gunfire stopped for a moment then restarted, but this time it was more focused. I swerved once then twice as bullets barely missed my sides.
"Boogies on your left and right!"
I glanced behind me as the helicopters flanked me on both sides, the third one trailing behind me.
"Find me a park!" I ordered, hitting the boost as I drove onto the sidewalk, hit a bump and used the boost to launch myself upward and onto a small car that I used as ramp to launch myself across the median and into another parking lot.
Thank God tech stores weren't too packed on rainy days.
Dig groaned, "yes a park! Great idea!"
"Just do it!"
I ducked as my sixth sense warned me, and several high caliber rounds flew over my head and ripped into the cars I roared past, which were the only cars in the parking lot.
Screams filled the air and I hope to God that none of this shit any civilians.
Granted, it was raining but you never know!
"Waypoint's set."
I simply glanced at the waypoint, and banked hard right, driving straight in front of an oncoming car, which I barley managed to avoid with a boost.
The roar of high powered engines filled the air, and gun fire accompanied them.
Rat at ta at atat at ata tat!
"Shit!" I yelled as pain ripped through my side and I flinched. "Fuck me!"
I knew I'd been hit, but seeing as I was still functioning, I knew I'd be fine for at least a bit.
Thunk!
I jerked as my sparrow shook and leapt up a few feet from hitting a sign and I was forced to realign myself as I started towards the park.
My hands tightened on the throttle and I lowered myself closer as a hiss flew by my ear and machine gun fire continued to rain down.
Puddles continued to explode.
Car's started honking.
More sirens filled the air.
Bullets.
Dig scolding me.
Ha!
And that jackass though South Korea was a mess!
I hit the brake and spun around, firing up the boosters as the park came into sight.
"Yes get us into a giant park so we can play fetch with them! Great fucking idea!" Dig yelled as I hit the throttle once more and made a U-turn around a light, evading traffic and bursting off into the park.
It was large, at least large enough that there were trees all around, and there were enough to cover a football field if my guess was right.
Trees rushed by and I glanced back to ensure my tail was still on me.
They were, though they started to elevate because of the trees.
"Get me Gjallarhorn." I grinned and felt my the weapon appear on my back.
"Oh…. So this is why you chose the park."
I landed in my room… well my room in the Overwatch base, and started forward with a limp, blood trailing down my side and my leg as I leaned against a wall and groaned.
"Fuck me."
"Well you're the dumb ass that decided to fight three helicopters in close quarters combat with fucking a rocket launcher!"
I ignored my ghosts jab and my armor disappeared.
A pack of sealing gel appeared on my bed and I grunted as I forced myself to sit down, holding my side with one hand as the other grabbed the packet.
I ripped it open and a few minutes later, I was patched up.
Well relatively patched up.
Dried blood stained my skin, a pained frown etched upon my face, stitches hanging from my wounds not covered by gel, and a large piece of shrapnel sitting on the floor with fresh blood.
Piece of shit got lodged in me when I blew up the lead helicopter.
"And to think we didn't even get our hands on a freaking lead." I growled as I kicked the small fragment of metal and winced as my side throbbed.
"Well, at least what's her name lived."
I nodded softly, "yeah, at least we saved one person."
"Speaking of saving someone, Hana's awake, and so is Lucio…" His voice trailed off, then started softer, "wanna talk to her?"
Knock, knock, knock!
I looked to the door and frowned.
Now who the fuck could-
"It's the cheerleader."
I closed my eyes and sighed.
Guess Hana and Lucio would have to wait a few minutes.
Plus… this was literally the last thing I needed to worry about!
I had literally twenty other things that were more important to do! First of which is trying to figure out who the fuck set a trap for me and how the fuck they managed to trick me and Dig!
Obviously its Talon who wants me dead, but why do it in a public place? Why do any of this so openly!
Like a sniper in a good nest when I'm out in the open would be a far easier option!
Second thing!
Well… Hana and Lucio obviously.
"Nathaniel I know you're awake. Open the door." Her voice was muffled from behind the door and I rolled my eyes before standing up.
Seriously what did she want.
Clothes, a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, appeared over me, then I walked over to the door and it opened.
The metal creaked and I stared at the woman with uninterested eyes.
She frowned and stood with crossed arms.
"Care to explain?" She asked unfolding her arms and pulling up a video.
It was of Berlin.
Well shit.
Wait how did she find out!?
"Dig…"
"I didn't tell her!"
"You have about ten seconds to explain why you were in Berlin and why for the love of God you were in a firefight, before I get the others and we lock you up till the trial." The fire in her eyes told me she wasn't kidding, and personally I'd rather not fight all of them for the risk of A, dying, or B, killing one of them.
I sighed, "remember that stupid little box I told you about in South Korea?"
She squinted, but I could tell she was racking her memories for some sort of recognition. "No?"
I sighed again, this time stepping back into my room and towards the bed. I plopped down on it and the mattress creaked. "I probably didn't even mention it to you. Too much shit happening all the time now."
Then with a big breath I continued, "remember in South Korea how I was fighting that sniper chick?"
She nodded, her fierce features calming down every second.
Good.
Maybe she'll believe me.
"Okay well, I stumbled upon something…. a black box so to speak with plenty of sensitive files from Talon. Long story short, it fried itself whenever Dig and I tried to open it, and dumped its files all over the globe."
"When?" She asked.
"Pft," I blew my lips, "a couple weeks ago? It destroyed itself not long after we fought in South Korea. Ka put. No more."
"And Berlin was a….?"
"It was a lead. Dig managed to track part of the signal from when the box dumped its contents, and so we followed a trail to a school in Berlin."
"A school?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah it was a set up. Someone managed to replicate either a fake signal, or simply got there before us and took the info before setting a trap for us. They're also really dedicated to killing me, cause if they weren't, then sending three helicopters after me was overkill."
Her eyes went wide, "bloody hell…"
"Yeah, you're telling me." I chuckled, but pain danced through me and I coughed.
"Great," she sighed, "so now we have to explain to the UN why our witness destroyed half of Berlin." She slunk against a wall.
"Hey I didn't destroy Berlin!" I scoffed, grunting as I scooted to the side and she took the offer and came and sat next to me a frown on her face, "did anyone get hurt?"
"There were a few injuries, most of them superficial, but no one died. Fortunate considering you had three fully armed helicopters aiming for you." She huffed.
I grimaced, "well, at least we know that Talon's onto me and Dig."
She nodded her head, then replied, "fortunate enough for us, that the German President is a friend. She'll let you off once you explain yourself, but…" her voice faded off and I glanced at her with narrowed eyes.
Her face steeled its resolve and she looked at me with hard eyes, "if you run off like that again love, then we'll have to detain you. You can't go running around like that, especially if Talon's gunning for you."
I rolled my eyes, "like I said earlier I don't-"
"I get it. You're not one of us," she shook her head and stood up, "but you're helping us right?"
I nodded once, not entirely sure where she was going with this.
"Then act like it. The more horse shit, like this, you do, the worse off we are. Same goes for Hana. No one's gonna believe you about anything if you keep running around with a stick shoved up your arse, acting all big and bad!"
She opened her mouth to continue, but I guess she thought better of it and instead turned around to the door. One hand held her up against the door frame and she glanced back at me, "I'll talk to Winston and the others, just… don't do anything else so stupid. I can't keep vouching for you, you know…"
And with that she walked out.
I rubbed the back of my neck and walked to the door, glancing down the hall after her.
She was gone and I leaned again the door frame with a grimace.
Maybe she was right.
After all, I was from a different Earth, and she voted for me when we came here. Then the UN showed up and if she vouched for me in front of them, and if I kept fucking up, then her word would mean jack shit.
I'd ruin any chances of her being okay, and myself. Not to mention Hana's fate in all this.
I was her kidnapper after all, in the eyes of the press.
If I wasn't trustworthy, and if the only other people who trusted me were deemed untrustworthy…
Well we'd just be making Talon's job even easier than it already was.
"Well she was-" Dig started.
"She was kinda right…" I interrupted, "I said I'd help, and fucking around like this isn't helping anyone."
"We're trying to help Hana aren't we?"
"Yeah…" I huffed and started down the hall, "and the very person we're trying to help can't even look at me without being reminded of the fact she was almost raped."
Speaking of said person I was gonna go see her.
At the very least, see her breathing with my own eyes. It was… comforting, to see that she was at least alive…
I failed at protecting her, but… maybe I could succeed at keeping her alive.
"So what do we do?" Dig asked, his proud voice, far more somber then I'd heard it in a long time.
"Well…" I popped my neck, and rubbed my side, the ache reminding me of how fresh the wound really was, "we keep going. We fuck up Talon, but we stop fucking around."
I passed the mess hall, to which the lights were…. on? Wasn't it like three in the morning?
I shook my head and continued talking to Dig, "we can't afford to lose the only friends we have here."
I'd lost enough already.
"Aww. Is Nate going soft on Tracer?"
And the shit head was back.
I frowned, "I'm not going soft on no one you ass!"
"Please, you're as soft as a tomato."
I laugh out loud, "that makes literally zero sense."
"What! Have you ever had a rotten tomato? Like, the pictures of that shit are disgusting."
Again, I could only shake my head as I passed the mess hall, lights flickering off, "so that's what you do in your spare time? Look up pictures of rotten tomatoes?"
"What else am I supposed to do when you sleep?"
"I don't know! Figure out ways to beat Talon!"
He scoffed, "I'm a super advanced AI with mystical abilities… you don't think I'm doing that constantly? I can run through so many different programs at once that I'd make your mind break from even trying to comprehend it all."
Shadows moving in the dark…
"And I'm a magical guardian who can't die."
A visor. A hand.
Unending darkness…
I grit my teeth as movement in the dark brought to life green, glowing eyes.
I could feel my ghost grow calm, "bad memories?"
Mentally I waved off his comment, "yeah, not you're fault. I just keep seeing shit."
"I know, and for whatever reason I'm not seeing in, and we're linked mentally." He sounded down right worried. Not that I blame him at all.
Seeing shit, even as a Guardian, wasn't a normal thing. Especially if its your dead girlfriend and green fire.
"Weird right?"
"Nathaniel."
I froze, the voice belonging to someone I didn't expect. I blinked and looked in front of me, squinting through the darkness and at blonde locks of hair and brown eyes staring at me with nor more empathy than a rock.
"Angel." I stated, my voice even as I stepped back form her, her clothes a simple set of scrubs.
I glanced around for a second and realized that I was in her way, if her bowl of cereal and general direction were indeed indicating her path to the mess.
"Sorry," and I side stepped her.
"Apology accepted." She mechanically responded, though there was a minuscule amount of frustration painting her voice. She didn't bother to look at me as she continued on her path, leaving me alone and to my thoughts without even a glance.
I frowned as she retreated, but pushed any thoughts concerning her away, and continued down towards the medbay.
"She really doesn't like you…"
"The feelings mut-"
"Nathaniel," the angels voice pierced my thoughts again.
I glanced back and saw her glancing back at me. She still seemed rather hollow to me, but for a moment her eyes grew soft and she said, "she doesn't hate you."
And with that she turned, and walked away.
"Huh…" Dig mumbled, impressed.
I didn't reply and watched her go, till finally she entered the mess and was out of sight. I sighed and continued on my way.
It was a quick trip to the medbay, and no one else was apparently up, so I went completely uninterrupted.
The doors were completely gone.
"Winston took them down earlier since you kind of blasted through most of them." Dig informed me.
Without a word I peeked inside to see whether or not Hana, or Lucio, was still awake after the talk I had with Tracer.
The room was dark with nothing but a few calm, blue lights at the ends of the room on. On the other hand, Hana was sitting up in her bed with a tablet in hand, the white screen announcing her presence louder than even a gun shot could.
Okay well maybe thats exaggerated but you get the point.
Knowing she was awake I sauntered in, and looked for Lucio. He was fast asleep, and I looked towards Hana, and made my footsteps slightly louder as I approached.
Her head shot up as she heard me and for a split second I could see her heart rate shoot up, but she smiled, "hey."
"Hey Hana." I responded with a soft grin, taking a seat on the bed next to her. "How are you?"
She sighed, the smiling partially fading, as she then continued, "fine. Just… tired."
I laughed, "then why aren't you asleep?"
She shot me a glare, and for a moment I thought I had unintentionally crossed a line, but the glare turned playful and she rolled her eyes at me, "because I slept all day, and I'd rather play a game."
Her head turned back to her tablet and I watched as her eyes burned with determination, and her fingers flew faster than I though possible.
I blinked and leaned closer, turning my head awkwardly to see what game it was.
"It's called Pyramid run." She suddenly spoke, though her eyes never left the screen.
"Looks fun…" I stated, slightly impressed as her avatar in game maneuvered through impossible mazes at earth dying speeds.
We were silent for a few moments, then her shoulders sagged and her eyes closed as she placed her tablet down on her lap.
She sucked in a few deep breaths before she opened her eyes back up and looked at me, "I'm really sorry about earlier."
I'm sure a look of confusion crossed my face because she frowned and looked away.
"Hana, its fine. Seriously." I replied, sitting back before continuing, "don't apologize for something like that. It wasn't your fault."
It was faint, but her lip quivered and she refused to look at me.
Again silence overtook us, and for a moment it felt like my stay was cut short.
My nostrils flared as I huffed out a huge breath, and I placed my hands on my knees, preparing to leave when she spoke up, "do you want to watch a movie?"
Her eyes met mine, and though there was pain, there was sorrow, there was sadness…
But she smiled, and she pointed her tablet to face me.
"Avengers?"
I gave her a warm smile.
"Down."
A/N So here we go. So we've got a several issues.
One… time is not my friend because work sucks and I have no time anymore…. -_-
Two… I'm finishing up my book so thats taking a lot of my time now.
Three…. Nate's been set up.
So who set up Nate? I'm assuming most of you will know, and well Talon's really gunning for him. But why attack him straight up in the middle of Berlin? What do they gain from such actions?
Also the UN sucks. And Mercy really doesn't like Nate. And Tracer, poor thing, is so confused on whats happening. Hana and Nate are friends still!
Anyway, hope this chapter was to everyone's liking. There were a few rewrites hence why it took so long.
Next chapter starts the two part finale of The Darkest Knight Part I.
If you have any questions just PM me!
Thanks for reading you all! God bless!
-Metal4k