The Darkest Knight
Part II: The Claws of Talon
Chapter 21: The Sword
"Son of a bitch..." I growled and fell back onto the couch in our hotel room, Angela frowning as she left me and headed over to her suitcase.
I grimaced as my armor left me in a sparkle of light.
No one followed you. Seems clear to me and the warehouse is safe still, no ones even gone near it. Dig informed me, though his voice was definitely tinted with worry.
Either way I nodded as the blonde reapeared next to me, a syringe in hand which she slapped into my bicep without any hesitation.
A grimace graced my face and I rasied an eyebrow at her.
She took the cue and explained, "nanites and several drugs I personally developed for a quick patch, it wont heal you overnight but itll get you moving again, enough so if we need to flee, we wont have to worry about your condition."
"Why would we flee?"
Suddenly a flash of light appeared next to us, and Dig in all his glory twirled high into the air.
It was then he spoke as Angela crossed her arms and stepped back, "Nate, they knew you. and they work with Talon. Our covers probably blown and they know your injured. I wouldn't put it past them to try something within a few hours while your resting."
The woman nodded, "I agree, which is why we needed fast acting treatment."
I frowned and sat straight even as i could feel the broken bones rubbing together, jolts of pain shooting all over me.
Still, it didn't keep me from retorting, "I don't think thats true."
When I saw Angela rasie an eyebrow and I could feel Digs confusion I held up a hand to cut off any response and continued, "think about it. If they knew me, why not target me when im not expecting it? Why wait till I'm armored and ready?"
"False sense of security?" Dig replied, though his voice held no actual belief in the statement.
I shook my head, "doubt it."
"Then its personal."
We looked to the doctor and she sighed, rubbing her temples as she spoke, "it makes sense. If they wanted you or myself they would've struck sooner while we were unprepared."
"They wanted me alone and ready." I frowned, "but that hints at personal knowledge and theyre tech... more advanced than even my own."
Not to mention weilding supernatural power...
"So what do we do?" Dig asked twirling once as his light slightly dimmed.
I pursed my lips.
Angela stood and walked towards the fridge in our room while my mind raced.
What could we do honestly?
Its not like we knew who they were, and if they hadnt revealed us to Talon or attacked us together, then it didnt make sense to run.
But heading back to Gibraltor wasnt a bad idea...
Images of fire and the kid filled my mind and I sighed.
Damnit. Gotta figure out that problem.
"We should head back to base and infrom the others."
My eyes moved to the doctor, her back to me as she stood still, eyes locked on the open fridge.
She looked... sad...
The emotion and pity I felt didn't stop my response however, "Can't. There's unfinished buisness here."
Her eyes turned to me and I continued, "found some kid getting chased down by low lifes. Low lifes hired by Talon."
Her brow furrowed.
"Why would they want a child?"
"Why did they want Hana ?" I asked back.
She grimaced, "she had said they asked her for codes? Codes they assumed she would have because of her position right?"
I nodded.
"It doesn't make sense," I sat up, my nose scrunching as my bones ached, "but, what we can bet on is that this person probably doesn't want Talon on us, at least not yet. Otherwise they would've sent someone after you too."
"Fair," the blonde nodded softly, "but its possible that if theyre desperate enough they could send dozens of other agents after you , regardless of the risk."
"Us" I sighed, "remember, they know my name, so they'll know we're here together."
"Then we assume no one is on our side."
I frowned.
What about that kid with fire? No way he was working with Talon.
Effi and Orisa?
Not a chance. The Girls too pure.
"Maybe," I replied, "At the very least, we shouldnt trust anyone who approaches us and offers us anything."
"Nor should we go anywhere alone anymore." Her gaze fixed itself on me with the smallest frown etched below it.
I rolled my eyes, "I'll be fine alone. Its you I'm worried about."
Her breathing hitched but she held her tongue and glared at me, "they knew you by name Nate. They overpowered you and cornered you alone. They're after you."
I huffed, but had no rebuttal.
I know shes right, but... damnit, that kid. He was apart of whatevers going on here, especially with those bizarre fire powers of his.
I know he didnt have light in him, it wouldve been all to easy to sense it here, but if not that... then what?
What was he?
"We need to leave." Her voice interrupted my thoughts again.
I frowned, "not yet."
She raised an eyebrow at me, and I replied with an inaudible sigh, "its not cause I don't think we shouldn't... but..."
I pursed my lips.
"I was out today chasing a lead, something Winston set me on, when there was this firefight, like actual explosion of fire and stuff. Ran over and found this robot with two kids fighting off thugs. The thugs working for Talon."
My eyes caught hers and both sets narrowed at the implication.
"I don't know what they want with him, but he has... these abilities, different enough than my own that it raises all sorts of questions."
"Then we bring him with us. The base is far more secure than this hotel, and we'll have plenty of equipment to help understand whatever these abilities are."
I shook my head, "if my attacker has intimate knowledge of me, then the base will surely become a target if im there."
"Then stay and the boy and I will leave." She shrugged.
My teeth grit together, "thanks for the concern."
"My pleasure," she huffed ignoring me and marching over to her bed.
An exasperated chuckle echoed from my throat.
"Look, you don't like me, I get it." I started, shifting on the couch to look over at her, "but we have to figure out whats going on, and taking him back to Gibraltor won't do that."
Her eyes, tinged with curiosity, flicked upwards to meet mine, "what're you saying Nathaniel?"
"Bait."
It was almost instantly that her patience vanished amd she scowled and me with clear disgust, "use a child as a distraction!"
I rolled my eyes, "please, its not that big a deal. Hana is literally doing the same thing."
"And she was happy with that?"
i glared at her, "okay well what choice do we have? Sure we save the kid by going back to base, but what if there are others like him? What if Talon has more kids?"
She was quiet but her frown never lessened.
"Look, Im not a fan of using this kid as a decoy, but what choice do we have? We have no fucking clue what Talon is up to, its only us without any real support, and we just found someone who can go toe to toe with me."
She huffed, but I ignored it and continued.
"We can lure them out. Keep the kid here. Show distrust, keep him in the open, and when they come we snag a hostage amd get any info we can."
"I doubt he'll agree."
I shrugged, "then we don't tell him. It'll make it way more believable that way."
"And leave him risking his life? The ends do not justify the mean Nathaniel!"
"Yes they do!" I laughed, but my voice lacked any joy.
She frowned and stood taller.
"You will not lay a hand on him Nathaniel. He is not a tool."
I scoffed, "or what? You gonna fight me?"
A loud thunk, and I tensed as her staff twirled once more in her hands. Where she pulled it from-
"If I must."
I scowled and with a grunt, stood up, body and bones screaming at me to sit the fuck back down.
"Then do it. I'll tie you up and leave you here while I'll deal with this." I straightened myself.
She chuckled darkly, "as you are now? A child could defeat you."
Unfortunately, she was probably right, considering how hurt I was.
But fuck I couldn't let it show!
I steeled my face and ignored the pain.
"Try me."
She tensed, her eyes zeroing in on me.
I placed one foot behind me.
"This isn't a game Nathaniel."
Ever the pacifist, she was still trying to convince me, but I saw her stance and the way she held her staff lazily at her side.
She could bring it on me in a second if she wished.
I could close the distance in less that.
But injured, I doubt I could block without hurting myself.
"I know its not, Angela." My voice mocked her.
She didn't rise to the bait.
Instead she continued, "we are not immortal. Not like you."
My eyes grew wide.
How did she-
"Did you really think Winston kept it from us? From those who are supposed to work with you? Im aware of how you sacrificed yourself to destroy the Talon base in the UK. Admirable, but foolish."
"Foolish?" I took a step forward, "foolish is thinking the world is peace amd tranquility. Foolish is not using every tool at your disposal to win."
"Even if that means you risk an innocents life?"
"Yes."
"Then I suppose you wouldnt care if Ms. Song died?"
"Well its..."
My response died in my throat.
"I didn't think you would." She sighed and rubbed her forehead, "we cant all be immortal, but we can all strive to be better than our enemies. Throwing away a life, even your own, makes you just as flawed as them. We fight to protect life. They take it without care."
I looked away.
"Can you honestly say you dont care about any of our lives enough to simply let us die?"
I frowned.
I had killed in Rio, without a second thought.
But that was against Thugs and Terrorists. People who didnt care for the innocents.
And in South Korea I had done everything in my power to save Hana Song, and innocent bystander all things considered.
Had I been blinded by my hatred for Talon?
Enough to throw away the life of an innocent boy just for information?
Nate... I gotta agree with her, this isnt the Last City. It's different rules, for fucks sake look at yours and Hana's last talk. You treated her like an immortal gauradian, and look how that went.
My shoulders tensed and ready, lowered and I looked back to Angela.
"Look," it was Dig who spoke, floating between us, "we can tell him whats happening, or at least some details. Give him part of the picture, but not the whole thing. Enough so he can agree or not. He does, then we use him. If not, we go to gibralator. Sound fair?"
I knew it wasnt, it was more of Angela's plan than mine, but his words rung true in my head.
This wasn't the last city. These people weren't Guradians.
I had to stop treating them like they were immortal.
I huffed then nodded.
"Thank you." The blonde sighed and her tension drained away into exhaustion.
I faked a smile.
"Of course."
Hana Song.
Captain. Gamer. Idol.
The pinnacle of jealousy for women, and the heart throb of men across the world.
And yet...
She turned away from the eyes of her friends.
"Okay..." Marques huffed, leaning forward in his seat, "so there was a riddle... and you figured out said riddle, and you think its asking you to steal a sword... from a muesuem..."
Ava stared at her with eyes like saucers.
Kolden coughed and turned back to his computer on the table.
Jullian was stone faced, but had a singular eyebrow raised half a centimeter.
And of course Claire...
Claire, stared at her with barely concealed shock, holding her head in one hand and one eye open in shock.
In hindsight, maybe she should've used a bit more subtlety when telling them her plan...
Waiting till they were back at the compound? Great!
Starting with 'so we need to rob a museum'... well, not so great.
She sighed and rubbed her temples as the American continued, "we're suppposed to keep our heads down. Sure, yeah okay, how is robbing a museum in another country keeping our heads down! Plus this riddle? What if its all a sham? Like, for fuck sakes Hana!"
She flinched at the anger.
"Marques, has a point. This is a real bad idea Hana. Heck, what if we're being played by this... this group that wants you? What if they want us caught?"
She frowned
All of that had already run through her head, amd honestly? She knew they were right. Logically, everything they said shouldve made her stop this madness.
But she couldn't. She needed to figure out what was going on.
"I get it," she huffed and her friends mistakenly relaxed, "but it doesnt matter. Overwatch and the miltary arent gonna keep babysitting us. We have to do this for ourselves."
"Ourselves? We could at least clear it with the general, like have you even reported to him yet? Have you even informed him we're alive?"
She grit her teeth, "okay I forgot, but its fine. Overwatch has an agent watching us, he helped me solve the riddle, so im sure the general knows were fine."
"Great, your boyfriend's here." Marques scoffed, pushing himself up and away from the table.
She scowled, "Nate is not anything to me, but its not even him. Its another agent."
Genji... but she didnt want to let that be known. It wasn't her choice.
Plus, it was her ace. If they got into it to deep, she was sure he'd bail them out.
"So what?" Claire huffed, her voice lacking both the anger and intensity of Marques's, "Overwatch is complicit?"
"More like turning a blind eye."
The blonde buried her face in her hands.
Marques sighed louder than before and turned away from her.
Ava simply looked down and Kolden huffed in annoyance.
"So whats the catch? We do this then what?"
She blinked, confusion striking her harder than a bowling twleve pins, and looked to Kolden.
He didn't meet her eyes and stared at his computer. His fingers didn't move.
"Well," she started, her voice lower than usual, "I was attacked they said they needed smart people. Brains over brawn type thing. And Im assuming me figuring out this riddle and taking this sword proves both. It'll lure them in, it'll show me whos in charge and who it is were dealing with."
"Bait then. Thats what you're doing."
She sighed, "in a sense, but not without precautions. The agent will help out if we need it, plus they don't want to kill me."
"Could've fooled me," Marques spat.
She shot the boy a glare then added, "if they did, then they would've done it in Korea. It's not like I had a load of backup when that white ninja dude attacked. They cold've ended me then and there but they didn't and I want to know why."
The boy matched her glare but failed to reply, obviously conceding to the logic.
"So when we doing this?"
All eyes shot to the resident 'nerd', Marques and Claire both looking at him like he shot someone, while Ava's expression was somewhere between shock and pride.
"You're," Claire struggled to find words, "you can't be on board with this dude! This is stupid! Like, stupider than when we decided to sneak out of that ball in Italy! Like this could land us in prison for years! Not to mention dishonorable discharge!"
Kolden shrugged and turned his eyes to Hana.
She gulped as he spoke, "would you do it without us?"
Her silence answered for her.
"Then yeah, I'm on board," he sighed and leaned back staring at the roof, "I think its a stupid as hell idea, but if there's anything I've learned, its that Hana's gonna do it by herself. I'd rather I be there to help her when shit hits the fan, than be sitting here twiddling my thumbs." He looked at Marques.
The boys cheeks grew red, having remembered his criticisms of her doing everything alone, and Hana smirked despite the veiled insults. Didn't matter if they agreed, so long as they helped. Of course, them having her back was great too.
"God dang it," Claire sighed, "fine."
Ava smiled and nodded, and Jullian simply shrugged, his ever silent persona helping to calm Hana slightly.
She looked to Marques.
He met her eyes.
Would he-
"Fuck it. Whats your plan?"
She grinned but then realized his words and her smirk instantly died, her mood taking a complete one eighty.
What was her plan?
Honestly... she didn't even think they'd say yes! She was already further along than she thought she'd get!
"Well, I wasnt really sure yet..." her voice was smaller than usual, but she huffed and continued, "but i figure we'll need a getaway driver, a distra-"
"Basically you have nothing." Koldens voice was dull and his eyes unwavering.
She frowned, "well, yes, but not really-"
"Okay," Kolden spun his laptop to face them, "you realize that this museum is one of the most secure in the world? its artifacts are priced at over 750 hundred million dollars. Dollars, not yen. Security provided by Helix, motion sensors, infared, armed gaurds and everything."
He rubbed his temple, "Hana, how the fuck are we supposed to do this?"
She pursed her lips.
Her mind raced. Kolden, to an extent, was right. Her team, expert pilots, gamers, and soldiers, none of them were master theives.
Which meant her plan had been foolish for the start. Doomed to fail.
But...
She didnt have much a choice. Sure relaxing and spending time with her team was great, but this was a mission. She had to find out who was after her.
They had the excuse of why they shouldn't do it. No one would call them cowards or say they made the wrong choice by not robbing a museum.
Still, she knew she had too.
She bit her lip.
But where did she start?
Movies though generally inaccurate, they sometimes had a semblance of truth.
If she followed that logic...
First thing they would need... a distraction, and if there was anything she knew, you also needed a getaway driver.
Brown eyes shifted to Marques, "you're loud..."
His brow crunched in confusion but she held up a hand, "but you can bullshit your way out of almost anything. We'll need a distraction."
His eyes lit up, "this isnt a movie though. We're not gonna blow something up and get away scotch free-"
"I know," she waved her hand, "so we'll need something believable."
He nodded hesitantly, and though she lacked ideas it was Jullian who spoke up and drew all their attention.
With a serene voice he added, "affection. People are uncomfortable with it. Do you ever stare or look at someone who is kissing in public?"
Hana shook her head, with the other speaking their own answers.
The man nodded, "what if you were to flip that in order to draw attention? A couple fighting, always draws attention especially when the man seems violent."
Realization hit her, and she replied, "a break up. Loud and obnoxious, with Marques being physical."
"Hold up I'm not being an abusive boyfriend!"
"No," Jullian shook his head, "being physical will warrant intervention, and will end the distraction sooner plus get Marques captured. All he must do, is give off the body language to insinuate he can be violent."
"And that will keep people interested and watching. Even the gaurds will be distracted, its taboo to do that in public." Hana grinned.
Marqies sighed but didnt retort, silently showing his support.
But Koldens voice interupted, "great idea and all, still doesnt get rid of our camera problem and guard issues."
Hana frowned, "true. Wheres the sword?"
"Third floor. No idea how many guards though."
She nodded softly, "if Marques starts the distraction at the entrance of the third floor, that'll give me time to go for the sword at least. Is there anyway to kill the cameras?"
Kolden bit his lip.
"Its possible to use a piece of malware to do it. I can connect to their network and have it seek out desktop IPs. If its fast enough, in theory it could overload their system with information, so much the cameras system will freeze up. Problem is their communications. Without a direct link or a jammer, not much I can do about that."
"Well..."
All heads turned to Ava.
Her cheeks darkened ans she sputtered, "we-well- um, is hard to find jammer in Korea. But Japan... Easy. Old friend be able to help. He smart like Kolden and make things for fun."
"Do you know how hard it is to make a jammer?" Kolden huffed.
"He make super charge engine when seven."
Hana blinked.
"How the fu-"
"Doesnt matter," Hana snapped, "if he can do it we need it."
Kolden rolled his eyes, "still, they have gaurds and most likely automatic lockdowns in case of a theft."
"Cut the power."
Eyes turned to the blonde of their group.
She shrugged, "can't lockdown if theres no power."
"Backup generators."
"Yup, that's why we blow out the fuses. Shot circut the whole system."
"We'd need something the size of Mekka to even come close to displacing that kind of power."
Hana grinned.
"Ava... has your friend ever made a dual fusion core?"
The girl, blinked, "maybe?"
Kolden sighed.
"Hana no..."
She smiled.
"Hana yes."
I grimaced as I stood, my armor covering me once more, but my body still sore from the realative ass kicking I took.
The pain was there but I simply ignored it and kept walking.
The glowing eyss of Orisa met me and the robots head tilted to the side curiously.
"Youre gait is off by about five percent, which suggets injury."
"Thanks for the concern?" I asked, quizzically raising and eyebrow behind my visor.
I stepped past her and found both Effi and the boy sitting on a rather old looking matress.
They were palying chess.
Huh.
Neat.
Both of their eyes locked onto me: or more precisely, the bags of food hanging from my hand.
"I didn't rob anyone I swear."
Effi smiled good naturedly, but the boy narrowed his eyes at me, obviously unsure what to name of my statement.
I chuckled at his expression, "its a joke man. Relax, bought it from a convenience store."
He didn't bother to hide his sigh, but his face lost its edge and he gave me what i assumed was his equivalent of a smile: the smallest twitch of his lips.
Eh. Whatever.
I made my way over and tossed the kid some kind of fast food burrito looking thing with a bottle of water. It was opened a second later and he ate with enough gusto to put Titans to shame.
My eyes lingered for a second before moving to Effi, who was also looking at him with obvious concern.
Still, she took the food I offered, then turned back to me to ask, "so what were you doing?"
I pursed my lips and looked to the kid, who was thoroughly engrossed in his sandwhich thing.
Decideing he at least had some right to know, I spoke, "ran into some trouble. Talon agent I think."
The boy froze and his eyes turned to me in fear.
I shook my head, "I dont think they were after you. Didn't even ask about you."
He visibily relaxed.
Effi on the other hand looked at me and responded, "what did they want?"
I shrugged, "the wanted me. Guess Talon has a grudge against me."
She nodded and frowned, "they're getting bold."
I couldnt help but nod with her.
They were getting bold.
Attacking both me and the kid in the middle of a large city? One of the most advanced in the world?
Still, there was more to discuss rather than Talon.
I cleared my throat, drawing three lairs of eyes and asked, "so kid, tell me what kind of experiments did Talon run on you?"
His face grew dark.
Effi gasped, "you cant just ask him that!"
I ignored her and continued, "I talked with an Overwatch rep. We have two plans, bur first I need to know what exactly it is we're up against here. Last time we didn't find the full picture, Talon attacked the UN, and almost succeded in wiping out world leadership."
Effi grew silent at that, curiousity winning out as she looked at the boy in question.
His eyes were closed and he was breathing fast, obviously trying to control himself.
My moved to the Last Word.
Just in case.
His eyes opened, and with a fire in them I had rarely seen even in Guardians.
"One condition."
I crossed my arms and relaxed.
"Shoot."
"When we find them, promise me you'll kill every last one of them."
Lena stalked forward, her weapons trained on the darkness before her without so much as a second thought as to what was behind her.
Fortunately, the telltale footsteps of Mei, assured her, her back was being covered.
Still, the skeletons in the main testing center of the base sent a horrible feeling running down her spine.
"This was a climate facility right?" She asked, her voice softer than normal and far more tame.
"Yes! I dont know how they would died such horrible deaths..."
"Me either love."
Lenas frown only deepend.
The doors around them, the rooms and windows to various parts of the base, were all but closed and inoperable.
It was a ghost town.
Aside from the skeletons laying everywhere.
Mei had informed her of how many people had been at this base.
Around fifty. At least.
Yet, the last report Overwatch had had from them, was years ago and talking about the climates sudden change in the north.
Nothing about them being attacked.
She frowned as they moved forward.
The bodies and weapons, along with scorch marks and dried blood stains.
It didnt make sense.
"The bodies ahead..." Mei's solem tone hit her liek a ton of bricks, and she glanced further ahead.
It was a set of doors pried open, their very metal bent outwards and ripped open from what had to have been sheer force.
At least ten skeletons laid outside, various weaponry and parts thrown about where they had made an obvious stand to protect the door.
"What the bloody hell were they protecting?" she mumbled as she continued forward.
Their steps echoed out, metallic thumps that only made the scene worse than what it was.
And Lena, for all her cheer, could only shiver at the darkness around them.
She wasn't sure if the people had died trying to run, or if they had been protecting something behind that door.
With an annoyed grimace she pressed on, carefully stepping over each body.
It was hard not to wonder who they were, who they had been.
Had they left family behind? Friends?
A loved one like Emily?
She shook her head.
No point on dwelling on it, she figured, and with that final thougt she stepped over three skulls, the rest of them ripped apart beyond recognition, and into the room.
It was a mess.
The room had at least fifteen bodies scattered around it. Weapons laying near most of them, and scorch and bullet marks burnt into the walls and roof.
She scanned the room for hostiles, though instinct told her there were none.
Alas, it was true, and the room held naught but remains and a few terminals and-
She blinked.
"What the hell?"
In the center of the room, floating in an obvious containment chamber, was a sword.
She'd seen it before.
It was Nates sword, but... it was blue.
"What is that?" Mei asked, stopping next to her.
She shook her head, "its, like Nathaniels sword, but a different color."
"Maybe its symbolic?" Mei asked, siding her own weapon and pulling out a datapad, "I'll record its presence and see if he can shed any light on it. Maybe... I dont know."
Tracer frowned and looked at the older woman, "I doubt it was him."
Mei smiled sadly, "who else could have done this?"
Lena didnt reply. There were a few she knew who could've, but the sword was no coincidence.
She stepped towards it and-
'Embrace the light...'
She blinked.
"You here that?"
"Here what?" Mei asked without looking up from her data pad, which was now connected to a terminal.
Lena shook her head again, "nothing."
She gulped and stepped closer.
'The light will fade...'
She grimaced as something... as a feeling, flashed through her.
It wasn't pleasant.
But...
She felt... pulled... towards it.
It was radiating something she'd never felt, but it was intoxicating.
'Build me an army, worthy of the dark.'
"Lena!"
Too late.
She was reaching, and her hand wrapped around the handle of the sword.
There was a flash of bright white light.
And when Mei opened her eyes...
"Lena, where are you!"
She was alone.
A/N
I reddited this after seeing complaints of errors and the like. Also, hope you enjoy, don't worry, this won't end with cliche heists and the cliche everyone becomes a Guardian that most people make these stories into. Everything is still going to stay the course of as relaistic and somber as possible.
I know it's been a while sorry about that. I'm trying to get back on the once a month schdesch but new job and life have kept me kinda busy. Anyway, sorry this chapter is short but the only other part would be to add the actual hesit, and unfortunately it didn't fit the pacing of this chapter. Next chapter we'll get that, and we'll get some explanation for Nate plus a hint of what happens to Tracer.
Things are heating up and the mid arc climax is about four chapters away.
Anyway, check out my new fic! It's a RWBY one and I've always wanted to write a legit RWBY fic so yay!
Don't worry, this fic isn't going anywhere, I have too much love for this story to let it die.
Anyway hope y'all enjoy.
God bless.
-Metal4k