The next morning Overwatch sat in the meeting room waiting for Adawe to show up, the entire team was sat in the meeting room. Ana, Victoria, Reinhardt and Jack sat on one side whilst Gabriel, Liao and Torbjion sat on the other side.
They all sat in silent it was seven in the morning Victoria and Jack had just got in from their morning jog with Dexter when one of the admin staff came running up to them saying they were required to the meeting room straight away. Dexter did not look pleased being left with the admin staff to be taken back to their room. Which earned a kiss on the nose and a scratch behind the ear from Victoria and a pet on the head from Jack.
"You two stink," Reyes told them which recieved a middle finger from Victoria and Jack in return.
"Look I just came in from a jog I was not expecting to be called into the meeting this damn early in the morning," she grumbled at him her eyes narrowed.
"Alright who has not given blondie her coffee," he chuckled.
"Gabriel you might be my commander fo not expect me not to throw a chair at you," she told him.
"For someone who has just got engaged you are really grouchy," Liao chuckled.
"Mate that might not be a good idea," Gabriel told him as Victoria looked two thoughts away from actually throwing her chair at them which made the rest of the table laugh as Adawe walked in.
"Good morning all," she created them she was dressed in pristine condition, "I am sorry to call you this early in the morning."
"How can we help this morning Lady Adawe?" Reinhardt questioned.
"Well I would like to congratualte Victoria and Jack first," she told them then dropping the newspaper on the table in front of them.
The newspaper's front page was tilted Overwatch Romance Brewing. Pictures of Jack and Victoria from last night was on the front page the picture of Jack kissing the engagement ring and another of Victoria holding a champagne glass the ring catching in the light. "I am all proud of the amount of you have all done to prompt Overwatch."
She clicked a small button and the screen behind her came to life, bringing up twitter feed alot of pictures was of them with fans or countries that had placed the Overwatch symbols across the alley walls.
"The public loves you all and that is fantastic we will be opening a proper headquatres soon," she told them.
"Where will this one be?" Gabriel asked.
"Zurich based in Switzerland, Switzerland is rather advance in their nanobot technology which as you know Ana has been using throughout your missions," Adawe explained.
"When do you expect we will be moved there?" Ana asked.
"The Un has been working on two new bases for us one is based Zurich and the other is Gilbrata they have been working on these halfway through your time in Austrailia. Which we are impressed with however..."
"They are back in full force?" Gabriel questioned.
"Not exactly..."
"We need to take out the factories... the factories don't they hold the central mainframe for those bots meaning that they will power down?" Victoria asked Torbjion.
"The girlie is right that is how it works," he answered.
"So you are saying that..." Jack went on.
"I think what are our friend is saying is that we should be focusing on getting to the factories that they are coming from," Reinhardt answered the unasked question.
"That will be a good plan... we are in the process of looking for new people to add but..." Adawe looked at them.
"None of them are matching the skills you want them to be at," Laio stated.
"Yes," Adawe stated, "The Austrailian prime minister sends his thanks to you all. Eygpt has taken a turn for the worst, they have requested our aid urgently we will be pushing your leave departure time to tomorrow." The group nodded their heads, "The military has grouped up in the Temple of Anbuis and we will be dropping off there."
"Where is the factory in Eygpt?" Gabriel questioned.
"From our archieves, if you give me a second," Adawe hummed pulling out a tablet tapping away quickly flicking her wrist bringing up a map of eygpt with two pinpoints one was in the dead closure to the river running through the center of the map. Another looked a handful of miles north of the Sudan border. "This one," Adawe pointed towards the center of the map, "Is Anubis and the one above the Sudan are where the factory is based."
"That is about six day on foot alone," Ana stated.
"Even is we are constantly fighting day in and out their think about the amount of Bastions which will be coming out of the factory?" Victoria questioned.
"We can travel in vehicles?" Reinhardt questioned.
"Who here has driven a tank?" Liao asked.
"I have on multiple occasions my friend,"Reinhardt stated, "I believe Miss Victoria has also from what I remember on her file."
"I do not think Victoria remembers how to drive one of those," Laio stated.
"I bet I can," Victoria told them.
"I am sure the army will be happy for you to take supplies from them," Adawe told them.
"And what about the Talon operatives there?" Victoria brought up the taboo topic.
"At the moment they have apparently been quite however whilst you are based out there if they start up again you will need to deal with them."
"So the plan being we help the army till we are sure they can support themselves then we will work on getting towards the base," Gabriel told them.
"Happy with that," Jack stated.
"Agreed," Ana replied.
The others soon agreed with them, "Are you happy with that idea Secretary General?" Gabriel asked.
"I do not see that going bad and I am not going to be in control," Adawe told them.
"Will we be able to request time off?" Ana asked suddenly.
"I can't see why not is their a reason?" Adawe asked.
"My daughters birthday is in a few weeks," Ana stated.
"That is fine," Adawe smiled, "will two weeks be ok with you all."
"Totally fine," they answered.
"Good... now I will suggest that you fully relax today and, not go at the obstacle course for six hours straight," Adawe smiled at Victoria, "Hopefully that Zurich headquarters will be up and running by the time you get back we hope to base you out there for a year but it depends on how quickly you can get through the bastion units."
"We will leave then to get ready General Secretary," Jack told her, "Honestly I think we would all like to have breakfast then relax."
"Some people need a shower," Laio stated which ended up with Victoria bashing into his side.
"You're an arse," she glared over her shoulder at him.
"Hey," Laio held his hands up in defense as they all started to walk back to the apartments.
"To be fair mate she looked like she was going to throw something at you throughout that meeting," Reyes chuckled clapping him on the back.
"Not my fault they stink," Liao chuckled before groaning in pain as Jack was able to jab him in the side.
"Careful or we will make you do our morning jog with Dexter," Jack warned him.
Laio rolled his eyes in annoyance as he saw Victoria smirked over at them, as they entered the apartment, "Whos cooking breakfast?" He asked.
"I believe it is Victorias and Jacks turn," Ana smiled.
"Can we shower first please it's half seven I need to clean," Victoria whined.
"Yes, clean I think I will..."
"I swear Laio to god you finish that sentence I will throw you out the plane tomorrow," Victoria warned him her green eyes narrowed on him.
An hour later the team had crammed themselves into Jacks and Victorias apartment having breakfast. Laios one comment about them both smelling better over breakfast ended up with Victoria sending Dexter at Laio the dalmatian ended up stealing Laios breakfast. Fareeha was balanced on Reinhardt's knee grinning widely at the team.
"How long do you think we will be out there?" Gabriel questioned them.
"Hopefully not that long... we might be able to stop the fight in Egypt," Jack stated.
"Will that mean that we could go home?" Fareeha asked Ana.
"Would you like that?" Ana asked.
"Would that mean leaving... Uncle Gabe and Jack... Aunt Vicky... and Reinhardt?" She asked.
"It would but Grandma will still be coming with us," Ana told her.
"Then I want to stay here," she smiled.
The team laughed all looked each other smiles across their faces, tomorrow was going to be a difficult day.
The next morning Ana, Jack, Gabriel, Reinhardt and Victoria stood on the runway Torbjion and Laio had already bored the military grade aircraft. Fareeha hung to Reinhardt's neck pleading for them not to go, the large metal hand gently as if picking petals from a flower he stroked her hair. "It will not be long," He told her.
"But why must you go now, we are a family," Fareeha cried.
"We are going to save other children so they may grow up with their parents ok," he told her.
"I don't want you to go," She whispered letting go of Reinhardt before she hugged Gabriel who knelt down beside her ruffling her hair.
"We will miss you too kiddo," he told her.
"Look after Dexter for me and Vicky ok," Jack told her as he was given the next hug.
"Will do..." she whispered.
Victoria stumbled slightly as Fareeha slammed into her for a hug, "We will be safe Fareeha," Victoria rubbed the girls back as she wrapped her arms tightly around her neck.
"You will look out for Mummy right?" She asked.
"She will be looking out for us but we will keep her safe whilst you look after Dexter for me," Victoria pulled back holding out her pinky to Fareeha, "Promise?"
"Promise," Fareehas smile was watery which broke the team's heart.
Victoria and the boys pulled back allowing Ana say goodbye to Fareeha who hugged her mum tightly. They waited for a few moments all of them felt their heartbreak watching Ana cuddle the crying Fareeha, Anas mother slowly took Fareeha away from her they listened to Fareeha throw a fit as they stepped onto the aircraft. Victoria took the seat next to Ana, "Three weeks and you will be back I am sure you can get the time off for Christmas as well."
"I always hated seeing her cry ever since she was a baby," Ana sighed wiping away her own tears as they fell.
"Hey," Victoria smiled taking Anas hand and squeezing it, "She just misses you that's all, any child would, you and your mother have done a fantastic job in raising Fareeha. She wants to be like her mother when she grows up."
Ana squeezed back, "I am happy... I thank you and Jack for letting her call you family."
"She's totally adorable I want to keep her but Jack said I am not allowed to do that," Victoria smiled watching the headquarters grow smaller.
"Because what you want to do is stealing and illegal," Jack told her two seats in front.
The aircraft they were on was small just enough for them and their gear to get across the world, the smaller the jet plane the quicker they could get their four hours apparently that was the plan. Victoria was not looking forward to this fight, Talon operatives had also been spotted in Egypt as well. But the Omnics was their first priority and save as many people as they can. They were too late with the power plant in Australia and it felt to Victoria as a giant failure. Jack and Gabriel constantly told her they would never have made it in time to save anyone, the bastion units originally stopped there and the team thought it was waiting on commands until new commands came in then Overwatch turned up.
But the entire of the workforce had been killed from the managers to the cleaners to all the workers in between, the amount t of children that won't be tucked in at night, the amount of loved ones that won't get the kisses before work, the amount of parents that will spend their child's next birthday at a grave stone.
"You ok?" Ana asked softly brushing away the blonde locks away from the green eyes.
Victoria breathed in deeply blinking away the tears, "Yeah... just I want this dumb fight to be over."
"A lot of people do," Ana told her.
"Girls your amazing and everything but no more depressing conversations, it will take use another four hours to get there go for a nap or something," Gabriel told them.
"Yes commander," they laughed.
The rest of the flight was silent other than the small chatter, Victoria spent the flight flicking through news articles of her and Jack whilst Ana was reading them over her shoulder. They giggled at the way the papers depicted hers and Jacks engagement. They touched down at the temple of Anubis around eight in the evening, Victoria stuffed the tablet back into her bag slinging it over her shoulder stepping off the plane.
"Commander Reyes," a tall dark skinned and haired man stepped forward to hand out to Gabriel who shook it.
"General Anu I presume," Gabriel greeted.
"Yes sir," the man grinned.
"I take it you already know the team?" Gabriel questioned.
"Amuse me," Anu grinned.
Victoria could see the veins on Gabriel's neck pulse, Gabriel's hands clenched by his side both Ana and Victoria looked at each other worried looks etched across the womans faces.
"Reinhardt, Torbjion, Laio, Jack Morrision, Ana Amari and Victoria Johnson," each gave a smile and a nod in turn to the General.
"All fine fighters we have read the reports from Austrailia you really gave those omnics a kicking out there," Anu grinned at them, "Follow me we have set up base in the town here, central command is in the temple that will be where you will be based."
The team followed Anu through the town, Victoria looked across the sand colored walls seeing the bullet holes that pierced through the walls. The village was dead compared to the towns and villages they passed through back in Austrailia, though market stalls were still set up with many goods and products waiting to be sold before they were left to root.
"Victoria," Gabriel called.
She hadn't realised she had stopped in front of a stall, it was filled with children toys that had been knocked over. She knew what happened here either Talon or the omnics had torn through his village and moved on to the next one. She jogged to catch up with them walking between Ana and Laio not wanting to listen to Jack and Gabriel talk about battle plans for the year.
"Did you ever visit?" Laio asked Ana over Victoria's head.
"Once when I was young, a few years before the Bastions tore through this place it looks like they moved on quickly, though," Ana told them, Victoria looked up at the large temple looking at the statues of the god Anubis which was carved into the stone around the entrance.
Anu leads the party through the walkway and into the temple, Victoria did not know whether to be impressed or a bit disgusted by how they were able to set this up as a military base the screens that plastered the walls the large hologram table with multiple reds, blue and purple dots across the map. They were lead off to a side room which had seven beds, "I hope you do not mind sharing we are short on space."
They couldn't really complain as they placed their bags down on a bed each, Victoria grabbed her tablet before joining the others in the main control room groups of men and woman now stood in front of them all looking pleased to see them. The team had not got into their uniforms yet and were dressed in jeans with standard Overwatch given shirts, with her free hand Victoria twisted her dog tags around her fingers not feeling entirely comfortable with the eyes that were on them.
"Would you like to get us up to speed on what has been happening?" Gabriel asked.
Victoria tapped away at her own tablet pinpointing places on maps that Talon had been spotted and the Bastion route. They explained the forces that they had and Victoria, in turn, updated the Overwatch database telling in turn Adawe what they had to what the Government said they had. Even though the humans were sort of at peace paranoid people still ran the countries. Saying that they had more supplies than they actually had because they were worried some country will try to invade. Victoria was surprised how well the internet connection here was great, she turned the camera on snapping a photo of the map before she continued tapping away at the bad taking down notes.
The plans they had were simple they were more concerned about protecting the people which the team was happy with but they weren't focusing on actually destroying the bastions. Gabriel walked over to the holo map and brought it up so they could see the levels. Small villages were dotted around in the sands most of the homes had been moved towards the river as the Bastion units seemed to be clearing out the villages within the dessert destroying through them as they went.
"Victoria will you add our pinpoints," Gabriel asked.
Victoria stepped forward syncing her tablet with the holo map the soldiers watched the map spin as Victoria clicked away adding four new pinpoints, an Overwatch pin was added, two Talon and one omnic.
"Thank you, and can you bring up the omnic factory blueprints up as well," few clicks later they are up on the screens around the wall.
"How on earth...?" Anu questioned.
"Overwatch was able to dig into some old archived files on the web, omnics were all the rave thirty years ago and after the omnics turned people uploaded these to the web," Victoria answered before passing the tablet to Gabriel who in turn flipped it over and shook it making the map turned so north was facing him.
"The Un has been pleased with your work," Gabriel said the tablet held towards him, Victoria had also uploaded a speech that Adawe wanted him to say. Gabriel was annoyed when Adawe pulled him and Victoria aside last night to tell them that she wanted a full report of Eygpt. Telling them that Victoria was known for her good use with computers she was to be left in charge of the report as well as keeping Adawe up to date of how they are going, then handed Victoria back her tablet which the blonde had not noticed was missing from her room. Then Adawe turned and told Reyes that there was a speech uploaded onto this to tell the soldiers and General Anu.
"Out of all the places that have been hit with the threat of omnics, Eygpt has still stood tall protecting their people and homes from this threat..." Reyes pushed the tablet back into Victorias awaiting hands he relaxed slightly at her smile looking over her shoulder at the team who was smiling back at him. This was his family, he knew they would stand behind him on what he was about to say, "Truthfully the UN wants me to say how you are doing a great job and all that bull shit."
A handful of chuckles went around the room, "I can tell you are doing a good job because you are standing here in front of me. But we are going to be changing your tactics we are going to be based here for a year our main purpose is to deal with this." Gabriel pointed at the omnic symbol, "Fighting omnics were built in seven factories across the globe. From what we have gathered they are struggling to create more bots their resources are low. However, their chips that keep them running are linked to a computer in their factory."
"I don't mean to seem rude but why not got through Sudan?" Someone asked.
Gabriel chuckled, "Because the omnics aren't targeting the Sudan Titans have lined up at the border they seem inactive but Torbjion has stated unless they have a function they go into sentry mode. When they sense a threat no matter how small they will attack."
"the titans are far enough away from the factory so that if we come in from the north and not the south they will not be altered," Torbjion explained to them.
"This is the furthest military base south, we are hoping to be able to clear out as many of the omnics on as possible to make sure the time we spend in the factory there won't be an all-out attack. Bastions might be fast but it will take them days to reach civilisation here unless they turn south which they have two days travel," Gabriel told them.
"So you are telling us to abandon the..." General Anu started.
"No," Jack cut in, "We are not in anyway shape or form telling you to abandon the public and go off and fight we are talking about moving the control forward pushing the omnic forces back until they are pushed back into the hole they came from."
"That... that could work..." Anu stated.
"Once they are pushed back enough Overwatch will take the matter entirely into their own hands," Gabriel told them.
"Why was this not done in Australia?"
"We were pulled out of Austrailia before we could implement a plan," Gabriel's eyebrow twitched.
"Well we are happy to serve in what way we can," General Anu told them.
"And Talon what are we going to be doing about them?"
Victoria froze first her hands became clammy around the edge of the tablet, looking over at Jack who looked at her as uncomfortable as she felt.
"Talon is not the Uns first priority at the moment," Reyes stated before the rest of the team could say anything, "If Talon becomes more a threat then we will work on dealing with them."
"So you are coming here getting rid of one problem and leave the worst," someone muttered.
Victoria stayed silent clenching the tablet in her hands not looking up her eyes settled on her feet a small hand on her lower back rubbing in small circles.
"This is your first line of defense correct?" Laio spoke up.
"Yes..." General Anu said.
"How does the guard duty work then?" He asked.
"We switch in from night to day shift, the night shift will come off at six in the morning," General Anu told them.
"Do you think we should join them, Commander?" Laio smirked at Reyes.
"If you want to Laio," Reyes smirked over at him.
Later on nearing Midnight Victoria and Ana sat on a low sand coloured wall, bowls of rice with a type of curry Victoria picked at hers watching Laio show off some of his moves to the soldiers out the front of the temple. "How are you feeling?" Ana asked her.
"Alright... just this seems a bit big for us that's all... I am worried about what..." Victoria laughed.
"I made a request with Adawe by the way for Fareehas birthday," Ana told her.
"What is it?" Victoria asked.
"For you to also come with me when I go back to Washington for Fareehas birthday," Ana smiled.
"Wow... really?" Victoria smiled brightly at her.
"Yes, Fareeha loves her aunty, Victoria, I couldn't get everyone back for the week so I thought you would be the best," Ana smiled softly.
"Oh, Ana thank you," Victoria smile.
"You might want to turn in for the night," Ana told her watching Victoria look blankly at her curry before she let out a yawn.
Victoria stuffed a few mouthful mouthfuls of the curry before she places the bowl down beside them, "Will see you when you turn in," Victoria laughed smiling brightly at Ana before she stepped back into the temple ducking down under Laio blade as he got a bit too far out of the practice ring. "Sorry Blondie," he chuckled watching her walk of flipping him off as she went walking past the central map room and into the side room that was put aside for them. Both Jack and Reyes were up sitting on their beds Torbjion asleep in his bed, as well as Reinhardt .
"You turning in?" Gabriel asked her.
Victoria's face planted into the bed on the other side of Jack, "I don't like the heat," she groaned before grabbing her bag pulling out a large shirt which Gabriel was sure that belonged to Jack, "Do you..."
Gabriel held his hands up to his eyes, "Go ahead."
Victoria will admit as she stripped quickly off her jeans and tank top throwing on the oversized shirt and slipping under the thin sheet. She felt uncomfortable but she could not complain because they did not have the space for her and the rest of the team to have their own rooms. Her mind felt like it was relapsing slightly.
"You can look now," Jack told Gabriel.
"Hey I will never look at Victoria without your permission," Gabriel told Jack.
Jack raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything else in return, "How are you feeling?" Jack asked her watching her tap away at the tablet again.
"Fine," she smiled at Jack, "Are we going out after the Bastions tomorrow?"
"We will have a drive about exploring some of the towns around here," Gabriel told her.
"Might want to get some rest," Jack smiled at her removing the tablet from her hands glancing at the word document quickly before kissing her temple, Victoria let out another yawn before closing her eyes. Both Gabriel and Jack waited in silence watching Victoria for a few moments, Jack waved his hand in front of her face. She didn't make a sound just turned over tucking her legs up as she fell into a deep sleep.
"Are you alright?" Gabriel asked him.
"Just earlier, she didn't sound like herself she was..."
"Adawe's asked Victoria to report on this mission."
"Why?"
"This is the first time someone is going to try to take out the Bastion base in any country," Gabriel told him, "Think Adawe wants someone slightly more level-headed."
"She was good at it... mission reports and just keeping to schedules..." Jack sighed.
"Jack she will be fine mate, you don't have to worry about her," Gabriel smiled.
"And if she gets hurt you remember what happened when we first landed in Austrailia the bastion unit nearly killed her and you then she remembers three years of constant rape," Jack growled out.
"Adawe wouldn't give her something she didn't think Victoria couldn't do."
"Why would you say that?"
Gabriel smirked pointing at the emerald and diamond engagement ring that sat on Victoria's ring finger. "Because everyone knows that you would now follow Victoria to the end of the earth and Adawe does not want to loose to of her best soldiers as she said yesterday, she is finding it difficult to find others to join us," Gabriel stated.
"I think Adawe is being too picky," Jack chuckled.
"Most likely but I wouldn't blame her, our dynamics are good I have a feeling new people will mess it up," Gabriel laughed along side him.
"What actually is tomorrow's plan?"
"Stragglers the reports say that some bastion units have stayed behind in the villages that they have attacked, if we start clearing those out then we can work on the upcoming fight. We won't be leaving her until after Fareehas birthday. Both Ana and Victoria will be gone for the week and I don't want to get a move on without them."
"Wait Victoria is going as well."
"Think Ana put in a last minute request for Fareeha."
"Think Fareeha will join when she is old enough?"
"If the girl is anything like her mother I say she will."
"I don't know if I am handling the one Anna, let alone two," Jack chuckled.
"Might ant to be careful cause if she hears you," Gabriel made the sound of a throat being slit as both men laughed, Gabriel looked over at the small blonde that had curled up under the thin green sheets. "Plus, Fareeha has two extremely strong willed women to look up to, both of which have put it as, their main duty to protect the innocent."
Fareeha is going to have a lot to live up."
"Anyway woman of Overwatch will, as Adawe has stated we are the faces that the world see's poster boy."
Jack glared at the nickname as he knew, Gabriel only called him that to wind him up, "You are right for once... Commander."