Old Habits Die Hard | 8
ooOoo
"So what's got you worked up, love?" Lena asked when all the Overwatch members gathered inside the control room.
Beside Zenyatta, Winston thought. I gotta give him a comm to keep him updated.
"This better be important, Winston," Jack said. Strangely, his voice was empty of the expected irritation. Even his stance was subdued. "It's two o' six in the morning."
Winston realized that he had been staring at the empty holo-screen for the past few seconds, and he shook his head. He typed in a command on the keyboard, and the news channel popped up. "This is what's important."
Lena gasped, and all was silent as everyone watched the live broadcast. It showed a line of buildings in King's Row, and most of them appeared to be in ruin and burning. A great cloud of black smoke was collecting above all of it, and a chilling sight could be seen within it; a silhouette of a large dragon-like beast with eyes red like burning charcoal. There was a reverberating roar, and then the figure sank deeper into the cloud, disappearing.
"This is greatly unnerving," Genji spoke for the first time. "It even appears similar to my dragon."
"You think this is the work of Talon?" Jack asked stiffly, his hands clenched by his sides as he watched the screen.
Winston looked on as men in regular police attire were firing into the haze of blackness. Then a car flew out of the smoke and crashed into them, prompting whoever the cameraman was to turn tail and bolt, along with closing the broadcast. Lena's sharp intake of breath could be heard as static overtook the screen.
"I'm not sure," Winston finally answered, turning around to give them a grim look. He then narrowed his eyes and straightened his back, his body rising a bit. "But what I do know is that we're Overwatch. For now, we may be small- but that doesn't mean we should just stand by as the world is being terrorized. Talon or not, we must do something about this."
They all shared a look with one another, and Winston caught Jack give an approving nod. He felt a small smile reach his lips.
"Then we must get going as soon as possible," Genji said, and he tilted his head at a hallway. "Should I get Master Zen?"
Winston shook his head. "We'll let him off for this one; he might like to watch how we operate when I wake him up later."
Lena pursed her lips. "And what about Yuan?"
Winston narrowed his eyes in thought, then he shook his head with a sigh. "He's not an Overwatch agent. We shouldn't bother him with this."
Jack made a sound akin to a mix of a growl and sigh. "You better be damned sure that we're enough, Winston. I don't want to die on my second mission after Recall."
ooOoo
He couldn't sleep. That's what Yuan had been telling himself since over a few hours ago, or so he thought.
This day was definitely the most bizarre one he had in this world. Hell, he would even consider this crazier than the one where he was spat out by Master Hand's portal and greeted with gunfire from multiple angles.
In actuality, he wasn't sure which was crazier. He had experienced too much to be an accurate judge.
First thing's first; his first meeting with Genji. While he didn't exactly get positive vibes around the cyborg at first, Yuan couldn't help but feel that there was something about the ninja- something that pulled him into accepting Genji's offer. I still don't know what the heck it is, but I'm not gonna complain.
Then there was lunch. Despite it being a good time as always, it wasn't something to talk about. Lunch is great, though. No matter what universe I go to.
Next was the meditation. Good lord it was so good. It was like he entered a world of wonder just by closing his eyes. Despite calculating that he had been in the prismatic realm for three hours (a result of him not being able to sleep), he actually didn't find it time-consuming. Hell, I wouldn't mind if I was gone like that for a day.
Then there was dinner and the talk with Jack. The former was a dull event (though he wouldn't express that out loud), for the food wasn't good at that time. The latter... it was a very tense experience. He almost didn't want to think about. Jack looked like he was gonna blow my brains off.
However, the talk made him more empathic with how Jack was like, especially when Genji told him how he happened to be like that. He couldn't help wonder how their next meeting would be like, though. I don't do well with awkward stuff.
Yuan checked his watch. It read 2:08AM. Approximately six hours after he decided to bunk in. I'm wasting my life.
He sat up from the short bed he was on. I wonder what it's like to meditate again. He had done the act with Zenyatta and Genji, but he was curious if he could do it by himself. And I might actually make use of my time.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes in preparation for doing what had been itching him for hours ago. He sat still on the bed; no crazy posture, hand gestures, or stances- just his ass settled comfortably on the mattress.
A few minutes passed, and Yuan resisted his growing impatience. More time passed as he cleared himself of his senses, then finally, the Iris showed itself.
The vibrant colors assaulted his eyes, but instead of paining him, it made him feel soothed. His body showed once again the blackness of its matter, its foreign presence to the world, but he discarded the oddness in light of the surrounding serenity.
At least, he tried to. An oppressing presence pushed its way into his mind, and his chest twisted at its unnerving feeling. This feels alien to this universe, too; however, it isn't me.
Suddenly, memories of long past began to make themselves known in his mind. Their contents almost made him scream in horror.
A village of burning wreck and bloodied soil...
A mountain of mauled corpses, all belonging to his own men...
A great, metal form flying overhead, laying waste to dozens of soldiers at a time with its unnatural fire...
A bulky, monstrous machine wrestling with a sleek, red dragon, the both of them crashing into multiple houses...
A creaking roar as he impaled Greenie into its hide of steel...
Yuan barely stopped himself from tumbling off the bed when he heard the loud thud of footsteps moving away from beyond the door. He realized that the surroundings were back to their normal colors, blanketed by the darkness of night.
He looked to his suit of armor, which was hung on a wall. Then to his sword, its red form lying on top of a desk.
"Shit." Yuan jumped off the bed, pulling off his shirt (it was actually Lena's, but that was awkward to think about) and rushing to his warrior garb. I need to get going. Now.
ooOoo
The dropship began humming to life, which Jack knew meant Lena had activated it. The ex-pilot herself jumped out of the aircraft's cargo room, directing a grin and thumbs-up at Winston.
"All systems are ready to go, Captain!" Lena chirped. "We are ready for take off."
Winston nodded, turning to the distant control panel, which Genji was standing behind. "You got that, Genji. Open up the hangar bay!"
The cyborg nodded and typed a few commands on the control panel. Immediately, the large departure door of the hangar bay began sliding open, revealing the dark sky of early morning. Beyond that was a large expanse that dropped to a great lake, with waterfalls from surrounding cliff sides crashing into it.
Winston fixed his glasses and gave each of them a hard look. "Okay, then. Are you all ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, love!" Lena tossed the gorilla a salute, followed by a wink.
Genji walked to her side, giving Winston a bow. "You have my word that I am at my fullest capability."
Winston turned to Jack, arching a brow. He stared back for a few moments before replying, "A soldier is always prepared."
He received a nod from the gorilla, who began moving to the control panel. "Alright then," Winston said. "All of you get in the dropship while I manage the-"
"Wait!" a voice interrupted, and Yuan barged into the hangar bay, stumbling in his fiery red armor with his sword in one hand.
"Yuan?" Lena tilted her head, a questioning look on her face. "Isn't it a bit too early for you to be awake, love?"
"There are exceptions to my lazy sleep schedule." Yuan rose to his full height, a hard glint in his eyes. "I'm coming with you."
Jack raised a brow at that. "What do you mean?"
"Let me guess," the boy began as he tapped his chin. "This doesn't involve a huge metal dragon, does it?"
Winston looked as if he was about to jump back, his eyes as wide as saucers. "How did you know that?"
The boy's eyes flashed as his lips pressed into a thin line. "I felt it." He gave Genji a look. "You did too, right?"
"Its presence rings faintly through my being, now that I am focusing," the ninja said with a nod. "It disturbs me greatly; never have I imagined a contraption to be so full of malice."
Lena shivered, prompting her to hug her sides. "Is it really as bad as the Omnic Crisis?"
"If it's by itself, then I don't think so," Yuan replied as he marched up by the ramp leading to the dropship's loading room. "I'll explain on the way. I've actually met this beast before."
"Don't you think you're underprepared?" Jack couldn't help but ask, looking over the boy's sword up and down. "You're not exactly equipped with the most refined of weapons. At least get a gun."
Yuan halted, only a step away from entering the dropship. He turned around to give them a smirk. "Then I'm sorry that you guys have to bring a gun to a sword fight."
Jack furrowed his brows at the response, his eyes following the boy until he had entered the inner depths of the dropship. He turned to the other three, seeing them also wearing different expressions of curiosity.
"Well that happened," Lena remarked after a few seconds.
Winston shook his head with a grunt, looking down to run his eyes over the control panel. "Anyways, I will be operating from HQ. Open up your comm links in order for me to establish a link with you whenever need be."
"Got it, love!" Lena chirped, and she took that as a cue to blink into the dropship. "Wish us luck!" she yelled from within the aircraft.
Genji gave a nod to Winston, then turned to Jack. "Are you ready to go?" the ninja asked.
He responded with a mute nod, and they both began to walk up the ramp.
"I noticed that you haven't been acting yourself today," Genji said casually. "Is something the matter?"
Jack halted, giving the metal floor of the ramp a look. Genji's footsteps beside him paused, and he knew the ninja had stopped as well. "I've been thinking about some things. It's something only I have to deal with; nothing important."
"I see." Genji continued to walk up the ramp, leaving him behind to watch the ninja go in. Jack swore that he saw Genji move with a little more bounce to his step, which was oddly suspicious.
With a sigh, he hoisted his pulse rifle up to chest level and followed after Genji. Once he was within the dropship, he heard Winston's voice as the ramp began pulling up to a close; "Lena, I'll leave it to you to take the wheel. I'll be the one closing the hangar bay after you guys leave. And for God's sake, don't kill yourself out there. I don't know what I'd do if I lost any of you."
Yep, just like the old times, Jack thought. He let said thought comfort his senses, and he felt a smile tug at his lips behind the mask.
To be continued...
ooOoo
Author's Note:
Make sure to have some popcorn and absolutely no desire to sleep. Because, brace yourselves... The Longest Chapter is coming.
Yeah, I'm horrible. Laugh all you want.
As always, criticisms (not flames) are appreciated. MrEpic3000 out.
