Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2/ Overwatch

Darlynn held the access key high up in the light and stared at golden words encrypted on it.

[Darlynn] - "Clearance level: 10. "

[Azur] - "The highest clearance to Talon's information vault. Better take what we need before they find out about this intel breach. "

[Darlynn] - "I'm putting it in. "

Darlynn used her computer to connect to Talon's database but Azur stepped forward before she could start her researches.

[Azur] - "Please, let me use it for a few things. "

[Darlynn] - "What do you need to find in here, Azur? "

[Azur] - "I need to find them out myself, please. "

[Darlynn] - "I'll give you 5 minutes. Then you need to reset it to prevent any suspicion. "

[Azur] - "Thank you, Darlynn. "

[Darlynn] - "Find the answer to your heart's questions and your life's mysteries. Sometimes, the answer is just beside us. We just don't know it. "

With that said, Darlynn left the room and locked the door behind her to leave Azur on her own. Azur was nervous to type in anything, she's not ready to handle some truth if they revealed themselves to her. The thought of her sister lingered in her mind.

"What if she's dead... " Thought Azur with closed eyes.

[Azur] - "Mike... "

Azur reached her hand out to search for information concerning Kadyn's abduction but her fingers froze at the last letter.

"What she's also... dead... " Said Azur in her mind.

She can't afford to hurt the man that saved her life and gave her a new purpose with that news if it is true. People have suffered enough, she thought, as she prepared to close the computer.

[Azur] - "I can't... what if they are gone... I can't handle this! "

She rolled into a ball for a minute or so. She was afraid of finding out the truth about them. But after a while, she opened her eyes and saw the ruby and canary diamond in her belt. She quickly remembered the words she said herself: "I won't run anymore, I'm going to face them. "

[Azur] - "But what if... "

She then remembered the Valentine brothers.

[Azur] - "If I didn't face them that day... they could've come back another time to hunt us down. What if it's also true for the truths I fear so much? "

Azur stared at the computer screen for a minute. Since the screen was pretty obscure, she could see her face reflected on it. Time is running out, it's now a matter of do or do not. Azur grabbed the computer and without further hesitation, started her research on her sister.

Moments later, with trembling hands and a sweaty forehead, Azur sat motionless on the floor.

[Azur] - "Empty? Record erased? "

Like the nights without stars, her sister had truly vanished from this world, never to be seen again. There was not a single piece of record about her, nor of her even ever existing.

[Azur] - "Damn it! She... it felt as if she vanished out of thin air. "

Azur saw the timer beside her and realized that she only has 20 seconds remaining before it hits the 5 minutes mark.

[Azur] - "Damn it! The time! "

With all her focus, she started a search for Kadyn and this time, she was fruitful.

[Operation Moon Bridge] [phase 1] "After the successful capture of subject KD-555 in [Operation Vendetta], abortion of the subject must be carried out by [Squadra di arresto] followed by the silent extraction of the subject by [Valentine brothers]. The 5 hours trip will see the subject transferred to facility Unit-731 of the Armato-XX in China. [Phase 2] "KD-555 will be subject to experimentation R-19 carried out by [Undisclosed]. Subject new code name: [KD-121] or [Kady]. "

Azur dropped the computer on the floor, she was in shock as, during all this time, she was just beside Kady on many occasions. After coming to her senses, Azur unplugged the key from the computer but she was late by 30 seconds.

[Azur] - "No... this can't be. During all this time... It felt as if I was played like a fool. "

Azur looked at the timer and realized that she was late by 30 seconds but she couldn't care less. Without telling Darlynn anything, she rushed into her own room and locked the doors behind her.

[Azur] - "I need to contact Mike right now! "

Darlynn entered the other deserted room and found the key on the floor. Since Azur left in a hurry, she didn't get the chance to talk to her, so she didn't know about the 30 seconds delay.

Mike Answered Azur's call inside Segreto's office with his usual cigar and glass of rum.

[Mike] - "What a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to see you again, dear Azur! "

[Azur] - "Mike! I need to tell you something very very important! "

[Mike] - "Woah... calm down! I don't see any point in being so rushed unless what you want to tell me is a situation of life or death. "

Azur used a minute to catch her breath and with a warm smile, she spoke:

[Azur] - "I managed to find Kadyn! "

Upon hearing this news, Mike tried to contain his excitement. His face was stoic but a sadistic smirk can barely be seen on his cheek.

[Azur] - "Her name is Kady... "

[Mike] - "Oh? Kady? I know that girl. Thank you for this useful information. "

[Azur] - "At last, you will be able to reunite with her. Aren't you delighted? "

[Mike] - "Well... I don't really care, since I have more important matters on my hands. She can wait. "

This response shocked Azur to the core, she can't believe what she just heard coming from Mike's mouth.

[Azur] - "You... you don't care? But she's your- "

[Mike] - "I have my hands full as of right now. I have enemies to eliminate, so yes, I did say she can wait. I'll deal with her later. "

The expression on Mike's face didn't look alive at all; the expression of a grim and cold man with nothing to lose was instead what she saw. Meanwhile, Mike's green devilish eyes stared her right in the soul through the screen. Azur could feel the evil and saddest around Mike but also a disturbing air of joy and satisfaction.

[Mike] - "I'll speak more in-depth with you next time and as always, I thank you for your loyal service, dear Azur. "

Mike ended the conversation without hesitation, leaving Azur baffled and speechless on the other side.

[Azur] - "What just happened? This isn't the Mike I used to know... why did he say that he didn't care? What is going on? "

[Mike] - "I can't believe this, Azur! You just saved me all the damn trouble of finding her. All I've got to do after I finish off Sniper is to go find her and strangle that f.u.c.k.i.n.g traitor to death! "

Mike's let out another burst of psychotic laughter before emptying the bottle of champagne in his hand.

[Mike] - "These are the final steps! Once I kill these few, there is practically nothing left in my path to ultimate power and then, I'll be able to finally have... peace. "

Mike turned to see the portrait of Sniper on his office wall and with the steps of a drunk man, he marched in front of it and stared him right in the eyes.

[Mike] - "You broke me. I'll give you that! But you made me understand the truth about myself. One's fate is attached to him by blood and my curse is to be fated to become a tyrant like you... "

Mike dropped the empty bottle of champagne on the floor and let out a grim laugh.

[Mike] - "I embraced my curse! If a demon is what I'm fated to become, then I'll just become Satan! F.u.c.k everything else! F.u.c.k you and all your henchmen! F.u.c.k this hopeless world that is rotting in injustice! The world that has left me to die will feel my despair! "

Azur didn't understand anything, it seemed as if Mike was Sniper. His unusually eerie resemblance to the man that inspired the terror in her heart was unsettling.

What she didn't know was that Mike has given up a long time ago. The world has abandoned him, left him to die, to face an enemy he couldn't defeat, to suffer the injustices.

[Mike] - "It was from that day that I understood why I always failed, why I lost everything. "

*A year earlier

Mike and Rick marched through the Australian desert with the scorching hot sun on their back.

[Rick] - "You have infiltrated Sniper's inner circle like intended. It's not gonna be long until we reach our final goal. "

[Mike] - "Sniper's henchmen are my next targets, then I'll head for the final price. "

[Rick] - "Yes and then we will finally be both at peace. Our sins will be washed away from our souls and we will at last gain tranquillity in our hearts.

Mike stopped and closed his palm. His eyes were filled with ambition and anger. Rick also stopped and turned to face Mike.

[Mike] - "But I want more! I need to kill the past if I wanna defeat the present. Kadyn must go as well. "

These words sent a chill down Rick's spine. The way Mike spoke sounded exactly like Sniper and the murderous look in his eyes was just as cruel and cold as Sniper.

[Mike] - "Rick... I had a vision, no, a connection. I saw her alive and with another man. "

[Rick] - "I don't understand, Mike. "

[Mike] - "Our crystals seem to be connected. Our minds formed a bridge that allowed both of us to feel and see each other. "

Rick's head was filled with sweat as he saw the hatred burning in Mike's eyes. Mike on the other hand was angry at himself, Kadyn but most importantly this world that has abandoned him.

[Mike] - "Traitor... TRAITOR! TRAITORS EVERYWHERE! I thought I had a chance but what do I have left other than myself. Rick, once I become emperor, those who wronged me won't be running for long. "

[Rick] - "Mike... I... Yes. I mean, you are right, my friend. "

Rick feared Mike's rage, it reminded him too much of Sniper.

[Mike] - "Rick... I've lost everything. Even the only legitimate person to be on my side has betrayed me. This world has left me to rot and I'm going to make it pay for it. "

[Rick] - "What is your next plan, then? "

[Mike] - "It's simple, my friend, I'm going to get some allies. "

[Rick] - "Allies? "

[Mike] - "Oh! I meant tools. Once they outlived their usefulness, I'll get rid of them. "

[Rick] - "Who are your targets? "

[Mike] - "I'll start with minor officers and influential members of the inner circle, then my old family, The Gilberto and finally, if possible, Mazzatello. "

[Rick] - "Mazzatello? Sniper's right-hand man? "

[Mike] - "Sniper doesn't give a f.u.c.k about any of his subjects and Mazzatello is nothing more than a tool to him. I'm going to pull him to my side or have him eliminated. "

[Rick] - "Is there a specific reason why you chose him? "

[Mike] - "Maybe... "

Back to the present, in Mazzatello's deserted office, Vanier pulled out Mazzatello's XX-Marshal uniform and hat from the closet.

[Vanier] - "He snapped, my emperor. "

Mike's mouth showed a slight grin upon hearing the news and marched toward the desk.

[Mike] - "Just as planned. You may take your leave, dear Vanier. "

Vanier nodded and left the room in a hurry, leaving Mike alone inside. Mike carefully searched Mazzatello's coat pocket and pulled out a picture of the Divine Servants with all of its members.

[Mike] - "You are just like me, Mazzatello. First your godmother and now, your friends. This world has also abandoned you. I understand how you feel and when you'll learn the truth about Sniper, you will consider me your only true friend. "

Mazzatello, meanwhile, walked through the first snow in an unknown big city. Mazzatello suddenly felt a touch behind him but when he returned, he only saw pedestrians passing by him. He is currently standing exactly in the street where he first met his godmother.

To be continued... Next Chapter: [Mazzatello's redemption (part 2)]