Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2/ Overwatch

Mike sat on the nearest chair he found as soon as he entered Ethan's laboratory.

He stared at the old man and opened his mouth.

[Mike] - "Do you do DNA tests or anything close to that? "

Ethan looked at the young man who never had such low morale. The doctor showed his hand to Mike, who in return handed him the pieces of evidence he found.

[Ethan] - "You need proof to believe me right? "

[Mike] - "My heart is crystal clear but my mind is still covered in mist, I will trust whatever result you give me. "

[Ethan] - "Then come with me, my boy. "

After walking up to a small white coloured cubic machine, the doctor shoved all the pieces into a small pill-like capsule and inserted the containment inside a small hole on top of the cube.

While waiting for the system to process the result of the analyze, the doctor turned his head to face Mike, who was still impatiently waiting for the outcome.

[Ethan] (in hesitation) - "Mike, about Kadyn... She told me what happened when she talked to you yesterday. "

[Mike, while crossing both his arm] - "This is none of your concern, Doc. "

[Ethan] - "No, no, I know what happened does not concern me but what concerns me is what you said. She told me that you have been acting strange, are you alright? "

*ting*

[Ethan] - "It's ready. "

The doctor hurried to look into the big screen fixed to the table.

[Mike] - "What does it say? "

[Ethan] - "No, I wasn't wrong, you see that? "

On the screen, Mike saw the genetic remains matching the ones of his father.

Mike crossed his fingers and slowly walked a few rounds inside the lab. while taking the time to process everything. The young man took a few more minutes staring at the ground with his emotionless eyes.

Breaking the silence after a long wait, the doctor talked.

[Ethan] - "Mike, about what happened yesterday... "

[Mike] - "You said you have more to show me the other day, right? Well, let me have what else you hide, show them to me! "

Ethan walked to the screen without finishing what he previously said. After opening the secret files inside the computer's system, Ethan took out a few of them to Mike, showing furthermore the secrets that Sniper hid behind his back.

An hour had passed and the replay of the last recording ended. The doctor sat beside Mike and opened his mouth once again.

[Ethan] - (sigh) "There, you have seen it all... All of it... "

Mike remained silent. In reality, he's drowning inside his emotions. Those disturbing images from the videos still haunt him as much as the "crimson night". Those terrible souvenirs to the horrifying details, all caused by a man who presented himself to him as his guardian angel in the moments of his despair.

[Ethan] (in a loud voice) - "Mike! "

Awakening from his deep thoughts, the young man raised his head. The look on his face was neither anger or sorrow but a calm and cold face isolated from any emotion. While twitching uncontrollably his eyelid, Mike looked at the doctor. The look was piercing the old man like it was a knife, a look that will make even the most violent of serial killers tremble out of fear.

Ethan, from the expression on the young man's face, understood it all.

All along, it was hate and revenge burning inside the young man. Out of all the things, Mike hated the betrail from someone he trusts.

[Mike] (in a murderous voice) - "Yes, doctor, I'm listening, go on tell me what do you want to tell me. "

[Ethan] - "You sure you don't want to rest or talk about it later... "

[Mike] - "No, tell me now what you want to tell me! "

Ethan got up and walked toward a glass cabin.

[Ethan] - "Mike, it's your birthday today, you are now an a.d.u.l.t. "

[Mike, sounding like a convict on death row] - "Does that matter doc.? "

[Ethan] - "Yes, it does! Because tonight, you are going to become one of them as Sniper said. "

The doctor turned his head to look at the young man, who in return, shook his head, telling him to keep ongoing.

[Ethan] - "I have a gift for you. "

The doctor opened the glass cabin and turned on the light inside the cabin. The glowing colour of gold blinded Mike as if he was a vampire seeing the light of the day for the first time.

An armour resembling Sniper's own was standing inside the lights. The helmet, instead of having a round analyzer like Sniper's, it was a crystal-shaped one. All around the armour, golden coloured stripes and decorations ranging from golden branches of trees and leaves to blue crystal-forming stars on its shoulder littered its surface, giving life to its white-based metallic colour. The amazing view snapped Mike out of his mind as he slowly walked toward the armour to touch it for himself.

[Mike] (impressed) - "Do you have a name for this piece of work? "

[Ethan] - "Emperor... Star... Wind... Requiem... Yeah! Emperor Star's Wind Requiem! "

[Mike] - "You made that up just now, right? "

[Ethan] - "Yeah, I know I'm not the best at giving a name. "

[Mike, with a smile] - "No, I like it, keep that name, it was great. "

[Ethan] - "I named it like that because you ARE emperor the moment you wear it. "

[Mike] (confused) - "What do you mean? "

[Ethan] - "I made it so you can become the strongest! There are four extra power cores on its back, essentially making you a God by default and there is more... "

[Ethan, after catching his breath] - "The armour plates are made out of crystal fiber, the same crystal as the ones inside your forearms which make it durable enough to resist all kinds of attack. It has also a molecule analyzer, helping you when you want to land a precise strike on your enemy. It also got a standby mode in which means it would stay invisible when you do not require its assistance. "

[Mike] (in a cold voice) - "That's good! "

[Ethan] - "Oh! That reminds me that Sniper wants you, tonight, to execute the prisoner you captured a few days ago since he has no more use to the association and... "

[Ethan, after a deep breath] - "Everyone will be watching, it will be done inside the execution stadium where he also said that he would nominate you as the official commander of the executioners. "

[Mike] (in an icy voice) - "Where is Sniper? "

[Ethan] - "He departed this morning to a meeting in the high council of Talon, he will be back tonight. He informed me before his departure to prepare you for your nomination. "

[Mike] - "Then thank you, Delfy, I will be on my way, I will see you tonight. "

The young man quietly marched toward the exit door without another word.

[Ethan] - "Mike, you have something planned, don't you? "

[Mike] (in an emotionless voice) - "Maybe... "

Mike suddenly stopped in his steps and turned his head toward Ethan.

[Mike] - "Oh, by the way, could you tell this to Kadyn if you meet her before tonight."

[Ethan] - "I'm listening, Mike. "

[Mike] - "Tell her that I always cared for her and I didn't want her to be present tonight at my nomination party. Tell her that if I perish, she should just move on because this is my fault and not hers. I want her to be happy but happiness isn't with me but with someone who has the heart to love her. I'm not worthy of her kindness and affection because I'm not a man that can offer her joy. "

[Ethan] - "Alright, Mike, I got it. "

After leaving the laboratory, Mike suddenly realized that Kadyn was walking this way from afar. In a hurry, Mike ran away to disappear into the depth of the long hallways once again. Kadyn, after seeing Mike running, wanted to catch up to him but got instead called out by the doctor. After looking one last time at Mike in the distance, Kadyn entered the laboratory before closing the doors behind her.

To be continued...