Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 38 Happiness A Fantasy A Lie

A dark and grim cloud covered the sky while a heavy rain stormed the night. Darkness blinded the world while the only sounds were those of the raging wind.

The rain smashed furiously against the window of an obscure chamber illuminated by the light of the thunder. Calm reigned inside the room almost as if there was a funeral.

It’s been 4 days since Kadyn’s disappearance and Mike, after countless hours of search, was unable to find even a single clue to her location. Even the word “despair” was too light to describe the situation.

The young man, head applied against his desk, slept in front of a computer where information about the possible kidnappers was displayed. He tried everything he could’ve tried, he gave everything he could’ve gave, everything just wasn’t enough to bring the girl he loved back.

Everything happened so fast. Mike was lost in his sorrow and pain.

The light inside the chamber was suddenly turned on by a man entering the room.

Dane, pushed by Angela in a wheelchair, entered the room without a warning.

[Dane] – “Thank you, Angela, just leave me with him, go take care of your patients. ”

[Angela] – “If there is anything you need, just call me. ”

[Dane] – “Alright. ”

The head doctor left the room without a word while Dane looked at Mike who remained unresponsive on his table.

Moments have passed and not a single word came out of the young man’s mouth.

[Dane] – “Mike! ”

[Mike] (frustrated) – “Make it quick… Bloody hell, I fell asleep… ”

The young man slowly raised his head from the desk and looked back at Dane with a half-dead look.

[Dane] – “If I am a bother to you at this time then I can come later. ”

Mike quickly cleaned his eyes and sat up straight.

[Mike] – “What kind of “necessary information” do you wanna tell me then? ”

[Dane] – “Listen, I’m sorry about what happened with Kadyn… I know how much this hurts you but… there are just some facts that I must have you know. ”

[Mike] – “Facts… What kinds of reality are just gonna drop on my already destroyed world? ”

[Dane] – “It’s about Kadyn… ”

[Mike] – “What about her then? ”

[Dane] – “She’s also a spy that’s working for Talon. ”

Mike looked at Dane with a “Are you mocking me? ” look.

[Mike] – “Dane… Really? Did your injuries cause you to become delusional or have some neurological troubles? ”

[Dane] – “Hey, hey, before you conclude that I’m insane or something, hear me out first. ”

[Mike] – “Hear what? Hear about how my mother could’ve possibly been a spy? ”

[Dane] – “No, listen! Back when your mind was still shattered into 2 other personalities, Kadyn came to me telling news about my father.

Dane pulled a cigar out of his pocket and smoked the roll of tobacco a few times before resuming his phrase.

[Dane] – “Clearly, I knew she wasn’t someone just there with you for the show because she told me to keep her presence a secret. It wasn’t long until one of our spies told me that she was spying on you. At first, I thought about capturing her for interrogation but soon, I found out how much she cared for you. I realized that her feeling for you is true and she only accepted this job to get close to you. ”

[Mike] – “And? ”

[Dane] – “And I decided that I would not do any harm to her. I even registered her as one of ours to protect her from any kind of suspicion. We eventually became friends and I did everything I could to help you recover your original self. What I’m trying to say is that I cared for both you and her and that I and the rest are ready to help you. ”

[Mike] – “No, Dane, this is my business, I cannot put you guys in danger for my own problem. ”

[Dane] – “Who said that this doesn’t concern us? You saved us all from that darn CR-455 guy. Of course, we own one and that’s how we will pay you back. ”

[Mike] (moved) – “You guys… You would do that for me? ”

[Dane] – “Me and all those who thank you for everything, for our life and our family. Thanks to you, a lot of people managed to see the face of their wife and children again… ”

Mike’s eyes were once again filled a spark of life and hope as Dane spoke.

[Mike] (touched) – “I… I don’t know what to say… I… ”

[Dane] – “This is the least we could do to pay you back. We will find Kadyn and we will bring her back to your side. ”

Mike stared at Dane in a roller coaster of emotion while he shucked his hands.

[Mike] (emotionally) – “I deeply give my thanks to all of you and I will cherish your words for the rest of life. ”

[Dane] – “Get some sleep, son. You’ll need some rest if you want to be ready to find the love you’ve lost. ”

*In a Talon base

Inside a huge auditorium where the only illuminated place was the front, hundred of executioners sat and waited for the long due speech. Sniper suddenly appeared in front of everyone with the Judge and Mazolatta accompanying him on the scene.

Sniper will tonight give the right to hunt down Mike to a single team of 4 executioners. If the nominated team successfully hunts Mike down, they will get a total of 3 billion dollars for their achievement and be rewarded the position of “Divine servant” for the rest of their life.

*Later that night

[Sniper] – “…And the winning team for the “Hunting right” will be “Team zero”! ”

The audience stood in shock while whispers spread all around the place. Even the Judge was shocked to the bone as he stood in silence beside Sniper.

The old man slowly approached Sniper’s ear.

[Judge] (in a whisper) – “My lord, why would you give the “Hunting right” to that team? The team has been called “Team Zero” for a reason! ”

[Sniper] – “That, my friend, is because you don’t understand! Everything I do has a reason and a meaning. If an action can only be done under circ.u.mstances you deemed logical then it could never fully fulfill the unpredictable. I chose them for a deeper reason than simple logic. ”

After the executioners calmed down, Sniper resumed his speech.

[Sniper] – “Very interesting result indeed! But as the rule applied, “Team Zero” will be the only team to have the right to hunt down Mike with all the resources, information and connection they need. The reward will only be given to this team. The team will retain its privileges up until their death. ”

*Down the reactor shaft

The agitated flame and the fiery steam burned the place into the devil’s playhouse. The heat is nothing a human could survive.

[System] – “Substance of unknown origin detected, initializing clean up. ”

A grappling hook grabbed a large piece of the debris on the shaft’s wall and threw everything out from a small hole. The pieces soon made their way inside a carbage deposit center.

From the wreckage, Purple Fiction, with only half her torso, her left arm and parts of her head left, crawled out in pain. She couldn’t be angrier, her hate kept her alive up until this moment.

As she crawled, a tall figure with an imposing shadow appeared in front of her.

She gradually looked up to see a huge silver-skinned creature with a pair of large upright horns that resembles the ears of a leporid, a slime body build and instead of having a face, has a cavity filled with black goo.

[P.F.] (in agony) – “Who the heck are you? ”

[Cheaper Than Cheap] – “I am Cheaper Than Cheap! I was supposed to replace you after you failed your mission as a spy in this base but I suppose you are still alive and well. ”

[P.F.] (in anger) – “Well? Do I look like I am well? Help me, god damn it! ”

The creature put his foot on the demi-human’s face and laughed sinisterly.

[CTC] – “Who do you think I am? Your slave? Oh please! The one with the most chance of becoming a slave is you and your cheap ugly face. ”

[P.F.] (enraged) – “Get your foot off my face, bastard! ”

[CTC] (sarcastic) – “Sure! Lick my foot and I’ll let it off you! ”

[P.F.] (furious) – “WHAT? YOU SON OF A… ”

Cheaper Than Cheap shoved the tip his sharp robotic foot inside Purple Fiction’s mouth and taunted her with it.

[CTC] – “If you won’t calm down then I won’t be able to help you! You know, I want to help! ”

[P.F.] (in a pleading) – “Just help me, please! I will die if my batterie fades away. ”

[CTC] – “Then what will I get for that? ”

[P.F.] – “What do you want then? ”

[CTC] – “I want equality, I want my freedom as a living being, can you get that for me? ”

[P.F.] – “Anything! I beg of you! Just take me to Dane’s laboratory! ”

[CTC] – “As you wish. ”

Cheaper grabbed Purple Fiction’s body and dashed to Dane’s laboratory in no time. Once arriving at the place, Cheaper put the girl on the floor and walked toward the exit.

[P.F.] – “Where are you going? ”

[CTC] – “My work is done, I’m leaving! ”

[P.F.] – “I need you to help me rebuild myself! ”

[CTC] – “Then I’ll require you to pay me something more on top of my liberty and right. ”

[P.F.] – “What? But… I already promised you to… ”

[CTC] – “Every filthy act is done at a reasonable price and that goes the same for me. ”

[P.F.] (frustrated) – “You… You… What the heck do you want? ”

[CTC] – “I want you to be inferior to me, I want you to lose your right and freedom. ”

[P.F.] (enraged) – “YOU F.U.C.KERRRR….. ”

Purple Fiction’s generator could not hold it any longer, her systems were shutting down.

[CTC] (with a laugh) – “Time’s running out! ”

With no other option, Purple Fiction hesitated before slamming her fist against the floor in a fit of rage.

[P.F.] – “I SUBMIT! ”

[CTC] – “Good! You better hang on to our promise or the piece of nanites I left in you will make you pay! ”

[P.F.] (worried) – “Nanites? ”

[CTC] – “I’m a nanobot, I’m entirely made out of nanites. ”

Cheaper grabbed a piece of equipment he found inside a safe and installed the piece on Purple Fiction’s chest. The piece is a Chronos accelerator, a piece of experimental equipment that caused misfortune to Tracer from Overwatch. Upon its installation, Purple Fiction felt an overwhelming power coursing through her body. The power ascension, the power of the divines.

[P.F., while becoming one with the accelerator] – “I shall take my revenge! Grant me the power and justice I deserved! Just you wait, Mike, I will get to you! I WILL KILL YOU! My name is no longer Purple Fiction! I shall be reborn as Divine Maiden! ”

To be continued…

*EXTRA

Profile: Cheaper Than Cheap

Real Name: EXP-1223

Ability: ???

Affiliation: Talon

Backstory: ???

Reference: Dirty Deed Done Dirt Cheap from Jojo’s bizarre adventure.