Crystalline Universe: Team Fortress 2 Overwatch - Volume 3: Crystalline Universe: Bloodline's Curse Chapter 42 Cold War And World War Part 1

A wind conduct pipe trap door that led towards a dark room was slowly opened and two figures exited from the camped metal pipe. The obscure and fearful atmosphere of the chamber sent a chill down Karson’s bones. It was a dirty and macabre place where moisture littered all over the wall with a high level of humidity and strong nauseating smells. An unhuman place to live for sure.

Mergiann pushed on an iron door and a blinding light penetrated inside the compartment. The whole place was actually the sewage system that’s why it’s so unsanitary and stinky.

[Karson] – “Careful! There may be patrols! ”

[Mergiann] – “No, it’s fine, there is not even a single soul here! ”

[Karson] – “I don’t want to get bloody c.o.c.k-up here because of a single mistake! ”

[Mergiann] – “Let’s move already then! ”

The pair carefully navigated their way inside the base’s underground tunnels to the main control room where all files and records are stored. Before approaching the elevator, Karson looked around to make sure if there was a witness to their intrusion.

[Karson, with a hand sign] – “Move! ”

Mergiann quickly ran toward the elevator door and pressed the down button. The steel door slid to the side but unknown to them, 4 armed guards were inside the cabin. Seeing Mergiann right in front of them, the soldiers opened fire on the young girl. Promptly, Mergiann dashed away inside the corridor and the four men followed her steps.

Karson rapidly stood up from his position but held his pace after hearing the sound of a laser axe in the distance. Using his helmet’s speaker, Karson spoke in concern to Mergiann.

[Karson] (worried) – “Mergiann? Everything’s alright? ”

[Mergiann] – “I did them in, we have to change our plan! ”

[Karson] – “What? Are you all to pot? ”

[Mergiann] – “You go to the generator inside the base’s lowest level and shut the power down while I take care of the control room. ”

[Karson] – “You? Your ability can’t even bloody do offensive attack! ”

[Mergiann] – “Well, more soldiers are coming to my way, gotta go! ”

[Karson] – “Don’t make explosions inside the base or you will be one dead mate. ”

[Mergiann] – “Do your job and I’ll do mine, my explosions are essential to the mission! ”

[Karson] (in a worried voice) – “Wait! You can’t… ”

Mergiann hanged up on Karson before he could finish his sentence.

[Karson] (frustrated) – “Aaargh! What the heck is with all this? My team is composed of a useless dumbass, a mad explosive loli and a noble girl with not so useful abilities. ”

Karson pressed his head against the cement wall and smashed the down button on the elevator’s control panel. The door smoothly opened and Karson walked inside the cabin without looking in front of him. Once the door shut itself, Karson reopened his eyes to see the control panel in front of him. before he could press on the bas.e.m.e.nt button, an armoured hand reached out to his aide.

The young man stood in surprise as he realized that another executioner was standing beside him.

[Cold War] – “Geez, it’s brass monkey outside the base today. ”

[Karson] (stressed) – “Oh… Yeah, I mean mate… I mean you gobsmacked me there. ”

[Cold War] (confused) – “World War, when did you learn to speak with this British accent? ”

[Karson] (pretending to be World War) – “Oh… I just looked it up and well… came across these expressions so I thought: Why not just learn some for my general knowledge? ”

[Cold War] – “Hunky-dory, my friend, I didn’t know you were interested in linguistic. ”

[Karson] (nervous) – “Hehe, god… What a knackered day…! ”

Cold War menacingly approached Karson’s back and looked at the elevator door over his shoulder.

[Cold War] – “I know, my British brother, what a bloody knackered day! ”

[Karson] – “Yeah… I… ”

Karson stared at the same door and realized that his identification number on his armour can be seen on the metallic reflexion. The young man froze in place knowing that Cold War already knew his true identity behind the armour.

Karson tried to turn his head but his body was a frozen image that refused to move. He was deprived of any movement. In a panic, Karson looked at the reflexion and saw Cold War’s crystal glowing with a fiery blue.

[Cold War] – “I thought it was weird for someone like World War to have a passion for English since he’s that kind of man that rarely even speak. ”

[Karson] (in a cold sweat) – “What have you done to my body? ”

[Cold War] – “Don’t you worry, my British brother, I promise I won’t harm you if you honestly tell me what are you doing inside this place! ”

[Karson] – “I have a search order by lord Sniper here to find Mike! ”

[Cold War] – “Nice one, if we have Mike here, we would already capture him. Tell me the true reason, mate. ”

[Karson] – “We are on floor B-0 and the lowest floor is on B-34. ”

[Cold War] – “Your point? Or have you lost the plot? ”

[Karson, with a smile] – “How about a game? Will we survive a fall from around 115 metres of height? ”

[Cold War] (confused) – “What are you going to do, ace? You can’t even move! ”

[Karson] – “My body is motionless but not my ability! [Steal the heart]! ”

The elevator cabin’s floor was suddenly punctured by a blow from Karson’s ability and the two men fell into the void. Before reaching the ground, Karson quickly activated his shield and protected himself from the impact. On the other hand, Cold War activated his ability and walked on the air as if he was stepping on solid air and hastily jumped out from the door to floor B-34.

Karson immediately stood up from his fall and followed Cold War. Once Karson entered the place, the Cold War was nowhere to found. There were only massive power generators and complex networks of pipes and conduits.

*Back at floor B-0

After slicing down the few remaining enemies with her axe, Mergiann slowly advanced toward the main control room.

*Inside the main control room

3 technicians and World War carefully observed the activities around the base’s territory. Every flight, every movement, every ship sailing around the area were monitored. One of the technicians raised his hand and asked World War to analyze his discovery. The tall man in armour silently marched toward the place.

[World War] – “What seems to be the problem, TY-556. ”

[TY-556, while pointing his finger at the screen] – “Sir, one our camera has picked up suspicious activity at floor B-34. ”

[World War] – “Let me have a look. ”

All of a sudden, the room door slid open and a shadowy figure stood in front of the light.

[World War] (frustrated) – “Cold War, I asked to not be disturbed at this hour of the day! ”

[Mergiann] – “No, sir, just delivering a gift for you! ”

The young girl dropped four grenades on the floor and closed the door immediately afterward.

[World War] – “Hey, wait, what? ”

World War looked down on the floor to see four blinking red lights in the dark and in a panic, launched himself behind his chair.

[Mergiann] (enthusiastically) – “Boom! Boom! And explosions! ”

The heavy steel flew out of its frame and crashed on the wall while a dark thick smoke blasted out of the room.

Inside the flame and chaos of the hell caused by the explosion, World War sat in a corner with scars and holes on his armour. The man, after awakening from his shock, looked in front of him only to find 2 more grenade balls ready to detonate to his feet.

[World War] – “SHIT… ”

Another jet of smoke blew out of the room while Mergiann stood back against the wall with a smile.

*Back down at B-34

Karson moved in the darkness while trying to figure out where was Cold War hidden. The young man moved deeper inside the place only to hear footsteps behind his back. With a rapid turn-back, Karson ran toward the elevator door thinking that Cold War was trying to escape. But unknown to him, massive pipes suddenly fell from the sky and held him captive under their heavy mass. With his ability, Karson hastily freed himself from the tubes crushing down on his upper half of the body.

Suddenly, the young man felt a presence behind his back and his body froze.

[Cold War] – “CR-X50, name: Karson, an executioner with crystal abilities, part of the worst team in the association, team Zero. You are under legal arrest for intruding Talon’s forbidden property. ”

[Karson] – “Hey mate, did you bloody think I would submit to your arrest when I’m breaking into places like this? ”

[Cold War] – “Look, friend, I didn’t mean to so unwelcoming to strangers like you, especially when you are a British brother from England just like me. ”

[Karson] – “That’s just rubbish, would you just get on the point, already? ”

[Cold War] – “My point is that I want to give you a chance if you choose to not resist arrest. ”

[Karson] – “Do you need me to confirm that you will be bleeding from every one of your orifices in exactly 5 minutes? ”

[Cold War] – “If I was you, I wouldn’t dare something like this. ”

[Karson] – “Oh yeah? ”

Karson tried to move his hand for an attack but to his surprise, his arms were enabled to move.

[Karson] (confused) – “Wha… what? ”

[Cold War, with a smile] – “Hehehe… That’s my ability, [INF treaty], it allows me to freeze objects mid-air or to restrict the movement of anything inside a 20 metres radius around me. ”

[Karson] – “Thanks for the information, now I know even more how to kick your ass. ”

[Cold War] – “Don’t be cheeky, boy, I’m more experienced in fighting than you do. I told you that information because I am sure that I can win against you. ”

[Karson] – “[Steal the heart] ! ”

Before Karson’s attack could reach the Cold War, the executioner struck back at him before he could react. Cold War’s attack punctured a hole on Karson’s armour and broke a few of his ribs.

[Karson, while spitting blood out of his mouth] (in pain) – “Guck! ”

[Cold War] – “I can even strike faster than you, I was winning from the start! ”

[Karson] – “3 minutes left! ”

*Up at B-0

Mergiann observed the dark cloud of smoke for 3 minutes already and finally decided that it’s safe to extract the information from the computers.

The young girl penetrated inside the control room and plugged her portable computer on the main system. Unknown to her, World War stood up behind her after exiting from his broken armour. Quietly, the man tall man activated his ability but Mergiann already noticed his presence. With a sudden turn, Mergiann punched the man in the face and ran out of the room.

World War followed the young girl but once he exited the door frame, two more bombs were on the ground, waiting for him.

[World War] – “You little bastard! ”

World War tried to run away from the explosives but was blocked by Mergiann’s bubble behind him. In a last-ditch attempt to save himself, World War detonated, using his ability, the floor in front of him and sent the blast flying toward Mergiann’s position. He was hurt by the explosion but mergiann was hit by the full damage of the explosion. The young girl fell on the floor but was protected from the detonation by her armour. World War promptly stood up from the ground and caused Mergiann’s leg armour to explode using his ability. The blast shattered her leg and femur bone and the young girl dropped to the floor.

[Mergiann] (in agony) – “Gack! What the heck was that? ”

She quickly pulled a syringe out of her pocket and injected her injured leg with a green substance.

[World War] (in a cold expression) – “Seems you really love explosions… well, I’m a fan of it too. ”

[Mergiann, with a grin] – “Hehe… Then bring it on! Let’s see which one between us two can blow the other to smithereens. ”

With that in mind, Mergiann took another grenade from her backpack while World War prepared to strike once more.

To be continued…

*EXTRA

Profile: Cold War

Real name: Jeffrey Amherst

Ability: [INF Treaty]: “The ability allows Cold War to freeze objects mid-air or to restrict the movement of anything he desires in a radius of 20 metres around him. His other notable ability is being able to deliver a strike with the speed of light at his victim but the ability cannot be used repetitively like a punch barrage. He can also use the feeze on himself so he could walk in the air. ”

Rle: minor antogonist

Affiliation: talon, executioner.

Backstory: “Jeffrey was born in a rich English family in England and when he was 31, he joined Talon after resigning from the British royal airforce. ”

Reference: “Historical references. ”

STATS:

Power – C

Speed – A

Sub. Speed – B

Range – C

Durability – B

Sub. Durability – B

Precision – B

Potential – D