Chapter Text
The truck arrived within two minutes of Winston's projected timeline; the team in their positions just a few minutes earlier. Morrison had compared some members of the team to "poorly trained cats that were doped up on catnip", but McCree thought that they were doing very well, considering how fuzzy the details of this operation were. Athena just so happened to glean the data about this drop at a Talon facility, and Winston felt that they should act on this immediately. Worst case, they get to confirm where Talon agents are stationed. Best case, they intercept a delivery of very important supplies, or weapons. Honestly they can't be too picky nowadays.
Tracer was stationed on the perimeter, just inside the chain link fence, hidden by some discarded crates. If Talon agents came to investigate or reinforce the front defenses, she would be able to maneuver appropriately.
Hanzo was on the rooftop of a building on the opposite side of Tracer; his role was similar, but he was also to monitor the incoming truck and front gate. He had already confirmed at least twenty bodies within range of his Sonic Arrow, but there could easily be more within the facility.
Mei, reluctant to join the mission, was positioned a little ways from the main entrance of the facility. If they needed to block off their escape, or prevent the truck's quick getaway, she would summon her ice wall. Easy.
McCree was hidden as best as he could in the alley straight across from the main entrance. Winston assured him that if he could rob a train, then a supply truck should be no problem. (McCree has long since given up on trying to correct fellow agents on the incident; he has suspected that it has devolved into one of the ongoing jokes on base, and he could roll with it.)
Genji was assigned the task to “investigate the main facility, and to intervene when necessary”. So far, that meant radio silence, except for the rare private message to Hanzo to assure him that, yes, he was fine, and no, nothing has happened yet.
The last member of the team was Zenyatta, who was content to meditate as they waited. He was around the corner from McCree’s alley, so when he started to move, Zenyatta would follow as close as he could without giving his position away. Despite Tracer and Genji’s close proximity to the enemy, McCree had the more dangerous role in all this. It made sense for Zenyatta to be at the ready, just in case.
Hanzo was restless. He spent more time watching the alley that he knew McCree was tucked away in than the entrance or the side of the facility. He didn’t like this, he voiced his opinion earlier when they were assigned this mission, and he said so again to McCree in private. At least in his room, wrapped in the other man’s strong arms, he could admit that he was scared, a little. On a normal mission, they could cover each other, they worked best that way. Here, however, Hanzo was precious seconds away from being at McCree’s side.
There was Talon to consider as well. Athena uncovered peculiar code names and facility statistics. They already knew that there were multiple facilities, but the information implied that there were more than they could ever predict. It would take time for Winston and Athena to pick out the nuances, so for now, they had this delivery. Several “high priority” items were being delivered, and if they could get their hands on those items, perhaps figuring out the rest of Talon’s decryption code would be easier.
It was better than nothing, but Hanzo didn’t like that they were playing a game of chess when they didn’t even know what pieces the other side had on the board. And a few of those pieces could be waiting for Jess--McCree, Agent McCree. Hanzo huffed when he mentally corrected himself; they had to appear professional.
[[Oi! Looks like our delivery is here!]] Tracer’s upbeat voice brought Hanzo back to the here and now. The truck was pulling right up to the main entrance, where a guard was stationed at the little gate. Knocking an arrow, he waited until he saw McCree start to move. Once he was within range, he loosed the arrow, right at the guard that was just emerging from his little guard station. A perfect shot, the man dropped in an instant, leaving the driver to lean out in a panic. Leaning out just in time for McCree to grab the man and drag him out of the hastily opened door. Hanzo was almost relieved until he saw McCree’s head snap towards the back of the truck.
[[McCree, there appears to be a man exiting the back of the truck.]] Despite the situation, Zenyatta, or at least his voice, remained calm, and Hanzo saw an Orb of Harmony blip into existence above McCree’s shoulder. Small blessings. Hanzo shifted his gaze towards the back of the truck. He couldn’t see the man that Zenyatta had called out on the radio, but hopefully he would before he retaliated.
[[Tracer, Hanzo, there’s movement in the facility. They know we’re here!]] Genji was on the move, and Hanzo took a brief moment to visually scan the facility. If they were exiting the building, it wasn’t from his side. Most likely the main entrance.
[[Roger that, Genji! Moving towards the front!]] Good, Tracer was on the move, the front will be covered. Back to the truck. He knocked another arrow. McCree was backing away from the truck, away from Hanzo, more towards Mei.
[[Fellas, I think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew down here. I need backup.]] At first, Hanzo couldn’t see why--where was the other Talon agent? When he finally saw who, or what, McCree was fighting, Hanzo understood.
First of all, the figure was huge. Easily over seven feet tall. The next thing that Hanzo noticed was that this figure was more Omnic than flesh, and not of the standard citizen grade Omnic either. This was high grade, Omnic-Crisis era. He fired an arrow at what he assumed was the head, and heard it bounce off with a small tnk. McCree saw the arrow, aimed at the target, and fired, Hanzo hoped at places other than the head. Two of the shots did at least some damage, the other bullets bounced like his own arrow. McCree ran, this time angling towards Zenyatta.
[[Mei! Freeze ‘im! I’ll keep Ugly’s attention!]] With a quick roll for a moment to reload, McCree started to fire at the two known weak spots. Hanzo glanced over at Mei; what was she waiting for?
[[O-Oh! Sorry! Here goes!]] She nervously fidgeted before leveling her gun at the monstrosity before her. She fired off one, two blasts with her Endothermic Blaster. Solid hits, but they were mere annoyances, and the target turned on her. She paled and froze; this wasn’t supposed to happen!
McCree watched and swore under his breath. Bless her heart, Mei was not suitable for combat situations. “Mei! FREEZE ‘EM!” That snapped her out of it, and she switched the settings on her blaster. Now, when she aimed and squeezed the trigger, a steady stream of frost coated the opponent. Her aim was a touch off, but the target got the brunt of it. McCree was caught in the outer reaches of the blast, but he’d be able to move out of the freeze zone soon enough. As if to calm one particular archer’s nerves, he waved. [[N-Nice work, Mei. You owe me a shot of bourbon after this though.]]
Hanzo finally allowed himself to breathe. They were safe, for the moment anyways. [[Genji, Tracer, what’s your status?]]
[[I’m taking this ol’ banger out for a spin!]]
[[E-Excuse me Tracer?]]
[[She’s stealing the truck, Hanzo.]]
Sure enough, there was Tracer, looking a bit too pleased with herself in the driver’s seat of the truck, with Genji hopping into the passenger’s seat. Well, it worked, and after a quick glance at the main building, now was the time to make their escape.
[[Well done, everyone load up into the truck. We’ll sort--]]
[[MCCREE NO!]]
Mei’s shrill scream completely derailed Hanzo’s train of thought. He saw McCree, still shivering, swerve and watch in horror as something on the Omnic cyborg exploded. In slow motion, he saw a strange, grey gas suddenly engulf him. Then, another explosion; this time, it slammed McCree into the ground, his body skidding a few feet before stopping.
McCree did not get up.
Hanzo couldn’t recall what exactly he screamed, but he ran across the clearing. He had no idea how he got down the building so quickly, but he didn’t care. He blood was searing through his veins, and he never stopped until he was kneeling at McCree’s side. Professionalism be damned, he held the man he loved close.
“Jesse? Jesse, mewosamasu? Jesse? Onegaishimasu, itoshii…”
His voice sounded so small, his hands trembling as he brushed Jesse’s unruly hair out of his face. He didn’t notice how the monstrosity from before had crumbled to the ground. He didn’t notice how meekly Mei went to retrieve Jesse’s hat, tears in her eyes. He never noticed how, throughout this entire ordeal, Zenyatta’s Orb of Harmony never left Jesse’s side. All he knew, all he focused on, was Jesse’s shallow breathing, his faint heartbeat.
He did jump when Tracer pulled up in the Talon delivery truck, honking the horn for good measure. “Hurry up love! Get him in the back!”
Hanzo didn’t have to be told twice; gently, he picked Jesse up and jogged over to the truck. Zenyatta was there immediately at the truck’s back door, helping Genji make a space for Jesse. Mei claimed Genji’s former seat, and if the ninja noticed, he showed no outward sign of caring.
The fallen agent secured--as well as he could be, seeing as Hanzo refused to let go of him--Zenyatta and Genji pulled the doors closed. Once Genji gave the signal, Tracer floored it. The transport was only ten minutes away, and every second counted.
Zenyatta watched in silence. He knew that Mercy, who was waiting at the transport--”just in case”--would be able to assist Jesse more than himself. But he was trained to monitor the lifesigns of both Omnics and humans. Jesse was physically fine; a bit crispier around the edges, could cut back on the smoking, sure, but his physical appearance did not reflect his health. As he scanned the prone human, he only saw signs of Jesse being in a deep sleep. Almost like he was meditating.
Hopefully, Mercy would have a more scientific explanation.