Also at https://archiveofourown.org/works/47065192/chapters/119299327
Deadlock gorge was to be a old Stacian tourist trap – an ancient cut through the earth next to a newer, but still ancient cut through the earth. Now it was most frequently seen as a glance out of a train window. Along with a road, it was wide enough to house a diner, a few mine entrances, a petrol station that had long run out of customers, a hotel in disrepair, and a saloon that was repaired weekly – whether it or the motorbike garage next to it made more money, it was impossible to say.
A section was not on the maps, a closed off length tunnel – slated to have one day completed a bypass of Route 66, but locked down as petroleum prices skyrocketed decades previous.
It hadn’t stuck. The tunnel was turned into a warehouse of sorts. First for a local gang that popped up as local opportunity wavered, and recently – it was feared – for Talon.
Overwatch’s Orca was dispatched with an unusually large team, as they had no idea how much resistance they might encounter. Winston, possibly just because he wanted to get away form dispatch for a while. Reinhardt Wilhelm, and his so-called ‘squire’ Brigitte Lindholm. One Cole Cassidy, a gunman who was familiar with the area. Jack Morrison, who had worked with Cassidy in the past. Angela Ziegler planed to stay in the ship, with Mei-Ling Zhou providing backup as needed.
The trip over wasn’t particularly eventful – checking equipment, catching up on sleep. Cole and Jack made a lot of vague references to “the old days” which Mei couldn’t really follow, beyond the fact that they were war stories – which didn’t seem right. Jack was obviously older, but Cole had to be about her age.
Angela finally got to corner Brigitte, after wanting to for months. Even this conversation took several attempts, as Brigitte kept trying to pull Reinhardt in. Mei tried to listen in, because she was sure she was the subject in some way or other, but the conversation had slipped into heated German.
The Orca hovered in sight of the one saloon in wedged into the Gulch. Per protocol, the door had to stay open in case of medical emergency – protocol did cover potential refugees, but not a dozen or so bikers that had already started into their drinks for the night.
It was recorded in the official log that that the gathered crowd was dispersed without any weapons fire. What was not recorded was the number of broken noses Angela was forced to set in quick succession after the bikers questioned how “a little c████” was “plannin on stopping them from having a looksee”.
The answer was with her boots. The bikers, too drunk to care how easily she assumed a standing split, would throw the punches they were so used to throwing amongst themselves – some seriously, some not – in bar fights. Mei didn’t bother to dodge – she wrapped her raised leg around the incoming arm, then quickly brought her heels back together forcing the dust covered tread of the boot across the attacker’s face, heel first. Mei’s kick was so fast that it didn’t even register what had happened before several men were groaning on the ground – though at least, a few decided to head back to the bar before Angela popped her head out to realize there was work to do.
The bar was half empty before there was any contact from the team out on the actual mission. Jack radioed it in – they thought they had secured the area, but McCree – no, Cassidy, he corrected himself – had been found crumpled on the ground as they had started to survey the stock. There were signs he’d been dragged a short distance. They were regrouping a the orca to re-asses.
A bed was more than ready by the time they made it. Cassidy still wasn’t moving. Brigette was one of his stretcher bearers, leading Reinhardt – Soldier 76 keeping track of pulse. Brigette was barely suppressing panic. “I couldn’t do any thing. The nanites aren’t registering any injury. I–“
“I’ve got this. Make sure everyone else is nominal.”
The Orca’s medical equipment was enough to identify some abnormalities in the blood samples. The strangest thing was – his primary symptom seemed to be a sort of flaccid paralysis, but that should have fixable causes. His heart and lungs were working enough to keep him alive, but just in case she hooked up an oxygen supply and a saline IV. Involuntary urination and defecation were also a symptoms, but that was the sort of thing that could wait. Angela wondered about stimulants – but was afraid of additional interactions without knowing what had, apparently, poisoned him.
It was Cassidy’s own kidneys that started to filter out whatever he had been exposed to, after he got a bit of hydration in his blood. He was eventually able to drink water on his own – so the IV was slowed, but not removed.
“I been trying to figure it out for the past few minutes, doc.” Cassidy picked at the hose up his nose – but new better than to try and pull it out in front of a doctor.
Mercy quickly called Jack over.
“I didn’t hear much. Maybe, someone cracking their knuckles after a day of filin’. I looked for it, but didn’t see anything. But right I felt somthing on my hand – sticky. Like, gum right when you take it out of your mouth, but it needs to try a bit before you can stick it anywhere. If felt it all, but I just couldn’t move. Goddamn hat was blocking my view. They weren’t big. I can’t say for sure… it was like the impression of a spider.”
“Widowmaker?” Jack prompted.
“Nah, I’ve seen that woman’s work. She doesn’t do close quarters. I mean like, they couldn’t drag me while standing up. Kept close to the ground – like a dog dragging a tree branch. But I keep thinking spider, and I can’t say why.”
“You were dragged-“
“It wasn’t far, I don’t think. Brig wasn’t too far, and I at least tried to call out. Not sure if I was heard.”
“You saw Brigette, but not who attacked?”
“Brig wasn’t trying to hide. I’d say somthin like ‘dark clothes’ but if that ain’t all of Talon…”
“So your scan equipment was left where you fell.”
“If it’s not on me, sure.” Cassidy tried to gather up enough saliva to spit, but wasn’t quite there yet. He swallowed it, “Apologies.”
“Then we’re going to have to go back for it. It might have picked up some details.” Jack stroked his beard. “Doc, is my man going to be stable enough to leave him like this?”
“If you want me there, leave Brigette here. I think she needs to hear she did the right thing in this case.”
Jack frowned. “Yeah, yeah. We have no ID on the assailant. I’m leaving Rein with her. Mercy. Mei. Winston, gear back up.” He patted Cassidy on the shoulder, “We’ll be back soon.”
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