The Overwatch

DATE: July/ 5/ 2034…

TIME: 2:55am…

LOCATION: Nova Prospekt/Cell Block Delta 2/ Portal Research and Weapons Testing…

P.O.V: Cpl. Daniel Joseph McAllister/ Combine Overwatch/ Testing Division. Unit #: OW04235

“Attention Overwatch Guard Renforcement Team, second stage priority is now in effect, please report to, Cell Block Delta 2, code: standby, oversee, patrol. Priority Alert, singularity in 10 minutes, Stabilization Team, report status.”

The voice on the intercom came as the doors opened completely. Looking inside the room, I was greeted with dozens of little flashing lights and small beeping sounds from monitors along with a low hum from the server central hub. Soldiers walked about pressing buttons and watching screens that were suspended from the ceiling and mounted on the dashboard that spanned the whole front of the room on a elevated platform that was connected to the lower level of the room by a small staircase. The whole front of the room was glass that looked into the next room.

Moving in with John following I walked up to the top layer to meet some of the men on the stage. But before I could get their, a voice spoke out above the noise of boots on steel.

“John, Daniel,over here, quickly.” Turning to my right to face the voice came from, I saw a mask of a Overwatch Soldier facing me and John. Recognizing the voice I wandered over through the waves of personnel.

Pvt. David Johnson OW#002134 the Pulse Rifleman of our fireteam, donning his AR2 he made his way over to us with someone else. Looking at the other Soldier I also remembered who he was. Ryan Johnson OW#002135 the SMG trooper and the final part of my fireteam. Me and John were the other half, he being the Shocker with his SPAZ-12 and me being the team leader with another AR2. The four of us meat halfway and exchanged salutes.

“Squad Sergeant wants to see you, told me to find ya before singularity.” David said. David's voice was probably one of the deepest voices in the whole Squad getting the codename, “Bear.”

“He’s waiting on the portal level below us, follow me…” Ryan came next. His voice was just a low as Davids, nearly Identical. He donned the code name “Grills.” David and Ryan are brothers, they were nearly identical in facial features and in personality. The room we were in head two motion secured doors that open up on either side. Following the two soldiers as they turned around and walked out onto a suspended platform after bypassing the door, I glared over at the enormous device that loomed below us.

A Humongous machine stood tall and proud on the far side of the room, it seemed to glow a light blue, even if it just the energy crystals inside the machine powering it.

The machine had a large rectangular base that had a staircase going up the long side facing us. Mounted on the top was a huge ring that had glowing light blue lights, making a star if they were connected towards the center. Wires hung from the top and ran into the ceiling. Surrounding the device was a circle that shown light yellow and black, marking a safe zone. Making our way to the end of the catwalk we descended via ladder. Making our way down, I kept my eye open for the Sergeant. Luckily I found him standing near the entrance of the portal. Exiting the ladder at the bottom, I made my way over to him. He turned around hearing our foot steps and crossed his arms behind him.

“Good evening gentlemen, how are we this morning?” The sergeant asked as we stopped moving closer and surrounded him from one side. The sergeant just like the rest of us looked the same his eyes were yellow and his uniform was a black and blue like mine.

The sergeant stepped aside a bit revealing a woman to us, she was wearing brown pants and a white sweater and her hair was tied back so her face was clearly showing.

"Boys I'd like you to meet Dr. Mossman she is the head researcher and developer for our second teleporter prototype." In response to her introduction we salute it showing her respect, it's not every day you get to meet the person behind building a teleporter.

"Thank you Sergeant, but I can't take all of your applauds, your researchers and developers are just as good as I am, maybe even better, I just helped them along." Dr. Mossman began to walk forward, we parted so that she could pass.

"AnyWho I'm going to head up to the control station, for in 10 minutes or less, we will inaugurate the teleporter with the double transmission and open a link between Nova Prospect and city 17 for the first time." Mossman left us and walked up the ladder to the control room above us. Turning back to the sergeant he began to explain our purpose for being here. We were stand guard and watch the portal first hand and see if they could spot and structural failures. Simple enough. The Sarge and us exchanged salutes and he left to pursue the Mossman.

“Attention Overwatch Guard Renforcement Team, second stage priority is now in effect, please report to, Cell Block Delta 2, code: standby, oversee, patrol. Priority Alert, singularity in 5 minutes, Stabilization Team, status reported, moving ahead with portal inauguration.” The PA system echoed throughout the portal room. I looked over a John, who was standing motionless, staring at the portal along with Ryan and David. To fit in, I too watched the dormant portal as I listed to the hum of it’s electronics. Suddenly, behind us a loud whooshing sound could be heard. Turning around to see the source of the noise, my mind froze up.

“Lieutenant.” I said quietly over the radio. The rest of the team turned around with me and froze just as fast. Not only was it a Lieutenant, but it was the same one from earlier. He came forward as we saluted we mirrored back.

“At ease soldiers.” Saying that we loosened our stance a bit, but we kept our heads level with him. He walked up to me, only me and looked me right in the eyes. He began to scan me over, not sure why, but something about his presence being here seemed, strange. After looking me over he turned on his heel and scanned everyone else. After about a minute of this he turned away from us and took about four steps before turning back.

“I assume you have been given your orders from your sergeant, correct?” He said with his signature dark tone.

“Yes sir.” We said back. Giving a nod of approval, he continued.

“Good, I’m going to be the soldier crossing over to the otherside, I want to make it there in one piece, you men are here to secure that I do. My life is your hands, if you don’t mess this up, and I get there in one piece, I might give a good word to your company commander.” Saluting we gave him our word.

“Attention Overwatch Guard Renforcement. Priority Alert, singularity in 2 minutes,”

Unslinging his AR2 the Lieutenant moved past us and walked up to the portal. We watched as the sound of electronics filled the air as the device began to spring to life. The ring on top began to spin and slowly began to pick up speed as the lights in the room went out. Now the only light we had was the light emitted from the portal. As the ring speed up faster wind was beginning to pick up in the room as we were slowly pulled towards the machine.

Luckily I was able to keep my balance as the wind grew stronger by running to the back of the room, and grabbing ahold of one of the four handles that jutted out from the opposite wall, everyone else followed my lead. A few second later the room began to shake as something sounding like a jet engine starting up filled the room. Lighting began arcing inside the center of the ring as it grew brighter. The Lieutenant covered his eye as the light got brighter.

Remembering my orders from looking at the white soldier, I quickly looked around the device checking for any problems, seeing none, I looked back to the ring, as even now it continued to glow brighter, turning white instead of blue. The arching lighting began to pick up as ball of raw portal energy formed in the center.

It was beautiful. It looked like we were creating a star, it shined so bright it cover the portal in a flare. Luckily for me, the light died down after a few seconds and the ball was twice it’s original size.

A few flashes later it grew to cover the whole ring. the soldier turned around to look at the control room with his fingers on his ear piece as he gave the thumbs up. ‘This was it, we are finally doing this, we are making our first portal jump.’ I screamed inside my head with pure happiness. A smile appeared on my face as he began to move forward.

Then all hell broke loose…

As if time had stopped completely, everything froze for a fraction of a second, the wind, the light, the soldier, me. Then everything reversed. The lieutenant was thrown back at scaringly fast speeds and slammed into John with a sickening crack as we were all forced up against the wall. The wind in my lungs were forced out as I felt every bone in my body shake as the portal changed from light blue to a light green. Over my radio I could hear for the first time the sound of the control room. I could hear screaming and shouting as soldiers ran about trying to shut the portal down as a voice stood out above the rest.

“Daniel! Get out of the portal room if you can, she’s going to explode, code red I repeat code red!” It was the sergeant.

But I couldn’t do anything, I just watched in horror as the greatest break through we have ever created, go up in smoke. Horrified I let go of the handle on the wall and began to try to move over to the door where the Lieutenant came out of. Unfortunately the wind was too strong, I could move, but not that much. I forced my head to the left and tried to see where everyone was. David and Ryan both were on the ground, being pinned down by the portals rays, and Daniel was pressed between the wall, and the Lieutenant, almost crushing him.

Shifting back to the front, the radio continued to scream voices until all that was left was the sound of an explosion then static. As the Explosion erupted. The portal room began to break apart, the steel ceiling began to fall down and smash to the ground, wires flew out and sparked, pipes broke open and fire spewed out of them as Alarms sounded across the entire complex. I could feel the heat, I could see the destruction, the fires grew larger as the portal began to flash green as more of it fell apart. The electronics inside fried from the inside out and burst open in a display of blue fire.

This is where it all ends.

In a final act of destruction something strange flew out of the portal, two small objects came barreling out of the energy ball, and headed right for me. Accepting my fate, I closed my eyes and listened to the destruction of all of our hard work. Then as felt the objects hit me, I blacked out, but not before I heard the explosion of the portal, and a faded and gravelly voice say,

“Prepare for your eternal burden.” Then nothing, the sound of blackness, darkness, nothingness. I didn’t know if I was dead or alive, I couldn’t tell, the heat from the fire was gone, the wind and the force of the portal was no more, and I couldn’t see any light anymore. I felt empty, cold, distant, like I was outside my body. I could feel any form of ground, no walls, no ceiling. I was just, stuck, in nothing.

Suddenly, a light in the shape of a doorway opened as the ground slowly returned to me. A white light shone out of it, I couldn’t flinch, I could look away, it burned my retinas as a person formed and walked out. A man wearing a dark blue suit with black buttons that three were done up, black shined shoes, a white undershirt, and a purple tie. His face was almost as white as the doorway he came out of, he sported a black flat top and a widows peak on his boxy shaped head. In his right hand, a suitcase with a strange symbol on it. To top it all off, he was looking at me with his sharp green eyes.

Finally making his way to me, he looked me over for what seemed like forever. Then look back up to me, he smiled sinisterly and raised his hand and tightened his tie.

“Mr. McAlister,” He began, “Do you believe in fate?” His voiced seamed ghostly and old. “ Do you belive, your life if, is laid out for you, in someone elses hands?” He turned around and faced away from me, but I could still sense him looking at me. He took a few steps towards the doorway, before stopping and saying,

“Because the right man, in the wrong place, will make all the difference in the world. So wake up, and take back what as yours long ago.” Then he walked into the light and disappeared, along with his doorway.