"McCree, if you are hearing this, it means that I have left this world. I wish I could be there to personally talk to you or maybe drive some sense into that thick skull of yours. Since that won't be the case, just please hear what I want to say for the last time.
*There was a pause as Audrey took a breath*
We were a team once. All of us, we fought enemies which were beyond our capabilities and won. We won only because we worked together as a team. All of us were friends and comrades. However, unlike us, that man who you think is Mike is not, in fact, him. I'm sure Athena here can prove to you who the true Mike is. He took Kadyn prisoner and she needs our help. McCree, you can believe whatever the heck you want but I won't allow you to be an accomplice in harming our dear friend.
We had our ups and downs, I admit, I wasn't the most remarkable and you did do a lot for the team and us. For all that matters, I refuse to believe there isn't any good in you that's left. I know you want to do what's best for all, I know your values aren't self-centred or evil. In these dark hours, I beg you, old friend, spare our sister in arms and see reason in this fog of war. For old time's sake, fight for a friend who had fought for us and renounce the evil that deceived us.
You can trust Athena since I trust her. She's willing to provide her full support to Kadyn's rescue. Her actions will be my will beyond the grave, so trust her as you did to me. That is all I can say, old friend. Farewell, may our paths cross again someday. I'm looking forward to fighting alongside you and the others in another lifetime. "
With her final words uttered, Audrey's voice was abruptly cut. There was a silence between the prisoner and his interrogator as McCree stared at the table in guilt while Athena stared at him in spite.
[Athena] - "We can do this the easy way or th- "
[McCree] - "Tell me, was everything she said true? "
[Athena] - "What do I have to prove to you, huh? I was Mike's disciple and I can confirm he is dead. The real Mike is not a savage like Jagger, I think you are conscious enough about your actions and his deeds to realize the truth. "
Said Athena in an inpatient tone.
[McCree] - "Did she at least die peacefully? "
Said McCree in a calm voice.
In a fit of rage, Athena jumped from her seat and grabbed McCree's collar before pulling him forward.
[Athena] - "No, you fucking moron! Thanks to you, she died a long and agonizing death at the hands of Jagger. They slaughtered her like a dog and put her body in a bag with little to no dignity or respect. I had to listen to these bastards who you call your colleagues pick her up piece by piece while they laughed about it. "
Shouted Athena through her teeth in anger.
McCree stayed silent while his regard remained blank. With one dry toss, Athena slammed McCree back onto his chair before spitting on his face.
[Athena] - "You are a vile piece of shit! She spoke to you with such respect in her final message while you are nothing but an unapologetic scum serving a bunch of disgusting criminals. You have no honour or dignity. "
Said Athena with disgust in her voice.
[McCree] - "No, I don't. I've sold mah soul for the wrong cause. Now, it's too late for me to say sorry for what I did. I'm too dumb to see through the veil of deception that was cast above my head. As for Kadyn, I only know the location where she was held but I don't where within the facility she is. Jagger could only trust me so much. After all, I'm not one of his criminals. "
Said McCree in a monotone voice.
[Athena] - "Heh! Not one of his criminals? Then what the hell are you, huh? Don't tell me you were just following orders, you son of bitch. Try not to turn the Earth into a shithole with the amount of bullshit you are spewing. "
[McCree] - "I'm guilty, I admit it. I will provide you with any information within my reach and accept any punishment that may come my way. However, I refuse to accept that I'm one of Jagger's men. I'm not a criminal, I'm guilty but I refuse to be associated with the people who willingly serve him while knowing what they are doing. "
Yelled McCree as he slowly began losing his calm.
In truth, McCree was saying nonsense due to the horrifying realization of his actions. For all this time, McCree had repressed his doubts about the cause he was serving but now that the truth was out, it was as if his mind was overloaded with a flood of shock and guilt. He did not try to justify himself because he didn't feel guilty, his brain was simply trying to rationalize all his past actions which all went against his core beliefs.
[McCree] - "I... I did not kill those people! I only did what I thought was the right thing! Oh god... what have I done? "
Said McCree while he began to hyperventilate.
Suddenly, Athena slapped McCree so hard on the face that it snapped him out of his delirious state.
[Athena] - "You can have your existential crisis later, bastard. Instead, tell me everything you know now! "
After taking a few breaths to calm himself down, McCree nodded his head before providing Athena with a set of information about Kadyn's whereabouts. Just as Athena finished writing down everything McCree revealed, he suddenly stood up.
[McCree] - "Let me help! Please! I did that to Audrey, I must find a way to atone for my sins. I know a lot of things that could be of help to you! "
Screamed McCree with a devasted expression on his face.
Athena shook her head in disbelief as she viewed McCree with disgust and pity.
[Athena] - "After all you've done, I can't imagine a human being can be this ignorant. To think you didn't realize what you've done until now as you are confronted with the consequences... You are either the dumbest mother fucker to ever walk the face of this Earth or just the best damn drama actor the industry could offer. "
[McCree] - "I... I was a dumb son of a bitch! I want to do things right, not end up like this. I'm not... I'm a criminal now, there is no denying it. What I have done, the deeds I committed following Jagger's orders, they were not what I intended for them to be; Acts of savagery and senseless violence. Please, I must do this for Audrey, I must do this for Kadyn! "
Pleaded McCree in a guilt-filled voice.
[Athena] - "Have you no shame? Audrey is dead and Kadyn is already being tortured. Do you think your sudden redemption can save you from the embarrassment of being the bad guy? You can't rewind what has been done, dumbass! "
[McCree] - "And you? I know you, you were responsible for the Appalachian Disaster, and you were also responsible for killin' so many Blue Guards who were innocent men themselves! What made you less guilty than me? If you decided today to turn over a new page in your book, why can't I do the same? "
Said McCree accusingly as he pointed his finger at Athena.
These words caught Athena off-guard as she was too consumed by her anger following Audrey's death. After all, McCree's willingness to cooperate was the same as when she decided to rebel against Jagger.
[McCree] - "I don't know what happened between you and Audrey but if she trusts ya, it must mean that you are a good person at heart too. Please, let me help. We all were pawns in Jagger's damn game. If your will is Audrey's will beyond the grave as she mentioned it, then let us work together to fulfill it as a team. I know this is what she would've wanted. "
Said McCree with a firm and determined voice.
Athena, although hesitant, resonated with McCree's words. If McCree was sincere, then it would only be fair to give him a chance as well just as Athena gave one to herself.
[Athena] - "Sigh... Damn you... Fine, but only since Audrey trusts you as well. Come with me but if you try anything funny, I won't hesitate to eliminate you on the spot. "
Said Athena as she stared at McCree with daggers in her eyes.
With a single flick of her finger, McCree's shackles were shattered, thus allowing him to walk free. With limited time on their hands, they arrived inside a strategy room with a massive 3D holographic projector screen at the center. With McCree's coordinates and information, Athena was easily able to locate the facility in question.
A massive projection immediately appeared before the two, displaying the underground facility which extended a few hundred levels below ground. With how massive the place is, comparable to a small town in size on each level, finding Kadyn would be like finding a needle in the ocean. The longer Athena scrolled the facility underground, the more the task seemed impossible.
[Athena] - "Damn it! I suppose your ability can't help in this case either, can it? "
Said Athena in frustration as she slammed the control panel.
[McCree] - "I ain't no magician. My ability's only good for offensive action. "
Said McCree as he also observed the map with a puzzled expression.
[Athena] - "Do you seriously not know more specifically where Kadyn is? Like at least tell me at which level she is located. "
[McCree] - "Jagger ain't a dumb man like me. He knew my loyalty ain't absolute, that's why he kept the information accessible to me at a minimum. "
Athena thought for a second and analyzed all the cyberknights who could help her to see if any of them had anything which can solve their dilemma. However, after finding no right match for the job, Athena banged her fist against the panel in frustration again.
[Athena] - "I can't find a single person I know who has the right tool for the job. "
[McCree] - "If ya can, you should gather as many cyberknights as possible to give us a better chance at rescuing Kadyn. "
[Athena] - "No, saving Kadyn is something personal for me and you. I won't risk the lives of the men who served under me for a cause they don't believe in. "
Said Athena as she shook her head in disapproval.
[McCree] - "May I ask why are you concerned by Kadyn? I don't think she ever mentioned you when she spoke to us. "
[Athena] - "Ugh... Because of Mike, he was my master. Not many people know him personally other than me and Kadyn, so saving her would be my way to honour his legacy... "
Suddenly Athena stopped in her speech as something suddenly hit her mind.
[Athena] - "Jerry! He was also one of Mike's apprentices. If I remember correctly, your people captured him and put him in prison. Yes, I think you were the one credited with his capture. "
Said Athena as she turned and pointed at McCree.
[McCree] - "Yeah, what about that son of a gun? "
[Athena] - "Jerry's ability is exactly what we needed. If he infected this facility with his ability, then he would be able to exert control over its structure and locate Kadyn within killing or wounding her. "
Said Athena with a sense of relief in her voice.
[McCree] - "But... Will he cooperate and can we trust him? "
[Athena] - "Hey, we are talking about Mike's personal apprentice before me. You can't expect a very bad apple if we are talking about the people Mike personally chose... Expect maybe the "Disgraced One". Anyway, back to my point, we need to go get him if you can help. "
[McCree] - "I just so happen to know where that son of a gun is kept, so how about we get a move on? "
Said McCree with a confident grin.
*Dome Central Max-Tactical Security Prison, Wisconsin state.
The prison's structure was a ginormous hexagon which was reinforced by seven smaller hexagons on its outside as buffers with heavy artillery and naval gun turrets posted all over the site. In the center of the main structure was a hollow hole going deep underground with its wall filled with heavily reinforced cells for high-profile prisoners. Above the opening, a massive shield projector covered the hole with a powerful energy shield which is strong enough to withstand multiple nuclear warheads.
Inside one of the pitch-dark cells within the solitary confinement wing, the slit suddenly opened before a guard shoved a plate of food in. While other prisoners began consuming their daily ration, Jerry remained motionless as he stared at the light outside of his cell. Before he could react, the slit was shut and the room was once more plunged into total darkness.
A few days ago, Jerry learned of the date of his execution which was due next week, so faced with his impending final humiliation and death, he opted to starve himself to death and go out on his own terms. By this point, his fasting and malnutrition resulted in his body being frail and skinny while his unwashed hair extended below his shoulder. He was now a man who had lost the notion of humanity and hope.
[Athena] - "Guilt Extension: Thunderstorm Above Mount Olympus! "
In quick succession, both she and McCree were transported into the air by massive arms which held them carefully within their palms. As Athena positioned herself above the prison's central structure, McCree told her where on the hexagon should she strike and how deep she should go to bypass the energy shield.
[Athena] - "Why go the conventional way when you can get direct access to it? "
With a swing of her arm, an army of several dozen hands was brought down upon the shield and rocked the prison's foundation with such force that the hexagonal structure split into several pieces. However, despite the attack, the shield held, though barely.
[McCree] - "That damn thing regenerates, so it's simply better for us to just- "
Before McCree could finish, Athena began conjuring arcs of lightning in her hands.
[Athena] - "I don't want to end up with many avoidable casualties on my hands, that's why I stopped. That thing is child's play compared to what I can do. Guilt Extension: Divine Violation! "
As Athena released her arrow toward the shield, the tiny bolt of electricity gradually grew until it was the size of a skyscraper. With an ear-popping crash, the amount of energy being released caused the prison's shield and power generators to instantly vaporize into metallic vapour. In an instant, the whole prison was plunged into total darkness while lightbulbs and other electronics melted due to the energy overload.
Slowly, inside his cell, Jerry stood up after being knocked down by the massive shockwave from earlier. All he could hear was the chaos outside of his cell as prisoners and guards panicked. Suddenly, a bright shine crashed into his cell before Athena tore the walls around him apart.
[Athena] - "Knock knock, mother fucker! Long time no see, Jerry! "
[Jerry] - "God! The fucking light! "
Yelled Jerry as he covered his eyes in pain.
[Athena] - "Come on, let's get the fuck out of here, you cheap-ass Dracula. "
Said Athena as one of the hands reached in and pulled Jerry out of his cell.
[McCree] - "Wait, we got to get another person out of here. "
While Dane listened to what was going on outside of his cell, his wall was suddenly shattered before McCree reached his hand through the crack.
[McCree] - "Hey, partner, I came back. Sorry for the misunderstandin' earlier but know that I'm now I'm a changed man. Come on, let me make things right for once. "
[Dane] - "Go away, ya damn traitor, son of Judas! Don't think you can come save me and make up for what ya did! "
Yelled Dane bitterly.
[McCree] - "We can settle our score another day but for now, we have a bigger fight to win. You can use a hand to defeat Jagger if you are on board. "
Although Dane did not accept McCree's quick apology, he knew how things must be bad outside for McCree to turn a new page and come rescue him. Old feuds can wait but whatever bad is happening must be resolved.
[Dane] - "Don't ya think this is over, ya damn snake. I will help only if it involves the interest of the general public. "
Said Dane as he reluctantly grabbed McCree's hand.
[Athena] - "Did we get everyone we need? "
McCree quickly gave Athena a thumbs-up as he pulled Dane out of his cell. With McCree's confirmation, Athena moved all four of them out of the area before dropping everyone in front of her ship. While Athena rushed to fumble the controls, McCree helped guide Jerry and Dane onto the ship as they couldn't open their eyes after spending so long in the dark.
Meanwhile, in the prison, as no electronic devices were left running, the guards could only rely on their flashlights while the prisoners all broke through their deactivated and half-molten cell doors. It soon turned into a full-on mutiny as the guards were overwhelmed in the dark by the waves of vengeful prisoners.
As the situation devolved further, Chief Dunhill who was sent to assess the situation had to order a full retreat from the prison and ordered the guards out of the main entrance and lock the facility from the outside.
[Dunhill] - "My lord, the situation is out of control. We need Admiral Jack to move his 7th fleet over here to defuse the situation. By the time I got here, they had already commandeered the prison's heavy artillery and man-portable weapons. "
Said Dunhill on the radio as he rushed behind an armoured car for protection.
Suddenly, Jagger landed from the sky before Dunhill which kicked up a massive wind of sand and dust. As Jagger walked toward Dunhill, his hands trembled as he noticed the frustrated expression on his master's face.
[Jagger] - "Dunhill, take your Blue Guards team Alpha-5 and Omega-9 to the Inverted Monolith. Strengthen the defences there as much as you can urgently and you are given the authority to order any additional reinforcement. Expect a storm. I will see you there shortly. "
Said Jagger before advancing toward the prison.
Dunhill, initially stunned by Jagger's relative mercy considering the situation, quickly gathered his thoughts and called for his personal Blue Guards teams to follow him to the transport ships.
Meanwhile, Jagger dropped into the center of the hexagon and noticed the massive opening in Jerry's cell. Alongside that, Jagger also identified the nature of the destruction around him as Athena's doing. With a concerned look on his face, Jagger quickly activated his crystals.
[Jagger] - "Echoing Verdict: Blade of Pandemonium! "
Within a few seconds, the rogue prisoners stopped firing back at the guards outside the prison. At first, the guards were confused as to what was going on before being suddenly bombarded with the thundering sound of collapsing stones. While Jagger zipped above the clouds in an instant, the prison structure kept falling apart. By the time the collapsing mess finally settled down in a massive pile of rubbles, the guards and other personnel approached the mountain of debris with more questions than answers.
[Guard] - "It's a cube... The debris are all perfectly cut cubes? "
Said one of the guards as he picked up a piece of the wall from the pile.
As he looked up at the pile, he noticed a mountain of collapsed isometric cubes that used to be the prison's wall and structure.
To be continued...