In the bustling city of Earth-458, a cozy, modern café hummed with life. The warm, inviting interior was filled with soft lighting and the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Patrons chatted casually at tables, while others sipped their drinks, lost in thought. Outside, the busy streets of the city were alive with vibrant energy as the day moved along.
At a corner table, Jett, Phoenix, and Killjoy sat together, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation. The team of 11 VALORANT agents in this alternate universe was smaller and more close-knit than their counterparts in the Original Universe, where they had far more agents at their disposal. Despite the cozy atmosphere, the weight of their mission always lingered in the back of their minds.
Jett leaned back in her chair, legs crossed, casually twirling a spoon between her fingers. Her playful energy contrasted with the calm surroundings.
"So, we finally get a break, huh? Feels like it's been forever." Jett remarked with a grin.
Phoenix, savoring his coffee, chuckled as the steam rose around his face. "You know it. Between the mirror dimension and all the craziness, this is the first time I've had a proper cup of coffee in... what? Weeks?"
Killjoy, ever the workaholic, had her tablet resting on the table as she scrolled through schematics, though she smiled softly at their banter. "Well, enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows when Brimstone will call us in again?"
The atmosphere was light, but there was an unspoken understanding between them. This universe, Earth-458, had fewer agents to rely on. Brimstone, Sage, Jett, Phoenix, Killjoy, Reyna, Viper, Omen, Sova, Cypher, and Neon made up the entirety of their team. By contrast, the Original Universe boasted a much larger roster, offering more resources and firepower to tackle threats.
Here, every mission felt more personal, more intense, because the stakes were higher. There were no backup teams or extra reinforcements. It was just the 11 of them, holding the line.
As they sat together, relishing their brief reprieve, a sense of camaraderie hung in the air—one that had only grown stronger with every challenge they had faced. Their battles against mirror counterparts had deepened their bond, and moments like this reminded them to appreciate the simple joys of normalcy.
Jett sipped her coffee thoughtfully. "So, any plans for this weekend? What's on the agenda?"
Killjoy tinkered with a small gadget she had brought along, her focus half on the conversation. "I was thinking about testing some new tech at the range. You guys up for it?"
Phoenix leaned back in his chair, a smile playing on his lips. "Count me in. I could use some practice."
Jett smirked, her eyes glinting playfully. "Oh, afraid you might lose your edge, Phoenix?"
"Nah," Phoenix shot back with a grin, "just don't want you two showing me up."
Killjoy laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. "Don't worry, Phoenix. We all know you're the flashy one."
"Yeah, with all that firepower, you'd think you'd be better at roasting us," Jett teased.
Phoenix chuckled, his voice lighthearted. "Hey, I save the roasting for the bad guys. But seriously, Killjoy, what's new with your tech?"
Killjoy's expression brightened as she spoke. "Just some upgrades to the turret and a few new gadgets I've been working on. Should give us an edge in the field."
Jett raised an eyebrow, her tone playful but teasing. "As long as it doesn't blow up in our faces, I'm game."
"Trust me," Killjoy assured her, "this stuff is solid. Plus, it's always good to have an ace up our sleeve."
Phoenix nodded in agreement. "Speaking of aces, you ever think about how we ended up as a team? We're like a bunch of misfits with some seriously crazy skills."
Jett nodded, her voice thoughtful. "Yeah, it feels like we're from different worlds. But somehow, we make it work."
Killjoy added with a small smile. "That's because we complement each other. Different strengths, different skills. It's what makes us effective."
Phoenix leaned forward, his grin widening. "True. Like, Jett, you've got the speed and agility. Killjoy, your tech is unmatched. And me? Well, I bring the heat."
Jett rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her smile. "And the ego."
Killjoy laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Don't forget the ego."
Phoenix chuckled. "Alright, alright. But seriously, we should plan a training session soon. Run some drills and see how these new gadgets hold up."
Jett's eyes lit up with excitement. "Sounds good. And maybe this time, Phoenix, you'll give us a run for our money."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Phoenix said with a smirk.
Killjoy nodded, her fingers idly tapping on her gadget. "Perfect. I'll get the new gadgets prepped and ready. Let's make sure we're all in top shape."
Jett grinned. "Agreed. It'll be a good chance to test everything out. Looking forward to it."
Suddenly, the distant sound of screaming pierced the air. Jett instinctively pressed a hand to her earpiece, her brow furrowing as she tried to make sense of the chaotic communication coming through.
Killjoy looked around, alert. "What's that noise?"
Jett frowned, her voice tense. "Brimstone, what's going on? Repeat, I can't hear you."
The transmission crackled with static, Brimstone's voice barely audible.
"Incoming... attack... take cover..." Brimstone's words were garbled, and then the line went dead.
The three agents exchanged concerned glances before rushing to the window. Outside, they saw civilians running in panic as a Banshee from The Covenant swooped down, plasma cannons firing.
Phoenix's eyes widened in shock. "Bloody hell! We've got company!"
"Everybody get down!" Jett shouted, just as the Banshee fired at the cafe. The windows shattered in a deafening explosion, sending glass and debris flying in every direction. The trio dove for cover as plasma bolts rained down around them.
When the dust settled, the cafe was in ruins. Debris was scattered everywhere, and the once-bustling establishment was now filled with groaning civilians, some helping each other up, others clearly injured. Jett and Phoenix slowly rose to their feet, taking in the destruction around them.
Jett coughed, brushing dust from her clothes. "Phoenix, you okay?"
Phoenix shook off the debris clinging to him. "Yeah, I'm good. What about you?"
"I'm fine," Jett nodded, her voice urgent. "But where's Killjoy?"
They began frantically searching through the rubble. Jett lifted a broken table while Phoenix moved overturned chairs and debris aside.
"Killjoy! Where are you?" Jett shouted.
A faint groan reached their ears from beneath a pile of debris. Phoenix rushed over, quickly moving the rubble aside. "Over here! I found her!"
Jett joined him, and together they lifted the debris off Killjoy, who was conscious but grimacing in pain.
"My leg... I think it's hurt," Killjoy managed, wincing.
Jett placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Hang in there, Killjoy. We'll get you out of here."
They helped Killjoy to her feet, supporting her on either side. She tried to put weight on her injured leg but immediately winced, unable to stand on her own.
"We need to get her to safety," Phoenix urged, his voice tense with concern.
Jett shook her head. "No, it's too dangerous for her to leave! Stay with her, Phoenix. I'll check outside and see what's going on."
With a determined expression, Jett carefully navigated through the wreckage of the cafe and stepped outside. The scene was pure chaos. Civilians were running in every direction, and the sound of gunfire and explosions filled the air. Covenant forces and alien ships soared overhead, their technology unfamiliar to Jett. She scanned the scene, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and determination.
"Brimstone, come in. Do you copy?" Jett spoke urgently into her earpiece, but there was no response. She spotted a group of officers running toward the cafe and quickly waved them down.
"Over here! We've got wounded inside!" Jett called out.
The officers rushed past her into the cafe, moving swiftly to tend to the injured civilians and to Killjoy. Jett turned her attention back to the chaos in the streets, her mind racing. Covenant soldiers were advancing, their alien technology wreaking havoc. She gritted her teeth, unsure of what exactly they were facing.
"What the hell are these things?" Jett muttered under her breath.
Inside the cafe, Phoenix watched Jett leave before turning to one of the officers. "Take care of her. She needs medical attention."
The officer nodded and quickly moved to help Killjoy, who was now being attended to by a medic. Killjoy looked at Phoenix, her voice laced with concern. "Phoenix! What are you doing?"
Phoenix gave her a reassuring smile. "Going with Jett. She can't do this alone. Stay with the medics—you'll be alright!"
Before Killjoy could protest further, Phoenix sprinted out of the cafe, chasing after Jett as she headed deeper into the chaos. "Jett, wait up!" he called, quickening his pace.
Jett, focused on the battle ahead, didn't hear Phoenix's shout and continued moving toward the source of the destruction. The scene shifted to a full-scale urban battlefield. The city was under heavy attack, explosions and gunfire ringing out from all directions. The streets were filled with terrified civilians, fleeing from the invading forces as buildings crumbled around them.
In the thick of the chaos, three figures stood out—Alex Mercer, Kellogg, and Raul Menendez. Each was unleashing their unique brand of destruction. Mercer transformed his limbs into deadly weapons, slicing through soldiers and officers with ease. Kellogg, ever the cold tactician, used his signature pistol with deadly precision, dispatching enemies with calculated efficiency. Raul Menendez led his forces with brutal authority, his tactical genius leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.
Mercer sneered as he watched civilians scatter. "Run. That's all you can do."
Kellogg and Menendez exchanged knowing glances, silently agreeing with Mercer's assessment as they pressed their advantage. The Covenant forces, commanded by Rogue AI Cortana, backed them up with their advanced alien technology. Synths from Kellogg's universe added mechanical precision to the assault, while monstrous creatures from Alex Mercer's world spread terror, ripping through anything in their path.
A squad of Covenant Elites marched forward, their plasma rifles mowing down the city's defenders. The Synths followed closely behind, their laser rifles picking off survivors with clinical detachment. Alex Mercer leapt from a nearby rooftop, his arm morphing into a massive blade as he cleaved through a group of police officers. Blood sprayed across the pavement as he landed, his eyes cold and predatory.
"They don't understand," Mercer said with a dark grin, his voice full of twisted certainty. "What I can assure them is the virus—no more pain or suffering."
Kellogg moved with the precision of a seasoned assassin, his every shot finding its mark with pinpoint accuracy. His Synths marched in disciplined formation behind him, their metallic footsteps echoing ominously in the shattered streets of the city.
"Focus on your targets," Kellogg barked, his tone sharp. "Eliminate any resistance."
Meanwhile, Raul Menendez led his men with ruthless efficiency. His combat knife gleamed in his hand as he moved through the streets, executing anyone who stood in their way. Gunfire and screams filled the air, the city transforming into a battlefield soaked in chaos.
"Push forward! No mercy!" Menendez commanded, his voice cutting through the din like a knife.
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As they advanced deeper into the heart of the city, Kellogg activated his comms, connecting with Rogue AI Cortana.
"Cortana," Kellogg spoke into the comms, his voice calm despite the chaos surrounding him. "We're inside the city. Resistance is minimal."
Cortana's voice crackled in response, cold and calculating. "Good. What you're looking for is the VALORANT Protocol building. The radianite is stored there. Secure it at all costs."
Kellogg nodded, his expression hardening. "Understood. We'll split up to cover more ground."
Turning to Alex Mercer and Raul Menendez, he laid out the plan. "We need to find that building. Split up your forces and search the city. We can't let the radianite slip through our fingers."
Mercer grinned darkly, his eyes gleaming with a predatory glint. "Splitting up? Just make sure you don't miss me while I'm gone."
Menendez, more pragmatic, gave a curt nod. "Let's move. Now."
The three leaders dispersed, each commanding their respective forces through the broken streets of the city, each with their own brutal efficiency.
Alex Mercer, flanked by his monstrous creations, leapt across rooftops with inhuman agility. His tendrils lashed out, tearing through soldiers with terrifying force, his power unmatched in its savagery. He landed on a rooftop, surveying the chaos below with satisfaction, before launching himself back into the fray, his creatures trailing behind him like a wave of destruction.
On the ground, Kellogg led his Synths with cold precision. Their laser weapons sliced through any opposition, leaving no survivors in their wake. Kellogg himself moved with calculated efficiency, his every movement deliberate and deadly, his enemies falling before they even had a chance to react.
Raul Menendez and his men employed tactical maneuvers, overwhelming the city's defenders with brutal coordination. Menendez cut through enemies with lethal grace, his knife flashing in the dim light as he dispatched opponents in close combat. His men followed suit, their rifles barking fire as they cleared the streets, pushing ever closer to their objective.
The city was a warzone. Explosions rocked the streets, buildings crumbled, and the sky was darkened by smoke and fire. Civilians ran in terror, their screams echoing through the devastation. No mercy was shown by the invaders—they cut down anyone who stood in their way.
Amid the chaos, Jett cautiously navigated through the rubble, her heart pounding as she searched for survivors. The sounds of distant explosions rumbled in her ears as she spotted an injured officer lying on the ground, struggling to breathe.
Jett rushed to his side, kneeling beside him. "Hey, hang in there. What happened? Who's attacking the city?" she asked urgently.
The officer's face was pale, covered in blood. His breaths were shallow, and he struggled to speak.
"Unknown... forces... too strong... we couldn't hold them..." the officer rasped, his voice barely audible.
Jett's eyes widened in alarm. "What do you mean? What kind of forces? Can you describe them?"
The officer winced, trying to focus through the pain. "Aliens... machines... they're everywhere... we were overrun..."
Jett's expression hardened as she processed the information. The situation was worse than she had feared.
"Stay with me," Jett urged. "We can still get you to safety. Where's the rest of your team?"
The officer shook his head slowly, his eyes filled with regret. "Scattered... dead... I don't know... it all happened so fast..."
His body trembled, and a pained expression crossed his face. Jett looked around frantically, trying to assess the situation, but it was clear that time was running out.
"Hang in there," she pleaded. "We'll get you out of here."
The officer managed a weak smile, his voice fading. "It's... too late for me. Save... the others..."
As his eyes closed, Jett shook him desperately. "No, no, stay with me! Come on!"
But it was too late. The officer was gone. Jett's hands trembled as she stood up, her expression a mix of sadness and determination. She had failed to save him, but she wouldn't fail the others.
Suddenly, she heard the heavy, rhythmic footsteps of approaching enemies—Grunts, an Elite, and the mechanical whirring of Synths. Her heart raced as she realized she was outnumbered and outgunned. Slowly, she began to back away, hoping to avoid detection, her mind racing as she calculated her next move.
As the shadows grew deeper, the distant sounds of combat echoed through the alleyways. Just as the silhouettes of Grunts, an Elite, and Synths came into view, a hand suddenly grabbed Jett's arm, yanking her into the dark recess of an alleyway. Her back slammed against the cold wall, her heart pounding as she whirled around, ready to fight—until she saw him.
Phoenix stood there, his face serious but laced with a mischievous glint.
"Didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did ya?" he said confidently, his familiar grin pulling at the corner of his mouth.
Jett blinked, still surprised. "Phoenix! I thought you were with Killjoy. What are you doing here?"
Phoenix shrugged casually, his grin widening. "Couldn't leave you out here alone, mate. Besides, she's in good hands now with the officers and medics. We need to stick together."
Jett frowned, crossing her arms. "This isn't about having fun. It's about taking our role as agents seriously."
Phoenix, still relaxed but with a serious undertone, replied, "Yeah, I know. But that's exactly why I'm here. Can't let you run off and play the hero all by yourself."
Jett's frustration bubbled up as she raised her voice slightly. "You should have stayed with her! It's too dangerous out here."
Phoenix's expression hardened, his eyes locking onto hers. "And leave you to face all this alone? No way. We're a team, remember?"
Jett sighed, her annoyance palpable as she glanced around the alley. "A team doesn't mean you get to be reckless, Phoenix. I'm trying to keep us all safe."
His expression softened, though his resolve remained. "And I'm trying to keep you safe, Jett. I trust Killjoy can handle herself, but I'm not about to let you face this mess on your own."
She bit her lip, torn between anger and concern. "You're always like this... charging in without thinking. What if something happens to you? Or to both of us?"
Phoenix leaned in slightly, his voice more earnest now. "Nothing's gonna happen to us. Not as long as we've got each other's backs. That's how we've always made it through, right?"
Jett's expression softened despite herself, though she remained worried. She knew Phoenix's confidence all too well, but the stakes were higher now.
"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But stay close and follow my lead."
Phoenix smirked, his playful tone returning. "Always do, don't I? Besides, you know I've got your back."
Jett rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her lips. "You'd better. Because if you mess this up, it's on you."
Phoenix feigned a hurt expression. "Mess up? Me? Never. But if you're worried, I'll just have to prove you wrong."
Despite the tension, Jett chuckled softly. She glanced around, her expression growing serious again as she took stock of their surroundings.
"Alright, let's move," she commanded, all business now. "We stick to the plan—no unnecessary risks. Got it?"
Phoenix nodded, the playful edge gone as he grew more serious. "Got it. Lead the way, Jett."
They peeked around the corner, ensuring the coast was clear. With silent precision, Jett signaled Phoenix, and they moved swiftly, avoiding detection as they navigated the battlefield. Fallen officers and soldiers lay scattered across the ground, their weapons abandoned in the chaos. Jett bent down, grabbing a Phantom, while Phoenix picked up a Vandal, readying themselves for the fight ahead.
Jett's breath hitched as she eyed the approaching Synths, their metallic forms moving with eerie precision. "What are these things?" she muttered, confusion flickering across her face.
Phoenix shrugged, a grin tugging at his lips. "Eh, seems like we've got ourselves some unfriendly neighbors. Just some tech gone wrong. I'd say they're from the same place as those tin cans we fought back in the day."
Jett shot him an annoyed look. "That's not helping, Phoenix! Focus!"
Phoenix chuckled, his grin never fading. "Alright, alright! Let's just burn 'em all and figure it out later!"
Jett gritted her teeth, her gaze hardening with determination. "Typical... Just don't get yourself killed, pretty face."
As their exchange ended, the Synths drew closer, their mechanical voices cutting through the chaos.
"Initiate directive: eliminate hostiles," one Synth intoned, its cold voice echoing through the alley.
"Scanning... engaging target," another added, its red eyes locking onto the pair.
"You cannot escape," a third Synth declared, its tone final. "All human life must be exterminated."
Jett and Phoenix exchanged a quick glance, their unspoken agreement solidified. With weapons ready and the odds stacked against them, they prepared to face the oncoming threat together.
Jett reacted without hesitation, her instincts sharp as ever. A Cloudburst erupted from her hand, creating a dense wall of smoke that obscured the battlefield. Synths, Grunts, and an imposing Elite found themselves cut off from clear vision. Phoenix ducked into the smoke, vanishing from sight, while Jett darted around the chaos with swift, fluid movements, almost invisible in the haze.
One of the Grunts fumbled with his weapon, panic in his voice. "Where'd the little human go? Find her!"
Another Grunt, equally anxious, muttered, "I don't like this... I don't like this!"
The third, attempting bravado, let out a nervous laugh. "Human think they can hide? We find you! We kill you!"
But Jett was faster. She reappeared from the smoke in a flash, her knives gleaming as she danced past the Grunts, slicing through them with deadly precision. Their yelps echoed through the battlefield as they scattered, firing blindly in her direction, but none could land a shot. She was too quick.
The Elite's voice boomed over the chaos, commanding and furious. "Useless vermin! Focus your fire! She cannot escape our wrath!"
Ignoring the Elite's command, Jett's knives continued to find their marks. With a few precise strikes, she took down several Grunts before retreating back into the safety of the smoke, leaving their ranks confused and disoriented.
A Synth's mechanical voice cut through the battlefield, cold and calculated. "Hostile movement detected. Adjusting targeting protocols."
As the enemies struggled to regroup, Phoenix burst out of the smoke, his hands ablaze with searing flames. With a swift motion, he hurled a fireball directly at the Synths, engulfing them in an inferno. The heat was intense, and the Synths staggered, their metal bodies crackling as their circuits overloaded from the damage.
"Damage sustained. Combat efficiency reduced," one of the Synths intoned, its voice distorted by the heat.
Phoenix grinned, his voice ringing out across the battlefield. "Your turn, Jett!"
Catching his cue, Jett nodded and activated her Tailwind ability, dashing effortlessly through the lingering smoke. Emerging on the far side of the battlefield, she hurled her knives with lightning speed, each one hitting its target with pinpoint accuracy. The remaining Grunts screamed in panic as they were taken down one by one.
"No! No! Not like this!" one of the Grunts cried out as he fell.
Another turned tail, his voice frantic. "Retreat! Retreat!"
But their retreat was too late. The Elite, enraged by the loss of his soldiers, charged forward, his plasma sword crackling with lethal energy. He swung at Jett with brutal force, but she was too fast, expertly dodging and weaving around his strikes. Yet, with each hit she landed, a glowing shield around the Elite absorbed her attacks, preventing any real damage.
"He's got a shield!" Jett exclaimed, frustration creeping into her voice. "We need to break it first!"
Phoenix, always quick to adapt, nodded and moved in closer. He tossed a Curveball, blinding the Elite temporarily before summoning a wall of fire with his Blaze ability. The flames roared toward the Elite, focusing on his shield. As the heat intensified, the energy field around the Elite began to flicker, struggling to maintain its integrity.
"I'll weaken the shield!" Phoenix shouted through gritted teeth, his determination unwavering. "Get ready to finish him!"
The Elite roared in anger, swinging his plasma sword wildly as the flames wore down his defenses. "You will fall, human!" he bellowed. "Your flames are nothing against my might!"
But Phoenix's flames continued to press against the shield, and finally, with a crackling burst of energy, the shield faltered and collapsed. The Elite stood exposed, his armor vulnerable. Jett saw her opportunity and activated her Blade Storm ultimate, her knives glowing with raw energy.
Phoenix gave the signal, his voice filled with urgency. "Now, Jett! Take him down!"
Jett moved with blinding speed, her knives slicing through the air with deadly precision. She darted toward the Elite, her strikes focused on the weak points in his armor. The Elite roared in pain, his massive form staggering under the relentless assault. He tried to retaliate, but Jett was too fast, too precise. Her final strike hit its mark, piercing through the Elite's weak spot.
With a guttural cry, the Elite collapsed to the ground, defeated. His final words were barely audible as the light faded from his eyes. "No... this cannot be..."
Jett landed gracefully, breathing heavily but victorious. Phoenix stepped up beside her, a grin on his face as he gave her a nod of approval.
"Now that's what I'm talking about," Phoenix said, flashing her a thumbs-up.
Jett smirked, though exhaustion tinged her expression. "Yeah, yeah... just don't get cocky."
The two of them stood amidst the fallen Synths, Grunts, and the defeated Elite, the smoke slowly clearing around them. Despite their banter, it was clear they made an unstoppable team, their skills perfectly complementing each other.
Phoenix's grin widened as he teased, "You know, we make a pretty good team."
Jett, catching her breath, smiled slightly. "We do. Now let's get out of here before more of them show up."
With that, the two of them moved forward, ready to face whatever came next, their confidence unshaken by the battle they had just won.
The city was a war zone. Covenant soldiers ruthlessly pushed through the urban landscape, their monstrous forms moving with cold precision. Officers and soldiers scrambled to coordinate evacuations amidst the chaos, shouting orders over the din of battle. Barricades were hastily erected as civilians fled in all directions, seeking any form of shelter.
In the midst of this, a frantic mother clutched her child close, her feet pounding against the pavement as she ran for safety. Turning a corner too sharply, she stumbled, crashing to the ground with a sharp gasp. Her child screamed in fear, his tiny arms reaching out as his mother struggled to rise.
From the shadows, an Elite emerged. Towering and menacing, the alien warrior moved toward them with measured steps. His expression was unreadable beneath his helmet, but the ominous hum of his energy sword sent terror coursing through the mother's veins.
"Please," she begged, her voice quivering with desperation. "Please, spare my child!"
The Elite said nothing. His sword ignited with a hiss, casting an eerie glow that bathed the terrified pair in blue light. He raised the blade, prepared to strike.
But before the sword could fall, the air beside them shimmered—a rift tore open in the fabric of reality. A figure lunged forward with incredible speed, his arm transforming into a blade mid-motion. In one swift movement, the figure plunged the blade into the Elite's armor. The alien collapsed, its energy sword flickering out as it hit the ground.
The figure stood tall, his expression fierce and unyielding. James Heller, from another universe, had arrived.
Stepping out of the rift behind him was another figure—Agent Jonesy, but not the Jonesy everyone knew. This version was different: equipped with advanced technology and an air of hardened determination. His gear was sleek and futuristic, a reflection of the dystopian universe he hailed from—a world where technology had advanced rapidly but society had collapsed under the weight of environmental disasters and unrelenting warfare.
Without a word, Heller surged forward, engaging more Covenant soldiers with brutal efficiency. His body shifted and morphed with each movement, his arms transforming into deadly blades and shields as he tore through his enemies. Every transformation was swift and precise, his actions reflecting his singular focus on punishing those who stood in his way.
As the battle raged on, Heller's gaze briefly flickered to the mother and child huddled in the corner. For a split second, the vulnerability of the pair stood in stark contrast to the violence around them. Yet Heller felt no stir of emotion. He simply stared, his eyes cold. He knew all too well what it meant to lose everything. Their fear, their helplessness—it was a reflection of the emptiness he carried within him, a reminder of all that had been taken from him.
He turned away, refocusing on the fight with an even deeper intensity. The Covenant soldiers fell before him, his movements relentless and driven by a deep-seated rage.
When the area was finally cleared, the mother looked up, her face wet with tears of relief and gratitude. She helped her child to his feet, casting a final glance at Heller before hurrying toward the safe zone. The soldiers and officers nearby watched the scene with a mix of awe and confusion, unsure of Heller's origins but grateful for the intervention. They quickly resumed their efforts to secure the area.
Heller, his face hard as stone, turned to Agent Jonesy with urgency.
"Is this the right place?" Heller asked, his voice gruff. "Are we where we need to be?"
Jonesy, checking the data on his advanced gear, nodded. "Yes, this is it. But you need to move fast. Cortana's after the radianite stored here. You have to stop her before it's too late."
Heller's eyes narrowed. "Me? What about you? What the hell are you going to do?"
Jonesy's gaze remained steady. "There are other things I need to handle. Don't worry—we'll see each other again."
The two nodded in mutual understanding. As the variant Jonesy opened another portal and stepped through, Heller turned and set off, moving quickly and silently through the ruined city. His form melded into the shadows as he made his way toward the VALORANT Protocol building, where his next confrontation awaited.