Location: 5687-C, Earth.
Region: Western Region - "Oregon", United States of America.
[https://d.wattpad.com/story_parts/927931043/images/1625efeba94d1251548441320360.jpg]
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‘The Pacific Region’, or The United States of America as it is colloquially known, Is everything that OverWatch hates. Their capitalist values and likeness to the council of old, rub many of the ruling elite the wrong way. Many more, however, find the planet to be a fascinating history study. Earth, and its subsequent civilisations, are one of a rare few planets to be officially sanctioned by the 5th Army’s Ruling Council to be studied, and observed. Their technological advancements are likened to OverWatch’s own, several aeons ago.
Deep within the state of ‘Oregon’, sits a magically hidden forest, its bows and canopies the most verdant of greens. Even deeper still, held within the forest, sits ‘Resquis’; a fertile stretch of land, housing all sorts of magical fairytale beasts and their kin - it is known as the most AuraCell rich place on the entire planet, and perhaps in the entire cosmos.
Unable to ignore this, the 5th set up ‘Site-88’, to watch and monitor the entire area. Many top military officials and investigators have taken up permanent residence within ‘Site-88’ - making the site to be one of the most fortified, and well hidden, places on Earth. The most recent research to come out of the site, is in connection to the massive amounts of AuraCells that linger around the forest, and the land; They are all connected to a local school administrator, named Loniu. Digging deeper into the woman, they found that she had been in communication with a Resistance official, codenamed - ‘Oden’.
A large number of Resistance refugees have been moved into the area, prompting the brass to send in one of their best;
First Class Agent, Naofa Niro.
https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png [https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png]
Naofa always hated away missions, they never felt the same after the Civil war. Spilling blood for the sake of OverWatch was her job however - her convictions and ideals rested on her ability to heed the words of those above her. So she would obey, and she would progress. She had been told by Site-88’s Major General, that the supposed ‘School’ in the heart of the region, housed the vast majority of the refugees. These ‘Students’ all possessed lower C to B tier AuraCell abilities. Naofa had realised that they must have been housed here, due to the AuraCells in the air - it would mask any power flux. She had opted for APC’s to take them in, they were quieter than dropships, although Naofa always felt safer in the air.
It hadn’t taken them very long to drive in from ‘Site-88’. Naofa could feel the AuraCells against her skin as she departed her APC, almost oppressively so. They were present in such a dense amount that she figured she could fuel herself for months on end, although her body would crumble long before that. She almost couldn’t focus, and by instinct began to draw in a miniscule amount of the AuraCells around her. Her skin began to glow, literally throwing light out - frost gathering on her eyelashes as the depths of winter were once again seen in the heart of her eyes. She was connected to the entire forest around her, each beast and creature - all alive, all tapped into the network. Although it was hers to play with.
Naofa’s subordinate lieutenant that commanded the detachment handed her a tablet. It was connected to an overhead drone, hidden by camouflage technology. It was picking up a massive amount of thermal signatures, deep within the forest.
"The information we collected was right," he said as he pointed at the tablet, “hundreds of signatures.”
Naofa rubbed her chin, “Ofcourse Jenkins, thank you for the update.” She gave the Lieutenant a gentle nod, dismissing him.
"Ma’am." the soldier responded and backed up with an X-Salute.
Naofa began to hum, a gentle lilting tune. She swiped her finger across the screen, swapping to the Drones view, she could just make out the school, the blinding amount of thermal signatures its only indicator.
"Jenkins, have our units move…” she paused, considering, “North by Northwest. I’ll come with you, I think we’ll be safer that way.”
“Copy that, heading out.” The Lieutenant waved a hand forward, and they began to move, Naofa in tow.
It took them half an hour to get closer to the school, Naofa completely enraptured by the trees around them. She watched as they grew more and more grey, as they approached what she had seen to be a large ravine, supplied with a gentle waterflow by a local waterfall. The leaves around them turned to dust, a thin layer of mist coating the ground like the aura of the frost giants of Naofa’s home. Everything around her felt dead, even the AuraCells here began to peter out - the only ones remaining being drawn into Naofa with steady grace.
She could smell it, the scent of decay was in the air. Her ears and nose, almost animalistically sharp, were picking up the scurries of rats, the smells of rot and vibrance long lost. That faint mist had become a thick grey fog, the welcoming health of the forest replaced by insatiable hunger. Naofa raised her right hand, her palm up - a steady trail of light, moving with the consistency of melted wax, flowed into the centre of her hand, and she closed her fist. Upon opening it, the light stretched out solidifying into an intricately made spear of pure light, glowing with intensity. She caught it, and held up her left hand, her first closed.
“Move no further. Scout, Jenkins - move up, get a good look into that ravine and make your way back.” She said, her face stern - both men nodded.
The scout moved first, edging his way over onto the side of the ravine - he peered over, and looked back towards Jenkins and Naofa, “Looks fi-” and then he was gone.
A pulverised puddle of meat and blood was all that was left, Naofa couldn’t react fast enough to save him, but she could save the platoon leader.
With blinding speed, she moved - a closed fist raised up. She slammed skyward, throwing her entire shoulder into the swing, colliding with… seemingly open air, but each man heard the thick BCHHHHH of Naofas fist, and the shattering of glass shortly after.
She grabbed the Lieutenant by his armour, and threw him backwards, before planting her bare feet into the ground, her teeth bared at what was approaching.
A solemn robe, tattered and dirty, bandaged wrapped rotten hands. It leaked decay, its natural scent hidden behind the smell. Naofa bared her teeth further, this thing was an affront to life, and she would decimate it.
"Alexandria Niro,” The creature began, its voice monochromatic, yet still dripping with obvious distaste, “I see our final Niro has entered the fray.”
"You know of my mother’s heritage." she said, more a statement than a question, her own voice a swirling storm of rage and violence. The soldiers lifted their weapons, locking onto the slender figure. Jenkins assumed his usual position on Naofas left, a sword in his hands.
"I do,” She could feel his smile, nothing more visible beyond the hood than a swirling void, “I know all about your passsst, and your future, girl.” He began to laugh, the sound like clattering chalk.
Naofa’s eyes went blank for a moment, the light fluttering, a steady hand hit her shoulder; right. Jenkins.
The light returned, more of the space around her eyes freezing over, “Move. Or I will go through you.”
"Alexandria you are out of your depth. Do not presume yourself capable of fighting me girl.” The robed figure said, his voice depthless and ancient.
"Ma'am,” Jenkins said, “None of our devices are picking up any sort of AuraCell activity. The force around him…” he paused, “I’m no fae, but even I can feel it. It’s like…”
“Like time stops,” Naofa finished. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply.
The air around them began to swirl, the lingering scents of decay and rot replaced almost entirely by a vibrant sense of growth. Naofa’s entire body took on an ethereal golden glow, whisps of flakey white mist drifting off of her skin - a singular broken circular band materialised around her head drifting just above her eyes, covering them.
The figure raised a hand against the whirlwind of debris, the small tornado rising from upwards from her feet. Little flickering lights appeared all around them, AuraCells visible like fireflies in the night.
Jenkins had never seen her… glow this way. Emanate this much power. It must have been something about this place, the sheer volume of AuraCell’s in the air fueling her rage, fueling her power.
Naofa placed her right hand on her chest, rubbing slightly at the larger scar in the very centre - she had been branded, marred, hurt in ways she could scarcely remember. She traced her fingers along the wavy line, the double sided swirl. They were scales. They were a promise, and a curse. They were her judgement.
Naofa raised a single finger, pointing at hooded being, “I don’t know who you are, but I won’t let you stand in my way without a fight.” She said, her teeth clenched, canines digging into her bottom lip.
Naofa roared, slamming her newly formed hardlight spear down upon it - the first swing of their brutal melee.
https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png [https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png]
Jock sat with Kenya in a rapidly moving Dropship, with their spare time - he decided to finally look into Naofas file:
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Alexandria 'Naofa' Niro
Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
Age 25
Female
172 cm
68 kg
Blood type: AB-Negative
Ac Count: Unknown
Race: High Fae
Section: OverWatch Intelligence and Special Combats Bureau
Branch: Special Intelligence Unit
Division: S1
Assignment: Operational Supervisor of the Oppressor Fleet
Rank: First Class Agent
Academy: [REDACTED]
https://i.imgur.com/9NTPhYC.png [https://i.imgur.com/LaIEyxg.png]
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“I never realised she had this many accomplishments listed publicly,” Jock said, his face aghast, “Dear fucking Sargon, there’s so many. Kenya where… how exactly…”
"She didn’t reach the First Class Agent with nothing under her wings, Jock. Most of it’s from the Civil war, but I think a fair few are from after,” He gave him a sidelong look, “but we all like to forget that she destroyed an entire colony. You see the one dated… god, maybe a year after the Civil war.”
Jock swiped for a good thirty seconds, “Yeah I see it.”
Kenya shared a rare smile, “That’s when I met her. You should have seen her, all prim and proper. Same fire in her belly though.”
"You really think she's even in danger? I can’t imagine anything in the entire cosmos could stand against her and walk away from it.”
"She’s accomplished, yeah - but she’s stubborn. She’ll walk into this fight and refuse to leave it until she’s either won, or dead. Alone, too - seen as she wouldn’t want to risk her men. She’s done it a hundred times and she’ll do it a hundred more. You should ask her about the scars on her chest.” Kenya answered, his arms crossed, head resting on the back of his seat.
"So... Who do you think she's fighting against?" Jock said, sighing.
Kenya gave him a vapid shrug, “Somebody as strong and tenacious as she is.” Jock sighed again, if she was truly fighting someone of her own stature - it would spell disaster. Someone like that working with the resistance? Jock hated the thought.
The dropships landed two clicks from Naofa's location; Jock's team had located the most recent feedback from Naofa's security cylinder (via an inbuilt security fail safe). They followed the feed down a river bank, Jock's lieutenant - Scar - kept eyeballing his tablet, while Kenya and Jock scanned the woods.
“Too quiet. Think it’s over?” Jock asked, almost muttering. Kenya eyed the area around them, sinking a hand into the soft dirt. It turned black, his eyes matching - his head moving in twitching jagged patterns. Jock raised a hand but was cut off.
"I'm looking for Naofa." Kenya said. His head slammed forward, and he stopped twitching, his eyes returned to their usual. He turned to face Jock. "We need to go, quickly." He took off, Jock and the Elite-9 in tow.
Naofa’s spear slammed into the creature's blade with enough force that it shattered the trees around them. She could sense his movements, his instincts obvious to her in this state. She was the breeze given form, the wrath of a fallen God given flesh anew. Her dress was in tatters, her shorts and sports bra revealed. Blood dripped from open wounds across her body, each drop streaked with gold. Where they hit, plants and flowers sprouted. Everyone that had joined her was dead, bar Jenkins, his body only broken. She stood over him, her hair floating on a phantom wind.
The beast struck out with its blade over and over again, Naofa ducked, dodged, and rolled. With each attack she could feel the blade miss her only narrowly. She sprang forward again, ducking low - Jabbing forward with her spear. Every jab was met with equal force, the creature wasn’t slowing down - but she could feel that she was. She growled, spittle flying out from between her teeth. She was growing bored of this fight. Planting the spear, she leapt upwards her now balled fist glowed with her entire reservoir of light, the rest of her body going dull. The punch connected, a spiralling ripple of energy shooting out in all directions decimating the forest for hundreds of feet around them. The creature flew a similar distance backwards - and then reappeared right in front of her. Seemingly unharmed.
She let out a very unwarrior-like scream of frustration.
“I grow weary of these games,” She said, the light that surrounded her originally returned, the halo gleaming again, “what are you.”
“I made it very clear that you couldn’t beat me my darling. I’ll allow you one more chance to retreat.” He laughed again.
Naofa stepped over Jenkins' body again, covering him protectively.
“You’re with this… ‘Resistance’ no? The woman that runs the school - I know she has ties to the militia. You are fighting me, yes, but you aren’t trying to kill me. I haven’t had to fight that hard beyond protecting him,” she looked down at Jenkins, “so either you’re with her, or the Resistance.” She finished, the glowing light of her eyes illuminating her face.
"Keen observation, Alexandria." he replied, seemingly disinterested.
“What’s your excuse then?” Naofa asked, watching him move from side to side, only her eyes following him, “Why stand against the 5th.”
"I have my reasons." it replied simply.
“You’re not with them for their cause. I know that much. What other reason would someone like you want for the abolition of the government.” She asked again, but he only chuckled.
“Clever, your seniority within the military is clearly something earned,” he stopped, “my goals however, are beyond even your understanding girl.” He surged forward, swinging his sabre with unholy strength, aiming directly for something behind Naofa.
Naofa moved on instinct alone, a scent catching her nose. She caught the entire blade, the air rushing away from them as her hand grasped at the tip of the blade, that same gold speckled blood rushing down her arm. The distinctive sound of grinding metal emitted from their brief duel of strength, before the figure bounced back once more, smokey wings banished to dust.
“MMM yes, that rush of power is quite remarkable… Lieutenant Commander Kenya - As expected of course.” He laughed again, loudly and from the belly. Kenya silently approached Naofa, a hand on her shoulder.
"And how do you know my name, Mr. Grim Reaper?" he asked.
"He… He knew me as well, knew things that no one alive should know.” Naofa reached from her other shoulder, the one that had caught the blade, and snapped her dislocated joint back into place with a stifled growl.
Kenya gave her a raised eyebrow, “Later then, ass kicking first.” He said - Jock and his squad fanned out, encircling them. He looked at Naofa.
"Commander Jock, pleasure to meet you ma'am." he said, a look of awe on his face.
"Likewise darling." Naofa replied as she eyed Jock. Naofa gave Kenya a small smile, and they both launched themselves at the figure. Every swing, every punch, every kick - each deflected with ease. The thing was toying with them, playing with them. Naofa had had enough, “NOW KEN!” She roared, bouncing back, her hands together, grasping… Kenya couldn’t see what she was grasping, but he could see wood somehow forming in the air, Naofas full head of hair floating upwards.
Kenya dug four fingers on each hand into the dirt, and an equal amount of bulbous fleshy tendrils spiking their way upwards, pincoushing the creature, evaporating him.
"I think... I think it's done for." Kenya said, but he was wrong, as per usual.
“Well done! Well done!” It exclaimed, reforming once more on top of one of the spikes. “Alexandria, this fight is over, there’s no need for that toy just yet my love,” it paused, “You two are powerful indeed. We will meet again, I’m sure. If we meet again, You may call me DEATH. Tread lightly, in advance.” Death, vanished into smoke - leaving a single ravens feather behind
"’You may refer to me as Death.’ What a pretentious fucker.” Kenya said, between panting gasps, his hand on Naofa, who was holding him up.
"Mother fucker clearly thinks highly of himself.” Naofa looked down, giving Kenya a reassuring squeeze. She was with him.
"You sure you don't need medical attention, ma'am?" Jock asked.
"It's fine, I’ll heal on my own. Go for Naofa though, Only…” she stopped, “SHIT JENKINS,” She turned, sprinting towards her fallen commander, “I can’t fix this… Jock get on the radio, straight to Senior captain Sera Jelastock - Tell her we have on wounded, immediate see through.”
Jock nodded, rattling off the commands to Naofas comms unit in low-earth orbit. Kenya walked away.
"Kenya!" a familiar voice yelled from Kenya's communicator.
"Toooooooooooooobi, whatcha need.” Kenya said, turning back to look at Naofa and Jock, how effortlessly they worked in tandem.
"You haven't returned to the Observer Fleet, what's the hold up?" Tobias asked.
"Lending a hand to a certain crush of yours,” Tobias squawked with outrage, “She was on her own, we came to help - a la when we saw armour man.”
"Is… Is she okay? Fish hasn’t heard from her in a while.” Tobias asked, tentative.
Naofa laughed from afar, the conversation loud enough to hear, “I forgot he was the caring type - report in on my behalf just now Tobias, we’ll be along soon.”
"Righto, " Tobias replied, "The two of you, along with the rest of Elite-9, are to head back to the Observer Fleet. Out and over." Tobias said, as he cut off the comms.
Naofa rubbed her face, “They’re gonna eat me alive for this.”
"Why's that?" Jock asked, curious.
Naofa stared off into the distance, her eyes narrowing as if she could see something very far away, “We could be dealing with something more powerful that anyone has seen in the last two hundred years.https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png [https://i.imgur.com/mA3AY5I.png]
Death reappeared in a cloud of dense smoke, outside of a large wooden structure. The school. It towered at two, nearly three, stories. Surrounded by gargantuan tree’s and winding pathways it sat at the start of a nearby plateau, dotted with smaller forests. The logo, an artistic rendition of the elements, stood at its front. Death entered, and approached a young woman, her eyes hard.
"They have stronger forces than we had realised, one of them managed to match me in strength.” Death said, disappointment echoing in his throat.
“Do you think it’s safe to rely on this militia? Are they going to keep my academy safe? I understand the need to protect lives but at the end of the day I will be putting everyone and everything I have worked to build in danger, you understand that no?”
“My lovely girl, think of this as an advancement for everyone we will hav-” A slim figure approached him. Shorter than Death - wearing a dapper looking suit without a coat. White hair and an eyepatch across one eye. He bowed as he stood in front of the Being.
"Father, the director awaits you." He said.
"Thank you, Ace." Death said as he walked into the room, where director Jeremiah sat, reading a book.
"You know what this fable is about, Death?" Jeremiah asked.
"It's about the tale of a sly fox, tricking a noble crow to drop its food by deceiving, making it sing. What of it?" Death asked tamely as he walked up to the director.
“The moral of the fable is that you must look deeper into what the people around you are telling you,” he gave death a hard stare, “and from what I am hearing it would seem that our causes do not align as thoroughly as I had originally thought they did.”
"I assured you Jerimiah. I promised victory, for something in return.” Death said - his voice withdrawn.
"I don't want someone fighting on my side for a different cause.” He said, his arms crossed.
"Think clearly, Rythian. it's too late to turn this down. You agreed to this, and you know that the other three Horsemen are more than willing to fight for your cause," Death replied. He walked up to the window, staring into the forest, “they know I have ties with you, and they know about Loniu's ties as well." Death said, meaning Naofa, and Kenya.
"Which means sooner or later..." Jeremiah said, his eyes darkening, "They'll target this building with great force,” he sighed, “You think it’s best we prepare?”
"Yes. I will begin to reach out - The… Children should be receptive to the idea of bringing back the father, so long as it means saviour for their lost lamb. With him follows the brother. The rest are like dominos,” He laughed, “fear not Jerimiah, I will deliver unto you the power to tople this regime, once and for all.”