- Doomsday - Volume One: Gods and Monsters

Chapter 102: Biohazard Part. 6

(AN: Okay, I lied. Today's chapter will NOT be the 12k+ words event that I promised, because it got to about 15K before I was finished. And, I know most people won't read through the entire thing in one sitting, so I'm splitting this last chapter up into two roughly 7k+ chapters. Hope that's not too disappointing for anyone, trust me I did not expect this little arc to go on for so long. Finale for Biohazard comes out next week! Hope you enjoy as always!)

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[Outskirts of Wichita, Evacuation Zone]

Winston and Reinhardt were only allowed to spectate the fight from miles away. The ape was swamped with his rushed leadership position, but he took it in his stride, doing his best to set everything right. The giant crusader did what he did best, bolstering morale and threatening to charge down there himself every few minutes if they kept marching towards them. Overwatch soldiers patrolled the perimeter, making sure that the last of the civilians left in an orderly fashion. The field medics worked tirelessly, ensuring that both Lindholme and Amari didn't die. They were both fighters, having braved some of the worst battles humanity had ever fought through. Everyone held out hope for their recovery, but the injuries were deep and ugly. Another few scars for the soldiers to carry with them for the rest of their lives...

And then, the city exploded with fire, erupting high into the sky like a volcanic mushroom of death. Large complexes and towers shattered in an instant, decimated under the immense force. Smoke and debris exploded out. A blast of air fired out from under the pressure. It was hard to make out much of anything, but there wasn't much need for detail. The massive detonation told them everything they needed to know. And then, the thunderous roar of the massive attack cried out in full force, forcing some of the soldiers to cover their ears, even at their far distance. 

Winston felt the air whip through his fur, engulfing him with a deathly smell. He simply stood there, his eyes wide and mouth agape. Reinhardt stood in a similar fashion, locked on the city proper. And whether they be Overwatch or civilian, it was hard for all of the people remaining to not stop and freeze and watch. It was a nightmare, a truly horrific nightmare. 

"A-Angela--" Winston croaked out, his gruff voice wavering on the delivery. The crusader's armour cracked as he snapped forward, blinking his one good eye, as if to try and escape some illusion. Unfortunately, this was reality, and fleeing wasn't an option...

A flurry of thoughts assaulted Winston in that moment, had it been Chemo, or had it been the government? Those in charge had made clear that if the ordeal hadn't been sorted out in due time then the nuclear option wasn't off the table. Yet, he had seen no bombers, or jets of any sort crossing the horizon, even as night had begun to set in. It had to have been the mutate, Chemo, but where had it been storing that sort of power?! It was immense and terrifying in scale. Even if it were to consume half the state's rural population, an explosion of that magnitude didn't seem humanly plausible. 

However, they're understanding of the two creatures was limited, surface level at best. Perhaps it had been their underestimation of the two that had brought this attack upon them? Winston fought to hold back tears. Angela had only just stood besides them, willing and ready to help their retreat. There was no fear in her eyes, no sense of hesitance. She had truly sacrificed herself for the cause, ready to give her entire self even if it meant only saving a small remaining minority...

Yet, it appeared she hadn't even been able to detonate the charges near the bank. 

Even if she had, if Chemo had been hiding that sort of power up it's sleave, there was little that any of them could have done to resist...