The Hunter | Overwatch

Arming the Uncertain

The Next Day, 2:12 P.M.

The overhead lights buzzed as Shaun walked beside Jack down the hallways of the Overwatch facility. Every step they took echoed through the corridor, tension building with each passing second. Shaun’s hands were stuffed in his pockets, his face turned downward in thought. The mission to Canada loomed over his head like a dark cloud, but more than that, the weight of what he was, of what he had become, seemed heavier than ever.

Jack stopped in front of a thick steel door and motioned for Shaun to enter first. Shaun hesitated for a second before pushing the door open. The armory stretched out before them like a mechanical graveyard. Weapons lined the walls—guns of all sizes, sharp blades, even prototype technology glimmering under the cool fluorescent lights.

Shaun looked around, his voice barely above a whisper. “I... don’t even know where to start.”

Jack turned to Shaun, hands clasped behind his back, the weight of his years of command evident in his gaze. He studied the young man, knowing Shaun’s powers were a force he hadn’t yet learned to control. “I get it, kid. You're a walking weapon, but that doesn't mean you're ready to unleash whatever's inside you. Powers or not, you need something else to rely on when things go south. That’s where a solid weapon comes in.”

Shaun nodded, still not entirely sure what he was doing here. His hands trembled slightly, memories of the last time his power lashed out resurfacing in his mind. The tree exploding. The fear of losing control. But he swallowed it down, forcing himself to focus.

Jack gestured to a rack of weapons, giving Shaun the freedom to choose. As Shaun walked past each one, his eyes flickered to the side where a large case stood open. Inside was something different. His breath hitched for a moment as he took in the sight of the weapon—a gun, but unlike anything he'd seen before. It pulsed faintly, like it was alive, humming with energy that mirrored something deep inside him.

“What... is that?” Shaun asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

Jack followed Shaun’s gaze and smiled slightly. “That? That’s not your standard-issue rifle. It’s a prototype. We never had a chance to test it out since the UN deemed it dangerous. I believe it was built for someone like you. It doesn’t just fire bullets. It amplifies and focuses your energy. Instead of struggling with it, you could learn to control it.”

“And what happens if I can’t?” Shaun looked at the weapon as if it might bite. Jack sighed and crossed his arms, his gaze lingering on the prototype.

“Then that gun will burn you out faster than anything. But I think you’ll figure it out before that happens.”

Shaun’s fingers traced over the gun’s surface, which hummed in response to his touch. The design was futuristic, with glowing conduits running down the sides and a small, visible core that pulsed as if syncing with his own energy. There was no traditional trigger, only panels that seemed to read his movements.

“I don’t even know how to use this...” Shaun admitted, feeling a wave of uncertainty wash over him.

Jack stepped forward and grabbed the weapon, carefully pulling it from its case. “Hold it.”

The gun was lighter than it looked, fitting perfectly in his hands. Shaun’s breath caught as the weapon came alive at his touch, the energy core brightening and syncing with his pulse. The grip was cool against his skin, yet he could feel something beneath, something humming just below the surface. It wasn’t just a tool—it was part of him, reflecting his own power back at him. For the first time in a long while, it didn’t feel chaotic. It felt controlled.

Before Shaun could retreat into his uncertainty, a rough voice broke through the air.

“Careful with that, Oxton. You might shoot his head off.”