Switched

Chapter Fifteen: Total Control

Jekeel was rigid. His hands were planted on the table, twisted into fists, with his green hair hanging over his eyes to hide the total calm displayed on his face. Only Melanie and he remained in the room - a room completely circular and covered in Holovids, all displaying camera footage from different places. 

"This isn't how it was supposed to go," Jekeel said coolly. Melanie knew that though his face portrayed a mask of calm, the tone he was using  suggested that he was furious. "This is wrong. She has the choice now - and I always knew it would come, but I should have been able to prevent it."

"There was no way you could have forseen this, Jekeel," Melanie said, placing her hand in front of his, but not touching. "Sombra hid that past from you as she did everyone else. This is not your fault."

"I knew someday this would happen," Jekeel said through gritted teeth, "And yet it still makes me so angry. I was prepared for this, and yet I'm furious at the prospect of someone else entering her life. I never told her my feelings and yet I can't control myself when I think of someone else being that person for her."

Melanie resisted the urge to sigh. Jekeel had watched over his friend - his Flower, he liked to call her - for years, for always, since Melanie had met him and long before. He'd always loved her with a burning passion but had stayed away for reasons Melanie was still yet to uncover. But now that someone appeared to have fallen for her, he had lost it completely.

"I... I need a distraction. I need to do something." His knuckles turned white. "I want to bring someone to ashes."

"Then why not vent it on the people who are meddling in affairs they shouldn't be?" Melanie suggested. Her psychology degree rang true with this - if he concentrated his anger on something that shared similar traits to his current object of anger, then he'd be letting off more steam. "Why not start seriously undermining an organization that defies the law simply by existing and lives by its own rules?"

"There are many of those," Jekeel pointed out.

"But only one which is becoming a threat," Melanie said in a low voice. "Only one which you would take all too much pleasure in destroying."

Jekeel slowly lifted his head. "Overwatch."

"Though, if Flower is a problem for you..." Melanie sighed, using every tactic she could think of to convince him.

"No!" Jekeel shouted, springing upright and glaring at Melanie. He quickly righted himself, straightening his tie and folding his arms. "No. She won't care. The loss of Overwatch will not be a loss to her. I believe she might have even had her own plans for its downfall, even if she has not excecuted them yet."

"You're sure, Jekeel?" Melanie asked. "How should--"

"I'm dealing with this one personally," Jekeel growled. "Ready my plane."

Melanie stared. This wasn't how she had expected it to go, but if he was going to do it in person then it was absolutely the best chance she had. She nodded. "Yes sir. When will you leave?"

"When I'm ready," Jekeel snapped, turned around, and walked away.

Melanie felt giddy as she raced off in the opposite direction for the main control centre. This was the best - better than the best - result she could have hoped for. Taking care of Overwatch was one thing and Jekeel was a task for another day, but if they could be taken out in one fell swoop then she would be the best undercover operative they had.

"Ready the Cloud Diver," Melanie told one of the engineers as she passed him. His name was Elvington, and had been with them for years, actually. He had a thick grey beard and a balding head with dull brown eyes that only lit up when he was around his machines. He was one of the best. He stared at her, puzzled, for a moment before she explained. "He's going to take care of something. He needs the plane ready at a moment's notice."

"When is he leaving?" Elvington asked.

Melanie rolled her eyes. "Haven't the foggiest. You know what he's like. Now get to it."

"Yes, ma'am," Elvington nodded, and hurried back in the direction he had come to prepare for takeoff.

Miranda slipped into her office and closed all of the blinds, locked down the windows and doors, and activated her signal jammer. She pulled out her secure phone and pressed a button on the side, activating the urgent beacon. Seconds later, a voice was projected from it. "Tripwire."

"Jekeel is going to the Overwatch base, sir," Melanie said eagerly. "I'll let you know when he takes off. If you're extracting the target then you need to do it soon, and you can take them all out at once."

"Excellent. You've done your job, Tripwire. Stay in position in case the mission fails."

"But--" Melanie protested. "I've done so well! Haven't I proven myself?"

"You are still useful where you are, Tripwire. Stay in position and I will consider it."

"This is the best thing that's happened to this organization in a year!" Melanie said indignantly. "I know you're worried I'll do what S--"

"She was a rogue agent and she is not our concern now. You are one of the best and that is exactly why we need you there."

"But I--" Melanie tried.

"Headquarters out."

The phone went blank, and vibrated for a few seconds before exploding in her hands. She shrieked and staggered backwards angrily. How dare they? She was the best that they had and they still refused to take her into the inner circle!

She'd played her part, though. If they were successful, then they had to invite her in. They had to.

All she had to do now was stay put and keep the mission on track.

"Bye bye, Jekeel," Melanie whispered, and walked out.