The Villain Wrangler | Overwatch

Chapter 18

Angelica scanned the screen again, but the words didn't change.

"Hey, Athena? Why do I have access to Overwatch's files?"

There was a pause, then the AI replied, "The records are tied to the office. I am unable to block your access to them."

Angelica hummed in thought, then closed the file. "Alright. Tell Jack and Gabe, because I'm pretty sure one of those had the Blackwatch logo on it, and let them know. I won't poke unless I need to."

"Very well, Miss Coffey."

She glared at the sensor in the ceiling. "Why do I get the feeling that you want me to poke at those files?"

"I do not know, Miss Coffey."

She smirked a bit and opened the file again. It was the original Overwatch charter. She minimized it and went back to her work. She filled a few placements, then sighed and opened the file again.

She read the first paragraph and froze, rereading it slowly. She dug out a notepad and a pen and settled down with the document, occasionally making notes to herself.

—

Gérard paused in the doorway, watching Angelica work. Her brow was furrowed as she read something on her screen, and she had several sheets of paper scattered around the large desk. Idly, he knocked on the frame.

"Unless the base is on fire, you can wait. This is huge."

He cocked an eyebrow at that, but sauntered into the office and settled in the chair opposite. He snagged a loose sheet of paper and scanned it, stiffening as he read her notes.

"Send me a copy. I can help," he barked, dragging his chair to the auxiliary computer and firing it up.

—

"Commander? Miss Coffey would like to speak with you and Commander Reyes," Athena announced.

Jack thought she sounded a little smug, but he sighed and rose, Gabe grumbling after.

They stopped in the doorway of her office, watching Gérard and Angelica furiously tapping at the two computers in the office.

"Wha-"

Angelica looked up and flashed a grin when she saw them. "Hi! We found something," she chirped, turning back to her monitor.

Gabe and Jack shared a look, then prepared to settle in for a long wait. Gabe was slightly surprised when she looked up before they reached the sofa.

"Okay, so Overwatch was listed as a mercenary company, with Blackwatch as a subsidiary. And the UN hired Overwatch, but the UN doesn't actually have any authority, especially not to pull something like the Petras Act. All the Petras Act really said was that they wouldn't pay for Overwatch anymore, and you couldn't use their bases anymore."

Gabe rolled his eyes. "So we can't play with their toys anymore. Gotcha."

"Pretty much. The good news, though, is this base belongs to the UK, not the UN. If you get permission from the United Kingdom to buy or rent the base, you can keep using it." She looked over her notes, then shrugged. "You should also make nice and talk to Spain and Morocco about your being here, but England has the right to kick us out. And if you get permission from all the other countries you've been dealing with, you can rent there, too."

Jack stared at her intently. "Overwatch is listed as a mercenary company?"

Angelica checked her notes. "On paper. When the Petras Act was enacted, it was officially disbanded, but the paperwork wasn't filed. So, technically, you could still working as Overwatch, if you can get funding."

Jack shook his head as Gabe considered this.

"There is also the issue of Talon's influence in Overwatch, before," Gérard added. "Miss Coffey has been able to find several... discrepancies... that might be able to point to the higher-level ones."

Jack froze. "How high?"

Angelica winced. "Within the top ten highest ranked officers."

"Right. Keep digging there, and we'll figure out how we bring Overwatch back," Gabe announced. "Talon is up to something big, and we need to be in a position to do something about that."

"Well, mes amis, who would be running this? We three are dead, so far as the public knows, as is Ana. Wilhelm and Lindholm are both... distinctly unsuited to the role. I believe Jesse's bounty is sufficient to eliminate him, and Genji and Winston are decidedly camera-shy."

Angelica shrugged. "I could talk to people about getting the bases, but I can't run something like this."

Gérard grinned widely. "Oh, yes! And send Genji's brother as assistant and guard. She has the charm Jack had when he was younger, and a certain innocence. Oh, she would be wonderful in front of a camera."

Angelica glared at him. "You make it sound like I'd be the public face of the new Overwatch."

He blinked. "Well, yes. Jack and Gabriel can more than handle the actual missions, and I can provide you with well-written speeches."

"But this isn't a world-wide peacekeeping force anymore. It's just to take out Talon."

Gérard pouted as Gabe laughed, looping an arm over Angelica's shoulders. "Told you. Come on, kitten. Let's see what the rest of the crew thinks about this."

She laughed and ducked out from under his arm. "You do that, and take them with you. I actually have a real job I'm supposed to be doing."

She shooed the men from her office, gently closing the door behind them.

Gérard laughed. "I was right. I do like her. And I am very certain she can keep you two in line."

Jack quirked his lips. "You're taking it better than Ana. She's insisting Ange is a child."

"Has she spoken to mademoiselle Coffey yet?"

They shrugged. "She hasn't complained yet, so probably not." Gabe replied.

Gérard stopped dead. As Gabe and Jack turned to face him, he jabbed at them accusingly.

"You three worked out something. So, who wins the pool?"

Gabe laughed while Jack flushed. "Zenyatta won the pool, but they don't know it yet. We're still figuring out the shape of things."

Gérard grinned at them, clapping them on the shoulders as he dragged them toward the common room. "Well, if you hurt her, I'm sure I can convince Torb and Rein to do something sufficiently horrible to you both. I do hope things work out for you three."