Protector

by Maniacal_Muffin

1: Primary Function

The sound of falling rain was almost all that could be heard around the streets of Numbani, only broken up by the sound of the occasional hover-car and accompanying horn, but if one strained their ears enough they may have been able to hear the subtle hum of a robot. The hulking quadruped was prone, lightly resting her arm and fusion driver on the composite safety railing of the lookout, lenses scanning and illuminating the stormy night as she monitored the city below, looking for any sign of trouble. She was entirely unmoving, all but a statue as raindrops reflected the warm, yellow glow of her lenses, like little stars in her vision.

She closed her apertures and shook her head to dissipate the distraction in her computation core, something she picked up as she would watch young Efi work. It made no sense to her, but as Efi said: “If it works, then it is allowed to make no sense.”

The robot resumed her vigil over the city, her lenses only a dull glow through the rain. She sat, silently daring any threat to show itself so that she may eradicate it and prove herself to her city.

An hour passed with little of interest happening and the seeded rain only growing heavier, thunder now being heard in the distance and white flashes filling the sky sporadically. But, just as she was contemplating moving to a sheltered position she heard a scream echo down the street and through the alleyways.

In an instant she was up, lenses emitting a menacing red glow as her stare pierced the night. Her steps were steady and fierce, her fusion driver at the ready and her hand in a fist as she marched towards where she heard the sound. She scanned alleyways left and right looking for any sign of the scream. Finding only recycling bins and the odd hover-scooter she forged onward.

What she saw upon searching the third alley had her apertures angled in a deep scowl, her lenses glowing blood red and her fusion driver quickly trained on her new target. It was none other than the infamous terrorist and Talon member: Reaper. There before the robot was none other than her creator Efi Oladele dressed in a cute light-green raincoat and hat in the hands of the black robed murderer.

“Orisa!” Efi yelled over the rain just before a clawed gauntlet was pressed over her mouth.

“I know you are stupid Orisa but do us both a favor and lower your weapon, lest you hurt the brat.” he said slowly and menacingly, Efi’s muffled pleas only barely audible over the weather.

“Hostile detected. State your business, monster.” Orisa replied, as much fierce anger behind her words as her personality core could muster.

“Oh Orisa, and here I thought you only had it out for our Doomfist.” he said, voice dripping in sarcasm as he aimed a shotgun over the robots form. “You don’t have to worry though robot, we are only borrowing the girl. Talon could use a mind like hers.”

“Over my decommissioned shell.” Orisa stated with a voice like cold steel as she began a charge on the pair, filled with rage and intent on throwing the terrorist over the lookout with her bare hand.

“Arghh-h-h” She only got a couple of steps before her form locked up, skidding to a stop and an infamous purple sugar skull obscured her vision. “S-S-Sombra?” she managed to stutter out as her form only obeyed her in small jitters of movement.

“El único.” she heard to her left as a form slid into her peripheral vision. A lithe form garbed in purple approached her with smug satisfaction in her steps. “And it is a shame that such a pretty toy like you has to go too,” she said, pulling a strange device out of her coat that glowed with a faint purple aura through the rain. “I am sure Doomfist will enjoy taking you apart a second time when I translocate you to him.” she said, sashaying towards Orisa and sticking the translocator to her chest. Sombra then took a few steps back and lifted her arm, a single holographic hexagon button manifesting above her wrist.

“Adiós!” Sombra called with a grin, but before she could even move her finger to the button a ear-splitting crack reverberated through the street and a blinding white arc of lightning struck Orisa and the translocator, sending millions of volts through both. A blinding flash of purple pierced the night immediately after, and when the three onlookers vision was restored after such intense light, Orisa was no longer there.

Sombra looked on in shock at what had happened, as did Reaper who loosened his grip on young Efi as he had trouble figuring out what he just saw. Not one to waste an opportunity though, Efi quickly slipped out of her hat and jacket and out of Reapers grasp and bolted away as fast as she could. Reaper regained his bearings quickly and with a shake of his head and shadow stepped after the girl. Eventually Sombra lowered her hand and dismissed the button, bringing a finger up to her earpiece.

“Orisa is gone.” she said in a confused and alarmed tone through the earpiece.

“I would have rather done that myself, but so long as it is gone I don’t care.” the unmistakable voice of Doomfist answered over the earpiece.

She slowly lowered her hand and silently swore to herself to never personally use a translocator during a storm, not until she devoted plenty of time to tests on what she just witnessed.

She stared for a moment more before jumping as Reaper placed a hand on her, his other hand around Efi’s as she squirmed trying to get free. He stared at her and her reaction through his emotionless mask for only a moment, “Help me tie her up and let’s get moving.” he said, before stepping back into the alleyway.

Sombra followed a moment after, with less energy in her steps than when she arrived.