Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

☙Chapter Twenty-Two❧

"So they're just...sitting ducks, then?"

"Until Rama determines it's time for the next step of his plan, yes. Once he's ready, they'll get their autonomy back, but until then, it'll be like before the Awakening."

(Y/n)'s wide eyes swung up to Ramattra. "Taking their autonomy away is the same as imprisoning them! That's exactly what humans did to Zenyatta, probably to Laylani too-"

"Do not compare me to your kind," he growled coldly, the sheer icy chill making her freeze. "I am doing this for them whether they recognize it or not."

The women exchanged a look as (Y/n) struggled to grasp what he was saying, stepping towards him imploringly as she spouted, "But you're hurting them! How can this be just peachy while my idea to turn off their sentience for a spell is off limits??"

His cold look didn't warm and he stood to his full height to make her feel small. "They are in no pain, and I will release them when I deem it to be right."

"You're the sole dictator of their fate, but ain't that what y'all have been fighting against for so long? You was meant to be giving them their liberties back, not taking 'em for yourself! What makes you any different than humans if you're going to control them like this?"

"They may hate me now, but when they are finally free from the oppressive rule of your kind, they will come to learn that what I did was necessary." He'd never fought for himself, using everything at his disposal only for his people, so to be called that which he was fighting against took physical effort not to lash out at. (Y/n) felt the years of hatred culminate in a single look, and she edged around the table to put distance between the two of them as her gaze trailed up the curve of his staff to the nanites. "You know nothing of the war my people have been fighting since before your birth, so do not assume to know what is best for us."

She flinched. "I ain't hafta be born earlier to know you're hurting your own cause. People look at what you've done and they hate omnics more – they'll blame omnics for the suffering you caused and it'll alienate even more omnics from Null Sector." She watched the subtitles appear below the news anchor describing the Null Sector attack on Toronto, explaining the chaos and rioting and panic. People were scared, and when they're scared, they lash out – and in this case, it was at omnics. Those that hated them already used it as fuel for the fire, excusing their actions under the guise of the omnics deserving it, and those that previously had a neutral stance would start to resent omnics for the problems Null Sector caused. "You're hurting your own people, Ram."

"You know nothing, human." The Ravager was seething now, pushing her to take a step back as she recognized that familiar hostility she thought she was past. "You 'fix' broken omnics yet you still have no grasp of the oppression they endure because of your kind."

"I ain't gotta fully grasp it to know that what you're doing is wrong." Her voice trembled and she knew he heard it.

"How can I expect you to understand when you are so willingly naïve?" The hostility faded like he knew it wasn't getting him anywhere. "You are here to fulfill a duty for me and that is all. I do not care what you believe is the 'right' thing – peace has accomplished nothing for me so it is time I take liberation by force." The silence that followed felt polarizing, like it was wedging a divide between the omnic and human just because they were different species. (Y/n)'s gaze finally fell as she fiddled with the ends of the tan scarf, her stomach filling with lead at the sudden distance between the two of them, and she didn't dare raise her head to see Ramattra's cold stare.

After a moment of tense silence, he turned to Laylani. "Once we are certain our people will be alright, I am bringing you home. Zenyatta's capture takes top priority and I do not wish for you to be there when we raid Talon."

"You don't want to lose another one, right?" His head shot up with surprise as Laylani's stance remained relaxed. "Yeah, I know about Lanet. The King's Row Uprising was big news, and it's not hard to find press coverage about Null Sector."

His hands flexed at his sides. "I should have assumed you would find out about my inner circle."

"Having 3 new friends on your ship to help you is a little too strong of a coincidence, Rama." Her tone was light, almost jovial, and out of place.

"You are not my friends." His words held bite, and while (Y/n) shifted uncomfortably, Laylani only hummed.

"For someone that hates humans so much, allowing a human on your ship says otherwise." It sounded like she was implying something, but he only scoffed.

"It was a necessity, just as your inclusion was, and just like you, she will be released when I no longer have use of her." It was cold, but (Y/n) wasn't sure why she was surprised. Maybe because he had started to show the warmth he was capable of by taking her aboard his ship, keeping her safe and showing her what could almost be considered kindness despite his apparent hatred for humans. But it stemmed from his desire to save his people, not her, and she should've known better than to assume he could ever care for her. She was a human, nothing more than a means to an end, and he was a terrorist her parents had tried to warn her about; but she'd stupidly pushed their concerns aside in favor of the good omnic she swore he was, blinding herself to his true intentions. He was so enraptured with his goals that he didn't see he was hurting his own people. They say the road to evil is paved with good intentions, and only then did it click just how far down that path he truly was.

[Hawaiian] pono = doing what is right