Note: This story is based on the movie The One, as such, it deals with death, violence, and murder. Please do not read if those topics bother you.
This story is a stalled work-in-progress. Any possible updates will be slow and sporadic.
This wasn't the first mission of this kind Soldier: 76 had been on, and if he had any say in the matter, it was far from the last.
He checked the device in his hand, tracking his target. He was still some distance away, so he didn't have to worry just yet.
The Soldier traveled on, checking the device every now and then as he got closer and closer.
He had obtained the device by stealing it from Talon-affiliated scientists. There had been a lot of chatter over it, some had claimed that it would give Talon the power they needed once and for all to become unstoppable.
Old habits, like old soldiers, die hard, and he had infiltrated the lab and beat the information out of the scientists.
It was some kind of wormhole device, created for a single nefarious purpose. The scientists cited papers and research, telling Soldier: 76 exactly what it was for.
What they were saying seemed like a joke, an elaborate hoax, but the more they went on, the more plausible it seemed. Apparently, there had been a successful test that had proved that it was ready and did exactly what it should.
Still not quite believing, the Soldier pressed the button and was instantly flung into a new universe much like the one he had left.
Reeling from the sudden transport, it took some time for him to gain his bearings. Once he did so, he turned to the device still in hand. He was lucky, as the dot showing him his target was somewhere close.
Sticking to the shadows and rooftops, he tracked him through the night, finally catching up.
Staying out of sight, he carefully peered over the edge, using his visor to zoom in on his target.
He was glad that he was on the rooftop, as he was far enough away that it hid his gasp of shock. There, beating up a couple of thugs in the alley was himself.
It was unmistakable. The jacket with the large 76 emblazoned on the back, the gray hair, the mask, and the gun he had stolen from the Watchpoint.
Soldier: 76 weighed his options. The scientists had told him that there were multiple universes out there, each one full of the same people. It had been discovered that whenever a version of yourself out there died, all of the other versions gained strength and power. It seems that all were drawing from a shared well.
Talon had wanted to use it for their own gain, but he could turn it against them. It would take some time for the scientists to make another device, they still had all their research, but, if he could beat Talon to the punch, he'd be strong enough to stop them and finally find out the truth of what had happened to Overwatch.
That made his choice simple. He watched and waited until his alternate self was done with those thugs, there was a part of the Soldier that had hoped they would do the job for him.
As the other Soldier walked away, he aimed his rifle and fired. Multiple Helix Rockets to the head and back of an unsuspecting target did their job quickly.
With that grisly task completed, he closed his eyes, feeling a slight surge as the other Soldier's strength had been redistributed. It was unmistakable, and he's certain he's felt it before, a time or two in the past. The other Soldiers must've died in the war, or somehow else. It didn't really matter, except that it made his job easier.
He's killed before, but this is the first time that he's killed like this. The fact that his other self wore the mask made the job easier. He couldn't see his own face as he died.
After that, he had been to several other universes, with similar results. Each world was slightly different, things always felt a little off.
Occasionally, there had been a brief fight with the other Soldiers, sometimes they detected him before he could get in position. But, usually that didn't last long. He knew all of their tricks and was able to take them out before they realized they were fighting with themselves.
It didn't get any easier each time. There wasn't much comfort in the fact that he knew most everyone thought them dead, that he was possibly doing these worlds a favor by ridding them of a vigilante. It didn't reflect too well on himself.
But, there was one universe that was different. It was obvious as soon as he arrived. Everything was brighter, and, as he checked the device, approximately 20 years newer.
At first, he wasn't too worried. There had been fluctuations in the times of the other universes, give or take a few years.
However, this was different. Those other universes had looked much like his did currently. This one did not.
As he carefully made his way through the city, his fears were proving more and more right. For some reason, this universe was behind the rest, and it showed. He was watching his past play out right in front of him.
Overwatch was still around. A beacon of hope that had shown through troubling times. Only Soldier: 76 knew that a storm was brewing on the horizon that would change all of that.
For the first time in this mission, he really hesitated. No one would miss the Soldier: 76s he had left in alleyways. But, Jack Morrison, the Strike Commander of Overwatch would be missed.
That, and he likely wouldn't be alone, unlike all of the other Soldiers. If he was to continue on, there would be much more risk involved. But, on the other hand, he has the power of hindsight, if it's close enough to his past, he'd be able to figure out what missions were going on and catch himself unaware.
However, at the moment, that's a pretty big if.
He knows that this Jack has a lot of work ahead of him. He'd lead Overwatch through its glory days and into the bleakest night. There was much he needed to do.
But, on the other hand, what if he wasn't around? Would things have gotten as bad as they did? Would Overwatch still be standing today if someone else had taken the helm?
He had time. Time enough to decide and time enough to figure out how to tackle the problem of himself.
Keeping an eye on the news, he was finally able to pinpoint when and where a mission was going to take place.
Getting there a day early, he waited.
Soldier: 76 knew this mission well. He had lost some good people that day, but in the end, they had been victorious.
That, and he had gone off on his own during combat, to chase a bad guy who had important intel. The enemy had gotten away from him, but his teammates had ended up capturing him when he ran their way. It would be perfect for an ambush.
Picking a spot, he had holed up until he heard the tell-tale sounds of the incoming chopper.
It was a little difficult to sit back and listen to the mission play out. He could easily visualize every shot with every cry.
Finally, it was go time.
He aimed at the entrance of the alleyway and waited for his younger self to come running through.
But, there was one thing he didn't take into account, and that was that in the heat of battle, his younger self was still on guard, and as such spotted the Soldier before he could fire.
Taking cover, Jack fired first, then ducked around to tell his teammates that there was another enemy on the rooftop and that he had lost visual on the one he had been pursuing. Ordering them to go after the one with the intel, he told them that he could take care of the one on the roof.
He peered around and quickly jerked his head back as a round of Helix Rockets nearly missed his face, embedding into the wall where his head had been.
The Soldier on the roof grumbled in frustration, his younger self had the advantage. As long as he wasn't stupid, Soldier: 76 couldn't get a clear shot at him. That, and once the bad guys were taken care of, his team would come after him. Time was running out and he had to end this quickly.
Climbing down the side of the building, he made his way to the ground. There was still a chance he could sneak up on his past.
Firing the Helix Rockets again, he chipped away at the hiding place Jack had snuck behind. The wall still stood, and so did Jack.
There was something else Soldier: 76 didn't account for, and that was, even though they were the same person, his younger self would be at least a fraction faster than he was.
This error almost cost him his own life as he barely jerked his head out of the way as he nearly got a faceful of pulse fire.
Some of the ammunition had hit their mark, blasting through the side of his mask and breaking it wide open.
Pushing through the pain, he continued on, knowing that Jack would make another move in just a moment.
His timing was off slightly, and Jack caught him square in the middle of the alley. However, when he got a sight of Soldier: 76 behind the mask, he hesitated. Even with the age, even with the scars, even with all the wounds and blood covering one side of his face, it was unmistakable that he was looking at his older self.
That hesitation is what cost him.
Full of pain and adrenaline, the Soldier took his shot. His Helix Rockets had recharged and made quick work of the Strike Commander.
The remains of Jack Morrison had barely hit the ground when several of his teammates had shown up to see a man suddenly disappear in front of them.
Nobody knew what they had seen, and anyone they told didn't believe them. It was considered something that their trauma had come up with in order for them to make sense of their leader being killed.
In the next universe over, Soldier: 76 had sunk with his back against a building and put his face in his hands as the enormity of what he had done had come crashing down.
He hadn't even thought about what he had done until it was too late. He had permanently changed that universe's course and ended his time in it before he could make the mistakes that had brought him to this point.
That world would never have a Soldier: 76, which would've been a little comfort if he hadn't just gunned himself down in his prime.
The actions he had taken today cemented his course. After that, he couldn't stop. He couldn't sacrifice his younger self for him to stop now. No. He had to kill the others. All of them. One by one, until only he remained. He owed it to Jack Morrison, his death wouldn't be in vain, none of them would be.
He picked himself up and checked the tracker. He had a ways to go before he caught up with himself.