Chapter 1: The Arctic

Her pen scribbled down meeting notes at first, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat and regretted wearing her belt, it was cutting into her side. Mei-Ling Zhou adjusted her glasses as she listened to what her team leader was saying to the group of seven other scientists and herself. They were in a meeting about the effects the climate was undergoing due to global warming. Which had only gotten worse thanks to the Earths inhabitants, unfortunately. But, it was okay. It'd be all right, that's what they were all here for anyways.

To find a way to reverse the horrible effects that they'd caused to the planet in the last few decades. The problem had only escalated with the rise of the Omnic Crisis. She was doodling ideas randomly in her notebook as she thought about ways to solve the ice caps melting. Her brown eyes lifted and she caught the only Omnic in the room, Bailey, staring right at her. Her brows lifted and she quickly averted her gaze. That's when she realized it wasn't just him, it was...every scientist at the table. Wait...what were they all talking about anyways? Damn, she'd lost her trail of thought. "I- I'm sorry?" She said to their team leader.

"I just wanted to know how your research was coming along. The polar vortices?" He asked. He was a nice man, older than Mei by at least twenty years. His hair was sandy blonde peppered with silver strands and his eyes light brown. He had a relaxed posture and dressed smartly, like everyone at the table. His name was Dr. McCreedy and he specialized in Meteorology.

"Ah, yes- sorry sorry, there is a compelling argument to be had about climate change effecting the arctic polar vortex. As you all know I've been researching the causes to add to Dr. Miller's study of the ice caps and the effect that global warming is having on them." She lifted a hand and cleared her throat.

The Omnic, Bailey responded before anyone else had a moment to, "Ah, Ms. Zhou...that doesn't exactly answer the doctor's question." He said in a soft voice.

"Nobody asked you, bot." Dr. Childs sniffed his nose at the Omnic.

She felt her face grow warm. "I was going to add," Mei brushed her bangs out of her face. "That I am also making progress abet slowly, as you all know; there has been a cold snap recently. And I saw on the monitors yesterday while checking out the caps that there is a dangerous storm approaching."

"Ah, I saw that too. We should all get prepared to evacuate, should the need arise." Another scientist added, her name was Elizabeth Stone and she wasn't on Mei's squad but the climatologist found that she liked the woman.

"All right, we'll send out a notice to the Overwatch Headquarters to let them know about the storm. We'll keep coms open, shouldn't need to activate the emergency tower coms until we have confirmation about the severity of the storm. But if our Mei says it looks dangerous, then I'd say its better we all have our things packed up just in case." Dr. McCreedy said and the scientists agreed with him in unison. "Until then, Ms. Stone if you could go with Childs and Dee down to the wall of ice we've been chipping away at I think there's something they need assistance with there?" He looked to the other two scientists mentioned and they nodded.

"There's some sort of anomaly in the ice that we cant quite figure out. I'd like you to look at it before this storm kicks us out of here." Dee, a scientist specializing in Geology, said. He was an African American man, taller than McCreedy and closer to Mei's age, possibly his mid thirties. He had a wicked sense of humor that never failed to make her smile. Childs on his left was the only scientist on the compound that she didn't care for. He looked nice enough but as soon as he opened his mouth, it was usually full of nothing but negativity for the only Omnic on his team. Mei didn't like people who bullied senselessly. She glared at him a little before softening her gaze as she moved on to look at the members of her team.

Their leader, was also her squad leader, McCreedy but then there was Atlas who was a climatologist just like her, and a few years younger than her. He was shy and only an inch or so taller than her but they got along as if he were her brother. Then there was Miles and Dr. Frem, Miles studied weather and atmospheric conditions. And Dr. Frem was close to Dr. McCreedy's age, only he was an Indian man and his field of study was microbiology.

Their was also one more person on their group overall making nine of them, but it was just a normal Doctor of medicine, and she tended to keep herself amused in the med bay until someone needed to be patched up. Her name was Anne Marcos, she had red hair and blue eyes, probably one of the loveliest women that Mei had ever seen. And it helped that she was also very sweet too.

"Okay then time to break it up, we'll meet back in a few hours in the mess hall for dinner. Unless some of you decide to work late- then I'll see you at tomorrows meeting in the morning." Dr. McCreedy said and the scientists scooted away from the table and got out of their chairs to go about their research. Mei headed to her work bench in the room down the hall. It was set up with books of her notes and various tools she'd laid out to get her research complete. It was rather frustrating to have the coming storm pushing at them to hurry and leave. She still had quite a bit more work to do up here. Oh well, she could start packing now or before bed. Mmmm...later. She nodded to herself.

She'd been at the Arctic for several months, having been recruited by Overwatch. She'd gotten rather infamous for being one of the few climatologist who ventured out to explore the world, documenting her travels and studies everywhere she went. It got Overwatch's attention when they'd seen the weapon she had designed and she was excited to join them. She believed that they were trying their best to keep peace in the world and fight for a better future now that the Crisis had been averted. Not to mention all the helpful perks that came with being a freedom fighter. That never hurt.

Mei hummed a little to herself, her bot- snowball was chittering at her from its place on the table. "I'm back, I'm back- but, looks like we wont have much more time up here for a while snowball." She sighed and pulled her books into order.

"I rather liked how hesitant you were at today's meeting, Miss Zhou." Bailey's voice said from the door way.

Mei turned a little and glared at him. "I was going to finish you know, I just had to clear my throat." She huffed at him. "And what're you doing over here- this isn't your side of the compound." She reminded him in a tart voice before turning back to her tidying.

The Omnic chuckled and moved up behind her. "You know I didn't mean to unsettle you." he leaned to her side to try to see her face and she turned away from him again.

"Coulda fooled me." She brushed at her bangs then picked up her books and moved to walk away. The Omnic reached out his hand and took her shoulder, pulling her back he turned her to face him. Mei stubbornly looked away, her eyes closed and a pout on her lips.

"Miss Mei~ I'm sorry. Cant you forgive such a handsome bot?" He asked her sweetly in a soft voice as he leaned in towards her.

She tried to keep the smile from her lips but it was no use as he got so close, Mei started to giggle and she pushed at him playfully. "You really are such a jerk, Bailey." She huffed but there was a warm smile on her mouth. The climatologist then reached for his jacket and pulled him in close, she leaned up on her toes and kissed between his three eyes sweetly.

The Omnic hummed out a satisfied tone to her gesture. He slid his arms easily around her and pulled the plump woman close against his metal frame. She giggled again and rested her hands on his upper arms.

"What're you doing~?" She asked coyly.

"What do you think? I'm trying to romance you into playing with me." He snuggled in closer against her, his hands giving her a little squeeze.

"B-Bailey!" She felt her face grow warm but she didn't back away. "You're such a perverted Omnic. That cant be a code someone wrote for you." She teased him.

"Maybe I just evolved that way~" He laughed as his fingers undid the belt around her waist and let it drop to the ground.

"So its instinct then?" She giggled and kissed his face once more. He obviously liked when she did that, his hands moved under her shirt to the small of her back, he rubbed at her soft skin, feeling it through his sensors.

"My every instinct is because of you." he said in a more serious tone.

She bit her lower lip as she looked at him. "That is romantic." But Mei shook her head.

He nuzzled his face in between her face and shoulder, and Mei made a soft sound to the movement. Bailey's hand moved around from her back and down between her legs. He smoothly caressed her warm mound. Gently at first, then harder, pressing against the soft fabric of her pants. Her breathing hitched and she held him tighter, her eyes closing then looking quickly behind him.

"Wait, th-the door-!" She managed and he only seemed amused, not stopping his movements.

"I locked it."

Mei smiled at that, "Pervert." she said and then gave in to his touches.

Writer Notes:

And so I'm back, from outter space...I just walked in to find you here with that look upon yo face!

Sorry that was lame lol ^_^;

...I realize there may be quite a bit to take in, in this first chapter. I have a plan lol, never fear~ Let me know what you think so far, if you like it/hate it, I dont mind. I wont stop regardless, so no worries.