Role Model: An Overwatch Story
Disclaimer: Overwatch is a property of Blizzard Entertainment. I own nothing in this story except for Nikau may draw/use the character as long as you credit me; CaptainKodachrome as creator of the character.
My name is Nikau Smith. I'm the lead tactician for Korea's MEKA Force and a Pyrotechnic. You know DVA, right; I guide her and the MEKA Force into battle. Thanks to me and my team, we keep the East side of the world safe. When I was young, Overwatch was still around. I slept soundly knowing that Strike Commander Morrison and his team were protecting me. Unfortunately, that wasn't for long... The world started to question Overwatch's true alliance, and although I reassured myself they would survive, it wasn't meant to be... After the explosion at Volskaya and hearing of the death of Jack, I buried my fixation and appreciation for Overwatch. I took up role playing, becoming one of best players there was. In order to make my hero, Jack proud I enlisted into the New Zealand Arm Forces and soon found myself the captain of the MEKA Force. A few months later during a mission with my MEKA team, a call was made to our headquarters. It was Winston, he had issued a Call to Arms. I wanted to come to aid, but... What about the Strike Commander? If only there was a way to bring back Jack Morrison to save us. In a way, I did.
I was on temporary discharge in late winter to see my family. I still had my rucksack, with my things and weapons I had created. I had almost made it home, however, something caught my eye on a television in a store window. There was a woman talking about that famous manhunt target, Soldier: 76; he was in town. I looked at his photo for the first time, and noticed something about him. "Is that..?!" Aside from his visor; his head shape, that strong chin and body type were just right. He looked a lot like... Then the picture changed, showing live footage of the Soldier. He was taking on the local officers right down the road. This was my chance... When I got to the scene, unconcious officers littered the alley walkway and the Soldier was trying to escape by scaling the building. "Hey!" He looked to me breifly, while saying: "Sorry kid, no autographs." He reached the top and sped across the rooftops. The helicopter followed him along. I wasn't going to let him get away. Instinctively, I scaled up the building myself and followed him. He made his way onto an old Overwatch warehouse and jumped through the window, smashing the glass. The helicopter, realizing it missed it's chance at getting newsworthy footage flew away, leaving me alone with the Soldier. I jumped down after him. He had disappeared somewhere inthe warehouse.
"You've got guts, kiddo." I heard his raspy voice say. "What can I say, you've rubbed off on me, Strike Commander." I couldn't see him, but I could tell be the silence he was shocked I knew who he was. "I haven't heard anyone call me that in seven long years..." I took a step forward, looking around for any telltale signs of where he was. "Why didn't you come back?" I asked. "Jack Morrison is long dead, kid. I don't know who the hell you are, but I do know this; what I'm doing is none of your damn business. Now, run home or I'll send you home on a stretcher." He appeared from one of the lanes of equipment. "I've always wanted to meet you, but this was far from the conditions I'd hoped for..." Quickly I dove for cover as he started firing his rifle. "I warned you once kid. We all got it coming, and now's a great time to get yours." He reloaded his rifle. "Jack, you don't understand. Winston issued a call to arms. We can still fix this!" I called out from behind my cover. "I have no interest in fixing anything. All I'm interested in is bringing those responsible to justice." He fired where I had called out. "Justice will be had for those who did it in time. For now, we have to answer that call." I took off my sack, taking out my weapon; a steel-bolt crossbow customized to launch my own ember-tipped bolts. "You think this is a game, kid? Life isn't a game. It's utter hell deep down, and while you may think you're a soldier, you not even close to being a initiate." I loaded my first bolt and fired, which didn't even come close to him. My aim was always pretty bad... He fired back at me, forcing me to fall back into shadow. I quietly moved into the next lane. "I don't have time for this, kid!" He shot at the first aisle, causing each one to fall over, toppling like dominos. I was forced to come out, and while doing so fired another bolt at him. He nimbly leaned out of the way of the projectile which flew past him. It hit a crate full of glass containers holding what looked like jars filled with nanobots, spilling them everywhere as the box desintgrated from the heat of the bolt. Our weapons were aimed at each other. "If this is how our conversation ends, then let me at least know this:" I said carefully. "Why did you hide away? Why didn't you come back to save Overwatch?" He sighed, even lowering his weapon. "Overwatch couldn't be saved... If I was found to be alive, I couldn't bare the thought of Gaberiel coming after... after my team. It's all my fault..." I stepped closer, lowering my crossbow. "No. No, this wasn't your fault. Reaper and Talon are to blame... And we can still get them, but we must answer Winston's call. If not for Overwatch itself, then for the team and the world." "I suppose you're right, kid." To my complete surprise, he took off his visor. His face had been badly scraped and bruised from the explosion, even after seven long years.
"What were you even coming here for?" I asked him. "Biotic Field recharges. I'm going to need lots of them for my next mission." He started picking up the glass containers and placing them on his straps and belt. They fit snugly in the straps. "You're stealing from your own organization?" I was surprised. "It's not stealing if it was mine to begin with." He said, bluntly. "Well I can't argue with that." I said, handing him a few of the recharges which had been dropped. We both left the warehouse. "What's next?" I asked. "Los Muertos has a hold of some powerful weapons in Dorado. I stopped here first to get my provisions before taking them on." He said. "Well, let's get going then Commander Morrison; this world still needs you." "You're the Boss." Soldier said with a smile before putting his visor back on. "Wrong, I'm the Tactician."