Mac Joulwan sifted through his text covered papers pretending he was refreshing his mind in front of his attentive audience. Keeping an increasingly distracted generation of young people glued to late night television was no easy feat, but Mac had survived for decades on the husks of war heroes turned celebrities. He had a knack for turning even the most grizzled fighter into a passionate teen heart throb. Mac remembered the first time a veteran had appeared on his show. The year was 2056, and the Omnic Crisis was finally closing out. Although few could predict the social issues which would stem from the end of the Crisis, people were relieved, jubilant even, and more importantly, they were looking for someone to thank. Two dozen phone calls later and a fistful of UN and Overwatch employees ticked off, and a boisterous Reinhardt Wilhelm was eager to chat with Mac about the end of the war. Such a hulking yet humble man couldn't have been easier to sell to the public. The worldwide fan response was so overwhelmingly positive other Overwatch agents couldn't be kept off Mac's stage no matter what a disgruntled Commander Morrison said. Those were thrilling days. Mac's popularity skyrocketed along with Overwatch. So when the media started crying that a second Omnic Crisis was throttling up, Mac couldn't have been happier. Now the next generation war heroes were young, hot, and already celebrities!

Mac's golden brown eyes caught the stage lights as he looked to his awaiting patrons. Tonight was a big night. The fashion police were there in force, fangirls and fanboys alike could barely contain themselves, and even the older generations carefully watched to see what kind of hero their children were relying upon. This would be Miss Hana Song's first appearance on Mac's late night show. Everyone and their robot mother had tuned in to see this little lady swoon the crowds.

With a flash of his pearly teeth and an affluent gleam in his eye that King Solomon would have envied, Mac rose from his chair. The audience might have ripped the upholstering from the seats had he not promptly spoke. "Tonight, I have a very special guest who needs no introduction…" Mac could have sworn that his audience had left through an airlock. "I'm sure we're all very familiar with her by now. Please help me in welcoming… Hana Song!"

If his stage was a battlefield, Mac would have ducked for cover. The roar of applause from the audience as the legendary DVa appeared on stage left a palpable shockwave. Mac looked to his left, still beaming. Miss Song was wearing a gown that would have made her look like a Disney princess were it not for the neon light trails which intensified as the dress pinched at her hips and led up to her neck line. Whoever was controlling Hana's wardrobe was truly making something for the fashionistas to ogle. The shining Korean super star smiled timidly at the adoring crowd. Of course, everyone had to look at her hair once they had encapsulated the beauty of her face. A single, long braid trailed over her head and down her cheeks. The intricate braiding was complemented by a flowering bun at the back of her head. Truthfully, it was impossible to get any sort of indication of the audience's reaction to these stylish elements; they were way too hyped!

Hana excitedly shook Mac's extended hand as they exchanged some unheard pleasantries. In the disorienting hullabaloo, Mac gently directed Miss Song to her seat, and they both sat down, eager to start a conversation. The audience however, wasn't quite ready and continued their clamor. In the brief respite, Mac gave DVa a good look over. If he were twenty years younger, she would've been a real bombshell. He thought it a bit unscrupulous to make a nineteen-year-old, military girl the world's most renowned sex symbol, but he had seen worse. Finally, Mac turned to the crowd, put on his serious face, and motioned for them to be quiet.

As he returned his gaze to Hana, Mac smiled gently and rubbed his chin. He chuckled softly before saying, "So, you're finally here."

Hana smiled. "I am," she said receiving a few hoots from the crowd.

Mac folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. "I was talking with you backstage, and I realized we actually meant to have you on the show sooner."

"That's right," Hana said in agreement, "I guess going undefeated for three years catches some attention."

Mac laughed. "So, DVa the StarCraft champion…" Mac cautiously glanced to his side. "Ya know, StarCraft was created before I was even born," he said in a deceptively low voice.

Miss Song giggled. "Seems like it holds up a little better than you do," she said confidently.

Mac placed a hand on his desk and the other on his heart as if he were offended. He looked to the audience in shock. The fans laughed and hollered; they were in love. "I see your knack for witty remarks has not been exaggerated," he said, recomposing himself. Hana had a sly smile ready for him. "But you know," Mac continued, "I'm actually glad you're visit was delayed."

"Oh?" DVa said, perking up, "Why's that?"

"Well," Mac said, "Now I not only get to interview a gaming popstar, but a war hero too." DVa blushed slightly, and the crowd cheered. "And you know this show has a long history of having war heroes as guests."

"Oh, yes," Hana said as she tugged at the hem of her dress, "My agents wouldn't stop reminding me on the drive over."

"It's not very often I get to interview a participant in an ongoing conflict," Mac said, softening his tone, "If you don't mind my asking, could you tell us a little about what's going on in Korea?"

"Of course," DVa said. She swallowed. "As you've probably heard, last year MEKA lost control of its drone-control network during an attack by the colossal omnic from the sea." Mac nodded. "I remember getting a call shortly thereafter, and I was flown out for MEKA training the next day. I think the whole MEKA unit was assembled and trained within the span of 72 hours."

"Wow, that's quite a feat," Mac replied.

"Mhmm, it is," Miss Song said.

"I wonder," Mac continued, "You're here, so the defense operation must have been successful." He tilted his head.

Hana put on a proud smirk. "Well, the omnic is back in the sea, but the fight's not over."

"Ah, that's right," he said, realization coming into his face, "I hear you're touring around the world looking for new talent to help MEKA take the fight to this undersea threat."

"Yes, I am," Hana replied, "MEKA needs bright minds and brave people. The drones we use were never designed to go underwater, but we can't let the omnics have that safehold any longer."

"Well, that's awesome," Mac said with a smile, "Really glad to have you on the show today!" He turned to the camera. "We'll have lots more from DVa when we come back! Don't go anywhere!" He pointed at the audience as the camera cut away, and the channel went to commercial.

Hana leaned over to Mac. "It's feels really good to be back in America… and not for a gaming tournament."

"Ah, I know what you mean," Mac said, "I went to Europe recently with my family, and it's nothing like it was before the Crisis. We've been really lucky here."

"Speaking of family," Hana added, "I believe I met your daughter backstage. She is the most precious thing I have ever seen."

Mac chuckled. "Yes, she adores you. If you asked her back to Korea with you, I don't think I could stop her."

DVa laughed. "Careful, I might just do that."

"Ay, Mac," a voice called out from camera side, "One minute 'till we're live."

Mac nodded. "My producer keeps telling me I shouldn't talk about war or ex-Overwatch agents. He thinks that I'm going to piss off some group of activists, but every time I do talk about those things, the ratings get a boost."

"I get the same kind of attitude," Hana said, "People don't think a nineteen-year-old should be on the front lines."

"Hey," Mac quietly said, "When we go back on, I'm going to ask a few questions about Overwatch. Is that alright with you?"

"Oh, of course," Hana happily replied.

"Alright," Mac said, a big smile overtaking his face. Just a moment more passed before the camera men were waving their fingers. Lights flickered, and the audience began applauding on que. Once more the camera swung around and focused on Mac and his guest. "Welcome back!" he said with obvious joy, "I'm here with our guest, DVa." He turned to Hana.

"Hi!" she chirped.

"We were just talking about my daughter," Mac said, "Huge fan of yours."

"Mhmm, I could tell," Hana replied with a smile.

"Actually…" Mac got a mischievous grin on his face. "I probably shouldn't do this, but… let me tell you a secret."

"Oh," Hana said, "Ok."

"I remember a few weeks ago my daughter came to me in a fuss," Mac said. Miss Song gave him a reprimanding look. "Now, don't worry," he said, "Embarrassing my daughter on public television is the norm for me."

Hana giggled. "Okay," she said, waving it off.

"Anyways," Mac continued, "She came to me, and I asked her, I said, 'What's wrong?' Well, she says, 'Oh, dad, it's just too awful!'" Mac imitated his daughter in a very prim and proper voice. "And I asked again, 'What sweetheart?' You won't believe her response." Hana nodded, listening intently. "Then she said, 'DVa said Lúcio and her are just friends.'" Mac laughed, and the audience did too. Hana also laughed. Observing her, Mac saw that DVa's makeup artist was using just enough blush to catch the light. "I think she really likes the idea of the two of you together."

DVa cooed. "Well, he's a little bit older than I am so…"

"We'll see?" Mac asked.

"Yes," Hana replied, "We'll see."

Mac nodded and moved on. "Ya know, I wanted to ask you… I mentioned that I like to have war heroes on the show. You're no exception to that, but what do you make of these rumors that Overwatch is coming back together."

Hana paused for a moment like she was unsure if she should say anything. "I think it's great," she huffed with passion, "that people are so committed to protecting others that they won't let anything stop them."

"I agree," Mac said wholeheartedly, "But I almost wonder if there's a hidden agenda to these rumors."

Hana gave him a curious glance. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I hear about ex-Overwatch agents doing good all the time. What's the point of reorganizing if it's just going to brand these heroes as criminals? Part of me thinks the rumors could be targeted in order to remove some of these ex-agents from play."

"Well, then somebody'd better make Overwatch legal again," DVa said. The audience gave a hearty round of applause.

"That's a pretty bold statement," Mac replied. He rested his head on his hands. "They really weren't kidding about your intense personality."

Hana nodded respectfully. "Aww, thanks."

Mac grabbed his papers. "I'm not entirely sure that was a compliment."

Miss Song smirked. "I'll take it."

Mac laughed. "Well, it's been great having you on the show today, DVa!" Mac raised his voice over the increasingly noisy crowd. He once again shook Hana's hand.

"It's been my pleasure," she replied.

"Don't go away. I'll be right back with a special guest here to unveil his new film. That's right, you know who I'm talking about! It's gonna be a great night, so stay tuned." The audience cheered and hooted as the camera faded out.

Hana nestled into the satin cushions of her seat as she nibbled on some trashy American tacos. The blessed mixture of saturated fat and body-hugging upholstery had Miss Song nearly comatose. She would have forgotten where she was were it not for the gentle whirring of the helicopter's blades overhead. Even during her express training in the Korean military, she had never been treated with such luxury. All the formality and routines were getting to her; she wanted her personality to guide this assignment. Her unstoppable attitude would be the deciding factor in recruiting help for MEKA. Hana reached back and pulled a pin from her hair, letting her bun loose.

A smooth, male voice sounded over the coms. "Everything alright back there, Miss Song?"

"Mmmm," DVa slowly replied, wiping a dab of grease from her lips, "Everything's great."

"Good," the pilot replied, "Shouldn't be much longer. I know General Howard is awaiting your arrival. He's been..." Suddenly, the man's voice was cut off. DVa heard another sound echoing quietly in the background like another transmission was coming through. "Uh… sorry, Miss Song, looks like we're being rerouted. This might take a bit more time than expected."

Hana put down her food and sighed. "How much longer?" she asked expectantly.

"Um…" There was a peculiar moment of silence, grabbing Hana's attention. "Holy hell, what is that?" the pilot cried.

DVa turned to the window to see blood red lasers starkly contrasting the black night sky. As Hana gazed at the mesmerizing light show, one beam tilted towards the helicopter. She didn't need to take a second look to know what would happen next. DVa tucked her feet in just before the laser tore through the cabin, splaying through her tacos. Shredded lettuce and greasy chunks of meat sizzled and glowed and burst into flames as they were flung into the air. Hana felt the heat of the destructive weapon on her skin, and she caught the sterile scent of melted plastic and metal. Although the laser had penetrated the cabin, the helicopter was still in one piece. Hana then heard the pilot yell from the cockpit.

"Engines offline! Mayday! Mayday! This is blackbird four reporting a complete system failure! We're going to crash! Eh, strap yourself in Miss Song!"

DVa grabbed the emergency belt and prepared for the most intense spike of adrenaline she had ever experienced in her short, nineteen-year life. Her hair stood on end; she had never felt this close to death, even during the Korean defense campaign. The helicopter wobbled and sputtered. The once sound-reduced cabin now resounded with howling wind and scraping metal. Hana briefly had a sense of plummeting and shut her eyes. Surprisingly enough, she barely felt the drop or the impact.

When Hana came to, there was a painful throbbing in her ears. As she regained awareness, she felt water rippling over her face. She retracted from the wet sensation before any fluids got into her nose, and her hands pressed deeply into the goopy sand underneath the waves. Hana looked down at the shallow pool that nearly submerged her. Reflected in the dark water, she saw her own face illuminated by the flaming debris around her. She looked cut, bruised, and uncharacteristically afraid. Hana shook her head, hoping the fear would somehow shake off like a spat of dirt. It didn't.

Then Hana got the most intense spike of adrenaline she had ever experienced in her short, nineteen-year life. Her ear first caught the sensation: the sound of rushing water against groaning metal, a sound she recognized. Her body rocked, and the earth shook with the slam of metal on the ground. Then there was bright light, and there was a screaming metal noise like something out of a Japanese monster film. DVa turned over, shielding her face from the blinding light. She could barely see it; the enshrouded figure of a colossal omnic towered over Hana's tiny frame.

DVa instinctively slapped her wrist, but there was no familiar click. She wasn't wearing her mech call device. Hana looked up in absolute shock. As terror filled her being, her face contorted unnaturally. The omnic screeched, and a steel serpent arm dove towards Hana. Metal plates grated against each other as the winding arm came at her like a train. Sharp appendages opened at the arm's tip to slice DVa apart. Hana only caught a glimpse of the shimmering blades as they zeroed in on her face.

DVa woke up completely soaked. Sweat trickled down her body, releasing a tingling chill on her boiling hot skin. She inhaled haphazardly, and before she could get a handle on what had just happened, she started crying. Her eyes burned as each drop escaped and rolled down her face, leaving a salty flavor on her puffy lips. She quickly buried her head in her arms for shame. Hana had no patience for this silliness. Despite her best efforts, the tears continued to flow. She shook her head. There was no reason to feel such anxiety over a meaningless dream, she reasoned. With a growl, she threw off her covers in frustration.

Hana leapt out of bed, hoping some late night activity would provide some respite. She stepped toward the dimly lit window of her New York hotel room. The gentle glow rising from the city streets was calming. The yellowish light only betrayed a hint of her pink underwear subtly complementing her pale skin. She was safe here, but her fight was far from finished. Once the last of her tears had fallen, Hana let out a groan of derision. She plopped down to sit cross-legged on the floor.

To her it seemed that all her critics' mistrust had been confirmed tonight. The pressure of protecting her homeland from such a large distance away was insurmountable. Time was draining fast, and Korea was running out of options. If the colossal omnic could knock out drone communications, surely it could find a way to overpower their piloted mechs. The solution was simple yet impossible. All DVa had to do was recruit the personnel necessary to launch an effective underwater assault that could end the colossal omnic for good. Despite that, DVa barely knew where to start. Genius engineers wouldn't just line up to help. The omnic problem wasn't isolated to Korea, and people had their own countries to worry about. DVa huffed and let her face rest against the window, and she remained in that position for what seemed like hours. This was one dilemma that her passionate personality couldn't solve. Then the phone rang.

At first, Hana was startled. Calls were a scarcity for her, especially at this time of night. She figured it was just a mistaken number, so she left it alone. After an eighth ring, the phone was silent. Hana sighed, but then the phone rang again… and again. Eventually she gave in, got off the floor, and grabbed the receiver.

She tapped the button.

"Hello, Miss Song," a modulated voice spoke.

"Who is this?" Hana asked in earnest.

"A concerned third party," replied the voice.

"What do you want?" she asked.

"What I'd want to know is why a bounty has been placed on a nineteen-year-old, Korean girl."

"What?" Hana cried.

"I'd start packing if I were you."