OVERWATCH

PROLOGUE

Overwatch HQ, Switzerland, 2076

"Believe me Jack, it grieves me to think this could be the end."

Jack Morrison smiles and nods, though there is no joy in the expression. I never wanted to be the one to tell them, but I knew it would come down to it. The Blackwatch unit (though publically Overwatch itself) had been accused of various Crimes Against Humanity. While the specifics were kept relatively quiet from the public, including the very existence of Blackwatch, the big heads at the UN knew everything, and popularity of Overwatch was plummeting rapidly. It became harder and harder to endorse their activities without scrutiny, without outcry. Even giving them funding seemed to anger everyone. Jack understands. How could he not? He'd seen the protests himself, had been forced to take action.

He isn't alone here though. Other members of Overwatch remain silent in the Commander's Office, large as the Oval Office in the White House, and quite reminiscent. Captain Gabriel Reyes, Crusader Reinhardt Wilhelm, Doctor Angela Ziegler, Agents Genji Shimada and Jesse McCree (who doubled as a Blackwatch agent), and Lead Engineer Torbjörn Lindholm all keep their silence, or maybe they're just unsure what to say. 'The Vets' they were called, and the most respected of them all. I respected all of them myself. I know them all personally as friends. Why did they make me come to tell them? To make it easier, or harder? I tap my fingers on my suitcase in front of me on the desk while the noiseless atmosphere grows tense.

"Thank you, Edrich." I hear Doctor Ziegler's voice break the brief silence. She'd been in the unit for a long time, though her age was almost impossible to discern. "I think I speak for everyone when I say we all appreciate you coming to tell us in such haste." Her accent is light, all but invisible to myself, a fellow Swiss.

"Yes," I hear Commander Reyes begin, "thanks for being so quick to put us under. We really appreciate it."

"Secure that, Gabriel." Jack says, stern and commanding.

Reyes gives him a poisonous look. "Excuse my intrusion, Sir." There was little respect in the word. "Permission to speak freely."

Jack hesitates and looks at me, and I shrug. "Go ahead."

The Captain wastes no time. "Why are you letting them do this, Jack? Disband us so easily? If I were still in charge, this would mean war, not rolling over."

"Zen perhaps," begins the big one, called Reinhardt, whose accent is as thick as his chest, "we are to be grateful that you aren't in charge."

"Need we remind you, Gabriel, that your Unit's actions are the reason behind the recent controversies surrounding us all?" Genji, the usually silent Cyborg, was notorious for speaking sense when needed, and here it is sorely welcomed.

Reyes is quick to fire back. "That's hilarious coming from a Shimada, and an Omnic besides. Need I remind you of what your own kind has done?"

Though the Ninja's features are hidden, it is apparent this cut deep. His silence speaks too much to be unheard.

Jack thinks this has gone too far, and he's right. "That's enough, Reyes."

"No sir, it isn't enough. It won't be enough until this is fixed, until we're allowed to be who we are. Until we're Heroes again, and not Criminals."

McCree puts a hand on Reyes' shoulder. "Cap, calm down. This ain't the right way to handle this."

"I second that!" The dwarf, Torbjörn, calls out, raising his bionic arm. He hops down from the chair he was sat in, clearly meant for a bigger person. "Perhaps we should settle this with a few drinks." Reinhardt hoots in agreement and they are permitted leave by Jack with a sigh. I could go for a few hard ones myself, I think.

Reyes turns to McCree, anger clearly incapable of leaving him. "And what way should we handle this, Scoundrel? Don't tell me you've gotten soft. Should we send your useless hide back to the heap we pulled you out of?"

McCree hits him, full in the face, his own bionic hand clearly capable of dealing a severe blow. "You done?" He asks as Reyes composes himself. "Cus I don't think I need many more excuses to do that again. 'Scoundrel' was strike three, already."

Reyes eyes his former subordinate with contempt, wiping his mouth of blood. He looks at the red smear on his hand. "And how many is that for you now?" Reyes raises a fist, but Jack and Genji intervene before he can throw it. Doctor Ziegler is not in the fray, though she has found herself a seat to remain in, her head in her hands. Insanity.

McCree laughs. "Go on, let him go. Let's see what he's got."

Morrison separates himself from the struggle and pushes a finger into McCree's chest "You shut your mouth, Jesse. You're not making this any better." McCree thinks on that, and goes silent.

By now the room has calmed down, for the most part. Reyes still looks angry, but he's regained his patience. Jack turns back to them all. "This is getting out of hand," he begins, pinching the bridge of his nose, "we can further discuss our course of action tomorrow, fourteen-hundred hours sharp. Someone go tell Rein and Torb the same thing. Everyone but Reyes is dismissed."

With that, the Ninja, the Doctor, and the Cowboy leave the room. Reyes, Jack, and myself remain. "You can go too Ed. Thanks for coming." He offers a hand, and I take it, shaking once.

"I'm truly sorry for the news I have brought you today." I say, but the words are meaningless. "I can only hope for the best for you all." I leave, empty handed, empty hearted.

I close the door on my way out, and I barely make it down the hall before the shouting between them begins again. I am truly sorry for what I have done today. Forgive me.

I hear the shouting get louder, grunts and sounds of violence begin to echo muffled through the hall. It is not my place to intervene. Even if I could.

The shockwave rocks through the air from behind me, knocking me to the floor. I gasp for air and turn, my glasses shattered. Everything is a dark blur. I hear alarms blair and fire crackle, the distant sound of more explosions shaking the very structure of the building to the core. Shouts of emergency personnel follow shortly afterward. What is this? I have little time to think before smoke fills the air and I lose consciousness.