Author's Note

Hello everyone! This is my brand new fanfic, after the cancellation of my previous fanfic Overwatch Rising. I decided to make this because the topic, unlike Overwatch Rising, is a ways away. Though I'm not sure how far it is exactly, I'm sure I'll be able to finish this before the real thing happens. I want to see how this stacks up to what happens in canon when that comes.

As you can tell. This is about the deprogramming of Widowmaker, regaining her old personality as Amélie Lacroix, and then joining with Overwatch out of a desire for both revenge against Talon for they made her do, and redemption for the countless atrocities she committed.

For the record, this story assumes the reinstated Overwatch has been active for a while, and have recruited new members among them. The top brass of Overwatch at this point consist of Winston, Tracer, Genji, McCree, Mercy, Torbjörn, and Reinhardt; them being the seven that were part of the recalled Overwatch. Additionally, they've been joined by Lúcio, D. Va, Zenyatta, Pharah, and Bastion.

This takes place after a battle between Overwatch and Talon, where Widowmaker was at. In the resulting fight, Widowmaker lost and was knocked unconscious. Just as everyone debated over the idea of killing her or imprisoning her, Winston stepped in with an idea of his own. He learned what Talon was capable of, and realized that his old friend did not betray Overwatch willingly.

Winston worked for hours, days, and weeks on end trying to develop a way to deprogram her, all while Widowmaker was screaming to be let go. Despite pressure to give up, stating that it was a lost cause, Winston continued, always saying "Do you think I would give up on you?". Eventually, he created a machine that cancels the effects of mind-alteration.

Our story begins with Amélie waking up after a deep sleep, about ten hours after the procedure was complete. She was blindfolded to protect her eyes, so she can't see what is happening, and believes she just had a very bad dream. She is in for a nasty surprise.

Now without further ado, let's get on with the story.

Awakening

Two weeks ago…

Switzerland

A fierce battle had just finished between Overwatch and Talon. It was over a database hidden in the mountains of Switzerland. The base held an innumerable amount of data that Talon stored within their systems. It was a hellish fight to say the least. Everyone there had to give it their all, and Talon fought back with equal strength. Ultimately, it proved to be mostly for naught. The resulting chaos led to the database exploding, preventing Overwatch from gathering said data.

Most of it, anyways.

Winston could gather just enough from before the explosion to learn that Talon had a program of reshaping innocent civilians into being their minions. From there, he learned that his old friend, Amélie Lacroix, did not betray Overwatch willingly. This changed everything.

Just when they escaped the ruins of the base, they encountered the unconscious body of their most dangerous assassin, Widowmaker. Having been defeated in battle by Tracer, with the help of D. Va. The members of Overwatch gathered together and debated what they should do with her.

There were talks of execution or imprisonment, but Winston stepped in with his own idea.

"That was our friend, Amélie deserves a second chance." Winston said.

"To do what? Betray us again?" McCree said with a tone of anger.

"She had no choice!"

"Do you realize how many men we've lost to this woman?" Torbjörn said.

"I know, but she wouldn't ever dream of it if she could." Winston said. "It's complicated, so I'll explain this in the easiest way possible. She's brainwashed!"

Everyone looked at him with confusion. They had never heard of this, and Winston was just now telling about how she was brainwashed. She murdered countless innocents, while enjoying every moment of it. Gérard had always been a victim of Amélie revealing her true allegiance to Talon. Winston knew he had to speak up. He was going to make a controversial decision as the leader of Overwatch, and many will hate it.

"We'll bring her back to our base, heavily restrained of course." Winston said. "I've found evidence that suggests they altered her mind to turn her into what she is today. Amélie was one of the nicest people I've ever met, she would never betray us willingly."

"That's exactly what she'd want you to think." McCree said.

"Do you have proof for this, big guy?" Tracer asked.

"I did, but it kinda got blown up."

"Great! We have nothing but a hunch to go on." Torbjörn said.

"But I know it's true."

"You know," Lúcio said. "You might want to listen to the big guy. People can do some crazy stuff when their mind has been altered."

"I sense within her a broken mind. And a broken mind leads to a broken life." Zenyatta said.

"That's a surprise coming from you." McCree said. "She was the one who killed your brother, after all."

"But he is right." Genji said. "I too sense a duality within her."

Winston adjusted his glasses. At the rate this was going, they'll just be standing around accomplishing nothing. The closer Widowmaker gets to waking up, the worse they can be. Winston stood upright, making him look opposing to everyone else.

"I don't normally like doing this, but as the leader of Overwatch, I command that we bring Amélie back for deprogramming. You don't have to like it, but that is my command."

McCree crossed his arms. "Getting comfortable with the whole 'leader' thing, huh?"

D. Va wasn't familiar with the situation, having barely been in her teens by the time Overwatch collapsed. But she knew what Widowmaker said to her. Something that made her feel uncomfortable on the inside when they fought.

"I do not have pity, even towards children like yourself."

She looked at Winston with a strong gaze.

"You better be right about you're saying, Winston."

Winston nodded. "I know I am. It's settled, everyone get back to the ship. I'll take care of this. Except for you Tracer, I need something else from you."

"What is that?"

"Amélie has a Talon aircraft in the hanger. Do you think you can pilot it back for us? It might be useful."

Winston handed Tracer the keycard to operate the ship. Tracer looked up to him and nodded.

"Consider it done!"

Winston approached Widowmaker as she lied on the ground. He was saddened, but hoped things would get better. He took out a device. Once turned on, it wrapped around Widowmaker's body to ensure she couldn't escape. He carried Widowmaker into their ship, and they took off to Overwatch's new headquarters.

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Two weeks passed since the battle between Overwatch and Talon. Winston spent as many hours as he could trying to deprogram Amélie's brainwashing. The whole time, he had to deal with her screaming to be let go, which pained him. As the days passed, the members of Overwatch, namely McCree, Mercy, Torbjörn, and many more, told him that it was a lost cause, and that he should give up.

That was the last thing he would ever do.

Eventually, Winston's hard work came into fruition. He created a machine that he called the 'Deprogrammer'. It was the best he could come up with in such a short time, so it had to do. Amélie, or rather, Widowmaker resisted with all the might she could. But in her binds, she was no match for a gorilla. He knocked her out with a dose of sleeping gas, and then brought her into the machine.

Winston blindfolded her to protect her eyes from the various flashing lights for when he operates. The Deprogrammer injected itself into the back of her neck. Winston now had a link to her mind. After spending hours working on her, careful not to damage the contents of her brain, Winston was certain that Amélie was back.

The process ended, Winston carried her to a hospital bed. There was rest needed, both for her and for him.

"Athena, wake me when you need me."

"Understood." Athena said.

Winston left the room, retreating to a bed to take a much-needed nap. He hoped, or rather, prayed, that Amélie would be there. He couldn't even begin to imagine how much guilt she would feel if she retains her memories, but he'll be there to comfort her on the way through.

Five hours later…

The members of Overwatch gathered together. They were told by Athena that Amélie would awake soon. Each sat on a couch or chair, discussion what the future holds.

"You really think she's been brainwashed?" McCree said. "Never believed in such a thing."

"Winston was so sure of it." Tracer said. "We'll just have to see."

"I won't be so quick to forgive her." D. Va said. "She took so many lives in cold blood, you can't erase that."

"What is there to forgive if it wasn't her fault?" Lúcio asked. "There good in everyone, you gotta believe!"

"For many years, I thought she killed my mother. She forced her to end her time in Overwatch in disgrace." Pharah said. "It's going to take more than a mere apology to set things right, you will see that."

"Haven't you ever heard? Forgive and forget! I think her guilt will be enough to deal with, we don't need to make things worse!" Reinhardt said.

"Forgive and forget? That's how she turns the knife on you when you least expect." Torbjörn said.

"One must always open they're mind, especially if their own was diluted." Zenyatta said.

Mercy sighed. "Winston better be right about what he said. I do not wish to be betrayed by her a second time."

Genji placed his hand on her shoulder. "I have faith in Winston, you should too."

They spoke little for the next few minutes. Then Winston entered the room, appearing to be in a rush.

"Everyone, come with me! Amélie has awoken."

They stood and followed him, without speaking a word.

"Alright everyone, I need you all to be on your best behavior. Amélie will most likely be in a state of shock, and we all need to comfort her."

All the members entered the room. Amélie still had her blindfold on, spoke weakly. She appeared confused, wondering why she was here. Winston stood on the right of her bed, while everyone else stood at the end of the room in front of her. They didn't know what to make of it.

Winston smiled.

"Welcome home, Amélie."

"That voice… it sounds all too familiar."

"It's me, Winston. I'll guide you through this, and be there when you need me."

Winston untied Amélie's blindfold. She blinked several times, looking at the crowd of people on the end of the room, each looked at her blankly. Then she looked at Winston, managing a smile.

"How could I ever forget you? You always were a true gentleman."

"Yes… thanks for the compliment."

"I am so glad you're here. I feel like I have had the longest nightmare… I did things that I would never dream of doing. I dreamed that I took the lives of countless innocents, including Gérard. Speaking of which, where is he? I am sure he wants to see me."

Winston paused. He had no idea what he was supposed to say. He looked back at the agents, most of whom also looked uncomfortable.

"Why is everyone looking like that? Gérard will be so happy to see me. It feels like it has been a very long time."

Even more nervous. Winston struggled to find the right words. There was no easy way to explain to her what happened. Amélie extended her hand from out of the blanket, and then saw in horror of what was in front of her.

Blue skin. Her forearm had tattoos, which read as 'nightmare' and 'evening spider', written to a sinister style. Amélie's eyes widened in horror as she looked at herself, realizing that her nightmares were true. A tear shed down her right eye.

"What have I done?" Amélie said, barely mustering the will to speak.

More tears. She couldn't hold back anymore as she broke down. Amélie cried relentlessly, feeling an extreme amount of guilt from the horrible acts she committed, all while enjoying every moment of it.

"Forgive me, Gérard…"

Winston hugged her tightly as she cried on his shoulder. After several minutes, Amélie allowed herself to breathe again.

"What have I done?" Amélie repeatedly said to herself. "What kind of monster have I become?"

"You're not a monster." Winston said in a soft tone.

"I never imagined that I would be capable of causing so much harm. I've killed so many people, more than I can count. Innocent people, with families, those with loved ones that looked up to them. Then I smiled, feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. How could I do this?"

"It wasn't your fault." Winston said. "You weren't yourself; you didn't have a choice."

"But it is my fault. They tortured me until I gave up, until I surrendered myself because I wanted an end. If I were a stronger person, none of this would've happened. A better person would've been able to resist. I know Gérard would. Besides, I still did it, and that is all that matters."

The agents had different emotions in reaction to the event. Reinhardt, D. Va, Mercy, Tracer, and Lúcio were saddened by what they saw. D. Va may have been angered by her actions, but it was hard to stay mad at her after seeing this. McCree, Torbjörn, and Pharah were less forgiving of her sob story, however. Genji and Zenyatta stood there, stoically watching everything unfold.

The rest of the night was spent by Amélie crying on Winston's shoulder, until she ran out of energy and fell back asleep from the exhaustion. After everything was over, they left to sleep themselves. There was a long day ahead of them tomorrow, as there was still an organization to run.

But, if all goes well, they may have found their newest member.