My first day away from the front. It was strange to get a full night's sleep. No alarms woke me, no men and women screamed for backup to repulse an attack, nothing.

I used to not be able to sleep on planes, but after spending so much time at the front, I found myself suddenly able to knock out anywhere without any trouble. The only thing that woke me was the plane banking as it came in for a landing. It felt strange being the only passenger on this massive cargo plane.

"Don't mean to bother you, but we're coming in for a landing," the pilot called from the cockpit.

"Not a problem," I said. "Just be sure to get back to Siberia as quick as you can."

"Once we gas up, it's wheels up, don't you worry."

"And kill an Omnic for me," I said.

"We will kill five for you," the pilot laughed. The plane bounced as it landed, and it quickly came to a stop. The cargo doors were quick to open; the pilots were used to landing under fire, where speed was everything. You landed quick, you jumped out quick, you took off quick. I unclipped my bags and quickly checked my particle cannon before picking it all up.

The sun was bright, and not just because we were closer to the equator. There wasn't any dust or debris in the air, no signs of battle or of war. Being away from the front felt strange. I knew that out there, the Omnics were getting stronger, and I was here, getting weaker.

That all faded when I saw the men and women standing in front of me.

I couldn't believe it. I was meeting more than my heroes, I was meeting legends. And I would be working with them.

Four people were walking onto the tarmac. Two were women about my age; one looked Middle Eastern, the other obviously European. They walked with an old, gray woman, and an old man with scars on his face was leading them. It took me a second to realize it was Jack Morrison, back from the dead.

"Sir." I dropped my bags, but gently set my cannon down. I also made sure I was speaking English. "Are…are you Commander Jack Morrison?"

"Not so sure I'm a Commander now, but that's me," he said.

Unbelievable. Jack Morrison, in the flesh.

"I didn't know you were alive, sir."

"I've been getting that a lot," he grinned.

"Is that another dead woman there?" I asked, looking at the old woman to his side. Her hair was completely gray, and she wore an eye patch over her right eye. "Begging your pardon, but you resemble Ana Amari."

"That's because I am," the woman smiled. "You'll be working with a lot of ghosts here."

"Ma'am, it's an honor to meet you."

"At ease, soldier. You're not on parade duty, you can relax," Morrison said.

"Thank you, sir. I…I can't believe I'm seeing such legends here."

"Better get used to it, you're our big gift from the Russian Defense Force."

"Yes sir. Aleksandra Zaryanova, reporting for duty."

"Zaryanova, you say?"

"You can call me Zarya, sir. Everyone does."

"Then it's an honor to meet you, Zarya," Morrison said. He offered his hand, and I shook it. This was the man who built Overwatch from the ground up, who saved the world. "We already told your commander over the radio, but we're beyond grateful for Russia's decision to withdraw their support from the Pertas Act. That saved our ass right there. The politicians in the UN will be arguing what to do with us for at least a year."

"It is the Russian belief that the world still needs heroes, sir."

"My, do they have that right," the European woman laughed. I blinked; she looked familiar.

"Aren't you supposed to have a halo?" I asked.

"Normally I do," Angela Ziegler laughed. "But we were in the middle of cleaning. My halo could wait."

"It's an honor to meet all of you," I said. I turned to the Middle Eastern woman. "I'm sorry, but I don't recognize you."

"Don't worry, I wasn't a member of Overwatch," the Middle Eastern woman said. "Not officially, anyways. I am Fareeha Amari."

"Amari? Are you…is that your mother?"

"She is," Fareeha said. "Nice to meet you."

"Let's get you inside so we can brief you," Morrison said.

"Here, let me take your bags," Fareeha said.

"It is fine, they are heavy," I said. I was already picking them up, but she offered a hand.

"You just got here, and had a long flight. Please, let me lend you a hand."

"I am not joking when I said they are heavy."

"Does it look like I'm a pushover?" Fareeha laughed. She was in good shape; excellent shape, even. But I still didn't think she could carry all of my gear.

Still, she still kept a hand out. Might as well let her see what she would get herself into.

"Alright," I said with a shrug. I handed her one bag, and she nearly fell over.

"Fuck! What do you have in here?" The weight nearly pulled her over.

"All of my combat gear," I said. "It tends to get a little heavy."

"Careful, Fareeha, you know she was a champion bodybuilder," Angela laughed. "'Heavy' for her means 'impossible' for us."

"I can see that," Fareeha groaned.

"Don't lift with your back, lift with your legs," Angela said.

"Da, your posture is all wrong."

"If you know how to lift this, maybe you can take one," Fareeha said to Angela.

"Please, I've done my fair share of lifting. I've carried this team more times than I can count."

Than nearly made me drop my cannon.

"Ha ha! Mercy is not too merciful, is she?" I laughed.

"If only you knew the half of it," Morrison roared.

"Here, take it," Fareeha groaned, meagerly holding the bag out. I grabbed it and threw it over my shoulder. The weight was reassuring.

"Come on, let's get you inside and situated," Jack said.

I took one last look at the plane as we headed inside. Crews were already moving to fill the plane up.

My home was destroyed. A massive explosion had turned the garden into a crater, the house into scrap. Only the farthest wall remained. It swayed in the wind, threatening to tip over. Smoke and dust filled the air, and the sharp smell of fire was everywhere.

They were going back to the fight, to kick the Omnics back. They would be getting stronger while I would be getting weaker.

No. Get a grip. Control yourself. You have your orders: pull Overwatch back into the Omnic Crisis. That won't be done today, or even a week from now. The General said it would be a long game, but a worthy one. Russia must never fall.

"Sorry for the dust, but we're just getting back on our feet," Morrison said as he led us in. "Winston is working up a storm to get everything spic and span, and we're all there with him."

"I am used to a little dust," I said. It meant more maintenance on my cannon, but I liked working with it.

"We'll give you a quick tour and get you set up with your quarters."

"Jack? Is that you?"

From ahead of us, a woman was walking towards us. She was…no, you have to watch yourself. There can never be a slip up.

She was Chinese, with brown hair done up in a bun and long bangs. She had a big puffy winter coat on, but it was unzipped and open, with a simple Overwatch t-shirt on under it She…Watch your thoughts, you have to be careful. Someone is always watching.

She looked young, about my age.

"That can't be," Ana said. "Mei? Is that you?"

"In the flesh!" She said with a great big smile.

"Mei!" Angela ran over to wrap her in a hug. "What are you doing here?"

"Answering the recall order."

"What do you mean? After your ordeal, you should be resting."

"That's what the other doctors said," Mei said. She…careful, I have to hide this part of me.

She looked perfectly fine; why would she need to be kept to the sidelines?

"But they also said that I needed to find ways to keep me busy," Mei said. "This always kept me busy, and I could really use this now."

"If you say so," Angela said. "But I'll keep an eye out on you. If you show any signs of sickness…"

"I'll be fine, don't you worry." Mei sure liked to smile. I had to keep my eyes on Ana, who was walking up to her.

"It is good to see an old friend," she said, giving her a hug.

"I'm glad that you're still with us," Mei said. "I've missed so much."

"None of that now, dear, you're back among friends."

"Good to see you back, Mei," Morrison said. How could she know these people? She couldn't be older than thirty! "Come on in, Zarya. We'll show you around."