In the mess hall, Hanzo sat on his own for breakfast, head bowed. The image of Genji, mangled and torn on that medical bed wouldn't leave his mind. He didn't realise he had disconnected from reality a bit until a voice pulled him out.
"Hey, ya mind if I join you?"
He looked up to see a young woman, certainly younger than him, eyes covered by some sort of bandana, and hair tied back in a sloppy fashion. There were a few burns and scars over her face and exposed arms, but her hands were covered in thick, but charred gloves, which she removed after she put her tray down.
"Of course not, I am not completely adverse to company." He could tell she wouldn't take no for an answer at this point, and was just too tired to argue.
She smiled at him, metal prosthetics clanking with the cold metal of the chair.
"So what made ya pull a sour face then, huh?" Her voice had a slight scottish accent that bounced along her words. "You worried or something?"
"You...could say that."
"I can always tell when someone's upset. It's in their voice and the way they hold themselves."
This struck him as odd. How could she see with a bandana over her eyes?
"You can see?"
"Kind of. Its this weird Echolocation thing, because eye prosthetics are dangerous to implant, the good Doctor Ziegler decided that enhancing my hearing would help more."
"I see."
"Of course ya can, you have eyes!" She snorted a bit at her own joke, and Hanzo managed a bemused smile. Usually he would ask someone to leave at this point, but it was something about the way she asserted herself, the way she cracked a joke so casually, but couldn't hold back a snort that drew him to her. It was familiar, something to hold onto in an unfamiliar and strange place.
"So what's your name?"
They had been talking for a good part of the morning, seeing as the newbie missions weren't usually held until the early afternoon. He learnt that her customized prosthetics were a practical choice instead of a style choice - they helped her movement.
"Hanzo Shimada. And you are?"
"Ailsa Peucag, Smith and Fighter."
It was good to know each other's names, because despite talking about certain subjects and learning each other's views, they never properly introduced themselves.
A young man approached Ailsa, whispering something to her before stepping back a little.
"I gotta go, but I'll see you again sometime, ok?"
"Very well, until we meet again."
She waved, and left the room with the boy, who was gripping her hand and leaning his head on her shoulder, laughing softly at her jokes.
It wasn't until around one in the afternoon that Hanzo was called up to go on a 'Trust establishing' newbie mission.
"These will be your comrades for today." Morrison said, opening the door to the dropship.
A huge man in armour towered over everyone else in the ship, talking to an elderly woman holding a rifle. The man's hammer leaned against a nearby wall, almost as long as Hanzo is tall.
Ailsa sat next to the woman, talking to the boy from earlier, and another four or five foot soldiers hovered around in small groups.
"This is strike team Beta." Morrison indicated to the foot soldiers. "And this is General Reinhardt Wilhelm, Captain Ana Amari, Lieutenant Ailsa Peucag, and Lieutenant Connor Freed." He pointed to each of them as he introduced them, and each of them looked up to acknowledge Hanzo as their name was called.
"Everyone, this is our newest recruit, Hanzo Shimada - Genji's brother."
A chorus of 'Hey' and 'Hello my friend' or (In Ailsa's case) 'Heyo!' resounded throughout the ship, and he inclined his head in greeting.
Ailsa got up and pulled him over to Reinhardt and Ana, enthusing over how he was the one she told them about, and how he used a bow instead of a gun. Reinhardt was just as enthusiastic, and Ana looked rather bemused at the two. Hanzo simply took a seat an answered the questions thrown at him like hot potatoes with a calm air, as if he was teaching two children, even though Reinhardt was clearly much older than him.
He didn't even realise the ship had taken off by the time they arrived. Ailsa and Reinhardt were the first to stand up, and the others soon followed.
"Remember team, this is just a scouting mission."
"We got it, we got it." Ailsa sighed. "Every mission is just a scouting mission with the grandparents."
"Ah, Ailsa, Bored before we even get started again are we? There may be Honor to be won yet!"
The doors opened, and Ailsa immediately took control of the situation, asserting herself despite there being superiors who had more experience than her.
"We're gonna need to split up. Ana, Rein, you guys take half of the foot soldiers, I'll take everyone else, seeing as both Hanzo and Connor are new here. If you see anything strange, report it to me or the commander."
With quick nods, the two parties split up to search the area. Hanzo could immediately identify signs of gang crime and violence, and the thick smell of tobacco seemed to follow them everywhere.
Groups of local thugs would stop to stare them down, and bystanders would shrink back into the alleyways or doors of their houses.
"Nothing off yet." One of the soldiers commented. "Hopefully it'll be as smooth as last time."
"Emphasis on hopefully." Connor said, voice soft but bitter.
Ailsa walked on, ignoring the others. Hanzo could see her clicking her tongue every now and then to see where she was going, but otherwise made no sound.
It was smooth sailing for a while, until a large black shape hid the sun from view. The group looked up, and time froze.
A huge creature, around seven feet tall towered over them, long, sharp teeth bared, sniffing and snarling, eyes fixed on the collective members of the group. It seemed like hours before the thing took off, sprinting down the street towards a larger group of monsters.
"So much for smooth." Ailsa smirked. "We gotta get out of here, and fast."
She cursed under her breath, muttering something about 'crazy Talon bastards'. Hanzo didn't quite catch what she said, as the entire group started to sprint back towards the dropship, where Ana and Rein were already waiting with at least half their group injured or missing.
"Monsters?"
"A portal." Ana replied, face stony. "There were bits of Talon armour and vehicle around it, so I'll give you two guesses as to who opened it."
Ailsa cursed again, and commanded the pilot to get them back to base.
It was a few days before any of them ventured out further than the expansive corridors and training areas to go on another mission.
