Glue Fish: Chapter 4
Nothing was working. Everything was dry as sand flux, but not a single light, nor beep came from the broken electronics.
"Ahhh, we're fucked, mate!" Cried Junkrat, "Completely fucked! The comms are toasted, got no wires, and Mackie, your arm-"
"It's fine...really!" snapped McCree. Harsh, dark bags sat under his eyes and he pinched his nose to avoid screaming.
Junkrat hummed and hawed. McCree's arm sat on a rock, the electronic bits gutted. Rat had been tinkering with it for the past hour or so, but little progress had been made, even if he was far from admitting it.
"What year is this model from again?"
McCree sighed. It was the third time Junkrat had asked. "It's from the 2040's, says right there inside."
Junkrat nodded, "Right...right…" he squinted at the engraved text printed on a flap inside the arm. Rat could read, sure; but not well, too many future-tech words he hadn't picked up yet. And, it hadn't helped that his flash-fired eyes didn't give him the best vision. He needed glasses, but not like Rat would ever admit 'that' either.
"So the arm is about 'thirty years' old then...great." Sarcasm dripped from Junkrat, more potent than the angry, nervous sweat he was caked in.
"The hell is that supposed to mean!?"
"It means your arm is a piece of shit, Mackie!"
For emphasize, Junkrat raised his own mechanical arm, giving the wrist a satisfying spin. Unlike McCree's, his arm was reasonably fixable.
McCree gritted his teeth. "Say that again, Rat! I dare yah!" Both McCree and Rat were pissy from lack of sleep, and that just meant McCree's tolerance for bullshit was non-existent.
"Fuck Rat, you don't even know what you're doing do you? You're just poking shit and hoping it works like some monkey!"
"Hey fuck you too!" Junkrat tossed a screwdriver back, the tip dented and useless. "I DO know what I'm doing! It's just that this arm is chock-full of designer bullshit. I mean, look at this-" Junkrat lifted up the arm in front of McCree, the mechanical hand waved lazily back and forth.
Jabbing a finger inside, he pointed to a band of wires colored in a gaudy gradient of rainbows.
"The hell is this Mackie!? 'Rainbow' wires! The hell does 'rainbow' even mean? Wires are supposed to be red and green, not everything at once!"
McCree was a bit taken aback, "Oh, weird. Huh, usually I just take it in for repairs. I...don't do the maintenance myself…"
Head hung low, Junkrat sighed. "Yeah...that was obvious enough."
Rat never failed at tinkering. Usually the guts of a machine were intuitive enough that he got repairs and tweaks done by sight alone…but Mackie's arm...it was some fancy bullshit.
McCree said not a word. He chewed his lips nervously as he saw Rat's fish-tail begin to swish side to side like an angry cat.
"Mackie-"
Junkrat sighed in resignation, hanging his head impossibly lower. His front end became coated in muck, and he closed his eyes for what was to come...
"-the kelpie is right behind you."
"No."
"Hanzo, please. This is important."
"No."
Reinhardt groaned, throwing his hands up in frustration.
"This is so silly! And, stupid!"
Hanzo huffed. His arms were crossed and his face looked stern; though, Reinhardt only saw a 'petulant child.'
"Come on, how 'old' are you, friend?" Ribbed Reinhardt. He slowly pushed Hanzo forward, like one would a stubborn animal.
"No." Said Hanzo again, and Reinhardt found himself defeated.
Hanzo was rooted to the metal floor and though stubborn, Hanzo usually 'could' be moved on most subjects; however, THIS, was apparently an unfortunate exception.
"Go on, Hanzo. Go say "Hello," to your brother."
Hanzo mentally flinched. He closed his eyes as he reminded himself of his resolutions.
Once, a thousands years and counting...he slew his brother for the promise of power...
Power Hanzo did find: he became the unrivalled Lord of the North and South Wind. He became the beating current of the Heavens. For centuries his breath was a storm...his word, thunder...then...then...his memory wavered…
What had happened? What had made him lose 'that' power?
His teeth clenched crudely. He recalled how his brother's power, that of the North Wind, was wretched from him...and the power with him...slipping through the air...caught on a breeze...his brother...left him as a ghost...
"That 'thing' is not my brother!" He spat.
Reinhardt grimaced, as if he tasted something bitter.
"Genji is not a thing." He replied calmly. "He is your brother. I don't get it, why are you afraid of him!?"
Hanzo gaped. Him, afraid? Of Genji? No, no, no…his pride would not stand for that accusation!
"I am not!" Hanzo meant to sound stern, but Reinhardt smiled, a twinkle in his eye. Hanzo just sounded indignant.
"AHHHHH-hahaha~!" Reinhardt slapped a knee. His grin impossibly wide. "You ARE afraid, Hanzo! Come on, come on! It's not like you haven't talked to him before-"
"NO."
Reinhardt looked to the ground, his eyes pleading. "But...but...Genji is the best pilot…" Reinhardt sighed. He'd explained the plan several times before. "Look, Lena and Jack-"
"I understand! I understand the plan. We 'will' wait to ask either Lena, or Jack, for transportation. Genji is NOT an option."
"Genji is the ONLY option!" Shouted Reinhardt.
His heated reply surprised them both. Hanzo raised a brow. Reinhardt had neglected to tell him that detail.
"I doubt it."
"Okay, okay. I didn't suggest at first because I hoped you'd just talk to Genji...but," Reinhardt's voice lowered to a whisper, "I think we need to embrace the Heavens."
"W-what!" Hanzo flinched, disgusted. That's overkill Rein, and it would be a horrible abuse of power. Not anyone can 'embrace the Heavens' on a whim."
"But Genji can."
Hanzo sighed, which almost sounded like a whimper. He felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
"Hanzo, I know know know, the Heavens aren't a game, but if we don't travel that way, then how will we?"
Hanzo rolled his eyes. It was Reinhardt's turn to act the part of a child.
"Simple, when either Lena or 'Soldier' Jack returns, we will demand an investigation into Junkrat's whereabouts. We won't travel at all."
Reinhardt looked gobsmacked. "But...no adventure?" The enthusiasm seemed to drain out of the big man. It had been crushed and killed by Hanzo's ominous glare.
"But, but the investigation? You agreed on doing one!"
Hanzo calmly shook his head. Reinhardt didn't know what he was asking.
Traveling the Heavens was only for very very rare, 'dangerous' occasions, and Rein, regardless of intentions, wanted it for a childish mission.
"I agreed to an investigation; but, it is not our duty to do so. Junkrat is Overwatch's responsibility, not ours!"
Reinhardt looked sad, so sad...so disappointed.
"Can, you please just think about it?"
It was not often the big man's spirits were snuffed out. Hanzo was all the more surprised by how easily he'd done it, unintentionally.
Hanzo did not use his words lightly, so he spoke carefully…
"I will."