Chapter 10: Evidence

Things should have improved after coming back to London. They should have been able to work together to come up with a plan of action for how they wanted to handle the situation with Widowmaker. Instead it was two weeks later and Lena found that she and Fareeha had drawn very different lines in the sand while Angela had backtracked completely and was refusing to take sides at all now that she had calmed down and thought things over.

"You honestly wouldn't take the shot if it came down to it? If Widowmaker had shown that she had no interest in changing or if we knew Talon had corrupted her mind to the point where she really was just an indoctrinated soldier?" Fareeha demanded.

"You don't know that she is!" Lena argued.

"And you don't know that she isn't! All you have so far is speculation, what if's and maybe's. Bits and pieces based on what Widowmaker hasn't done to you. Not on what she has. That's not a plan or a course of action." Fareeha wasn't budging and neither was Lena and Angela had long since backed up to let them hash it out.

"Fine. You know what? I don't care. Look at me like I'm just some stupid kid not using her head if you want but I'm not killing her and I'm not letting you kill her either. I know Widowmaker can be saved and I know she can change. At the very least I know that Widowmaker has the presence of mind that she can be drawn away from Talon of her own free will and that's what I'm going to do. Do I know what to do after that? No I don't. I admit that and maybe it's short sighted but it is a start and that's what we need to focus on right now. A place to start with instead of just sitting around arguing," Lena said with a pointed glare at Fareeha who was unmoved by her passion.

"You can start wherever you want, but I need proof, serious evidence with her actions. If Widowmaker is willing to part with Talon and stop murdering their targets then yes that's a step in the right direction but that's not going to win over my confidence. Not by a long shot. I need to see that she's even capable of doing that, much less that she will. We can't forget that this is a woman who came back and fooled experienced soldiers and doctors before killing her own husband in his sleep. I won't let that happen again with us because we failed to agree on whether Talon had really indoctrinated her," Fareeha warned and the words made Lena flinch back.

"I'm not gonna kill her and I don't believe Widowmaker has been lost to Talon. Not yet. They may bloody well have dampened her emotions but they're still there and I know I can reach her." Lena's voice sounded weak even to her ears and she hated the sympathetic look in Angela's eyes. She hated that her arguments sounded so pathetic next to Fareeha's carefully reasoned statements.

"You're going to get yourself killed doing that. Just look at what happened in France! Widowmaker could have killed you that night and Angela might never have found you! Do you really want to put her through that? Me? Winston? Everyone else? All because you refuse to even consider that maybe, just maybe Widowmaker can't be helped after how Talon has corrupted her mind? Or that she simply doesn't want to change because she enjoys what she does now? It's all well and good to believe in her but at some point Widowmaker is going to have to take some steps towards us as well. You can't expect someone to get help if they aren't willing to make some steps in the right direction as well," Fareeha continued.

"At least I care about her!" Lena shouted, her patience finally at an end. "At least I'm doing something! All you've done so far is sit around and criticize my efforts. You can sit back here and talk all you want about proof and actions but you aren't the ones out on the rooftops fighting her are you mate? I'm the one getting shot at. I'm the one she's interested in. I'm the one at risk and you two are the one sitting back and complaining that there needs to be more! I was there when Mondatta died. I was there when she had another Omnic in her sights but didn't kill him and then let me go again. I was there when she went back to Kings Row to the scene of the crime and she didn't even fire at me. I was the one there in France when she had the perfect chance to kill me and didn't take it," she all but snarled at them.

"I get that you've been hurt by her and I get wanting to have some more proof but I'm not some kid. I'm not some eager sign-up blinded by opportunity and possibility. Not anymore. I'm just as good of an Overwatch agent as anyone else and my opinions are just as valid! If you don't believe in Widowmaker fine, I get that, but you could bloody well at least pretend like you trust me! Not look at me like I'm some overly emotional child-" Lena pointed to Angela "-or like I'm someone who can't see past her own nostalgia to realize the bigger picture!" She pointed accusingly at Fareeha who took a step back in surprise at her outburst.

"You lot want proof? I'll get you all your bloody proof. I'll show you that Widowmaker isn't just some Talon lackey killing whatever they tell her to even it kills me in the process!" Lena shoved the chair out of the way and stormed out of the room ignoring Angela's calls to come back.

A total of one month had passed since Tracer had last seen Widowmaker in France. Just two weeks had gone by since she had last spoken to Fareeha and Angela other then to send them a quick text that she was still alive.

Now the wait was seriously starting to get to her. Tracer had been glued to every Overwatch communication channel she had available to her, keeping an eye out for Talon activity. Unfortunately while Talon had been busier then ever, Widowmaker was currently nowhere to be found. Not even a hint of sniper activity.

Tracer yawned and rubbed her eyes. She had taken this job as back up security for a research lab in Utopaea, India partially to get away and cool down after her embarrassing blow up with Angela and Fareeha. She had also taken the job because there were concerns from the labs that Talon would come to steal one of their new prototypes that utilized hard light technology. There had been a marked increase in Talon activity that resulted in stolen research information, prototypes, or devices that weren't on the public or private market yet. Why they wanted them was a question still unanswered.

At this point I'd welcome a run in with Widowmaker just so I would have something to do. All this silence is so boring, Tracer yawned again and looked at her watch. Eleven at night. Nearly a week now with no problems and nothing to do but sit around, walk around and pretend like she had a clue when an architect cornered her and started talking about how amazing hard light technology was. They would be moving the prototype out tonight. Tracer just had to make sure the prototype made it onto the plane and into the air and her job would be done. Only a few more hours left and she could go home.

Lots of old faces and some new ones were joining up with Overwatch although the political systems of the world were mixed on whether the resurgence of the heroes they had once lauded was a good thing. Apparently there was a woman here who had been tapped to join Overwatch as well. Tracer only knew of her by her code name Symmetra but she hadn't been able to look around for her because of her current job. Hopefully she would decide to join up. They could use all the help they could get.

Tracer heard voices and glanced down over the edge of the arched she was sitting on. She had blinked up to a spot near the roof so she would have a clear view of the entire atrium when it was time to move the prototype. It looked like that time had come now. She could easily make out a small group coming out of the elevators. Three on security, and two women who must be the scientists, one of whom was wheeling along a large machine inside a glass cylinder.

Fwip

Tracer perked up immediately. She had heard that sound enough times recently to instantly recognize what it meant. Widowmaker was here. Very close nearby in fact if she had heard the sound of her grappling hook shooting out since it produced very little sound.

Tracer stood up slowly and looked around. There were still some archways above her and that was likely where Widowmaker would be. Someplace harder to access and easily hidden from view. Now she just had to spot her and quickly.

C'mon where are you? Tracer thought as her eyes scanned the two arches above her. There you are! she grinned as she caught sight of the lithe assassin. With her slim form and blue skin she blended in well with the shadows around her, but not perfectly. Tracer could just make out the red lights of her visor as Widowmaker scoped out her target. Tracer didn't know if Widowmaker was here alone or with help, but she did know that she couldn't let her kill any of those people.

The only problem now would be getting up there. It took a few tries, one near fall, and finally a running jump before she managed to get up onto the archway and blink over to crouch a few feet away from Widowmaker.

"What'cha looking at?" Tracer asked cheerily as Widowmaker's head turned slightly, just enough for one of the camera's on her visor to be able to see her.

"An annoyance," Widowmaker said flatly as one hand went up to adjust her aim slightly. A second later her visor went up and she put her eye to the scope watching as the group walked, at an agonizingly slow pace, towards the door leading out to the launch pad.

"Why are you even here? What does Talon want with all this special technology anyway?" Tracer asked paying close attention to the fact that Widowmaker's finger was not yet on the trigger.

"Don't know, don't care," Widowmaker remarked as her finger slid from the side of her rifle to the trigger.

Bullocks, Tracer thought. She didn't have much time left and she didn't want to make a scene.

"Seriously? So what do you do? Just pop in, pop off a target or steal some junk then leave?" she asked as Widowmaker hummed and lowered the muzzle slightly.

"I'm only interested in the kill, not the reasons why, chérie. I know who the target is and where I'll be able to find them or at what times I'll best be able to capture my prize without trouble. I need nothing else beyond that," Widowmaker said. Her lips pulled down slightly as the group moved behind a pillar and stopped to talk about something. No risk of them getting shot just yet then. Time to work fast, although Widowmaker wasn't exactly doing much to bolster Tracer's hope right now.

I really hope Fareeha isn't right about this, Tracer thought inching a little closer.

"Really love? Wow and here I thought you were a skilled assassin and such. Turns out you're as petty and shallow as the rest of the two bit criminals. Right shame that is," Tracer said lightly. It was intended as a dig to try and distract Widowmaker while she frantically tried to think something else to say that might work. Instead Tracer found herself suddenly fighting to maintain her composure as Widowmaker turned around, lifting her visor to glare at her with a look that was so incredibly offended that it was all she could do not to bust out laughing.

"Excusez-Moi?" Widowmaker demanded, her yellow eyes glimmering angrily in the dark. Now that didn't need any translation. Of all the things that might possibly have hit a nerve, Tracer never would have imagined that calling Widowmaker shallow would be at the top of the list. Tracer choked back her laughter and went on.

"What's got you all of a sudden? Just being honest there love," Tracer said holding her hands up.

"I'm the best assassin there is. Certainly the best in Talon," Widowmaker hissed sharply at her.

"Yeaahhh, well you're still shallow. I mean any foot soldier with a gun can shoot in the direction their told can't they? Don't even have to know why and probably don't care most times either. Just point and pull. Maybe it takes more skill to be a good sniper but that's still awfully sad, love. I thought you were supposed to be this awesome sniper and stuff not just another one of the rank and file," Tracer pressed as an idea started to form in her head.

Widowmaker stood up from her crouch, her target evidently not nearly as important as the slight to her honor. Tracer resisted every urge she had to look down at the scientists and body guards. She had to stay focused and she had to keep Widowmaker's focus on her.

"I... am not... shallow and I am certainly no one's pet soldier," Widowmaker snarled in response her grip tightening on her rifle as the other clenched into a fist.

"Don't look that way to me from here, love. Talon says shoot and you shoot. I mean you just said it yourself so I'm not even putting words in your mouth. They say steal this and you grab it. Even admitted you don't care why. Only thing that matters is the kill. Sure sounds shallow to me. I bet Talon just loves you that way. They don't even need to worry about giving you a reason to stick around. The promise of a good kill is all they need to scratch that itch you have isn't it? I bet they just sit back and laugh every time they toss a mission your way. Like watching a dog run after a bone that barely has anything on it," Tracer said digging in even more. This wasn't at all like her and the words and insults felt so wrong coming out of her mouth, but they were also having a very obvious effect.

Widowmaker snarled and lowered her rifle to aim at her chest.

"How dare you... how dare you say that to me. I am no one's dog, no one's pet soldier, no one's prisoner and certainly no... no toy to be tossed from one place to another and ordered around for Talon's amusement!" Widowmaker shouted at her.

Now they were getting somewhere and Tracer could have whooped and bounced around with joy. Sure she was on a razors edge but it did provide a solution to one very pressing question, mainly how loyal was Widowmaker to Talon? The answer evidently being not very much. It also provided some insight into how much she was able to feel. Talon may have dampened her emotions but they were still there and she wasn't just an indoctrinated soldier shooting wherever they told her too. Widowmaker hadn't thought about her behavior she had simply reacted and that strong of a response to something wasn't easily faked.

By now Tracer could hear the whine of the jet engine starting up. For a split second Widowmaker's body went stiff and her eyes darted down to the open doors leading to the landing pad. She still had time to accomplish her mission and she knew it.

This was the real test. Tracer may have her attention but could she keep it? Would Widowmaker really abandon her mission? Would she or could she give up the satisfaction she would get from a potential kill? Clearly she was harboring some very... strong feelings about Talon but was that enough to break whatever hold they had on her?

Widowmaker's eyes flicked back to watch Tracer as she slowly pulled out her pistols.

"You claim you aren't just some Talon lackey right? Be a shame if those were just empty words..." Tracer taunted and Widowmaker visibly hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly as they slid back to the doorway once more.

"C'mon love. You seriously telling me that you've never wanted to tell Talon to stuff it? Just say screw it and blow them off? Why not be the one to leave them hanging for once?" Tracer pressed further. Now Widowmaker's gaze snapped back to hers as a sneer curled at her lips. Her visor snapped down over her eyes as a smirk crawled across her face.

"You'd better start running pest. You owe me a good show after your little drunken escapade in France," Widowmaker countered as she started firing.

"Gotta be faster then that to catch me!" Tracer called out as she zipped down to an archway below and out of Widowmaker's line of sight. She couldn't help but grin as she heard the thunk of a grappling hook hit by her feet.

Step one accomplished.

AN: This chapter will have a second part where we see how Widowmaker and Tracer's fight turns out. Seems we may have reached a turning point of sorts in this story. Next chapter is going to be an exciting one. Thanks for reading everyone!