"Deep breaths, Doctor Ziegler", Ilias's voice was calm over her earpiece, "We detect your heart rate is going through the roof. You must be calm for this memory travel to stabilize. Captain Wasser's brain is causing enough trouble as is".
"Indeed... Captain Wasser's brain activity is through the roof!", Winston's voice was full of amazement, "There's even a pattern to it! It's as though the God Programs are aware of what we're doing!".
"It knows!", Boris's voice chimed, "But Transfer Device is one-way only! No feedback! No problem!".
"We can mitigate its attempts on our end", Ilias typed away busily at his terminal, "There we go. Much better now, Doctor Ziegler. Please brace yourself. You will be disoriented for a moment as we begin linking your neural activities".
Lena wished her off, "Good luck in there, Doctor!", she could see her waving and smiling, "Knock 'em dead and bring our lad back home!".
McCree tipped his hat with an easy smile, "Bring 'im home Doc".
Winston gave her a friendly salute, "Be careful in there, Doctor. Captain Wasser has been through hell and back. What you see in there, will change you as much as it will affect him".
She gave a weary smile and said aloud, "The Doctor is in".
Even though she kept a false bravado up for everybody's sake, she was fearful of what she was getting into.
She knew Captain Wasser's history. She had been his psychiatrist in the past, after all. His memories of the Night Raids were vivid. He described everything down to the object. He remembered those he killed... and the twisted methods he resorted to.
The Night Raids was no Covert Warfare.
It was a Survival Royal Rumble. Only those who killed and destroyed everyone in their way walked away.
She had heard from Captain Wasser a simple description that seems apt:
"No Captains, Soldiers, or Heroes. Only Man.".
"There we are", Ilias announced.
The world felt like it fell out from underneath her.
Her stomach plummeted deep and her vision blacked out for a moment as her brain is blindsided by a new wave of neural feedback that was completely foreign to her own.
She heard his voice, far away but there.
There was, however, a digital sound to it. A screeching was made evident when it deafens her momentarily.
"The feedback just multiplied tenfold!", Ilias shouted in surprise, "My god! You're locked in now, Ziegler! The Program knows you're there, and it's not going to let you leave without a fight!".
"I wasn't leaving", she spoke with a ferocity that didn't match her pacifistic attitude.
"... A good light in your eyes there, Doc", McCree whistled with a grin, "... You may just have a fighter's spirit there after all".
"Be safe, Angela", Genji finally spoke after silence, "I... we shall pray for your safe return with the Captain safely behind you".
"Thank you, Genji", she took a deep breath and finally heard something acknowledge her.
It comes out in a digital screech.
Infinite. Commanding.
A DIGITAL GOD.
"I KNOW YOU 4R3 7H3R3".
"A RECKONING IS NOT TO BE POSTPONED INDEFINITELY.
HE W1LL B3 0UR HARBINGER
HE WILL BE THE R3V3N4NT OF THE F0RG0TT3N".
"What are you doing here?", she heard a voice that wiped away the terror that was pulling at her mind.
She was soothed in an instant, she spoke out loud before she knew it, "Captain!".
"Where the hell am I?".
"It seems you are already causing an effect on the Captain, Ziegler", Ilias gave a few nods, "Now... try to evoke a memory. Summon some emotion... anything that might trigger a memory".
An emotion?
She knew better than to try anything like that.
Instead, she only uttered 3 words that came to mind.
"The Hunt Begins".
"... Elaine".
She felt her body go numb. Her eyes began to drift away from focus. Naturally trying to roll back up into her skull. Her eyelids came down; and before she knew it...
She was gone.
...
...
!, ?; Years Ago
She opened her eyes slowly, and drew in a deep breath after the moment of short eternity.
The room she was in was familiar.
Very familiar.
It was supposed to be a room that they used to receive dignitaries and the sort. Fairly big and spacious; the sort of thing that's multifunctional. Every major Overwatch Base had one.
Brigadier General Elaine Harper was next to her.
Standing at her full 6 feet, with her long brown hair tied into a ponytail and wearing her Canadian Officer's Uniform with all her medals pinned to her chest. Her jawline was firm but her face was clearly feminine. Her hazel eyes were sharp with intelligence, determination, and had the shine of analysis.
She was beautiful. Enrapturing.
She was also wearing a beret with the General's Insignia upon her head.
She spoke with a soft, measured tone, "Strange... when I was told that I had been invited explicitly by Wasser, I had thought he'd invited me here to aid in leadership training or something of the like... not an invitation to a Function like this".
"We hadn't planned for it to be a function. This was supposed to be a small welcoming party for the President of the U.S... but things got out of hand", she turned in the direction of the voice to see Captain Wasser next to her.
"I had heard of the impromptu party", Angela thought, "But I never knew Captain Wasser was there".
The Impromptu Party for the President of the United States was a strange occasion where excited American Overwatch Agents; upon hearing of their President coming to visit one of their bases, decided to throw a 'party' without authorization from the Quartermaster or any High-Command Officer.
Granted, Commander Morrison and Captain Wasser both found out since they had been stationed on the base when the occasion came around, and ended up just letting it happen since things had progressed so far that it would've been an unneeded hassle to prevent it.
Morrison did end up reprimanding a big selection of Officers for allowing the occasion, but Wasser didn't go after anyone. If anything, Wasser might have enjoyed himself since word had it that the man got drunk and passed out.
The Wasser next to Angela drew her eyes and kept it on him.
He looked not like a Military Captain, but looked more like a Model in the rare moment that she has seen him without a uniform or armour.
He was wearing a suit. The slight look of weariness in his eyes told her all she needed to know of why he was all dressed up: He was supposed to be one of the Officers to meet the President and talk. Expected, since he was a Captain of Overwatch.
It fit his form perfectly. It gave him a deep air of professionalism, but the slightly-loose tie and tired look about him gave Wasser a gruff property. His gray eyes wander the room, misty in appearance as he noted aloud, "... Kelly would've loved to attend this if she could".
"That reminds me", Elaine spoke; drawing Wasser's attention, "Your Father told me to tell you that your Family was wondering if you could make it for Christmas".
His face softened noticeably, and a bitter expression took hold, "I can't. Christmas Day, I'm being sent to Korea to help in defending Seoul from another Omnic Offensive. Our Egg-Heads say that something huge is coming for it, so they need Echo Squadron stationed there to prevent the Omnics from destroying Seoul".
"Damn", Elaine showed a grimace in response to his explanation, "... I was hoping you'd come around for Christmas too. I haven't seen you out of that Overwatch Uniform in nearly 2 years, and I can tell that something's got you bothered. You look exhausted".
"Yeah, Angela told me that too", Angela's ears perked up upon his mention of her.
"Angela?", Elaine showed surprise at the name, "Who's that?".
"Head of Medical Research & Development", he explained, "... She's my personal doctor: Angela Ziegler. She's also my shrink".
"You have a shrink now?".
"To be honest? This damn Crisis has been hell. I've been getting more hurt than I ever did in the Night Raids", he grimaced, "I have a Neural Chip now. I was shot in the head about 3 different times in quick succession. Everybody's shocked that I lived, but they had to install a Neural Chip to replace the dead nerves since I ended up apathetic and paralyzed from the waist down".
"...", Elaine was quiet.
Then, a subtle motion that Angela barely noticed.
Elaine touches Wasser's forearm sympathetically.
He gave a deep sigh, "... I invited you here mostly because this is one of the few times I've caught a break. Normally I'm either drawing up numbers, plans, or coordinating other Operations with Morrison rather than taking a break"
"Why me? Don't you have your 'Overwatch-Buddies' to call on? I'm not exactly the most free woman around either. We have our own Operations with the Omnic in the Yukon".
"That Omnium still online?", he cocked an eyebrow.
"Yeah. We're making slow pushes, but it just stagnates without Overwatch Forces", Elaine frowned, "... I'm working overtime without the pay".
"Well, to answer your intial question: I called you because you're my partner", he turned away and gazed at the rest of the room... particularly at the U.S President who was talking with Commander Morrison, "... Was I interrupting something?".
"... Yeah", she replied quietly.
Perhaps it was her sense of tone, or it was the change of air between them, but Kyle turned to her with surprise in his eyes, "Oh... is it that bad without me around?".
"It's not work", she replied, "...", she brought her hand up.
In the light of the room, and in the intimate space between them, a little glimmer came from the jewel upon the finger. A jewel that was the proof of a lawful bond of eternity.
"... oh", Angela winced.
The pain and surprise in his voice was apparent. Kyle, stunned and in disbelief stared at Elaine's finger for a good minute. He took in the sight of that jewel with disbelief at first, then shock... then a weary resignation.
Eventually, he came up with some form of response, "I-I hadn't known... Congratulations...".
The pain went unnoticed to Elaine, "Wasser... I'm sorry that you had to find out like this".
"I-It's fine", he insisted despite it ringing hollow to himself, "... I figure you'd have to m-move on...", he gave a fake laugh, "I-It'd be strange to hold the torch for someone despite not seeing them in years".
"...", her gaze was equally as pained as his, "... I... I shouldn't have come here... I should've told you".
"Don't be sorry", then, he gave a gentle smile that didn't match his eyes, "... Who's the lucky fellow?".
"... A Doctor", perhaps sensing that it was better if she got it out of the way, Elaine explained, "... Someone tried to poison me last year... I damn near died. I didn't have anyone tell you because I'd heard just how much of a shitstorm the Omnic Crisis was and just how busy you were... I didn't want to burden you to come visit or anything like that...
He got assigned as my Doctor. Took a look at me, and spent nearly 2 months at my bedside trying various anti-toxins and anti-venoms in various mixtures in attempts to flush out whatever nearly killed me...
He saved my life. And those days on the bed under lock-down. No one else was allowed to come in. The Commander came by occassionally to check up on me, but he was busy filling my place and trying not to lose ground.
I had no one else other than that Doctor.
He reminded me of you...
How you stubbornly stuck by me even though I had accepted the idea of dieing...
And it just... happened".
Maybe what she said was true. Maybe it was a gentle lie to help Wasser accept things and move on.
Whatever it was, it didn't matter.
The pain remained and his heart threatened to stop. But he didn't falter.
He couldn't.
He was the Captain of Echo Squadron.
He was the Hero of Canada.
He was Kyle Wasser; son of Richard Hartigan Wasser.
He was the man everyone looked to.
To falter, was to fail everyone he had to protect.
"... When's the ceremony?".
"... We're putting it off until this whole Crisis ends", she smiled sadly for his sake, "... We both have our parts to play. We can't waste time on anything else right now".
She stepped closer to Kyle in hopes of continuing, but he stepped away.
He spoke quietly, "... I see... In...", he took a moment to collect himself.
The slight shine in his eyes made Elaine's smile drop and reach her hand out to touch him.
Angela couldn't help but stay silent when she realized what she was in.
This was no Night Raid...
This was something far more important to Captain Wasser...
This was... to him... a defining moment...
A moment that shocked him to the core...
Something that changed him...
Kyle slipped on a firm expression and looked Elaine in the eyes. He spoke with calm voice despite the emotion betraying him, "... I want you to know... in case I don't survive the Omnic Crisis... I'm happy for you", he smiled weakly, "... If I can't make it to the ceremony... just know that I want you to be happy. Don't waste time thinking about ghosts... just focus on the 'now' and appreciate it... It is the 'present' for all of us... not the past".
The finality in his tone gave Elaine more than enough signals to understand that it was her queue to leave. She took a moment, opening her mouth as though to speak before deciding against it and shaking her head.
Softly... hesitating, she brought her hand away from him and spoke with a soft voice unfitting for her tough reputation, "Wasser... before I leave... I want to tell you... just so... you don't have any regrets and that... if I never see you again... I'll have no loose ends with you".
"... Yeah?", he willingly looked her in the eyes.
With a gentle movement, she brought her hand to his face and traced her finger over his cheek, "... Even if it began as something completely physical... and even if the time we met and stuck together was purely out of survival... I loved you. Even if I denied and never said it".
"...", he smiled with misery still dancing in his eyes, "I loved you too", he replied like it was the most natural thing in the world, "... I may never move on... but that's okay. I can die in peace... knowing that for what we had in that time... it was a thing of a deep bond...
That you loved me, and I loved you".
Then, he gave a little laugh. He told her, "... I may never let myself fall in love again, you know that, right?".
She gave a sad laugh, "... I know... You're the type to hold the torch... I'm sorry".
"Don't be", he slowly backed away from her; letting her hand fall back to her side naturally before he turned around and began walking away, "... It was nice to see you again Elaine. I hope you can go on without guilt should I never come home...
And... one last request... if you don't mind".
"Anything for you", her voice was barely a whisper.
The room seemed to drown out. The music was no longer there, nor was the raucous laughter of the drunks at the bar.
"... When the day comes that I finally lay down to rest for good... and for when the day comes that I return home forever gone... I want you to carry me home. Down the Highway of Heroes. People above, and their flags hanging low... I don't need anything grand... just that... that will do", he turned and gave her one final look.
The final look he would ever give her, as he didn't realize.
It flowed freely, his emotion, and it took Elaine's breath away.
To see the most calm and collected person she could think of... so emotional and finally broken for the first time in his life... something in her broke with him.
Her eyes shared his own, and her emotions matched his within seconds.
Nobody would see the two infallible heroes finally fall, for everyone's story was not entwined like theirs.
Nobody had the right to intrude upon their epitome and finale...
Nobody.
Angela could feel her emotions threatening to match theirs. To see a moment of sadness so deep and profound that it would forever change a man she cared deeply for.
"Kyle", Elaine called him by his first name.
"Yes Elaine?", he answered in kind.
"... I love you... I'll never forget you... even when the time comes that the curtains come to a close, and that nobody will remember your name... know that you'll always live on with me... there is no one else I'd exchange you for... Nothing in the world I wouldn't give up to have you stay...
But I know you, so I won't say anymore.
Just know that no matter what happens... I'll always remember you".
He smiled. Miserable and finally alone. He replied, "I love you more than you can imagine. Even when I first met you: Broken and ready to die, I cared so damn much", he was shaking, "... I still do. Know that when my final hours come, my last thoughts will always be about you.
No woman in my life... not even my Mother has ever made me feel the way you have... I will never forget you".
"Then let God be my witness now", she was right up to him in an instant.
He smiled... happy for the ending he was getting. An ending he deserved, in his eyes.
Monsters don't get happy endings.
"... How about you give me... One for the Road?".
"I'd have it no other way", her lips touched his.
In the final moment between them, they kissed.
Passionate, deep. They expelled their emotions to one another within the kiss.
It was short, but it was sweet.
She brought herself back, touching her handkerchief to hide her moment of emotional distress for she was about to depart, "... Take care, Kyle", she began to turn to leave.
"Wait...", he stops her before she turned away. He fumbled with his suit for a moment, and reached deep inside the jacket before he pulled out something that had always been important to him.
Something that had stayed by his very side through his best and worst moments. The one thing he knew he could trust, and it would stay forever by his side until the day came that he no longer needed it.
His personal handgun... the very same one he was issued when he was a mere Cadet.
Worn at the handle, scuff marks of damage from blades, but as deadly as the day he held it. The metal gleamed under the excellent care it has been under, and its foes ready to be slain at the notice of its holder.
He gave it a final spin in his hand, and whispered to it. Then, he turned his gaze to Elaine and pushed the handle of the handgun towards her, "... I want you to keep it. When the day comes that I die and can no longer be by your side... At the very least, my gun... my weapon can remain by your side when I can no longer.
Let your enemies be mine, your aim be true and my bullets lethal".
She looked at it with surprise, "Kyle... No, I can't take this. This is too important to y-".
"Elaine... please", he pushed it to her insistently, "... I need you to keep it. My future is bleak, and my survival chances are low. If you knew just how suicidal my job is here in Overwatch, you never would've let me get recruited.
I want you to keep my handgun, because if I die... it will be of no use to anyone.
At least should I die and you have it... it will be of use to you, just as it was of us to me".
She stared at his handgun for a long while.
Then, with a slow, deliberately hesitant grab, she took the handgun from him.
She gave it a twirl in her hand, and spoke softly, "... I can still feel your warmth on the handle".
"I hope you always will", he said, "... A token of my love and dedication. Now... please leave, Elaine... if you don't soon... I-I may break".
"I think you already did", she replied gently, "I-I can stay Wasser... just for tonight if you want".
"This is hard enough as is, Elaine", he spoke low, "... I-I can't be near you anymore... if the soldiers see me like this... they won't know what to do. Please Elaine... leave before I can't say goodbye any longer".
The pain was back on his face, and the pain in his chest only persisted.
She stood there for a long while, just staring at him.
And when she realized that he was being honest, she slowly turned away.
She began to walk away.
Slow, her steps seemed to echo for him despite the music, laughter, and chatter all around them.
He could barely hear her when she spoke her final words to him, "... Farewell, Kyle. I wish you the best of luck".
She barely heard him when she got to the door, "Goodbye Elaine... I hope you can find your happiness elsewhere".
...
...
Ilias clapped his hands eagerly; drawing everyone's attention in an instant as he announced, "We're getting a huge surge of neurological activity coming from Wasser's limbic system! Amazing! It's absolutely glowing!
If this keeps up and increases just a little more...".
"What emotion is it?", Lena inquired. She was curious as to what memory Angela might have walked into or evoked.
"My analysis would conclude that this is sadness", one of the researchers at a nearby terminal responded, "... A very deep sadness. It's almost as though his brain is imitating depression".
"Sadness!?", Lena was surprised, "What memory is h-".
"We can start transfer!", Boris announced abruptly. He stood up in the process, sending his chair skittering to the side, "Ziegler must keep him emotional! If he calms, the Artificial Intelligence will be able to focus some of its attention on resisting the transfer!".
"I'll let her know!", Ilias began typing furiously.
Lena turned and glanced at Winston, excitement in her eyes, "We're so close!".
Winston was quiet.
He was thinking deeply on the matter of the God being placed back in the Neural Chip.
If they were to succeed, they would be, not only returning Captain Wasser to the fold, but also re-empowering him with the command of super-sentient code.
This meant Captain Wasser at his prime once again. The very same Captain Wasser of Operation:Epilogue.
The Captain Wasser who can make or break Overwatch's future, he realized.
To have the 'Do-or-Die' Man with a near perfect track record was a damn good asset. He smiled to himself, and finally replide to Lena, "... We may yet have another ally to count amongst us".
...
...
"...", he opened his eyes slowly, like a newborn being introduced to the world. The faint moistness on his face alerted him of the unknown tears he had shed, and the dryness on his lips was eerily uncomfortable despite what he seemed to remember.
He moaned to himself when the headache struck him. It was as though he had been underneath the Building's rubble once again. The throbbing was agonizing and the ache was prevalent, yet his attention diverted away from it.
He felt the well of emotion that had been sitting heavily in his chest slowly sink back under the facade that was his Bravado. Away was the weakness and away was his humanity, and instead he set up his infallible leader in its stead.
He looked around, confusion apparent in his eyes.
Unfamiliar faces in lab coats. Familiar ones in their combat uniforms.
A blackness creeping in the corner of his visions, and a terrible fog over the memories.
The ringing began to lessen, and slowly he began to hear.
"-onding to outside stimuli. Heart Rate stabilizing. Brain Activity decreasing to safer levels".
"Amazing! He's alive! Alive!".
"Cybernetic Implants are stabilizing".
"Injecting Sedatives now!", then, there was a sharp pain in his neck.
He barely managed a groan before everything felt heavy. His eyelids wanted to close and his mind wanted to rest... but he dared not to. Not with the possibility of remembering.
He forced himself to keep up his energy. He looked around, muttering out names with confusion, "Lena... Winston... Cowboy... Ninja... Omnic?", his head droops with the new-found exhaustion.
Barely, out of the corner of his eyes he could see her in a similar state. He barely managed to bring her name out before he finally lapsed unconscious, "... Angela? Where in the hell?".
Then, it was a blissful silence.
...
...
"Out of Reinforcements and they're coming back? Then we HOLD THE LINE. Once more, unto the breach, lads! Stop for no man!".
- Captain Kyle Lazarus Wasser, Operation: Dawnbreaker
At first, he couldn't feel anything. He heard not, smelt not, tasted not, and saw not. No evil, no good, only an all encompassing darkness and a horrible feeling of loneliness. He was alone...
For the first time in years, he was alone.
No voices in his head. No digital screech commanding him to work against his will... No subconscious beast making him itch to kill. Just... himself in the silence.
Then... IT ALL CAME BACK
He opened his eyes and drew in a sharp gasp of air as his ears burst at the sound of countless guns opening fire and the roar of jets breaking the sound barrier go off overhead. The blaze of nearby destroyed Bastion droids gave the night air a slight glow.
"Captain's hit! Get a Medic here immediately!", he barely heard her shouting over the din of gunfire, but caught sight of her immediately when she slides right up to him and drags him up, "Get the hell up Captain, you're out in the open!".
He struggled to speak, but let out nothing but a torrent of blood from his mouth as another bullet slams home into his chest and gives him a run for his life.
A huge fellow in a Crusader's Armour practically leaped over him and Romana and stood in front of them before activating his giant shield. A glow of blue appeared before him as a roar of thick German shouted, "Get back to safety! We are being pushed back!".
"Vielen Dank!", Romana forcefully began pulling him back, "Damn you Captain! We should have pulled back with our main force! We're being slaughtered!".
"We leave...", he realized where he was, "... Eichenwalde will fall without us".
"Eichenwalde's just a small town" she hissed, "You dieing here will do more harm than good", she began dragging him away from the front lines.
He could barely breathe, he realized. His lungs were struggling their hardest to try and draw breath, and his muscles ache as torment runs freely. His legs shook slightly with each step, struggling their worst to keep him up.
She hissed again at him, concern evident, "You're a damn mess Captain. It's a miracle you fought for so long".
"How long has it been?", he wheezed.
"42 Hours since we deployed. Constant Firefight, and those fucking Droids keep pushing us deeper in. The Crusaders are fighting to their last breath and the German Military is pulling out with Overwatch. Eichenwalde's gone, and even our presence won't save it Captain".
"Med-evac then?", he whimpered as he nearly falls out of her grasp and tumble back to the ground, "I feel like shit".
"Even the Medic won't be able to do much for you now. We'll have to get you straight back to HQ on Critical Status. We'll need Director Ziegler to take care of you", Romana tugged him around the corner and off the main streets; where the battle still rages on.
The sound of mechanical marching echoed the alleyway they stumble into, and within seconds, a Bastion Droid appears at the other end of the alleyway, gun armed and eye red at the sight of them.
Faster than Romana could make a sound, he drew his revolver and fired it off on instinct.
The Bastion Droid fell back and twitched on the ground, sparks flying out of the gaping hole in its main processor. Romana breathed out, "... We're running out of time Captain. Balderich's plan was effective in breaking apart the Omnic Offensive... but at this rate, he's sacrificing every single Crusader to the flames to save Germany".
"You would do the same, wouldn't you?", he asked her with a quick glance behind them, "Sacrifice yourself to save Germany. These Men are brave, but they're ultimately also foolish... still, I suppose I am twice the fool for joining them and trying to assist".
"Indeed you are, Captain, but that's just why Echo Squadron is so infamous. You're the Fool, but we're all the greater fools for following you in, and everyone else are the biggest fools for ever doubting us", she smiled, "Even then, I trust you Captain. You're the only man I've ever seen to do the impossible".
"It's not really impossible if I do it, now is it?", he gave a hiss of pain as the wound is aggravated further, "Ah fuck... where's the Evac?".
"Towards the Keep. I'm taking the more quiet routes to get us there safely", she turned onto a street that looked relatively empty.
The Castle was visible in the distance, "We should be close", she explained, "... I'll call in a precision strike to hit the Omnics one last time to buy us the time we need to leave... by your orders, Captain?".
"Authorization Granted", he grunted with effort and began walking forward more on his own merit, "... Reinhardt will be upset about Eichenwalde. More so if Balderich Dies, you understand that, right?".
"This war's taken people from everybody", she replied, "Reinhardt's a strong man. Besides, he's a German. We Germans aren't so weak as to ball up and cry at the first signs of death, Captain".
"I didn't mean that", he frowned, "I mean there will be a possibility that Reinhardt may blame us for Balderich's death. We ARE retreating from their battle, and we will ultimately doom them".
" 'Once more unto the breach', Captain", she spoke to him, ".. This breach is one that even we cannot hold... he will understand if he sees the state you return in".
"What are our casualties?".
"12 Dead, 5 severely wounded, the rest are hurt but they can still fight", he winced at the numbers.
"High Casualties", he murmured.
"Aye", she nodded quietly.
"... Angela will no doubt chide me for getting hurt again", he murmured to himself.
Angela huh?
"She'll take care of you. She always has", she replied.
"Indeed".
He gave a warm sigh, warm with the blood he was spilling and warm with the hint of emotion, "... Strange. I'm feeling emotional all of the sudden".
Romana gave him a strange look with her curious blue eyes, "... I hadn't known you were intimate with Doctor Ziegler, Captain".
"I'm not, Romana", he corrected her quickly without batting an eye, "... I do care, but I do not see her in a romantic light".
"Right", she noncommittally responded.
He could feel warmth on his chest. Not the warmth of blood... but a different warmth. A gentle warmth that he only once before, could he remember...
The afterglow with Elaine... when he was in bed with her. She had fallen asleep before him since he was still too anxious to fall asleep at the time. In her sleep, she had used him as a body pillow and ended up just wrapping herself all over him.
Elaine.
His chest constricted and he felt himself slowly slip away from Romana at the thought of another woman.
He took one last glance at Romana as he fell away from her.
There was sadness in her eyes, and he could tell she was conflicted deep inside... but she smiled for his sake. And as he fell to the world beneath, he could barely hear her.
But he heard her.
Words that would never leave him.
"I'll always wait for you Captain. I'll wait, at the Breach".
He closed his eyes.
...
He opened his eyes and sucked in a sharp gasp of surprise that was typical of waking up from a Nightmare. There was another surprised gasp, but it was a much gentler one compared to his.
Her voice was Swiss and his eyes glued to her own in an instant, "Captain!".
He was enraptured in an instant, and his mouth opened before freezing in awe.
He found himself laying his weary and still-aching head right before Angela... at just the spot where he was staring up between the valley of her chest and up upon her angelic face. Where her ponytail was undone and her hair looked damp as though she had just been in a shower.
She smelled softly of a field of roses... a much more feminine smell from what he remembered of Elaine: which was very light perfume combined with raw sweat.
Her smell was... pleasant to say the least.
Her soft gaze was filled with care and warmth, and only then did he come to realize her right hand was resting upon the center of his chest. The center of his chest that was exposed since he was wearing a bathrobe.
Why was he wearing a bathrobe?
"Why am I wearing a bathrobe?", his first words back to the world he had nearly forgotten, and it caused Angela to smile like the sun coming out from the clouds.
She massaged his chest gently with her hand, "Captain, how many fingers am I holding?".
She showed him 2.
"Two", he responded softly, "... Where am I, Angela?".
"We are in Oasis, Captain. A Scientific Marvel of a City situated in the Desert of Iraq", she explained to him softly.
With delicate motions, she found herself idly tracing the countless evident scars upon his chest, from the blade wounds to the pale signs of flesh damage, and the numerous bullet scars.
With a voice as gentle as a Mother talking to her newborn, she slowly explained everything to the Captain. Every little bit of it. She covered what little she knew of what caused him to become what he became, but explained who Revenant was and what has happened so far.
By the time she was done, however, Kyle seemed to be distant.
And she felt it too.
Caught up in the strange moment of confusing intimacy, she brought her hand up to his face and rubbed along his jawline, "Captain... do you remember how old you are?".
"If everything you told me was correct", he replied softly, "I'm... 54 years old".
"You don't look a second over 24, Captain".
"Flattery gets you nowhere, Angela", he smiled amiably.
And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that he was right. He really was, 54. How could she forget that he had been in Overwatch far longer than she had? He had joined Overwatch near its infancy to aid in the cesation of the Omnic Crisis and to retake Mankind's Strongholds from the Omnium Threat.
He was older than her, but it was always hard to believe because it seemed as though he hadn't aged at all... Not a single wrinkle more on his skin, the only new flaws were the scars of war. His youthful attitude was also part of the reason why it was easy to forget his age in the past.
It always felt like he was younger. But it didn't bother her that he turned out to be closer in age to Reinhardt than her own. It was his personality that made his age, in her eyes.
She whispered to him hotly, "It matters little if you think it's flattery Captain, I'm afraid it's the truth".
He blinked in surprise at her tone, but something told her he wasn't necessarily displeased. He asked her, "Had you just taken a shower?".
"I had".
"Why am I in a bathrobe?".
"Because I tended to your hygiene during your recovery period", she stated matter-of-factly, "If I had not, I'm afraid you may have caught another infection from all the dried blood and the like... Furthermore, it was undoubtedly uncomfortable in bloody and sweaty clothing".
He blinked again in surprise, "... Would that not mean you had stripped me nude and washed me clean? Furthermore, would that not also mean you had undressed me and then dressed me in this bathrobe?".
There was a rosyness to her cheeks, "... I'm a Doctor, Captain. I have little regard of sexuality when it comes to the matter of tending to the health of my patients".
"It's still a little embarassing", he was the one who was red now, "... Even Elaine never did something like that to me... and here you are, having done it without hesitation".
"Captain, I...".
"It's fine Angela", he gave a slight chuckle, "I'm just trying to save what little dignity of mine remains... considering the fact that I've been a slave for nearly 3 decades, watched my body get ruined, and forced to do actions I would normally abhor, I'm just trying to save what little I can".
"You were aware?".
"Vaguely. Nothing solid, but I can remember bits and pieces. I can remember clearly the moments where I seized control... but everything else is quite hazy".
Slipping back into her Doctor's Routine, she straightened her posture slightly and made eye contact once again. Then, she uttered a name, "Gabriel Reyes".
"Dead", he replied immediately, "Or will be... soon".
"Cilcia Romana", she brought up his subordinate.
"... Poor Girl", he noticeably looked saddened, "... I dragged her down with me, and I'm afraid she's fallen into the depths... beyond where even I have fallen... I'll do something about her... I'm afraid if I don't, the world will pay the price".
"... Jack Morrison".
"Old-Man-Morrison?", he chuckled, "Though I guess I won't be able to call him that anymore since I'm also getting up there in years... A shame. I heard he had passed away with Reyes' little revolution at HQ".
"Lena Oxton".
"Look, is there a point to this?".
"I'm comparing your responses to your words in the past. Consider this a final check", she replied hesitantly.
He cocked up an eyebrow, "... Seems awfully paranoid of you".
"There's no such thing as being paranoid when it is in regards to the God Programs, Captain", she retorts.
He gave a slow nod, "Fair Enough. Lena's the first person I think of when someone says 'Brit' or 'Cheers'. Oh... I also wonder if she knows how to make regular tea compared to the instant crap we had to use with Overwatch".
Upon hearing the last part, she smiled wide, "... Captain... You have little clue as to how much I... no, how much we have missed you".
He smirked, "I think I have a general idea. Hope my little alter-ego didn't go too overboard".
"We can handle that issue in due time", she coughed slightly before speaking low, "... Uh... considering you're awake, can I kindly slip away?".
"What do you mean?", his expression was confused, "Am I not on a pillow?".
"... You are on my lap, Captain".
"Uh... I don't think I heard you right. Did you just say I'm on your lap?".
"... You heard right, Kyle... Your head is on my lap".
"Oh...".
...
Lena heard the sound of a loud bump resound from the room beyond the wall behind her bed. She jumped at the sound, dropping her book onto the blankets in an instant as she turned her head and gave a startled gasp.
There was the muffled sound of speech coming from beyond.
Realization dawned on her as excitement began to set in: The Captain must have awakened!
He was back!
Rejoice! Send the word! Call the Pope! Call for King Arthur and let him know the the Knight in Blue is ready once again!
Wait, what?
She could barely make out the speech from the otherside, but she could hear it well enough to decipher portions of it.
"..sorry! I... known...off your...".
"...ight Captain!".
"... ungry... eat?".
"It's late... ait... orning".
"Fine".
"Goodnight... tain".
"... gela".
Then, Lena heard the unmistakable sound of a door being closed resound from the hallway; slipping in under the crack of her door as she watched the door. She listened close, muting the television altogether as she heard the light steps of someone outside.
The light from the hallway is shadowed for just the briefest of moments as Angela undoubtedly walks past. Then, she heard a door open before it closes shortly there after.
She glances at the television for a moment.
"United Nations comes forward and reveals speculation of the Petras' Act being violated. Inside Sources indicate that Overwatch may be reforming".
Then, she read the next headline that followed.
"Survey Shows: 6 out of 10 Individuals are against to the possibility of Overwatch Reforming".
It was disheartening to see that 60% was still against Overwatch, but it was encouraging to know that it means not everyone hates Overwatch. She climbed out of bed, out of her jacket and in nothing save for sleeping shorts, a t-shirt and her chronal accelerator before slipping out into the hallway.
She sealed her hotel room behind her, and made sure to keep her keycard somewhere safe before walking to the room next to hers.
Eagerly, she knocked the door in a familiar rhythm. The very same rhythm she always used when visiting the Captain's Quarters.
There was a moment of silence. Then, with a mocking british accent, she heard him call out, "Oi! Piss off will ye? I'm trying take a nap here! Ain't got the bloody energy to faff about with the likes of you lass!".
"Are you having a laugh in there, love?", playing the offended Brit, she asked him through the door.
"Alright alright, just give me a minute. Prepare yourself, I'm only in bathrobes".
Only in bathrobes?
The next moment, the door was opened and there he was.
It took every last bit of her restraint in order to not dive-tackle him to hug him.
He looked just as she remembered him
Tall, 'Statuesque', intimidatingly large shoulders, a steady, cool gaze in his gray eyes that had a hint of warmth beneath. His skin was flawless save for the scars, but even then it didn't retract away his charm. If anything, it had always enhanced the whole 'War-Hero' angle.
He was wearing a large, red bathrobe that was tightly tied around his waist region, leaving his chest slightly open to the eyes. He cocked up an eyebrow at her momentary analysis, "... Lena".
"Kyle", a delighted smile played at her lips when she heard his warm and soothing voice, "... You're finally back".
He smiled at her words. He waggled his eyebrows playfully, and gave a little laugh.
Then, with a voice as gentle as an Angel's touch, he spoke...
He spoke, and her face bloomed into a wide smile.
"Yeah... I'm back.
Once more, unto the breach... eh?".
...
...
Author's Note - And thank you all for participating in the poll!
SKIP TO THE BOTTOM OF THE A.N TO LEARN ABOUT THIS POLL
This time around, Angela won the poll against Lena, so here's the new statistics. I'll probably post a Poll Statistic after every poll to help keep track of things for my sake and yours.
Current Romance Scores
Lena "Tracer" Oxton – 1
Angela "Mercy" Ziegler – 1 ( = CURRENT FAVOURED ROMANCE )
Furthermore, just to clarify something in the Story.
Captain Wasser's previous age "29", is still technically Canon for him. The age of "29" is simply the amount of time that the God Program has been in control for.
54 is Captain Wasser's real biological age.
So that means:
Captain Wasser = 54 Years Old
Revenant (God Program Possession) = 29 Years
So... Yeah.
REMEMBER: IN ORDER TO START A ROMANCE ARC, ONE OF THE POSSIBLE LOVE INTERESTS MUST WIN THE POLLS 3 TIMES IN A ROW.
If we just keep 'bouncing' between the Love Interests, there'll come a time where I'll ultimately decide to default to whoever has been winning the most polls so far. And if that's also tied, I'll flip a coin or use a Random Generator of some kind.
Anyways, time for everybody's favourite.
Poll Time!
POLL: What is Overwatch's Next Move?
Option 1: Investigate Rumors of a 'Soldier 76' and 'Shrike' in Dorado, and assist in the Government's Plans to restore Power to the Region. Potential Recruitment.
Option 2: Captain Wasser wishes to return to Canada to make contact with General Harper and his Parents, gaining potential support with Canadian Military
Option 3: Investigate Rumors of the Revenants planning an attack on Numbani, potential encounter with Romana. Potential Encounter with Famous Brazilian Musician Lucio. Potential Recruitment.
Option 4: Investigate Rumors of Possible Future Omnic Attack on Seoul, South Korea. Potential Encounter with Hana "D-Va" Song. Potential Recruitment.
And there you have it.
4 Ways to go, all up to you lads.
Route 1: Commander Morrison + Captain Amari Recruitment.
Route 2: Captain Wasser reconnects with Family and Friends + Gain Allies in the Canadian Military
Route 3: Discover more of the Revenants' Plot + Lucio's Recruitment
Route 4: Discover more of the Danger the Omnics still pose on Korea + Hana Song's Recruitment
Poll should be up on my Profile, so go ahead and cast your votes.
This time around, you lads are getting 2 votes.
Top 2 are the next locations and plot points for the story, in order of most popular vote.
So, anyways, hope you all enjoyed the Chapter.
And I'll hope to see you in the next one.
Fare thee well!
- Goodnames-alltaken