I apologize for the long absence, and I apologize for this sub-par chapter. I hope to make amends with the next chapter, which is already being written. As an apology, I will be including a sneak-peek at the next chapter at the very end of this one. Enjoy.
Soldier: Seventy-Sick
Strike Commander Jack Morrison, the super soldier and one-man-army known as the Soldier: 76, sneezed violently. He groaned, too tired from the day's events to protest when Angela forced a thermometer into his mouth. She took it out once it began to beep, shaking her head when it merely confirmed what she had already concluded.
With a click of her tongue, she said, "Whatever toxin that Talon used to stop you would have killed any other man, but it would seem that ze super soldier program saved you from ze worst of ze cytotoxins." The Swiss medic shook her head, "Regardless, you are still in no condition to be performing any of your usual physical activities. As your doctor, I am ordering you to remain under supervised bedrest until your body begins to recover."
"Angela, let's be honest with each other. We both know that I'm going to get back on my feet as soon as you leave the ro-roo-" Jack descended into a fit of coughing before he could even finish his sentence.
Angela smiled smugly, slightly pleased with the karma Jack was receiving just a little early, before he had even gotten the chance to disobey her. "That iz why I am placing you under supervised bedrest. And, just to be safe, I am leaving you in ze care of ze only two Agents that I know will not disobey my orders." With that, Angela opened the door to the hospital wing and, to a groaning Jack's disappointment, Bastion stepped into the room. The Omnic waved a hello, Ganymede chirping happily as he landed on Angela's outstretched hand. She turned back to Jack with a devious smile gracing her lips, "Herr Bastion and Herr Ganymede will be here, keeping you company until you recover."
Angela walked back over to her patient, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. "Now, I have other work to do. Stay in bed. And Herr Bastion, do not let ze Commander leave this room without my explicit permission, and that's an order. All of you, behave until I return." The doctor left the room with those last words, leaving the human alone with the bird and the Omnic. Without waiting even 10 seconds, Morrison threw his blankets to the side and got out of bed. Without hesitation, Bastion shifted into Configuration: Sentry, aiming its turret at the super soldier.
"Bas-Bastion," Morrison started with a sneeze, "I know that Doctor Zeigler gave you orders to keep me here. But there are far too many things that require my attention. I'm going to have to ask you to let me leave."
The Omnic, still in Configuration: Sentry, used its repair tool to point to the bed. This was very clearly a warning to get back into the bed, or suffer the consequences. Looking closer, Morrison could even see that Ganymede had a stern look in his eyes. Growling in frustration, Morrison said, "Bastion, as your Strike Commander, I ORDER you to stand down!"
Bastion's response was to begin spinning the barrels of its turret. Unlike any other member of the team, it would seem that the Omnic was unintimidated by Morrison's rank. Sighing in defeat, the old soldier got back into bed, crossing his arms in defeat with a huff as Bastion returned to Configuration: Recon. Despite his struggles, Morrison couldn't stop the Omnic from covering him with his discarded blanket, tucking him in like a child and making him feel even more pathetic.
Fortunately, Morrison received plenty of visitors throughout the day, all while Bastion and Ganymede kept a very close eye on him. Torbjörn stopped by to show off the improved armour packs that he had been working on (With Bastion's help, of course). The Swede also showed his old friend some pictures of his many children from his holiday visit to Sweden. Mei came by as well to check his temperature and to bring him a thermos of soup. When asked, the climatologist wouldn't say who made the soup, only that she had found the thermos in her lab with a note saying that it was for Jack. Although, judging by the soot and ash that covered both the thermos and the note, as well as the fact that the thermos was fireproof, the could both guess that it belonged to one of the resident Junkers.
Ana and Reinhardt visited together, bringing with them stories of their recent trip to Egypt with Fareeha. The German Crusader was always able to lift Jack's spirits with his childlike enthusiasm. As Reinhardt told them his tale, Ana and Jack enjoyed some tea, the warm liquid helping to greatly sooth his sore throat. After falling asleep for about an hour, the Commander awoke to see Zenyatta and Shimada Genji meditating nearby, while Shimada Hanzo sat on a chair and performed some maintenance on his bow. Shortly after they had left, Angela finally returned to relieve Bastion from its duty as caretaker.
"Danke sehr, Herr Bastion." Angela said, "I will take it from here. I just hope that he didn't give you too much trouble?" When Bastion shook its head, she turned back to Jack, smiling sweetly. "Now, you just have to stay in bed until tomorrow morning."
"Sometimes I wish that I didn't survive the blast back in Switzerland…" Jack grumbled to himself, resigned to his fate.
SNEAK-PEEK AT THE NEXT CHAPTER
Out of Order
"Oi! Bastion! Are ya in there, luv?" Tracer had tapped her fingers against the Omnic's dark optic, frowning when she received no response. Nothing that any of them could do was enough to garner a response from Bastion, not even when Junkrat broke a stick over the Omnic's head. While Mei was beating Junkrat for his irresponsible behavior, Winston and Symmetra were taking a careful look at the damaged machine, searching for a solution to restore its functioning.
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