Spending Time (1)
"Okay, love. What do you want to do?" Tracer asked.
"How about we play tag?" Melanie suggested. "It's fun, plus it will help me build my stamina and endurance."
"Okay, but why is it that you want to train?" Tracer asked. "You're not at Talon anymore."
"I know that," Melanie said as she poked Tracer. "Tag! You're it!" she yells as she sprints away.
"Oh, you are so going to get it now, Melanie!" Tracer yelled as she stared to run after her.
Even though Tracer was fast, Melanie knows the base extremely well. Tracer was barely keeping up with her, and that's saying something for the time traveler.
Melanie, on the other hand, was having fun. It was funny how Tracer looked when she flanked passed her.
Melanie was having so much fun, she forgot the actual training behind the game and ran outside laughing. She ran near the cliffs, but was lifted up from behind.
Flashback
Melanie was panting as she ran. Her lungs burned and her feet ached, but didn't want to stop. She knew she couldn't outrun him, but she would try. She was able to avoid him for this long, she could-
"Got you!" a smooth and lighter version of Zenyatta's voice came. Melanie's small body was lifted into the air.
Present
"Hahaha, oh darn it! You got me Anu!" Melanie said.
"Melanie, love. Who's Anu?" Tracer asked as she put Melanie down, looking puzzled.
"Anu, is an A.I." Melanie said as she beamed at Tracer's interest. "My father and mother made Anubis. He took care of me while my parents were busy. Well, until my parents had to move Anubis to Egypt." The last part made her sad, while a headache was starting.
"Anubis? Do you mean the God A.I. in Egypt?"
"Uhh, yeah. … Please don't tell Ana!" Melanie started to panic.
"Why love? What's wrong?"
"I don't want her to hate me! I don't know what to do with that. Pharah hates me-"
"Wait what!? Why would Pharah hate you?"
"I guess I should tell someone," Melanie sighs. "Much like you, Genji, and the others, I had met Pharah. But we didn't meet on the greatest of terms," she said as she broke eye contact.
"What happened?"
"I was in Egypt. I was moving to another town, until I was taken by a random omnic to the Temple of Anubis. I found out that Anubis had used the omnic to bring me to him. It was a great reunion even though Anubis was locked away."
"Then what happened?" Tracer promoted.
"Anubis tried to escape. He wanted to hold and take care of me again. Anubis heard what happened after he left for Egypt. He tried to escape, but Pharah and her team came. They shut Anubis down. Not for good, but temporarily. Pharah saw me near Anubis and tried to capture me. But I faded away. Since we met ag-" Melanie stopped as she body shook.
Tracer held her shoulders. "Melanie, what's wrong!?"
Flashback
"You were the pest that was helping Anubis escape!" Pharah growled at Melanie. She had her pinned to the wall, strangling her.
"C-can't b-br-breath!" Melanie gasped out, but she didn't dare try to stop her.
"You can't die. I'm not worried. However, you let my teammates die!"
Pharah pulled Melanie back, only to slam her into the wall of an empty hallway. Everyone else was busy, so Melanie was on her own again.
"You have those wonderful healing abilities, but you were trying to let Anubis escape while letting my team and many others suffer death!" Pharah slammed Melanie three more times.
"S-stop" Melanie gasped on the verge of dying.
"You are the real monster! You were probably friends with Anubis. You're really a Talon spy. Well know this, once everyone knows the truth," Melanie's vision fades out with Pharah's words. "They will all hate you!"
Present
Melanie dropped to her knees and held her head, while struggling to breathe.
"Melanie!?"
"Everyone is going to hate me! Anubis is like my older brother! They don't even know what was going on to have Anubis control other omnics!"
"Woah! Melanie, calm down. It's okay, I don't hate you."
"Y-you don't?" Melanie asked after a minute, to control of her breathing.
"No, in fact, I want to know more. It seems you do remember some of your past, though," Tracer pointed out.
"Ya, but now I have a headache."
"How about I hand you off to Zenyatta?" Tracer suggest. "You need to relax."
Melanie nods as she gets up with Tracer's help. Then they both made their way to Zenyatta.
Time Skip
After Tracer left, Melanie explained what happened earlier to Zenyatta. He was surprised that she could remember anything at all of her past, and even more so when he found that Anubis is her older brother.
"No, I don't hate you. You know the truth behind the mysterious god A.I. Anubis. Why would I hate you for that?"
"Because Pharah said-"
"She is blinded by grief and anger," Zenyatta interrupts. "Seeing you brought up pain from the past when she saw you last."
"So I'll be a constant reminder of her fallen teammates?"
"No, with time and patience, she will learn to let go."
"Thanks Zen. You always know what to say! Just like Mondatta!"
"You're welcome, Melanie. Can you remember anything else from your past?"
"Uhm, I remember … Auntie Dana and Uncle Alex."
"Anything specific?"
"I remember learning some hacking skills from Dana and Alex was there at Gentek teaching me about science and viruses. It was really fun learning from them!"
"It would seem that you're starting to remember."
"I don't think so. I think only bits and pieces will come back. Not something big. I tried to remember my parents, but I got a terrible headache," Melanie explains. Zenyatta thought for a moment, then hummed.
"Maybe you need to remember a happy moment with them. All the other memories seem to be when you're happy, so you need to try and be happy," Zenyatta reasoned.
"That's true, but it happens due to certain things," Melanie said. "I remember playing tag with Anubis, because I was playing tag with Tracer. I remember hacking with Dana, because I was hacking with Sombra. I remember Alex being a scientist, because Winston is a scientist. There are certain connections with my past, in the present," Melanie explained.
"Well, there is one thing that hasn't changed, past or present wise."
"What's that?" Melanie asked. As the question was asked, another flashback happened.
"Did you know-"
Flashback
"-you have cousins?" Melanie's mother asked her.
"I do!? Really!?" an excited three year old Melanie asked looking up at her mother.
"Yes, you do. They are both older than you. The eldest is Hanzo, while the younger is Genji," her mother said.
"What are they like? Do they like playing tag? When will I meet them!?" Melanie asked.
"I'm not sure, Nawala. I never met them, myself. I probably will never meet them. But I know, without a doubt, you will meet them."
"Why will I meet them and not you?" Melanie asked.
Her mother looked away from her and frowns. "In the end, I was never meant to exist. Nor was I ever meant to see them, but you will meet them." Her mother turns to her and smiles, "And when you do, they will love you, Nawala Melanie Kako."
Present
Melanie sat there, crying as she thought about what she remembered. She could not see her mother. She was a black figure that only showed her mouth. Melanie didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Melanie, are you alright?" Zenyatta asked softly.
"I don't know," Melanie said with a blank expression as her tears flowed. "I remember my mother asking me the same thing. I'm happy I remember something of her, but I can't remember what she looked like or how she knew she wouldn't meet Genji and Hanzo. It pains me that I will never have her in my life again, but it's good to know that my mother was right about Genji and Hanzo loving me. I'm just … confused on how I should feel about this."
"I see that you're conflicted. It happens to many others who have amnesia. I would suggest you try and think about later. Make sure to take your time with your memories. In the end it will all make sense."
"Thanks, Zen. I'm glad I could talk to you. Can … can take me to Soldier 76?"
"Of course, Melanie. Let's go find him. I believe he's in the command center."
Zenyatta and Melanie made their way to the command center. They almost made it the door, but they ran into Symmetra.
"Ah, Infinity. I was looking for you. How have you been?" she asked. Zenyatta was going to step in, but Melanie spoke up.
"I am well, Ms. Symmetra. I no longer have a headache. I am thinking clearly now. I have seen that my past actions have been a waste of time. I should be bettering society to be perfect," Melanie said.
Symmetra nodded. "That's good to hear that your mind has cleared. I can't wait to see you in action," Symmetra said as she walked away.
Zenyatta moved forward and rested a servo on her shoulder. "Are you alright, Melanie?" he asked softly.
Melanie shook her head, then looked at him. "Zen, she tried to send me away. To alter my mind and destroy who I am. Many from the U.N. had planned to do that to me, but Symmetra and Vishkar have the knowledge and the means to do so. She … she was so close."
Zenyatta pulls Melanie into a hug. "You're fine. We won't let that happen."
"That's the thing, Zen. No one can really protect me," Melanie said. "It's inevitable. At some point I will be in harm's way and no one can do anything about it."
"Until then," Zenyatta said. "We will be here for you now."
Melanie hugged Zenyatta for a second, then let go. She turned to the door and walked through to find Ana, Soldier 76, and Reinhardt in the room.
"Melanie! Zenyatta! What brings you two here?" Reinhardt bellowed.
"Melanie wanted to find Soldier 76," Zenyatta said, then turned to Melanie. "Is there anything else you need Melanie?"
Melanie shook her head. "No, I'm good. I know it's time for your meditation anyway."
"Are you sure? You know that I can-"
"No. I'm fine, Zeny. Really," Melanie interrupted. "I wanted to tell them about earlier anyway."
Zenyatta hesitated before nodding. "Alright then. You know where to find me if you need me." With that, he left the four in the room.
"What was it you wanted to talk to me about, Melanie?" Soldier 76 asked.
"I wanted to tell you that I remember my past," Melanie said. The three of them gasped.
"Really?" Ana asked.
"Only bits and pieces. They were mostly good memories."
"What was one of them?" Reinhardt asked.
"Learning about science, from my Uncle Alex."
"Alex, as in Alex Mercer?" Soldier 76 asked.
"Yeah!" Melanie said happily. "Another is hacking with Auntie Dana, and playing tag with Anu!" Melanie realised what she said and stiffened.
"Anu?" Ana asked.
Melanie sighed. "Don't … get mad. For what I'm about to tell you." She took a deep breath, and let it out. "Anu is also the god A.I. Anubis."
"What!?" Soldier 76 shouted.
"Yeah … Anu was created by … my parents. Anu is my older brother. He took care of me, before he was moved to Egypt for safety."
"Safety? Safety for what!?" Soldier 76 growled. This wasn't helping Melanie at all.
"People found out he could control other omnics. He was a big target for everyone. He had omnics protect him. But if I remembered correctly, Overwatch imprisoned him."
"Anubis had killed hundreds!" Soldier 76 yelled. "He killed innocents and you have the nerve to say he fled to Egypt! He kill so many people and omnics alike, 12 years ago. And for What!?"
"THE DEATH OF OUR PARENTS!" Melanie screeched. "OUR PARENTS DIED 12 YEARS AGO. MURDERED AND I WAS BEING-" Melanie choked to a stop as her tears flowed down her face like rivers. She quickly turned and ran out of the room.
"Melanie, Wait!" Ana and Reinhardt yelled. "You're not suppose to go off alone," Ana added, but they were ignored.
"Jack, look what you've done! She's alone again! What if she's taken again," Reinhardt growled.
"We have cameras and Athena tracking her," Soldier 76 brushed off.
"We can't track her outside the base, Jack! Not to mention Talon is after her. This doesn't excuse the fact that you scared her away!" Ana yelled.
"That doesn't excuse all the lives Anubis has taken!" Soldier 76 said.
"It may not be an excuse, but it would explain his actions. Although Anubis is powerful, he was still young. He didn't know how to deal with loss or helplessness," Ana argued.
"You better hope she's safe, Jack," Reinhardt growled. "If she isn't, you will have to deal with more than just me and Ana." Then Ana and Reinhardt ran off to see if they could find Melanie.