The alarm was loud, as jack and I pounced out of bed. It has been so long since an emergency call.
He started putting on his clothes, his face looking stressed out. I slipped into my tank and leggings. My gear was luckily already on board.
Jack was slightly shaking, I reached out and held him for a moment. His heart was pounding.
" jack, it's okay. We got this my love" I comforted as best as I could. He kissed my cheek.
" angel we need to head out" he said as he put on his mask. We raced down the hall. Lucio and Hana were slowly making their way along with us. They better have gotten some rest. Jack and I at least had an hour of rest. Everyone was scrambling and bastion was worriedly beeping. Jack walked over to him as we all boarded.
" I'm staying back to keep watch on the base. " said Winston as he smiled worriedly.
" please everyone stay safe and in contact. Bastion will remain on the jet with Angela. But he will be able to be in contact with you. If you put on your comms." Said Winston, his face showed worry as well.
" you are all the best at what you do. I have full confidence. If you cannot handle it back out or call for your team"
" here is a test sample of bastions voice programming so you don't worry that the comms are being tampered with " said Winston.
" hello team" came a familiar voice.
" woah woah wait, hold up! Did you use jarvis' voice?" Said Lucio.
Winston laughed " I couldn't resist, I didn't want to use athena's voice, alright team. Be safe"
He walked out and waved as the doors closed.
" seventy-six, Winston just sent me the current attack map. We should probably go over strategy " said Ana to jack. They hovered over maps as I looked over at Lucio and Hana. She looked slightly excited and anxious, as Lucio was comforting her. Adorable.
Hanzo was softly talking with Genji, when they noticed me looking over for a moment. Hanzo motioned at me to join them. As they scooted apart making room for me to sit in between them.
Part of me just wanted to curl up like we used too, sounds so weird and strange. But I was really lonely back then and they knew it, never really questioning my need for some form of human touch and comfort. Especially all the medical field work i was doing, the stress of being followed, just everything, they knew. Hanzo was always a bit more reserved. But sometimes I would drift asleep and find him pulling a blanket over me. Then I would almost start sobbing because that's what jack would have anyways done. Ugh. I'm getting emotional again. Keep it together, keep it together.
" clear your mind. Concentrate. " said Genji softly. Hanzo gently cleared his throat " I wonder what is going on over there" he said as he pulled out his phone to check the news.
He held it out for Genji and into view. This wasn't easy to see. Fires , explosions, bodies and onmic bodies.
" mein gott" I uttered. My chest tightening, no matter how many dead bodies i had seen in my life, it doesn't really get easier. You learn to adapt, but sometimes the surface of bravery cracks, you can set it aside as you work, but when you get a minute to think about it... it can break you.
"This seems worse than what we were led on to believe" uttered Hanzo, his eyes darting over to Ana and Jack.
"sometimes we go in unaware of the full situation, this isn't how it used to be, we used to have more suppliers of information" said Genji.
" I'm sorry. I cannot watch this" I said getting up and walking back to my original seat. There would be people needing medical attention, yet I'm supposed to remain back. I lit a cigarette and Jesse looked over at me. His eyes shadowed by his hat, but his cigar reflecting in his eyes.
Reinhardt had joined in the conversation with Ana and jack. I can deal with this. I can be calm and strategic. I exhaled and tried to stop my hands from shaking. I have to handle sitting back, and not doing anything. I can do this...
" listen up. We will be moving in groups. Seventy-Six will have Reinhardt, Lucio, Lena and Hana. I will have Torbjorn, Hanzo, Genji and Jesse. However. I might need Lucio to join up at some point. Our groups will never stray too far from each other. Obviously Angela and bastion will be back here. If your injuries are too severe you NEED to let us know, you will come back and Angela will handle it. Otherwise I am more that qualified, 76 has his biotech fields and Lucio obviously has the ability to heal. This doesn't look good from any standpoint, it's going to be bad. Try to avoid getting involved with any contact other than lose muertos. We don't know what the exact reason is behind this and that is a problem. However we will be gathering Intel and handling it as best we can. We need to get the innocent out of the areas of attack. If you see something report it. "
I hadn't seen a look of fear on her face in awhile. But she had one, she started rustling around for her gear, pulling out a mask we hadn't seen before.
" also don't be worried. I just am taking extra precaution. Since I'm supposed to be dead"
" do yeh think talon is involved?" Asked Torbjorn.
" it's a possibility. " said jack. His left hand was twitching, he hadn't done that since starting his medication...
after some discussion between each other jack came over. I grabbed his hand immediately, he tried to pull away but relented and carefully stroked mine with his thumb.
" almost there loves" said Lena. Her voice slightly shook.
What the hell is going on with us. Nerves are normal and natural, but this is the most anxious I have seen our crew ever. We did just add new recruits, Hana was making me the most nervous, she was so young...
We landed outside of the smoke filled city.
"i love you" i whispered to Jack, not that it mattered what volume i spoke in, Jack squeezed my hand.
"Stay here, and stay safe, anything happens let us know, i love you too" he said gruffly, as they all jumped off running in their own directions. I could hear their chatter in the communicators.
" this is a mess" said Lena.
" just follow me. You want the ones with the skulls that glow" said jack. " but get these people to safety".
Fuck. How many injured? How many must die? Because of medical attention they need... normally I would be out there. Helping the injured, it's not like Ana or Lucio have medical knowledge. Bastion whirred next to me as Ganymede chirped out a little tune.
" word that the founder of lumerico has allegedly been working with vishkar-" said Winston.
" bastards" angrily spat Lucio.
" wait Winston. What should we be doing then?" Said Ana.
" so it's an uprising... los muertos is supporting the hacker... " said jack, I could hear gunshots in the background.
" so who exactly should we be fighting, because I'm sorry. I'm against vishkar. " said Lucio.
" I understand, just because someone leaked information that is helpful at exposing corporate corruption doesn't make them good. But it also doesn't make the corporation good" said Ana into her comm.
" so what do we do?" Asked Lena.
" get the people to safety, and get out. If you see los muertos take them out, we went over this" said jack gruffly. He sounded beyond agitated.
Another explosion went off,Bastion was panicking, and I could hear screaming, everyone's medical alerts were fine so it must be out there.
Fuck. I cannot idly sit here while people are dying.
" get behind me" shouted Reinhardt
"i'm fine, just some light damage" replied Hana, you could hear a twinge of fear in her voice.
"don't worry i got your back" said Lucio. Thank goodness... i know Jack also has the biotech fields, but i can still worry.
Lighting up another smoke I paced,First and foremost I'm a doctor. I have a code, I have been in hundreds of situations like this... not really alone but. My eyes glanced at bastion.
He whirred worriedly.
" I have to do something..."
" we are to remain here" said bastion. His voice would have made me smile, but not now.
" but sometimes you have to disobey to do the right thing" I said exhaling.
" we are to stay here" repeated bastion.
I heard more screams.
" I... I can't do it. " my legs collapsed under me, warm tears running down my face.
" my friend. What is wrong?"
"it's like a massacre out here" said Lucio softly
"Just focus on moving people out" Said Jack gruffly, his voice sounded strained.
" I'm a doctor. It's what I do ! I don't just sit here while my friends are out there risking their lives. I don't just. Sit here while innocent people die..." my voice cracked.
Bastion made a sad noise, I flicked my cigarette outside and put on the rest of my suit.
" I cannot stay here. " I said. As I felt my feet hitting the floor
" Angela. Come back here! We are to remain here" said bastion.
" you stay here. If I need you I'll let you know"
Fuck. He's not backup material yet. Another explosion was heard.
I stood in the doorway as the smoke burned my eyes, soot mixing with tears.
" I'm sorry " I said as I ran towards the screams. I had my comm off, i could hear but no one could hear me luckily, as for Bastion i don't know, but i doubt it.
My throat felt tight as I ran towards the moaning in pain. Various limbs scattered around the explosion site. Shrapnel embedded into the severed parts. These are homemade bombs...
My comm was buzzing with various comments of the team. Each encountering various los muertos members.
Through the smoke I saw something moving, " hello?" I softly called out.
I heard something in Spanish.
( A/N:I'm terrible at Spanish. So I'm just going to have this all written in English it's much better than me attempting it right now)
"Hello! Please help us" came a voice. I got closer
" are you hurt?"
" my leg... my grandmothers not doing well. Please. I cannot move her alone"
I walked closer. It was true. A young girl and her grandmother lying in a pile of rubble. The girls leg covered in ash and blood. Jagged metal bits sticking out.
" okay, you are alright now... " I softly said. Pulling out my medical kit and cleaning off the leg injuries.
" are you allergic to anything?" I asked.
" no"
" I'm going to remove these bits. It might hurt" I said. As I started pulling out chunks of shrapnel, the girl winced in pain while her grandmother stroked her hand.
" I need healing" said Genji through the comm.
" administering medicine" said Ana. Genji hissed into the comm. most likely Ana's healing bullet.
"my turrets keep getting destroyed" grumbled Torbjorn, you could hear frantic hammering.
"pull back then, up where i am is clear, move two clicks south" said Ana.
I got the bits out of the girls leg and wrapped a bandage after fully cleaning the wounds. I could hear moans of pain in the distance.
" do you think you two can get out of here?" I asked the pair. They nodded as I helped them up. Watching as they walked away towards the hills. The ground was covered in devastation. Burning bits of what was housing. As I heard something crumbling near me. I darted out of the way and stumbled into more injuries people huddled.
" hello, I am a doctor. Who here needs medical attention?" A few people groaned. As I shined a light at them.
" are we able to get to a safer location so I can administer care?" I asked. Only half nodded. Scheisse.
" alright, those of you who can walk please help those who cannot"
The group mumbled and nodded, I used my light to direct them towards the hills. I heard more voices in the distance.
" I will join you in a minute I just need to check for more people" I said, trying not to panic. I need backup, someone to watch my back, or someone to help me medically treat people.
" looks like we have more incoming" said Hanzo.
" can you tell how many?" Asked jack
"i would say fifty" said Hanzo.
Scheisse scheisse, as I moved closer to the last location I heard moans at I only found bodies. Carefully touching their pulse points, still warm, no pulse... too late. I was too late. My eyes stung from smoke and tears. I felt my legs scramble through the rubble as I rushed to join the group I was helping. Trails of blood was etched along the path they took.
As I approached some of them looked on deaths door. I can do this. This is what I do.
I quickly set to work, instructions others how to help, getting a makeshift medical unit going, wound cleaning and tying off areas that needed stitches. They were messy but they would hold til they could get to a medical facility... if there still was a medical facility.
" my meka is being destroyed" shouted Hana.
" bail out" instructed Jack.
" no I got this!" Argued Hana.
"Head back to the flyer if you cannot defend anymore, that's an order" said Jack.
" i just need more healing" said Hana
"Get over here then" barked Jack.
Gunfire was echoing into my comm.
when suddenly I heard the EMP noise. I almost dropped the sterile needle I was stitching with.
I'm fine... it's a war zone this happens. It's fine, I'm fine, everything is fine. One stitch , two stitch... static ... three stitches. Come on Ziegler you got this.
" group fall back here" said jack grumpily into his comm.
" we need to get these people out and get out..." said Ana.
" agreed, there's still a few intact buildings, we will send them to the hills" replied jack.
I closed the wound and moved onto the next person. More stitches... blood was pouring out. Could it be an artery? Fuck. Fuck.
" here hold this for me please" I asked someone who was sitting near where I was crouching and working, handing them a flashlight.
" shine it directly onto the wound" I instructed. I pulled out some of my artery fix. A special glue I used, weird but effective. It fuses the artery back together, avoiding any messy surgery. I heard vomiting behind me as I carefully dug around the wound. Affixing the glue to the artery and letting it dry. The bleeding was stopped for the time being, as I stitched the exterior wound closed. I snapped off the gloves i was using after i cleaned the wound and sealed it completely.
I heard planes overhead and a light flashing happened.
" everyone move. Get into the caves ! Now!" I screamed.
People were grabbing each other working together. I couldn't hear much in my comm due to the commotion.
" okay that should be the last-ahhh" shouted Ana in pain.
" we are heading back unless you need us. This side has been cleared out. " said Ana.
" we could use the backup, still another group to get headed in the right direction " said jack.
" work together, clear the rest and get back to the jet" ordered Winston.
I saw groups of people running towards my group. Scheisse, more wounded. They approached, and I instructed the wounded to come to me, as I worked on removing bits and pieces of metal from their legs and such. I worked as fast as I could. We are all moving targets. What am I doing? I have unarmed injured people, no one to back me up. I ... another flash as I worked on a leg. Quickly using my liquid bond for the smaller wounds.
" if you are able, or if you are injured but have been seen, head to the caves. Please help each other and move " I ordered. My voice shaking. I cannot be responsible for death.
I had a few more injured to get through.
Only about five remained with me when I heard incoming fire.
My comm buzzed in my ear.
" little bird away from her flock?" Taunted a female voice.
" so foolish" she continued.
" heading back" came a garbled Hanzo voice.
" gunfire near the caves" said Genji.
I worked quickly on the last two wounded people, while the three healthy people waited to help.
" we need to move" I said. They nodded but then one fell... I could smell the gunfire residue.
" run. Please run"
" mercy mercy" shouted one of them.
" just go" I said pulling out my blaster.
I felt a shot hit my leg, another person got hit... fatally. I tried to clear my thoughts, i blindly shot in the direction of gunfire.
" oh little bird, making a mess I see " suddenly a woman appeared from nowhere.
" gotcha" she said with a wicked smile on her face. Pointing her gun at me, when a shurikin whizzed by me and landed into her shoulder.
" maybe later..." she laughed as she seemingly disappeared.
Arrows and shurikins flew through the air. Causing the other armed men to fall to the ground dead.
I turned and honed onto Genjis glowing figure, my wings expanded as i flew to him.
" foolish idiot" muttered Hanzo.
Genji grabbed my arm as we ran to the jet. I felt some bullets whizz past us. Hanzo ran backwards trying to find the source. They jumped onto the flyer but I tripped.
The female appeared again, along with other figures clothed in black. I felt and heard gunfire. Hanzo and Genji whipped around firing. Bastion was beeping frantically. When suddenly he dropped down and a turret appeared. He rolled out of the jet firing. As I regained control of my body and jumped inside the jet.
" we could use some back up" said Hanzo.
" we are on our way, we got attacked but the targets are eliminated" said jack.
" same on our way" said Ana.
Suddenly their shots were heard over the hills. The familiar helix rockets rained down. Bastion returned inside with Hanzo and Genji. They guarded the door.
" bastion you did ... wonderful " I said softly.
Genji turned to me "Angela you are bleeding!" He exclaimed rushing over to me.
" I'm fine it's just a scratch " I said, before looking at the blood trail.
Genji started removing my boots
" I'm fine I can handle it myself, ahhhh" I muttered in pain, stupid leg wounds.
" that is not what we saw" said Hanzo annoyed.
" what if we hadn't have been there?" He argued. Genji was cutting off part of my leggings. It was soaked with blood.
" I don't... I just " I couldn't argue with him. He was right...
"Angela. You were given an order and clearly you went against it. We want to protect you. But you are making it hard to do that" grunted Hanzo.
No exit wound, I grabbed my kit and started digging out the bullet, swearing in pain, some shrapnel lodged into my calf, my leg was a complete mess, i really should come up with something better medically for myself. I know this stuff will come out of me naturally, but for appearances i must remove as i they see it. I carefully wrapped my calf.
" Hanzo, you got injured as well" i gasped looking at his shoulder. I led him over to the small medical area i had set up as i extracted some shrapnel, carefully stitching him up as Torbjorn, Jesse and Lena jumped onto the flyer.
" bullocks! What happened here?" Shrieked Lena.
" nothing nothing. A stray bullet must have found me" I muttered.
" Ange! You are caked in blood!" She yelled.
"Well... i'm also tending to this wound, and god knows what else you guys got yourselves into" i mumbled as Lucio and Hana popped in. Hana stored her mech in the corner, Winston had gotten Torbjorn to create a holding area for it.
" watch your step" said Genji. The floor blood was drying.
Fuck. I should have rinsed off the blood. I quickly stripped off my armor and shoved it into the corner. Reinhardt and Ana jumped in along with jack. Fuck. Fuck.
" what happened?! Did they get in here?" Asked Ana.
Hanzo and Genji looked at me then exchanged looks, Hanzo sighed angrily and sat in place as i finished up the stitches.
"They didn't get in here..." said Genji.
" uhm. Does any one have any injuries?" I mumbled softly.
The doors closed as everyone just kind of laid around exhausted.
" Jesse got hit, as usual..." stated Lena. As she flipped a few controls.
" come here then" I said trying to sound as calm as possible. Jesse sauntered over showing me an injured shoulder. I carefully extracted the bullet and cleaned the wound, then dressed it. He returned to his seat and I cleaned off my face. Luckily I think my tears in the field cleaned most of the smoke. Jack and Ana were talking over what happened with Winston on the comms. It felt like so much time had passed. I was curled up on my seat, jack walked over and sat next to me.
" Angela. What the hell happened to your suit?" He said.
" and your leg " said Ana.
" I..." I started. Then I just couldn't. My voice felt frozen , my body felt cold and shaky and everything cramped. No no. Not anxiety. Please no.
" Angela " repeated jack.
" please not now" I whispered. Ana shook her head and huffed over to her seat. I could feel eyes staring me down.
Jacks hand was squeezing mine tighter and tighter.
" fuck" he grunted under his breathe. He couldn't yell at me. Not in front of everyone. That brought a minor relief, I just wanted to cry or throw up.
"what happened" he grumbled.
" i went into the field, i heard explosions, i couldn't just-"
"stop. We will discuss this once we return to the base" said jack as her rubbed his temples with one hand.
The rest of the flight was so quiet. Everyone was exhausted, and it felt as though nothing got resolved there. Sure we helped people get away, but the underlying threat was horrible. So far the target seemed to be just lumerico.
Once we landed everyone just scrambled to their rooms except Ana, jack and me.
We walked to Winston's room.
I tried to calm my nerves but nothing was working.
" why is Angela here?" Asked Winston. Post mission briefing I rarely was involved.
" apparently she went into the field" said Ana.
Winston frowned and spoke with frustration" what happened?"
I took a deep breath.
" I saw an explosion and I heard screaming-" my voice cracked as tears started to fall.
" I couldn't stop myself, I tried ,bastion tried. I'm sorry... I helped a few people to the caves, and supplied medical care..."
" is that all?"
" ...no. When I was about to finish with the last few people some shots rang out. And that woman's voice and body appeared" i tried to remain calm, but it wasn't working.
" what do you mean appeared"
" she appeared from out of air. She wasn't there. Then she was. "
" can you describe her?" Asked Ana.
" not really , purple hair? Spanish accent... " I frowned. I'm useless.
" what happened ?l"
" she taunted me, she had her soldiers fire at me and my people... some..." my voice trailed off.
" some lives were lost. Hanzo and Genji showed up and she disappeared. They got me out and that's about it. " I sighed.
" Angela. I cannot stress how foolish of a move that was. But I think right now you need rest. So you are dismissed, i will talk with Hanzo and Genji and see if they got a clear view of this woman you speak of" said Winston. I felt too weak to stand. My anxiety soaring through the roof.
" actually. Unless anyone has any more information about the mission, that wasn't discussed on the comm. then we will reconvene in the morning. But first I want a few words with Ana and 76 alone. " said Winston. I nodded. Walking back to my room, my eye was slightly twitching and my stomach felt cramped. Shower... or something should help... I smell of smoke and I feel caked in blood. I opened my door and went into the bathroom, stripping off my blood soaked clothes. Rinsing off before filling the tub and sinking into it. The warmth surrounding me as I relaxed. I don't deserve a moment of peace like this, but it's not like I'm relaxed. Running water over my hair and scrubbing out the dried blood as I showered off again. Slipping into my robe and drying my hair. The color thankfully fading. A soft knock was at the door and my heart sped up. I opened it and he walked in.
The door closed behind him and he pulled off his mask. His eyes looked exhausted and etched with worry.
" why angel ? Wait. I don't need to know. It's you. But... why " his voice cracked and he shook.
" I'm so sorry. I just. I felt so helpless and I heard screaming and I just. I couldn't let them die jack. I couldn't do it" I cried softly. Fuck. I don't want to reduce myself to just tears.
His hands ran up to my cheeks wiping away tears as they fell.
His body pressed against mine.
" why do you have to be so stupid sometimes?" he asked then he kissed me. As he pulled away he looked into my eyes.
" why did you have to do that?" Then he kissed me again.
" god you make me worry so much" he groaned. I wrapped my arms around his neck. He kissed me again stroking my cheek with one hand. His kiss felt gentle yet passionate.
He pulled away and rested his forehead against mine.
" I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you " his voice shook, and I kissed his lips. "please, angel, don't ever do that again, please" his voice cracked and his body shook as he held me tightly. If i didn't feel so horrible about the entire situation i probably would have dragged him to the bed. My face was pressed into his chest and his arms were holding me tighter, hands slowly sliding down my spine. He picked me up and carried me over to the bed. Gently placing me down and into the pillow nest we left this morning.
" get some rest angel, I need to shower as well. "
" I understand , you do smell of pulse munitions" I said forcing a smile. He gave me a kiss on the forehead and disappeared into the shower. I curled up on my side and tried to fall asleep. Why do I feel guilty for doing what I am supposed to do? Ugh. These damn obsessive thoughts constantly running around my mind. Tossing around trying to get comfortable when I felt him climb in next to me. His head resting in the crook of my neck as I curled my back closer into him, he carefully rested an arm on my waist.
" I'm mad at you. But I'm not mad at you at the same time. You just worry me " he said sadly
" I'm sorry..."
" don't be, just please obey orders next time. Please. Or at least have some sort of backup "
" bastion fired some shots" I said softly.
" really? That's good" said jack " I'll have to talk to him in the morning"
" Jack it is morning..."
" you know what I mean" he kissed my neck, gently tickling the hairs on the back of my neck.
" he went into turret form, and dashed out..." i whispered.
"was this while you were in the field, or ?"
" afterwards when Hanzo and Genji and i made it back to the craft, i fell, and she was there again..."
He was so quiet for a moment, i panicked again, but i could feel his heart pounding louder.
"was it the voice you heard before?" he asked.
"yes..." i softly said. He grunted and kissed my neck again, then rolled onto his back motioning for me to curl into him, i rested my head on his chest, one hand over his heart, while i softly hummed to him, i hadn't done this in years. It was a thing we would do when anxious, he would do it more to me, but he needed this, i needed this. I felt his heart rate return to normal, but my hair felt slightly damp. I knew he had fallen asleep, so i gently leaned up to kiss his cheek, faintly tasting salt on my lips as i curled my head back onto his chest. I could probably count the number of times he had cried on my hands in all the years i knew him, it was rare... i need to actually follow orders, this isn't original overwatch... this is different, we are beyond smaller in numbers. We have a family now, and i'm being reckless... but it's in my nature. His gentle heartbeat began lulling me into a sleep.
A/N: Sorry about the Spanish fiasco, like, i know some, but unlike German, where i just use a few phrases, i didn't want to attempt a language that i don't know, for an entire conversation. Anyways! another chapter! i hope you enjoyed, if you didn't let me know, or don't... or do? it's up to you.
Thank you so much to all of your who are reading, i know i say that and this like...every chapter, but it truly means so much to me. It's been a long weird week, and hopefully you are all doing well.