Tracer

It wasn't completely out of the ordinary, but Lena was acting without really thinking things over as she dragged Widowmaker through Overwatch Gibraltar. She ignored the stares. She didn't have time for them. The Brit pushed onward until she arrived at the weapon's bay, where Torbjorn, Jack, and Zenyatta were presently organizing what appeared to be a strike squad of some kind, Lena recognizing some of them to be Masters at the very least. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't hoping Winston would be around to buffer her argument, but she couldn't rely on his influence all the time. She would make her case and move along, if necessary.

'Heya!' Lena started, the bubbly greeting as good an icebreaker as any.

'What the…?' Torbjorn was the first to grunt, and then Jack looked up, his light eyes hardened upon seeing Widowmaker.

'Tch. Winston playing favourites again, huh? Unbelievable.' He muttered somewhat simply. 'Put her back, Lena. I don't want to end the threat myself if I have to.'

'Not happening, Jack. Widow's got a bone to pick with Moira, and you need all the help you can get, right? Howabout you let me take a plane with the best assassin in the world over to our angel you willingly put into harm's way and I'll forgive you for keeping that completely daft plan from me. Deal?'

'When we capture Moira you won't think my strategy was so ludicrous.'

'And if Angela dies her blood is on your hands.' Lena countered, and the room went quiet. 'You didn't tell me what you were doing because you know I always put my team's safety above all else; above making a small dent in Talon's massive organization.'

'Then why do you have her with you? She killed one of our agents just recently. How could you possibly be concerned for the team's safety when you have a cold-blooded killer right behind you.' Jack turned to the collection of agents, nodding to them. 'Go. I'll be with you all in a moment. Get the transport ready.'

"Sir!"

The room cleared out save for the five remaining individuals. A prophetic omnic, three of the most valuable members in Overwatch, and one of Talon's very best.

'I don't have time to argue. You aren't taking her on this mission. I won't risk her snapping and hurting Angela.'

'Oh, now you're worried about her!'

'You think it was an easy call!? Huh?' Jack broke, his voice rising and cracking with the age he now harboured. 'Angela agreed to it. I didn't make her do anything. Something's gotta change if we want to win this war. Talon is only getting stronger, and they hide themselves so well we can only defend every single time they attack. Enough! If we can gain the U.N.'s support after publicly saving Angela Ziegler, one of the world's most famous biologists and valuable humanitarian, then maybe, just maybe we can get some form of advantage rather than barely scraping by while Talon creates more weapons and successfully initiates the second Omnic Crisis.'

Lena grit her teeth, mostly because part of her did agree with what Jack was saying. But still, was the risk worth it? Angela couldn't be replaced. Moira, more than likely, could, to some degree. If Angela was lost…

'I'll take a private vehicle. Just her and me. I gotta help Ange. I'm one of our best. Widow's one of theirs. Put us together and I have a feeling you'll be kinda happy with what happens. We owe this to Widow, Jack. After what they did to her, how can we not give her this chance?'

Jack's brow finally softened, and he gave Widow a sharp glance.

'I won't make that call. You know how I feel, Lena. If we're talking about blood on hands, well, letting her run wild risks yours getting even messier. Believe me, it weighs you down eventually…'

Lena felt that blow, and she took it in stride. She straightened up, ready to fight for Widow further, when the woman herself stepped forward, her more active presence putting Torbjorn and even Jack on edge.

'I've killed hundreds.' Widow began, her accent ever seductive even when saying something so morbid. 'I murdered my husband. I felt nothing for the longest time. However,' She shifted her weight, staring down Jack. 'Your Lena did not give up on me. Not once. I was a monster. I still am. But Dr. Ziegler showed me light. Because of her, I am having this conversation with you now. Do I have the urge to kill all of you before you can hardly blink? Quite. Yet, I will not. I shall not. Why? Because of that same woman who is now in captivity. You speak of her dying? If only. That would be merciful. Might I ask how you would feel if she ended up like me? A killer against her will? Widowmaker 2.0. The woman who lived her entire life only wishing to save lives forced to take them forevermore. Moira is capable of that. You gave her the opportunity to twist your "angel" into the utmost of demons. I am offering a helping hand to bring her back. All I ask is that I am the one to put an end to that mad doctor of Talon's.' Widow paused, her voice echoing in the weapon's bay, everyone shocked by her blunt words and graceful delivery save for, perhaps, Zenyatta, who almost appeared proud somehow.

'Imagine, if you will, that her obvious beauty isn't unnoticed by her Talon operatives. Imagine, if you dare, they have their way with her and gouge out any evidence of their sin. Heh. That would only be the beginning. Death? Foolish man. Death would be a blessing to that woman in the hands of that hell on earth. I know that hell. I won't allow another to experience anything of the like.'

'Spoken like a true hero.' Lena beamed.

'Don't push it.' Widow snapped back.

'If I may…' Zenyatta floated forward. 'Our spoken of angelic figure remains in captivity. Hesitating now would only serve to heighten her risk. I recommend we allow this born-again fighter to prove her resolve, for I am sensitive to such folly, and I perceive none within her. She could very well be the difference between success…and failure.'

Lena waited for Jack to respond, but he simply turned, took a moment, and then went to the primary weapon storage himself, taking Lena's twin pistols and Widow's sniper rifle, handing them both over without a word. He left then, and Winston's voice came on over the intercom.

"Um…Lena?"

'Yeah, big guy?' She answered, smiling at Zenyatta to which she received a victory sign from the unique omnic.

"I'm worried about the time it'll take to make it to Angela. Our calculations assume we should be fine, considering Moira will be, hopefully, unable to resist the temptation to run some experiments before doing anything irreversible, but I'm still concerned, and…well…we'll discuss the other thing once you're in the air."

Lena waved to Torbjorn and Zenyatta as she left with Widow, continuing her conversation with Winston as she went.

'I'm making my way to the docks as we speak.'

"Good. I…uh…I have a proposal."

'I'm willing to try anything if it makes the chances of saving Angie better.'

"I had time while Overwatch was disbanded and…er…I made adjustments to it."

'To what?'

"The Slipstream."

Lena stopped, Widow bumping into her the stall was so sudden. Her chronal accelerator seemed to pulsate in response, and flickering disassociation made her sick. Speaking of hell on earth…

'Tracer…?' Widow asked, concern in her voice that Lena wish she could've enjoyed more.

'R-right. Makes sense. That would do it, wouldn't it?'

"Yeah…"

'Done. I'll pilot it.' Lena didn't think about it, because if she did, she couldn't take another step. She promised herself to live everyday to its fullest with no regrets. If she didn't take this opportunity, Angela could be lost forever. No. She wouldn't let a little fear stop her. She wouldn't let the terror of becoming trapped in nothingness, watching the world move on without her stop her.

"Are you sure?"

'Nope. But ain't got a choice now, do I? How long would it take us to make it to Angie with that thing?' Lena moved forward again, grabbing Widow's wrist as she did so. The woman stopped her, scowled, and took her hand, which was embarrassing, because Lena was shaking, and she didn't want to be seen so vulnerable.

'What is this?' Widow asked, but Lena just gave a nod of her head and went on with Winston.

"Huh?"

'Nothing, big guy. We're almost at the docks.'

"Oh. Good. If all goes well, it won't take you longer than an hour or less."

'If all goes well. Right. Bloody hell…'

'Tracer. Do not ignore me.'

"Um…"

'It's fine, Winston. Which unit is it in?'

A garage hummed open, and Tracer's throat went tight at the sight of the new and improved Slipstream. It was small, but Lena didn't doubt its capabilities. She always loved flying, but ever since the incident that shaped her world as an eventual hero of Overwatch, she was much more hesitant to pilot such aircrafts unless completely necessary. With Angela's life on the line, there was only the absolute need to put Lena's fears away and press on.

'Alright. We're getting in. Come on, Luv.'

"I'm linking Angela's secondary tacker with your onsite map. Moira destroyed the decoy, but didn't bother doing a thorough scan for the possibility of another, I think. I made it out of plastic as well, and inserted it in her skin behind her right ear. If the coordinates are correct, they're still in Iraq, but a fair distance from the main sector of Oasis. It's a somewhat secluded area, which makes our lives easier."

'Wicked.' Lena flipped some switches and initiated the aircraft. Thankfully, Widow seemed to have given up on prying, and simply searched the craft for spare clothing, to which she found some fairly modest Overwatch standard gear.

'Don't look.' She said quietly.

'Sure thing, Luv.' Lena breathed, her air coming out sporadically. 'Purring like a kitten, Winston.'

"I can hear that. I ran so many tests it doesn't surprise me in the least. All should be well, Lena. Take it out and save Angela."

'Roger!' Lena gripped the handles to the steering panels and felt the aircraft accelerating. The engine sounded vaguely like her own chronal accelerator, and Lena nodded to herself before calling out to her partner in crime.

'Better hold on to something, Luv. I'm about to hit it.'

'So be it.' Widow climbed into the chair next to Lena, having only bothered to change into the pants and shirt issued to every grunt Overwatch had. Somehow, however, she still looked overly attractive.

'Onward!' And Lena guided the aircraft to the runway, punching it into full gear before her whole body was pressed into the chair, her face feeling compressed for but a second prior to the onboard level adjusters working their magic and stabilizing everything.

'Heheh! Blast off!' Lena was terrified but also elated at once. The Slipstream was one of the fastest crafts in the world on its own, but it also had a warp function which, admittedly, Lena was nervous about using. It's what went wrong last time. She didn't want to put Widow through anything else, but it was the only way to get to Angela posthaste. Her hand trembled reaching for the button that would allow her to physically jump through a temporary wormhole.

"You'll need to jump a total of three times. I'm programming the coordinates now. Don't do anything yet. It'll take me approximately five minutes to do it perfectly. I'll be right back. Winston out."

A beat, but Widow's sultry voice started, anger evidently filtered through it.

'What are you hiding from me?'

'Nothin', Luv.'

'Oh? And now you lie? Unforgivable.'

Lena didn't catch the last word laced with irritation, but she could make an educated guess. Genuine hurt was in Widow's tone, and it instantly made Lena shake off any apprehensions or reservations. She really did care about her.

'You're really sexy when you get behind the wheel, you know that?'

'Whoa! You think? I mean, I've always loved driving things, so, I guess it makes sense, don't it?'

'You get this glimmer in your eyes. It's really handsome.'

'Oi! Someone take note! Em's givin' me compliments left and right!'

'Stop it. You know I admire you.'

'Well, who wouldn't? A gal who used to work for a now criminal organization who can't hold a normal job for longer than a month because she gets stupefied by boredom? Right. Right. I'm a keeper.'

'Ugh. Stop it. I hate it when you get like this. I was just trying to give you some encouragement.'

'…I know, Beautiful. Sorry. I do appreciate it. Jus' a little sensitive sometimes these days, you know?'

'Don't I.'

'I'm gonna pull over here, kay?'

'In the middle of nowhere?'

'Yeah. In the middle of nowhere.'

'…Why?'

'Heh. Why do you think?'

'Oh, bloody hell. Really? Now?'

'No time like the present. You don't wanna?'

'…I didn't say that…'

'God. When you get shy like that…Oi! Pulling over!'

Why now? Why was she thinking about her now? She had been doing so well, yet…

'The last time I flew one of these things I…sort kinda disappeared. It's why I wear the glowy thing here. My chronal accelerator anchors my physical body to the real world. Let's me do neat tricks to impress the ladies, too. Without it…I basically go ghost. You got a taste of it during the last battle, I guess? Thought I was a goner, didn't you?'

Widow didn't answer right away, taking time to digest the information, as she tended to do now that Amelie was showing through more and more. She was careful with her words. The total opposite of Lena who, on occasion, ate her foot at the worst times.

'I see. I…vaguely recall reading notes regarding your situation, but I can barely recollect the specifics. I only knew I was expected to kill you. At the time, your past or circumstances meant nothing to me.'

'Oh? But now you totally care about little ol' me?'

'I do.' Widow replied quickly, making Lena's heart jump. 'To an extent, in any case.'

Right. Widow had given her answer. Maybe distracting her mind with thoughts of Emily wasn't the worst thing Lena could do. It would be less invasive to Widow's recovery if she cut back on the flirting, that's for certain.

'So, yeah, sorry for not explaining things earlier. I…uh…'

'Don't like burdening others with your own troubles. How naïve.' Widow crossed her arms, turning away. 'For someone willing to risk life and limb for an assassin ordered to kill you on sight, you have a disturbing view of your own wellbeing and mental health. You are permitted to lean on others, surely.'

'I do. I do…' Lena swallowed, realizing Widow was more correct than not. 'Maybe not.'

'Maybe not, indeed.'

'It's just not how I do things.'

'Hiding your fears and apprehensions cannot be healthy.'

Lena blinked, overcome with emotion abruptly. She used to talk to Emily about everything, but ever since joining Overwatch, she didn't have the same kind of outlet. She wanted to bottle up the hurt and pain, but the Slipstream was bringing memories and scenes back to the forefront of her mind. She sucked in her bottom lip, and asked a question she wasn't sure she wanted the answer to.

'Then…could I talk to you here and there? A-as a friend, of course.'

A long, torturous beat.

'…You may.' Widow responded at last, and Lena couldn't help smiling, her eyes on fire as Winston's voice came on over the intercom again.

"Coordinates logged and transferred. Slipstream shows data received. You can make the jumps within certain frames of time. The window of opportunity is approximately five seconds." He paused, and Lena glanced to Widow, the woman still not looking at her. "Between jumps, the Slipstream needs about fifteen to twenty minutes to recharge and prepare for another teleportation. If all goes well, you'll be in Iraq near Angela within an hour. Are you ready, Lena?"

'Born ready, big guy.' She tried to convince herself anyway.

"Good. Then on cue…"

Lena gripped the handles guiding her aircraft, and then a light flashed near a switch and button. She flipped one and mashed the other without thinking about it further. She was used to blinking and even recalling, but this sensation was on a whole other scale. It felt as though her body was being split in two and forced through a grater. Lena tried to scream, but nothing came out and, like a dream, she snapped back to reality before she knew what had truly happened.

'Whoa…!'

"You're okay!?"

'Yep! You did it, Winston! Heheh! It worked great!'

"Oh, thank goodness. The simulations showed almost no margins for error, but they're only numbers, and we both know not everything can be based off them, right?"

'Don't we know it.' Lena looked to Widow, and the woman coughed, hunching her shoulders over. 'You okay, Luv?'

'…Fine.'

"She can't be fine after that. Disorientation is inevitable. Shift the plane into autopilot and offer her some water and medicine from storage. I'll make sure everything's fine on my end until the next jump."

'Roger!' Lena did as she was told, making the appropriate adjustments to control before she unbuckled herself and went to Widow, touching her shoulder gently. 'You heard the guy; got somethin' for you back there. I'll be right back.'

'I won't refuse such service.' Widow responded, although she sounded reluctant.

Lena smiled distantly, and did as she said. The initial fear of losing herself again had been sedated for now, but there were still two more jumps, and until she was fighting for Angela on solid ground, the anxiety wasn't completely going away. She found the reserves easily enough, and brought them back to Widow, offering her water and pills to help with nausea.

'Thanks.' She said in French, and Lena had to wonder if she was being teased somehow.

'Got a little taste of what I feel every time I blink, huh? Although my movement is on a way smaller scale.'

'How troublesome.'

'Ah. You get used to it.'

'I suppose…'

Lena lingered, but inwardly slapped her cheeks, returning to her seat. Some moments passed, and Widow began speaking again.

'I…have reservations about this mission.' She started, almost too quiet to hear.

'Oh?'

'I require your help should my fears become a reality.'

'Sure thing, Luv. What is it?'

Lena expected the pause, and was satisfied when it occurred. Amelie was choosing her words again.

'Should I lose myself, as I did before, I am counting on you to stop me. Understand?'

Lena had a feeling it was something like that. Still, her chest ached at the thought.

'You'll be fine.'

'I shall try to be, certainly, but I need you to promise to disable my means of combat if I lose myself. Seeing Moira will likely trigger some restrained memories, and I could go berserk once more. Do not let me hurt anyone but the enemy. Take out my arms and legs, or place me unconscious completely. Whatever is necessary.'

Lena nodded to herself. Widow…Amelie was trusting her with this task. She suspected it took a lot for her to ask as much. She would respect the effort required.

'Sure thing, Luv.'

'Mm? No refusal?'

'I know exactly where that would get me. No. I'll do it. I don't want to see you so sad again. It's heartbreaking.'

'You act as though you know me.'

'I kinda do now, Luv. I mean, we've been through a lot, you and me, and I pay attention to the little things.'

'Hmph. More observant than I would give credit for.'

'Aw. Thanks, pretty lady.'

Widow chuckled just slightly, and then finally turned to Lena, eyeing her closely, making the younger woman blush just a touch.

'Are you…well?' She asked so very simply, yet Lena basked in the question, trying not to grin from ear to ear.

'Yeah. I'm doing okay.'

'But you are still nervous?'

'A bit.'

'Hm.' Widow grinned in her small way, resting her back against the seat proper now. 'It is nice to know I am not alone in these emotions, then.'

'A touch easier when you're with someone, huh?'

'I suppose that's true.' Widow coughed into her hand and closed her eyes. 'Give me a warning before we jump again.'

'You got it.'

'And…let me know if you need me. I'm…ahem…here.'

Lena covered her face and shook her head. She looked to Widow and observed her profile, her pointed features and curves inevitably tempting even in such a basic sitting position. She had been through so much, yet she still had the grace of only the most upper class. How could Lena ever think she had a prayer with a woman so blatantly out of her league? Stupid. She had made a fool of herself.

'That doesn't mean you can stare at me, Lena.' Widow muttered, cracking one eye open and glaring to the side.

Lena. She was starting to call her that more now. Lena supposed it wasn't all in vain. Amelie needed a friend more than anything. Someone that wouldn't betray her or let her down. Lena could do that. Lena would do that. She deserved it. Amelie deserved so much more than what Lena could ever provide, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try.

'Heh! Caught in the act. My bad.'

'…Yes. Your bad.' Amelie seemed to laugh a little, and Lena blinked, letting her mind wander more than she perhaps should've in that moment.

The other two jumps took place without any issue, but in between the teleportation leaps Winston had revealed some disturbing news. Another aspect of the mission that would benefit Overwatch was the publicity behind it, as Jack had mentioned offhandedly. There was hope that Angela Ziegler's abduction would be broadcasted worldwide, breaking headlines and notifying the world of Talon's most recent act of terrorism. However, it quickly became clear that manipulation of the networks or incident at its core was being facilitated by a much more powerful foe. Overwatch's grand rescue of Angela would help their image and potentially even propel the U.N. into supporting them again. This, unfortunately, was appearing to be but a dream, which evidently bothered Winston quite a bit as Lena and Widow drew closer to their destination.

'I can only assume Sombra is involved, that cheeky child.' Widow suggested, and Lena agreed immediately.

'She's completely daft when it comes to networking. If Talon wanted this stuff muffled, she could totally get away with something like that. I was kinda hoping she was done with them after that last stunt, but…Bloody hell. She's not a fun foe to have, and we can't out-buy her from Talon either…'

Widow sighed, cracking her neck.

'What's done is done. We need only focus on the task at hand for now, correct?'

'Right…' Lena allowed the aircraft to self-navigate its way to the predetermined landing point just barely on the outskirts of Oasis. They would have to travel on foot for the rest of the trip to avoid detection, and even when they made it to where Moira was holding Angela, there was no guarantee they could successfully break in with much ease.

"Assuming we're not being set up because they managed to find the second tracking device, I'll only communicate with Lena via her earpiece as necessary. This is a basic infiltration and rescue mission. From what my satellites managed to tell me, this isn't an impossible facility to break into. I suspect it's one of Talon's many buildings masked as normally as possible. Moira has influence in Oasis, and I doubt she had to do much work to gain herself such a lab for personal research. If only the government there knew…"

'I'm more concerned with the possibility that they are more than aware.' Widow mumbled.

'Right. Well, no more waiting around.' The Slipstream landed softly, and Lena handed Widow her gun. 'It's you and me, Luv. I'm counting on ya.'

'Yes. Who could have guessed from our first exchange we would be fighting side by side like this?'

'Hahah! Right? Not me.'

'Indeed.'

'But I'm glad you're on my team now. Makes life a touch easier knowing my head isn't gonna get blown off when I round a corner.'

'Not having to check over my shoulder for a rapidly "blinking" monkey is something of a relief as well.'

'Hey! I'm totally not a monkey!'

"What's wrong with being a monkey?" Winston spoke into Lena's earpiece, making her jump.

'Nothing, Winston! Nothing!'

Widow readied her gun and took a moment to practise her aim, the way she handled the weapon erotic in the most bizarre way to Lena. She turned away, spinning her own twin pistols casually.

'Alrighty. A bit risky, but let's do what we can until the cavalry is here, right?'

'Precisely.'

Lena and Widow sighted their target building, and they crept around the perimeter, noting the guards outside and the grand city of Oasis just ahead as well. The construct didn't look like anything special, really. Blended in perfectly, actually. Without the tracking device, Lena would have never guessed Angela was being held here. She nodded to Widow, and the woman took up position, prepping to take out the quartet of guards moving about. They didn't appear to be overly threatening, but Lena was certain they had armour underneath their somewhat casual clothing.

'If possible, maybe not a kill?' Lena asked.

'One shot…one injury? Heh.' And Widow began firing.

One…Two…Three…Four. They were all down within seconds of one another, and Lena blinked into the scene, knocking them out for good with the butt of her guns. She procured an access card easily enough, and waited for Widow to catch up.

'Let them eat cake.' Widow snickered.

'Huh?'

'Nothing. Perhaps a difficult reference for yourself.'

Lena grinned, loving every new angle she learned about Amelie. She winked at the woman, and approached the door.

'About to get a touch messy in here, I think. But busting in anywhere else will kinda make the stealth part of this mission null, right?'

"Oh…" Winston uttered deeply.

'What now, big guy?'

"Er…I guess she's…um…a little upset. Not listening to reason."

'I'm not following you.'

'What's he saying?' Widow asked, and as Lena turned to the ex-assassin, she caught something high in the sky in the corner of her eye. The nearly set sun gleamed off a collection of metallic pieces, and before Lena or Widow could communicate further, the being froze in midair and released a barrage of rockets.