Tracer

"Lena?"

'…Hey, Luv.'

"You actually called. Colour me surprised."

'Not like we left on a nasty note, right?'

"Guess not."

'Are you okay?'

"Um. Yeah. I mean, for the most part."

'No bad guys come a knocking?'

"I'm pretty sure you made certain some agents around here were keeping an eye on things."

'Maybe. Maybe.'

"Uh-huh. That pretty well confirms it. Terrible liar."

'That's a good thing, innit?'

"Obviously."

'…'

"…"

'So, what's up?'

"…"

'Emily?'

"Hm?"

'Uh…Work going okay?'

"Yeah. It's work."

'Heh. No news is good news and all that?'

"Yep."

'Great.'

"…"

'…'

"…I'm sorry for asking to talk."

'Nah. Don't be, Luv.'

"I…I thought I could do it."

'R-right…'

"But it's tough. It really is."

'Yeah.'

"…"

'…'

"What about you?"

'Me?'

"Yeah. Is it…tough for you, too?"

'…'

"…"

'Course it is, Em. Course it is…'

"But?"

'But…what?'

"Did you…already meet someone else?"

'N-no. Not really. U-um…'

"…"

'…Bloody hell…'

"Jesus. Really?"

'It's…not a thing or whatever. I-I mean…'

"Have you kissed her?"

'U-um…here and there…'

"Then it's a thing, Lena. It's a thing."

'Right…'

"Still can't be alone, huh? Still desperate to be with someone all the time?"

'I didn't mean to, but…'

"Who is she? Do I know her?"

'No. Not exactly. And honestly, we're not dating or anything. Just fooled around some.'

"But you have a crush on her, don't you?"

'…A tiny one.'

"Because you miss me and need someone to get that kind of attention from."

'Huh? I don't know about that…'

"I do. I know you, Lena. Better than she does. Do you love her?"

'No.'

"Do you no longer love me?"

'…Em. It hasn't been long enough. I still love you to the moon and back, but…'

"Then I want to make it work."

'W-what?'

"I tried the break up thing, Lena. I did it for you. But…the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't make sense of it. Why do we have to break up? I'm willing to wait for you. I want to wait for you. I have protection. Hell, I could even be brought to your base, couldn't I? There are ways around just…just breaking up!"

'…Y-yeah. That's true.'

"…"

'…'

"So…?"

'What I do is crazy dangerous, Em. Bringing you to base isn't a good idea. It was just attacked not that long ago. We can't have civilians here for the time being.'

"Fine. I get that. But explain to me why we shouldn't be together if I'm willing to accept the risks involved and am okay with waiting for you."

'…Huh. That's a tough one.'

"…"

'…'

"I…I love you, Lena. Being apart from you for so long has really shown me that. I…I really miss you…"

'Don't cry, Em…'

"I can't help it. Sorry…"

'Nah. Seriously…'

"My apartment is so lonely, and…and when people ask about you I just become a mess. I say we're still together, and you're on a trip, because I can't…I don't want to think it's really over…"

'Em…'

"I-if you can't wait, then fine. Just…just tell me. If you really need to be fooling around with someone to keep your spirits up then…t-then just don't fall in love and don't talk about it. I-I'll still wait…"

'That ain't fair, Em.'

"I know. But…I get it. You're fighting a war that's only getting worse. The news is trying to hide it, but it's in the air. Unrest. Growing fear. Something's coming. Bloody hell, even I can feel it. You have such a big heart, but you also have needs…more than most, I think. S-so…yeah. I don't like it, but just…don't fall in love. I-I mean, only if you…Jesus. I'm being so pathetic…"

'…'

"I'm sorry, Lena. This was cruel of me…"

'No. Not at all, Em. I've been…kinda messed up too since we've been apart.'

"Yeah?"

'Yeah.'

"Then…can you at least think about it?"

'Yeah. Yeah, I can do that. Definitely.'

"…Thank-you, Lena."

'No problem. Thanks, Em. Really.'

'We're about to land. Ready yourselves. We've already lost a number of scouts, and the shambles of what remains of this fair town does well to hide our foes. This supposed "monster" of an omnic or what have you has been terrorizing the perimeter Stuttgart, and the word is that the populace is concerned of it breaking through the defenses established.'

'This is where you and your master fought together for the last time…'

'Yes. Indeed, it is. A deserted space now, but not without its charm still.'

'What should I focus on today, Reinhardt?'

'Your shield's placement. Too often you leave yourself vulnerable because of its size. Your ability to move is a boon for us both, but it is a simple matter to find weakness in your stance still.'

'Of course…'

'Lena? If this omnic is a speed type, we may need your abilities, understand? Lena? Lena!'

'Oi! Yeah?' Lena snapped herself from the dialogue that continued to circulate within her mind. Emily's voice. Her desperation. Her sorrow. Her obvious love. Over and over it played, each time leaving more of an impression that made the time traveler's stomach twist.

'I do not like this air of distraction about you, Lena. You are the epitome of a glass cannon. One mistake and you could fall,' Reinhardt snapped his massive hand, the sound echoing in the aircraft. 'Just like that.'

'Okay, Dad!' Lena jested, attempting to hide her embarrassment for being in such an unprofessional state just before a mission.

'No. You use that line with Jack and Jack alone. I am nobody's father.'

'Okay, Grandad!'

'Ugh! Even worse!'

'Hahah! Well, you're old enough to be one, Master.' Brigitte giggled.

'Unacceptable!'

Lena glanced to Widow, the woman completely silent the entire trip. Silent and still. It was pretty scary. Lena knew she had accidently put a wedge between them the moment she called Emily. She could feel it, and surely Widow did as well. Her feelings for the sniper were even more confusing than before, and the more she thought about Emily's words, the more they haunted her.

She cared about Amelie. Absolutely. But did she see a future with her like she could alongside Emily? Was there a point in pursuing anything more than flirtatious play? Was it even possible? Did Lena only want what she couldn't have, revelling in the taste but uncertain about what to do once that was over? Emily forced Lena to confront complications she knew existed but refused to combat willingly. Amelie was so bloody gorgeous, and she had a cute, attractive personality to boot, but did she and Lena connect on a deep, intimate level? Could Lena truly – utterly and completely – relax around this woman like she could with Emily?

'How you holding up over there, Luv?' Lena tried, wishing Widow would at least look at her.

She did not.

'Fine.' Was the quiet, stoic reply.

'Tch. A burden to the cause. She will be watching our backs? I feel more exposed than ever.' Reinhardt clicked his tongue, and Lena couldn't really blame him considering the way their sniper was acting.

'She's dealing with a lot right now, Rein. Give her a chance, okay? It's gotta be rough.' Lena defended regardless, knowing cooperation was imperative to any mission with such a small unit.

The plane landed, and the crew exited hastily, allowing the craft to depart with barely any pause, not wishing to remain in such an area.

'To be back so soon after answering the call. A cruel joke.' Reinhardt shouldered his oversized axe, its glimmering blade reflected by the afternoon sun and his armour looking as impressive as ever. They were planted in the depths of Eichenwalde's ghost town, the foliage continuing to overrun what was once a charming and ancient town.

'Isn't it a little strange that a God Program is hanging out around the castle? Don't they usually, you know, try and terrorize humans and stuff?' Brigitte commented intelligently.

'There's still a lot about the program we don't even understand, Luv. It's kinda like omnics in general, really. Mysterious and super complicated. Lotsa theories, but nothing especially concrete.'

'Complicated? We simply smash anything that attacks. Nothing terribly "complicated" about that.' Reinhardt chuckled.

'Permission to proceed into position?' Widow asked with a touch of exasperation.

'…Granted.' Lena thought it best she allow it, and as she was turning to give Widow a nod of encouragement, she was already grappling high and away, graceful as well as quiet as anything.

'Will that chip or what have you prevent her from pulling the trigger on us should her fancy go in such a direction?' Reinhardt grunted, evidently unsure of Lena's decision.

'It's supposed to. Any urge to kill humans is meant to be sedated with a shock that pretty well renders her helpless. I've seen it in action, and it should be good.'

'Yet she killed one of our own.'

'That was before the adjustments Winston made to the chip version, Luv.'

"Widow here." Widow's voice found Lena's ear, and her chest tightened. "The area appears clear. Proceed with caution."

'If it's clear then why proceed with caution? The source of the God Program's activity is currently the castle, where my master's armour remains. We destroy it and bring his spirit peace once more.'

"A feeling. I don't like it."

'But you don't feel, as far as I'm told.'

'Reinhardt!' Lena snapped at the man, and he backed off, even Brigitte giving him a scowl.

"…I feel." Widow uttered without any hesitation. "Out."

A wave of guilt passed through Lena at the declaration, and her mind was abuzz all over again.

The group moved through Eichenwalde's ruins with Reinhardt in the lead, his incredible size and sheer girth enough to give everyone courage despite the nearly haunted quality of the space. Broken down omnics from the first crisis remained in shambles, plants worming their way through the pieces and destruction wrought by such a battle. Broken down buildings, rubble, and hints at what was once a charming, pretty little town outside the main city gave way to desolation, the idea to leave such a site as a reminder of what should be prevented at all cost in the future seeming the testament in place.

The group made it outside of the rural part of the town and entered the perimeter of the castle, the high, stone building as marveling as ever despite its incredible age and ancient form of architecture. Lena gazed up high, checking her surroundings carefully and growing more concerned with the lack of risk leading up to the current God Program. Squads sent in from Stuttgart had apparently been wiped completely, leading to Overwatch's unofficial recruitment, but Lena noted not a singular sign of opposition. Had the God Program moved toward the city again? Did it take whatever army it had control of?

'Such a shame this place isn't used anymore, huh, Reinhardt? It's so beautiful.' Brigitte broke the silence, the bright blue sky and hovering clouds making for a mission that didn't seem to carry an exceptional amount of weight. Still, it was no time to lose focus, and Lena was doing everything in her power to remain on point. Emily had to wait. Widow…had to wait.

'Indeed. Truly a place worth preserving in some fashion. Once this war is over, I will personally begin the recovery project. I'm sure my master would approve.'

The team successfully made it to a bridge that led directly into the ancient castle, but as they approached the entrance to the construct, Widow's voice hissed through their communicators.

"Be alert! They're coming…"

'What is this? Who are they, pray tell?' Reinhardt equipped his helmet nonetheless, forcing Brigitte behind him and readying his blade.

'I don't see anything!' Brigitte's shield hummed into existence.

But they could hear it before a visual was confirmed. Lena turned, and what she saw made even her squirm.

One of the broken-down Bastion units was moving toward them, and it had a number of its fallen brethren in tow. Granted, some of them were more than a little worse for wear, but even on a bad day their sheer firepower couldn't be ignored.

'Heh. From the bowels of the castle as well. They waited until we were on the bridge to make their move. Clever monstrosities.' Reinhardt almost sounded excited as four OR14s scuttled out of the castle, similarly zombie-like to the Bastions, but ever more intimidating with the blades that buzzed at their side with various forms of functionality.

"A God program that manipulates the inanimate? Impossible."

'Tch. It's simple enough. Brigitte, you and I will fend off the beasts at the gate. Lena, you and our sniper surely can handle the rest?'

'Got it!' Brigitte slammed her flail to the ground, retracting it with a snap.

'Alright, Luv! Keep in touch! Amelie?'

"Create an opening and I shall do the rest."

'Roger!'

The OR14s weren't to be taken lightly, but as soon as Reinhardt charged forward, Brigitte following in behind and projecting a temporary armour pack to her master's ramming form. Lena blinked from her spot and began her assault on the Bastion units that rolled in from the other direction. It was a pincer attack, and if the group had hesitated even a little bit, they may have been in a much worse scenario. Instead, Lena used herself as bait, leaping about between the multitude of Bastion units (what was left of them), their sensors flashing red and their gatling guns spraying the areas Lena touched down upon before zipping away.

'Anytime, Amelie…!' Lena encouraged, and just as she said it, one of the Bastion units twitched, a number of other bullets flying through it before it didn't have enough left to function as a threat.

'Brilliant!' Lena spun in the air, upside down as she loaded another foe with concentrated pulse, the automaton requiring three full rounds prior to beeping into submission. She had brought E.M.P. pulse bombs if necessary, but she preferred to save such a weapon for a black omnic, should they encounter one as well.

"Behind you, foolish girl!" Widow shouted, and Lena recalled as quickly as she could, warping through space and time's vacuum before blinking away to evaluate her situation, noting another Bastion dropping as more continued to pour from the rural part of the town, some of their parts snapping apart, but their threat level remaining lethal.

'Tch! Cheeky…' Lena grit her teeth.

"Take a moment. Allow me." Widow grappled from her location, swinging from the overhang of the castle and unloading five perfectly placed shots, downing three Bastions prior to springing high into the sky, unlatching her hook at the precisely ideal moment to launch amongst such height. She went still, taking aim as she had that fateful day in King's Row, and easily downed two more Bastion's, landing with a roll upon her previous location anew.

Lena whistled, her chronal accelerator completely recharged now, and burst into action. Widow knew. She knew Lena needed to prepare for the next attack. She wouldn't let Widow do all the work, however, and was pushing forward afresh, her confidence in her comrade soaring as she jumped and flipped, shot and evaded while bullets flew past her in sync with her every action.

"Such erratic behaviour…" Widow muttered, but Lena pictured her doing so with a smile.

'You know you love it!' Lena giggled, almost at the entrance to the town prior to stopping before a Bastion just exiting the opening to the area. She shrugged, waved at the beeping machine, and swung her head to the right to allow the inevitable bullet to crush its sensor unit, rendering it crippled for Lena to easily finish the job.

Lena reloaded her Pulse Pistols, steam emitting from their cooling systems, and turned up to find a small shape on a piece of wooden construct next to the overhang's entrance.

'That it, Luv?'

"On our end, it seems to be so."

Lena listened for more sounds of omnics or automatons, but was relieved to hear nothing as she blinked back to the bridge where the group had parted.

'Did they seriously just take out all those OR14s? Like, really?'

"Seemingly…"

'Bloody hell.' Lena met back up with Reinhardt and Brigitte, the man removing his helmet with a smile as he turned to his squire, her breathing laboured, and a fresh gash across her cheek.

'I am filled with pride.' He said tenderly to the young woman, patting her head warmly.

'Those things…were insane…' Brigitte didn't sugar-coat it, but the fact of the matter was that they were surrounded by piles of scrap metal, the deadly and capable OR14s utterly in shambles.

'They are that.' Reinhardt agreed. 'I foolishly underestimated them before…' He touched the scar over his bad eye. 'But not this time. This time, you and I prevailed. True, they were shadows of what they once were, but I am no longer the brash lad I was in the past. Well done, Brigitte. You fought well once again. Your father will hear of this.'

'It's not that big a deal, Rein…'

'How's your cut, Luv? Looks pretty deep.' Lena asked, noting the various breaks in her own outfit where some of the Bastion units managed to graze her.

'It's just a flesh wound.' Brigitte shrugged. 'Stings a little, but I'll be good.'

'And your encounter was successful as well, Lena?'

'Well, you get one of the best snipers in the world covering your back and yeah, someone like me can go a little nuts.'

Reinhardt eyed Widow, lifting his jaw slightly before humming a gruff sound of partial approval.

'My thanks for protecting our Lena, Widowmaker.' He said with obvious effort.

'I don't really have a choice.' She replied sarcastically, and any kindness Reinhardt attempted to exhibit died with the proclamation.

'She's just shy, Reinhardt. Leave her be.' Lena tried, but the damage was done, and Reinhardt turned in irritation.

'Let us proceed into the depths of Eichanwalde's castle, my comrades. Our welcoming party was interesting enough. Now, let us see what the main event has in store.'

'A God Program that can bring broken beings back to life? Unbelievable. I could've used a little longer to get ready for something like this.' Brigitte made a few last minute checks on her equipment, competently repairing minor scuffs on her shield.

'Bah. I was hoping for a challenge. Nearly destroyed machines are hardly that. We'll be home by breakfast.'

Lena allowed Reinhardt and Brigitte to get ahead a little as they chatted, and once they were mostly out of earshot, she went to Widow's side, her neck tightening in an awkward way before she started speaking.

'How you feelin', Luv?'

'Hm?' Widow turned, her sultry eyes dark and calculating.

'You doin' okay?'

'…Not particularly.'

'Oh.' Lena wasn't expecting that. She was tongue-tied; a rare moment in Overwatch history.

'But it will pass, as all things do.' She pushed passed the agent, and Lena panicked, knowing she would regret bringing the private matter up now of all times but feeling she absolutely had to.

'Listen, if it's about Emily, can we maybe talk about it a bit when we get back to base? I think there's a tiny misunderstanding somewhere.'

Widow stopped, Reinhardt and Brigitte's voices echoing from further away.

'Am I misunderstanding? Truly?' Widow sneered, and went on.

Lena ruffled her hair, shaking her head and chewing on the side of her lip in annoyance.

'Not…completely…' She admitted, hating herself more with every passing minute.

'My friends, what's with all this standing around? There's glory to be won!' Reinhardt extended his arms outward, displaying his enormous reach and watching Lena as she approached the group.

'Sorry! Just having a quick powwow with Amelie here. Making sure the head is all good.'

'It isn't.' Widow grinned. 'But you're safe.'

Brigitte blinked, looking to her master.

'Why are snipers so troublesome…?' The large man sighed, shaking his head.

'Because you can't hit them with your weapons?' Brigitte offered.

'Is that it? Perhaps…'

Lena laughed hesitantly, and as the team traversed the interior of the castle, a cold silence closed out the rest of the world outside, the hollow walls of what was once an impressive piece of architecture howling with mystique and apprehension. The God Program remained, according to Winston's information, and he hadn't contacted them again, meaning the threat was still around. But was it really lingering here of all places? Was it gathering its forces and planning an all-out assault on Stuttgart, the city's defenses in place too much for anything haphazard? How did the God Program even begin coming online again? Surely research had been done since the first Omnic Crisis…

The main throne room of the castle was impressive even in its palpitated state, something akin to Reinhardt's armour seated in the biggest chair Lena had ever seen, and the remains of a medieval, beautiful world seemingly frozen in time. Widow broke away from the group as if a shadow merging with her brethren, and Lena readied her pistols, certain the God Program would make its move soon enough if it meant to.

'Tch. This mission is appearing to be more and more a waste of resources. Two Grandmasters? Bah…Hardly a challenge thus far.' Reinhardt approached the pile of armour tentatively, nonetheless, his weapon at his side and his head lowered some.

'Balderich. Master. I have returned. The fighting continues, but my foolishness does not…or, at least, I try to stay its ugly head.'

"Hmph…" Widow huffed in the headset, and Lena wondered what had instigated the reaction. Reinhardt wasn't one to get sentimental, but clearly whatever had happened here impacted him greatly. An event that shaped him as a hero forevermore. They all had such stories; tales that governed their acceptance of a war they were called to fight. Emily had recognized Lena's need to return to this sort of life. She was willing to go forth with the risks it entailed. She even gave in to Lena's – looking back – lackluster reasoning to breaking things off when they did.

Why had Lena done that? Was it truly for Emily's safety and protection?

'Bloody selfish…' Lena winced.

'What's that?' Brigitte turned to the other woman, having given her master some deserved space.

Before Lena could answer, however, Reinhardt grunted abnormally, and he was thrown across the room, crashing into the back wall and falling into a pile of equipment, his weapon still in hand.

'W-what the bloody hell!?' Lena exclaimed, and as she looked forward, the armour that had belonged to Reinhardt's master began moving, pushing itself up from its throne and grabbing hold of the two weapons on either side of itself, wielding both simultaneously with ease. Its eyes flashed red, and the grinding of its construct shifted under the sheer weight and time wrought upon it.

"Lunacy…"

'You got that right, Luv!' Lena snapped her pistols on either side of herself, wondering how best to take such a strange foe down.

'Ah-ha! Now, this is more like it! Come at me! I live for combat!' Reinhardt hollered, blasting forward with his battle axe in both hands. 'For shaming my master, you will pay!'

It was like watching two tanks collide, the sound was so dense, and the blows traded just as powerful. The castle itself seemed to vibrate, and Reinhardt showed everyone why he was one of the strongest individuals the world had to offer. Still, it quickly became clear that this foe had the advantage of not being made of flesh and blood, and the lion of Overwatch was soon beginning to huff and gasp as he exchanged attacks, shifting between his shield and swinging his mighty blade.

'Not so foolish anymore, huh?' Brigitte had been showing signs of wanting to join the fray, and she did so in that moment, practically leaping into the colossal duel, parrying one of the armour's weapons and controlling her zone with pristine, elegant aggression.

It was a sight to see, and one Lena had envied missing during Gibraltar's infiltration. She thought she and Widow had impressive enough teamwork, but there was something undeniably picturesque about the way Reinhardt and Brigitte fought, a cub doing everything in its power to protect and support its much larger and more powerful parent. She was becoming stronger on the spot, learning and adjusting her behaviour in order to best present Reinhardt with the opportunities he needed to crush his adversary. The strength it must have required to push at Balderich's armour the way she did; what sort of training did she endure? And here Lena remained, distracted by girlish thoughts that had no place on the battlefield. People got hurt by such frivolous notions.

'I'm gonna do what I can to support them, Widow. That thing is taking a beating, but it ain't goin' down. You got my back?'

"…Against a being with no clear weaknesses or circuitry?"

She sounded as though she were smiling. Could she tell the tonal shift had occurred so easily? Was Lena's wishy-washy attitude as annoying to the older woman as it was to the time traveller herself?

'I have a feeling you'll make it work.'

"Heh. Rather high expectations…but I accept."

'Oh, and we're talking when we get back to base. You don't have a choice. I hate this weirdness between us right now.'

"…So be it."

At that, Lena felt lighter than ever before. She flew into action, knowing it was pointless to fire aimlessly into such a brawl-type fight but aware only she could get close enough and out fast enough to figure out this ridiculous thing's weakness. She watched and waited, drawing closer and closer to the suit of armour as the sounds of Reinhardt's blade and the life-fueled being's duel weapons clanged, reverberating throughout the castle. Brigitte's grunts of effort were increasing in frequency as well, and Lena knew – the battle having gone on longer than it should have already – that stamina would soon be a factor on their side, but not the God Program's.

"Now." Widow said quite simply, and Lena trusted her. She didn't hesitate at all, and that meant something. She blinked into the midst of the fight and navigated her tiny body around the enormous armour (which was much bigger up close), and spotted a slight glow where the back of Balderich's neck would have been mashed against. She attempted to point at the spot, but was forced to recall away, the armour charging suddenly and pinning Reinhardt to a wall. The man took the assault with a notably pained gasp, barely slowing the slam to his head, and Brigitte screamed, throwing any and all caution to the wind while hurling herself into the fight like a wild animal. Her flail snapped into pieces at last, and her shield shattered, but she still fought, doing everything in her power to stop the armour from breaking Reinhardt completely in his defenceless state.

Inevitably, Brigitte was pinned to the earth, the armour raising its weapon to finish her once and for all, Reinhardt blinking to keep himself conscious as he attempted to move to block the deathblow. He wasn't going to make it. Lena wouldn't be able to lift Brigitte's weight in time either. Lena could see the realization in Brigitte's eyes too. They widened in fear and regret, her mouth trembling. She looked to Reinhardt desperately, perhaps thinking he would always be there to save her. Lena wasn't sure. It all happened so fast and slowly at once.

However, a single shot changed everything.

The armour flinched, and simply collapsed upon Brigitte, the girl squealing in shock yet also relief. She pushed the heavy pieces off herself, and Lena was there to help, soft clacks approaching from behind, Widow's rifle steaming just slightly from the bullet she had released at, more than likely, a near-impossible angle.

'Brigitte!' Reinhardt stumbled to his squire, managing to pick her up in his shaking arms. 'My Brigitte! A-are you well?'

'It's…just a flesh wound…kinda.' Brigitte repeated herself ironically, and Lena laughed, not knowing how to respond otherwise.

'You…' Reinhardt addressed Widowmaker, humbleness in his voice. 'You saved her.'

'I destroyed the target.' Widow shrugged coldly.

'No.' The man went on, a shakiness to his intonation. 'A moment – a second – later, and she would have been lost to me. To her father and mother. To her family. You could have let that happen. But you didn't. You think you hide it so well? You don't. You overexerted yourself to make that shot, didn't you? Your arm is trembling. Your stance is just a little unbalanced.'

Widow didn't respond, and Lena's heart skipped. Her silence screamed affirmation. Her apparent disinterest belied a caring, dedicated soul.

'Thank-you…' Reinhardt almost begged. 'I…have been cruel to you. It was not fair. Are all ill feelings wiped clean? Perhaps not. But…what you did today will not soon be forgotten, nor will it be kept secret. Thank-you…'

Winston checked in and claimed the God Program's transmission disappeared, dubbing the mission a success with only "minor" injuries, as Reinhardt insisted. The group salvaged what appeared to be some form of parasitic omnic implanted within Balderich's armour. They sent what information they could to Overwatch Gibraltar and safely stored away the remains of the abnormal omnic and the God Program that hopefully remained dormant within it for examination.

It didn't take long for the ride back to arrive in Eichenwalde, and Lena breathed out in relief once they were in the air again. Initially, the mission seemed a little too easy for such a strong yet small group, but Lena was glad every individual had been recruited for the task, for almost any other combination of high class agents might have struggled. She looked to Widow, who had her eyes closed as a means to gain some privacy. That didn't mean much to the spunky girl.

'Head okay?' Lena asked, trying to regain the closeness in how she used to speak to the woman not so long ago.

'Somewhat…'

'The medicine Angela has provided is weakening?' Reinhardt inquired, the softness in the way he addressed Widowmaker in this moment almost unsettling.

'Yes. My body is adjusting to its counter-formula.'

'Hmph. Give Angela time. She will fix you. No other could even try. But she…she is a once-in-a-century genius.'

Widow smirked, but nodded anyway.

'If that is true, I will be thankful.'

Lena was about to say something else on the matter, but her phone beeped, and although she hesitated to check the message, she knew how it would look if she ignored it altogether now. Thus, she brought it out and bit at her lip, not sure if she wished to hear from Emily right now or not.

Lena flinched at the text, however, and Widow finally turned her way.

'What is it?' She asked.

Lena wasn't sure she had a clear answer, so, she showed the other woman the message, the normal hues of her device's screen filtered into a violet tone with little pixelated skulls flashing about.

"Cheers, Luv! Have time for a chat? Sure, you do. Bring Spider. Just you two. Got some info that could change the entire game we're all playing. Gamble gamble gamble! Hahah!"