Chapter 6

Once Junkrat was all patched up, he agreed to sit down and at least have a civil conversation with Ana, in exchange for healing him.

"So, sheila, what's this all about anyways? You're friends didn't believe yah when you told them?" Junkrat asks as he scratches himself

"No. I was concerned that if I tried telling more people, they would start to worry about me. Which is exactly why I need you." Ana replies

Junkrat looks to Roadhog, then back at Ana

"Listen, Ana, I'd love to help, but the whole world doesn't exactly trust me. Hell, Roadie doesn't even really believe me when I tell him about the building."

Ana's eye widens slightly

"Building? You mean, it's not just a room? There's a whole building with these doctors?" Ana says in shock

"You really don't know anything do you? You only woke up once. I've woken up three times!" Junkrat says as he holds up four fingers

"Three times? How?" Ana said

"Well, from what I can tell, the only way to get there is to die without respawning. That's how I did it."

"That doesn't make any sense, why wouldn't you respawn? We all do," Ana suddenly remembers Angela's words.

"I mean… Sometimes…" Ana's voice trails off

"Well, it can't just be your everyday dying yah know? It has to be something big, loud, and sudden."

Ana raises a brow

"An explosion! It has to be an explosion that knocks yah back into something hard. Real hard! Junkrat shouts, clearly getting excited talking about anything explosive.

"And I can't count the number of times I've blown my self up!"

"So, what did you do when you… 'Woke up'?" Ana questions

"Well the first time I had no clue what was going on, I was strapped down, and scared outta my wits; but, when the doctors came in, I just pretended to be back asleep. Once the coast was clear I got a better look at the room. To my right was none other than my pal Roadie. Or at least, I think it was. He didn't have his mask on, but I'd recognize that big gut anywhere! Anyways, to my left was someone I didn't quite recognize! But when I looked a little harder, it was none other than the queen herself!"

"The queen of England?" Ana asks

"What? No! My queen! The queen of Junkertown!" Junkrat replies, almost insulted

"But before I could even think about an escape plan, the doctors caught me and put me back under."

"What happened the second time?" Ana asks, becoming more interested

"Well, the second time I was much more alert. I wiggled out of my restraints and tried to wake up Mako and the queen. But they wouldn't come to. So I figured, Hey! I'll come back with some explosives and blow up the place! Then I stumbled out of the room. Clearly I hadn't walked in forever. That's when it hit me. I was walking! With both legs! I had both my legs! I could feel again, the sensation of having both feet touch the cold floor." Junkrat stops talking suddenly and stares at his peg leg. The jet was silent for a moment.

"Jamison?" Ana asks concerned

Junkrat looks back up at Ana and coughs.

"Eh, right. Well, anyways. So having my limbs back aside. I walked out of the room and snuck around the building wearing nothing but a white gown. I obviously stuck out like a sore thumb, so it wasn't long before I was caught again. As they brought me back I caught sight of a window, we were pretty high up from what I could tell. That's when I discovered this had to of been some sort of building we were in. I was put back under after that."

Ana was almost afraid to ask

"And… The third time?" She says hesitantly

Junkrat frowns and his whole demeanor becomes uncomfortable.

"They were waiting for me that time. When I woke up, they pulled me out of the bed and dragged me to a room. A dark room with only two chairs and a table. They sat me down in the chair and told me to wait." Junkrat took a deep breath, as it seemed this next part would be hard for him

"After a while a lady came in and sat down in the other chair and pulled out some papers. She began to read out loud. She started describing a man. It took some time, but I realized she was talking about me. The information didn't seem familiar at first, but it came to me. I was Jamison Fawkes. Ran away from home when I was eighteen. After that I apparently began to do dirty work for gangs. Got arrested a few times, but broke out of jail. I was hunted and I owed money to a lot of people. I was living a pretty shitty life. When these people came to me… They told me I could live the life I wanted to. All I had to do was sign some papers and I was ready. Little did I know I was signing my life over to these people."

Ana's blood ran cold as she listened

"The lady told me that I had two options: return to my original life, or return to…"

"Return to what?" Ana managed to get the words out

"The simulation." Junkrat finally said

"What?" Ana said softly

"This world. Isn't real, Ana. It's one big simulation. These people. They take nobodies, people no one would miss, and stick them in this world for testing."

"... So, what did you say?"

"If what they were saying was true, that my life was a living hell and I owe people money that I didn't have, I just… Couldn't return to that life."

Ana stood up

"Jamison, that world may not be great, but it's real!"

"Yeah, a real piece of shit!" Junkrat stood up as well

Those words stung Ana. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Jamison had given up his real life, just to live an imaginary one.

"Oh, and don't think you're such an angel! If what the lady said was true, you're here for the exact same reasons I am! You gave up your real life for this one just like I did." Junkrat snaps

Ana scrambled for her words but couldn't piece them together.

Was it true? Was her real life so miserable she gave it up for this one? What about Pharah? What had her life come to? To want to live in a place like this, disturbed Ana.

The more she thought, the more things scared her. Her husband. Where was he? Why couldn't she remember his face? She knows she has one, or had one at least. Why couldn't she remember anything past joining Overwatch?

"This world, is entirely crafted around you. Your story, everything. I wanted to live in a world where I could outrun my problems or just blow them up. But they're the ones pulling the strings. Not us."

Ana clenched her fists.

"We need to tell the others." Ana said strongly

"Are you crazy?" Junkrat replies

"Maybe. But I refuse to keep this a secret. We need to tell everyone at home base."

Junkrat only stares at Ana but turns around and crosses his arms.

"No, I won't."

"Yes, you will." Roadhog suddenly says

The two of them turn their heads to look at the large man, who had spoken for the first time during the whole endeavour.

"Roadhog, why do you care? You didn't even believe me when I told you-" Junkrat was cut off

"Because I said so."

"I think you're forgetting who's in charge here!" Junkrat says, getting into Roadhogs face

Roadhog stares at him and breathes heavily

There's a moment of silence between the two.

"Are we not partners?" Roadhog suddenly asks. No emotion. Just the question.

Junkrat takes a step back, clearly taken aback by the question.

"What do you mean? Of course we are! Were Junkrat and Roadhog!" Junkrat responds

"Then we stay partners."

"What are you getting at, Mako?"

"Were partners, in this world, and any other world."

Junkrats face drops. He looks away for a moment. Clearly a bit shaken by the statement. He seemed to have forgotten he made a partner in this world.

No… Something more than that.

"We're not partners…" Junkrat says, getting a small reaction out of Roadhog

"We're mates! Through thick and thin!" Junkrat suddenly says

Roadhog nods and Junkrat turns to Ana

"Alright, Ana! Lead the way! Let's get those blokes outta here!"