Hi, guys!
First, I know this is a really short chapter, but I have my reasons. I'm working on something extra special for your you guys and it's taking up a lot of my writing time right now.
This new, extra special story should be thought of as my apology for the whole Halo delay thing. I son't know when it will be out, but I know it's gonna be worth it.
I hope to have a new chapter of this story out in a few days.
If you like it, please follow and leave a review! I love your feedback. Thanks!
Chapter 2
I woke up to the sound of Amélie's alarm clock. It took far too much effort to open my sleep-strained eyes. The screech of the clock drowned my pleasant dreams in swampy water. As I laid in bed, others in the dorm slowly began to get out of bed. I eventually began to hear the showers running from down the hall. I finally managed to lift my tired body out of bed and get dressed for my first full day of training.
Once I was dressed and fully awake, I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. I wasn't really nervous; this was all just so surreal. Being a part of Overwatch used to be just a dream, a whim. Now I was standing in a room full of powerful women, ready to train. I was really in it now.
I had showered the night before, so I didn't think I had to this morning. I had put on a complimentary black t-shirt with the Overwatch logo on it and a pair of athletic shorts. I pulled my long hair up in a pink ponytail holder and went to the kitchen.
I hadn't really gotten a good look at the kitchen before now. It was very clean and modern. I realized with slight excitement that there was a hologram toaster. I had never seen one in real life but I'd kept up with the release and seen browsed lots of pictures. The kitchen had a small wall behind the bar but it was not much to separate it from the living room.
I sat at the bar and waited for everyone else to come in. A minute later, Fareeha emerged from the doorway and came over to sit next to me. She was wearing clothes similar to mine, but her shirt was replaced a blue one. The Overwatch logo was on the side of the sleeve. I assumed she got it during her previous time with the company.
"Sleep well?" she said.
"I got a few hours."
"Great. I'm gonna microwave some waffles. Would you like one?"
"That's alright," I replied," I'm just gonna eat at the cafeteria."
"Oh. You didn't hear?"
"Hear what?"
"My mother informed Orisa that we we'll be going straight to training today."
At this I was genuinely confused.
"Your mother?"
"Oh. I thought you knew. Ana is my mother."
I thought them having the same name was just a weird coincidence up until now. I felt so stupid.
"Oh," I said dumbly, "Is she the reason you worked for Helix?"
"I suppose you could say that," Fareeha answered.
"Hey," said a new voice from behind me.
It was Sombra. This morning, she was wearing a purple sweatshirt with a black shirt underneath and patterned purple and blue leggings.
"Hi," I replied.
"Good morning," said Pharah," I was just able to to make waffles. Do you want some?"
"I'm fine," said Sombra.
Pharah got up from her chair next to me and went to the fridge to retrieve the waffles. Sombra took the empty seat, turning towards me.
"What class do you think they'll put you in?" she asked.
"I don't know. What do they base it off?"
"Well, based on size, I'd say support, but since you don't heal, probably Tank."
"How do you know I don't heal?"
"Because battle mechs don't heal. What? Do you?"
"I'm more than just my mech, you know," I said.
I wasn't lying; I could fight with a gun. I planned to only use my mech in dire situations. Besides, it wasn't even here yet. It was supposed to arrive in a week. I tried to end the conversation at that, but Sombra ranted on.
"You're just so small," she continued, "If you didn't have that mech, I have no idea what class you'd be put in. Look at that!"
Sombra reached her hand out to grab my arm, but I jerked it away.
"No muscle," she said with a laugh.
"Leave her alone," someone said from right behind me.
When a hand squeezed my shoulder with the force of a rhinoceros, I knew that it was Zarya. She went around the counter and grabbed an apple from a fruit holder.
"Come on, Hana," said Zarya.
I gladly obeyed and followed Zarya to the living room where I sat on the couch. Zarya took the bean bag chair, leaning back with her hand behind her head. She addressed me with a mouth full of apple.
"Ignore her," said Zarya, "She's just trying to get to you."
"Yeah, I know. Amélie told me already."
"Widowmaker? She talked to you?"
"Sort of. She just told me where to store my clothes."
"Hmm."
We sat silently while Zarya ate her apple, but I was deep in thought. What was the deal with Amélie, anyway. She seemed so uninterested in getting to know us yesterday even though she had to stay with everyone for two years. Wasn't she gonna try to make friends here? Or at least one friend? It just didn't make sense to me. Then again, I don't think it made sense to anyone. Either way, I didn't think I really wanted to get to know Amélie anymore than I already had.
Just then, Fareeha walked into the living room, snapping me out of deep thought. She handed me a plate of waffles and a bowl filled with maple syrup. She then sat next to me with her own plate. She started to eat.
"No syrup for you?" I asked.
"I prefer it plain," she replied.
I ate my waffles slowly, dipping them in the sweet syrup. As I ate, I heard more people gathering into the kitchen. I couldn't hear any of their conversation, but I assumed they were talking about the upcoming training and class placement. Once me, Fareeha, and Zarya were all done, we joined the others in the kitchen.
"Is everyone here?" asked Satya.
She was standing in the kitchen, eating a banana.
"Yeah," said Tracer.
"Then let's head out. I think they want us to meet in front of the training gym."
For confirmation, Satya looked to Orisa, who nodded.
When we arrived outside of the gym, the sun was already shining down bright and hot. The boys were already there, standing before the original members of Overwatch, our new trainers. They were dressed from head to toe in all their battle gear. Soldier: 76 even had on his trademark tactical visor.
I felt so out of place, standing before such powerful heroes. In real life, they looked exactly the same as they did on the posters hanging in my bedroom back in Korea.
Ana stepped forward and beamed at the crowd. Despite her now old age, Ana's smile still outlined her firm and elegant features.
"Welcome, future heroes of Overwatch, to our elite training program," she said.
A cheer arose from the crowd. I joined in with all the excitement of an eight-year-old at a candy store. When the cheer faded away, Ana began to speak again.
"I see that you're all very excited to begin. That's fantastic. Now, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ana Amari. I train the support classes along with Mercy."
Mercy offered a smile and waved. Ana continued.
"Today, we will assign you all to your designated classes and then we'll begin training. Soldier: 76 and McCree will begin with the Offense class."
The two men stepped up to the crowd.
As a small cheer erupted from the crowd, Soldier: 76 waved and McCree tipped his cowboy hat. Once all was silent again, Soldier: 76 took a folded up sheet of paper from his pants pocket.
"When I call your name, I want you to come up here and form a group next to McCree and me."
We waited in nervous anticipation while Soldier: 76 unfolded the paper.
"Genji Shimada."
An Omnic walked up to the Offense trainers. He was made of silver metal with glowing, green accents. I thought I recognized his last name from somewhere, but I didn't know for sure.
"Fareeha Amari."
When Fareeha walked up, Ana's eyes widened and she brought her hand up in a wave. Fareeha glanced over and saw, but didn't return the greeting. I briefly wondered what was wrong.
Soldier: 76 moved the paper closer to his masked face to read the next name.
"Umm," he said, "This one just says 'Sombra'"
"That would be me," said Sombra, taking her place with the other Offense trainees.
Soldier: 76 shrugged and continued on with the list.
"Lena Oxton," he said.
When Lena took her place, Soldier: 76 gave her a pat on the back.
"Good to have you back, Lena," he said.
"Good to be back."
Soldier: 76 turned to everyone.
"That's all for Offense."
Him and McCree stepped back in line with the Offense trainees at their side.
Torbjörn stepped forward and leaned up on his toes to see the faces in the crowd.
"As you most likely know, my name is Torbjörn Lindholm. I'll be training the Defense class along with me, myself, and I. Let's see what we have here."
He unfolded his list and cleared his throat.
"Bastion," he read out.
My heart hammered in my chest as a Bastion Unit stepped up to Torbjörn. When the Bastion waved at the crowd with a beeping noise, I was able to breathe steadily again. Torbjörn didn't seem so happy about this first trainee however. I could see him scowling under his golden locks.
"Hanzo Shimada."
That was the same name that I recognized from the Offense trainee.
"Huh," said Torbjörn as Hanzo walked up, "You related to the other one?"
"Not anymore," replied Hanzo.
The confusion on Torbjörn's face passed quickly but mine didn't. I couldn't help but wonder what Hanzo meant by that.
"Jamison Fawkes."
The same guy who had taken my seat last night hobbled up on his peg leg. He shot the crowd a dirty-toothed grin. Junkrat really lived up to his battle name.
"Mei-Ling Zhou."
Torbjörn pronounced Mei's name weirdly. I doubted that it was in any way correct, but Mei seemed fine with it as she came up to join the Defense trainees with an unfading smile.
"Finally, Amélie Lacroix."
When Amélie walked over, Torbjörn got a sad look on his face, as if he were thinking of a dead relative.
"That's all, folks," he exclaimed with a forced smile.
He stepped back with the Defense trainees. The next Overwatch hero to take the stand was Reinhardt, and he did so confidently.
"Hello, my friends!" he thundered, silencing any chat in the shrinking crowd, "I am the trainer for the Tank class."
He took out his own list.
"Hana Song."
As I pushed through the crowd, I could feel everyone's eyes staring me down. I arrived at the front and stood next to Reinhardt who dwarfed me with his immense size. When he smiled down at me, his white hair fell in front of his eyes, partly covering his long scar.
"Welcome to the team," he whispered.
He looked back up at the crowd.
"Orisa."
Orisa came over and stood next to me. Her metal mouth turned up in a smile.
"Mako Rutledge."
A man in a thick, leather mask lumbered up to us. His eyes were completely covered by the mask. I couldn't see a thing under the shaded glass circles. Mako had a giant tattoo of a pig's head on his fat stomach. He grunted and adjusted his mask with one meaty hand.
"Winston."
To my shock, a gorilla was the next trainee to join. Winston had on a pair of rectangular frame reading glasses. He stood next to me.
"Hi, there," he said, smiling at me.
"Hi."
"Aleksandra Zaryanova."
Zarya jogged up and gave me a light punch on the arm.
"That will be all," said Reinhardt.
We all backed up as a group. Finally, Ana and Mercy stepped forward. Mercy started to read her list.
"Lúcio Correia dos Santos," she said.
When Lúcio skated up to the Support class trainers, I thought I saw him look at me and wink. It was probably only my imagination, though.
"Satya Vaswani."
Satya walked wordlessly over to Lúcio and the trainers. With her gone, there was only one more trainee left in the crowd.
"And you must be Tekhartha Zenyatta."
"That I am," said the omnic, floating over, "You can call me Zenyatta. I would prefer it."
"That seems to be everyone," Mercy called to Soldier: 76.
"Great," said Soldier: 76, "Let's go."