Revised on the 7th of November 2017

Revised on the 25th of February & 18th of March 2018 for lore purposes.


The Gym, Watchpoint: Gibraltar, Mediterranean, Europe

2076

Despite being one of the smaller sections, the gym was one of the busier sections of the base. Before, Overwatch practically required for all its members to be in peak physical condition, even if certain individuals were not specifically assigned to combat roles. This would come to be realized as a condition where everyone benefits since there wasn't any harm to physical improvement - other than aching muscles and maybe a slight urge to vomit - and the organization would have nothing but fit individuals in its ranks. Although it had been years since it had been dissolved, many of its members would carry on the strenuous and laborious fitness traditions in its wake. However, one frequent visitor to this gym wasn't an original Overwatch member but saw fit to keep the traditions just the same. A tradition she kept since the Egyptian Military and Helix.

Fareeha Amari sat up straight on one of the benches as she curled her forearms towards her body carrying a set of forty-kilogram dumbbells, one after the other in a repetitious cycle at a constant tempo. She lets out of breath of air with every flex, feeling the muscles in her bicep and shoulders stretch and burn the longer she went on in this set. Drops of sweat drip off her head and coat her skin. Her eyes glued to the large mirror wall in front of her, seeing herself dressed in a pair of black, gym leggings, a blue tank top over her tight sports bra, and her hair tied into a short ponytail to reveal a set of earbuds embedded in her ears. Hearing an ensemble of very hard rock music assaulting her eardrums. As she listened to an electronic guitar get strummed a couple hundred times a minute, Fareeha finished her last set of bicep curls, having lifted both arms a hundred times each and feeling them with an ache she very much welcomed. With one last curl of her arm, the Amari stopped and placed the weights down onto the mat-floor, getting up and stretching her arms over her shoulders to ease the toned and chiseled muscles. After stretching both, she then picked up her bottle and squeezed ice-cold water into her mouth. The song that was currently playing on her playlist started fading to an end, so, the noise of the gym came back to her for a few moments. However, she noticed something among the metal clanging and grunting people. The sound of wood loudly clacking against each other as she saw beige blurs in the mirror. Tapping something on her wrist-watch to pause the music, she turned around to see that the boxing ring was occupied by two people training with wooden swords. Interested and having finished her workout for the day, she courteously placed the weights back into the rack and gathered her things before walking over to the ring. Fareeha spotted two people standing on the sidelines, watching the entire fight like it was a show. It was McCree and Song, also in typical gym apparel.

"What's going on here?" Fareeha questioned, walking to McCree's side.

"Oh, hey, Fare," Jesse greeted, tipping his hat, which he apparently neglected to remove to the gym. "Just watching these two have a go at it."

She wiped sweat from her brow with a towel before looking and saw the first dueler was Genji, the Metal Ninja wielding a wooden katana, holding it to bear against his opponent: Nathan, also wielding a wooden katana. One of the few times the Security-Chief has seen him out of his quarters.

"Why…" she noticed something off, noting their lack of equipment. "Are they not wearing protective gear?"

"Beats me," Jesse shrugged, watching regardless. "Been one hell of a show, so far."

She frowned as she looked back up at the ring, seeing the two duelers swipe at each other with the training swords, the sound of their swords echoing. Both opponents were fast, precise, and strong with each of their attacks, but the Shimada being more proficient and calculated with the sword than Brin. In fact, it seemed the Waster was the one on the offensive while his opponent parried and dodged his attacks, almost making it seem effortless. Some of it may have to do with his cybernetics, or it may not. She was also aware that Nathan had some cybernetics of his own, but didn't know how much they helped him in this situation. Amari then noticed they weren't the only ones watching the show, as other spectators were gathered around the ring. Some of them, like Hana, had their phones out recording the spectacle.

After a few more exchanges between their wooden blades, Nathan swiped across the left but Genji dodged the attack and quickly smacked the side of his sword against his opponent's fleshy thigh. He instantly grimaced and gritted his teeth as the pain shocked him. Genji let out a short sigh and the small crowd around them cheered, Jesse and Hana included.

"Er, dammit," Nathan muttered, rubbing his thigh. "What is it now? Ten-to-Two?"

"You're doing better, but you're still letting your guard down," Genji informed, pointing the wooden stick at him. "Focusing too much on the offensive. Leaving yourself open to attacks. Try a more defensive strategy. Don't let your blade stray too far from your body."

"Yeah…" the Waster muttered, proceeding to take off his shirt as he walked over to a corner to take a short breather.

When it came off, his upper body was fully exposed to reveal his muscly, scarred torso that glistened in the light because of all the sweat he produced. Fareeha grew up with some of the most decorated figures of Overwatch during the Golden-Age, practically seeing them as Uncles, Aunts, and even Siblings, but the amount and severity of scars that were on him opened her eyes. Showing that he must have gone through hell before winding up in their home. The Security-Chief was, of course, skeptical of the man's origin story but the canvas carved into his skin certainly made the premise slightly more plausible. Drinking from a bottle, his back to them, her eyes noticed a set of three pronounced, long scars that were on his back at a diagonal angle. They looked like they were sliced into his skin by three separate swords at the same time.

"Taking a peep at 'im, Fare?" the Cowboy next to her teased, noticing her stares.

"Of course, not!" she snapped back, glaring at him. "It's just those scars… I don't even remember seeing nearly that much on Reinhardt."

As the Egyptian wondered what caused his scars, Nathan pumped ice-fresh water into his mouth and took a big gulp. He squeezed the bottle, again, and splashed some of the cool water on his face. He leaned against the corner of the ring, his head hanging low and feeling a cool liquid wash down his warm body. However, in the corner of his eye, he noticed a rack of wooden weapons was set up against the boxing ring. One of them being long like a pole. Much like a spear. He glanced back at Genji before getting up and wiping away excess sweat from his face with his shirt. Then, he threw the shirt down before picking up the wooden katana and taking position, half-naked.

"Ready?" his sparring partner asked, his mask raising slightly.

"Yeah," Nathan declared, focusing.

"Very well. Remember, winner when there is physical contact of the body with your weapon."

"Well aware…"

With that, the two took positions and had their swords in front of their bodies at an angle, facing each other. Silence grew between and around them, as their audience now waited with their breaths held. Hana, Jesse, and Fareeha watched silently, the latter two with some inherent interest and the youngest of them excited to capture it on video. For several moments too long, the two duelists faced each other without moving a single muscle. The position of their swords solid like stone. Then, Genji slowly oriented his blade so that the hilt was held beside his head and the tip faced his opponent. In response, Nathan didn't move. After several quieter moments, the cybernetic swordsman announced the start.

"Hajime !"

Without hesitation, Nathan launched forward and sent a downward, diagonal slash toward his opponent, who swiftly sidestepped and knocked the attack to the ground. Genji followed through with a cut upwards that would've ended the round very quickly and decisively, but felt the sword rock in his hand and saw his opponent blocking the underhand swipe with his sword. Then, his mechanical arms started whining faintly as strong downward pressure was applied to his weapon, his arms shaking and sword getting lower.

He then kicked the shorter cyborg and sent him tumbling to the floor but he quickly regained balance onto his feet. The Ninja peered up to see Nathan change his stance where his body was slightly rotated on its axis and he held the sword in just one hand, like a knife. His free hand in front of his body. Genji was intrigued but not discouraged as he dashed forward and contacted his sword with his. They started skirmishing in the middle of the ring, circling each other, and clashing their blades together with almost every action. Even with one hand, the Waster could block and deliver blows with ease, if not, better than when he was using both hands. Genji could still manage, but for the first time since their sparring session, doubts were starting to creep up. Eventually, after fighting for what seemed like an hour, Genji saw an opening and swiftly pivoted the sword out of way and swung upwards. However, the eyes beneath his mask widened as Nathan's left hand shot down and grabbed the approaching hands, stopping them in mid-air. His eyes darted to the left and saw a blade about to crash down onto him. The Ninja pirouetted and blocked the oncoming wooden blade then jumped and kicked his opponent away to get some breathing room. Landing back on his feet, he took a stance and was about to charge forward before he saw something flying towards him and quickly swiped it away with his sword, but his eyes widened as a long piece of wood came into view and almost poked him in the visor. It retracted before being thrust repeatedly towards his body. The Ninja kept dodging, sidestepping, and jumping out of the pole's way. The long reach prevented him from delivering any close attacks up front, so after waiting for the opportunity to show itself, Genji blocked a swipe from the staff and jumped high into the air. About to bring his blade down upon his rival, he only contacted a long piece of hardwood on impact and swiped it away to get an opening, but the stick shifted and ended up hitting his weapon before twirling and tossing it out of his hands. His metal hands were now empty, and his head slouched back at the tip of a pole hovered millimeters away from the nape of his neck, the weapon rock solid as Nathan held it in both hands, high and close to his face. Everybody around the ring was stunned at the performance but was silent as their mouths were agape. Then, slowly, and carefully, Nathan thrust the pole forward and tapped Genji on the chest, resulting in an audible but meek tink.

"Ten-to-Three," Nathan declared, raising the staff up and leaning on the ground with it.

"Well done," Genji congratulated in a jovial tone. "That weapon suits you."

"It's not too different from a spear," the Tribal said, examining the long piece of wood.

Suddenly, applause started erupting around them and they two turned to see that the crowd gathered clapping their hands after witnessing such a performance. Genji laughed and bowed to the crowd while Nathan just huffed as he gathered his things and his shirt. He climbed out of the ring, immediately being approached by Amari, McCree, and Song.

"Enjoyed the show?" Brin asks.

"Was pretty good, Brin," Jesse congratulated, patting his metal arm on his shoulder.

"Yes," Fareeha chimed in. "Pretty entertaining."

He looked at the two, trying to see if they were being disingenuous with those compliments. Reading their faces, seeing they didn't seem to be.

"Yeah… Guess it wasn't too bad," Nathan admits, as well.

Nathan wiped more sweat from his face and squeezed more water into his mouth. More cool liquid running down his throat. Though, it did burn slightly coming down. Unfortunately, he was unable to further enjoy the rest as he heard Genji drop next to him and say, "Come, it's now time for us to visit my brother."

"Ah, right…" Nathan looked at him in slight displeasure, putting his shirt back on. "Lead the way."


Angela was in the infirmary, assisting the injured man the team from Japan had recently brought in, Genji proclaiming him to be his brother. When the Shimada had told Dr. Ziegler of what had happened on the mission, she had a hard time believing Nathan was the one who inflicted those wounds. Not because she didn't believe the man was capable of such things, but because she was surprised it even happened at all. Thinking that the Wastelander had completely disregarded what she had adamantly discussed with him just days earlier. However, she was relieved when she learned Nathan was defending himself against someone he thought was the enemy in enemy territory. Still, it warranted some concern.

For now, she was concerned with helping the Shimada brother across the infirmary floor, as he currently needed the help of a crutch under his left arm to move around. He also had his right arm in a cast and bandages all around his body. He was moving slowly, at first, trying to get adjusted to his current situation. He grimaced in pain occasionally, but Dr. Ziegler was as attentive as humanly possible. He was the brother of a former patient of hers. Also, the victim of another.

"Careful, careful…" Dr. Ziegler said, watching her patient's every move.

"Erh, I appreciate your concern, Dr. Ziegler," the limping man stated, humble and thankful. "But you needn't keep worrying about me. I am fine. You have done your job."

"My job as a doctor isn't to just fix my patients but to make sure they stay that way. So, as long as you are in my office, you will be under my supervision. I hope you understand, Mr. Shimada."

"I… I do, Dr. Ziegler. You are far too kind. And please, call me 'Hanzo'."

The Doctor smiled warmly in response before going back to help him adjust to the crutch. After a couple of moments, the door to the infirmary slid open and she looked to see Genji and Nathan walking in.

"Looks like you have visitors," Angela noted.

"Yes," Hanzo croaked out, clearing his throat, and adjusting his lopsided stance.

They watched as the two walked up to them before Genji stopped a few feet from where they were. The metal man clasped his hands on his thighs and took a deep bow towards his brother.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, ani," he greeted his brother, maintaining that deep bow.

"Ohayō gozaimasu, ani," the brother returned, then bowing as deep as he could.

Nathan stood back and watched the exchange with his arms folded over his chest. Genji eventually rose back up before facing Dr. Ziegler and repeating the greeting with her, she silently bowed in response. He stood straight up again but turned around to see Nathan just standing behind them, awkwardly doing nothing.

"Oh, please allow me to… uh… properly introduce you to my friend, Nathan," Genji said, stepping next to Nathan, and gesturing to him. "Nathan, this is my brother, Hanzo."

The two men looked at each other for a couple of moments before Hanzo straightened up and bowed deeply to Nathan, who stood there looking down at him with a slight scowl. Beneath the mask, Genji's eyes darted between the two as well as Angela's. Afraid something might happen.

"Pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Nathan-san," the Japanese Archer humbly greeted, bowing as deep as he did with his brother.

"Yours's too, I guess," Nathan replied, glancing at his left hand, still wrapped in a bandage.

"And my deepest apologies for what transpired last night. I was in the wrong."

"Clearly."

"Brin!" Angela tried to scold his attitude but Hanzo turned and held his cast up, stopping her.

"No, he has a right to be angry," the Archer stated, before looking back up at him. "And a right to answers. It's the least I can do for you."

Nathan stood there, raising an eyebrow, still looking down at Hanzo with a more than irritated expression. He wasn't keen on immediately making amends with the person who tried to stick him with arrows just a few hours, earlier, but he looked to see Angela and Genji looking at him waiting for a response. Under their gaze, Nathan took a deep sigh before regarding Hanzo and gesturing to him.

"Say your piece," the Waster permitted.

"Thank you," Hanzo bowed slightly, then continuing. "I was hoping to speak with this to your master, first, as it contains-"

"Woah, woah, woah, woah, hold on!" the Courier interrupted, getting closer and holding up a finger. "Let's get one thing straight; The gorilla is not my master! So, don't assume I'll care about anything you have to say just because you were going to tell him beforehand. I don't."

The Shimada looked up at him, a bit surprised by that interjection but kept his composure his as he cleared his throat. Glancing at his brother for a moment.

"…Very well… But what I was going to say is that the reason I attacked you was that I believed you were going to attack my brother."

"Really? I guess you don't what the news much."

"No, it was not that… It is because someone contacted me the night before and informed me that you were going to kill him, and I was contracted to prevent that."

Angela and even Genji visibly reacted to that, staggered by the news they just heard. Nathan's eyes grew with interest.

"Who?"

"It was an anonymous contact," the Archer explained. "At first, I didn't believe it. Thinking they were trying to trick me but they sent me images and videos that I'm not sure I want to discuss it in full, here. It wasn't until last night that they contacted me again and told me the target, the 'man in black armor', was in Hanamura to wreak havoc. Supposedly contracted by the gang there. I had to see it for myself and… Well, you know the rest."

The infirmary became quiet upon hearing the news, the Overwatch agents thinking over the implications and how the mission to Japan must've been breached or leaked to their enemies, somehow. Angela nervously exchanged looks with Genji, who silently regarded his brother with hidden concern. She looked down to the floor, worried what an event like this could lead to. They were still an illegal organization, only a fraction of the capabilities they possessed. A breach like this would have huge ramifications or worse for everyone in the New Overwatch. Torn from the inside, like the first time. The Doctor knew she wouldn't be the only one afraid to go through such an affair, again.

Then, her worried thoughts were disturbed by the sound of… Laughter. She looked up, confused, to see Nathan softly chuckling with his eyes closed. Noticing the others also surprised and confused by his reaction.

"No shit?" he questioned, before chuckling even heartier. "Someone called an assassination hit on me? Wow, I really am making a word for myself around here. Surprised it wasn't sooner, given all the whole internet and cell phones and stuff. Ah, but it brings me back."

Hanzo frowned, looking at his brother for any assurance or answers for his confused state. His metallic brother could only shrug.

"Well, I will go off to tell your… Colleague this piece of information," Hanzo explained, limping off towards the door.

"Let me guide you to him, brother," Genji offered, walking beside him. "You need someone to show you the way."

"Very well, brother. Farewell, Dr. Ziegler! …Farewell, Mr. Brin."

He bowed to them both. With a few more taps of his crutch along the floor, the Shimada brothers were out the door. The Waster and the Doctor watching them go. When they were out of sight, Nathan breathed a heavy sigh.

"That guy's a piece of work," he said, shaking his head side-to-side. "Genji told me he got his metal body when his clan ordered a hit on him. I wonder where he was when that happened. Hmph, goes to show."

"…Genji hasn't told you who was the one that inflicted his wounds, did he?" Dr. Ziegler questioned, her tone making Nathan lose his amused demeanor and look at her with a furrowed brow.

"Wait, are you saying…"

"He did tell you it was his family that ordered his death, right?"

"…Fuck…" he let out, only able to regard the door they exited as he shook his head even more. "Then why is Genji…?"

"Genji told me that he was able to get past it," the Doctor explained. "After so many years of loathing. Against his brother and himself. I guess he was able to forgive his brother in that time."

Nathan said nothing as he thought about the brothers, how calm and collected Genji was when he was saving his own attempted killer. The same man who condemned him to life in a machine body, barely looking human on the outside. Yet, the Ninja never seemed to dwell on the fact that he was mostly metal in the few times the Courier accompanied him. Or, being accompanied by him. Though, one thing did bother him about it. About their past.

"I wish I was more surprised than I was," the Courier casually let out, before going to the door to leave.

Angela opened her mouth to speak, but hesitated and thought over what he said.

The door slid open, Nathan immediately being greeted by the hall and crisp air-conditioned air from the vents. Not sure what else to do for the day, he pulled his Pip-Boy to bring up the local map and make his way to the bar but felt something lightly bump against his foot. He looks down and immediately sees what hit him was a red ball, brushing up against his foot. Intrigued, he bent down to pick it up but an orange and black blur beat him to it and swiped the ball from him.

"What the-?!" he immediately rocketed up, startled, his hand going to his waist as he saw what had taken the ball away was at his feet.

It was a cat, a very fluffy cat. White on the belly and orange on the back with black stripes all over like a tiger. It was playfully swiping at the red ball, pouncing the toy with eyes as focused as any predator. As he watched the little fluffy creature attack its rounds prey, he heard a series of footsteps approaching and the cat was then scooped up into a set of tiny arms. It was a boy, with pale skin and fiery-red hair. He held the fluffy animal close to his chest and stared up at the tall man, his eyes wide as his cat's when it was hunting.

"Uh…Hi?" he awkwardly greeted, wondering where the hell this kid and cat came from.

"You're tall, mister," the ginger boy said with a strange lilt in his voice, still wide-eyed. "Do you know Uncle Reinhardt?"

"Uh…What?"

Suddenly, another voice called out, this time belonging to a woman.

"Lucas!" an older blonde woman with braids in her long hair suddenly came into view, calling after the child in a similar accent yet in English. "I thought I told you not to bother people?"

"But Tiger ran!"

The woman shook her head before looking up and seeing Nathan. The man immediately taking notice of her features, how Nordic they were. Unsure if it was the presence of the child or her overall demeanor, but he felt she was older than him. Her looks said otherwise, suggesting she used the same secret as the thirty-seven-year-old doctor in the other room.

"Hello," she greeted with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry about my son. He can be a nuisance, sometimes."

Before he could even come up with a response, the man noticed a whole gaggle of kids behind her. Seven more kids, varying in size and age, but all of them either having hair as red as the boy or hair as blonde as the mother. Their presence on a military base confused him even more.

"Umm… Who are you?" Brin questioned, surprised to see an entire family minus the dad here.

"Oh, where are my manners," the blonde mother scolded herself before holding out her hand. "Ingrid Lindholm. A pleasure to meet you."

"Nathan, uh, Brin," he said, shaking her hand until his eyes widened in realization. "Wait, 'Lindholm'? Your Torbjörn's wife?!"

"Yes. You haven't seen him around, have you? My darling husband decided to run off. I swear, his kids got that from him."

Before Nathan could be astonished at the efficiency of that dwarf engineer, the door to the infirmary slid open and out came Dr. Ziegler stepped out. As soon as she did, the kids' faces collectively lit up.

"Auntie Angela!" they shouted in joy as they ran over to the Swiss woman, who crouched down and held her arms open to meet them.

"Awww, I've missed you all, so much!" Angela exclaimed, as she was swarmed by the gaggle in a tight hug, her eyes closed in bliss and grinning ear-to-ear.

After several moments, she let go and immediately laid her blue-eyes on the youngest child in the group, a red-headed baby that couldn't have been that much bigger than the cat, currently being held by an older sister with glasses. The Doctor reached out and the baby was handed to her, then she stood up and tenderly cradled the baby in her arms. Looking down at him with immediate affection in her eyes. Nathan watching how she lovingly handled the infant.

"My goodness, Liam has grown considerably!" Angela noted, her voice becoming ten levels higher as she wiggled her finger and cooed at the baby.

"You can thank me for that," Mrs. Lindholm said as she approached the other blonde and gave her a big hug. "How have you been, duva?"

"Better, now that I know you're visiting."

They held their embrace for a little longer, the baby kind of smooshed in between the two. The friends eventually separated but Liam was still being coddled in Angela's arms, now being held up against her shoulder. The redheaded baby now staring directly at Nathan behind them, the Wastelander a bit unnerved by the pair of big, unblinking eyes sucking on a pacifier.

"So, what brings you and the kids here?" Angela asks as she rocks the baby in her arms.

"My husband, what else?" the wife asked a question of her own, clearly irritated when she mentioned Torbjörn. "The children wanted to spend time with their father but things obviously become complicated when he's on an illegal military installation and refuses to stop working even for a minute."

"Yes, that definitely sounds like your husband. Wish I knew where he was. You certainly sound like in need of answers."

The Swiss Doctor turned her head to look at little Liam, but caught something in her peripheral vision and spotted the New Californian standing behind them.

"Oh, have you met Nathan, Ingrid?" the Swiss Doctor asked, gesturing to him.

"I have! He was just introducing himself to me before you walked in," Ingrid explained, before looking down at her children and gathering them up. "Children, would you be so gracious to introduce yourselves to Mr. Brin."

"Hello, Mr. Brin," all the kids except the baby greeted in unison, some of them clearly shy or annoyed they were forced to say hello, but some staring up at him like the boy from earlier.

"Umm…Howdy," the adult man greeted awkwardly, not sure how to deal with a group of Swedish children.

For some reason, one of them – a blonde girl with pigtails - audibly gasped when he spoke. Nathan's eyes immediately darted to her.

"You sound like a cowboy?" she questioned, looking up at him. "Are you a Yankee?"

"…Pardon?"

"You do! You do sound like a cowboy!"

'Oh, fuck…' he immediately thought, as the girl practically bounces up to her and began bombarding him with questions.

"Where are you from? Are you from Texas? What revolver do you use? Do you know Jesse McCree? Do you wear hats like cowboys? What is your outfit like? Did you go on any missions with my dad? What's your nickname? Do you have a nickname? Where did you get those scars?"

Nathan just looked at her as her mouth ran off at a couple hundred words a minute, certain that the kid was getting faster with every passing second. It wasn't long until other kids started jumping in and asking him their own questions. Getting uncomfortably close as a bunch of beady eyes began looking up at him. The tall Waster looked up to see Angela standing back with the baby, still, holding him with one arm as she tries to stifle a laugh with a free hand. Ingrid was also amused but looked embarrassed as her face was a slight shade redder. Aware that her husband has been probably filling their heads with too many stories, again. Luckily for her and Nathan, another Swedish accent rung out from behind him, calling to his kids.

"Dad!" the children collectively exclaimed and ran past Nathan, finally giving him breathing room.

"Told you I wouldn't take long!" the Swedish engineer exclaimed, making sure to hug his kids even if some of them were taller and hard to reach. He still tried and was more than happy to do so. "What have you all been up to? I see you found your Aunt… And her friend."

"Yeah, and we were asking him questions about work and with you."

"Really? Well, I at least hope they were appropriate questions. And answers."

Brin narrowed his eyes at Torbjörn but was silently thankful all the attention wasn't on him, the Engineer's offspring walking alongside him and forming a blonde and ginger parade around him. The dwarf walked up to Dr. Ziegler and held his arms out until she bent down and handed him his youngest child, before happily embracing the infant into his arms. He marched off down the rest of the hall.

"Let's go find your Uncle Reinhardt and your big sister, Brigitte," Torbjörn said, being met with screams of approval from his kids and a gentle roll of the eyes from his wife.

Ingrid waved goodbye to Angela and Nathan, before turning and following her family. Watching them as they went, Nathan felt something brushing up against his legs and looked down to see the fluffy tiger-striped cat was rubbing its face all over his pants. Letting out a constant drumming noise from its throat, sounding like it was enjoying this.

"Tiger, kom hit!"

The cat's pointy ears stood up before dashing off and leaving a puffy cloud of fur in its wake. Running across the hall and soon being out of their sight. Dr. Ziegler leaned against the doorway to the infirmary, staring at where the Lindholm's went. Angela almost wanted to join them but she still had responsibilities to attend to. However, before she could relish more in her dissatisfaction, she heard Nathan walk up beside her.

"So…" he began, blankly staring off in the same direction as her. "That's a lot of kids."

A smile instantly grew on her lips, trying their best to hold back a meek chuckle. They failed, not surprisingly.

"Yes," she let out, in between laughs. "I love them, but I don't envy Ingrid in that regard."

"Heh, no kidding," he agreed, joining her with some laughter. "He's got energy for his size. I knew engineers are builders but mass-producing other human beings that quickly seems a bit much, doesn't it?"

The hallway echoed with their laughter at what was a pretty mediocre and somewhat tasteless joke but they enjoyed it all the same. The laughter eventually died down but not the smiles on their faces. However, Nathan slightly turned his head to look at Dr. Ziegler, seeing how happy she seemed in that moment. How he relished in it with her. Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. A minor one, but it seemed like a good idea – a pleasant one. Unfortunately, before he could voice it, someone from inside the infirmary called out to the Doctor.

"Angela," Aida called out. "I think I may need your help with something."

"I'll be there!" the mentor responded, but turned to face Nathan. "I still have duties to attend, so…I guess I'll see you soon?"

"Sure thing," Nathan responded, trying not to seem disappointed as he cleared his throat. "See you soon, Doctor."

Angela regarded him with her sapphire-eyes and smiled warmly, giving a thoughtful nod. She turned, her white coat swishing, and walked in. The infirmary door slid close, but Nathan still stood there for a few moments staring at it before turning on his heels and walking away. It didn't take long for him to make his way back to the living quarters, walking through the sparse hallways. He could hear some sounds from the other rooms and knew the occupants for some of them, but he didn't pay any mind to it and rather left them in peace. Eventually, he found his room which usually had no decorations or markings on the door, but the owner found there was something on it. It was a yellow note sheet, taped to the door. He took it off and looked at it, seeing there were words on it.

"Took Bastion out, will be back by the end of the day," he read. "Sincerely, Mei."

Below that was a cartoonish drawing of Bastion, surrounded by an assortment of flying creatures: Birds, insects, and her blue drone.

"Hmm," was all he expressed as his room door slid open and he walked in.

Throwing the piece of paper on top his desk, he looked around his humble quarters before he began to take his shirt, pants, and boxers off as he went to the bathroom. The showerhead came to life as water rushed out and ran over his naked body, dirty from a busy day beforehand. Streams of warm water ran over his skin, dripping down routes created by either the muscles or scars on his body. Steam rose from his body and fogged up the entire bathroom, the glass panels on his shower becoming opaque with condensation.

After a couple of minutes of just wallowing in the hot shower, he opened his eyes and looked down at his left arm. To his Pip-Boy, examining the outer casing. The crack on the screen only grew to annoy increasingly with every passing day, despite knowing it would take more than a single hairline crack to cause a malfunction with the wrist bound computer. But it was disconcerting to see it there none the less. Wiping his hand across the screen, he finally finished with his shower and eventually went back into his room. With only a pair of boxers, he flopped onto the bed and instantly felt a wave of relief wash over him like the shower did, but not nearly as instant.

The Courier laid on that bed for some time, his mind running blank as it always did. Wandering from thought to thought, idea to idea, notion to notion. Of course, it recollected what just happened throughout the day and already surmised that it would be best if he forgets most of it. All of it just seemed like more unnecessary baggage for him to carry around all the time. Room was starting to run out. Not all of it was bad, but it could've been better. It always could've been better.

Rolling on to his side, he planted his heavy head on the pillow and shut his eyes to get some sleep. Clear away his thoughts for at least a few hours. His eyes snapping open just minutes later betrayed his attempt. Immediately greeted by the sight of his Pip-Boy's case, the Courier got up from bed and walked over to the side of his desk, where his backpack was. He zipped it open and dug his hands through, rummaging through all the gear and items in his way, looking for something. It wasn't there, so he went to another pocket on the pack and filed through that. It wasn't there either, and he was now scurrying every pocket on the worn and dusty backpack before he ended searching the entirety of his room.

"Where the hell is it?" the Courier questioned, becoming more frustrated the longer his search on.

The Courier scoured his desk, flipping through all the papers, notes, and diagrams. He filed through the cabinets and drawers but again had no better luck.

"Goddammit, where is it?!" the Courier demanded, starting to lose patience.

The Courier was throwing stuff all around, not caring for the tidy work he did anymore. Not caring if the noise could be heard by his neighbors. However, in his blind anger, he threw up a pair of trousers that in turn tossed something into the air and landing with a thud. Going over to it, the Courier saw it was a book with an aged leather back. He flipped it over to the front and saw the thin golden cross. A gift he had received in Zion.

Nathan opened the book, and on the very first page, he found what he was looking for. Throwing the bible onto his desk, he went over to his bed and sat down, then turning on the orange glow of his Pip-Boy and shining the piece of paper in it. It was a picture of a group of people in front of a mountain resort, the sight of snow, a huge wooden lodge, and hulking figures in the background. Nathan recognized and knew every single face in the photo; Both human and non-human, organic and metallic, bipedal and quadrupedal. At the very center of the picture, there was a tall man in a leather duster, Pip-Boy on his arm, a finely trimmed beard, and a smile on his face. On his right was a woman in robes with a pneumatic gauntlet on her arm, and on his left, was a blonde man in a doctor's coat and glasses. Behind him, there were two huge figures like the ones in the background. A blue one with a straw hat, goggles, overalls, and a set of grandma's gardening gloves on her, and a dark-green one with armor over his body, a huge hammer on his back, and looking like a mean motherfucker. Finally, before him were two dogs, one a robot canine with an exposed brain dome and the other a shaggy German-Shepard mutt with his tongue waggling out with buckets of drool.

"Oh, Guts…" Nathan said, rubbing his finger over the dog, almost feeling his rough fur and terrible smell.

Seeing them and the others brought him some sense of relief that he still had something to remember them by. And it probably bests it stay's this way for their sake. Finished reminiscing of less-complicated times, he placed the photo on his nightstand and finally went back to bed.