The darkness swallowed her, but she remained undeterred, her senses heightened. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears, the thudding rhythm blending with her quickened breath. Each beat was a reminder of her presence in that eerie, unknown to her space.
With each stride, her mind raced, conjuring images of what might lie ahead. Shadows danced at the periphery of her vision, taunting her with their elusive forms. Yet, she refused to be swayed by fear, overriding any doubts that threatened to cloud her thoughts.
As she ventured deeper into the darkness, the cacophony of her heartbeat grew louder, drowning out all other sounds. It became a symphony, a rhythm guiding her persistence. Its steady cadence reassured her, reminding her of her very existence amidst the unknown.
And then, in the distance, a faint glimmer pierced through the blackness. A soft glow, barely discernible, offered a beacon of hope. Her heart skipped a beat, a surge of renewed energy coursing through her veins.
Finally, the source of the glow emerged as she reached the end of her journey. It was a cage, bathed in a ethereal light. She paused, staring at the strange Japanese symbol witten in a paper pinned down on the steel bars.
As the light descended into complete darkness, two pairs of bright like Sun eyes appeared.
They stared back at her, unblinking and filled with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. She could feel their gaze penetrating into her soul, as if they held the secrets of the universe within them.
Slowly, the shape of a figure began to materialize before her. Tall and imposing, with an aura of ancient wisdom and power.
"It's you..."
"You know I have a name, too." A clean and deep as the ocean voice said, his words echoing in the empty space. The sound was simultaneously soothing and commanding, drawing her closer.
"You never told me your name."
"You never ask me."
She paused, a mix of curiosity and hesitation filling her. How had she not thought to ask the figure before her for its name? It seemed like such a basic, fundamental question. But perhaps in the presence of such overwhelming power and mystery, simple inquiries had slipped her mind.
Feeling a surge of determination, she took a step forward, mustering the courage to pose the question she had neglected for far too long. "Then, may I ask now? What is your name?"
The figure seemed to consider her request for a moment, its ethereal form shifting ever so slightly. Finally, with a voice laden with unspoken tales and ancient knowledge, it responded, "I go by many names, for I have existed long before the concept of names and language itself."
She listened intently, captivated by the enigma before her. "But if I were to give you a name in this moment, what would it be?"
A gentle breeze swirled around her as the figure leaned close to the bars of the cage, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly light.
"In this moment, you may call me Aether," the figure replied, its voice carrying a serene resonance. "For I am the essence that transcends borders, the breath that connects all things in the universe."
"Aether," she repeated softly, testing the word on her lips.
"I have witnessed the birth of stars and the quiet passing of galaxies," Aether continued, its voice resonating like a distant echo. "I am the thread that weaves through time, connecting all that has been, all that is, and all that will be. Boundaries that separate worlds and divide spirits hold no power over me."
As Aether spoke, a soft glow emanated from its being, illuminating the air with a gentle luminescence. Each word seemed to carry a sense of reverence, as if Aether was unveiling the secrets of the cosmos itself.
"The harmony of the universe is my eternal symphony," Aether expressed, its voice tinged with humility. "Every breath, every pulse, every heartbeat, is guided by my gentle touch. I am the unifying force that binds the celestial bodies, the elements, and the souls of all creation together."
The girl narrowed her eyes at the creature in the cage; she was expecting to see Aether as an owl, like always. Her eyes widened, seeing something entirely different.
It was a dragon.
The dragon's scales shimmered in the faint glow. Its majestic form emanated power and grace, its eyes still burning bright like twin suns. The girl couldn't help but be in awe of the creature before her.
"Are you the owl?" She asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. The dragon cocked its head, studying her with intelligent eyes.
"I was but, the realm is changing, and so am I." He explained solemnly.
"Why are you trapped in this cage?" She asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"I was sealed inside you by your parents, generation after generation, every child from your family would possess one of the three great dragons, the guardian spirits of your clan. But as time went on, the power of the dragons diminished, and their spirits started to fade. In order to preserve our essence and protect the lineage, your parents crafted these cages to house us within the next chosen heirs." Aether explained.
The girl's eyes widened in astonishment at the revelation. "So, you're saying that I have the spirit of a dragon within me? This sounds like a freaking stuff from the movies I have watched way too many times..."
Aether chuckled softly, the sound like a gentle breeze rustling through leaves. "I understand your disbelief. It is indeed a fantastical notion,one that is often reserved for the realm of mythology and fiction. But I assure you, dear child, what I speak is the truth. The power of the dragons flows through your veins, their essence intertwined with your own."
"But why me?" she finally managed to ask, her voice filled with uncertainty. "Why was I chosen to carry this burden?"
"You were chosen for a reason, dear one. The dragons' spirits selected you as the vessel to preserve their legacy, same as your brothers. The blood of your ancestors runs deep within you, carrying the strength and wisdom of generations past. I might be locked her but I am still willing to lend you my power, not all of it of course."
"Whenever you will need me, just say Ryū no ken no hōkō o kike."
.
.
.
"Kid, report in!" Reyes's voice yelled in her earpiece, but no one answered. Alice was too busy hiding behind what remained of a pillar and a nearby building. Her heart leapt into her throat as she heard the clanking of gears and the footsteps of an Omnic assassin followed by Talon agents behind it.
She leaned closer to the rocks as the steps became closer. In the corner of her eyes she could see the black metal foot moving around looking for her.
"Alice!" Reyes called out, this time louder. She could hear other people's panicked talking, even the familiar voice cursing in Japanese, belonging to the cyborg.
"We lost them." One of the Talon agents said, "Boss is not going to be happy." He added.
Alice's heart pounded in her chest, her lungs screaming for air as she listened to the conversation between the Talon agents. She knew she had to stay hidden, but the weight of Reyes's voice in her earpiece made her want to respond. Her hands trembled as she gripped the device.
Suddenly, a stray pebble under her foot rolled down the pile of rubble, causing a small clatter. Her breath hitched in her throat as she froze, praying that the sound went unnoticed. The footsteps of the Omnic paused for a moment, and Alice held her breath.
"Did you hear that?" One of the Talon agents asked, sounding cautious.
Alice's heart thudded in her ears as the tension in the air grew thicker. She clutched the earpiece tighter, desperately hoping that they would dismiss the noise and move on.
"I didn't hear anything," another agent replied dismissively. "Probably just the aftermath of the fight. Let's keep moving."
Alice breath. You're not breathing.
Relief washed over Alice as the footsteps started moving again, inching away from her hiding spot. She exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the close call slowly dissipating. But she knew she couldn't relax just yet.
Taking a deep breath, Alice finally responded, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm here, Reyes. I'm safe, for now."
There was a brief pause on the other end before Reyes's voice filled her ear again, laced with relief. "Thank God, Alice. We lost visual on you for a moment there. I was worried."
Alice's voice trembled slightly as she replied, gratitude tinged with fear. "I'm okay, Reyes. But... I don't know how much longer I can stay hidden. They're close, and they know I'm here."
There was another moment of silence, and Alice could almost picture Reyes contemplating his next move. Finally, his voice came through, determined and resolute. "Listen to me, kid. We'll find a way to get you out of there. Just hang on, alright? We won't leave you behind."
Peeking her head over the rubble she was hiding behind, her eyes scanned her surroundings as she looked around. Most of the small buildings that were used for storing weapons and parts had been destroyed earlier, smashed by her when that huge Omnic decided to throw her around like she was nothing but a pair of grapes. Both her legs were bruised and she was sure three of her ribs were broken, but thanks to the sedatives from Khai-Ja, the pain was bearable.
The devastation was overwhelming. The once bustling underground storage facility now lay in ruins, evidence of the intense battle that had taken place. The smell of smoke and burnt metal hung in the air, mixed with the faint scent of Khai-Ja'scentral core smoking from the girl's back.
"Girlie, I swear to god your gonna be the end of all of us." She heard Jesse call out, followed by a slight chuckle from him. Alice felt herself smirk as she stood up, leaning against the pillar.
"I may be trouble, but at least I'm endearing," She quipped, wincing a little at the pain in her ribs. Her voice filled with a mix of defiance and exhaustion. She brushed off the dirt from her torn Blackwatch clothing and assessed her surroundings once again. "Plus, I'm pretty sure if we all were to die it would be either your fault or Genji's."
There was a loud groan along with a laugh at the end of the com. I'm guessing Genji was still not used to our humour just yet.
"Oh, now you're blaming Genji too? I thought we were on the same side here, darlin'."
Alice chuckled and rolled her eyes, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"Hey, blame always needs to be shared," she replied, her tone teasing. "Besides, it's not like I'm the only one who gets us into trouble. You and your reckless cowboy antics have caused your fair share of chaos."
Jesse huffed out a laugh, his voice filled with amusement. "Point taken, girlie. But you gotta admit, it's never a dull moment with us around."
Alice smirked, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That's true, cowboy. We certainly know how to keep things interesting."
"Both of you shut your traps. Alice, what's your status?" She heard Gabriel call out as she rushed to another crumbling building.
"Few broken bones here and there," Alice replied, her voice strained but determined. "But I'm still kicking. Just need a moment to catch my breath. I'm making my way out of here."
A loud crashing sound could be heard in the comms and a loud painful groan.
"Alice, what was that? Are you okay?" Gabriel's panicked voice ringed in her ears as the girl struggled to get up from the ground
Alice winced, pain shooting through her body, but she managed to push herself to her feet. "I'm... I'm fine," she replied, gritting her teeth. "Just a little mishap. Nothing I can't handle."
"Girlie, you better not be lying to us," Jesse interjected, concern evident in his voice.
Alice managed a weak smile. "I promise, cowboy. I'll be alright." She took a deep breath, ignoring the throbbing ache in her ribs. "I'll make my way out of here,I have found some good stuff, not a lot but good."
"Good," Gabriel's voice came through, relief palpable. "We need you back in one piece. We have a mission to complete, and we can't do it without everyone."
"Don't worry, I have been worst, trust me." She muttered as she found what she was looking for. As quick as her legs let her she rushed to the small sewer and lifted the lid. Before she jumped down, she allowed Khai-Ja to scan the area once more, just to make sure that no one was there. Wouldn't want a Talon Omnic or any other agents from their organization to pop up in here now, wouldn't we?
Look out below, Alice Smith. Khai-Ja said as the girl slid into the sewer, closing it shut as she did so. She landed on the ground, followed by a splash of water and concrete.
'Alright, well. Let's start making our way back to the others, yea?' Khai-Ja activated her night vision, a small amount of light began to glow from Alice's eyes as she looked around. Yep, this was the sewer.
Luckily, there was just no way that Omnics would be down here, considering that they wouldn't be able to fit.
'Considering that this my first encounter with the Talon, it wasn't that bad as I thought it would be.' She thought, walking deeper into the musty cave like area. 'Well, shouldn't be long now.' On her vision, a holographic map of the sewers popped up, showing her exactly where she was. It wasn't too far away, but navigating through the labyrinthine tunnels would take time, especially with her injuries. And with any other obstacles that might come up along the way.
Multiple threats detected.
'What the-' Her body moved on its own and ducked to the ground, barely avoiding the bullets that were fired by the Talon men, two, no, four of them.
From her back, small missiles that looked like bugs were fired, destroying the ceiling and separating the girl from the enemies.
She was about to thank Khai-Ja when she heard heavy, very loud footsteps behind her. She felt panic rising in her chest, her suit reacting to her emotions by changing colors, turning invisibility on and off.
'Shit! Another one? How the hell did it get down here?!' Without a second thought, she turned on her heel and began to run quietly as she could, following the map as she took a few sharp turns.
'I thought we would lose the Omnic, but I was wrong. It was in fact gaining on me.'
Its probably sending data to its headquarters, telling them what turns we're taking and where we are. We have to take it out.
Alice nodded and stopped, raised both her cannons and began firing. The Omnic stuttered a little bit but did not stop its assault. It's hands turned to guns as they aimed for her.
Black goo began to rise from her back and grow into sharp tendrils that then were immediately fired at the ground, digging into the concrete. The tendrils, like snakes, spread beneath the ground and lashed out at the Omnic, stabbing it.
The left hand of the Omnic transformed into a flamethrower and released a bright orange flame, burning the tendrils; however, the tendrils wrapped themselves around the tank containing the fuel, squashing it, causing the tank to explode along with the Omnic. The explosion send the girl crashing at the wall behind her, a crack echoed through the tunnels of the sewer.
A strong pain shooting through her chest, she clutched her side, feeling the warmth of blood seeping through her fingers.The impact from the explosion had taken its toll on her body. Despite the pain, Alice gritted her teeth and forced herself to keep moving. She couldn't afford to stop or let her injuries slow her down. She knew there was still more danger lurking ahead, and she needed to stay focused.
She tried to walk, but instead found herself clutching her chest and coughing up blood; she couldn't breathe.
The broken ribs have caused a serious damage to your body. You are experiencing a condition called "flail chest." Ineffective ventilation increased dead space, decreased intrathoracic pressure, and increased oxygen demand from injured tissue.
Stabilizing the host...
Alice Smith, stay calm; your body is going into shock due to the injuries you sustained.
Alice struggled to catch her breath, desperately gasping for air as panic began to consume her. She knew she needed medical attention, and fast.
Gritting her teeth and forcing herself up, almost letting out a loud scream of pain as she felt Khai-Ja attach and move the broken parts of her bones. It felt like she was performing surgery on her body without sedating her first. She tried to move her legs, but immediately fell back onto the ground, releasing a low groan of pain as her face met the earth.
I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do to help with your pain. You will have to endure it. Try to slow your breathing, it may ease your pain at least a little.
'We have to move, give me more adrenaline.'
As the pain faded away, she finally managed to climb up the old, rusty ladder onto the outside. She tried to move, but a noise of gunshots immediately stopped her; she saw Blackwatch agents trying to stop Talon from reaching their ship.
Alice stumbled forward, nearly losing her footing as her vision became overcome with whiteness, though someone caught her. McCree was beside her, his revolver gripped tightly in one hand while he used the other to help steady her.
"Don't let them get away!" A Talon agent cried out as he held up his gun. He shot, and Alice heard a bullet whiz past her head, "Shoot them all, I don't care! Just get the girl and the pendrive!"
Immediately, Reyes and McCree held their guns up to the army of Talon agents in front of them. They didn't hesistate before they began shooting and several bodies fell to the ground with a thud. Gunfire echoed through the air as bullets whizzed back and forth. Genji pushed himself in front of McCree and her, holding his wakizashi out in front of him. He began deflecting several bullets that flew towards them, and he looked over his shoulder with hard eyes."
"Get her to the ship!" He ordered. Alice wanted to argue, but no words came out of her mouth. The look in his eyes was enough to stop her, he looked almost worried and because of that she was lost for words. She relucantly let McCree take her aboard the ship, silently praying that no one would get hurt.
Slowly, one by one, the Talon agents began to fall. Alice was impressed; her team was able to take out nearly a dozen soldiers without taking a hit. Moira soon joined them on the ship, and Genji did the same shortly after. Reyes fired last one shot as the last standing Talon agent before making his way up the cargo ramp.
"Adaptive circuits engaged: assassin"
Her eyes widened, and she yanked herself from McCree's grip and jumped at the black Omnic, stopping it before it could slice in half the Commander from behind. Its red, sharp blade connected with her katana as they both fell to the ground. She could feel the heat of the blade against her katana, the metal vibrating under the immense force.
The omnic leaped onto a tree and launched itself at her from it, Alice rolled away in time to dodge the attack, but the omnic didn't give her any time, bouncing off from one tree to another and onto her.
The assassin was relentless, its blades striking fast and aiming for her vital points.With each dodge and parry, the pain in her chest was increasing, and she wondered how long she can keep up with it.
'Fuck, I don't really have the choice, don't I?' She thought as she continued to fight. Alice knew that if she didn't defeat the omnic soon, it could pose a serious threat to her team and the Commander.
As they continued to clash, Alice's determination grew stronger. She couldn't let her fear or exhaustion overcome her. This was her duty, to protect her team and stop this omnic threat. McCree and the others were counting on her.
'I can't believe I am going to do this.'
Barely managing to dodge another swing of the blade, she backed away to create a safe distance. Waiting for the Omnic to bounce from the tree again, she lifted her katana in the air, observing its every move.
Everything was happening in slow motion. The Omnic launching at her again, both its blades aimed for her chest, its red eyes shining in the moon light. Alice closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a puff of smoke came out of her mouth as she exhaled. With lightning speed, she maneuvered her katana in a perfect arc, intercepting the incoming attack.
The clash of metal reverberated through the quiet forest, echoing off the tree trunks. Alice's muscles strained against the force of the Omnic's assault, each one putting every ounce of her strength and precision into the defensive stance.Sweat dripped down her temple, mixing with the dirt and grime from the intense battle.
As the Omnic's blades pressed harder against her katana,she shifted her weight, twisting her body to the side and leveraging her opponent's momentum against it.
The Omnic stumbled forward, caught off guard by her unexpected move. That was her chance.
"Ryū no ken no hōkō o kike!" She yelled. Her katana was surrounded by a glowing white-blue fire that began to change its shape until it enveloped her completely, encasing her entire body in flames. Wings spread from her back as the fire took the form of an owl.
She launched herself towards the Omnic, her flaming wings propelling her forward with incredible speed and power. The Omnic tried to react, but it was too late. Alice's blazing sword sliced through the air, cutting through the Omnic's armor like butter.
The impact of her strike sent shockwaves through the surrounding trees, causing leaves to flutter to the ground. The Omnic was thrown back, its red eyes dimming as smoke billowed from its damaged form. It crashed onto the forest floor, defeated.
Alice stared wide eyed at the now lifeless machine, dropping her katana on the ground in exhaustion. The flames that had engulfed her began to fade,revealing her almost destroyed armor, that was desperately trying to stay together.
She struggled to catch her breath and leaned against a nearby tree, her body trembling from the exertion. The adrenaline that had fueled her fight with the Omnic slowly started to ebb away, leaving behind a deep exhaustion.
Crack!
Her mask split in half, revealing her scarred face. Hearing Commander, she knew that she has to return to the airship, though that would mean revealing her face to not just her team but the other agents.
Alice clenched her fists, realizing there was no other choice. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her katana and slid it back into its sheath. With a exhausted look on her face, she made her way towards the direction of the airship.
When she turned to look at her team, they were already staring at her with wide eyes. McCree walked over to her to help her get on the cargo-hold.
"You alright there, darlin?"
Alice nodded weakly, her voice hoarse as she replied, "Yeah, just... exhausted. That was a tough fight."
McCree helped her onto the cargo hold, his eyes filled with concern. "You gave it your all, Alice. We're all proud of you."
She tensed as she saw Moira approaching her. She was the team's medic in place of Angela, but Alice didn't trust the scientist even a bit. She had evidence to prove that she was working or at least helping the Talon for whatever reasons, but she was in a poor state and she was the only medic here.
So, not having any choice, she let the scientist take care of her wounds. But not without making sure that she wouldn't try to steal any samples from her, like blood.
.
.
.
The ride back to the Overwatch base was rather quiet. The team was spread out across the aircraft, all shaken up by the close call they had with the Talon. Alice's vision was blurry as she wiped the rest of the blood from her katana, not bothered by the strong smell of blood coming from it. She could feel someone's gaze burning into the side of her head, and it made her slightly uncomfortable.
Genji was sitting across the airship, head leaning back against the headrest of his seat and his bloody katana in his lap. He looked as though he wanted to say something, though he was stopped by McCree's voice. He always found himself wanting to just tear off that mask from her face, but now in this situation, he couldn't look away. Her true identity was something he found himself wondering about since the first moment they met, and now that he was finally able to see what was beneath the mask, he was speechless as he looked at her. Her face, the scar on her neck. The face of someone he thought had been lost long ago.
"Well, I gotta say, darlin', you sure know how to make an entrance. That huge fire was quite the spectacle," McCree chuckled, pulling out a cigar and lighting it. "Ya know, I still can't quite figure out how exactly you managed to pull that off. It was like watchin' a magician in action."
"A magician in action, huh..." She mumbled the words to herself, "I'm gonna be honest with you I had no idea if this would even work. I just trusted my instincts and went for it. It was a last-ditch effort, but it paid off."
McCree smirked and took a puff of his cigar. "Well darlin', sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith. And looks like this time, it worked out in your favor."
She leaned closer against the headrest, pulling something from her pocket and waving in front of McCree's face a small USB, "I almost got killed but it was worth it."
McCree's eyes widened slightly as he glanced at the USB. "What's on there?" he asked curiously, taking another puff of his cigar.
"A lot of classified information," she replied, her tone serious. "It's data that could potentially bring down an entire criminal organization. Needless to say, they weren't too happy about me getting my hands on it."
McCree raised an eyebrow. "Well now, ain't you just full of surprises," he remarked, a mix of admiration and amusement in his voice. "Seems like this mission of ours just got a whole lot more interesting."
Alice nodded, sighing and closing her eyes. The bandages around her chest and legs were scratching her wounds and she could feel them beginning to itch. "I'm going to take a nap for a bit," she said, trying to ignore the discomfort. "Wake me up when we're getting close to the base."
McCree nodded and watched as Alice settled into her seat, her katana still clutched tightly in her hand.With a final puff of his cigar, McCree leaned back in his seat, keeping a watchful eye on her as she slept.
.
.
.
Reboot successful! Core functions all operational. Running diagnostic; host in stable condition.
Status: 100%
Energy levels are currently at 56% capacity.
As damage has been reset to 0%, normal functions are now available.
Proceeding to wake up the host?
Affirmative.
Slowly, the Scarab and it's host felt a little trickle of power re-enter its system. It was unbearably slow, only being within its core. Khai-Ja couldn't feel anything as the proces was slow, but knew they weren't dead.
But they couldn't see anything. They could barely hear anything. So, of course they were surprised that its energy levels began to rise after a few hours.
As the trickle of power continued to flow into the Scarab's system, Alice consciousness began to stir. It was like emerging from a deep slumber, her awareness gradually returning. She could feel the faint vibrations of the Scarab's internal machinery as it hummed back to life.
She could feel her body becoming better. The pain in her body decreased as the night ended and sun began to rise. A message would come now and again about different parts of their body.
Their outer frame and armor were completely repaired. Their wires and cables repair themselves within its host torso and limbs, the larger ones within her spine retracted, the protective layer around the Scarab's shell coming back out.
Everything in her body was working normally again, there was no pain. But that did not mean that she felt safe.
She didn't know where she was or what was happening. Only one thing kept her from panicking.
Every hour, she felt a presence visit her. A very familiar presence, one that she knew was a friend. When Khai-Ja's systems returned to function, she could sometimes hear them speaking. He seemed very angry and sad.
Why was he sad? Why was he angry?
She couldn't ask him these questions, only able to listen to him whisper and ask her to wake up already. There were many other familiar presences, but none of them had the same anomaly radiating from them as her and him.
What bothered the host the most was the fact that he would keep calling her by different name, why?
And as the night turned into day, the girl was suddenly awakened or rather forced to awake.
The sound of beeping became louder and more frantic as her eyes snapped open. She shot up into a sitting position, Khai-Ja's vents active in attempt to cool its system. The beeping got faster when she looked around.
She struggled to make out her surroundings. She could see the small figure of someone leaning over a desk not too far away. They wore a white lab coat, and next to them was standing another figure wearing a black hoodie, and some sort of armor.
He was staring at the paper, scanning through it thoroughly. Again and again. Word after word. He couldn't stop looking at the words, the confirmation. His grip slowly tighten as he looked at the doctor back again.
"It's her birthday today..." He placed the paper in a small brown envelope and sealing it. He flipped it around so the face of where you would put the recipient's name would face him. He stared at it, not knowing whether or not to reach for the pen and write it himself.
"Angela," Genji gently mumbled under his breath. At the sound of her name she spun her chair to face him.
"Yes?" She said, seeing how he held the brown letter out in front of her. Though he didn't make any eye contact, instead he focused his eyes completely away from her.
"Could you write 'Akari' on it?" He bluntly asked. Angela nodded, understanding what he was planning. Her hand jumbled through her pen pot and she searched for one of her fountain pens. Once she found it, she opened the pen and started to write. Her handwriting was always neat, but this made it aesthetically pleasing anyone's eyes.
Once she finished writing, she handed the envelope back to Genji, who took it without saying a word. His gaze was still focused on the paper, lost in his own thoughts.
"I should have done more." He grumbled unhappily, glancing at the teenager on the medical bed, dressed in a hospital gown. His gaze was fixed on the perfect cut scar on her throat; he knew who had done it, after all, he had the same scars all over his body, inflicted by the same person.
"Now, now, don't be silly." Angela scolded him softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You've done everything you can for her. And I'm pretty sure what's inside that envelope is what she was searching for so much."
Genji inhaled deeply, his eyes finally moving away from the scar and meeting Angela's gaze. He lifted his robotic hand, looking over the new fixes and adjustments that Angela had made, the two bullet holes that he had received were already removed from his mechanical limb and replaced with stronger plating.
Alice groaned and blinked a few times, her vision adjusting and the targeting triangle appearing as she finally began feeling her limbs.
"Angela...? This you?" She mumbled confusedly, because of the bright light in the room, the doctor looked like she was glowing for the girl. "Am I going crazy or are you an angel?" She then slowly turned and spotted Genji who seemed to be in deep thought. "And who's he?" She asked, not recognizing her friend due to the black hood.
"Oh, you're awake!" She clapped and stood up immediately, startling the girl a bit with her enthusiasm. Angela noticed that and quickly apologized, taking a step back to give her some space. "Don't be afraid, you're in the Overwatch headquarters, everything is fine. No, I am not an angel. It's good to see you awake and responsive, though."
Alice nodded slowly, her confusion still evident on her face. "Doctor Ziegler, right," she repeated, trying to process everything. "But... why does everything look so... bright?"
Angela smiled gently. "That's just the effect of the lights in the room, Alice. Your eyes are adjusting after being unconscious for some time. It's perfectly normal."
A loud hiss could be heard, and from the girl's back, a puff of smoke was released from Khai-Ja's shell. It smelled like burned clothing and hair.
Angela squinted her eyes at the smell, same Genji. She already knew where that smell was coming from, but Genji didn't, so she wondered how the girl is going to explain this.
Do not worry, Alice Smith. We are not damaged, I just needed to release out some heat from the cores. Provide plausible explanation. If not, then termination is still a choice.
'Ah, yes, yes, I got it.' She thought, holding her head; she had an annoying headache, as if her head were on fire, every time Khai-Ja's voice spoke to her, but she chose to ignore it.
"Uh, it seems that my armor took some damage, but has been undergoing repairs while I was... sleeping?"
Angela raised an eyebrow but said nothing, Genji only stared. Trying to cover up the unusual situation, she continued, "I guess the repairs are still ongoing, causing some..." she searched for the right word, "...ventilation issues?"
Genji frowned slightly, not convinced by the explanation. He turned to Angela, hoping she would shed some light on what was really happening.
I can't believe how terrible you are in lying. Even an overenthusiastic child could see through that.
Angela glanced at Genji, who clearly didn't believed a word she said. She knew that Alice's explanation was flimsy at best, but she also understood that there might be more to the situation than meets the eye.
Noticing that Alice had gone completely silent, probably conversing with that sentient AI, she realized it was now up to her to explain the situation, lest Genji get even more suspicious than he already was.
Meanwhile, Alice is arguing with the Scarab.
'What do you mean, I am a terrible liar? I wouldn't have to lie to them if you didn't keep constantly threatening their life, you stupid bug!'
Threatening their lives is a necessary measure to ensure their cooperation. You may lack finesse in deceiving them, but your intentions are clear.
Alice clenched her fists, frustration evident on her face. 'Intentions? My intention is to protect them, not manipulate or deceive them!'
Alice, we both know the risks involved. The truth would only cause panic and hinder our mission.
'Here we go again, always with the mission. Mission this, mission that. This is getting tiresome.'
"Alice?" Angela snapped her fingers in front of her face, snapping the girl out of her thoughts, "Is everything alright-"
"Yes!" She snapped her head at her, startling the doctor. "Huh? Where's Genji?" She looked around confused, "He was just here a moment ago."
"Don't worry about him. Reyes just called for him moments ago, I am unsure thought what he wanted from him. But that's not important right now." She said, sitting on the chair next to the bed, "How are you feeling, dear? When Jesse brought you here, he said that he couldn't wake you up, and your breathing was very erratic. I took a radiograph of your chest when you were unconscious, and it seems that you possess an extraordinary ability to heal rapidly. Your broken ribs, which should have taken weeks to heal, mended themselves in a matter of minutes."
Angela paused, studying Alice's bewildered expression. She had suspected that this AI, possessed enhanced healing abilities, but this revelation confirmed her suspicions."This is not a normal occurrence, and I believe it's connected to your … unique condition."
Alice's eyes widened a bit, "I've always had a faster-than-usual recovery, but I never thought it was anything significant."
I do possess advanced technology that can repair the host's injuries and enhance their physical attributes, but unlike the other Scarabs, I was built differently. I can increase the production of your blood cells, as well as accelerate cellular regeneration.
"It is significant, Alice. This healing ability could be an incredible asset, but it's also important to understand its limitations and potential risks."
Alice nodded, "What are the limitations? And what are the potential risks?"
Angela leaned forward, her expression serious. "From the radiograph, I could see that your healing abilities were primarily focused on your internal injuries.It's possible that your external wounds may still take time to heal, although at an accelerated rate compared to normal humans. As for the potential risks, rapid cell regeneration can put a strain on your body. It requires a lot of energy, which can leave you feeling exhausted or weak."
Alice processed the information, her curiosity conflicting with her concern. "So, I can heal faster but I may feel drained afterwards?"
Angela nodded. "That's a possibility. It's important to monitor your energy levels and give yourself time to rest and recover. Overexertion could lead to further complications or even make your condition worse."
"What about my mind? Are those abilities affecting my mental state in any way?"
Angela sighed, knowing that this was a sensitive topic. "It's difficult to say for certain. Healing at such an accelerated rate can potentially modify neural pathways and affect cognitive functions. However, based on what we know so far, your mental capabilities should remain intact."
Alice breathed a sigh of relief; the feeling of losing touch with herself and reality, and her amnesia, were not the side effects of her regeneration. Then where was the problem?
Angela frowned, sensing the girl's unease. "Alice, there could be underlying causes for your memory loss and disconnection from reality. It's possible that your healing abilities are not directly responsible for those symptoms.We may need to explore other potential factors or conduct further tests to pinpoint the exact cause."
Alice's concern deepened. She had hoped that her healing abilities would provide answers and solutions to her condition, but now it seemed more complex than she had initially thought.
Dr. Ziegler has stored all her patients medical information, including their name, contact details, medical history, treatment plans, and other health-related information in her computer. There is a chance that she might have informations about your brothers, a small chance but still possible.
Alice's heart skipped a beat at the mention of her brothers. She had been searching for them for years, without any leads or information. The thought that Dr. Ziegler might have some information about them gave her a glimmer of hope.
But her chance was taken away by another person entering the medical room. "It seems like you've finally decided to get rid of that creepy mask." Commander Reyes said, nodding in greeting towards Angela, as he walked over to the bed Alice was lying in.
"You think my mask is... creepy?"
Reyes chuckled lightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, let's just say it adds to the mystery, kid. But don't worry, I've seen worse." He then reached over and gave her a nice head pat, something that only Getrude was used to giving her; this time she didn't flinch.
"I checked the files you downloaded, and I have no idea how you managed to bypass their firewall and access all that classified information. But you did it and now we have access to most of their locations and agents."
Reyes leaned back in his chair, a pleased expression on his face. "You're a valuable asset, kid. A little creepy mask isn't gonna change that." He paused for a moment, "I talked to Morrison, and he agreed to give the team a day off. Can you walk?"
She nodded.
"Good, get yourself ready, because we're going out." Without saying anything he left the girl confused as she glanced at Angela who only shrugged.
Well, that was unexpected
