Yumi Song shook her head. "I'm afraid I wouldn't know much about finding this special water of yours."

Genji slumped. He figured that it couldn't had been that simple.

The park was beautiful. Genji had come to learn that it was a public nature reserve, an almost ancient piece of land which was left untouched as far as anyone could remember. The only intervention of humans in this area took the form of trimmed tree branches, mowed grass, the tidy placement of wooden benches along the gravel paths, and small white signs stuck into the soil explaining the immediate space around each one and warning against animal feeding and snakes. The colors of the pictures on the signs were already starting to fade, and the words printed onto them a little indistinct and becoming increasingly so with each subsequent rainfall.

The cyborg cast his eyes around him. Without even reading the signs, which were available in English and another language he didn't understand, he could tell that the place was wild and teeming with life. Close to the gravel path, the grass was short, bright and shiny, sparkling as the wind swept across it, the reflective blades taking turns to shine the sun into Genji's eyes. Further from the path, the grass grew sparser under the canopy of the trees which grew denser. Oaks, pines and birches twisted and warped into each other in a continuous struggle to reach higher in the never-ending—and in human terms, extremely slow—competition for sunlight. The shocking whites, pinks and reds of camellia flowers peeked from between the trunks in a clearing further in, hairy yellow insects darting between them quickly and tirelessly. The birds in contrast flapped their wings lazily above the trees, and the cyborg could make out the small but rapid motion of resting birds on sheltered branches picking at their wings, between their feathers. Squirrels scurried from the ground to the trees in a blink of an eye, and made equally fast progress coming back down and crossing the gravel path in front of him, as though they would be rendered unable to do so after he passed.

Despite his calm and peaceful surroundings, Genji felt anxiety twist in his viscera like a foul parasite. He was inexorably inching closer to the time limit without having made any discernable progress towards finding the elixir. Suffocating the feeling of helplessness which crept up to him and threatened to take over him, he concentrated on what to do next. He pulled out the capsule thoughtfully and turned it about in his hands, noticing a little digital timer embedded in the plastic. It ticked down, accurate to the second. Genji had thirty minutes left until the test ended.

"Are there any lakes nearby? Ponds, streams? Any bodies of water?" he asked levelly, not allowing his voice to express his inner turmoil.

Yumi looked away from Hana who was at the moment dispersing butterflies by means of running into beds of grass and glanced uncertainly at the cyborg. Uncertainty? No—it seemed closer to worry. "There is a lake further up, but it's been here forever and you can't drink straight from it."

"I will try it," the cyborg said, being careful to keep the desperation from his voice.

The worry in her huge brown eyes grew more intense. "It's an important test, isn't it?"

"I think so."

Silence came between them.

"I wish I can do more to help," she finally said slowly, "but I really can't think of anywhere else you might find some special, unique water. This city was built on top of a decimated layer of technology with a focus of industrialization because of the Incident. In the very few places where you can find water lying around, it's either already in dirt between slabs of asphalt or in the reserve's lake." She tapped at her jaw thoughtfully. "Well, there is one more place…"

Genji glanced up.

"I don't know too much about it though," she said hesitantly, "I just heard once in passing that there used to be a natural spring north of the city in a place where there used to be a museum. The way the story goes, one day water just started spilling from the building's foundations, and people thought it was a burst water pipe underground." She bit her lip. "Or was it the other way around?"

"Do you know where it is?"

"I'm not exactly sure where… I just heard that it's been reduced to a pile of rubble, one of the few structures which wasn't cleaned up after the Incident," Yumi explained, shrugging. "From what I've heard, that isn't anything exactly defining about it—it was just that: a pile of rubble."

Genji reached behind his head and scratched it. It wasn't much to go on, but it was certainly better than nothing. If he was lucky, he wouldn't even need to take that chance if the lake proved to be the source of the elixir.

"It's not far now." Yumi pointed some distance ahead at a bend in the path. "Just around the corner. Hana! Not too far, please!"

The cyborg started fidgeting with the capsule. Even though he knew it would be pointless to contemplate the consequences of failing the test, he couldn't help but do so anyway. The possibility of the worst outcome was always there, looming at the back of his mind. It seemed like whenever he tried to turn away from it and hide from it, it would come close and strangle him, unseen tendrils reaching for him from a place he cannot see. It took some effort to force it back down. Where will I go if I'm not accepted here anymore? Will I be left alone, or sent away somewhere? Genji decided that though he might not feel as comfortable here as opposed to the watch point, he wanted to finish what he started, to make something of the little determination given to him by the commander.

Genji detected something light touching his arm. Surprised, he looked up and saw Yumi's eyes and slight smile. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to.

Hana burst through the gap through the trees before they did, yelling gibberish incomprehensible to all except for herself and the ones her age. Genji followed, ducking down beneath the branches into a glade surrounded by a circle of trees. At this point, it was hard to see between them. They were dense enough for darkness to reign between their leaves even on a sunny day. This accentuated the light pouring from above the light onto the lake, playing on the water, like a spotlight.

They realized that they were not alone. Across the lake, a man in very familiar fatigues knelt to the water and dipped an equally familiar capsule into it. It was hard to make out his features from such a distance, but the cyborg in comparison had very distinct physical attributes. "Genji, is that you?" the man shouted, further proving this fact, as he stood up and raised his eyes.

"Will Pyre?" he shouted back across.

"Hang on," Will replied, "let me get to you!" He jogged around the perimeter of the lake, and stopped in front of him, breathing a little faster. Genji realized how striking his blue eyes became in the sun. "How's it going, my good omnic? Any progress on the elixir?"

"That's why I'm here. But now I see the futility of the attempt," he answered glumly, looking at Will's empty capsule.

"Aw, don't say that! At least being here confirmed that this lake does not, in fact, carry the elixir," he laughed. Regulating his breathing, he glanced at the two others with him. The mother waved timidly at the soldier, while the toddler was some distance away in the undertaking of the preoccupying task of having a good—and considerably loud—time with nature. She didn't seem to have noticed the soldier's presence.

"This is Yumi Song," the cyborg quickly introduced, gesturing. "Over there is her daughter, Hana. They helped me find this place."

Will's face twisted to a contemplative expression. A moment passed. "Not even a day in and already making moves. I better step up my game."

The remark left Genji confused, and Yumi blushing.

"Where are my manners? It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Song."

"Likewise, Mister…"

"Pyre—but Will's just fine."

"Then just Yumi would suffice too," she said with a smile.

"That it will, Yumi," he said, grinning in return. "Where have you been, Genji? We can eliminate our options and go somewhere we haven't been to yet."

"By the cliffs and the roads south. The only water I found was that of the sea."

"I'm glad I bumped into you, then. That was where I was headed to next." He furrowed his eyebrows. "Where do we go now, though?" he wondered aloud, then looked up. "Also, where were you just now? I tried looking for you but I couldn't see you anywhere outside the tent."

Genji looked down at his stark white armor plates and the conspicuous green glow between them. Really?

"I was just telling Genji about a water source up north," Yumi spoke up, "but I've only heard rumors about it. It's in the rubble of a collapsed museum, if it's even there anymore."

"Well, at least we know where we're headed to next!" he said cheerfully, a glint in his eye, "what are we waiting for? Time's a—wastin'!"

"But I'm really not too sure if you'll find what you're looking for there," she protested meekly.

"'S better than no lead at all. You ready to go, Genji?"

A tiny figure appeared behind Yumi, tugging on her sleeve. "Mommy?"

"Well, hello there!" Will lowered himself, resting his palms on his knees. "Hana—that right? Aren't you just the most adorable little girl! Nice to meet you!"

Hana's eyes widened. She stared at Will for a second before turning her bewildered gaze above her to her mother, sliding behind her back. Genji chuckled softly.

Without a word, Yumi smiled and patted her on the head, gesturing to Will with a nod.

Like a deer in headlights, the child returned her huge brown eyes to the soldier before saying softly, "Nice to meet you too."

Will threw back his head and laughed uproariously. "Children—is there anything more precious in this world? I can't wait to have my own!"

Yumi turned to her daughter. "What is it, Hana?"

Hana opened her mouth to answer at the same time a deep, surprisingly aggressive growling emanated from her torso. She blushed, shutting her mouth.

"You're hungry, aren't you?"

She nodded.

"Well, I am too. Why don't we get something to eat?"

The girl looked to the cyborg, her expression inscrutable.

"I'm sorry Hana," Genji said, "I cannot follow."

"Hey, it's okay," said Will soothingly, noticing her melancholy, "Genji would visit you. Won't you, Genji?"

Three pairs of eyes stared at the cyborg expectantly. It's not as though he would give any other answer anyway, but the attention still made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Of course," he replied. "Of course I will."

Though the road grew wider here, the streets were quieter. The noise of haggling and afternoon activity faded and transitioned to the deep purring of truck engines and the quiet speech of factory workers.

"So what was all that about?"

"All what?"

"Hana and Yumi. How did you meet them?"

There were no residential buildings around here—the blocky grey buildings of industry rapidly took over as they walked further north. Each was as odd-shaped as the next, some taking a small area of land, others taking an entire stretch of the street, all of them squat and low, the highest reaching only up to three levels high. The only color that can be seen is the bright signs in front of each building written in characters and symbols Genji could not decipher, and the attire of the workers. Regardless of what uniform they wore, each had a bright yellow helmet on his head as well as a reflective vest around their chests. There wasn't much of them around; Genji could count how many there were along a street with his hands. Nobody noticed them as they paced to their destination; all busy and focused on their tasks, staring at clipboards and talking into phones, all while walking briskly between the compounds.

"Pure happenstance," Genji replied. "Hana—I found when she was separated from her mother, lost on the streets."

"Is that so?"

"It is. What is it?"

Will cleared his throat. "It's just that it doesn't seem like the Koreans are particularly fond of omnics, y'know? Ever since we got here, I haven't seen a single one, and when I asked about it people either hushed up or changed the subject." He waved his hands and quickly added, "not that I have a problem! Against your kind, I mean. I mean omnics—"

"I'm not an omnic," the cyborg interrupted drily.

Will stopped, his eyes wide.

"What?"

Genji sighed. "I said I am not an omnic. I am human—just like you."

A long silence came, a silence which Will spent slowly scanning Genji from head to toe with his eyes.

"Were you programmed to think that way?" he asked finally.

Genji sighed even deeper and at length. Shaking his head, he reached behind it and activated the pistons. At the sound of escaping gas, he reached to pull off his faceplate—and hesitated. Suddenly, Genji remembered how he felt staring into the burnt empty eyes of a stranger when he first woke up. He couldn't believe he never considered it; the pure horror.

"Hey, you alright?"

Startled, Genji looked up into concerned and confused blue eyes, similar to the ones he'd seen in the mirror beside him when he was brought back to the world. Holding his breath, he slowly lowered his hand.

Will's expression was locked in place. After a while, his jaw slowly lowered, forming his mouth into a wide 'O'.

Genji was starting to reconsider his decision, in futility.

"What in the world happened to you?"

He quickly put his faceplate back on. "I do not really know myself. My old life before I woke up in this state, in this new body, I don't really remember much at all."

Another long silence. Genji avoided eye contact.

"That is sick."

His heart dropped. "I know," he admitted. "I also could not quite look at myself the first time—"

"What are you on about?" he interrupted, getting louder. "That is absolutely wicked! Gnarly! Unbelievable! You're like something out of an action movie, aren't you?"

A mad glee was present in his eyes when Genji looked up in surprise. He had considered a number of reactions; shock, confusion, even pity… and this wasn't any of them.

Will gestured to his arms. "Are those things real? What about your legs? A mechanical heart, surely? This is so cool. And you said you don't remember anything about how you became like this?"

"I—"

"That's so sick!"

"Please, calm yourself. People are looking…"

"What a plot device!" He slapped his knee. "So are you on a grand journey of self-discovery or something? That's sick, man." Will paused, then started looking around suspiciously. "I'm not being pranked, am I? Is there anyone watching us? Cameras or something?"

"No."

"To which one? The self-discovery or the cameras?"

"There isn't anyone watching us, I am sure, besides everyone within a street's radius."

"…huh. So you're right. Everyone stopped moving, haven't they? Are they all looking at us?"

"Yes."

"Was I really being that loud?"

"Yes."

"Then should we get a move on?"

"Preferably."

"All right, then." Will cleared his throat loudly and started pacing a little quicker up the street, walking stiffly.

Genji follow along. After moving a few blocks away, Will broke the silence.

"I'm sorry for my… ah, little outburst."

Genji chuckled. "'Little'?"

"You see, people like you don't exist in this world. People like you is the stuff of fiction—only existing in comic books, in movies or novels, stuff like that. So it was just really bizarre for me to realize that you do exist." He looked back at Genji, almost reverent.

"You believe me, then?"

"Of course I do. For one thing, it's harder to believe that that white shell you have on you is a costume seeing how you broke the floor in the gym, and maybe I just want to believe you."

Genji laughed again. It felt good.

"Still though, please forgive me for earlier."

"Me? Forgive you?"

"I realize it might have been insensitive for me to ask you about your body. From how your face looked as well, it doesn't exactly take a genius to figure out that it wasn't quite such a smooth transition into your new body." He slowed down and walked beside Genji. "You're human too, aren't you? You're not an almighty hero from a comic book. You live like I do and breathe like I do. You have things that make you happy and things that make you sad, and angry. I just happened to forget all that in the heat of the moment."

Genji smiled. "There's nothing to forgive. I do not mind you asking, truly. I lost my arms and legs. As for my heart—well, the heart of a man still beats inside of me, from what I've been told by Doctor Ziegler."

Will's eyes glazed over. "Angela Ziegler? Mercy?"

"Yes. You know her?"

"Wait. You do? You've spoken to her?"

"Of course. She was the one who brought me back, and also took it upon herself to be my source of reassurance and comfort whenever I felt lost."

"I can't believe this."

Genji glanced at Will. It wasn't like earlier when it was an ecstatic disbelief. The air felt hostile this time.

"Will?" he asked tentatively.

"I can't believe this," he repeated, his voice harsher this time.

"What's wrong—"

Will rounded on him and grabbed him by the shoulders. In his eyes, helplessness.

"I thought we were cool, man!"

"What?" the cyborg asked, utterly confused.

"Is she… is she as beautiful as they say?"

"What are you asking?"

"Listen. Just answer the question, please."

"Yes, she is."

"She's what?"

"She's beautiful." Genji distinctly remembered how light always shone against her golden hair, giving the impression of a halo.

"Like a… like a goddess?"

"Like a goddess?" Genji asked, bewildered.

"Like a goddess!" Will howled.

Genji quickly looked around and to his relief found that this particular street was devoid of people.

"Tell me, Genji!" He started shaking him.

"T-tell you… if she looks—"

"—like this!" Will pulled out a slim rectangular device and clicked a button on its side. The screen illuminated, revealing the time in bold numbers superimposed over the unmistakable picture of Angela Ziegler. In the picture, she was turned away bent over a hospital bed, smiling slightly to someone off-camera. Her arms were folded pressing a clipboard against her white nurse's uniform, her hair in an immaculate golden ponytail.

"Well, not exactly."

"Not exactly?"

"I've only seen her in T-shirts—"

"In T-shirts!" he yelled, throwing back his head.

"—and her hair was often in a mess. I've found a few strands clinging to my armor one time."

"How did it get there? Did she hug you?"

"Uh… well—"

"Well?!"

"Yes, but why is it such a big—"

"I can't believe you've done this!"

"Will! Are you crying?"

"Air is dusty! So her hair was messy? Unkempt? I want details, Genji. Details!"

"But why?"

"Because it's important to me," he groaned.

"Well, her skin was always pale and she had shadows underneath her eyes. She never takes proper care of herself when there is someone else she's concerned about."

"'Someone else' being you in this instance?"

"Yes," he admitted guiltily.

"I can't believe you've done this."

"Why?"

"You don't realize how lucky you are."

"But I do. I'm very lucky to be alive—"

"No, to have had Mercy take care of you. She hugged you, man." He mouthed his last sentence again silently.

"Is it really such a huge thing?"

"Maybe not to some, but it is to many," he answered solemnly. "She is a goddess among men. It's like you've said, she disregards herself when it comes to others." He shook his head. "This world doesn't deserve her. Unfortunately, we need her. During the Canadian war, her presence alone tripled the productivity of the relief effort, and that was years ago, when she was still in the Red Cross. There are hundreds of people who should've been dead but aren't because she operated on them, like she has some mysterious power of bringing people back to life."

"It does seem like she does," Genji said, lost in thought. "I might agree with you, but I do not think Doctor Ziegler would like being treated like a god."

"No?"

Genji smiled. "She hates formalities, is too apologetic for her own good, and can be surprisingly unforgiving when you neglect your own health."

"Seems to be a thing with doctors, eh? But I suppose that they're known for their medical expertise, and not for their abstinence for hypocrisy," he said, chuckling.

"I suppose what I am trying to say is that she is very much like you and me, and she's still a lady who likes to have fun outside of her work," he added, remembering the rosy face of the intoxicated doctor.

"Like you, maybe," he cut in, "but I'm just an average joe."

"What do you mean? Your name is Will."

"What? Yes, I know."

"But you said your name was Joe. I know a Joe; he works in an electronic store in the city."

"What are you—the 'average joe' thing? No, it's a figure of speech."

"A figure…"

"…of speech. It's just a saying. It means I'm not special or anything like that."

"And what makes someone special?" Genji argued, "being a comic-book ninja?"

"Holy hell, you're a ninja?"

"It is your turn to answer my question," he said impatiently.

"I don't know, someone that stands out, I guess."

"Well, you stand out to me."

"That's not what I mean—"

"But it is enough for me," he cut in.

They looked for each other for a moment. Will laughed.

"Then I suppose that it's enough for me, too."

The factories started to disappear. This time, trees started to dominate the streets. They walked in silence for a while.

"You know," Will started, "she's one of the reasons why I'm here now. If one person can make so much of a difference, I want to try too. Maybe my effort wouldn't matter, but you'd never know unless you try." He looked up to the cloudy sky. "I want to make the world a better place, for everyone and my Ma, but I can't just sit around wishing for that to happen, can't I?"

"You are correct," Genji concurred, nodding. "You can't."

"What about you? Why are you here?"

The cyborg smirked. "On a grand journey of self-discovery."

The soldier in the blue fatigues blinked, and laughed.

"How do they end up?" Genji asked.

"Who?"

"The people in your comic-books. People you say are like me."

Will scratched his jaw thoughtfully. "Well, they all start out a little different. Some are born with superpowers, you know? But others aren't gifted, and have to work really hard for it. But as the old quote goes, it's not about how you start, it's about how you finish."

"And how did they finish?"

"As heroes, man," he answered, "they finish as heroes."

Author's Notes:

Sorry for the hiatus! I spent about a month in Scotland visiting family and found it a little hard to get back in the swing of things. Thank you so much each and every one of you who stuck with this from chapter 1 regardless of when you started, and I hope you can stay a little longer.