Chapter 1. Same Morning, but in other location.
Hot and dry winds, with the salt-scent, blew over the rock wall and reached to the vicinity of the aircraft hangar on the island. Another day had dawned on the Gibraltar watch point. The sun had just risen from the horizontal line and was glowing red. The sky was slowly turning from orange to bright sky blue. Vivian Chase was the first one who awake. She comes out to the cliffside, and staring at the faraway sea. After today's scheduled joint training, it seemed like the best weather for her to self-manage, whether painting her body parts or overhauling her rail gun.
"Vivian! You woke up early."
Looking back, Angela Ziegler was standing, with a cup of coffee. Her dog Murphy followed her out, and pulled out its tongue and gasped right next to her leg.
"Why did you bring Murphy out here, Angele?"
"I didn't bring her out. She did come out by herself. Seeing her keep clinging to my legs, I think she has something to say, especially a lot of things, that wants to say to the owner. Ha-ha."
"I thought I told you about her and the snack, that you gave to her."
"What are you two talking about? Especially sounds so cheerful?"
Zhou Mei-Ling said, walking out from the door for the third time, or, if Murphy is included, the fourth time. Despite the serious global climate change, the Mediterranean climate here, at Gibraltar point, still offered her a peace. Her clothes were also very light and airy, apart from the usual thick fur coat and boots.
"It's lovely facts that it's able to dress lighter here than anywhere else. I can visit this base more often if it's not my original works."
"Well. In a way, a joint training could be a short vacation to you."
Vivian said. At the moment, a huge airship roared over the heads of the four of them. The airship, which came straight from the hangar in the base, flew north.
"There goes Lena. We need to prepare a welcome for our soon-to-be guests."
Angela said.
After the Omnic Crisis of Toronto got controlled somehow, the Overwatch decided to periodically gather here, at Gibraltar watch point, to conduct joint drills in an effort to promote friendship and enhance operational performance among its members. During this time, all Overwatch agents who have been out there will return, and members of the vigilante group who have been friendly to Overwatch from all over the world and have been of some help to them, will also be invited here to participate. Former agents can also participate, if they wish.
Since the breakup of Overwatch, there has been almost no apparent move by world leaders to return the Overwatch to legal organizations. They are still recognized as an unofficial/illegal insurgent against the Null Sector and Talon, but are they were Heroes that goes down so easy? They have more ways to move or operate, with avoiding the official government agencies surveillance, especially in this chaotic time of year.
Mei and Angela were originally staying in Gibraltar because they were original members of Overwatch team, and Vivian was staying at the Canada to control the situation in Toronto, which was not completely stable yet. But based on the current situation analysis, she felt confident that other colleagues on the field would be able to withstand the field during the joint training, so that's why she flew to Gibraltar.
Not far away from the girls, on the high sides of the cliff on the island, two Shimada brothers were sitting there, and meditating. The wind created by the aircraft shook and passed through them, who were sitting quietly in a sedentary position.
"Well, hearing the sound of an aircraft in peace isn't that bad that much."
"Do you have to judge everything like that, Genji? I didn't expect much from you, but I wanted you to learn something in the meantime."
"Look at yourself first, Hanzo. How long are you going to treat me like a subordinate that take place under your feet? Is that so much of hard thing to let me have some free rights that at least to think and speak by myself?"
Genji frowned, even unknowingly to himself. Somehow, he wondered how this man, who he must call him as an older brother, was already sitting here, at the Gibraltar point, when a joint training plan had just been announced. He's not even a member of the official Overwatch team like himself! If Kiriko was come here along together, she would have served as a great mediator between the two, but he came all by himself and only said something like, "It's for you" and so whatever. It will be a miracle to Genji himself to keep calm in front of this older brother Hanzo, for more than an hour, although the Master Jenyata always teaches him to control yourself.
"Don't set the mood like this in front of Kiriko later. We don't have to put anyone else in our own business."
"Once again, it's up to you, brother."
Song-Hana was looking into her MEKA in the hangar. She had just finished installing replacement parts that sent by Korean mechanic Kang Dae-hyun, in Busan base. The mounting and pilot operation were going smoothly, except that the leg cover and joint parts were plain gray, without get painted yet.
"Okay! This is enough to go back out any time. Except the color is a little crumpled... Well, the Korean factory couldn't have matched the current painting. But Daehyun, you little... "
Behind her, looking at the unpainted accessory and talking to herself, Brigitte Lindholm and Reinhardt Wilhelm were looking at Hana's MEKA.
"The more I see it, the more interesting it is that the Korean machine is. The things my dad made are amazing too, but they also have their own unique charm."
"Then how about show him directly, Brigitte? He'll be here with the other friends soon, anyway."
"Don't make a mistake by drinking too much again like last time, Mr. Reinhardt."
"Brigitte, are you after my MEKA again? I'm sorry, but this is only one. Well, if you want to rip it open, try beating me again! Then I'll let you see what's inside."
She was playing the online game all night until last night, so she could be felt sleepy due to lack of sleep, but she spoke to Brigitte without losing any of her unique joy and energy. Brigitte is also having a personality who doesn't like losing, so she readily accepted her offer. Reinhardt was laughing and worried at the same time as he remembered that Brigitte was complaining to him that she had lost to Hana in a video game to 15-0, not that long ago.
Aleksandra Zaryanova was stood against a railing below the cliff where Genji and Hanzo brothers were meditating. She also wants to keep a good relationship with her teammates, as a member of the New Overwatch, and is also a willing and welcome to joint training, but she was still not used to having to treat Omnics as a colleague. Especially for a Bastion. But after all, bastion is Bastion, and although the climate here on Gibraltar Island was different from that of the Motherland Russia (the warmest temperature in Sochi in her country was also much lower than here!), somehow, it seemed manageable for her to stay here.
But looking at the two Japanese brothers on the cliff, it seems like that they're about to stand up and do something, rather than just meditating. Looking at the pose, it looks like they're going to make a fist fight. Of course, Zarya did intend to side with Hanzo for sure, at least a human being still. Genji still has a human body in some parts, but he looks more like a cyborg, or Omnic bastards, in a way. But let them both seriously get hurt, against this good atmosphere, just like a pouring cold water in where everyone gathered for a long time, that will be the something that she really not wished for, so she slowly began to climb the cliff, to stop the two brothers fighting.
Cole Cassidy and Lucio Santos were also briefly out of the base to enjoy the sunshine, watching the Shimada brothers fighting on the cliff, and Zarya crawling up the cliff to stop them both. Both were gonna let the scenes are natural as it was. They were all in the same group anyway, so they wouldn't have the will to fight really that seriously... Except for between a few people.
"Mr. Cole, by the way, that cigarette you're smoking. I won't tell you to quit it, but don't you ever want to change it? Even if I am trying to get used to it, but its own distinctive scent is... It's something that very hard to bear."
"I'm sorry if it was inconvenient, Lu. But this has been a long time, since it's been my way of life. And also, I cannot stand with those vapes."
Winston sat still in his lab, not caring about the disturbances outside. He was watching the three of Bastion, Echo, and Athena communicate all the time. The conversation between AI's are always fascinating. Although he could create another AI right now, with his intelligence, but the communication between them was one of the areas that he was not yet familiar with. It seems that there is no tone or grammar that can be distinguished as a language, but it is surprising that the listeners can understand it at once. Although creation was done by mechanics just like him, but it was always interesting to see that creations had their own systems. This is how the creator of Adam and Eve feels, in the Bible, a book of religion called "Christianity" that humans believe in? Thought Winston.
Ganymede, Bastion's eternal best friend, flew in and sat on the monitor in front of Winston's desk.
"Good morning, little fella. It's a good weather today, isn't it?"
Ganymede gave a light song, as if to agree with it.
Jean-Baptiste Augustin was standing on the rock at the bottom of a cliff of the coast. His face was moistened with broken water splashes as the waves hit the rock. The Gibraltar point here certainly felt different from the ones he roamed during the Talon days. Freedom and peace. He had the illusion that the broken waves might be able to wipe out the bad memories in his mind. The expectation that he would be able to see good colleagues after a long time, especially since the start of the joint exercise, made him even more excited.
The white aircraft, which flew to a secret outpost located in mainland of the United Kingdom, was flying smoothly without encountering turbulence. Of course, Lena Oxton, the best pilot in the Overwatch team, was sitting in the main pilot seat, and Fareeha Amari was sitting in the co-pilot seat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, this is captain speaking. Now, the both airflow and temperature in the sky of the Atlantic Ocean are ideal for flight, so if any of passenger would like to get out of that aircraft and enjoy the flight, please use the back door. Ha-ha!"
"As I've been telling you once, Ms. Tracer, I can't fly like an aircraft. It's only possible to glide through the air for a while. It's probably impossible to keep up with the speed of this aircraft from outside."
"Of course, I know. We still have 30 more minutes to fly, so I'm just saying it to get off the boredom. And just call me Lena. You don't have to insist on that name when you're not on a mission or training session, do you?"
Lena Oxton responded to Fareeha with a bright smile. Fareeha also responded with a small smile. Fareeha did indeed appear brighter than usual. Well, the reason it is, because there was one special someone that her favorite, among the passengers who are waiting for a flight boat to board at a secret outpost.
At first glance, the Overwatch Secret Outpost near Housel Bay Beach, in Lizard, in the southernmost point of British mainland, looked like a piece of abandoned ruin. But inside, hidden from the outside, was the facility that allowed endangered agents to enter and shelter at any time. These facilities were created at the time of Overwatch's creation, so the agents don't need to deal with the problems no matter of location anywhere around the world, but Housel Bay Point, which has the advantage of being closest to Gibraltar point, served as a kind of terminal for secret visitors to wait for their transportation arrives. Right next to the helipad disguised as the old and weathered, it was a bit crowded with passengers, who were waiting for an upcoming flight. A couple of old but sturdy people… Two people dressed in clothes that what appears to be… a junk, one oddly bearded Swedish engineer, a sprawling Métis woman, and even a girl wearing a fox-eared circlelet.
Kiriko Yamagami looked around at the rest of the people. Ana Amari and Jack Morrison, those two were the most charismatic, as they were both members of old Overwatch. However, she didn't want to get into their conversation for no reason. There was a reason that their topics of conversation were always profound, but they were always nagging to Kiriko about for running around in dangerous places from such a young age. The topics of their conversation were also flashbacks to their past activities. But dealing with two people from a Junkertown in Australian, seemed crazy enough. Odessa Stone, the queen of a garbage dump… Did she say like that? Not far from it, her personality was very picky, so she didn't fit with Kiriko herself, and Jamison Fawkes... She wondered if there was anyone else who was good at getting along with that crazy person, except that big guy named Roadhog. Sloan Cameron and Torbjorn Lindholm, who are at least finer than those two, are interesting people other than their specialties as archaeologists and engineers, so Kiriko kept talking with them.
"There are a lot of interesting things in my field of study, but this fox friend you're carrying, is also a very interesting creature. Just think about it. If we both go to Overwatch at the same time, we'll have not only racial/sexual diversity, but also supernatural diversity."
"Ha-ha, yeah. You're going to have such a great trait, as you said, Ms. Sloan. But I wonder if my team can help my neighborhood if I ever get into Overwatch."
"Oh, was it Kanezaka? I heard about the place, that is especially noisy in Japan right now. Sorry, I wish I could help you with anything."
"No, I'm just grateful that you're aware of our situation."
"Hey, Sloan, it's easy to conclude a World Peace Treaty if you just say it. But sometimes it's more of a block of hope for the recipient to show it in person rather than just say it. Kiriko, right? The problem in your neighborhood, can I help you with anything? Well, for example, send a better weapon to your resistance…"
"You don't need to, but thanks. Mr. Torbjorn. I think we still have enough power for self-defense."
"Hmm, that's too bad. I was also curious about how my skills would be evaluated in Japan. If it's the case, I'll try to target the market."
Kiriko continued her conversation with Sloane and Torbjorn to kill a boring time, and at the same time, was trying to ignore the gaze of Australia's mad queen, who had been staring at her since a while ago.
Odessa Stone was annoyed just by the fact that she was standing here today. Not just because she couldn't see the Junkertown's mecca fight, with the fact that she had to go and negotiate with the Overwatch team about the united attacks to the Null sector and the Talon. In addition, looking at the guys who are supposed to fly with her... Two old-Zoomers, a dork that resembling Santa Claus, some weird looking mestizo girl, and an Asian girl who doesn't seem to old enough to fight in the battlefield. In addition, the nonsense sounds of Junkrat, which bothers her at all times, further enhanced her temper.
"Fawkes! I warn you again, if you raise my temper one more time, I'll break your head on the spot!"
"Yes, your Majesty! Your Majesty's faithful servant will stand by quietly. Hee-hee."
What a fool. It was fortunate that Marko Rutledge, with that giant belly out, did not come with him. Odessa thought that if he had been there, not only herself but also those, standing right next to this Fawkes, would have lost her own patience, too. On the other hand, there was also a mix of worries about the success of her subordinate villagers and henchmen, while she was away.
Finally, a white aircraft emerged from the south and approached the beachfront helipad. Only Lena Oxton could perform that unique ability to spin the aircraft once in the air. Everyone who was waiting at the beach carried their luggage. As soon as the flight's door opened, Fareeha jumped out. Ana and Fareeha just shared passionate of mother and daughter's love for a while. With a snort, Odessa took Jamieson on the flight boat, but with hiding her look of envy. To save Ana and Fareeha's workout for carrying their luggage, Jack Morrison lifted both his and her luggage at once. Torbjorn assisted Jack. Kiriko and Sloan shrugged once before climbing on the flight.
[Almost at the same time, about 9,800 feet below the South China Sea]
A cargo ship, that sank here 92 years ago from the bright sea level, was quietly covered with mud and marine life and was being corroded. The paint on the boat had already been peeled off for a long time, and the holes in the hull, that caused by the bombs, were filled with sea creatures which choose the ship wreck as their home.
But deep into the ship's cargo hold, a cargo container anchored here nearly 100 years ago, preserved its contents intact throughout those years and in the ocean water. A 20-foot-rectangular container, on its wall, was accompanied by a few warning signs that seemed familiar to someone.
*Warning! This Container Transports a Disease which has No Cure! ※]
[Property of U.S. Army. Don't open it without any officials]
[Biohazard Warning. Safety is the top priority when handling]
In fact, this warning is only applicable to humans who can read letters, and for the underwater creatures, it was nothing more than an object 1 or a mere ornament. However, even with the fact that containers equipped with state-of-the-art sealing technology that old as 100 years ago, were still iron-clad to prevent even 1% of the contents inside from contacting seawater.
And, in a way, it would have to be forgotten forever from the world in here.
The ocean floor, which had been covered in a calm and dark peace, suddenly began to brighten. Light-sensitive marine life quickly began to disappear. Some deep-sea predators have lunged at the lights, but they have been crushed or broken by the iron armor and mechanical joints that cause thick, heavy, and in a way, a cold fear.
The massive submergence ship, which resembled a monster moving in the deep sea, looked similar to the 'Gwishin' Omnic troops that attacked Busan, South Korea after the Omnic incident. However, it looked somehow different, that cannot be said it was the same. Bright lights emitted from lamps of outside the ship and shone on the sunken cargo ship. As a result, some of the paint letters that barely remained on the front and rear were legible, if there were humans there.
[USS. Proud Sophie]
Several Omnic robots in the control room of the giant ship began to carefully observe the sunken ship's view, entering through the camera. They were all marked with strange purple logos, or marks of the null sector.
It was the moment of the Proud Sophie, which had been sunk by the MiG-21 of the North Vietnamese army in 1986, just before the end of the war in Vietnam, revealed to the world again after almost 100 years.
[Exactly 91 years and 6 months and 242 days ago, U.S. Army 17th combat battalion H.Q, Camp Geronimo, Plei Doch, Pleiku, South Vietnam. Nov 4th, 1986.]
As usual, Lt. Col Carlson was smoking a lit cigarette. It wasn't completely usual, for that reason, because the cigar was no longer available due to the change in the supply calculation standard. From now on, to smoke a cigar, there was no choice but to smoke it at his own expense, but in South Vietnam now, which is still struggling with the wartime distribution system, there will be no chance of the cigar would roll around the market, and even he could have guessed himself that if he could get one luckily in the black market, it would form a price that could only be bought by real nouveau riche. From now on, he needs to smoke a regular cigarette, just like the enlisted men. Although paradoxical, he didn't really like cigars that much. Other commanders said all sorts of nonsense, saying about its own unique scent and taste, but Carlson said it was all the same. Nevertheless, the reason why he smoked a cigar was also because of the visual pressure and charisma provided by the heavy cigar itself.
Now where can I find that charisma? Carlson lamented quietly with one mind.
Staff Sergeant Jinho Kim, former Sparrow 2 platoon leader, and who was just returned from a secret mission in New Mexico last month, was standing in a relaxed position in front of Carlson's desk, just like last month. Carlson glanced up at his face. Although he had survived from a death due to the Omnic virus, he seemed to have regained some health. Well, the darkness and fatigue that appear to be contained in his face seem to have increased, somehow. His facial expression is... it's not that changed as the moment when he forced him to go in that cursed Omnic Takeback operation. It surely not a good expression from the start, but his face now, is certainly a defiant expression for Carlson.
And rightly so, Kim's complaint about Carlson was now on the verge of an explosion. Just this morning, he had to watch the clearing of Quinset Hut, that used by Sparrow 2. Berk, Turner, Vincent, Albert, Brian, Joseph, Jordan. The belongings of the dead seven members, had already been cleared and sent to the bereaved families on the country, but their empty beds and lockers were still there, and now, finally, some people showed up to clean them up. Paul was not there too, but he had only been on the medical bed with a rib injury, not dead, so no one had touched his bed.
Jezz, everyone's attitude, what a shame itself. Even the fact that they don't know each other. Think of it as their logic to proceed quickly and leave, and Kim also could understand that mind, but is it that much of hard work that at least show some respect to the things of people, who is no longer able to coming back? They were no different from that one guy who was receiving military tags of deceased personnel from him, when he was confined to a hospital in Na-Trang because of the virus infection.
After enduring all these adversities, Kim was particularly resentful of this Colonel Carlson. Obviously, the Lieutenant Colonel must have more authority than the Sergeant class, and in this vertical organizational society, it was Carlson who could have tried to speak to the superiors and could persuade them, not Kim, but he ignored all the warnings he said and shouted for the operation to go on, and now, the whole Sparrow 2 platoon is wiped out, which was he being in charge of, except Kim himself and one more men, and he just got infected by a special virus that he could not have imagined in life, and something completely changed in his body. The belief that Kim believes, that something that will happen will happens no matter how the situation is going, so there is no need to blame himself or constantly think about hypotheses, but strangely, the anger to the Carlson, especially related with the operation grew up every time he saw him. Carlson also seemed to know that well, trying to somehow ignore Kim's sharp. angry gaze.
"I thought I told you that you could take a rest. I also can understand how hard it was for you to go through all of that incidents. But, rather than resting, you've participated in three attack operation, two reconnaissance missions, and five transportation operations. Are you working like this crazy because you just want to show some complaint to me, Kim?"
Of course, it is, Kim really do have a lot of things to wanna say to Carlson. But in fact, there was one more reason that Kim was working so much like this crazy, to forget about his pain for a moment. He thought he probably could meet the late platoon members and colleagues, who maybe are resting in the other world, if he did something that could risk his life even a little faster. However, seeing Colonel Carlson misunderstands like this, a better idea came up in Kim's mind.
"If I say so, then, what could you do, sir?"
"Well, let's hear it first, then. What do you exactly want from me?"
"Please discharge the only survivor in our platoon, Private Paul Jackson, in honor, sir."
Carlson was the one who got stunned this time.
"Hmm. That's something that I never expected. I thought it might be yourself?"
"I don't care about what more could happen to me, sir. I still remember that telling you sir in the first place that I want to extend my service year. However, Private Paul Jackson is not a right person in here. He did comply with the militia's orders and has performed his duty in good faith. And also, he had suffered enough with me, throughout the terrible truths about confidential information that cannot even be released in here, and even got injured. I don't know what you sir would think about this, but that seems enough for special promote for me, sir. And I don't think he doesn't need to continue to get suffered here, sir. Please, sir. Please help the Private Paul Jackson to return to home."
Lt. Col. Carlson was puzzled for a moment and then regained his senses. Then, he looked directly at Kim.
"Kim, once again, I understand you had a hard time. But, is that an appropriate attitude that what you can show in front of the battalion commander? Does a person who wants to stay in the military for more still cannot understand how the military system goes on? Since when has it been the authority of the field commander to have a special authority, for sending a special someone to home, just because he had a hard time?"
Kim calmed down by taking a deep breath for a moment. Christ, not this again. Kim well knows to himself about his disadvantage, that he often blurted out requests and opinions rather than developing proper logic as soon as he got agitated. He agreed that it was certainly against manners to do this to the staff officer, so he organized his thoughts for a while and then opened his mouth.
"Of course, sir. I know well about that point, sir. Please forgive me about that bad attitude, sir. However, based on my experience of in this Vietnam jungle for six years, and particularly the thoughts from the recent operation, I would like to help Private Paul Jackson live well, and return home safely, even risking of the disadvantages I can cause by doing so."
Carlson also got confused too. This fella here is still someone that with more kind of insight and courtesy than anyone else, and he wouldn't be the one to make some kind of deal or ask for this. And he also agreed that the shock of a soldier would get, who experience the wipe out of 80% of the platoon, even if there were only nine people, would be more than that he could imagine. Additionally, the thing that Major General Teller once said, the division's chief, is still in Carlson's mind. Is there any need to impose more meaningless sacrifices on young people in the war that is now almost over? Isn't it truly a good action for the world, to return someone home safely, who is still alive and intact? Carlson only smoked his cigarette without saying anything. Kim was also looking nervously at Carlson. He was curious about what Carlson was thinking and what kind of answer he would give, but also, the cigarette in his hand is almost burnt out and was about to reach to his finger.
"Ahhhhhhgh! My damn finger!"
Carlson jumped up and threw away the cigar's bottom that only filter parts left. The cigar butt flies away and fell directly into a cup that Second Lieutenant Sophia was holding, the intelligence chief. Sophia alternately looked at Carlson and Kim with a look of bewilderment. Carlson sighed, and took out a new mug from the storage box behind him, and handed it to Sophia.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant Sophia. And, Kim."
Kim was looking at Carlson without moving at all. Carlson seemed to be agonizing for a moment, but eventually opened his mouth.
"I heard you're participating in an air transport escort mission in the afternoon. First, finish it safely and come back. Let's see if there's anything I can do."
"Thank you, commander sir."
Carlson beckoned for him to go. Although he still had uncomfortable feelings, but Kim saluted to Carlson with the utmost courtesy, and walked out of the battalion commander's office.
Camp Geronimo was still the same. Hot and humid weather. Busy soldiers and officers. Troops from the U.K./Canada/Australia, who share the camp with the same U.S. soldiers. Trucks moving around non-stop. Helicopters flying around, with their own signature, heavy rotor blade sound in the sky. However, the atmosphere has changed slightly from a while ago. The peace in this Plei Doch province is also gradually breaking down as the NV military offensive has become more violent in recent days.
Kim peered into the clock. 11:00 a.m. Not any minutes less or more. He still had some time until his air transport mission in the afternoon. He stopped by a military store in the post exchange, packed some snacks and a few cans of beer, and hopped into his K311 truck. Then, he drove straight toward the brigade's medical unit.
A 20-year-old Private Paul Jackson, was sitting on the outdoor terrace in his patient clothes. He doesn't need to keep wearing that chest cast no more, so he released the fixture from his chest the yesterday, but the numbness still tightened his chest every time he walk or breathe. The young man's face, which was lively and pure until last month, was no longer the same. Light skin and blonde hair were still alive, but the black light of fear and fatigue under his eyes seemed to show a patterned but unknown depth.
"Paul."
As he heard that some is calling him, Private Paul slowly looked back. Kim was standing there, and looking at him.
"Sarge Kim."
Kim walked slowly and sat down on the chair next to Paul. Kim sighed once, and took out a cigarette pack from his chest pocket.
"Can you give me one too, sarge?"
"… Well, There's no reason that I should not."
Kim took out a 1 stick of Lucky Strike cigarette, passed it on to Paul's mouth, and lit it up. Paul took a sip, but immediately he started coughing. It surely does, because he was a person who had never smoked before, so, therefore when he suddenly tried to smoke, it should be a natural that such reaction would come out. Pressure was applied to the ribs that were not even fully healed yet, the chest pain came to him even more. Paul grabbed his chest after dropped the cigarette from the mouth.
"Hey, hey, take it easy now. You've never smoked before. Care your body first before you trying to do anything, dude."
"No... Sarge. I'm cool, that's all right. Give it back to me, sarge."
Kim passed a cigarette in Paul's hand, with a concerned looking and half-belief. This time, Paul didn't cough and let out a normal, soft smoke. Then, Paul saw a bandage wrapped around Kim's left arm. It was a wound that didn't even exist until recently.
"What happened to your arm, sarge?"
"I had some close call moments during the operation in yesterday. It's nothing, so don't worry about it."
"… Be careful, sarge."
"Right, by the way, I had a conversation with Carlson earlier. And I also mentioned him about you."
"What about me, sarge?"
"I said you need to go back to home, ASAP. And you're not just a trivial life to die out here."
"Sarge, but, I..."
"Shut up and get well soon enough. I'll guarantee about make you to live well and send back to home safely. Just know that yourself."
Kim gave some sweet treats and a batch of beer to Paul. Then he mashes down the burnt cigarette butt.
[2078 again, Gibraltar watch point]
Ana Amari was standing in front of a vacant lot in front of Winston's laboratory. Next to her, Jack Morrison and Vivian Chase were standing. The three looked at the other twenty-one heroes gathered in front of them. The images of them in the sun, which had begun to heat up, were more imposing than ever.
"Ah, it's been a long time since we've felt like this, isn't it, Jack?"
"Do you aware yourself that every time we meet, you talk like that, you know?"
"What, so you're getting bored to even come out a place like this here?"
"Ahem, why don't we start with what we were supposed to proceed with, Previous-Commander sir, and Previous Second-Commander ma'am?"
Ana stopped as she tried to step forward while trimming her collar.
"Wait. Jack, you were the one who was the commander, though. Would you like?"
Jack Morrison shook his head quietly.
"Fine, well then."
Ana walked forward. Attention naturally focused on her.
"Every Agent and Heroes, welcome to the 1st regular joint training session in 2078! As a former Deputy Commander of Overwatch, I am truly honored to welcome every one of you, that supports in every way to keep the world peace and order, here in Gibraltar!"
Ana then found Odessa Stone looking at her in the corner, with leaning on her one foot.
"And also, I would like to thank those, even not a member of Overwatch, but be here and willing to help."
Odessa snorted seemingly. Kiriko whispered to Hanzo.
"Do you think she is talking about us, Hanzo?"
"I don't know how do you gonna think about that, but didn't you know about my personality already?"
"What are you trying to say to Kiriko again, Hanzo?"
"Stay quiet, Genji. Wouldn't it be a manner, to listen to someone's speech in front of you?"
Angela stood with Fareeha. Looking at Fareeha, she thought that she never saw her eyes are full of pride and love as they are now.
"Your mother is always dignified, as it is. I feel relieved every time I realize I am with her daughter now."
"Is that so, Ms. Angela? I feel more fortunate to have an outstanding colleague like you."
Ana, the former deputy commander, simply finished her greetings. Then she went straight to the point.
"During the various operations, we've all learned something in common. It's about securing endurance! Good lung capacity and athleticism will help the quick maneuvering and judgment! So, let's start our training with running. Our goal is to reach the rocket launcher on the other side of the base! Now, everyone, warm up before we start!"
There was an audible sigh among everyone. No one welcomed running around from the morning, no matter how well trained and fit the agents were.
"Oh, I should've had one less can of Nano cola."
"I should have eaten a little less peanut butter, Ms. Song."
"Hmm, who will win a race with a bloated man... No, a creature, race together?"
"You can just say primate species, Hana. Because that's what we have in common in our biology."
"He-he, sorry, Winston."
Luciou looked at the footwear's flotation and saw Lena standing next to him.
"Hey, Lena, for the fairness of the race, why don't you take that chronal accelerator off and put it in your bag? If you manipulate the time whenever someone gets ahead of you, then who will win?"
"Okay, then I'll take it off. Then, you take off that flotation device and run barefoot, too."
"Hey, come on! You know this is something that you have to deal with! Quick maneuver is essential for saving the team members..."
While everyone was preparing their own, Ana came out to the front and shouted out loud.
"Now, that's all for the warm-up! Let's make some heat up!"
That's how the 23 heroes started to run.