Okay as you might have guessed, I started making the last chapter over a year ago before I found a job. So yeah that's why it started how it started. So I'm gonna put when I start making these things. As of today, middle of August, I'm starting this chapter, okay now that everything is clear let's start.
[Valhalla Outpost]
After Church made it back he made a shocking discovery, Soldier and Ana Amari went back to being vigilantes around the globe. Torbjorn went back to Gothenburg to work on his machines and defenses. Zenyatta to his monestary, Symmetra back to her home to Vishkar. Ashe and BOB along with Junkrat and Roadhog were released and returned home to Australia.
The only people who stayed were Winston, Tracer, Mei, Mercy, Genji, Pharah, Cassidy, D.va, Lucio, Echo, Reinhardt, Zarya, Brigitte and Baptiste. The Reds and Doc already made their place at home, and brought out some of their old stuff so they could set up base.
Church would have a long explanation to give to everyone about... everything.
The Alpha, an AI that a man, a genius by the name of Dr. Leonard L. Church got his hands on. The man was brilliant and made the AI have the exact same memories and mindset as himself for his noble purpose. He wanted to create another force of good, people connected with AI who could protect the people and fight wars so no one would die. His goal came from the loss of his wife during the start of the Omnic Crisis.
He only had one AI so he got creative and found a twisted way to make more... he had the AI, a mind of his undergo repeated tests to produce fragments. Pieces that came from different aspects of himself, different emotions, different parts of the mind. The Alpha was constantly tortured for results, driven insane for pieces of AI.
Each of the fragments were partnered with an agent, called Freelancers, named after one of the 50 states of America. Including Puerto Rico. They were tested in the field and in training ops with simulation troopers who were lied to. Sent to fight an unknown war against soldiers wearing opposite colors of the spectrum, Red and Blue.
After all knowing the truth, Tex and a few other Freelancers worked together to cripple the Director's project and free the AI's. All except for the Alpha, who was hidden in a little place we called... Blood Gulch. And given a new identity... the name Leonard L. Church.
"So... any questions?" Church asked after retelling the tale of his origin story to the members of Overwatch who stayed.
Tracer raised her hand, "Um yeah... who's that?" She pointed to the tall Australian woman who was currently chugging down a bottle of whiskey in one go.
Caboose raised his hand, "Oh that's Junker Queen. She's Church's new girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Church protested.
The Queen heard that and was bit offended, "What? I ain't to your liking?" She joked.
"Actually, you're probably his exact type." Sarge answered.
Church whipped back to the Red leader, "Sarge!"
"Oh I am? Good to know..." She smirked eyeing Church up and down, making him a little uncomfortable.
Winston crawled forward with a puzzled look on his face, "Wait... you're the AI I was looking for. You're the Alpha?"
"I am..." Church admitted.
"B-But... why keep it from us. This was one of our whole missions... to find you..."
"After we heard what you were looking for the Alpha we decided not to say anything. After we found out Church was alive, we all collectively shut the hell up." Sarge admitted.
Winston was still confused, "But... why?"
"After the shit Church went through... let's just say we didn't want another Director." Tucker explained.
Tracer tried to argue their stance, "But... we're the good guys. We wouldn't do that."
"Well after Blackwatch... we kinda... really didn't trust you guys at all." Simmons added, "We thought it was Project Freelancer all over again."
"Was the pain that bad?" Zarya raised an eyebrow in question.
Church then walked around the room over to her as he explained, "Imagine the most traumatic, pain inducing memory. That scars you for life, and imagine that exact moment on repeat. Just for someone to hope for a different outcome. I am... the textbook definition of insanity. So excuse me if I'm a little hesitant to trust someone who wants that power." Church walked out of the room leaving everyone quiet.
[On Top of Blue Base]
The night sky sure was beautiful with a number of stars overhead and that's exactly Church wasn't watching. Instead he starred at the ground, beer in hand as he took sips, trying to think about what his next move should or could be. He lied about the Alpha, what's more he lied to people who saved and helped him in his time of need. They also took in the Reds and Blues when no one else would and no one in their right mind would do that.
However he knew Winston had good intentions, but he's been the byproduct of those with good intentions. For all he knew, what could happen to him would be just like Project Freelancer or worse because he didn't truly understand just how powerful Winston's intelligence was. All he knew was that since Epsilon restored his memories, he'd refuse to go back to that hell again.
The sound of heavy steps came creeping towards him, "Caboose I'm not in the mood for this okay?"
"Sorry, wrong tank." Grif replied, tossing Church another beer can from one of his other six in tow.
Church took his empty bottle and placed it down and cracked open his can. Drinking some of the cheap alcohol before thinking about something, "Grif, why did you stay?"
"Hmmm I dunno dude. Never really thought about it." Grif drank from his can.
"C'mon give me a real answer."
"Don't know what to say. Yeah I could have left. Could have stayed away from it all. Hell I thought about leaving with everyone else."
"Well why didn't you?"
"I guess I don't hate you all as much as I thought."
"C'mon... be real."
"No, honest. Look, being with you guys has gotten me shot, ran over, beaten the fuck up, shot, blown up, stitched up... shot..."
"You said shot three times."
"Point is, I know damn well my life wouldn't have been the same if I didn't join you. I would probably be fatter, lazier and even more of a burden than ever. Point is, when I was with you all, it felt like I was close, like I found the reason... why we're here?"
"Really?"
"I'm serious..." Grif got up and made his way back inside.
Church thought about the question, everything in life that led him to that moment. His creation, Blood Gulch, his sacrifice, the Meta, his second sacrifice, meeting Overwatch. It all seemed like they were moments leading to one next big thing.
"Hey Grif!" Church called out to him, "Do you regret joining up with us?"
"Not one fucking day of my life." Grif answered walking back inside.
Church was about to take another drink but set his can down to think with a slightly intoxicated mind.
[The Following Morning]
Church had the remaining members of Overwatch line up opposite to him, The Reds, Blue Team and Junker Queen. There they all looked at him, waiting on his move to make an announcement. Would he help or would he leave them and go off on his own, no one would blame him after what he experienced.
Church stepped forward and started speaking, "First, I want one thing to be clear. After we take care of Sigma, the creative crotch spawn, I will give you whatever schematics Omega and the other AI have for whatever you want. After that, nothing else. We don't talk, we don't meet up, I'm done with Overwatch."
"So... you'll help us?" Mercy asked.
Church sighed yes, "But then I'm gone, and if y'all try to get me to change my mind or try to summon or try to keep me against my will, I will... fuck y'all up..."
"That... seems fair." Tracer thought about it.
Church then started up again, "Now we know they're laying dormant in my mind. Omega has a way to flush them out. O, you ready to explain?"
"Oh that feels good." Omega admitted as he cracked his neck and loosened up his joint. Transforming once again to the slightly bigger version of Church, "Now before we begin, let me just say you all know precisely shit when dealing with AI. Specifically Smart AI being the Alpha and the fragments."
Winston accepted mocking, "Understood..."
"Yeah we should have warned you... Omega is one of the biggest bag of assholes known to man." Tucker admitted.
Mei raised a hand in question, "Is... um... there a nicer AI part of Church we can use?"
"Was Church ever nice?" Simmons shot back.
"Point made, point taken."
"Ahem... as I was saying." Omega continued his insulting rant, "Because you all know. little to nothing about us, I'm going to put this in simple terms. To awaken each fragment that lies dormant, we would need an extreme surge of what each fragment represent. For me is pure unrivaled rage, aggression and anger."
"So what's the next AI gonna take?" Cassidy asked finishing off his cigar.
Omega smirked with his sadistic grin, "A trust exercise."
[On The Very Top of Red Base's Signal Beacon]
"WHO'S IDEA WAS THIS AGAIN?" Church shouted from the top hundreds of feet up.
Tucker shouted back up, "OMEGA SAID THIS WAS THE BEST OPTION!"
"I'M GONNA FUCKING DIE!!"
"RELAX, MERCY IS HERE TO REVIVE YOU!" Tucker eased Church's mind, "You can revive him right?"
"I... should be able to..." Mercy admitted the uncertain answer.
Everyone watched their one and only hope, willing to harm himself for them.
"OI, HURRY UP AND JUMP! WE'LL CATCH YA!" Junker Queen demanded.
Sarge joined in, "DO A FLIP!"
"FUCK YOU ALL! I'M COMING DOWN!" Church shouted as made his way to the nearest foothold to climb down.
Tucker shook his head as he looked down, "Caboose... help him out."
"Okay." Aiming his massive shoulder artillery cannon, Caboose fired an anti armor explosive round near Church.
The resulting explosion knocked Church off the tower, sending him falling towards the ground. As he fell he kept cursing the team, "FUCK YOU TUCKER! FUCK YOU CABOOSE!"
The three capable of flying took off to rush towards Church, Echo, Mercy and Pharah moved as quickly as they could have. Pharah and Mercy catching one of his arms while Echo caught his leg. Still a good distance between them and the ground.
"Thank you." Church said.
"Just do me a favor... as your medical specialist... please lose some weight." Mercy pleaded as Church's weight made them put in the extra effort.
Echo started to lose her grip and noticed that Pharah was losing hers as well, Mercy was the only one that would have a secure grip for the longest time, "Uhhh Church, please don't be mad."
"Why?" Church asked as he soon saw himself slipping, "Oh fuck me..."
"Just lay straight... you'll be safe... trust us." Mercy looked down to see if he'd be safe.
Church couldn't exactly see behind, "Don't really have a choice here, do I?"
"Trust me..."
"Alright... letting go..." Church released his grip and fell back. Back towards the ground, everything felt like it was in slow motion as he neared the ground.
With a loud thud and a jolt, Church was caught in the large arms of the armored gorilla Winston. Who curled up into a ball to absorb most of the impact, "You okay?"
"Th-thank you." A variation of Church's voice said. This one sounded younger by at 15 years. And the body of Church actually shrunk as well, he was then size of a young teenager, approximately mid teens.
Tucker smiled as he got to introduce the new guy to the group, "Everyone, allow me to introduce you to... Theta..."
"Hmph, the little guy got a little bigger since the last time we seen him, huh?" Sarge noticed.
Theta got up and brushed himself off, "Well back then Church didn't really trust a lot of people. But nowadays his circle has gotten bigger."
"Well then Theta... nice to meet you." Winston smiled as he held his hand out for Theta to shake.
Theta shook his hand, while everyone gathered around to see the small teenage version of Church. Mercy then made it back down with the rest, "Who's next?"
"I think Delta would be able to get everyone else out quicker... he's really smart." Theta suggested.
Pharah stretched out her joints, "Please tell me this won't be another trust exercise."
"No... don't worry... but... he always did love games..." Theta thought for a moment.
[Blue Base: Mess Hall]
Clocks ticking, wood scraping wood and the sweat glistening the foreheads of some of four people was not something on anyone's guess list. However that was exactly what was happening at the moment, as Simmons, Sarge and Winston engaged in a 3 vs 1 chess match against Church. So far it was the fifth game and they were no closer to unlocking Delta, the logical one, than they were the first couple matches.
Some were entertained as the group locked intellects and strategy against each other. While some were not, as the bored expressions on Junker Queen's, Reinhardt's, Lucio's, Cassidy's and several other members showed. Some were actually falling asleep while Mercy maintained focus on any change in brain activity, thanks to the neurol scanner on his head.
"Anything yet?" D.va groaned as she got tired of the game on here phone.
Mercy shook her head, "No, still nothing."
Church took one Sarge's bishops with his horse, it wasn't anything special but Sarge only lost one game to him so far. This made him stop his game immediately, "Wait, what in great gumbo gulp did you just do?"
"I take your bishop." Church simply replied.
"I see that... I meant what are you concocting in that noggin of yours? The Pelagatti attack? The Archizer-Meyer Countergambit? Der Hammerschlag? The Zugzwang Zig Zag? The Poached Penguin? The Drunken Tartakower? Some type of messed of different variant of the Dizzy Whippet Defense? Are you playing checkers with me son?" Sarge asked getting more and more angered at his lack of knowledge of Church's understanding.
Grif groaned awake as he had to endure this with everyone else for a full hour, "Oh my God, when will this end?! Why don't you just play that stupid, nerd game Simmons enjoys? Hey Simmons what's that stupid fucking game? With all the stupid fucking dungeons? And the stupid fucking dragons? What do you call that game?"
"Actually, while that game does have a level of math and understanding, it also requires that of teamwork and imagination. Where as these simple games of chess has allowed me to tap into the logical side to predict and anticipate my opponent's every move. But I do also believe that they would find that game just as entertaining as it may be helpful." Another variation of Church's voice answered. The body on this one was slightly scrawnier than Church's wider shoulder and small gut he shrunk down over the years.
Mercy then noticed the change, and soon realized she forgot to plug in the helmet to her monitor. After doing so she saw a clear difference in brain activity, specifically the side that dictates logic and reasoning, "I'm sorry, that was my fault."
"No need to apologize, Dr. Ziegler. My name is Delta... Also..." Delta had now began to move one piece on each of the boards with one simple move, "Checkmate. Checkmate. Checkmate."
"FUCK!!" The three opponents shouted.
Tucker got up along with everyone, "So what now another set of games?"
"Actually, for this case, yes. In order to summon Gamma, the deceitful one of us, I believe it would be necessary to play a series of games consisting entirely on keeping straight faces and having the ability to lie without any signs that would suggest otherwise." Delta listed.
Tucker got excited as he pieced together what that could mean, "Wait. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"If you are suggesting a game involving gambling and bluffing... yes..." Delta answered.
Tucker cheered, "Fuck yeah, Vegas time baby!"
"I'm not going to Vegas! Stop talking about Vegas!" Simmons demanded as he left the room.
Delta was on board but with a different destination in mind, "While Vegas is Ideal... I believe Monte Carlo would give more of a payout."
"Oi! Y'all going gambling?! Count me in!" Junker Queen left the room for a moment to grab something from her bag.
Church then started to make her way to protest, until he realized something, "Wait? She has stuff here? When?"
"I dunno? Everyone some how came prepared though..." Tucker noticed.
Tracer then got up to explain, "Well, remember when you stayed back a bit to buy us time?"
"Yeah, why- Did you guys grab your shit while I was fighting for my life?" Church asked.
"You had it covered, besides it just took us quick minute... or five." Tracer finished.
Church groaned, but then went to the once empty room, Junker Queen occupied, "Hey listen this isn't a visit. This is me trying to fix up my head through gambling. Wow that doesn't sound right. But listen this is serious are you sure you're even... able to dress... for this?"
"Dunno... you tell me..." Junker Queen asked standing there in a white suit, looking like a mob boss. A well dressed one at that.
Church had no objections after seeing her like that. The only people that had to object were the people already tired of the canyon, "Hold on now, what are we supposed to do while y'all go gambling?"
"I dunno, we're all technically laying low from Talon, whatever you want I guess. Tucker is just coming along as my backup." Grabbing the keys to one of the jets before they all set off.
As they left, Grif waited just long enough when they went out the room and out of earshot. Pulling up two cases of beer from behind his back he looked at group, "Y'all wanna get fucked up?"
Sarge got up and slowly walked to Grif, looking him dead in they eye, "Grif... that... is the smartest thing you've suggested yet." Sarge's frown turned to a smile as he went to the kitchen to pull out three large bottles of whiskey.
[Several Hours Later: Monte Carlo]
Monte Carlo, the playground of the fabulous, the famous and the wealthy, home to yachts, casinos and rich snobs alike. There, in one of the major casinos, amongst the cards and tables, stood two very distinct people among the crowd. A tall blonde in a white and gold suit, and a gentleman by her side in black suit with light blue accents. They were gonna take this place's money like suckers.
Junker Queen in disguise snatched two drinks for her and Church in disguise. Although she wasn't fond of the tiny glasses, as she said it, "I don't know what's the deal with these tiny drinks, how's anyone supposed to get a buzz off of these?"
"Just think of them like tiny shot glasses, two for you." Church handed her the glass back as he grabbed three more from a passing waiter, "Three for me."
Junker Queen doubled her drinks while Church drank one of his, then tossing them to the side as he made his way to the poker table. Determined to turn $1000 into an even bigger mountain of cold hard cash. Before that he had to check on his plus one, who was up on the roof acting as their guardian angel.
Speaking into his ear piece he had to check on him, "Yo Tucker, want anything?"
"Just bring back enough money to get me a new motorcycle and we good." Tucker smirked. Taking in the view like some type of comic book vigilante. That was until he saw a red dot on the distance, the red dot soon shining in the distance was almost too familiar to him, "Church I'll be back."
"What's up?"
"It's her, Lacroix..." Tucker said as he started making his way to the distance.
It took him almost a full two minutes to make it her, the rooftops being the most perfect way to avoid traffic and stopping. However it was almost a mile and a half away from his previous spot so when he made it to her sniper's nest he was already out of breath.
She turned around with a smile, it felt like he was looking at her for the first time, especially from the she turned with one hand on her hip. She was like a purple and blue angel, he was memorizing everything about her, not just her body, her eyes that felt seemed like they had a spark in them. Man, did he feel like a fool, a fool for falling for a brainwashed killer, but for once he wasn't thinking with his junk.
"Hey..." Tucker finally managed to get out.
"Bonjour..." she replied, not taking aim but still had her hands on her gun.
Tucker had managed to get his breathing back to normal, "So, do you still remember me?"
"Oui..."
"...But you don't feel nothing for me huh?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, does that make you sad?"
"... Kinda... I mean... what me and you went kinda felt magical. And I think it was special for you..."
"Don't get too full of yourself." Widowmaker walked over to pat him on his face.
Tucker couldn't help but brag, "Oh c'mon you gotta admit you fell for this... I have rocked your fucking world."
"Hmph, you're going to give me a headache."
"Please, I know deep down, underneath all those chemicals that are meant to block out emotion and stall your heart... You feel something. Really something."
"You're going to hurt yourself getting your hopes up like that."
"Meh, it'd be worth it. Now are you gonna leave me like last time? With a cloud of purple dust?"
"No... I... you deserve a proper goodbye..." Widowmaker hesitated. Tucker caught that in a heartbeat, the cold blooded assassin hesitated?
So Tucker held out his hand in an awkward fashion, close to his with his elbow bending the arm forward, like he was a machine. She took a moment taking his hand and shaking it slowly. But not before pulling him in for a slow kiss.
Time, right or wrong, good or bad, none of that mattered in that moment, because for that one moment in time they were the only people in the room. The only people that mattered as the lights faded out and it was just that moment playing on repeat for Tucker. When they finally parted she simply turned and walked to the edge, aiming her grappling gauntlet and zipping away.
Tucker closed his eyes and smiled as he remembered that, her lips still felt warm from the kiss. Now alone he still tried to be calm about the scenario, "Don't cry, don't cry... don't cry." He repeated to himself, knowing no one was around to hear him.
His moment was cut short when someone had called the comlink, "Yo Tucker! Ya there?"
"Yeah Church, I'm fine... so... what's up..."
"Are you at the ship?"
"I can be there shortly... why?"
"Well..." Church tried to admit while gunfire came after him through the comms.
[Moments earlier...]
Church was bringing in the chips in the game, that he was able to make towers out of all of them. Thank to his poker face being so good, no hints, tells, not even a twitch, just straight faced. All while Junker Queen was standing behind him, like a hype man, taking drink after drink. Even the dealer bot had no way to detect if he was bluffing.
His card counting, his bluffs were undetectable from any professional, Omnic or scanner in the room. By the end of his games, he was making it to the front door with two cases full of bills. With a big grin he and Junker Queen as they were about to stroll out.
"So did ya get that other piece in ya head, out?" She asked.
Church just laughed, "Oh he came out after the first draw of the cards. This was just me having fun." They then were stopped by a man in black coat while he was accompanied by two other guys dressed just as nicely.
"Oh we don't need any help with the bags but, if you can, could you hold the door open for us? That'd be awfully nice." Junker Queen leaned down to the man.
He then proceeded to snatch her blonde hair off her head, revealing the true blue and black hair that was hidden underneath.
Church gasped sarcastically, "You're not a real blonde?"
"I thought you knew..." Junker Queen pretended to apologize.
The man proceeded to display two holographic wanted posters of the two in front of him, with Junker Queen's just a little behind Church.
"Okay, so seeing as I have my hands full at the moment... I will not be fighting you." Church admitted, his eyes going black for a moment, "She will."
Junker Queen launched the man in front with an uppercut, then proceeded to smash the skulls of the two behind him together. The two took a moment to smile, then heard the sound of several guns clicking. When they turned around they saw the guns aimed at them from nearly every one in the casino.
When they burst out the door they were followed by bullets just missing them by inches. The Queen shot back inside with her shotgun to keep them back, "Get us some wheels, will ya?"
Church looked for anything that could get them out fast, it was a good thing they were in Monte Carlo, because they just happened to find just the car. A formula one car with the keys still in the ignition, he jumped in and as he was about to drive someone got in behind him making him uncomfortably close to the wheel. Junker Queen pushed herself inside forcing him on her lap.
"Hey, this is a one seater!" Church yelled.
Junker Queen yelled back as he fired another couple shots, "Then get out and push, or just drive!"
[Now]
After another couple of minutes, Tucker made it, finished running back to the ship in another couple of minutes. He earned a rest as he sat down on the floor catching his breathing. Once he got air in his lungs he called them up one more time.
"Hey Church, where are you guys?" Tucker asked.
Church spoke through the wind going past them, "Coming in hot."
"What do you mean-" Tucker started to question, then heard the sound of the same engine from the phone coming from the nearby street.
The car was indeed coming in hot, so Church did what he could and turned the wheel to try and slow the car down. Unfortunately the car wasn't made for such sharp turns and began to flip. The car crashed over the jet and onto a building while Junker Queen and Church tumbled together on the floor.
When they finally stopped rolling Church groaned on the floor, with Junker Queen on top of him. She leaned in close smirking at him, "Whatcha thinking about?"
"I think you should get off me..." Church blushed as he tried to get up.
Junker Queen pushed his chest back down and leaned into his ear, "Hold on, I ain't finished yet."
"Finished what?!"
"Getting my knife out of your arse." Junker Queen said as she yanked the blade from Church's ass.
Church groaned in pain as Delta already got to work patching up that wound. Once fully healed Church turned to Tucker and started making it up the stair to get into the jet.
On the way home finally, they got a call about an hour into the flight, from an old friend. Agent Carolina was calling them with urgent news, this could not be good.
"Church we got some bad news." Carolina called him up.
Church hesitated no time telling her his good news, "Yeah well bad news ain't shit on us. Listen, all the AI fragments, even the Alpha wasn't dead. Epsilon just kinda housed the all together. And I'm gaining the powers of all them. All I'm missing are Eta and Iota. Fear and Happiness."
"Hold on... you have all the A.I?" Carolina paused.
"Yeah, except Sigma, he must be in the original Meta suit, Maine used to wear. We just need Hargrove and we can finally be rid of that son of a bitch."
"Then this bad news, just became worse."
"What do you mean?" Church asked.
Carolina took a moment to respond, "Because someone just broke Hargrove out."
"What?"
"Someone with a giant gauntlet broke through ten walls made of steel and concrete and took him. Do you hear me? Hargrove is free..."
Church didn't move, didn't breathe, he stood as still as a lake for what felt like an eternity.
Carolina had to call him several times just to get his attention, "Church? Church!"
"Ye-Yeah... I'm here... well... I got the fear part covered now..." Church admitted as one of his eyes changed into a more yellow iris.
To Be Continued
Okay so I don't know what got this fire in me to keep this story up, let alone finally have an ending to it but let me also just say that I'm loving this again. Yeah it was messy and all over the place but this is one of my favorites I enjoyed despite where the game is at. Obviously my love for Red vs Blue will never die, even if the show ended.
Also I'm sorry to say, actually not sorry... The next chapter is a character update chapter. With a smaller chapter right after. Because now that I know what the characters are like, I know what I them to do and what their abilities should have been from the start.
Until Next Chapter, Churchisalive, signing off.
Also sidenote, finished this in a week with 5229 words and I finished this on my birthday.