wrecking_yard (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
wrecking_yard) wrote2016-12-29 09:04 pm
wrecking_yard) wrote2016-12-29 09:04 pm
All Sinners a Future, All Saints a Past
Canon: Overwatch
Summary: Ana, Winston, and Athena a little. Tied tomoonshadows's Sombra writing, specifically just after this bit with Winston; Winston's feeling paranoid and wary. And hadn't known Ana was still alive, which is plenty of reason to try to follow up. Same disclaimer she's using about timelines and "what even is timeline".
The message came through the technician that had been doing maintenance on my rifle; the coordinates for the defunct moon base, a phrase in Arabic - “repetition teaches the smart” - and an address to send a reply to.
Winston, checking if he’s found me.
The address is only accepting text. I take a couple of days to find a dummy tablet with an entirely throwaway setup, and send back a response in Arabic - “I will see us home, as always”.
The dummy tablet almost immediately buzzes with a request; a call that needs to install its own program to be received. I accept it, and the load icon is Athena’s. A few moments later there is a holoscreen up, Winston’s anxiously hopeful face filling most of the screen. One of the watchpoints is behind him, the lights darkened.
“Ana? Is it really you?”
Poor child has been alone too long and lost everything he had when Overwatch disbanded. “And glad to see you well after all that happened.”
“What happened - we’ve all thought you were dead-“ I know he’s found Jack, and that I’m not the first person ‘back from the dead’; it’s more of a relief than something to be upset by at this point, but it’s a lot to process.
“I know, and I am sorry to have upset everyone.” It was a couple years between that and when everything fell apart, after all. “Before I explain, I have to ask you - are you using any security protocols with any similarities to what we used to use? Particularly anything from before Gerard died?”
“I have been recoding security from the ground up every six months.”, Athena answers.
“Thank you for that - it is good to know that someone else noticed something amiss.”
“Why is Gerard important to that?” Winston is confused and a little alarmed; after the string of betrayals and upheavals it’s understandable.
“A long story for another time - not a far off one.” I shake my head; it’s not the time to explain Amelie just yet, even though I need to soon. “The mystery sniper tagged me - destroyed my scope and the cybernetic eye with it, and nearly killed me. I was found by a few local people who had been terrorized by Talon; they brought me to a medic who would keep quiet and kept my gear out of sight. It took months for me to recover from the feedback; I was reported dead and there were funeral plans by the time I was mobile again.” Which was only a part of it. “I had clues but no proof that someone had their hands deep in Overwatch, and had gotten a look at their new sniper, which is a subject we need to discuss later.”
“Tracer has a few recent images of her.”
I frown at Athena’s comment. “Then you know. Is Tracer alright?”
“She’s well. It…was a failed mission, and the Omnic priest who was targeted wasn’t so lucky.” Winston still puts some personal stake on the conflict; the assassination itself was all over the news and hard to miss.
“The bastards are playing their goals close, but they definitely want a war.” I shake my head. “A sniper who is seen is a sniper who is dead, so I chose to remain dead and use it to move where they wouldn't see me. I planned to come back when I had an avenue that would not be putting myself, Fareeha, or the rest of you at risk, but everything blew up, and there was nothing to go back to besides painting a target on her.”
Winston nods quietly.
“What prompted this call, if I may ask?”
He starts out of his thoughts. “Talon tried to raid us. I’ve been keeping track of Overwatch agents, allies, and family members; they wanted my database.”
Winston and Athena obviously came through intact. “Did they get anything?”
“No. I think. Maybe. That is part of it.” Something is bothering him that he’s dancing around.
“Winston. What happened.”
He sighs. “They sent Reaper with a device to deliver a virus. It stopped and we fended him off, but there was a back door left behind that we didn’t know about until it was opened.”
And that is enough to fill in and explain everything. “Did a little shadow tell you to find me?”
He’s taken aback at my good humor. “Not exactly - this ‘Sombra’ mentioned speaking with you about Reaper.”
The avoidance of his name is getting noticeable. “Yes. I have been in contact.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“More likely than not, I think. They’ve been flagging my attention periodically to try to contain who he kills, and have leaked information about Talon’s movements in my area. And, Talon has remained oblivious to my presence.” I pause; the tactical signals aren't all that’s there. “They have only been interested in trying to stabilize him and expressed some frustration over Amelie. If they can find something to drag out whatever has survived of Gabriel’s humanity, I am certainly not against it. And if Talon is making an enemy within who is that capable…”
“You think they’re turning on Talon.”
“Talon maintains control over its stronger pieces by dehumanizing, destroying sentimentality and personal ties so that their pawns will not question orders or listen to their own misgivings. Sombra is acting on those things too much to be under their control - or at least, that is my sense of the situation.”
“You’re hoping they’re honest in what they claim.”
“I spend so much of my time being wary and weighing conspiracies and lies; giving up on all hope and trust is what devoured Gabriel.”
There is a very faint flinch and a quiet grunt. “Will you remain in touch?”
“I will try - not on this machine, the accounts were far too hastily arranged, but I will find an avenue.” I ponder signing off there, but… “I have heard of what Fareeha has been up to - look out for her for me, where you can?”
He nods with a faint smile. “Already am. Take care, Ana, and be careful.”
“At this point perhaps I should be saying that to you. Take care, both of you.”
Summary: Ana, Winston, and Athena a little. Tied to
moonshadows's Sombra writing, specifically just after this bit with Winston; Winston's feeling paranoid and wary. And hadn't known Ana was still alive, which is plenty of reason to try to follow up. Same disclaimer she's using about timelines and "what even is timeline". The message came through the technician that had been doing maintenance on my rifle; the coordinates for the defunct moon base, a phrase in Arabic - “repetition teaches the smart” - and an address to send a reply to.
Winston, checking if he’s found me.
The address is only accepting text. I take a couple of days to find a dummy tablet with an entirely throwaway setup, and send back a response in Arabic - “I will see us home, as always”.
The dummy tablet almost immediately buzzes with a request; a call that needs to install its own program to be received. I accept it, and the load icon is Athena’s. A few moments later there is a holoscreen up, Winston’s anxiously hopeful face filling most of the screen. One of the watchpoints is behind him, the lights darkened.
“Ana? Is it really you?”
Poor child has been alone too long and lost everything he had when Overwatch disbanded. “And glad to see you well after all that happened.”
“What happened - we’ve all thought you were dead-“ I know he’s found Jack, and that I’m not the first person ‘back from the dead’; it’s more of a relief than something to be upset by at this point, but it’s a lot to process.
“I know, and I am sorry to have upset everyone.” It was a couple years between that and when everything fell apart, after all. “Before I explain, I have to ask you - are you using any security protocols with any similarities to what we used to use? Particularly anything from before Gerard died?”
“I have been recoding security from the ground up every six months.”, Athena answers.
“Thank you for that - it is good to know that someone else noticed something amiss.”
“Why is Gerard important to that?” Winston is confused and a little alarmed; after the string of betrayals and upheavals it’s understandable.
“A long story for another time - not a far off one.” I shake my head; it’s not the time to explain Amelie just yet, even though I need to soon. “The mystery sniper tagged me - destroyed my scope and the cybernetic eye with it, and nearly killed me. I was found by a few local people who had been terrorized by Talon; they brought me to a medic who would keep quiet and kept my gear out of sight. It took months for me to recover from the feedback; I was reported dead and there were funeral plans by the time I was mobile again.” Which was only a part of it. “I had clues but no proof that someone had their hands deep in Overwatch, and had gotten a look at their new sniper, which is a subject we need to discuss later.”
“Tracer has a few recent images of her.”
I frown at Athena’s comment. “Then you know. Is Tracer alright?”
“She’s well. It…was a failed mission, and the Omnic priest who was targeted wasn’t so lucky.” Winston still puts some personal stake on the conflict; the assassination itself was all over the news and hard to miss.
“The bastards are playing their goals close, but they definitely want a war.” I shake my head. “A sniper who is seen is a sniper who is dead, so I chose to remain dead and use it to move where they wouldn't see me. I planned to come back when I had an avenue that would not be putting myself, Fareeha, or the rest of you at risk, but everything blew up, and there was nothing to go back to besides painting a target on her.”
Winston nods quietly.
“What prompted this call, if I may ask?”
He starts out of his thoughts. “Talon tried to raid us. I’ve been keeping track of Overwatch agents, allies, and family members; they wanted my database.”
Winston and Athena obviously came through intact. “Did they get anything?”
“No. I think. Maybe. That is part of it.” Something is bothering him that he’s dancing around.
“Winston. What happened.”
He sighs. “They sent Reaper with a device to deliver a virus. It stopped and we fended him off, but there was a back door left behind that we didn’t know about until it was opened.”
And that is enough to fill in and explain everything. “Did a little shadow tell you to find me?”
He’s taken aback at my good humor. “Not exactly - this ‘Sombra’ mentioned speaking with you about Reaper.”
The avoidance of his name is getting noticeable. “Yes. I have been in contact.”
“Can they be trusted?”
“More likely than not, I think. They’ve been flagging my attention periodically to try to contain who he kills, and have leaked information about Talon’s movements in my area. And, Talon has remained oblivious to my presence.” I pause; the tactical signals aren't all that’s there. “They have only been interested in trying to stabilize him and expressed some frustration over Amelie. If they can find something to drag out whatever has survived of Gabriel’s humanity, I am certainly not against it. And if Talon is making an enemy within who is that capable…”
“You think they’re turning on Talon.”
“Talon maintains control over its stronger pieces by dehumanizing, destroying sentimentality and personal ties so that their pawns will not question orders or listen to their own misgivings. Sombra is acting on those things too much to be under their control - or at least, that is my sense of the situation.”
“You’re hoping they’re honest in what they claim.”
“I spend so much of my time being wary and weighing conspiracies and lies; giving up on all hope and trust is what devoured Gabriel.”
There is a very faint flinch and a quiet grunt. “Will you remain in touch?”
“I will try - not on this machine, the accounts were far too hastily arranged, but I will find an avenue.” I ponder signing off there, but… “I have heard of what Fareeha has been up to - look out for her for me, where you can?”
He nods with a faint smile. “Already am. Take care, Ana, and be careful.”
“At this point perhaps I should be saying that to you. Take care, both of you.”